A New Duelist Legend

by AngelOfBlades

The Assault on Duel Academy: As East Duel Academy is under siege from the forces of the dark, unexpected heroes my rise... and fall. The games are over. The war has begun.

19. Last Will

Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh GX.

A/N: I do apologize for the massive break I've been on, but it was necessary. I just did a midyear change to a boarding school with only six days notice. Before that, I had two weeks with at least ten appointments each. I've been very busy, and haven't had much time for writing. Hopefully now that things are a little more settled down, I'll be able to write more. Anyway, on with the fic!

Yu-Gi-Oh GX - A New Duelist Legend

Chapter 19 - Last Will

Jaden shook his head and placed the note from Vincent on his desk. He had read it over a dozen times, and he still couldn't wrap his head around the enormity of everything it meant. He sighed and picked the note up again. "One more time couldn't hurt, I guess."

Jaden Yuki,

If you're reading this, then you have defeated me, and I'm likely already dead. Congratulations. At this point, you're probably wondering what this note is about, so I'll explain.

As you already know, I am a student at West Academy in Europe. However, what you don't know is that West Academy is different from the other three Cardinal Academies. On the surface, it is the same - a place for young hopefuls to learn how to duel. The inside, however, is another story entirely. It teaches dueling in the harshest manner possible: survival of the fittest.

You probably have no idea what I mean, so I'll tell you how it works. Every duel with a member of your class at West Academy is worth a point, which goes to the winner. Everything costs points a West Academy: food, beds, even bathroom access. If you lose, you starve.

That's how it is among the lowest class of duelists, anyway. If you manage to horde enough points, then you can buy your way into the second class of duelists, where you are guaranteed humane living conditions. Unfortunately, these duelist's discs are fitted with electroshock devices that, if you lose, zap you with enough electricity to keep you off your feet for two days. And you have to constantly pay points to stay in the second class, so you have to duel.

Some students, myself included, manage to enter the third class. In the third class, you no longer have to duel each other. These are the students that are sent to tournaments the world over. And in the third class, the penalty for losing is death. The losers are taken to the bowels of the Academy, and never come out.

You may be wondering how West Academy keeps all this under wraps. It's really very simple: not a single student that has ever applied to West Academy has gotten in. Instead, every couple of months a giant helicopter comes to the Academy, bearing dozens of new students. I don't know where they come from, I only know the man who commands the helicopter is not someone to be trifled with... a man in a black mask, who calls himself Nightshroud. If you ever encounter him, run. He has a dark power unlike any I've ever seen.

I have survived in this system, and I know that I cannot defeat it. At least, not by myself. This is where you come in. Jaden Yuki, I charge you to stop them. West Academy destroys people's lives, all in the name of creating perfect duelists. In my time there, I have gathered evidence as to what West Academy really is. The evidence was too large to bring with me, so I hid it within West Academy. There are directions to its location on the back of this sheet. In order to reach it, you must get inside West Academy, and I have an idea about how to do so.

As a side event to the Pro League World Championships, various dueling schools compete in the Junior World Championships. The winners of the tournament, as well as the official reward, traditionally can ask a favor of one of the losers. You can use this favor to gain entry to West Academy and retrieve the evidence. I implore you to help me. And, if my pleas are not enough, there is a very rare card mixed in with the evidence, the sort that any duelist would want.

Regardless, you may use that cards in this case however you choose. Virtually every single E-Hero and fusion support card in existence is in this case, as well as a great deal of general support cards. I will have taken my real deck with me to my grave, however. At this point, I can only hope you accept my plea.

Tell as few people as possible about this, and certainly not anyone in a position of authority. West Academy's information network is extensive, and if they catch even the slightest whiff of this, they'll strike first to eliminate the threat. May luck be with you, Jaden Yuki.

Vincent

Jaden sighed and thought back to his duel with Nightshroud. "Does that mean he was trying to take me and Chazz to West Academy?" He leaned back in his chair and stared at the ceiling. "And did I really... get Vincent killed?"

At that moment, the door slammed inward, causing Jaden to lose his balance and fall over backwards with a yell, sending Vincent's note flying into the air.

