Authors Notes: Holy crap it's been over a month since the last chapter. Sorry guys. I'd have had this up sooner, but I just wasn't happy with the duel, I had to re-write it three times. Plus I was working on another project (might post it if it gets any good). Anyway, patched up now and I'm finally happy with it. Enjoy.
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The Emissary of Extinction
Chapter 17
Deja Vu: Heroes VS Heroes
Judai opened his eyes, it had been another unpleasant dream. He knew it wasn't a memory, it was just strange. Filled with visions of Draygor, it's roaring. Xiaolang almost dead as Judai looked down at him. This dream ended with visions of gold, glowing gold that spoke to him. The last words his former self had said to him. Judai tried forcing it from his mind, but he could not escape the fact he had absolutely no idea how to deal with the matter at hand.
He slowly got out of bed, it was early, maybe he could go for a walk. As he tried to locate his shoes he heard shifting. He turned to see the third occupant to enter the room this year.
Johan's head shifted against his pillow, trying to get comfortable as he slept. Judai felt a twinge of what he guessed was guilt as he looked at his friend. It wasn't easy knowing you housed the creature that once possessed your friend's body. Another shift told him that Xiaolang was getting comfortable as well. He wondered what the boy would think had he known the full story. He hadn't asked yet, and Judai was not about to tell.
With a sigh he placed on his shoes and walked out the door.
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"Come back when you are ready to bargain with me."
Again and again Judai was drawn back to those words. Judai almost wanted to ask Jim, or O'Brian about their experiences with the former king, but if anyone found out he was conversing with the king, well, his former self, he doubted many people would understand. Judai tried to simply put the conversation out of mind, but couldn't help but wonder just why Haou was hiding the memory from him. Judai doubted it was just to try and manipulate him, there was something else there. What was something Haou was not going to say.
Though he knew Yubel could. Judai had been very careful to keep these thoughts hidden, but now he no longer cared. Yubel said she had not been present at the battle itself, but she must have seen the aftermath. Judai had not asked her, but he had a feeling that wouldn't help him. Despite the fusion between him and Yubel, along with Haou being inside him, he knew surprisingly little about his past life. Almost nothing, and somehow he got the feeling Yubel was keeping a lot of information from him. For an instant he found himself hating Yubel the way he had once before, when she was tricking, draining, and destroying everything in her path to get to him. He shook his head to try and rid himself of that. "She did all that for me."
His thoughts turned back to that temple, to that room within. The room with nothing but robes, and ash. That monolith the bore the image of Draygor, Judai wondered just how it had gotten there. Had they drawn it? Had they been handed it? Most of all, why did they have it to begin with?
Why had Draygor killed them?
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"Humans. Out of all life, they are the most repulsive." Draygor watched from inside Kenji's deck as the people were starting to make their way to the arena, the match was to start soon. "Death is all that befits them, it's the only time I've ever found real use for them. They taste good too." Draygor looked around at the crowd, everyone of them he could sense had at least one copy of his power in their decks. "They fight, they feed my power. But these duels they attend. Something is not right." His thoughts ran through each of the matches. "They were not on the island before. Such strong souls among them, why were they not here before? No...why are they here now?" Like a tonne of bricks, it hit him. "Those humans...are up to something."
Draygor would be dammed before he let this slip by.
The students would have been thankful they could not hear his roar, had they known what it sounded like.
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Xiaolang walked down his route, checking for straddlers, though his mind couldn't help but wonder back. "Judai didn't check Johan's Rainbow Dragon. Yubel's powers could have done the job and he's more experienced than me. What changed?" He suddenly stopped, looking at the poster he'd almost walked past. "Judai's facing him? Oh damn I wanna see that. Maybe aside from me, he's the strongest first year. Judai...be careful. His deck is not to be taken lightly." He smiled. "Though you'll like him if I know you."
Xiaolang's head turned at the sound of footsteps. Someone had walked out in front of him. He held down the 'talk' button of his radio. "Sosuke."
The arrogant obelisk had his duel disk with him. "You." He activated it. "Duel me."
Xiaolang watched as Sosuke placed his duel disk in his deck zone, and he could see a faint dark energy around it. "Draygor suspects something." He deliberately raised his voice, loud enough to suggest something so the others would suspect. "If you want an ass kicking then lets go!"
Xiaolang activated his duel disk.
"Duel!"
Xiaolang flipped his Radio to 'off'. "Let's see how much Draygor knows."
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O'Brian held up his radio. "Change route."
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Judai looked at the arena's entrance. Asuka was standing there, and suddenly signalled him. "Someone was walking around. I need to drag this out."
"And now presenting Judai Yuki's opponent, a fellow Hero duellist! Koyo Hibiki!"
The crowd roared as Judai's latest opponent walked onto the field. For a second, Judai understood just why the crowds were cheering so loudly. "First year. Red coat. That look in his eyes..." He smiled. "Reminds me of me."
