Chapter 64: Stop Fighting!

After things had settled down, it was Bastion's turn to duel. To his surprise, his opponent was familiar to him.

"Hey, aren't you that girl I saved?"

Sure enough, it was the same Unhappy Maiden as in the third world they had visited.

"Ah yes, I remember you. You're that kind stranger who saved me from that terrible monster. I appreciate your help, but don't think I'll go easy on you."

"I wouldn't dream of it, madam."

GAME ON!

UM: 8000

Bastion: 8000

"Ladies first."

"Thank you. First, I'll summon Destiny Hero Defender (100/2700) in defense mode. Next, I'll activate the spell card Wave Motion Cannon. Lastly, I'll set two cards face down and end my turn."

Bastion scowled in thought. With that spell card, this duel was on a time limit. Unless he could get rid of it or beat her before that limit ran out, he'd lose in 8 turns. A tough task, but not an impossible one. Silently, he drew his card, plus another one due to Defender's effect.

"Alright then, I'll start things off with the spell card Smashing Ground!"

"I counter with the trap card, Terrible Deal! Now by paying 1000 life points, you have to discard a random card in your hand."

UM: 7000

"I choose the one on the far left."

Bastion hummed in thought, tossing out his UFO Turtle. Once that was done, a giant fist flew down from above and smashed the Destiny Hero to bits.

"A curious strategy, but no matter! I summon Solar Flare Dragon in attack mode! Attack her directly!"

"I activate the trap card, Wall of Revealing Light! By paying 3000 life points, you can't attack me unless you have a monster with more than that."

UM: 4000

Bastion growled. This just made things more difficult.

"I'll set one card face down and end my turrn."

UM: 3500

"I'll start with the spell card Soul Taker. You may gain 1000 life points, but your Dragon will be destroyed."

"I activate my Backfire trap card!"

The Pyro type's soul was ripped from his body and flew into Bastion's, healing him while a fireball struck the Unhappy Maiden.

Bastion: 9000

UM: 3000

"Next, I summon Spirit Reaper in attack mode. Attack him directly!"

The reaper floated across the battlefield and slashed Bastion with his scyther, taking the Fire Fox from his hand.

Bastion: 8700

"I end my turn."

"Very well then. I'll start by banishing the UFO Turtle from my graveyard to special summon Inferno (1100/1900) in defense mode. Next, I'll summon Molten Zombie (1600/400) in attack mode to end my turn."

"I'll start with the spell card Lightning Vortex."

Bastion just sighed in frustration as his monsters were shocked into oblivion.

UM: 2000

"Next, I summon Mask of Darkness in attack mode. Attack him directly, my monsters!"

Bastion: 7700

"'I'll end my turn."

"And I shall end this duel! First, I activate the spell card, Card of Demise to draw 5 new cards. Next, I summon Flame Ruler (1500/1600) in attack mode. But he won't be there for long, because with Double Summon I can tribute him for Infernal Flame Emperor (2700/1600)! And since he was tribute summoned, I can banish two of my fire monsters from the graveyard in order to destroy two of your spell or trap cards!"

A UFO Turtle and Flame Ruler appeared and turned into two fireballs in the centaur's hands, which he threw at the Maiden's Wave Motion Cannon and Wall of Revealing Light, reducing them to ash.

"Now my Emperor, attack her Spirit Reaper!"

The mighty emperor threw a massive fireball, burning the zombie to ash and dropping the maiden's life points to zero.

UM: 0000

"And Bastion Misawa moves to the next round!"

10 minutes later, Alexis was on the duel field, facing down her opponent, Elemental Mistress Doriado.

GAME ON!

EMD: 8000

Alexis: 8000

"I'll begin with Manju of the Ten Thousand Hands in attack mode. With his effect, I'll add Ruin, Queen of Oblivion to my hand. Next, I'll activate Advanced Ritual Art, sending my Cosmo Queen from my deck to ritual summon my Queen! I'll end my turn with two cards face down and end my turn."

"Alright then, it's my turn! First, I summon Cyber Tutu in attack position. And since she can't defeat any of your monsters, she's allowed a free swipe at your life points!"

Doriado raised her arms, shielding herself from the attack.

EMD: 7000

"I'll set two cards face down and end my turn."

"Well played, but you're not the only one with some impressive plays. First, I activate my face down, Birthright! This card brings back the Cosmo Queen I sent to the graveyard last turn. Manju, attack her Tutu!"

"Not so fast, I activate Double Passe! This turns your attack into a direct attack!"

Alexis raised her hands, blocking the fist while Tutu leapt up and kicked Doriado in the chest.

Alexis: 6600

EMD: 6000

"And don't even think about trying again, because now I activate my Flashbang trap card! This immediately moves your turn to the end phase."

"Hmm, interesting. I set one card face down and end my turn."

"Alright then, my turn! First, I activate the spell card, Pot of Greed! This lets me draw 2 cards. Next, I activate the Machine Angel Ritual spell card! I'll tribute Cyber Angel Idaten to summon Cyber Angel Benten! And since Idanten was tributed, all of my ritual monsters gain 1000 attack points (1800-2800) Next, I'll equip her with Ritual Weapon to give her an additional 1500 attack points (2800-4300). Lastly, I summon D.D. Assailant. Idaten, attack her royal highness!"

EMD: 4600

"But don't think you're in the clear just yet, because when she destroys one of your monsters, you take damage equal to its original defense!"

EMD: 2150

"Now Assailant, take out her Manju!"

EMD: 1850

"And last but not least, Tutu will attack you directly!"

EMD: 850

"I end my turn."

"You've played well, but it's time for me to turn this duel around. First, I activate my second Birthright to return Cosmo Queen to me once more. Next, I activate Advanced Ritual Art, sacrificing Jerry Beans Man to summon Elemental Mistress Doriado! Next, I activate my facedown Fuh-Rin-Ka-Zan! Since I have an Earth, Wind, Water, and Fire monster on the field, I can destroy all of your monsters!"

Lightning bolts jumped out of the trap card, frying all of Alexis's monsters.

"Now then, attack my monsters!"

Alexis barely had enough time to raise her hand to shield herself as the attacks hit, her life points dropping fast.

Alexis: 200

"I end my turn. Your move."

Alexis slowly drew her next card. But when she saw what it was, she smiled.

"Sorry, but this duel is over. I activate Monster Reborn! Come on back, Cyber Angel Benten!"

"Oh no!"

"Oh yes! Attack her Doriado, Benten!"

Doriado closed her eyes, allowing her life points to drop to zero with a smile.

Doriad: 850-250- 0000

With a bow, the spellcaster disappeared, leavin Alexis to wearily walk back to the locker room.