AN: Hello, I have the next chapter here. This is it, the final to the second act for the Genex Tournament Saga. The duel here is one that was planned for a while, but I was even surprised how cool it turned out in the end. It is full of references throughout this series and shows how far each character has come. After this duel I will take a break to fully plan the events for the final act, but this is one of my favorite duels so far in this series. Also, the last AN has spoilers for the rwby web series, so skip if you do not wish to hear them. 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 68 – The Hero
Jaden continued to follow Zwei through the cave. The corgi came to a stop at a chasm. As the spirited Slifer Red approached, his mind flashed back again to the moments of last year, "Stay back!" those words echoed in his head, "You freak!" they repeated as held his head in pain, falling to his knees, "Get away from me!" the words echoed before fading, then a sudden crash was heard. Jaden broke out into a cold sweat as his breathing was sporadic.
"Arf…" Zwei barked as he nuzzled next to Jaden's right leg, causing the spirited Slifer Red to gain a small smile again.
"Thanks buddy, I'm okay now." Jaden said as he petted the corgi, "Okay, let's go. Ruby needs us." He said before picking up Zwei, then taking a few steps back. The spirited Slifer Red then sprinted forward, leaping over the chasm, and landing on the other side, "See, we made it." He said while putting Zwei down.
"Arf." Zwei barked before seeing something coil around Jaden's left ankle, "Arf!"
"Huh?" Jaden questioned before he felt the grip on his leg, which pulled him back and into the chasm. He barely had time to grab the edge with his right hand, but already felt his grip slipping.
"Arf!" Zwei barked in panic, not knowing how to help.
"Oh no, Zwei! Go find Ruby, make sure the others know where she is!" Jaden called out, "It's okay, I'll be-" he said before the grp gave out and he was pulled into the darkness.
"ARF!" Zwei barked before lowering his ears, whimpering. He slowly turned around and started running towards the scent of his owner.
At the bottom of the chasm, Jaden slowly regained consciousness as he stood up. It was pitch black, with only a small light seen from where he fell. However, in the corner of his eyes, he saw a crimson light. Jaden clenched his fist before approaching it. Upon getting close enough, he realized the light was over a stone throne chair. Sitting there was the Branded Shadow Rider, a grin on his face. "So nice of you to stop by." Adam spoke as he got off the throne, while Jaden glared, "You don't look surprised to see me. I assume Atticus spoiled it." He said before giggling, "Oh well, I'll have to make him pay after I'm finished with you."
"Adam, it doesn't have to be this way." Jaden responded, "With what happened last year, I'm sor-"
"No," Adam interrupted, "You don't get to be that with me." He said as his smile faded, "The defeat, the humiliation, the slow and painful death! All of that I have dealt with, and all you can offer are hollow words of regret?" the branded Shadow Rider said as he grabbed his mask, "No, I will not allow you to feel sorry for what you did." He said before the sinister smile returned, "You will only feel a more agonizing demise than what mine was." Adam said as he let go of his mask and readied his duel disks, "Now then, shall we begin?"
"…Fine," Jaden said as he readied his duel disk, "We'll settle this, once and for all."
"Duel!" The two declared as the battle of the strongest Slifer Reds had begun.
Jaden: 4000 Life Points
Adam: 4000 Life Points
"I'll go first," Jaden said as he drew, "I summon Elemental Hero Woodsman in defense mode." He said as the trueborn warrior was seen in a knelt stance, (1000 ATK / 2000 DEF). "Then I set one card and end my turn."
"My turn," Adam said as he drew, taking a spell out of his hand, "I play Branded Opening. For one discard, I can add any Despia monster to my hand." He said as a card ejected from his deck, then took and played it on the field, "And I'll summon it to the field, meet Aluber the Jester of Despia!" The Branded Shadow Rider said as the demonic jester was seen, (1800 ATK / 0 DEF). "When summoned, he lets me add a Branded spell or trap to my hand." He said as a card ejected from his deck, which he then set on the field, "That ends my turn. But I should let you know, this duel has an audience."
