Chapter 10: Bastion's Formula for Success

The sun shone brightly overhead as the joined group of Ra Yellow and Slifer Red students milled about behind the school's gymnasium. The students had been partaking in a friendly game of America's favorite pastime, baseball, and the the two dorms had just returned from a fifteen minute break from the sun. Each side wore their white gym uniforms, with the slifers wearing a red bandana around their arm and the Ra's a yellow one. The score was 3-0 at the top of the ninth. There were two outs and the bases were loaded as Haru stepped up to the plate with his bat over one shoulder.

"Keep your eye on the ball Haru" Syrus coached

"I don't think that's going to be a problem Syrus" He pointed towards the outfield with his bat. "With a homerun we almost certainly have this game in the bag."

"Dream on Yoshida!" The pitcher, a boy named Kenji, yelled "We have two outs and all it takes is three strikes to send you packing."

"I think you're just salty from all the times I struck you out the last few innings Kenji" Haru smirked

Kenji rolled his eyes. "Yeah whatever"

"Hold on! Time out!" a voice called out, as Bastion ran onto the field. "I was deep into some lifepoint quantum mechanics and I lost track of time".

"Bastion do you have a life?" another Ra, Kit joked from first base.

"Can you throw?" Kenji asked ignoring the other boys joke.

"Sure"

"Then it's time I took a break, pitcher change!" Kenji said chucking him the ball as he made his way towards the dugout.

"I see you managed to drag yourself away from your books" Haru smiled. "Just thought I'd let you know, this is nothing like a written test."

"Oh trust me Haru I don't think he will have any problem with that" the catcher commented as he took up his stance.

"He's quite right you know" Bastion smirked twirling the ball in his right hand. He began his wind up. "Get ready Haru. This one's coming in red hot!" He declared letting loose a fastball straight down the middle. Unprepared for this Haru swung too late and the ball hit the catcher's mitt with a solid thwack.

"Strike one!" Bastion let loose another fastball this time at the corner of Haru's batting box.

"Strike two!" Not waiting for Haru to recover the intellectual duelist let loose a slow ball to throw him off.

"Strike three, batter out!"

"Nuts!" Haru huffed as he placed the tip of the bat on the ground in exasperation.

"If you think that's bad, just wait until he belts one out of the park" the catcher patted Haru on the shoulder before heading off to the Ra dugout.

"Challenge accepted" Haru narrowed his eyes as he took up his position on the pitcher's mound, and Syrus donned his catching gear.


At the bottom of the ninth Haru had no problem striking out two batters right off the bat, but for some reason soon after he began to get sloppy.

"Ball four! Take your base." For the next three batters Haru walked them intentionally, a glint in his eye.

"Time!" Syrus yelled as he and the rest of the slifers gathered around the pitcher's mound. "What's going on with you Haru? You walked the last three batters."

"It's all part of the plan" Haru smirked

"Plan?" Syrus asked.

"It was the only way that I could go head to head with Bastion" Haru revealed.

"What? You walked the last three batters so you could get a rematch with Bastion?" Syrus asked.

"Yup" Haru nodded as he watched bastion step up to the plate. "You hear that Bastion, you're going down!"

Bastion put on his helmet and flashed Haru a smile "Down the base line perhaps" he replied. "Now give me your best shot Haru. That is if you can manage to get it over the plate"

"Oh I intend to Braniac" Haru replied going into his windup, before releasing a curveball. He grit his teeth as he watched it travel hoping Bastion would miss. There was a solid thwack as wood made contact with leather as the ra yellow made contact with the ball.

Meanwhile a certain blonde haired teacher seemed to be taking a stroll near the baseball diamond thinking of another way to get Haru expelled.

"The Paradox Brothers couldn't beat Haru, Chazz couldn't beat Haru, Zane refuses to go along with my plans, Is there anyone here who could beat…..UUUUGH" His ranting was interrupted by a spherical white object hurdling at his head, before bouncing off his right eye and knocking him backwards into the baseball equipment.

"Heads up" Crowler heard as he popped his head out of the Baseball equipment to see Haru and Syrus making his way towards him. Haru stopped and fixed him with an amused expression, While Syrus began to freak.

"OF COURSE IT WAS YOU! WHO ELSE HERE WOULD BE ABLE TO INFLICT SO MUCH PAIN TO ME!" Crowler screeched.

"That's keeping your eye on the ball" Syrus cracked giving Haru a high five.

"Sorry teach" Haru smirked "I…"

"It was my fault" Bastion interrupted "I'm the one who hit the ball"

"Of course" Crowlers attitude changed completely as he hear Bastion. "Here I was looking for an accomplice and it hits me right in the face, well in the eye but that's besides the point right now"

"Accept my apologies, Dr. Crowler" Bastion said bowing in respect

"Hold on, what do you mean by accomplice?" Haru frowned "What are you up to?