"Jaden, you're missing the party!" Tsukanna said, "Everyone sent me to find you!"

Jaden got up and sighed. "I don't feel like going to a party right now..."

The note chose that moment to float in front of Tsukanna's face. She grabbed it. "Hey, what's this?"

"Don't read that!" Jaden yelled.

Of course, human nature being what it is, the first thing Tsukanna did was read it. After the first two lines, she stopped, closed the door, and began reading again. Silence reigned until Tsukanna finished. She looked up at Jaden. "Is this real?"

Jaden nodded. "Yeah, I think so."

Tsukanna let out a long sigh. "That's some pretty heavy stuff." She walked over and sat on Jaden's bed. "So, what're you gonna do?"

"I don't know." Jaden replied, "I mean, this stuff is all way above my head! Secret plots, evil duel schools... and to top it all off, I may have gotten somebody killed!" Jaden stood up and began pacing. "What can I possibly do about any of this?"

"It's really up to you what you do." Tsukanna sighed. "You've been presented with a heavy burden, Jaden. You have a choice about whether or not to accept it."

"But I still don't understand this!" Jaden said, resuming his pacing, "I mean, why would anyone kill someone just for losing a duel? Why would they want me and Chazz? And why did Vincent pick me for this?"

Tsukanna raised an eyebrow. "What was that about them wanting you and Chazz?"

Jaden flinched. "Oops." He chuckled nervously. "Back on the boat here, me and Chazz got sucked into a weird duel with some guy who called himself Nightshroud."

"Might that be the Nightshroud mentioned in the note?" Tsukanna asked.

"I think so..." Jaden replied before continuing. "Anyway, he almost beat me and Chazz at the same time, but backed out of the duel at the last minute. I never understood why he challenged us before, but now..."

"Now, you think he was trying to 'recruit' you into West Academy." Tsukanna finished for him. "You're probably right, but so what? Why does that matter?"

Jaden shook slightly. "That Nightshroud guy... he was incredibly skilled and powerful. Maybe even more so then Zane. Normally that's what I live for, but there was something... different about him. His power was so dark, that duel still gives me nightmares."

"And you think that you're not strong enough to beat these guys." Tsukanna said.

"Yes!" Jaden said, "I mean, I'm good, but I don't have any kind of power like that!"

"Are you sure about that?" Tsukanna said, an unusually intense look on her face. "Power comes in all forms, Jaden."

Jaden sighed. "I'm sure. Vincent lost to me on purpose."

Vincent placed another card on his disc. "I'll also activate a second Fusion Compensation, returning Shining Flare Wingman to my fusion deck to draw four cards." He popped the card out of his graveyard and returned it to his fusion deck, then drew four more times. In doing so, however, he dropped one of his cards.

"Oops." Vincent bent down and picked the card up, then continued with his turn.

"The card he dropped was Polymeracceleration." Jaden said, "I saw it. He could have re-fused Elixirer and attacked me directly, ending it there."

Tsukanna smirked. "Despite that, you still beat his real deck."

Jaden sighed again. "He probably threw that match as well..."

"Tell me Jaden, how did you feel during the second part of the duel?" Tsukanna asked.

Jaden blinked. "What do you mean?"

"Did you feel any... different then usual?"

Jaden tilted his head back. "Yeah... it was like there was this incredible energy inside me. I don't think I've ever felt that alive before!" Jaden frowned. "No... the end of my duel with Bastion was like that to..."

"Jaden, I believe that you're capable of doing whatever you set your mind to doing." Tsukanna said, standing up and turning towards the door. "Just remember, I'm a part of this now to. Whatever you decide, you'll have a friend at your back." She smiled and walked out. "Let me know, ok?"

As she closed the door on her way out, Jaden lay back on his bed. "I guess I've got some thinking to do..."

A few steps away from Jaden's room, Tsukanna found herself face to face with Zane. She smirked. "Can I help you, Kaiser?"

"You were gone an awfully long time." Zane said.

"Jaden needed some cheering up."

"I don't think I've ever seen Jaden need cheering up before."