"What?" Jaden said as Adam snapped his fingers, causing more red lights to shine over the cave walls. The spirited Slifer Red gasped as he saw two head teachers of Duel Academy. Chains held their wrists above their heads. It was Sienna across from him, and Dr. Crowler on Jaden's side.
"You see, our life points are tied to these fools." Adam informed as crimson swords appeared aimed at each teacher's neck, "If mine hit zero, Sienna Khan will not live this encounter with the blade. But if yours hit zero, then that ugly Obelisk Blue teacher will lose their head."
"…Uh…" Dr. Crowler regained consciousness before gasping, "AAAAHHH! What's happening to me." He struggled but could not break his chains.
"Leave them out of this," Jaden shouted, "It has nothing to do with them!"
"It has to do with everyone!" Adam shouted back, "I was the one who was abused and then killed for simply taking what I deserved. I am the one who was placed in the weakest grade, despite my skill, because of blind idiots like the professors." The Branded Shadow Rider shouted louder, "I AM THE ONE WHO SHOULD BE CALL THE KING OF GAMES!"
Suddenly, a weak voice was heard, "Will you …shut up…" Adam, Jaden, And Dr. Crowler looked at Sienna, "The world does not revolve around you." She said with a scowl to the Branded Shadow Rider, "And it's that outlook that lead to your downfall, which is something I should have dealt with myself." She said as she tried to move her arms, but could not break free, "Now, it's too late for both of us." The headteacher of Slifer Red said before looking at her spirited student, "Jaden, do not hold back because of me. You can't let him win because of this cheap tactic." She said before glaring at Adam, "I won't mind going to Hell if it means I can drag him down with me."
"Tsk, you think I'm going back after I all did to get here again." Adam responded, then looked back to Jaden, "You will be the one to take my place at the end of this duel. Now take your turn."
Jaden responded by closing his eyes, "Teach, you showed me how to draw my own line." He said as Adam scowled, "I know where I stand now. It's my turn!" the spirited Slifer Red said as he drew, "Due to Woodsman's effect, I can add a Polymerization to my hand." He said as the card ejected, then took it with another card in his hand, "I fuse my Woodsman and Ocean to make Elemental Hero Sunriser!" The spirited Slifer Red said as the vortex appeared behind him with the red-armored brilliant hero emerging, (2500 ATK / 1200 DEF). "And with him, I can add Miracle Fusion to my hand." He said as the card ejected before it was played, "I now remove from play Woodsman and Ocean to make Elemental Hero Absolute Zero!" the vortex appeared again, but this time with white light and a cold wind as a cool caped hero emerged with a frozen impact, (2500 ATK / 2000 DEF). "And since I have two different attributes on the field, Sunriser gains 200 attack points for each." He said as his monster gained a bright yellow aura, (2500 + (2 X 200) = 2900 ATK). "Absolute Zero, attack his Aluber!"
"Heh, your fusions mean nothing to me now." Adam responded, "I reveal my trap card, Branded Banishment! I'll take the monster I discarded last turn and summon it, Meet Ad Libitum of Despia!" he said as the crimson actor with long-bladed fingers appeared, (1500 ATK / 2000 DEF).
"This combo," Sienna recalled from her last duel, "Jaden, he's about to fusion summon!"
Jaden gasped before focusing in, "I'll use Sunriser's effect, since another Hero is attacking, I can destroy your Aluber!" he said before the red-armored hero unleashed a solar ray that obliterated Adam's monster. However, the Branded Shadow Rider grinned.
"You think I need to use only my monsters to fusion summon." Adam said as Sienna and Jaden gasped, "I'll take your Sunriser and my Ad Libitum." He said as both monsters were pulled into a crimson vortex above, "To make Despian Quaeritis!" Now dropping from the vortex was a warped fiend with his jagged lance, (2500 ATK / 2500 DEF). "When Ad Libitum is used as a fusion material, I can bring back Aluber." He said as the demonic jester appeared again with a smirk, (1800 ATK / 0 DEF). "And since he was brought back, I get another spell or trap to add to my hand," Adam said as a card ejected from his deck.
