Chapter 74: Shift Into Second Gear

After Airknight Parshath was rushed to the infirmary, the next duel began. This time it was Aster up against a Gear Golem the Moving Fortress.

"Get ready to lose, meatbag. My processors are capable of calculating the winning move before you can even draw a card."

"Oh really? Then you know I'm about to beat you. See, you may have a super computer for a brain, but I have something even better, and that's the power of destiny!"

GAME ON!

GGTMF: 8000

Aster: 8000

"I'll begin with Mechanicalchaser (1850/800) in attack mode and end my turn."

"Not even a set card, and you plan on beating me? Think again! First, I'll activate the spell card Pot of Greed! This lets me draw 2 cards. Next, I activate Cost Down! Now by discarding a card from my hand, I can lower the levels of all monsters in my hand by 2. So give a big hello to Destiny Hero- Double Dude!"

"Perhaps they should teach you math at that academy instead of dueling! My monster is far stronger!"

"Well, then its a good thing that I have this! I activate Dark City! Now if a Destiny Hero battles a monster with more attack points than him, he gains 1000 attack points during the damage step. Double Dude, send his chaser to the scrapheap!"

Aster's monster leapt into the air, before bringing his cane down hard on his enemy, smashing it into pieces.

GGTMF: 7850

"But I'm not done! Double Dude can attack twice per turn, and guess who's wide open for a direct attack!"

Suddenly, Aster's hero changed into a much more muscular, brutish figure who smashed his fist into his opponent.

GGTMF: 6850

"I've done enough damage for one turn, so I'll set two cards face down and pass it over to you. Still think you can win?"

"I don't think, I know! And to prove it, I activate Power Bond! Now by sending the two Cyber Dragons from my hand to the graveyard, I can summon Cyber Twin Dragon with double the attack points (2800-5600)! Cyber Twin Dragon, attack Double Dude!"

"I hate to burst your bubble, but I activate Draining Shield! Now, not only is your attack negated, but I gain life points equal to your monster's attack points."

Aster: 13,600

"That doesn't matter, because my monster can attack twice per turn! Finish off Double Dude!"

Aster: 9000

"I activate the trap card, Destiny Signal! This trap lets me replace Double Dude with Fear Monger in defense mode."

"Summon whatever you'd like, it won't make a difference! I summon Reflect Bounder (1700/1000) in attack mode and end my turn."

The moment he declared that, though, a red aura surrounded him, sapping him of his life points.

GGTMF: 4050

"Wh-what just happened?"

"Did you forget about Power Bond? At the end of the turn, it deals you damage equal to your fusion monster's original attack points."

The entire stadium erupted into laughter, making the mechanical duelist furious.

Laugh it up while you can, meatbag! Next turn you're finished. Even with that minor setback, my Twin Dragon still has more than enough attack points to finish you off, no matter what you summon. And even if you try to deal some damage by attacking my other monster, Reflect Bounder will make sure you only hurt yourself!

"I'll start with my trap card, Call of the Haunted! This allows me to summon the Disk Commander I discarded last turn. And since he was summoned from the graveyard, I get to draw 2 cards. Next, I activate Snatch Steal! Now your Reflect Bounder belongs to me. Now, I'l tribute all three of these monsters to summon the ultimate Destiny Hero, Destiny Hero-Plasma!"

"You fool, that monster is far too weak! You should've taken my Twin Dragon!"

"What a great idea, and Plasma will let me do just that! Once per turn, I can equip one of your monsters to him and let Plasma gain half of your monster's original attack points!"

"No, you can't!"

"Oh, but I can (1900-3300)! Destiny Hero- Plasma, attack him directly!"

GGTMF: 750

"I'll end my turn there. Come on, are you even trying?"

"You fool! If you had taken my Cyber Twin Dragon instead of Reflect Bounder, you would've won!"

Aster just shrugged it off.

"Gotta keep the crowd happy."

Enraged, the mechanical monster drew his next card.

"Perfect!"

"Go, Mystical Space Typhoon! This card will free my Twin Dragon from your Plasma's control (3300-1900)! Next, I activate Overload Fusion! I banish Mechanicalchaser, my two Cyber Dragons, Reflect Bounder, and Cyber Twin Dragon to summon Chimeratech Overdragon! And with 5 attacks and 4000 attack points, this duel is over! Chimeratech Overdragon, end this duel!"