Tsukanna tapped her chin thoughtfully. "I've got an idea... why don't you see if you can help him."

Zane frowned. "And how am I supposed to do that?"

"Duel him." Tsukanna replied, "After all, he did win the School Duel. It's not like it'll be a waste of your time." Tsukanna began walking past Zane. "I think he could use a good duel right now."

Zane spun around. "Why are you helping him?"

Tsukanna just shrugged. "Why does anyone do anything?" With that, she walked off into the night.

Zane frowned. "I don't trust her... but maybe I'll take her up on that suggestion." Zane flipped out his PDA and began typing as he walked off.

About an hour later, Jaden, who had fallen asleep, was awoken by his PDA beeping. He blinked sleepily. "I've got a message?" He flipped open his PDA and read the message, which simply consisted of:

Jaden,

Meet me in the field outside the Obelisk boy's dorm at 9:00. Bring your deck.

Zane

Jaden, now fully awake, said to himself, "I wonder what Zane wants..." He grabbed his deck and disc, then ran out the door.

A short run later, Jaden was facing down the Kaiser. "Well," He asked, "What do you want?"

"Isn't it obvious?" Zane asked, his disk already activated, "We're going to duel."

Jaden sighed. "I don't really feel like it right now... I've got a big decision to make."

"Jaden!" Zane called, "I don't know what's going on with you, but we're going to duel. I won't take no for an answer."

Jaden frowned and attached his disk to his arm. "Alright, you don't have to be so pushy about it. Jeez..." The disk's tray snapped open, and Jaden slammed his deck into its slot. "Duel Disc, ON!"

JLP: 8000

ZLP: 8000

"You challenged me, so I'll go first!" Jaden yelled, sliding a card off of his deck. "I'll play Elemental Hero Clayman in defense mode!" He slammed the card onto his disc, and the bulky clay hero crouched on his field. (800/2000)

Jaden slipped two more cards onto his disc. "I'll also set these facedown, then call it a turn."

Zane drew and examined his hand. "Your opening move was better then I expected. However, you'll still have to do much better if you want to beat me!" He placed a card on his disc. "Because you have a monster on your field and I don't, I can summon Cyber Dragon with no sacrifice!" The massive metal dragon burst out of the ground in front of Zane, roaring menacingly. (2100/1600)

"Since that was a special summon," Zane continued, "I can normal summon The Light: Hex-Sealed Fusion!" Zane placed a second card on his disc, and a strange, glowing rock wrapped in seals appeared on his field. (800/1200)

"Now, let me explain the ability of my Hex-Sealed Fusion." Zane said, "In addition to being able to stand in for any fusion component, I can send it, along with the other components of a Light-attribute fusion monster from my field to the graveyard to summon that monster from my fusion deck! Therefore, I'll now send Cyber Dragon and my Hex-Sealed Fusion to the graveyard to summon Cyber Twin Dragon!" The Hex-Sealed Fusion shone, covering Zane's field with light and forcing Jaden to avert his eyes. When the light faded, Zane's two monsters had been replaced with the two-headed form of Cyber Twin Dragon. (2800/2100)

"Next," Zane said, sliding another card onto his disc, "I'll play the continuous spell Branch. Now, whenever a fusion monster on my side of the field is destroyed, I can summon one of its components from my graveyard.

"Now," Zane declared, "I'll attack, and in case you didn't know, My Cyber Twin Dragon can attack twice during a battle phase! Double Strident Blast!" Both of the metal dragon's heads opened their mouths and launched bursts of energy.

"I'll negate one of your attacks with Hero Barrier!" Jaden said as a shield with the Elemental Hero symbol appeared before one of the blasts, stopping in its tracks.

"Your Clayman is still finished!" Zane said, as the second blast smashed into the clay hero, shattering him.

"That's true," Jaden replied, "But now I can activate Hero Signal to summon Bubbleman in defense mode from my deck! And, since he's the only card on my field, I can draw twice!" The blue-clad hero crouched on Jaden's field, and Zane frowned as Jaden recouped most of his losses from the previous turn.