"Tsk, I still have my Absolute Zero attack." Jaden responded, "But now, I can change targets to your Quaeritis!" he said both monsters crashed into each other, creating a sudden blizzard of red and white, "And when he leaves the field, all your monsters are destroyed." With that, Aluber was frozen before shattering and returning to the graveyard, "Now, I still have my normal summon, so I play Elemental Hero Clayman in defense mode." He said as the stone wall hero was seen in a knelt stance, (800 ATK / 2000 DEF). "I end my turn."
"He not only countered the trap and the fusion but still managed a defensive play." Dr. Crowler commented while looking at Jaden.
"I draw," Adam said before taking a different one out, "I summon Fallen of Albaz in attack mode." He said as branded dragon warrior was seen, (1800 ATK / 0 DEF). "Now, I'll use the spell I added to my hand during your turn, Branded in Red! I can add Aluber to my hand, but he won't be them for long as I banish him and Albaz to fusion summon!" Adam said as the crimson vortex reappeared, allowing both his monsters to merge in it, "Arise, Lubellion the Searing Dragon!" he said as the molten metal dragon was seen with a yellow heatwave, (2500 ATK / 3000 DEF). "And with this one, I can discard a card to perform another fusion summon. By returning Albaz to my deck and Quaeritis to my extra deck, I can create a true terror." He said as the crimson vortex reformed, "Say hello to Masquerade the Blazing Dragon!" Adam spoke as the red and black dragon was seen with white armored plating, (2500 ATK / 2000 DEF). "Attack with Scorching Heat Blast!" he said as the masked dragon unleashed a fire breath toward Clayman.
"Not so fast, I reveal my face down card." Jaden responded, "Hero Ring." He said as Clayman gained a yellow halo around his body, blocking the heat, "While Equipped with this trap, your high attack monster cannot att-" he said before the flames went around his body before engulfing him, "AAAAAAAA!"
Jaden: 4000 – 600 = 3400 Life Points
"HAHAHA! I forgot to mention that a fusion summoned Masquerade will burn you for 600 life points every time you activate a card effect." Adam said before turning to Sienna, "You should know this pain well already."
"Jaden!" Sienna called out as the flames died down, the spirited Slifer Red still standing. At the same time, the sword near Dr. Crowler's neck moved more into position for a strike with him gritting his teeth.
"That will only be the first of the flames you will endure." Adam said before setting a card, "I end my turn." He said as Jaden tried to catch his breath before drawing, "If you thought that card would help you, too bad. I reveal Drop Off, now you must discard it."
"Tsk." Jaden gritted his teeth, then sent the card to the graveyard. "I pass my turn." He said as Dr. Crowler focused on the spirited Slifer Red.
"Then I get to go again." Adam drew, playing the card, "You didn't get to draw, but I'll get two now. I play Pot of Greed." He said before gaining two more cards, playing one of them, "I play another fusion spell, Branded in White. This will let me fuse my Despian Comedy with my Bystial Druiswurm." With that, the crimson vortex reformed, "Return to me, Despian Quaeritis!" the warped fiend returned with his lance, (2500 ATK / 2500 DEF). "That will do for now."
"I draw," Jaden drew, but look at his hand with a line of sweat coming down his forehead, "I…I-"
Suddenly, a voice spoke to him from above, "Jaden, listen to me." He looked to see it was Dr. Crowler, "You do not need to worry about me in this duel." He said to the spirited Slifer Red, "It true, I was harder on you than other students I taught at this academy. I thought that was because I resented that you beat me on that day." The headteacher of Obelisk Blue said as his mind flashed back to his Golem being destroyed by the skydive scorcher, "But I see now that I was wrong, you are a talented duelist." He said with a smile, causing Sienna to do the same. "A teacher's role is to allow their students the opportunity to achieve their potential the right way. So, hold nothing back on either end." He said before glaring at Adam, "And defeat this psychopath!"
"Dr. Crowler…" Jaden said before nodding with a smile, "Okay, you got it!" he said before taking a card out of his hand, "I play Parallel World Fusion. Now, I can return my two banished heroes to my deck for a fusion summon." As he activated the effect, the flames of Masquerade burned his body, as well as the blade moving.
