AN: Hello, I have the next chapter here. Here we are, the mid-season final chapter. I call it that, even though this season is now longer than the last one. I look at Season Two of this series a one long saga, and this duel is the midway point in all of it. That being said, this duel took a while to write for all its twist and turns. It is the match up the Predator verses the Hero. Fair warning, I do use a couple anime cards for this duel. But when you see them, you will understand why. And in the next AN, after the Q&A, I will go over this season so far and tell what to expect in the future. Hope you enjoy this chapter, leave a review with your comments and questions, and have a nice day.
See Datasheet Chapter for cover art details.
Chapter 41 – The Duel with an Ante
"Good afternoon," Yuri spoke to Jaden, "I see you just completed a duel." He said before grinning, "Care for one more before nightfall?"
"You want to duel me?" Jaden asked before seeing the hooded Slifer Red stand between them.
"Forget it," Ruby answered, "Jaden doesn't have to duel you."
"Well, I think you should let him make up his mind." Yuri responded to Ruby but was met with a scowl, "After all, this would be a special match."
"What kind of special match?" Blake asked, her arms crossed.
"It's rather simple," Yuri responded, "I want to duel with an ante."
"An ante?" Jaden asked.
"It means both of you will put up a card that the winner gets." Atticus clarified.
"That is not allowed on the island," Sienna responded.
"Not unless at least two teachers are supervising the duel." Dr. Crowler said in retort, "If you don't wish to participate, I can inform the Chancellor of your unregulated handing out of cards to students." He said with Sienna gritting her teeth causing him to slightly chuckle.
"If you want to have an ante duel." Nora asked Yuri, "What card do you want from Jaden's deck?"
"The only card I care about," Yuri responded, then sneered, "Super Polymerization." He said with a few students gasping, but Jaden remained focused, "I win, I get your ultimate fusion card."
"And what card are you offering?" Yang asked, "In case you didn't see, Jaden just got a whole new deck to add to his own. I doubt you have anything that would work with either one."
"Well, my collection has expanded as of late." Yuri said with a shrug and closed eyes, "But, maybe I can offer something else." He offered, opening his eyes with a grin on his face, "Such as an answer to a question you might have about me." The sadistic Obelisk Blue said with Ruby slightly gasping, "Does that sound acceptable?"
"You," Ruby said with her right fist clench, "Jaden would ne-"
"Sure, I accept." Jaden answered with a smile, causing Ruby to gasp as Yuri smirked, "Just give me a moment to merge my decks, then we can throw down."
"Excellent." Yuri spoke with a slight bow, "I look forward to our match." He said before walking away and towards one end of the area. Dr. Crowler and Sienna then left to the opposite end of the stands of the arena.
"Sweet, I shouldn't take long," Jaden said with a smile and nod.
"Jaden!?" Ruby exclaimed as she turned to him, "What the heck was that!?"
"Don't worry Ruby, I'll be fine." Jaden answered, "This way, I can help out the group get to the bottom of some mysteries."
"But Jaden," Blair said as she ran up to him, "This could be dangerous."
"The damage is real, I felt it." Weiss spoke to him, her left hand slightly shaking, "And he's not someone you should take lightly." He said before Blake patted her on the back, easing the heiress Obelisk Blue's shakings.
"We still don't know his true deck yet." Alexis pointed out, "And you only just got your new cards."
"Yeah, this seems kind of odd," Bastion pointed out, "Almost like he planned this."
"Welp, no backing out now." Jaden responded, "Besides, we're going to find out his deck sooner or later." He then looked down at his two decks, "And I really want to try out these new hero combinations."
Ruby was still speechless before a sigh, "…You aren't going to back out," She said before a smile formed on her face, "So beat that guy, then we can learn his secrets." The hooded Slifer Red said with Jaden smiling back.
A few moments later.
The sun had almost fully set at Duel Academy. At the arena, the other students wait in the stands, while the teachers were across them on the arena. Sienna stood with her arms crossed, glaring at a waiting Yuri. The sadistic Obelisk Blue stood with his hands behind his back. Dr. Crowler cackled as he looked at his star student, "Yes, this will be it." He said before looking back to Jaden, who sat with his legs crossed, staring at cards in his hands, deciding which ones to put in his merged deck, "That Slacker will finally taste a crushing defeat."
"This is what it's all about?" Sienna asked, "You're pride in losing to a Slifer Red." She said before sighing, "You know, I beat him already. And he even lost at the end of the Duel Spirits Festival."
"And I never saw either one!" Dr. Crowler responded in indignation, "Besides, he just beat you and other being a tag duel does not count for me." He said before looking back to Yuri, "If my star student can defeat that Slacker, he will realize he does not belong here and leave the island."
"I don't know what's sadder." Sienna said with a sigh, "That you are letting that purple brat manipulate you do easily." She said before looking back to the spirited, "Or that you haven't seen how much Jaden has changed since your duel with him."
"Tsk, once a slacker, always a slacker." Dr. Crowler said with a scowl, turning his head away.
Jaden then smiled before putting both cards in one deck, "Got it, all set!" he said before spiring up, then looking over to his opponent, "Okay, I'm ready now."
"I see that," Yuri said before smiling, tilting his head while closing his eyes, "Let us have a fun duel then." He said with Ruby scowling from the stands.