"It's ok my boy, I've been meaning to get my contacts refitted for a while now and you just gave me the perfect excuse" Crowler said attempting to be nice, 'What luck! A new protege in my ongoing effort to get rid of that awful red dorm". He felt the glaring eyes of Haru and Syrus bearing into the back of his neck "Do you two mind?" .

"Sorry Doctor" Syrus apologized before he and Haru took their leave.

"He's up to something again" Haru grumbled. "He even admitted it in front of us"

"Don't worry about it Haru, We've foiled his plans before we can do it again" Syrus said patting him on the shoulder.

"You really shouldn't associate yourselves with slackers like them" Crowler said. "You should be associating with people more on your level, like me!"


Haru and Syrus stood just inside the door waiting for Bastion to return from his meeting with Dr. Crowler. The current class was taught by the Obelisk Headmaster much to the boys annoyance.

"Who are you guys waiting for?" Eiji asked turning to look a them from the second to top row.

"Crowler asked Bastion to accompany him during our baseball game, and we haven't heard from him for the last hour or so" Syrus told him.

"Crowler's showing interest in someone who isn't an Obelisk? If I didn't know you I would think that you're crazy"

"He also said something about an accomplice before he took him away" Haru said deep in thought. "He's up to something."

"Isn't he always? He's made it pretty obvious that he has a great distaste for you" Eiji smiled "Makes your life on the Island a little more interesting don't you think"

"I guess interesting is one word for it" Haru sighed as the doors opened not far from them. "Finally we can get this class over with". Much to their displeasure, instead of Crowler, Chazz walked into the room "Oh joy the Ego of Duel Academy has made its appearance".

"Oh joy"

Chazz made his way towards the middle of the top row, before putting his feet up on the seat in front of him. "It's good to be on top, Foot rub, Ice Tea, Pronto!" he snapped his fingers at the passerby.

"Get it yourself" A random Obelisk replied before taking a seat down near the bottom.

"What was that?" Chazz challenged leaning forward in his seat, "Go ahead say it again I Dare you"

"What are you doing Chazz?" Another Obelisk asked walking towards him.

"What does it look like?" Chazz asked rhetorically, "I'm sitting in my seat".

"That's not your seat anymore" The Obelisk informed him. "You'll find that you now sit down there". The obelisk pointed towards towards the bottom row that bordered the Ra yellow students.

"No I'm not you idiot, my name tag is right here" He leaned forward in his chair to look for it, but found nothing. The nametag claiming the seat for him and only him was gone. "What the heck?"

"You'll find your new seat down there like I said" his classmate repeated himself.

"No way, there's no way the next King of Games should be sitting with third rate nobodies." The door opened behind them once again as Crowler now supporting an impressive black eye walked in. "Doctor Crowler what's the deal? I don't deserve to sit with the losers".

"Oh I wouldn't go that far Chazz," Crowler smiled "After all I seem to recall one of those 'losers' beating you, what was his name? Oh yeah Haru Yoshida a Slifer."

Haru flinched not sure if he should be taking that as an insult or a compliment.

"Did he just compliment you?" Syrus asked.

"I feel like it was more of a backhanded compliment" Haru sighed

"So I've decided that tomorrow you're going to duel Bastion Misawa, and if you lose to him you'll both switch dorms"

Chazz gasped at the current dilemma, "You mean that if I lose I'll become a Ra Reject?".

"Very good , it seems that you're not as dumb as you lead on" Crowler clapped in amusement.

Chazz growled in embarrassment, before fleeing the room as his classmates laughed. "There's no way i'll be a Ra Reject"

"So that's what he was scheming" Haru said watching Crowler walk down to his podium " I suppose I should be happy for Bastion."

"This might be a double edged sword Haru. There's no way that Crowler would promote someone without getting something out of it in return" Eiji pointed out.

"Yeah, switching dorms doesn't seem like something Bastion would capitalize on" Syrus nodded.

"I think he would rather get there on his own merit rather than taking down someone else" Haru nodded.

"I guess it's up to Bastion then" Eiji shrugged "you should meet up with him after class and ask about it"


After a more boring class than usual, Syrus and Haru took their leave as soon as the bell rang meeting Bastion just outside the front doors.

"Good to see you in one piece" Haru said with a smile patting the Ra student on the back. "With Crowler you never know what he wants with you"

Bastion shrugged "He told me that he was interested in recognizing my talents, provided that I pass a final exam of sorts to prove it"

"So they're making you duel Chazz? Doesn't that seem like an unfair advantage to you?" Syrus asked as they began to walk back towards the Ra dorm.