The similarities between them ended there. His eyes were a bright blue and his hair a deep black. Their hair styles were also completely different. He can remember someone saying his hair looked like a Kuriboh once upon a time. The boys before him kept his hair flat for the most part, but it spiked and out in random directions once it reached it's forehead. He was a long haired person, with his hair going down to the back of his neck. He kept his coat zipped closed, with both buttons clasped shut as well. 'Neat' would have been a way to describe the kid before him. The boy spoke. "Lets go, Judai!"
Judai nodded. He liked this kid. "Yeah, Koyo!"
"Duel!"
(Both players LP/4000)
Koyo picked up a card. "Draw!" He smiled.
Judai felt a strange rush of excitement building in him. "It's like fighting Johan for the first time again, but different. Why?"
That question was something Koyo was about to answer. "I summon Elemental Hero Woodsman!".
Judai's face was a mixture of joy and curiosity as the Hero appeared. It was not an Elemental Hero Judai had used or even seen before. It's appearance was true to it's namesake. It almost looked like a half tree, half green-skinned man. It's right shoulder even had a series of branches growing out of it. The whole right side of it's body was wood, except for the chest where more of it's chest was green skin upon a very strong upper body.. It's choice of clothing was made of brown fur, a giant rag of it attached to a belt was covering it's unmentionables. Aside from the fur that went from it's feet to just below it's knees, it was completely naked otherwise. The creature was bald, but upon it's face were a series of lines that appeared to be made of wood as well. The creature's expression was calm, it's red glowing eyes seeming to be almost bored. This was a Hero Judai had never heard of. (Defence position. ATK/1000 DEF/2000)
Judai was over the moon. "A hero deck! Amazing. I've never seen this Hero before. Do you have more?"
Koyo nodded. "Plenty." He picked up a second card. "I set one card and end my turn. Alright Judai, let's see your Heroes!"
"Draw!" Judai took a moment to consider what his first move would be. "I Summon elemental Hero Clayman!" The ever defending Hero appeared, it's pose mirroring it's opponent as it started him down. (Defence position. ATK/800 DEF/2000). "I set one card. Turn end."
As the crowds cheered, and as he stared his opponent down he couldn't but think back. All the way back to his first year, back when he was just a newbie with a deck of Heroes. For a brief moment he could see himself in his first year through Kaiser's eyes.
A newbie with a lot of attitude, and likely the skills to back it up. "Guess I can see how far I came in my time here with him."
Koyo pulled a card from his deck. "I activate the effect of my Woodsman. During my Standby phase, I can add a copy of Polymerization from my deck to my hand." He pulled out his deck, parting it before picking out a seemingly random card from it.
"His Elemental Heroes can fuse too?"
"Time for me to fusion summon, Judai. I know the kind of monsters you can make. Let me show you some of mine. I activate Polymerization!" He revealed two monsters from his hand. "I fuse Elemental Hero Flash, and Elemental Hero Voltic." With a mix of nostalgia and wonder, Judai watched as the two unfamiliar Heroes fell into the spiral that appeared. "Fusion summon! Elemental Hero Shimmer Soldier!" The Hero arrived in a ball of flashing light, which quickly expanded. For a brief moment Judai could not see anything beyond the light. The light started to dissipate, showing a new Elemental Hero.
The Hero's skin almost seemed to be made of Diamond. It's upper body was completely nude, with both of it's strong arms hanging at it's sides. It was glowing, something on the inside somehow making it glow. Judai could not see what was making the energy, only that it was beneath the Diamond skin. It's lower body was covered by a Hakama that appeared to be made of Diamond as well. Despite being made of Diamond, Judai could tell the Hakama could be moved like cloth. Perhaps Diamonds had been woven into cloth and placed on him. Judai didn't know or care. Judai took a look at it's face. All of the facial features were made of Diamond as well, include the two large Diamonds that functioned as it's eyes. (Attack position. ATK/2000 DEF/1800)
Judai was ecstatic. "So your Elemental Heroes can fuse too. This is going to be amazing. Elemental Hero VS Different Elemental Heroes!"
Koyo nodded. "The Nature Elemental Heroes." His smile slipped slightly. "Against your Heroes and...Neo-Spaicans."
Judai noticed Koyo's sudden change of tone. Specifically the way he'd said 'Neo Spacian'. "Is there something wrong with my Neo Spacians?"
"I just don't see how you can call yourself a Hero duellist when you're using them. They're not Heroes, they're aliens!"
Judai frowned. "Just because I use Neo Spacians, doesn't mean I'm not a hero duellist. It just means I use Elemental Heroes and Neo Spacians." He locked down at his deck, smiling fondly. "My Heroes, I'll never stop using them. Just as I'll never abandon the Neo Spacians. They are my cards, my deck." He looked back up at Koyo, his eyes suddenly hardened. "I won't let anyone say I'm abandoning either! I'll fight you with all the power of my deck! Elemental Heros and Neo Spacians!"