"Right," Jaden said before loading his newly created deck into the duel disk. Yuri opened his eyes before taking his arms out from behind his back, causing the hologram duel disk to form its field, "Get your game on."
"Duel!" Jaden and Yuri said as the ante duel began.
Jaden: 4000 Life Points
Yuri: 4000 Life Points
"I'll make the first move." Yuri said as he drew, smirking at the result, "I summon Traptrix Atrax in attack mode." He said as the purple-haired girl with a sinister smile appeared, (1800 ATK / 1000 DEF).
"Hey," Atticus said as he looked at the card on Yuri's field, "Why does that girl look familiar?" he said with Chazz having a matching perplexed look.
"That ends my turn." Yuri said.
Jaden drew, smiling at the result, "I play Polymerization, fusing my Sparkman and Necroshade," he said as a type of black lighting stuck on the arena, "To make Elemental Hero Darkbright!" As the lightning faded, a golden and black armored hero was seen, (2000 ATK / 1000 DEF). "Now, I can-" he said saying until a void opened into the ground below his fusion monster, dragging Darkbright inside with cacophony of screaming souls, "W-what?"
"Bottomless Trap Hole." Yuri responded, "With a monster that strong, I used that trap to remove it from play."
"But you didn't set a card?" Ruby called out.
"Because Atrax lets me play Hole normal traps from the hand." Yuri responded, "A rather useful effect, don't you say?" He said with Ruby gritting her teeth.
"I still have my normal summon, so I play Clayman in defense mode," Jaden said before the stone hero was summoned in a blocking stance, (800 ATK / 2000 DEF). "I end my turn."
"My turn then," Yuri said before drawing, "I summon Traptrix Mantis in defense mode." He said with a pink-haired girl with vine-like tattoos on her body, (1500 ATK / 1300 DEF). "By summoning her, I can add another Traptrix to my hand, like Dionaea." He said before a card ejected from his deck. After putting it in his hand, the sadistic took a different one out, "I then switch Atrax to defense mode and set one card to end my turn."
"I draw," Jaden responded, "Sweet, I play Fusion Recover, letting me get back Sparkman and Polymerization."
"Oh, is he going to make that Thunder Giant guy?" Nora asked.
"No, I think it's time to brighten up this night." Jaden responded, "I fuse Clayman and Sparkman to make Elemental Hero Sunriser!" he said as both heroes from hand and field merged into the red armored hero with a blue cape, shining onto the battlefield, (2500 ATK / 1200 DEF). "I can now use one of his effects to add Miracle Fusion from my deck to my hand." He said as the card ejected from his deck, "And I'll play it right now, removing my Sparkman and Clayman."
"For Thunder Giant?" Nora spoke.
"For Elemental Hero Gaia!" Jaden declared causing a part of the ground to erupt, causing a heavily armored hero with rocket gauntlets, (2200 ATK / 2600 DEF).
"Oh," Nora said in slight disappointment, "He's cool too."
"Gaia activates his effect; this allows me to cut one of your monster attacks points in half and gain the other for his own," Jaden said as Atrax had a red aura on its body, (1800 / 2 = 900 ATK). On the other end of the field, Gaia gained the same aura, (2200 + 900 = 3100 ATK). "Also, since I have two different attributes on the field, Sunriser gains 200 attack points for each one." He said as the caped hero gained a bright yellow aura, (2500 + 400 = 2900 ATK). Jaden then points, "First, I attack Mantis with Gaia. Go, Stone Rockets Barrage!" he said as the earth fusion hero unleash a wave of rockets from his gauntlets, blowing away one of the Traptrix monsters. "And thanks to Sunriser, since an attack was declared involving another Hero, I can destroy your Atrax as well." He said as the explosions enveloped the other Traptrix monster as well, "And with your field wide open, I can attack you directly." Before the smoke in front of Yuri could clear, Sunriser was standing in front of him, radiating a blinding light. However, the sadistic Obelisk Blue closed his eyes while grinning.
Yuri: 4000 – 2900 = 1100 Life Points
"Nice Jaden!" Blair cheered as Sunriser jumped back next to Gaia, "He's barely hanging on now."
"I end my turn," Jaden said with Gaia losing his aura, (3100 – 900 = 2200 ATK).
"Yuri," Dr. Crowler said in a panic, "You are not supposed to be losing like this!"
"Do not worry," Yuri said as he opened his eyes, the smirk still on his face, "It seems these Traptrix cards require a better opening hand than the one I got." He then sighed before drawing, then grinned at the result, "No matter, I will still win." The sadistic Obelisk Blue said before putting the card in his hand, taking out the one he added his last turn, "I summon Traptrix Dionaea in defense mode." Yuri said as a large Venus flytrap emerged from the ground, as it opened, a small girl with black hair was seen, restring her head and arms on a large ball of blue nectar, (1700 ATK / 1100 DEF). "She allows me to resurrect Atrax from the grave." He said with the purple-haired girl reforming, (1800 ATK / 1000 DEF). "Now, I set one card, but send it to the grave to summon Traptrix Ginalloa." a girl leafy attire and skirt with lilies in her disheveled dark hair appeared, (1400 ATK / 1400 DEF).
"I'll be honest, you're playing a bit more defensive than I thought," Jaden commented.