Jaden: 3400 – 600 = 2800 Life Points
"Heh, this foil thinks he can beat my monster, but I can turn his fusion monster's attack to zero with Quaeritis." Adam thought before having a look of confusion.
From the flames, Elemental Hero Woodsman and Ocean form not in a vortex, but a sphere. The water put out the flames as masses of land formed in the orb. Suddenly, a light formed from the center as a white hero emerged with sapphire shoulders and a red gem at his core, "Meet the savior to the planet, Elemental Hero Terra Firma!" Jaden declared with the planetary hero flexed with the world on his back, (2500 ATK / 2000 DEF), "I activate Terra Firma's effect. I can tribute Clayman so that he gains his attack points." Jaden spoke though the flames while his normal monster faded away, while his fusion gained a white aura, (2500 + 800 = 3300 ATK). With another activate, the flames continued to burn.
Jaden: 2800 – 600 = 2200 Life Points
"Now he can destroy that Masquerade with-" Dr. Crowler was saying as Jaden took out another spell card.
"I'll use another spell, Assault Armor." Jaden said as Terra Firma gained an orange aura, "Normally, this would give him 300 more attack points, but I can send it to the grave so that my monster can attack twice this turn."
"Wait, that's two activations?" Dr. Crowler said as the flames grew larger around Jaden and the sword got closer to his neck.
Jaden: 2200 – 600 – 600 = 1000 Life Points
"Go, attack Quaeritis and Masquerade with Global Crash Attack!" he said as the planetary hero in with an uppercut through the warped fiend's lance, into the blazing dragon's jaw, causing a double explosion.
Adam: 4000 – 800 – 800 = 2400 Life Points
The flames faded as the blades moved near the teacher's neck. However, Sienna had a look of pride on her face as Jaden stood weathering the multiple burn marks on his body, "Heh, that was a gutsy play." She said with a smile as she lowered her head.
Jaden's fusion monster returned to his side after the attack, "I'll end with two cards face down." The spirited Slifer Red said before the auras faded from Terra Firma's body, (3300 – 800 = 2500 ATK).
"Don't think this will be enough to stop me!" Adam said as he drew, "I'll discard a card to special summon Albion the Shrouded Dragon." He said a pitch-black dragon with orange wings was seen, (2500 ATK / 2000 DEF). "As well, I can bring back Masquerade since you have a fusion summoned monster." He said with the Blazing Dragon was reborn from the inferno, (2500 ATK / 2000 DEF). "Now go, all three dragons' will wipe out your life points!" he said as all three unleashed multiple-colored flames.
As the Lubellion's attack was first, Jaden focused in, "I reveal my face down card, Hero Barrier, blocking the attack." A crucial spinning wall protected Terra Firma from one of the flames. However, the planetary hero dashed towards the one fired from Masquerade, causing both monsters to be destroyed in the crash with the blazing dragon banished. Finally, the black flames from Albion headed towards Jaden directly, "I reveal my other facedown, Hero Spirit. Since an Elemental Hero was destroyed, I can make the next attack deal zero damage." He said as the soul of Terra Firma appeared to shield Jaden from the last blast of heat.
"Tsk," Adam scoffed as he ended his turn.
"I draw," Jaden drew before playing the card, "With no monster on the field, I special summon Elemental Hero Bubbleman in defense mode." He said as the bubble-equipped hero was seen in a knelt stance, (800 ATK / 1200 DEF). "And since he was summoned this way, I can draw two cards." The spirited Slifer Red drew before playing both, "I summon Wroughtweiler in defense mode and one card faces down." He said the mechanical dog was seen next to Bubbleman, (800 ATK / 1200 DEF).
"My turn!" Adam drew and played the card, "I banish Bystial Druiswurm to summon Bystial Magnamhut in attack mode." He said as a red dragon with metal gauntlets was seen, (2500 ATK / 2000 DEF). "One more time, a triple dragon attack!" he said as all three dragons rushed in. Lubellion and Magnamhut obliterated Bubbleman and Wroughtweiler with a single hit.
"Since Wroughtweiler was destroyed, I can add Clayman and Polymerization back to my hand." Jaden said before Albion's attack was about to connect, "I reveal my facedown card, Hero Blast! Now I can add a normal Elemental Hero back to my hand."