"Then let's see how strong you are! I summon Elemental Hero Heat!" The Hero was dressed in a mixture of red, silver and gold. It wore very thick arm guards, almost like gauntlets except they did not come with a glove section. The side of the gloves closest to the heroes hands were gold, but if one were to trail their eyes down the gloves it would suddenly turn red. The gloves were meant to represent fire. It's arms were either painted or covered in gold clothing. It wore shoulder guards. They were red, with silver outlines. It;s neck wad gold as well, with some gold trim painted on it's face. It wore some kind of crown on it's head, shaped in a way that reminded Judai of a bat. There was a gold, oval jewel in the centre of it's head piece. Judai's briefly trailed the Heroes chest and was reminding of fire. Like the fire that the hero was holding in both of his hands. "Heat" suited the hero. (Attack position. ATK/1600 DEF/1200)
"My Hero has an effect. For every "Elemental Hero" I control, it gains 200 attack points!" (ATK/2200) "Heat! Destroy Clayman! Burst Shot!" Elemental Hero Heat raised both his hands, combining both the fire from both it;s hands into a fireball before firing it at Clayman.
Clayman had no chance to do anything to defend itself as a blast of flame struck it. All it could do was scream for the brief moment that passed before it exploded. Judai covered his face as the smoke passed though him. "Such strong Elemental Heroes. But my Hero deck can face them." The smoke was gone, and Judai was ready to make a move. "Reverse card open! Hero Signal!" Judai grinned as the card emitted the symbol depicted on it. "You're a fellow Hero duellist, so you know what this card does. Because Clayman was destroyed by battle, I can summon another Elemental Hero monster from my hand or deck as long it's level is below 5. I summon Elemental Hero Bubbleman!" Bubbleman kneeled as he arrived on the field. (Defence position. ATK/800 DEF/1200)
"When I summon Elemental Hero Bubbman and I control no other cards, I can draw 2 from my deck."
"Heh. This is why I wanted to face you, Judai. I've always wanted to set my Nature Elemental Heroes against the traditional. And no one can use them better than you."
Judai rubbed the back of his neck as he grinned. "Thanks Koyo." He stopped, looking his opponent in the eye. "I'm not going to hold back. Your hero deck is going to be one of my very best opponents. I've faced other Hero decks before, but nothing like yours. So give me all you got."
Koyo nodded. "I will. Shimmer Soldier! Destroy Bubbleman! Brightest Rage!" Shimmer Soldier got brighter and brighter. Then the light was suddenly shed from him. Like it was just a skin the light moved from the hero, still in the shape of it's origin as it shot towards Bubbleman. It touched him.
They exploded.
Koyo grinned. "I set one card and end my turn."
Judai nodded. "My turn. Draw!" He smiled, revealing his drawn card to Koyo. "I activate Polymerization." He revealed two more cards in his hand. "I fuse Elemental Heroes Sparkman and Necroshade to fusion summon Elemental Hero Darkbright!" The Elemental Hero crackled with dark power as he appeared, clenching his fists as the flow spiked. Darkbright was ready for battle. (Attack position. ATK/2000 DEF/1000) "Now Koyo, I'll show you how my Neo Spacians fight alongside my Elemental Heroes, I activate Common Soul. First I select a monster I control, then I can special summon a Neo Spcian from my hand to that monsters side of the field. I choose Darkbright. Now I special summon Neo Spacian Dark Panther!" A red-eyed, cape wearing panther growled as it appeared on the field. (Defence position ATK/1000 DEF/500)
Koyo looked the panther in the eye, his mind wandering. "So this is a Neo Spacian."
"There's one more effect to my spell card, Koyo, Common Soul raises the selected monsters attack power by the attack power of the monster I summoned." (Darkbright ATK/3000) "I activate Dark Panther's effect! Once per turn, I can select one monster you control, and Dark Panther will copy it's name and effects!" The Neo Spaican quickly changed into a pile of sludge, but quickly changed it's form and size. Seconds later a copy of Elemental Hero Heat was sitting on Judai's side of the field. "Elemental Hero Heat's effect now works for me." ("Heat" ATK/1200. Darkbright ATK/3200) "Koyo. My Elemental Heroes and Neo Spaicans fight as one. Now they will attack as one! Darkbright, attack Heat! Dark Flash!"
The blast of blackened energy was beyond the power of the countering blaze to stop. The fire was nullified in an instant before the blast hit it's target, destroying Heat in a befitting blaze. (Koyo LP/3000) Koyo was glad the smoke was hiding his shock as he had his head lowered and arm raised to guard against the blaze.. "These Neo Spacians are stronger than I thought. To be able to gain this kind of power." He raised his head as the smoke cleared. "But his mixed deck wont beat my Elemental Heroes!" "Reverse Card Open! Hero Signal! Like you I'll summon a level 4 Water attribute Hero. Elemental Hero Ocean!" This Hero could be mistaken for a humanoid fish at first glance. There were strong armor-like sections across it's upper chest. They were either armor, or were the Heroes scales. What parts of it's body were not scales was a navy blue. The waist of the beast was definitely covered by armor. Which was shaped into three layers on each of the outer sides of it's legs. It's knees were armored too, with birght gold knee guards attached to the armor. The Hero's choice of weapon was different from any other Hero Judai had known. It was a spear, with a crescent moon shaped blade that was held there by the handle of the spear, which was wrapped around the centre of the spear. There were several jewels encrusted throughout the spear, but Judai wasn't really interested in the jewels. (Defence position. ATK/1500 DEF/1200)
Despite his good move, Koyo's mind was troubled. "Judai. I know Darkbright's effect to inflict Piercing Damage. Why didn't you attack my Woodsman. You could have inflicted more damage to me and stopped me adding Polymerizations to my hand."