"Simply because I wanted you to ignore it." Yuri responded with Jaden having a look of confusion, "I reveal my face down card, DNA Transplant. This continuous trap lets me turn all monsters on the field into one attribute." The sadistic Obelisk Blue had a wide grin from, "I select the Dark attribute." Suddenly, all monsters on the field were encompassed in a black aura. While Gaia tried to push the aura away, Sunriser felt his light diming. (2900 – 200 = 2700 ATK). On the other end of the field, all three Traptrix smiled as the dark aura radiated from their body, each starting to let out an unsettling cackle, "I play a spell card, one you should know very well." Yuri said Jaden grit his teeth, "Polymerization. And with three Dark monsters, I fusion summon," The sadistic Obelisk Blue said while clasping his hands together, causing all three Traptrix to combine in a black pillar of energy, "Level nine, Predaplant Triphyoverutum!" out of the dark beam emerged a set of purple wings. With a deep green body, a dragon-like plant emerged with three elongated heads with yellow mandibles, (3000 ATK / 3000 DEF). Jaden gasped as the monster towered over the arena and even the Slifer Red dorm. "Triphyoverutum, wipe out his Sunriser with Carnivorous Blast!" Yuri spoke as his monster charged a beam from each of the three heads. All fired at the same time, obliterating the caped hero in a sickly yellow blast of light.
Jaden: 4000 – 300 = 3700 Life Points
Jaden held his arms in a blocking stance, tanking the shockwave that ran through his body. "It's just as the others said." He said to himself, "The damage is real."
"I end my turn." Yuri responded, "Your move."
Jaden drew, putting the card in his hand before taking out a different one, "I summon Wroughtweiler in defense mode." He said as a machinal dog appeared next to the earth fusion hero, (800 ATK / 1200 DEF), "I then switch Gaia to defense mode and end my turn."
"Now look whose playing defensive?" Dr. Crowler said with a sneer but then felt a sharp elbow to his gut. He turned with a scowl to Sienna, but she was looking off in another direction with her arms crossed.
"I draw." Yuri said as he started his turn, playing the card instantly, "I summon Predaplant Moray Nepenthes in attack mode." He said with a large plant made of spindly vines, the twin-headed buds having red-stained petals that looked like mouths, (1600 ATK / 1000 DEF). "Triphyoverutum attacks your Gaia, while Moray attacks your Wroughtweiler." The sadistic Obelisk Blue said with tri-headed dragon-like plant fusion's head plunging at Gaia. Each grabbed a different body part of the earth fusion hero, ripping him apart before the pierced exploded. Right afterward, Jaden saw Wroughtweiler become entangled in vines, its body lifted into the air before it was slammed into the ground. The dust settled to reveal the broken metal canine.
From one of the windows of the Slifer Red dorm, Zwei watched while seeing the dust settled, revealing the broken metal canine. The corgi then winced as his ears folded down.
"Wroughtweiler now allows me to add Polymerization and Necroshade back to my hand," Jaden said as the two cards eject from his deck.
"Well, Moray allows me to equip the monster he destroyed." Yuri responded, "And now, I can send to the grave to gain back life points equal to the monster's attack points." He said before the metal canine finally faded away, "That will do for my turn."
Yuri: 1100 + 800 = 1900 Life Points
"I draw," Jaden said before doing so, putting the card in his hand before getting three more cards, "I play Polymerization, fusing Necroshade and Wildheart." The spirited Slifer Red said as the vortex formed behind him, "To make Elemental Hero Necroid Shaman!" he said with the red-headed sage summoned to the field with his staff in hand, (1900 ATK / 1800 DEF). "Now I can use his eff-" However before Jaden could finish his command, his fusion monster exploded, "Again, are you serious!?"
"Oh, did I forget to mention this?" Yuri spoke with a smile, "Triphyoverutum can negate the summon of a monster from your extra deck." He then had a smirk on his face form, "Making your fusions worthless." He said with Jaden gritting his teeth.
"Don't listen to him," Ruby called out you, "You can beat his Tripthy… Triphya…that big dragon plant thingy!" she said with Yuri chuckling, causing her to cross her arms in frustration.
"Don't worry, I will," Jaden responded with a smile before looking back at his hand, "Thanks to Necroshade, I can summon Bladedge without any tributes." He said as the gold-bladed hero appeared, (2600 ATK / 1800 DEF). "I send Elemental Hero Captain Gold from my hand to the grave to add Skyscraper to my hand and then play it." He said as another golden hero was seen, this one with a red cape. As the monster faded, a set of tall buildings emerged from the ground. "Go Bladedge, destroy his Predaplant Tripf-" Jaden was saying before biting his tongue, recoiling in pain as he held his mouth.
A loud thud was heard as nearly everyone fell over from what they had witnessed. Those that did not were Sienna, who pinched the bridge of her nose with a sigh. And Yuri, who watch with half-open eyes his opponent flail on the ground in agony.
A short intermission later, Jaden's tongue recovered, "Sorry about that." He said while scratching the back of his head.
"…" Yuri did not say a word, still having the unamused expression on his face.