"What normal Elemental Hero, you already added Clayman back." Adam responded, then gasped, "Wait, back then." He said before recalling his Drop Off trap.
"I add back Elemental Hero Neos!" Jaden said before the contact hero reputed from the ground in an uppercut motion, punching Albion's jaw, "And since his attack his equal to your monster's, Albion is destroyed." The shrouded dragon exploded as Neos went back to Jaden's hand.
"Your resilience is starting to annoy me." Adam said as he ended his turn, "At the end phase, Magnamhut allows me to add a dragon from my deck to my hand."
"I draw." Jaden said before taking the other three cards in his hand, "I play Polymerization to fuse my Clayman and Neos to make Elemental Hero Neos Knight!" He said as the sword-weirding contact hero was seen, (2500 ATK / 1000 DEF). "Not only does he gain half the attack of Clayman, but he can make two attacks each battle phase," Jaden said while Neos Knight gained a white aura, (2500 + 400 = 2900 ATK). The sword-weirding contact hero jumps up and slashes both dragon's necks, causing them to explode, "However, you take no damage from attacks involving this card." He said before setting one card to end his turn.
The smoke started to clear as Adam grinned, "Your luck ran out now." He said before drawing but placing the card in his hand before taking the other one out, "I'll remind you that I added a dragon to my hand at the end of the last turn. Here is a familiar face." The Branded Shadow Rider said as Fallen of Albaz reappeared, (1800 ATK / 0 DEF). "And now, I can discard this card to perform a fusion summon!" Adam said as the crimson vortex reappeared, "And now, my Albaz will merge with your light monsters." He said as his monster and Neos Knight were pulled into the vortex, "Meet Albion the Branded Dragon!" emerging was a scorching red dragon with a wingbeat equal to that of a solar flare of the sun, (2500 ATK / 2000 DEF). "Except I'm not done yet, as this Albion will allow me to fusion summon again by banishing Albaz and my Quaeritis." He said as the crimson vortex reformed, "Appear, Bastard the Ashen Dragon!" he said as a metallic malevolent dragon emerged, (2500 ATK / 2000 DEF), "Go, attack him directly!" he said as Bastard unleashed its molten stream from its mouth.
"You forgot my facedown card, Favorite Contact!" Jaden responded, "By placing the fusion materials from the graveyard on the bottom of my deck, I can fusion summon a hero monster." He said before taking three cards out, "I pick Clayman, Bubbleman, and Neos Knight back into my deck and extra deck." He said before a pillar of light emerged from a vortex, "To make Elemental Hero Core!" emerging from the light was a red and white hero resembled Terra Firma, but with a massive red sphere in his chest, (2700 ATK / 2200 DEF).
"You fool, thinking that will stop me?" Adam responded, "Bastard gains attack points for each level from its material times 100." He said as the ashen dragon gained a redder aura with its molten breath growing stronger, (2500 + (12 X 100) = 3700 ATK). "It's over for you!"
"No, because Elemental Hero Core's attack points double when he is attacked!" Jaden responded as his monster had a white aura (2700 X 2 = 5400 ATK). Core then rode up the stream of molten metal to strike Bastard in his skull, "And at the end of the battle phase, since he battle, I can destroy one monster on the field." He said before Core targeted Albion, crashing through its chest. Both dragons exploded as Adam lost a chunk of his life points. Core then landed back to Jaden with its aura fading, (5400 / 2 = 2700 ATK).
Adam: 2400 – 1700 = 700 Life Points
At the same time, the sword at Sienna's neck was getting closer, now even closer's than Dr. Crowler's was to his neck, "Jaden, this is your chance," Sienna called out without the smoking having fully cleared yet, "Finish him off!"
"Right!" Jaden said as he drew, then pointed, "Elemental Hero Core, attack Adam directly with Central Strike!" He said as his fusion monster dove in for the last hit, but was halted by a face-down revealing itself, "What!?"