Zane slid a card onto his disc. "I'll set this card and end my turn."

"Then it's my move!" Jaden called, drawing. He examined his six-card hand for a moment, then slid one of them onto his disc. "Polymerization will fuse Elemental Hero Burstinatrix with Elemental Hero Avian to form my favorite, Elemental Hero Flame Wingman!" A vortex appeared on Jaden's field, and the two monsters were sucked in to form Jaden's favorite monster. (2100/1200)

"It's still not strong enough to beat my Cyber Twin Dragon!" Zane yelled as his dragon roared in agreement.

Jaden's field slot slid open. "It will be soon! I activate Skyscraper!" The tranquil forest around them was replaced with a sprawling urban landscape as Jaden's field spell activated. Flame Wingman flew up and perched on one of the tallest buildings. (2100/1200)–(3100/1200)

Jaden smirked. "Flame Wingman, attack Cyber Twin Dragon with Skydive Scorcher!" Flame Wingman flew up into the air and dived on the massive metal dragon, trailing flames. The flaming hero smashed into his target, easily destroying it. (3100/1200)–(2100/1200)

JLP: 8000

ZLP: 7700

"The first hit goes to you, it seems." Zane said, "But don't forget about Branch. Cyber Dragon now returns to my field!" The metallic dragon burst out of the ground, roaring and staring down Jaden's Flame Wingman. (2100/1600)

"Well, I've got an effect to!" Jaden called, "Flame Wingman now deals damage to you equal to your dragon's attack!" The dragon-armed hero flew down in front of Zane and blasted the Kaiser with a gout of fire.

When the smoke cleared, however, Zane was untouched and surrounded by a glowing barrier. "I'm afraid not." Zane said, "I activated my trap, Pikeru's Circle of Enchantment. It prevents all effect damage to me this turn."

Jaden frowned. "I'll set a card, then end my turn."

Zane snapped a card off of his deck. "You've got some nice moves, Jaden. You'll need better to beat me, though." He slid a card onto his disc. "I activate the spell Evolution Burst!" Cyber Dragon reared back it's head an charged a blast of energy in it's mouth. After a few moments, it unleashed the blast on Flame Wingman, shattering it instantly.

"What just happened?" Jaden asked.

"My spell card." Zane replied, "Evolution Burst destroys one card on your field."

Jaden's eyes widened. "Crud..."

"Of course," Zane continued, "Evolution Burst requires me to forfeit the attack of either Cyber Dragon or a monster with Cyber Dragon as a fusion component to activate. So he won't be attacking this turn."

Zane selected another card from his hand. "That doesn't mean I can't summon someone else, though. I'll summon Cyber Phoenix in defense mode!" Zane placed the card on his disc, and a metallic phoenix appeared on his field in a burst of fire. (1200/1600)

"I'll end my turn with that." Zane said, crossing his arms. "Defeat me if you can."

"Sure, Zane!" Jaden yelled back, sliding a card off of his deck. "Draw!" He flipped the card around. "I'll activate Fusion Recovery to bring back Burstinatrix and Polymerization!" The cards slid out of his graveyard, and he immediately slid one of them onto his disc. "I'll activate Polymerization once again to fuse Burstinatrix and Bubbleman into Elemental Hero Steam Healer!" The ever-familiar vortex appeared, and the two heroes were sucked up. In their place formed a bulky, purple armored hero. (1800/1000)

"You may be able to defeat Cyber Phoenix, but he's still weaker then Cyber Dragon." Zane said. After a moment, his eyes widened. "Skyscraper..."

"Exactly!" Jaden yelled, "Steam Healer, attack Cyber Dragon!" The purple hero was surrounded by a nimbus of energy from Skyscraper, powering it up. (1800/1000)–(2800/1000)

Steam Healer charged, hammering into Cyber Dragon with steam-powered fists. The metallic dragon couldn't take the supercharged hero's attack for long and shattered. As it did, Steam Healer lost the boost from Skyscraper. (2800/1000)–(1800/1000)

JLP: 8000

ZLP: 7000

Jaden grinned. "Now, Steam Healer's effect gives me life points equal to the attack points of your Cyber Dragon." Jaden was surrounded by a blue aura as Steam Healer's effect shot his life points up to a five-digit number.