"Now, back to the duel." Jaden responded with a look of focus in his eyes, "Go Bladedge, attack his big dragon plant thingy!" he said with the gold-bladed hero leaping into the air, encompassed by a white aura from the field spell, (2600 + 1000 = 3600 ATK). With his aim lined up, Bladedge sliced off all three heads of Triphyoverutum in one horizontal slash. "I end my turn," Jaden said before Bladedge landed next to him, the aura fading, (3600 – 1000 = 2600 ATK).
Yuri: 1900 – 600 = 1300 Life Points
Yuri did not turn his gaze as his Triphyoverutum's body toppled, then faded away. The sadistic Obelisk Blue sighed while closing their eyes, "How unfortunate." He said before drawing, only opening one to see what it was before playing it. "I activate Allure of Darkness. I now draw two before I have to banish a dark monster."
From the stands, Weiss watched as Yuri put a card from his hand away for the effect of his spell, "Was that Jinzo?" she said to herself, "How did he get one of those?"
"I set one card and end my turn," Yuri said as a facedown card appeared behind his Moray.
"My draw," Jaden responded, revealing the card, "I play Legacy of a Hero, returning Sunriser and Gaia from my grave back to my extra deck. Then, I get to draw three cards." He said before doing so, then playing one of the cards he drew, "I summon Card Trooper in attack mode." The spirited Slifer Red said with the red and blue robot appearing, (400 ATK / 400 DEF). "And by sending three cards from the top of my deck to the graveyard, I can give him more attack than your Moray." He said as the robot radiated a red aura, (400 + 1500 = 1900 ATK). "Now, Card Trooper attacks your monster!"
"Attack if your dare, but I reveal my trap card." Yuri responded, "Predaplanning, which gives all monsters a Predaplant counter." He said as a card ejected from his deck, "All for sending a Predaplant monster from my deck to the graveyard."
"A Predaplant counter?" Jaden asked, seeing a weedlike bud attached to all three monsters on the field.
"Yes, it reduced a monster's level to one." Yuri responded, looking at his Predaplant gaining a dark aura, "But for Moray Nepenthes, it also gains 200 attack points for each Predaplant counter on the field," he said as the monster's vines ensnared Card Trooper, (1600 + 600 = 2200 ATK). Jaden's robot was then pulled apart before exploding. With it, Moray lost a bit of its boost, (2200 – 200 = 2000 ATK).
Jaden: 3700 – 300 = 3400 Life Points
"Card Trooper's effect lets me draw one card." Jaden said before doing so, "And now, Bladedge will take your Moray." He said before the gold-bladed hero dashed in a slashed off the buds of Yuri's monster.
Yuri: 1300 – 600 = 700 Life Points
"I'll throw down a face down and call it a turn," Jaden responded.
"My turn, and since you now have a monster with a Predaplant Counter on your field," Yuri said with a smirk, "Triphyoverutum revives in defense mode." He said with Jaden gasping, seeing the pillar of dark energy. The massive plant dragon appeared, its wing shielding the body, "Triphyoverutum also gains attack for each monster with a Predaplant Counter on it." He said as the tri-headed dragon-like plant gained a thicker dark aura, (3000 + 2600 = 5600 ATK).
"It may be stronger, but it's still in defense mode." Jaden commented, "Which means Bladedge will cut it down again on my turn."
"You're monster will not be sticking around." Yuri responded, "I summon Predaplant Flytrap in attack mode." He said a carnivorous plant emerged with claw-like vines, (400 ATK / 800 DEF). "Flytrap now attacks your Bladedge, but thanks to his effect, your monster is destroyed before the battle even begins." Yuri said with Jaden gasping, watching as the gold-bladed hero was devoured by the carnivorous plant monster, "Flytrap can do this with any monster of a lower level, then gains that monster original levels afterwards."
"That makes that tiny thing a level nine monster now." Yang responded, "So, then Jaden needs something level ten to beat that."
"Yes, he might a fusion that is high enough level." Bastion said before looking at the rest of Yuri's field, "But Triphyoverutum will make that nearly impossible to bring out." He said as the three head plant dragon lost part of its dark aura, (5600 – 2600 = 3000 ATK).
"Come on, Jaden," Ruby said to herself.
"It's my turn," Jaden said as he drew, looking at the three cards in his hand, and a smile forming, "Okay, get ready for this. I summon Neo-Spacian Grand Mole in attack mode." He said as the drill-equipped mole erupted from the ground, (900 ATK / 300 DEF). "Go, attack his fusion monster." The spirited Slifer Red said with Grand Mole drilling into the air, while Triphyoverutum's heads all were about to bite down on him. However, a while light flashed, with both monsters vanishing, "While Grand Mole goes back to my hand, yours goes back to the extra deck."
"And that means it can't revive enough anymore." Weiss pointed out.
"Yep, but I still have that other one to worry about." Jaden said as he looked over to Flytrap, then back at his hand, "I end my battle phase, but I play Convert Contact to send Grand Mole from my hand and Air Hummingbird from my deck to the graveyard to draw two cards." He said before doing so, then playing a different spell, "Now, I activate A Hero Lives. For half my life points, I can special summon a level four or lower Hero from my deck."
Jaden: 3400 / 2 = 1700 Life Points
"Heh, a rather guts play," Sienna said with a half-smile.