Judai's eyes closed as he smiled to himself. "Darkbright changes to Defence position now." (DEF/1000) "I set one card. And I activate Take Over 5! I must send the top 5 cards from the top of my deck to the graveyard." He pulled the 5 out, glancing at them briefly before they were shifted into his graveyard one by one. "Koyo, I attacked Heat because you would take the least damage from it. I don't want this match to end before I can see the full power of your Heroes! Turn end." "I wont tell him I'm trying to stall as well."
Koyo smiled. "I want to see your power too, Judai." "Alright then Judai! I'll show you the power of my deck! Draw!" He pulled out his deck again. "Woodsman will give me another Polymerization." He pulled it out, shuffling his deck before placing it back. "Elemental Hero Ocean has an effect to activate during my standby phase as well. I can return 1 Elemental Hero from either my field or my graveyard to my hand. I choose to add Elemental Hero Heat to my hand." He picked the Hero monster out of his graveyard, moving it to his hand then moving to another card. "I summon another Elemental Hero. Elemental Hero Lady Heat." Lady heat was dressed differently from her counterpart. While her male counterpart was dressed in armor, this hero was clearly less concerned. Her arm guards seemed to be more for decoration, at least they would have been had there not been fire somehow attached to them. Her face was the most Human out of all of Koyo's heroes so far. In fact, it was completely human. She had focused blue eyes and very long gold hair. (Attack position. ATK/1300 DEF/1000)
"I move Woodsman and Ocean to Attack position." (Woodsman ATK/1000. Ocean ATK/1500) "Now I'll attack Elemental Hero Darkbright with Lady Heat. Blaze Stream!" The female Hero waved her arms, and the fire from her arm guards flowed out, forming a river which coursed itself across the field, flowing across to Darkbright. The here didn't scream at first, but was just too shocked as the fire ripped through his legs. The situation struck him, the fire was destroying everything it touched and the Hero was drowning in the fire. Finally, it screamed, reaching up with both it's hands for anything that would save it.
Nothing did, yet his vengeance would live on. "Darkbright's effect activates now! When it's destroyed..." The fire had faded, but a cloud of dust still remained. "I can destroy one monster you control! I choose Shimmer Soldier." The dust-like phantom made it's way across the field, wrapping it's form around Shimmer Soldier. The Hero punched at the phenomenon that bored itself upon him, but a suddenly explosion put an end to the struggle.
Some would be disheartened by the destruction of their strongest monster, some would rush to try and rectify the loss of their monster, but some, like Koyo, grinned.
"Elemental Hero Shimmer Soldier has two effects. Effect one! When destroyed, I can special summon one of the monsters I used as materiel to summon him. I summon Elemental Hero Flash!" A hero dressed in blue, with a lightning bolt symbol running down it's helmet appeared. It was glowing, energy crackling from his form. His eyes were covered by a metal visor. (Attack position. ATK/1100 DEF/1600) A second flash appeared. "Shimmer Solider's second effect activates. If destroyed by a card effect, I can special summon any Elemental Hero from my graveyard, except him. So I summon the other Elemental Hero in my graveyard, Voltic!"
Like the Hero before, this Hero had a symbol of a lightning bolt on it's helmet. Though unlike the hero before it, it's symbol was a piece of metal attached to the helmet. This Hero's clothing was violet, with pieces of Gray metal wrapped around it's arms. There was also a symbol of lightning on it's belt as well, which made this Hero's appearance all the more fitting to it's powers. Both of it's hands were raised, a series strings made of electricity connected them. (Attack position. ATK/1000 DEF/1500)
Judai kept his calm, and raised his hand as a line of black energy shot into it, forming a card. "Because you destroyed Darkbright, Common Soul returns Black Panther to my hand."
"So you're wide open."
"Yeah." Judai laughed. "Guess I am."
Koyo nodded. "Ocean! Flash! Voltic! Woodsman! Direct attack!"
Judai briefly recalled the last time he'd suffered a direct attack from a gang of Hero monsters. It was not an experience he was looking to endure again. "Reverse card open. Flute of Summoning Kuriboh! I can special summon Winged Kuriboh from my deck!" "Kuri Kuri!" (Defence position. ATK/300 DEF/200)
"Woodsman!" "KURIIIII!" The Kuriboh closed it's eyes as a wooden fist collided with it. Judai was left alone again. Though this time he had nothing left to defend himself.
Well, almost nothing. "During the turn Winged Kuriboh is destroyed, I take no damage."
Koyo blinked. "He's as good as they say. Strange, he's using non-Hero monsters. But he's getting the better of me. Can his deck keep fighting this well?" "Turn end." Koyo's words didn't stop his female Hero making a move however.