JLP: 10100

ZLP: 7000

Jaden smirked. "I'll finish my turn there."

On the other side of the field, Zane drew. "You're better then I had expected, Jaden. You've actually managed to gain an advantage over me. However..." Zane smirked. "That advantage won't last long. I play Graceful Charity." An angel appeared, and handed Zane the top three cards of his deck. He handed her back two cards, and she vanished. Zane flipped one of the cards he had drawn around. "Pot of Greed." The grinning pot appeared, and Zane drew again.

Zane pointed his finger at Jaden. "Jaden Yuki, prepare to witness the reason I'm known as Kaiser!" He declared. "I activate Premature Burial, paying 800 life points to bring back the Proto-Cyber Dragon I discarded with Graceful Charity!" Zane's life points went down, and the smaller metal dragon appeared on his field. (1100/600)

JLP: 10100

ZLP: 6200

"Now," Zane continued, "Since I special summoned him, I can activate Inferno Reckless Summon! This will summon every other card that shares the same name as him from my hand, deck and graveyard!"

Jaden shrugged. "And, once again, I don't have multiple copies of any of my monsters. Oh well. Two more Proto-Cyber Dragons won't help you that much."

"Not quite, Jaden. Proto-Cyber Dragon's name is treated as Cyber Dragon while face-up on the field, so I get to summon my three Cyber Dragons!" The three metal dragons burst up around their smaller counterpart, roaring simultaneously. (2100/1600)x3

Jaden smirked. "With Skyscraper on the field, Steam Healer is more the strong enough to beat your Cyber Dragons!"

"Maybe the small ones," Zane replied, "But how about a big one?" He slammed the last card in his hand onto his disc. "Polymerization will fuse my three Cyber Dragons into Cyber End Dragon!" The three metal dragons disappeared into a vortex, and the titanic, three-headed form of Cyber End Dragon emerged mere moments later. (4000/2800)

Jaden frowned. "That's not good…"

Zane snapped up one arm and pointed at Jaden. "Cyber End Dragon, attack Steam Healer with Ultimate Strident Blast!" Energy began gathering in the dragon's three mouths, and it simultaneously released them in a massive blast of power that completely consumed Steam Healer.

JLP: 8900

ZLP: 6200

Zane smirked. "Now, Proto-Cyber Dragon and Cyber Phoenix will attack you directly." Zane's two other mechanical monsters launched blasts of energy and fire, knocking Jaden off his feet and taking a good chunk out of his life points.

JLP: 6400

ZLP: 6200

"I'll end my turn." Zane said, "You're going to have to do much better then you've been doing to beat me, Jaden."

Jaden hopped back onto his feet, smirked, and drew. "Alright Zane, then I'll show you what I can really do!"

Zane eyed Jaden appraisingly. "Kid's got a lot of spirit."

"Alright!" Jaden called, "First, I'll play Pot of Greed!" The ever-familiar green jar appeared, and Jaden slid two cards off of his deck, one of which he immediately slammed onto his disc. "Next, Payoff! Now I draw three cards and you draw two!" The two duelists drew their respective cards, and Jaden smirked. "Your dragon is going down, Zane."

Zane frowned. "Just try and bring it down."

"I will!" Jaden declared, "First, I'll activate The Warrior Returning Alive to bring Clayman back to my hand!" The card slid out of his graveyard, and Jaden slammed another card onto his disc. "Polymerization will fuse Clayman together with Elemental Hero Sparkman to create Elemental Hero Thunder Giant!" The two heroes were sucked into a vortex and emerged as the giant hero. (2400/1500)

"Now," Jaden continued, "I'll use Thunder Giant's effect to destroy Proto-Cyber Dragon!" The giant pointed, and a lightning bolt shot out of its finger, shattering the small metal dragon instantly.