"And the Hero I pick," Jaden said as the card ejected, "Is Elemental Hero Prisma!" he said as an angelic-shaped person made of blue crystal was seen, (1700 ATK / 1100 DEF). "And his effect is something else. I can now reveal a fusion from my extra deck and send one of the materials to the grave to make Prisma's name that material." He said before showing the monsters, "I reveal Magma Neos, so I can send Elemental Hero Neos to the graveyard." With that, Prisma's blue crystal body changed shape, forming into the new elemental hero in a near-identical match.
"That seems rather pointless." Yuri commented, "Even if you are going for a strong fusion monster, it cannot attack now." He said before looking at Jaden's monster, "And with those monsters, all they will do is return to your extra deck at the end phase. Even you said that in your last match."
"Yeah, but I am not fusing Neos right now." Jaden said as he took another spell out of his hand, "I play Wrath of Neos, which lets me put my monster back in the deck to destroy all other cards on the field."
"What!?" Yuri responded before seeing the crystal version of Neos raised his right hand. With one chopping motion, he struck the ground before shards scattering everywhere at high speed. Yuri watched as Flytrap and DNA Transplant were shredded. Even the buildings of Skyscrapers were knocked down in the shockwave. The smoke cleared with Jaden smirking, while Yuri gritted his teeth.
"My turn is still not over yet," Jaden said as he showed the one card in his hand, "I special summon Elemental Hero Bubbleman in attack mode." He said as the light blue water hero was seen reposting with his cape, (800 ATK / 1200 DEF). "And with his effect, I can draw two more cards." The spirited Slifer Red said before doing so, then placing the cards on the field, "I think I'll set both and call it a turn."
"I draw," Yuri said before grinning, "Do you recall the Predaplant I sent to the grave for Predaplanning? Well, it was Cordyceps. And I can remove it from play to special summon two level four or lower Predaplant from my graveyard." He said as a weed with a screaming redhead appeared for a second followed by two familiar monsters emerging from the ground. The first was Moray Nepenthes, who reposed with his vines, (1600 ATK / 1000 DEF). The other was Flytrap, who readied its claw-like vines, (400 ATK / 800 DEF). "Since I don't feel like giving your monster a counter now, Moray will not have the boost for a bit more damage." The sinister Obelisk Blue said before smirking, "Still, this is going to hurt." He said before Bubbleman was pulled into the air by Moray's vines before being slammed into the ground.
Jaden: 1700 – 800 = 900 Life Points
"Now, Flytrap attack you directly!" Yuri said as his monster looked as though it was about to bite down on its opponent.
"Not so fast," Jaden countered, "I reveal my trap card, NEXT."
"Next?" Yuri responded, then watched as two pillars of light formed.
"I can special summon as many Neo Spacian from my grave as I can. You remember two that were there before?" Jaden said as the pillars revealed the monster, "Welcome back Grand Mole and Air Hummingbird!" He said as the brown mole reappeared, (900 ATK / 300 DEF), Next to him was the red humming birdman, (800 ATK / 600 DEF). Both stood in a blocking stance, but Grand Mole was eaten by Flytrap. "There effects are negated, but that puts a stop to your direct assault."
"…Hehehehe." Yuri started to chuckle, "Do you think I am done yet? I use the effect of Predaplanet from the graveyard." He said with Jaden having a look of confusion, "This was the trap I sent for Ginalloa. And I can banish it to fusion summon with my Predaplant monsters." The sadistic Obelisk Blue said before clasping his hands, "I fusion summon the level seven Predaplant Chimerafflesia!" he said as the massive corpse flower emerged with its jaws like vines ready to chomp, (2500 ATK / 2000 DEF).
"Wow, you're fusions really have long names," Jaden commented while Dr. Crowler, Atticus, and Chazz all shuttered at the sight of the familiar flower.
"Is that all you have to say?" Yuri responded, before sighing, "I have another trap from my grave I can remove, Predaplanning. Since I fusion summoned, I can destroy one card on your field." He said before Air Hummingbird was encased in vines, then dragged into the ground, "Chimerafflesia attacks you directly!"
"Yes, he's about to do it." Dr. Crowler said as Yuri's monster was about to land the final blow. However, the ground below Chimerafflesia erupted. Emerging was the Elemental Hero Neos, who uppercutting the monster corpse flower into an explosion, "What!?" the headteacher of Obelisk Blue said Sienna pointed to Jaden's side of the field.
"Hero Blast." Jaden said with his revealed trap card, "I can add a normal elemental hero to my hand, and if you have a monster with less or equal attack, it gets destroyed." He said as Neos faded into a white light before forming as the sole card in Jaden's hand.
"Tsk." Yuri responded, his irritation building, "I end my turn." He said with nothing now left on his field.
"I draw," Jaden said while smiling at the result, "I play Neos Fusion. This lets send my Neos from the hand and Flare Scarab from the graveyard." He said as the spirit of both monsters jumped into space. "In order to form Elemental Hero Flare Neos!" the spirited Slifer Red said with the new hero reforming, now with red and black armor and insect wings on his back, (2500 ATK / 2000 DEF). "Flare Neos, attack Yuri with Hyper Heated Rush!" he said with his fusion in with the burning new hero engulfed in flames as he intended to ram into his target.
"He's got him!" Ruby cheered, but then saw Yuri smirk. Suddenly, the flames hit something in front of the Sadistic Obelisk Blue instead. It was a grass-like monster with slight pink petals on the ends, (100 ATK / 600 DEF).