"One could think of it that way," Bastion glanced at Haru. "Or it's perhaps a way for to dispose of his former protege and secure another one for his future schemes".

"I knew he was up to something!" Haru yelled startling some of the passerby.

"Well honestly do you think he would have thought of Bastion if that foul ball hadn't hit him?" Syrus asked.

"Please you can cut this foul ball nonsense" Bastion smirked "Normally if the ball is over the middle fence it counts as a home run."

"Now that you mention it Bastion, I'm puzzled by how you manage to be a threat in both sports and Dueling" Haru frowned "After all you're built like a twig".

"You'll find that's not the case" Bastion removed the baseball bat from his backpack and showed it to them. "You see I play like I duel," He told them as he showed them small formulas written across the top part of the bat. "You see I've figured out that statistics, geometry and mathematics all can be applied to our everyday lives. Whether it's counting life points, home runs or just how many plates of dinner you had."

Haru nodded. "Never took the time to think of it that way"

"So do you have a formula for everything?" Syrus asked

Bastion chuckled "I'll show you"

The Trio began to come into view of the Ra dorm and the two Slifers seemed to be impressed by how different it was than their dorm. While not the Mansion that was the obelisk dorm it was still a higher quality living quarters in their opinion. Bastion led the two up to the second floor were his room was located.

As Bastion pushed open the door the two Slifer students gasped in amazement. Every inch of the Ra's room was covered in equations and Formulae. "Welcome to my dorm room, or as I call it, my laboratory." He pointed to the wall his desk was currently resting against. "Over there is the formula for Trap cards." He swung to point at the opposite wall. "Over there is spell cards." His hand swung once again this time falling on the wall with the window. "And that's, well you can probably guess, the equation allowing me to beat just about any monster this game has to offer, but as you can see I'm running pretty low on room." He held up a paint roller and bucket. "You mind helping? If I do it alone it could take hours"

"Sure" The two Slifer boys agreed before taking up their painting utensils and getting to work on each wall.

"Check it out I'm painting the Sistine Chapel!" Haru said, posing atop the ladder as he painted the ceiling.

"You know if I was anyone else, I would be shocked that you knew what that was" Bastion smirked.

"I'd like to keep it that way. If I show everyone that I'm actually smart they would start to expect more out of me."

"Can't have that can we" Syrus laughed.

"Thats right" Haru gestured with his paint brush accidentally flicking some paint on the smaller Slifer.

Syrus blinked in surprise before putting on a false expression of anger "You do realize Haru, This means war!"

"Hold up Shorty I didn't do it on purpose" Haru said backing down the ladder away from him. His plea was for not though as Syrus picked up the can of paint at his feet.

"Now that's enough you two" Bastion scolded. "Now give me that bucket" Syrus chucked the paint at Haru, but the latter boy dodged and the paint splashed all over Bastions head. Haru began to laugh at this occurrence causing the Ra student to snatch the paint rag from one of the rungs of the ladder. "Oh you think this is funny do you?" Bastion said smacking the slifer boy in the face with the rag. "Why you" Haru said a grin developing on his face as he pulled out his paintbrush and lunged at Bastion.

Needless the say more than the room got painted during their session.


After peace terms were brokered in the ensuing paint war, the three finished up their task before getting washed up. Afterwards Bastion invited the two to lunch at the Ra dorm for their help.

"I didn't think painting your room would be so fun" Haru commented " 'm glad we got to hang out for once Bastion"

"Yeah and this stuff you Ra students eat is amazing" Syrus said stuffing his face with fish and bread.

"Oh come on the slifer dorms food can't be that bad" Bastion said placing a plate of lobster on the table.

The two gasped at the sight of the lobster "Trust me Bastion, the closest we get to fish at the red dorm is Pharaoh's tuna breath" Syrus said as his mouth began to water.

"Speaking of which, congrats on the chance to advance to obelisk Bastion. No matter what that bottomfeeder Crowler has up his sleeve you've proven you're the best in your dorm." Haru said.

"You flatter me" Bastion smiled

"Hopefully Chazz won't pull something, like he tried to during my promotion duel" Haru sighed "He made quite the fuss during the class today about dueling you"

"Well if I've learned anything from you, nothing will come of letting the Blue dorm walk all over us. The Red dorm has you and I like to think I serve the same role for the yellow dorm" Bastion nodded.

"Couldn't have said it better myself"


Back in the blue dorm Chazz sat on the couch in the center of his room, currently deep in conversation with the people currently on his television screen. Sometime around when he had arrived at Duel Academy, Chazz's brothers had sent someone to hook his TV up with a two way communication device. Slade and Jagger, his brothers were currently giving him an earful about his current record at the academy.