"Hey, that's not fair!" Dr. Crowler called out, "When was that-"
"It was when my Branded Dragon was destroyed." Adam said with a smile towards Jaden, "I let you do that, so I could set a Branded trap card from my deck, Branded Blade! By banishing my other Branded spell and trap cards, I get these Iceblade tokens in defense mode." He said as his Branded Opening, Banishment, In Red, and In White. All faded and were replaced with large swords made of ice, (2500 ATK / 2000 DEF). Core crashed one with his attack and another with his effect, but the other two remained.
"Tsk." Jaden gritted his teeth before taking the card in his hand, "I play Hero Legacy. By returning Absolute Zero and Terra Firma to my extra deck, I draw three cards." He said before doing so, then took one of them from his hand, "I'll set this and end my turn."
"Now I can show you the other effect of my trap card." Adam said after his draw, "By banishing Branded Blade, I can add Fallen of Albaz back to my hand." He said before doing so, then summon the monster. However, it was not on the field long as Adam already discarded his card fusion summon again, "I was hoping to burn your soul to cinders as you did mine," The Branded Shadow Rider said as the crimson vortex took Albaz and Core, "But I think now I will freeze you to your core. Arise, Mirrorjade, the Iceblade Dragon!" Emerging was ice encased dragon with permafrost swords around its body, (3000 ATK / 2500 DEF). "Now, attack with Freezing Wilt Slash!" Adam said as his monster unleashed its swords to strike down Jaden.
"I reveal my facedown card, Negate Attack!" Jaden countered as a barrier blocked the hit, "Your battle phase is over now."
"Grr, fine, one more turn." Adam responded, "My next turn will be your end."
"I draw!" Jaden said before doing so, then took another card out of his hand, "I play Convert Contact, by discarding Neo-Spacian Aqua Dolphin from my hand and Grand Mole from my deck to the graveyard to draw two cards." He said before doing so, then took a card to play, "I activate Miracle Contact. Now, I can return those two Neo-Spacian, plus Flare Scarab from the hand, and Elemental Hero Neos from my grave as well for a quadruple contact fusion!" he said as all four monsters dove into space, "Descend from the stars, Elemental Hero Cosmo Neos!" emerged from a nebula was a new hero with all the powers of his other forms. With a magma gauntlet, sharp claws, and expanded wings, he arrived as the ultimate hero from neo-space, (3500 ATK / 3000 DEF). "When summoned, he allows me to negate the effects of your monster."
"Heh, too bad I can respond to it with my own," Adam counted, "I can now banish your monster by sending a fusion from my extra-"
"Cosmo Neos makes it so there is no response to his effect." Jaden responded with a cold stare as Adam gasped in dread, "Go, attack Mirrorjade with Quantum Quasar Cannon!" he said as Cosmo Neos held out his hands, gathering all elementals and attributes in his palms, mixing them before they formed into a ball of rainbow energy and then unleashed it into the Iceblade Dragon's body, evaporating it in an instance without a trace left.
Adam: 700 – 500 = 200 Life Points
The blade now moved a mere inch from Sienna's neck, causing her to grit her teeth as the next attack would be enough to move it all the way. However, she looked to Jaden with a nod as responded in kind, then focused on the duel. "During the end phase, Cosmo Neos must return to the extra deck. However, he will destroy all cards on your field as well." After the ultimate contact hero faded away, the two Iceblade tokens shattered with Adam having nothing left.
Adam started this turn, drawing one card to match the one card in Jaden hand. However, he grinned at the result, "HehehahaHAHAHA!" The Branded Shadow Rider laughed, "I can't think of a more perfect way to end you now." He said before activating the card, "This is my ultimate fusion card, Dragon's Mirror!" He said as the massive oval-shaped mirror was seen on the field, "I can now banish the fusion material I need for a dragon fusion monster." the branded shadow rider said before holding his left hand with all fingers extended, "And I use five dragons, Albaz and all my fusions." He said as the banded soldier was seen in the mirror. Behind him were Mirrorjade, Bastard, Albion, and Lubellion. The four fusion dragons turned into energy that went into Albaz, causing him to recoil in agony. Suddenly, the mirror began to crack as Albaz screamed, "Emerge, your true form," he said fire began to seep out from the crakes, "Alba-Lenatus the Abyss Dragon!" The mirror exploded into flames as a red and black dragon emerged, its scales like crimson armor with a four-rings magic seal on his chest. The flames he emitted were like nothing of the prior heatwave, it felt as though the sun was now swallowing the battlefield. (2500 ATK / 2500 DEF). "Go, end him with Burning Blush Blaze!" he said as the Abyss Dragon lunged at Jaden, its right arm reeled back before unleashing a devastating punch that sent a heatwave melting to stone on the walls around them.