"I can also counter such an attack with ease." Yuri spoke to Jaden, "When attacked directly, I can summon Predaplant Sarraceniant from my hand in defense mode." He before the flames incinerating Yuri's monster into ash, "And if it battled and was destroyed, I can destroy your monster as well." He said as the ashy remained fell onto Flare Neos, sinking into his armor. Jaden watched his fusion convulse before it exploded, "And finally, my monster allows me to add a new Predap card to my hand."
Jaden gritted his teeth, now seeing nothing on his field this time, "I end my turn."
"Very well, my turn then." Yuri said as he drew, "And since Chimerafflesia was destroyed, I can add a fusion spell to my hand." He said before having the card eject from his deck and placed into this hand. The sadistic Obelisk Blue then took two more cards out of his hand, "I think I'll set a monster and one card face down. That ends my turn."
"I draw," Jaden said before doing so, playing the spell instantly, "I play Fifth Hope, letting return five Heroes from my graveyard back to my deck." He said before showing a variety of Elemental Hero: Bladedge, Wildheart, Necroshade, Captain Gold, and Bubbleman. "And since I have no other cards, I can draw three instead of two." He said before doing so, playing one of the cards. "I summon Elemental Hero Neos Alius in attack mode." He said as the younger version of the new hero appeared, (1900 ATK / 1300 DEF). "Go, attack his set monster."
As Alius ran in, the card flipped over, revealing a bloated plant abomination with wings and a gaping mouth, (300 ATK / 2100 DEF). In punching the creature in the stomach, Alius was pushed back with a weed growing on his left fist, "Predaplant Pterapenthes is a little too defensive for your hero. "As well, since he inflicted battle damage, your monster gained a Predaplant counter." Yuri said before chuckling, "It looks like our life points are back to equal again."
Jaden: 900 – 200 = 700 Life Points
"I end my turn," Jaden responded.
"And I start mine," Yuri said as he drew, "And since you have a monster with a lower level, Pterapenthes allows me to take control of it." He said with the bloated plant abomination letting out a guttural cry. Suddenly, Alius had his blue eyes turn green as he jumped to the other end of the arena, "I'll defeat you with your one card." Yuri said before pointing at Jaden, causing Alius to rush in for the final blow. However, his fist was blocked by a white-haired spirited in metal armor.
"I banish Necro Gardna to negate your attack." Jaden responded, "This guy has been in my grave thanks to Card Trooper, and I was waiting for a moment like this."
"I see, very well." Yuri responded, "I end my turn, which means your monster goes back to your side of the field for the time being." He said with Alius having his eyes turn back to blue, letting him stand back on Jaden's field again.
"I draw," Jaden said, then gasped at the card, causing a look of confusion on Yuri's face, "Well, looks like it has come to this. First, I summon Alius again."
"Huh?" Blair asked.
"It's a Gemini monster," Alexis responded, "So it can be normal summoned again to gain an effect."
"Right, and his effect allows him to be treated as Neos in name now. Just like Prisma was." Jaden responded, then took two cards out of his hand, "You want this card so much," he said before discarding one to the graveyard, "Well, let me show it first then." He said with his eyes going golden for a moment, "I play Super Polymerization!" he said with a lightning storm erupting from the card. Yuri watched as the rippling wind, ran through the area, but a sinister smile formed on his face. "I fuse my Neos with your level four or lower effect monster." The spirited Slifer Red said as Alius and Pterapenthes were sucked into the vortex in the sky, "To form, Elemental Hero Brave Neos!" he said as the golden light faded from his eyes a blue shine was seen in the middle of the vortex. Suddenly, the new hero was seen, his shoulders more armored as he radiated a pure white aura, (2500 ATK / 2000 DEF). Jaden sighed before smiling, "Brave Neos gains 100 attack points for every Hero and Neo-Spacian in my graveyard. In total, that is seven monsters for 700 attack points." He said as the white aura around the brave new hero grew brighter, (2500 + 700 = 3200 ATK).
"…Hehehehe." Yuri chuckled again, but this time went louder, "AHAHAHAHAHA!" he laughed into the sky before looking back to Jaden with a smile, "Ah yes, how very interesting!"
Jaden gritted his teeth, "Go, Brave Neos, attack with Adamant Impact." He said with the brave new hero rushing in, the white aura gathering in the right fist.
"No, not yet!" Yuri spoke before pressing the center button on his duel disk, causing a shockwave of purple electricity, "My trap card activates, Ridicule World!" as the trap revealed, the arena was suddenly filled with a red-eyed purple spirit, "You want to give your monster 100 more attack points? Well here, take it!" Yuri said with Brave Neos having of the spirits passing through his body, giving him a red-purple aura, (3200 + 100 = 3300 ATK). Jaden then gasped as Brave Neos stopped his attack, holding his head as look the purple sprites started laughing at his fusion monster, "Now, any monster with more than its original attack points cannot attack this turn." Yuri said with his smile growing more cheshire in shape, his right eye opening wider, "How's that!? You're Hero nothing but a coward!? AHAHAHAHA!" he laughed along with all the other spirits.
Sienna then turned to Dr. Crowler, "Your student has gone insane." She said in a deadpan voice.
"He's just being…. theatrical." Dr. Crowler responded.