"Got it Chazz?" Slade asked

"Yeah." Chazz replied.

"I'm not sure I heard you" Jagger said leaning forward "what was that?"

"I said I get it!" Chazz rolled his eyes. Apparently someone on the island had a direct line to his brothers so they knew about everything that had happened in the last couple weeks.

"Well you better understand" Slade threatened. "The Princeton group has a plan. And your brother and I are already holding up our ends."

"So you better follow up on your end" Jagger spoke up. "Just think about it, our family controlling politics, finance and duel monsters. If we control these three pillars the princeton family will control the world. This plan all relies on you little brother."

"Be the best you can be, no matter what!" Slade shouted ending the conversation.

Chazz clicked off the TV. 'How can I be the best' he thought as he moved to look out the window. In the distance he could see Haru and Syrus walking out of the yellow dorm. 'When there are lucky punks like them on this island' He watched as Bastion exited the yellow dorm soon after joining the two Slifers before walking down the path to the red dorm. 'Wait a minute Bastion is leaving to spend the night at the Slifer dorm' Chazz smiled getting an idea. 'Leaving his room undefended'.

The Obelisk boy threw on his blue blazer and headed towards the door a smile creeping across his face. He exited the door and made his way down the stairs to the main floor. In his hate he failed to notice a figure emerge from behind him "Well this can't be good".


Meanwhile at the slifer dorm, Haru and Bastion were fast asleep in Haru, Syrus, and Chumley's room. Since their bunks beads couldn't accommodate more than three people, Haru had elected to move his mattress to the floor to accommodate the two of them.

"Syrus what is Bastion doing here?" Chumley asked from the top bunk.

"He just had his room painted so we told him he could crash here for the night" Syrus explained.

"What if he wakes up and starts making fun of me, like Eiji?" The koala duelist said cautiously.

"I'm telling you Chumley Eiji doesn't mean anything by it he's joking" Syrus attempted to calm him.

"Oh in that case he can have my bed" the boy shrugged.


As the night began to turn to morning, Chazz crept up the stairs to Bastions room. Putting his hand on the doorknob he was about to enter, before he noticed the desk pushed up against the wall next to the door. Opening up the desk he noticed a Deck box inside, looking through the cards he noticed that it was in fact the Ra's deck that he had used for the Entrance and promotion exams. He grinned "With this there won't be any duel" He cackled. "He may even get kicked out".

"You know Chazz, I knew you were petty but I didn't think you would stoop this low" Eiji said making himself known.

"Of course you would show up" Chazz said pocketing the deck before beginning to back away. "You're always sticking you nose where it doesn't belong"

"You're not going anywhere with that deck" Eiji said stepping towards him.

"That's what you think" Chazz took off at a run back the way he came.

"Hey!" Eiji yelled chasing after him. "Get back here Princeton!". The chase was long and drawn out but eventually it ended at the docks were Chazz stopped giving Eiji time to catch his breath. "Ok that's as far as you go…."

"That's fine, I'm right where I need to be to do….. THIS!" Chazz took the deck from its box and threw it out into the water. Eiji growled as Chazz laughed. "Now there's no way that Ra Reject can take my spot."

"That's what you think" Sarah said running onto the scene in a tie-dye shirt and jeans. "I got here as soon as I got your message Eiji." She looked at the cards now drifting about the waves "Apparently a little too late".

"Seems you have no problem sinking to the bottom of the barrel Princeton" Eiji said giving Sarah a nod.

"And?" Chazz smirked. "Nobody deserves to be the number one at this academy more than me"

"So chucking your opponent's deck into the ocean makes you worthy of the number one spot?" Sarah asked rhetorically. "Is there really a point in going to your duel if you're going to treat your opponent's like this?"

"Nobody tells me what to do" Chazz growled. "Especially not some glorified arm candy!"

"Why you…" Eiji said lunging forward only to be blocked by Sarah's arm.

"You talk a big game, how about you back it up?" Sarah said calmly "I hope you brought your deck"

"You're challenging me?" Chazz smirked as he revealed his duel disk. "I'll have you know your small monsters can't beat what my deck has to offer. I watched your duel with Hayata over there."

"Oh I assure you that's just the beginning of what my warriors can do" She revealed her own duel disk that she had been carrying strapped across her back. "Stand back Eiji you and Haru had a crack at him it's my turn".

Eiji nodded and took a step back "Good luck"

Chazz scoffed "So you're going through with this?" he said

Duel!

The two sides activated their duel disks and drew their starting hands.

C:4000

S:4000

"I initially thought I might have to duel your friend there but you'll do quite nicely" Chazz said referring to Eiji.