The arena watched as Elemental Hero Lady Heat was suddenly ablaze, raising both her hands while a miniature sun was growing in her hand. Only after a few seconds did Koyo speak. "During my end phase, Lady Heat inflicts 200 points of damage to my opponent for every Elemental Hero I am in control of. Right now I have four, that's 800 points!" The ball of fire was shot at Judai, hitting him and exploding before he even had the chance to put up his guard.
When it finally cleared Judai was standing and grinning. "Did you forget about Winged Kuriboh? It negates every kind of damage." (LP/4000) "Nice try, Koyo" Now it was his turn to inflict some damage. "If I hadn't had Winged Kuriboh, I would have lost this turn." His smile slipped slightly. "It's been a while since I could just enjoy a duel. It seems like every time I put an end to one evil. Another appears. But this one. I know it, at least I should. My last life is so much of a mystery to me. I can remember so little of it." He saw an image of a golden eyed version of himself. "Do I even want to remember that?" He turned to look at Asuka, who was still standing outside the arena. "Have I given them enough time? I don't think I can stall for very much longer against Koyo." Asuka looked at her radio for a second, then turned back to Judai. She nodded.
He grinned. "At least I can go all out now." He put a hand on his deck. "Come on, Neos. Let's show Koyo the power of Neo Space!" "Draw!" He placed the card in his left hand before placing his right back on his deck. "Take Over 5 effect activate. When it's in my graveyard during my standby phase, I can remove it from play to draw 1 card. But before I do that, one of the cards I sent from my deck to the graveyard was another Take Over 5. I remove both of them from the game." They ejected themselves from his graveyard. "Draw!" He placed his two Take over fives back in his deck box, they were useless to him now. Unlike the cards he held. "I activate Convert Contact! When I control no monsters, I can discard one Neo Spaican from my hand, then move one from my deck to the graveyard." He discarded his Black Panther, then opened his deck to move another unknown Neo Spacian from his deck to his graveyard. "Now I can draw two cards. Draw!" He picked up one card from his hand. "Let's go, Neos." "Koyo! Time for you to see my ace monster. I activate Necroshades effect. Because he's in my graveyard, I can normal summon a level 5 or higher Elemental Hero from my hand a single time without a tribute." He slammed a card into a monster card zone. "Elemental Hero Neos!" Neos appeared on the field standing completely alone, yet in it's proud stance as it stood between Judai and his opponents. Due to the lack of almost all facial features, it was impossible to determine what Neos was thinking about the Heroes in front of him. (Attack position. ATK/2500 DEF/2000)
Koyo was awed as he looked at the monster before him. "So this is your ace monster..." "So like him..." Koyo smiled. "I can't wait to set you against Terra Firma!" "Let's go, Judai! Show me the power of Neos!"
Judai grinned. "Prepare yourself! Spell Card Activate! Cocoon Party! For every Neo Spacian in my graveyard, I can special summon A Chrysalis monster from my deck. I have Neo Spaican Black Panther I sent with Convert Contact, plus the Neo Spaician Glow Moss I sent along with him. Also, when I activated Take Over 5, Neo Spacian Aqua Dolphin was sent at the same time. I have three. So I can summon three Chrysalis monsters from my deck. I summon Chrysalis Chicky!" A tiny bird appeared, standing inside some kind of shell. Though with the holes in it's structure, one had to wonder how it didn't collapse under gravity. (Defence position ATK/600 DEF/400) "Chrysalis Mole" A very young mole appeared, too young to hold the drill it would one day use. (Defence position ATK/700 DEF/100) "Chrysalis Larva!" Unlike it's allies, this child bore no resemblance to it's adult form. Instead it appeared to be an oddly colored, seemingly intelligent caterpillar with a horn. (Defence position ATK/300 DEF/300)
There may have been three of them, but children could not fight this battle, and Judai was not about to let them. "Contact! For every Chrysalis I tribute, I can special summon the Neo Spacian written on each of their card texts. I summon Neo Spcian Air Hummingbird!" The chicks shell shrunk, combining with the chick inside as it grew into it's adult form (Defence position. ATK/800 DEF/600) "Neo Spacian Grand Mole!" The Mole did the same, it's weapon of choice materializing on it's shoulders. (Defence position. ATK/900 DEF/300) "Neo Spcian Flare Scarab!" The Caterpillar was transformed into a humanoid scarab, which was kneeled with it's arms crossed. (Defence position. ATK/500 DEF/500) "Neo Spacian Air Hummingbird effect activate! Once per turn, for every card in your hand, I gain 500 life points." Koyo watched as flowers grew from the three cards in his hand, the Neo Spacian took their nectar from them. (Judai LP/5500) Judai grabbed the last card in his hand, showing it. "Space Gift! For every Neo Spacian I control, I can draw 1 card. I control three, so that's three new cards. Draw."
As Judai looked at his drawn cards, Koyo thought to himself. "Such resourcefulness. I can see why he uses the Neo Spacians. Is this what you can do when you mix card styles." He looked down at his deck. "Then what will my deck be? Can I get any better if I keep my deck like this?"