With a dead silence from the smoke, Adam started to laugh, "HAHAHAHA, Finally, I win! I'm the strong-" he said before seeing Dr. Crowler's sword remained unmoved, "No, how can this be?" the branded shadow Rider said before more smoke cleared, revealing Jaden standing with his focused gaze, "…Why?" Adam said before clenching his fist, "WHY CAN'T YOU JUST DIE ALREADY!" he said before seeing something blocking, the shape resembling Neos, but more transparent, (2500 ATK / 2000 DEF). "What is that?"
"Elemental Hero Spirit of Neos." Jaden responded, "Since you declared an attack, I could summon this card from my hand in defense mode." He answered, "And when done this way, he is not destroyed by battle." A card then ejected from his deck, "And since he was summoned this way, I can add a spell card to my hand that mentions an Elemental Hero monster by name." he said before sighing, "Next turn will end this, but you can give up now and let them go."
"Me, give up?" Adam responded, "After all I have done, all I went through for this chance, to just give up?" The Branded Shadow Rider grabbed his mask, "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" he screamed before throwing his mask off, showing his banded face and hate-filled eye, "I will not be made a fool of! I am Adam Taurus! I am the Strongest Slifer Red! I am the one who will kill you!" He then looks at his Abyss Dragon, "Alba-Lenatus can attack monsters equal to the number of materials used for his fusion summon. Go, attack his monster again!" he said as the Abyss dragon reeled back his other arm for a punch while Spirit of Neos held his blocking stance. The attack collided with another shockwave of force and heat. The whole section of the cave turned into an inferno, "Again!" Adam said as his fusion monster went in for another punch, this time the shockwave rippled through the area with more heat. At the same time, Sienna felt the cuffs on her hand warping from the heat, "Again!" Adam declared as another punch was unleashed from his abyss dragon. With this heatwave, Sienna wigged her hands more, but her vision was blurry from the sudden heatstroke, "AGAIN!" Adam called out as Alba-Lenatus unleashed its fifth attack, but like all the others, Jaden's monster remained standing, "Why…" Adam said before falling to his knees, "Why won't your spirit break?" He said with his head lowered, "What makes you so strong?"
"…I-" Jaden was about to answer.
"Don't." Dr. Crowler stopped him, but his voice was mournful, "He already knows the answer, but refuses to accept it." He said as Adam remained unresponsive, "All you can do for him is end this duel."
"…I draw." Jaden spoke as he started his turn, "Spirit of Neos has another effect. I return him to the deck to bring out the original Neos from my deck." He said with the soul in a block position gaining a physical form in an attacking stance, (2500 ATK / 2000 DEF). The spirited Slifer Red took out the card he added to his hand before, "I now play the equip spell, Neos Force. This increases his attack points by 800." Jaden said as Neos's right fist glowed in a white aura, (2500 + 800 = 3300 ATK). "Go, attack with Wrath of Neos!" he said as Neos and Alba-Lenatus each reeled back for a final clash, their first colliding in mid-air. However, the contact's hero's won out as the abyss dragon's arm shattered. The force of the punch collided with his chest and the fusion monster exploded. At the same time, just before the sword was about to move, Sienna slipped her hands through the cuffs binding her. She fell towards the ground just as the blade barely clipped the hairs on her head.
Adam: 200 – 800 = 0 Life Points
"Teach!" Jaden called out as he was about to run over, but then heard the wield of panic from above.
"Help!" Dr. Crowler said as the sword was moving into position to strike, "Shouldn't these things fade away."