"What do you have against me?" Eiji asked.

"I see how much you hang around with that Slifer Savage, you're ruining the pecking order here by intermingling with people of lesser dorms" Chazz spat.

"Oh joy this is a superiority thing" Eiji rolled his eyes. "Lets not forget that Haru beat you during your last duel"

"It was a fluke, it would never happen again"

"Really from my view you got a little too big for your britches and let your hand go to zero" Eiji pointed out.

"As much as I enjoy your pissing match boys, can we get on with this duel?" Sarah yawned.

"Why? In a hurry to lose?" Chazz said drawing for turn. "I play cost down!" He discarded a card for cost "Now I'll summon Helpoemer" A blue decaying fiend attached to a slab of stone appeared on his field.

Helpoemer level 5-3 (2000/1400)

"I'll end my turn, it's not like you'll beat me anyway."

"Chazz after what you did," Sarah began as she drew her card. "I'll end you and your monster in one turn"

"Maybe if you ran an Exodia deck that would be possible" Chazz laughed "But I know you don't so I know you're bluffing.

Eiji looked at his friend and shook his head "I don't think she's bluffing Chazz"

"I assure you I'm not. First I activate the spell double summon allowing me to normal summon both Green Archer and White Mage from my hand." In a flash of light the Green Archer tipped his hat and took aim at Helpoemer and White Mage brandished her staff in anticipation.

Pallette Warrior White Mage level 4 (1000/1800)

Pallette Warrior Green Archer level 4 (1500/1800)

"Archer's effect sticks you with a paint counter, Go Emerald Splash!" The green bowman let loose an arrow that splattered all over the fiend on Chazz's field.

Helpoemer: Color counter x1

"That's it? It's like I told you before there's no way your tiny monsters can defeat mine" Chazz mocked.

Sarah wagged her finger "And I told you there's a lot more to my deck than you think. I play Paint Mixer Fusion!"

"Fusion?"

"Thats right" She smiled "I fuse my Red Brawler in hand with my Green Archer on my field. I fusion summon the master of the quickdraw technique Pallette Warrior Brown Desperado!" The red fighter appeared beside green archer before they were sucked into a large white paint can. A moment later a man wearing a brown poncho and cowboy hat appeared in their place.

Palette Warrior Brown Desperado level 6 (2500/2200)

"When Desperado is fusion summoned I can place two counters on a monster of my choice, and since you only control Helpoemer he's the target" Desperado withdrew two paintbrush themed guns and shot them splatting the monster with two more counters.

Helpoemer: Color counter x3

"Desperado's effect activates allowing me to inflict 300 damage for each counter on your monster" Desperado let loose another round of bullets this time directly at Chazz.

C: 4000-3100

"Ungh" Chazz grunted as he took the damage.

"Now I activate White mage's effect, by removing a counter from your monster I can resurrect a pallette warrior monster from my graveyard"

Helpoemer: Color counter x2

"Revive Red Brawler" The man in the red jumpsuit appeared before taking up a fighting stance.

Pallette Warrior Red Brawler level 4 (1800/1500)

"She's got it all set up, Get ready Chazz" Eiji cheered.

"He's right, the board is set for your downfall" Sarah declared "Battle! Red Brawler attacks Helpoemer, and due to his effect he gains 400 attack when he battles a monster with color counters on it"

Pallette Warrior Red Brawler level 4 (1800-2200)

The red warrior jumped into the air and delivered a powerful kick to the fiend with a triumphant "Wachaa".

C:3100-2900

"Next comes my White Mage" She continued as the young girl ran across the field and whacked chazz with her staff.

C:2900-1900

"There's no way this is happening i'm supposed to be at the top, I can't be defeated by some extra like you!" Chazz yelled.

"Better get used to it Princeton. Desperado attacks you life points directly, Silencing Six Shot!" The brown themed cowboy pulled out his revolver and let loose six blasts one after the other directly at Chazz.

C:1900-0

"And I hope that will teach you not to screw with another duelists cards" Sarah yelled angrily, as she shut off her duel disk. "Come on Eiji let's go back to the dorm"

"You got it" He said following her as she walked away "Nice look by the way"

"Oh come on you gave me literally ten minutes to get prepared" She told him before kicking him in the leg.

"Ow, I was being honest geez" He said limping after her.

Chazz watched the two of them leave before getting up, a pissed off look on his face. At least he had done what he planned to do, and nobody had been there to witness his defeat. Clearly he didn't see Zane and Alexis watching from the lighthouse nearby. The obelisk set off towards his dorm soon after.


In the morning Syrus, Haru, and Bastion were awoken by the sound of a loud knocking on the door. "Haru, Haru!"