Koyo had no more time to think as Judai continued. "I set two cards." He grinned. "You really want to see the power of Neos, Koyo?"
"Hell yeah!"
"Then here it comes! When Elemental Hero Neos is on the field with Neo Spacians, he can fuse with them. But he doesn't need any fusion cards. Watch, Koyo. Watch my Heroes perform Contact Fusion!"
"Contact Fusion?"
"Elemental Hero Neos! Grand Mole! Flare Scarab! Triple Contact Fusion!" The designated monsters shot up into the galaxy that appeared. In a second they could no longer be seen, all that could was light.
Something shot out from that light.
"Come Forth! Elemental Hero Magma Neos!" The fused hero appeared, it's left arm molten with the magma trying to hard to escape. (Attack position. ATK/3000 DEF/2500) Judai placed another card in his Spell/Trap zone. "I activate the Equip Spell Instant Neo Space!" A portal to the place the Neo Spacians called home appeared beneath Magma Neos's feet. "Magma Neos has a very powerful effect, he's one of my strongest Heroes. For every single card on the field, he gains 400 attack points. There are five cards on your field, and five on mine. That's a 4000 point bonus!" (Manga Neos ATK/7000).
Koyo felt his body take a step back in awe. "7000 points? The power of Neos is incredible!"
"Koyo! This is the power of the Neo Spacians! Magma Neos! Attack Elemental Hero Ocean, Super Heat Meteor!" The Hero raised it's burning hand, and in it's palm grew a small sun. The sounds of burning were the most noticeable thing of all, the power of this attack could be heard. Despite it's sheer power, no one thought to shed pity for Koyo. Magma Neos threw it's attack.
Koyo would let the attack hit. "Reverse card open! Hero Barrier!"
The small sun collided with a barrier, exploding on impact. The area around it burned as the fires struck everything in it's path. Soon the attack was nothing more than a memory. A memory that burned itself out. Judai had no other moves to make. "Turn end. Normally Magma Neos is forced to return to the fusion deck at my end phase. But Instant Neo Space keeps Magma Neos on the field. It's your turn." "Koyo...you're about to turn the tide of this game. I really did try to end the duel there. Heh. Just like me. I wonder if this is how people have felt while duelling me over the years. My style is pretty troublesome. Though, mine and Koyo's are not quite the same."
"Judai. The power of these Neo Spacians. Of Neos. I didn't think it was this strong. It doesn't matter though. I know I have the power to fight you." He placed a hand on his deck. "Come on. My Heroes." "Draw!" He pulled out and parted his deck. "I add my last Polymerization!" With the spell added, he smiled. He was ready. "I activate Polymerization. I fuse Elemental Hero Woodsman, with Elemental Hero Ocean!" The heroes of the woods and oceans vanished, the powers of the Heroes were joining. "You showed me Neos, I will show you my Ace Hero. I summon Elemental Hero Terra Firma!"
Judai almost mistook the monster before him for another. Yet a closer look revealed the truth. The build was similar. Strong, tall, with clothing that hid all of it's skin. There was a red jewel in the centre of it's chest. There was a series of raised patterns. Patterns that Judai didn't understand the meaning of, not that he found them important. His attention was focused on it's head and shoulders, all of which were each covered by some kind of dome structure. The domes were a deep blue, perhaps Violet. Despite the differences, Judai could think only a single thing. "Neos..." (Attack position. ATK/2500 DEF/2000)
"Is this Koyo's ace monster? It looks so much like Neos. But is it as strong?"
"I summon Elemental Hero Heat again!" The familiar Hero appeared, it's hands already holding flame. (Attack position. ATK/1600 DEF/1200) "You remember his effect." The fires burned brighter. (ATK/2600) "But it's not his you have to worry about. It's time for the powers of Terra Firma to manifest! The power of all Elemental Heroes are one with him! Behold, I tribute Elemental Hero Heat!" The fires in the hands of Heat grew, quickly devouring the entire body of their wielder. The hero was silent as he was completely devoured, the fire moving of it's own accord. The fire shot off in lines, becoming one with Terra Firma. The Hero glowed with the burning aura of it's sacrifice. (Firma ATK/5100) "Terra Firma absorbs the attack points of the Hero I sacrificed."
Some would be surprised by this effect. Others would be scared. Some would surrender right there. Judai wasn't "some" or "others". "Wow! How many times can you use that effect?"
"As many times as I have Elemental Heroes to tribute for it! I tribute the remaining three! Voltic, Flash and Lady Heat!" The Lady became fire as her male counterpart had become before. The other two Heroes were reduced to crackling energy. Terra Firma held out his arms as he roared, his aura growing, it too now crackling with power. (Firma ATK/8500.) "Don't forget that Magma Neos attack power has been dropping with every sacrifice I have made." (ATK/5400) "Terra Firma. Destroy Magma Neos! Magma Slash!" Magma Neos ran forward, pulling it's arm back across it's waist. Magma Neos responded to the Hero with with it's clawed hand, slashing at Terra Firmas face. He ducked, slashing his hand across Magma Neos's waist like his hand was a blade. Magma Neos screamed before he exploded.