But it wasn't until he had declared an attack did he get a closer look at his monster, he was horrified to discover that it was rusting away and that its attack points were…

"0 attack points? How?"

"Did I forget to mention Plasma's other effect? As long as he's face up on the field, all of your monsters have their effects negated!"

"Stop your attack!"

But it was already too late. The heavily rusted dragon could only let out a small energy, which Plasma easily dodge before flying towards his opponent, his dragon arm stretched out. In an instant, Plasma tore through the dragon's mechanical shell, destroying it and it's master's hopes of winning the duel.

GGTMF: 0000

Aster chuckled, and walked away.

"It's like I told you, you can't beat destiny."


Once the duel arena was cleared, it was time for the final match of round 1: Chazz vs Kozaky.

"You! You ruined my life's work! I'll make you pay."

"Whatever. How about you shut up and duel?"

"Fine!"

GAME ON!

Kozaky: 8000

Chazz: 8000

"I'll start things off with Dandylion (300/300) in defense mode. Next, I'll set one card face down and end my turn."

"Is that it? Let me show you how a real duelist plays! And I'll start with V- Tiger Jet! And for good measure, I'll activate Frontline Base! This lets me call out W-Wing Catapult! Now I'll combine them together to summon VW- Tiger Catapult! And if you think you're flower is safe, think again, because by discarding one card I can force him into attack position. Tiger Catapult, fire!"

Kozaky: 6300

"Since Dandylion was sent to the graveyard, I gain two Fluff tokens!"

"Too bad they don't have any defense points. I set one card face down and end my turn."

"They don't need any defense points, because now I sacrifice them both to summon my ultimate monster! Rise forth, Light and Darkness Dragon (2800/2400)! Attack his Catapult!"

"I activate Ring of Destruction! Now your Dragon goes bye-bye!"

But to Chazz's surprise, his trap card was disintegrated by a bolt of black lightning from his opponent's dragon's horn.

"Surprised? Once per chain, my dragon sacrifices 500 attack points to negate a card effect and destroy it (2800-2300). And unfortunately for you, my dragon is still strong enough to destroy your monster!"

Chazz: 7700

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

Chazz grunted in frustration. Now every time he tried to activate an effect, that dragon would destroy it for 500 of its attack points. But maybe he could use that to his advantage.

"I summon Y-Dragon Head in attack mode. Next, I'll set one card face down and end my turn."

"Have you already given up? While I'm certain your face down card couldn't possibly hurt my dragon, I'll be safe and activate Dust Tornado! Say goodbye to-"

But his rant was interrupted by his dragon firing a bolt of lightning at his own card, destroying it (2300-1800).

"What? But I didn't tell you to do that!"

"You didn't have too, your monster's effect is automatic. Or did you forget that little detail?"

"No matter, it's still stronger than your own monster! And I'll summon Giant Rat in attack mode for reinforcements! Light and Darkness Dragon, destroy Y-Dragon Head!"

"Go, Rollout!"

"No (1800-1300)!"

Chazz's monster evaded the energy blast and fired one of its own, destroying Kozaky's monster.

Kozaky: 6100

"My dragon has another effect! When its destroyed, I have to target one card in my graveyard. All other cards I control are destroyed, and that monster is summoned. Return, Dandylion, in defense mode! I end my turn."

"Pathetic. I'll tribute Y- Dragon Head for Armed Dragon LV 5! Destroy that weed!"

"And once more, I get two Fluff tokens!"

"I end my turn, but not before leveling up my Armed Dragon to Level 7!"

Kozaky groaned. Nothing he had could help him.

"I set one monster face down and end my turn."

"Having a bad day? Well, it's about to get even worse, because I activate Card of Demise! Now I draw until I have five cards. Next, I'll tribute Armed Dragon LV 7 to bring out Armed Dragon LV 10! And by discarding a card, your weeds go bye-bye! Next, I'll use Shield Crush to destroy your face down. Lastly, I summon X-Head Cannon! Attack him directly!"

Kozaky: 1300

Kozaky couldn't take it anymore, throwing his duel disk on the ground and running away.

"I quit! Get me out of here!"

Chazz scoffed at the ridiculous display.

"What a baby."