"Hahahaha," Adam laughed as he stood up, "I never said that would happen." he responded with a grin to Jaden, "If I can't win in a duel." He said before rushing towards him, spawning a crimson sword in his hands, "I'll break your soul this way instead!" Jaden panicked as tried to take a fighting stance, but his vision was already blurry, "DIE!" The Branded Shadow Rider was about to connect with his stab, but his body was frozen still, unable to even speak.
Adam could slightly turn his head to see Sienna standing over his white mask, seeing it crack under her boot. "You stay away from my student." Sienna responded with a cold gaze, "And go back to Hell." He said before applying enough pressure to crush the mask. At the same time, Adam's own body began to shatter as his soul exploded. The sword was dropped before shattering as well. At the same time, Jaden fell to his knee.
The crimson lights faded as the chains holding Dr. Crowler vanished just before the blade could cut him. He fell to the ground before letting out a sigh of relief. Sienna walked over to the two while trying to catch her breath, "Is…Is it all over now?" Dr. Crowler asked the two. However, Jaden's duel disk had a yellow light shine at the center.
Suddenly, a prerecorded audio message from Chancellor Shepard was heard as Jaden look his duel disk, "Congratulations on making it this far in the tournament." In the woods, Alexis and Chazz look at their duel disk as the message played, "If you are hearing this," On another side of the island, Bastion listened to his while he and Coco searched for Velvet, "There are only a few handfuls of participants left," Inside the cave, Weiss, Blake, and Yang all saw their duel disks emit the light and message while Zane and Jesse followed. "And you are one of them! "Outside the cave, Yuri looked at footprints leading in and had a sinister smirk form his face before entering, "This is no time for taking it easy," Walking up a dirt pathway,Pyrrha looked at her duel disk as she, Neo, and Sora followed Aster up a cliff. The destined pro duelist's eyes focused as he ignored the message from his duel disk, "You're in the endgame now." Near a type of tomb, Cinder approached a yellow stone pedestal with a blue crystal lock with seven keyholes. However, she placed her monstrous hand on it before crushing the lock. As a light shined from inside, she felt a wave of power return to her. "I wish you the best of luck in your future duels and to keep climbing until you reach the top!" At the volcano of Duel Academy, Salem stood at the edge as she extended her arms. Suddenly, the clouds began to turn pitch black as a dark force began to rain down. "Enjoy the Genex tournament finals!"
AN: There you go, Jaden is the true Strongest Slifer Red now. This duel was awesome to make. Each duelist showed their full power here. Adam busted out almost every fusion he had with multiple turns were he was about to wipe out all of Jaden's life points. While Jaden remained unbroken in his battle and summoned out some of his strongest fusions. He even summoned out his manga ace in Terra Firma, one of the cooler hero names, and Core… which I aways just call 'That one with the Jojo face.' There is also Cosmo Neos with its own Spell Speed Four effect. The last play was my favorite as Adam tried a Berserker Soul style strategy to break his opponent again, but it ended up backfiring hard as Sienna used this moment to help her escape and end his existence. Even Dr. Crowler now accepts Jaden as a student of the Academy, but we are not done yet. There are twelve finalists left, and I will update the Data Sheet chapter soon to reflect this. Next time I come back to this series will be when I write it towards its conclusion. I don't know when that will be, but I hope sometime by end of year to early next year. That is all for now, thanks for reading, and hope to see you in the next chapter.
Now, time to answer some questions. I didn't have any this time around, but I do want to take a moment to address something here. As many may know, I don't watch the web series anymore, but sill like a certain character from that series a lot. I will keep it vague in case people do not want to be spoiled, but I heard of the final actions of this character. To put it simply, I am heartbroken from my initial reaction to the news, but upon reflecting, see it now as a moment of letting go. It was an end that could and was almost something that would have made me remove all connections I had to the series, but I realize now that it was only the last tie I had to that version of RWBY. This ending to that character is symbolic to me of fulling letting go of the web series and my opinions of it. I will keep doing my fanfiction here for a bit longer, but not as my own way to fix that series, but to tell stories I want others to hear with my versions of the characters I like. That is how I choose to view the end of that character and leave it at that. Those were all the questions I had, feel free to ask more, and I will answer them in the next chapter.