Haru yawned, before getting up and opened the door revealing Ms. Dorothy the card shop owner on the other side. "Whats up Ms. Dorothy?"

"I was unloading supplies on the docks and I saw something strange! Cards scattered across the waves everywhere."

The trio gasped as they took off towards the pier post haste. As they drew closer they realized that Ms. Dorothy's statement was correct.

"Thats Ring of Destruction" Haru said

"And Vorse Raider" Syrus added "Bastion these are all your cards"

"I suppose it's my fault" Bastion shook his head. "This was the deck I left in the desk when i moved it out into the hall"

"Who would do this sort of thing?" Syrus asked looking around.

"Someone who doesn't want you to advance to Obelisk blue I reckon" Haru nodded at Bastion.

"Precisely" Bastion agreed "It's rather obvious who it was."


Bastion accompanied by Haru and Syrus made their way into the duel arena were and Chazz were waiting. "Ah Bastion you made it" Crowler greeted. When he saw Haru and Syrus with him his smile transitioned into a scowl "And I see you brought some friends"

"Careful Doc your face will freeze that way" Haru snarked.

"I hope you duel better than the company you keep" Chazz smirked.

"Hiya Chazz did you just get back from a stroll along the waterfront perhaps?" Haru said stepping forward until he was face to face with the Obelisk. "Maybe chucking your opponents cards into the murky depths of the ocean?"

" Pardon?" Crowler asked

"I have no idea what he's talking about" Chazz said playing innocent.

"Oh really?" the group turned to see Zane, Alexis, Eiji and Sarah strolling in from behind them.

"We saw you Chazz. After Eiji chased you down to the docks you dumped those cards in the water" Alexis said. " I'm not a big fan of snitching but you don't screw with someone else's deck.

"Looks like our suspicions were correct" Haru said looking at Bastion.

"Come on now, how do you know I wasn't throwing away my own cards" Chazz said still playing innocent. "For all you know Bastion and I have very similar decks"

"Liar!" Sarah and Eiji said in unison.

"I watched you take the deck from Bastions desk" Eiji argued.

"I even took you down in one turn for it" Sarah added, shocking Syrus and Haru.

"Really? Damn Sarah I'm looking forward to our future duel more and more now" Haru grinned.

"That's not the point Haru" Eiji said "there are at least three of us who witnessed you do it"

"Nobody calls me a liar, and nobody calls me a thief!" Chazz retorted. "And you have no proof that I lost to that girl in one turn"

"Fine you're not and we don't" Bastion said "Let's just get on with our duel shall we?"

"But Bastion what about your deck?" Syrus asked.

"I wouldn't worry Syrus, Einstein here always has a back up plan" Haru said patting Bastion on the shoulder.

"He's right, a good duelist always comes prepared." Bastion unzipped his yellow jacket. "You two remember the formula on the walls right?" He pulled open his blazer to reveal six separate Deck boxes, three on either side of his chest. "It was for each of my six decks! Each one a different attribute."

Chazz cringed as he saw that his plan to keep Bastion away had failed. "Fine keep your six crummy decks, I only need my one, Witch is all I need to defeat you for thinking you're better than me"

"Wow a little pot calling the kettle black there Princess?" Haru laughed.

Bastion activated his duel disk and withdrew a deck from an orange deck box, before inserting it into his disk. "You're just a theorem to be solved, an equation to be cracked. You're finished Chazz"

"Bring it, you worthless reject!"

DUEL!

C:4000

B:4000

"Get ready because here comes the pain" Chazz declared starting off. "I play Chthonian Soldier!" The dark armored warrior appeared in a flash of light.

Chthonian Soldier level 4 (1200/1400)

He pulled another card from his hand "I'll set a card and that's it for now"

"Oh will it now?' Bastion asked.

"Sounds like Bastion has something planned" Haru commented.

"He does work rather quickly from what I've seen" Alexis agreed as she and Zane came to a stop beside Syrus and Haru.

"Don't worry Alexis, Bastion has this in the bag" Eiji said.

"I summon Hydrogeddon in attack mode! Hydrogeddon arise!"A geyser of muddy water erupted from the ground in front of him before forming a dinosaur with an aquatic looking tail.

Hydrogeddon level 4 (1600/1000)

"Now Hydrogeddon attack his Chthonian Soldier. Hydro Gust!" The monster let out a burst of water that decimated Chazz's Soldier.

"Thanks Genius, you activated my Soldier's effect" Chazz announced "You now take the same damage I took during this battle."

C:4000-3600

B:4000-3600

"Not bad" Zane nodded.

"Bastion walked right into that one" Eiji said.