"This duel is not over yet," Jaden said before looking at the last card in his hand, "I'll throw down a face down and end my turn." With that, the sprites faded away, and Brave Neos had regained his composure, (3300 – 100 = 3200 ATK).
"I draw," Yuri said before smiling at the card, "I summon Predaplant Ophrys Scorpio in attack mode." He said as a plantlike scorpion with the red stinger was summoned, (1200 ATK / 800 DEF). "With it, I can send a monster from my hand to the graveyard to special summon another Predaplant from my deck. This time, I choose Predaplant Heliamphorhynchus." He said with a large green tridactyl emerging onto the battlefield with multiple crimson eyes, (1200 ATK / 2400 DEF).
"That thing might look like a dinosaur, but it's still a plant." Tyranno commented, "And a high-level one too."
Yuri then looked down at his hand of two cards, reaching for the rightmost one. However, he stopped himself, "I should thank you, Jaden." He spoke with the spirited Slifer Red having a look of confusion, "I get to play that card sooner than extracted." The sadistic Obelisk Blue said before picking the leftmost card, "I activate the spell, Spider Web." Yuri said as a thread of silk shoot from his duel disk into Jaden's, entering his graveyard, "This lets me take a spell you used the last turn and add into my hand."
"You don't mean-" Jaden said as the web retracted, carrying a card with it that Yuri then grabbed. The sadistic Obelisk Blue then chuckled as revealed Super Polymerization, "Yuri, think about this. If you play that card-"
"I'll win? Hehehehe, I know." Yuri responded, sending his Predaprime Fusion to the graveyard, then held out his arms as he was encompassed in a back dark aura, "I activated Super Polymerization." The sadistic Obelisk Blue said with the storm reforming, this time even more chaotic than before, "I fuse my Predaplant monsters together." He said with Ophrys Scorpio and Heliamphorhynchus sucked into the vortex, while Neos stood his ground.
The lightning began to stick to the ground, some bolts even landing near the stands. Blair screamed before Ruby held her close. Sienna gasped before turning back to Dr. Crowler in anger, "I'm calling off this duel, it's too dangerous!"
"R-right," Dr. Crowler said in slight fear, "Yuri my boy, that's enough. This match is over now."
"Oh, it will be soon enough," Yuri spoke, his eyes still focused on Jaden, "You have such a hard time pronouncing my monster's name? Well, this one is only four simple words." He said before clasping his hands with a sadistic smile, "I fusion summon, the level ten, Gre-"
Suddenly, everyone looked in confusion as Yuri's body froze. Inside the sadistic Obelisk Blue's mind, a female voice was heard.
No. That is not your card.
"Eh?" Yuri could only say in response to this voice.
Do not steal from my precious King.
Suddenly, Yuri's body pulsated in a black aura, "AAAAAAAAA!" he screamed in agony. Jaden and Ruby watched as Yuri's eyes were an almost vacant white, his body fell backward with a loud thud. With that noise, the storm subsided, the holograms faded, and the duel was over.
"Yuri!" Dr. Crowler ran over, cradling him in his arms, "Speak to me boy, speak to me!" he cried out with tears in his eyes.
Sienna then ran over, "We need to take him to the infirmary." She said with Dr. Crowler nodding, picking up Yuri before they stayed running towards the academy. However, spilling out of the unconscious Obelisk Blue's fingers, Super Polymerization hit the ground.
A couple of hours later.
In the middle of the night, Sienna walked out of an infirmary room with Jaden, Ruby, and Blair waiting on the other side, "What happened to Yuri?" Jaden asked, "Is he going to be okay?"
"He should, even though the doctors are unsure of the exact cause of the panic attack." Sienna said before having a comforting smile, "Don't worry, he'll be able to make a full recovery in due time." She then crossed her arms, "You're ante duel will be called as unfinished. Neither you nor Yuri will gain anything from this outcome."
"But Jaden still had a facedown," Blair pointed out, "He could have-"
"It's fine Blair," Ruby interrupted, "Right now, he is in no condition to be answering questions." She said with a smile, "We'll figure things out next time."
"I need to have a long chat with the Chancellor and Dr. Crowler about this in the morning, so the three of you should get some rest," Sienna said with a sigh, then watched Ruby and Blair nod back before walking away. However, she turned to Jaden, who was looking down in shame, "Do you have something more to say?"
"Uh, I wanted to give you this card back." Jaden said as he offered his Super Polymerization, "I think it is still too dangerous for me to use."
"…" Sienna did not say a word, but sighed first, "You did not lose control in this duel, so I have no reason to hold onto your cards anymore." She said with Jaden looking back up to her, "They are your responsibility, and I trust you to make the right call with them in your own hands going forward." She said with a smile, causing Jaden to respond in kind, "So," Sienna then smacked Jaden over the head with her right hand, "Don't put them up in an ante duel ever again!"
"Ouch, alright, I got!" Jaden said as he rubbed his head in pain, "Geez Teach. You didn't have to hit so hard?"
"That is the only way to get through that thick skull of yours," Sienna responded, then crossed her arms. "Now come on, let's head back to our dorm."
"Right," Jaden said before he flowed his headteacher's leave. Suddenly, he stopped for a second to look back at Yuri's room, thinking he heard something. However, the spirited Slifer Red was met with only silence before catching up to Sienna.