Judai shielded himself with his arms. "What power." (Judai LP/1900) "These Nature Elemental Heroes. I'll fight them again one day." "I can take more Koyo! But before you continue. Instant Neo Space effect Activates! When the equipped monster is destroyed, it Special Summons Elemental Hero Neos from my deck. Now return, my ace monster!" A flash of light shot out from the portal, hitting the ceiling before shooting itself back down. It formed..."Elemental Hero Neos!" Neos got into a battle ready stance as it stared down the hero that appeared oh so similar to it. (Attack position. ATK/2500 DEF/2000) "It's your ace against mine, Koyo!"
"I set two card and end my turn. Judai, at this point, Terra Firmas attack points are returned to normal." The Hero's aura faded. (ATK/2500). "Our monsters are even now. It's your turn."
"Koyo, I'm going to end this duel soon. That was your only chance to win." "Draw." He placed his drawn card in his field spell zone. "Neo Space!" The arena was gone, replaced by a world of color. The world of the neo Spacians was more than just a portal this time. "Here, Elemental Hero Neos and all monsters that he is fused with gain 500 attack points." (Neos ATK/3000) "Neos! Battle!" Neos took to the air, raising it's hand to strike down it's fellow hero. "Wrath of Neos!"
"Reverse Card Open. Negate Attack." Neos only found a barrier stopping him from attacking. He could not continue this battle.
Though this did not mean Judai was powerless to do anything. "You can't stop me that easily!" "I activate Air Hummingbirds effect." The flower grew once more from the only card in Koyo's hand, the Hummingbird taking it's nectar for itself. (LP/2400) "Turn end."
"Draw!" "This is my last turn. I have to defeat Neos now or I might lose." He revealed his drawn card to Judai. "Hope of Fifth! I can shuffle Elemental Hero monsters from my graveyard into my deck, then draw 2 cards. I return Elemental Heroes Heat, Lady Heat, Ocean, Voltic and Shimmer Soldier." He spent a minute shuffling his cards. "Draw! I summon Elemental Hero Stratos!" Out of all the Elemental Heroes, this was the most strangely dressed in Judai's opinion. Not a single inch of this monsters skin was exposed (well perhaps it's legs, but Judai couldn't tell if that was his actual skin or just Gray-colored clothing). It's clothing seemed to be mostly composed of metal, it's boots, the knee guards as well as it's armor. The single strangest thing about the hero was the wing-like structures he was wearing. Each had a propeller upon them, likely what granted this Hero flight, if it could fly at all. (Attack position ATK/1800 DEF/300)
"When Stratos is summoned, I can choose one of two effects to activate. I choose the second, I can add one Elemental Hero from my deck to my hand. I add Elemental Hero Ocean. Now Judai I play my last Polymerization! I fuse Elemental Heroes Ocean and Ice Edge!" The two Heroes of the Water attribute appeared, fusing before Judai could get a good look at "Ice Edge".
This new fused Hero was different from any he had seen before. The Heroes skin was made of ice. What skin that wasn't covered by clothing on either side of the body was see-through. Being made of ice, the Hero seemed to have no need for organs, there was a huge hole in the bottom of it's lower stomach. Why it was there was a mystery to Judai. It's choice of clothing was simple. It wore aqua blue arm and shoulder guards. It wore a scarf, a thick white woolly scarf around his neck. It was too large for the Heroes neck, so it fell down the front of it's chest. It's lower body was deformed compared to the rest of it's body. While it's upper body appeared almost perfectly like a human ice sculpture, it's lower clearly had no attention paid to it while it was made. Both of it's legs surfaces were serrated, top to ankle. Touching the surface of it's legs would get ones hand cut. The nature of the serration made it impossible to determine any other physical detail on the Heroes body, so clothes were unnecessary, yet somehow made it impossible to see through the legs of the hero. It's body was it's clothing in this case. The Hero's face was void of almost an feature, aside from the sapphire colored orbs that it used for eyes.
Koyo revealed it's name. " Elemental Hero Frostbite." (Attack position. ATK/1700 DEF/1500) "Now I offer Frostbite and Stratos as tribute, and make their powers one with Terra Firma." This time Terra Firmas aura was a mixture of blue and green. (ATK/6000)
"6000 attack?"
"And it's all coming for you! Terra Firma, attack Neos!" Terra Firma clenched it's fists. It was preparing to jump...
"Reverse Card Open! Soul Union! I must select one Elemental Hero I control, I choose Neos. Now I can remove one Elemental Hero in my graveyard from play. All of it's attack power will be given to Neos. I remove Elemental Hero Magma Neos!" (ATK/6000) "Fight back, Neos!" Both Heroes jumped up, briefly standing in mid-air to pull back their fists, gathering all their power for the attack to come.
"Wrath of Neos!"
"Magma Slash!"
They struck, and in a heartbeat no one could see a thing. The Blues an Greens of Terra Firmas attack clashed with the powers of Neos and Neo Space. No one was sure how long it took, but the light eventually started to fade.