"My monster's ability activates as well" Bastion said fanning out his deck and searching through it. "You see Chazz when my Hydrogeddon destroys a monster by battle I can special summon another Hydrogeddon from my deck. Arise Hydrogeddon" Bastion placed the second copy of his monster on his disk creating another version of Hydrogeddon.

Hydrogeddon level 4 (1600/1000)x2

"And it's still currently my battle phase so I can now wage a direct attack at you Chazz. Go Hydro Gust attack!" The second dinosaur fired another pillar of water. The attack hit Chazz and the Obelisk screamed as he was knocked backwards.

C:3600-2000

"Just like Bastion" Haru smiled "Ignoring the damage he takes and throwing it back at his opponent with twice the power"

"You'll pay for that, I activate Call of the Haunted to resurrect one of my monsters. I choose, you guessed it Chthonian Soldier!" There was a burst of electricity as Chthonian Soldier was resurrected. "Next I activate Inferno Reckless Summon! After I special summon a monster with 1500 attack or less we both special summon all copies of that card in our hands, decks, or graveyards that match the monsters we currently control." Chazz snatched two cards from his deck and played them as two more Chthonian soldiers appeared beside their comrade.

Chthonian soldier level 4 (1200/1400) x3

"It's not going to matter how many of those monsters Chazz summons, they don't have enough attack to defeat Bastions monsters" Sarah said as Bastion summoned out another Hydrogeddon

Hydrogeddon level 4 (1600/1000)x3

"Not by themselves at least" Zane corrected her as Chazz took another card from his hand.

"I activate the equip spell Chthonian Alliance! Now the monster equipped with this card gains 800 attack for each monster with the same name as it on my field." The Soldier on Chazz's left growled as it was engulfed with black energy and it grew to three times its size. "That brings its attack points up to… well you're the math nerd you tell me"

Chthonian soldier level 4 (1200-3600)

"3600…" Sarah groaned.

The spectators gasped at the power Chazz's monster now had.

"Now go attack one of his Hydrogeddons" Chazz commanded. The giant superpowered Chthonian soldier rushed the middle Hydrogeddon slashing it in half. Bastion grunted in pain as he shielded his eyes.

B:3600-1600

"Oh no!" Eiji shouted.

"Bastions life points have gone down by more than half" Syrus said. "He's losing the duel"

"Bravo, good show" Bastion said drawing a card, not caring about the life points he had just lost. He placed a card on his field. "But it will be short lived! Arise Oxygeddon!" A pillar of wind descended from the air above as a pteranodon made of green air appeared.

Oxygeddon level 4 (1800/800)

"Now take out one of the weaker soldiers! Vapor Stream!" The new monster released a column of clear air from its mouth shattering one of the Soldiers.

C:2000-1400

"Did you forget?" Chazz scoffed. "You take damage equal to the amount I took."

B:1600-1200

"My turns not over yet, next my Hydrogeddon attacks your other Soldier" Once again Bastion's monster advanced towards Chazz's monster before obliterating the monster, dealing them both damage.

C:1400-1000

B:1200-600

"Why does bastion insist on attacking? He's only doing more damage to himself with every attack." Syrus asked comparing their life points

"Because he has a plan" Haru explained patting the smaller boy on the head.

"He's playing smart" Zane began to explain. "The Chthonian bearing the equip card is at 3600 attack, so he would have to try to attack over it, unless he….."

The remaining Soldier began to grow smaller as the black aura dissipated slowly around him.

Chthonian Soldier level 4 (3600-2000)

"Wait I see now. By destroying the other two soldiers he's reducing the attack of the big one, making it open for an attack next round"

"Thats right Syrus, if Bastion wants to win this he's going to have to sacrifice some life points in the process" Haru nodded.

"Last I'll throw down a facedown" A facedown appeared at Bastions feet "That will do it for now."

"Will it Genius?" Chazz taunted as he drew his next card. "I sacrifice my final Chthonian Soldier and the rest of the cards in my hand to summon Infernal incinerator! Bet you didn't see that coming." Chazz began to laugh as his monster was engulfed in a sphere of fire.

"Infernal Incinerator!?" The ball of fire began to smoke as it engulfed Chazz's field, a form emerged revealing a giant fiendish salamander with the upper half of Chthonian soldier on its head.

Infernal Incinerator level 6 (2800/1800)

"Better break out the calculator Nerd because unless you can find a way to get rid of my monster you're toast!" Chazz said.

"I hope Bastion planned for this with his facedown" Eiji said.

"Me and you both Eiji" Sarah agreed

"Face it Bastion you have no way of beating my Infernal Incinerator" Chazz said "especially when he gains 200 attack for each monster on your field.

Infernal Incinerator level 6 (2800-3400)

"It has 3400 attack points" Haru said gritting his teeth. "If any of Bastion's monsters take this attack he's done for."