Inside the infirmary room, not a soul was to be found. Only a bed with a tossed-up blanket and a window that was still open. Descending from a nearby tree to his exit, Yuri landed on the ground before quickly surveying the area. After seeing no one in sight, he walked off into the night.
Soon, Yuri approached a cave and entered. He walked into the darkness, slightly holding his head with his right hand. Suddenly, he stopped with a female voice calling to him, "You dueled him?" the person asked, "How did it end?"
"Inconclusive," Yuri responded, lowering his hand, "I was interrupted just as I was about to win." He then smirked, "That woman, she can be quite protective of her little k-" Suddenly, a monstrous right arm lunged at Yuri's head, with marron flesh and darked yellow claws, only stopping a mere inch before grasping his face.
"Do not speak of Salem that way." The voice responded.
"Oh, you still obey her. I thought that she abandoned you after attaching that new arm as a parting gift?" Yuri responded, seeing the monstrous hand pulled back, "Granted, the rest of you was still pretty mangled." He said as the hand clench into a fist, "You suffered a terrible loss, didn't you?" in speaking, the cave was slightly illuminated by a glowing orange eye from the person Yuri was talking with. However, the other eye yielded no light, being covered by short burnt hair on her head, "Cinder." Yuri spoke with the Fallen Shadow Rider glaring back at him.
"She is not my enemy." Cinder responded, "You already know who it is I wish to destroy."
"Of course," Yuri responded with a grin, "You are the one who told me her name." he said before starting to laugh, "Hahahahaha, I can't wait to turn Ruby Rose's life into a nightmare."
AN: There you go, the duel ends with a DNF. Jaden keeps his Super Poly, but Yuri still got to play it once and almost skipped right to the greediest of all his monsters. Like I said, I used a couple of anime cards. Spider Web, (not the field spell version) is one that Yugi used a couple times and was put here to allow Yuri to take Super Poly the way he did. And consider his other duel, I think it is fine to assume he gained this card as well. With Ridicule World…come on, Yuri should always have that card when he just wants to mock someone. Regardless of how the duel could have gone, Salem steps in to put an end to it. While our Heroes still do not know as much as they would like about Yuri, you know who has given him all this information. That's right, Cinder is still alive and is the Fallen Shadow Rider now. Not only that, but she has the arm or a certain familiar duel spirit along with her post V3 design, (which I never really thought looked better than her original but does work for her in this context. And yes, I know she lost the left arm, but the right arm was what she lost in this continuity to match with that monster's arm). More about her connection to Yuri and her new plan will be revealed in time, but for now, this is where I will take a break from this series. This last duel drained me to write, so I will stop to recharge and plan for the future ones.
Now, time to answer some questions. With my opinion on Neo-Spacian monsters, I think they are…okay. I like their simple design a lot but did not think they needed those baby forms at all. Grand Mole is my favorite, and in my opinion, the only one with a consistent good effect. Neos is cool, one of the best hero designs, and start of the tradition of 2500 attack aces for the protagonist after Yugi and his Dark Magician. I do however wish most of his fusions did not return to the extra deck at the end phase, leaving you near empty if you did not win with the monster that turn. If anything, they should have let you resummon normal Neos to the field from the deck at the end of the turn, that would have made them less cumbersome to play. Regarding more contact fusion decks in this series, I will wait to say until I know of a character I can give them to. My favorite fusion-oriented deck is Lunalight, they are super fun to mess around with in that regard. As for the pro circuit, the next section will cover that. Those were all the questions I had, feel free to ask more, and I will answer them in the next chapter.
So, to reflect on this season so far, I really have enjoyed writing it for the past year. Of all my series, this has been the one I am the proudest of the cast-wide development. Everyone from season one has grown in some way, (Except maybe Atticus, who still has not dueled yet in an official way here). On the GX side: Jaden got upgrades galore, Alexis proved her skills in dueling and dancing, Chazz got back in the blue dorm, and Bastion finally earned a win. For RWBY ones: Ruby shows her confidence in playing new cards, Blake also upgrades to blue, Yang moves past her traumatic duel, and even Glynda teaches with cosplay. Weiss is the only one who is still in a rut, but her arc is coming in the next section of this series. And the new characters have been so fun: Blair has been amazing and has helped me flesh out Ruby more, Sienna's dynamic with Jaden is something I wish he had more of with Banner in the show, Tyranno also gets better with his connection to Yang, Nora is also very defined here, and Dr. Crowler is who he is. Lastly, we have Yuri showing up with a sinister plan brewing with Cinder. Now, while I did not talk about the pro league characters much, they will be focused on in the next arc as well. In it, their will be a class trip back to Domino City were the finals for the Kaiba World Tournament will be held, meaning Winter will be showing off her skills there against a powerful opponent. That is were most of the cast will meet up before the Genex Tournament starts. It will most likely be battle royal like the show but expect over thirty duelists to be participating in it. That will be the final arc of this series, so expect things to get crazy then. I am not sure when I will be able to write again for this series, possible last quarter of this year or early next year. Regardless, expect more duels to come. Thank you so much for all the reviews and for helping this story reach over 100 in favorites and follows, it means a lot to me. That is all for now, thanks for reading, and hope to see you in the next chapter.