When the light from the battle finally faded, both heroes were shown to be still standing in midair. In the battle both had tried to punch one another in the face, and were now stationary in midair, each with a fist in their face.
Almost. Something was stopping each fist from reaching. Everyone was transfixed at the moment that had been almost frozen for them. Two great Heroes in battle against one another, their attacks so very close. It was like the battle was on pause, but you just had to see what they warriors looked like the half second before the blows landed, when the warriors were at their mentally strongest. To see the focus of the warriors focus before the impact.
Though this battle would never be put on 'play'. Not that the duellists in this match cared.
They were too busy laughing. Judai was the first to gather himself for long enough to say something.
"Amazing! There was no way we could have timed that better."
"Yugi couldn't of timed that better." They finally stopped laughing and grinned, speaking at the same time.
"Hero Shield effect activate!" The Heroes parted, falling down to their sides of the field. "My Hero is not destroyed by battle." Both copies of Hero Shield shattered, their effects used up.
Koyo had no other moves to make, Judai had beaten him. "I guess I was wrong. You can mix decks together and be strong. Be loyal to your deck." He smiled. "This was a good duel." "Turn end." (Firma ATK/2500)
"Draw!" "You're strong, Koyo." "Neos! Battle!" Neos glided across the field, a hand raised. Terra Firma didn't move. It would not try to evade the inevitable. It was a Hero, it would face this end with honor. "Wrath of Neos!" Neos struck, his hand carving into his fellow Hero like a knife against butter. Terra Firma exploded.
Koyo was still smiling as the explosions backlash passed over him. "Judai. I'll get strong enough to match you one day!" (LP/0) When the smoke passed he could see Judai with a hand raised, in a pose he had not seen before.
"Gotcha!"
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Sosuke was forced to step back as a monster in front of him exploded. (LP/200) He barely had time to register his opponents next words. "Swallow Cut!" Sosuke could not see it, but he felt the feeling of a sword slashing at his chest.
Sosuke suddenly collapsed, Draygor growing tired of controlling him, now there was only a shadow standing over the falling first year, despite being made of darkened mist, it's form was clearly a representative of the Emissary. "What are you and the other humans up to, boy?"
Xiaolang took a breath before responding, the presence of Draygor, he could feel it now as he had once before. It was downright terrifying. Xiaolang wondered if this is what everyone who had died at the creatures hands felt before they died. He shed the thought, he was stronger now, and strong enough to deal with the mere phantom before him. He smiled. "Can't figure it out?"
The phantom growled. "Don't you mock me, human. I have devoured many much stronger than you."
Xiaolang actually chuckled. He had to admit it was kinda funny mocking a monster that couldn't really do anything to him but speak. "Then eat me."
Draygor had no eyes that were visible, but Xiaolang couldn't escape the feeling that Draygor's eyes were narrowing. "I will." The phantom lost it's form, becoming a shapeless black mist before retreating. Xiaolang did not chase it, he had no idea how to kill it. Well, maybe he could kill that portion of Draygor, but the creature was everywhere across the campus. It was like a hive mind now, you could kill one Bee but ultimately killing one meant nothing.
He could only walk away.
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Judai walked out of the arena to meet Asuka, Xiaolang's voice coming from her radio.
"Draygor knows we're up to something, but he has no idea what."
The beginnings of a brightened mood were crushed by the news. After all their effort to hide their endeavours, Draygor had noticed. The creature would not permit this to continue for long. Soon, soon they would have to fight.
Judai looked down at his deck, for the first time in a while a new resolve was in his heart. He was not afraid, not even in the slightest. "It doesn't matter if no one will tell me about Draygor. I'll find a way to fight and defeat him. I've defeated evil before, and I'll do it again."
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End of Chapter
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Today's Strongest Card
Elemental Hero Terra Firma
Monster
EARTH
8
Warrior/Fusion/Effect
ATK/2500 DEF/2000
"Elemental Hero Ocean" + "Elemental Hero Woodsman"
This card cannot be Special Summoned except by Fusion Summon. You can Tribute 1 face-up "Elemental Hero" monster to have this card gain ATK equal to the the Tributed monster's ATK until the End Phase.
Commentary: Koyo
"My ace and favourite monster. The power of all the Elemental Heroes is one with him."
Author's notes: This chapter's duel was in memoriam of Yu-gi-oh GX. With the manga over (at least in Japan) the entire GX series is officially over, left to live on in memory and the thousands of fan fics that lurk on the net.
Good news: From next chapter onwards, I'm moving the book out of this tournament arc. It's been interesting to write out some good duels, but I (and I think you guys too) want to get to some action. My apologies to everyone who made a request that didn't get shown and thanks to everyone who voted. If nothing else, I have suggestions to use in later chapters if I run out of my own ideas.
Request:
A friend of mine is trying to apply for a free scholarship, but she needs votes. If you got the time, please follow the link on my profile and vote for her. It would mean a lot to her. It'll only take a minute at most. Thanks guys.