"With that done," Jaden said, "Now I'll play Miracle Fusion! I'll fuse together Sparkman, Avian and Bubbleman to create Elemental Hero Tempest!" The three named monsters stepped into a glowing portal, from which emerged the powerful winged form of Tempest. (2800/2800)

"Also," Jaden said, his set card flipping, "My Dust Tornado will destroy your Branch!" A whirlwind whipped up, and Zane's spell was shattered by a funnel of wind.

"Tempest!" Jaden yelled, "Attack Cyber End Dragon!" Tempest was surrounded with a glowing aura, and Skyscraper boosted its attack. (2800/2800)—(3800/2800)

"Still not enough." Zane said.

"This is!" Jaden yelled back, "I activate Rush Recklessly, giving him 700 more attack points!" Zane's eyes widened as Tempest's attack shot up again, and he smashed into Cyber End Dragon, shattering it into a million pieces. With his opponent defeated, Tempest's attack also returned to normal. (4500/2800)—(2800/2800)

JLP: 6400

ZLP: 5700

Jaden grinned. "Now, I can have Thunder Giant attack Cyber Phoenix with Voltic Thunder!" The giant hero charged a ball of electricity between its hands, and then hurled it at the metallic phoenix, obliterating the smaller monster.

JLP: 6400

ZLP: 4400

Jaden grinned again. "Your move, Zane."

Zane drew, bringing his hand up to four cards. "You're better then I thought, Jaden. Perhaps this was worth my time after all… but you're still going to lose."

Zane slid a card onto his disc. "First, I'll bring back Cyber End Dragon using Monster Reborn!" A shining ankh appeared on his field, and the massive form of Zane's strongest monster reappeared. (4000/2800)

Zane continued by placing another card on his disc. "I'll continue by splitting my Cyber End Dragon into its component parts with De-Fusion!" The massive metal dragon was consumed by a vortex, and the three smaller dragons emerged back onto Zane's field. (2100/1600)x3

Jaden frowned. "What was the point of that?"

"I'll show you." Zane replied. "Now, I can re-fuse them into Cyber End Dragon using Power Bond, which will double its attack!" The three dragons swirled together once again, emerging as the massive form of Cyber End Dragon. (4000/2800)—(8000/2800)

"This will be the last move of the duel!" Zane declared, "I now activate Limiter Removal, doubling the attack of every machine monster on my field, at the cost of them being destroyed at then end of my turn. Unfortunately for you, the duel isn't going to last that long! Cyber End Dragon, attack Tempest with Overload Strident Blast!" The massive dragon charged up a huge blast of energy, then unleashed it full force onto Tempest. The blast lit up the entire clearing and sent Jaden flying. (8000/2800)—(16000/2800)

JLP: 0

ZLP: 4400

Zane smirked at the woozy Jaden. "You have a lot of potential, Jaden."

Jaden grinned and rubbed his head. "Maybe, but I still lost."

Zane offered Jaden his hand. "Yes, you did. But like I said, you have a lot of potential. I think you could probably defeat almost anyone is you really set your mind to it."

"You really think so?" Jaden asked.

"Let me put it to you this way," Zane replied, "You never know how well you'll do at something until you actually try and do it. Just keep practicing, and you'll be able to accomplish anything you want."

Jaden smirked. "Thanks, Zane." With that, he ran off in the direction of the Slifer Dorm.

Zane smiled to himself. "That kid will go far."

"Alright!" Jaden thought to himself. "No more doubts! Even if Vincent did die because of me, I won't let it be in vain! I'll win the Junior World Championships, and I'll show the word what West Academy really is!"

With that thought echoing in his mind, Jaden ran up to a cliff overlooking the ocean and yelled, "Here I come, West Academy! You'd better be ready!"

New Cards

Evolution Burst

Normal Spell

Select 1 "Cyber Dragon" or one monster with "Cyber Dragon" as a fusion component to activate this card. Destroy 1 card on the field, and the selected monster cannot attack this turn.

Image: A Cyber Dragon launching a burst of energy.

Changes

None

Next Time: The academy, accepts a mid-year transfer student, and things quickly get interesting. The student himself is a little odd, and he's decided to challenge the fourth highest ranked student in the school… because he doesn't like the color red? Don't miss "Chosen One"!