"Infernal Incinerator attack with Firestorm Blast!" The monster opened it mouth revealing a row of sharp pointed teeth, before releasing a ball of flame directed at Oxygeddon.

"I activate my trap card Amorphic Barrier!" Bastion declared as his trap flipped face up. "I can activate this card while I control three or more monsters. This card allows me to negate your attack and end the battle phase, but nice try Chazz"

"That was close" Syrus said letting out a sigh of relief.

"It doesn't matter" Chazz said not caring in the slightest. "All you have managed to do is prolong your demise for another turn, that's all."

"I'm sorry but there won't be another turn" Bastion informed him as he drew his next card.

"Pardon?"

"You heard me, I activate the spell card Bonding H2O!" Bastion inserted the card and the image appeared revealing a beaker of liquid being poured into a flask. "I sacrifice two Hydrogedon's and one Oxygeddon," The three monsters changed into pillars of their element before combining into one, "to summon Water Dragon!" The pillars formed a long serpentine body made of water with the head of a dragon at the end.

Water Dragon level 8 (2800/2600)

"And let's not forget that since I control only one monster now yours loses attack" Bastion pointed out.

Infernal Incinerator level 6 (3400-3000)

"That doesn't matter because my monster still has higher attack than yours" Chazz smirked.

"Better check your work" Bastion said "because I've already done all the math!"

"Done all the math?" Crowler asked "does that mean?"

Haru nodded "Bastion has had this planned from the beginning."

"Told you Chazz was done for" Eiji cheered.

The water dragon created a great tidal wave that washed over infernal incinerator reducing its attack to zero.

Infernal Incinerator level 6 (3000-0)

"No its attack points!" Chazz cried.

"Indeed that's Water Dragon's special ability" Bastion said. "When he occupies the field the attack of all fire and pyro monster on the field become zero. Now attack Water Dragon, Trident Blast!" The dragon let loose a blast of high pressure water destroying Infernal Incinerator and knocking Chazz off the stage.

C:1000-0

"A well played duel Chazz, but not well enough" Bastion declared as Chazz surfaced and the water began to recede.

"That was pure luck, you stumbled into a card that allowed you to claim victory that's all" Chazz retorted spitting out a bit of water.

"Perhaps, but I find that luck tends to favor the prepared." Bastion said. "But I was prepared to defeat you with half a dozen other cards, just as I was prepared for you sabotaging my deck."

"What do you mean Bastion?' Syrus asked.

"I was prepared to duel Chazz as soon as Crowler told me he would be my opponent, just as I was prepared to face his underhanded tactics that I heard about from Eiji and Haru" Bastion explained. "So before I left last night I made sure to take all the cards I needed for the upcoming duel, and only left the ones I could part with"

"Can you even prove that the cards I threw into the ocean were yours?" Chazz argued.

"Simple actually" Bastion replied retrieving a wet card from his jacket. Everyone gasped as they noticed an equation written across the back. "I wrote an equation on the back of each of my cards, I suppose you could have done the same thing, but the equation would have been wrong."

"And I bet we can retrieve more if need be" Eiji chimed in.

"Chazz you cheated, you lied, you stole and you lost. I think you deserve to be demoted"

Chazz screamed in fury "This can't happen to me!"

"Bastion Misawa!' said walking up to the Ra boy. "Welcome to Obelisk Blue."

"Thank you , but I have to decline your offer at this time."

"What? But why?"

"I made a promise to myself when I entered this academy. I promised that I wouldn't enter Obelisk Blue until I was the number one student in the class" He glanced at Haru then at Eiji. "These two have proven to be my superiors in that department."

"Hey Bastion we could always settle this here" Haru said cracking his neck "Watching your duel got me fired up for one myself."

"Sorry but not right now."

"Why not?"

"Because I have a lot of work to do before I face you. Formulas to write, theorems to solve, equations to balance, you know I want to be ready when I finally face you. Soon my dorms walls will be filled with new problems and equations that will help me prepare for our duel. Just be prepared for it to end up like the game we had earlier…..you know when I struck you out.

"Your dreaming Bastion. Baseball is a hobby, but dueling is a way of life for me. I look forward to when we duel"

"As do I."

Bastion's very own episode down in the record books. I intend to use him a little more than the anime ended up doing. Next chapter the Slifer duo and some guest stars meet a dueling monkey named Wheeler. I bet Haru will have something to say about that. Look forward to next week. The following week we will be taking a break from the main story and doing a halloween episode, where we will introduce a new character. Stay tuned and thanks for the support. As always, keep those comments coming and I would love to listen to your ideas for characters and events. You can find us at Makeitshowy . Thanks

-RED