Arena
"Where do you think Joey is taking Kai?" Alexis asked.
The Obelisk, Bastion, and Jaden watched as the war challenger user walked off with the pro.
"I have no idea." Bastion voiced casually, figuring this might be something Seto wanted.
"Hey, look." Jaden pointed out. "Chancellor Sheppard has taken to the stage."
"With the conclusion of the first duel, we move onto the second." Sheppard announced. "Will Bastion Misawa please step forward."
Just as with Kai, Jaden and Alexis shot the Ra encouraging smiles as he got up to make his way onto the stage. Bastion had spent the week preparing for this duel, and while he wasn't delusional to think he could win, he was determined to show Mr. Kaiba just what he's learned.
Naturally, the Ra had contemplated utilizing any other deck besides the one he'd received from the man; however, he quickly realized Seto Kaiba had their profiles. Aside from any changes he's made to his other six decks, the Blue-Eyes user would be familiar with them like the Magikey.
Ultimately, he figured relying on the control options the Magikey provided, as well as the fact it was a deck capable of all known summoning methods, gave him the best shot of lasting in a duel such as this. As such, it was the deck he already had loaded into his duel disk.
"With Mr. Misawa now on stage, I would like to call for Seto Kaiba to join him." Sheppard declared.
The blue-eyes user walked on out to the thunderous applause and cheers of the whole arena.
"Let's get one thing straight, Misawa." Seto voiced. "I selected you as my opponent because I want to see what a perfect record at my academy means ten years removed from this academy opening."
"While I have such a record, I consider it less impressive compared to others I know." Despite all Bastion has achieved, some of his friends have just dueled people a cut above most opponents he took on. "Still, I will showcase the fruits of my time here all the same."
With their greetings done, Sheppard took his place in the middle of the stage. "Alright, let the match begin!"
"Let's duel!"
(Bastion 4000/Seto 4000)
"You'll be going first." Seto declared.
"Very well." Bastion drew. "I shall summon Clavkiys, the Magikey Skyblaster(LV 4/1900/1900)." A blond-haired warrior in an adventure outfit appeared. "As I now control a Magikey monster, I can reveal Maginificent Magikey Mafteal(LV 4/1600/1600).
I am permitted to normal summon a Magikey monster and shall use it on the very card I revealed." A muscular blue fiend appeared. "Mafteal shall now give Clavkiys a tune up to synchro for 8. Fiend of burning thunder, grace this field with your presence.
Synchro summon Magikey Fiend – Transfurlmine(LV 8/2800/2800)." A muscular, red demon appeared. "This card has a slew of effects, but the most pertinent now is that he was Synchro summoned using at least two different attributes.
As such, I can now set any 1 Magikey spell/trap I wish straight from my deck." Bastion selected his card and set it. "While not a perfect defense, the fact I now have a light and dark monster in my grave means Transfurlmine can destroy either of those Seto attempts to summon.
With the addition of getting any of my Magikey spell/traps on the field, I got a little added insurance." That said, a little extra certainly wouldn't hurt here. "I'll then set once more card and end my turn."
"Knowing Bastion, he set up his field with the best defense his hand could muster." Greg stated.
"Will it be enough to withstand Seto's first turn?" Syrus questioned.
"Time to get started." Seto drew. "I'll activate Trade-In to discard 1 level 8 monster and draw 2 cards. I'll follow it up with Monter Reborn to bring the Blue-Eyes Solid Dragon(LV 8/2500/2000) I just sent there to the field." A white dragon with rainbow wings appeared.
"At any point, save the damage step, you normal or special summon a monster who has an attribute lining up with one in my grave, Transfurlmine can destroy it." Bastion declared. "The tuner I used is light attribute, same as your dragon."
"By being summoned, Solid Dragon allows me to target 1 face up monster you control and negate its effects." Seto declared, causing Transfurlmine to be grayed out. "I'll now summon Assault Wyvern(LV 4/1800/1000)." A blue wyvern appeared. "He'll attack your Synchro."
"Transfurlmine is still 1000 ATK points stronger than your wyvern." Bastion pointed out.
"That's why I'll activate Shrink to target your Magikey Fiend – Transfurlmine(LV 8/1400/2800 effect) and cut its original ATK in half until the end of the turn." Seto smirked. "Of course, your monster won't be around long enough for that to matter."
"You are right, my monster won't be around long." Bastion declared. "I activate my first face down Magikey Locking. I tribute Magikey Fiend – Transfurlmine to then special summon 2 normal and/or Magikey monsters from my grave in defense position.
Their level must total eight, which is no problem for Clavkiys, the Magikey Skyblaster(LV 4/1900/1900) and Maginificent Magikey Mafteal(LV 4/1600/1600). Now, I can perform a Synchro or Xyz summoned; however, I'll refrain to keep my numbers."
"Then, Assault Wyvern will destroy your Mafteal." Seto declared, his wyvern tearing through the tuner. "When this monster destroys one of your monsters by battle, I can tribute it to special summon any other dragon from my hand or grave.
I'll call upon Blue-Eyes White Dragon(LV 8/3000/2500)." The white dragon with eyes of blue appeared. "Now, Solid Dragon will destroy Clavkiys." The warrior was blasted. "Finally, Blue-Eyes White Dragon will launch a direct attack, Burst Stream of Destruction!"
"I activate my second face down, Defense Draw." Bastion countered. "This will reduce the damage to 0, and I get to draw one card."
As Blue-Eyes White Dragon fired on Bastion, he was protected by an invisible barrier before then drawing his one card.
"Whoa, even after he lost the Synchro, Bastion managed to withstand one of Kaiba's turns completely." Dimitri exclaimed excitedly.
"Yeah, but he had to give up his whole field just to do it while Seto Kaiba has two level 8 dragons on his field." Syrus noted.
"Perhaps you have that record of yours because you can defend." Seto commented. "If that is the case, there's only one man capable of throwing up enough walls to wear me down, and your hair simply does not match his. I set one card to end my turn."
"This deck is capable of far more than simple defense." Bastion drew. "I shall summon my second Clavkiys, the Magikey Skyblaster(LV 4/1900/1900). Now, I activate Magikey Maftea allowing me to conduct a Fusion or Ritual summon of a Magikey monster."
Additionally, as I control a normal monster, this spell can now utilize any 1 normal monster from my deck as a material or tribute. So, I'll fuse Clavkiys on the field with Gene-Warped Warwolf from my deck. I open the door to the realm of the beast.
Fusion summon Magikey Beast – Ansyalabolas(LV 4/2200/2000)." A large, black beast with Clavkiys riding on the back appeared before letting off a roar. "Upon being summoned, I can add a Magikey Maftea from my grave to the hand. With it, I shall go one step further.
I activate Magikey Maftea once more to now combine Magikey Beast – Ansyalabolas with Gunkan Suship Shari from my hand. I open the door to the realm of the dragon. Fusion summon Magikey Dragon – Andrabime(LV 8/2800/2000)." A large, mighty green dragon appeared.
"Back-to-back fusion summons." Seto smirked. "That's a little better."
"Just wait until you see his effects." Bastion declared. "Once per turn, I can target any 1 normal or Magikey monster in my grave, I choose the light attributed Maginificent Magikey Mafteal. Then, all monsters you control who share that attribute are destroyed. Go, Vicious Roar!"
"I'll chain the quick effect of Blue-Eyes Solid Dragon." Seto retorted. "As you've activated an effect, I'm permitted to exchange this dragon for a second Blue-Eyes White Dragon(LV 8/3000/2500)."
As Solid Dragon was shuffled back into the deck, and the second Blue-Eyes White Dragon appeared, the now two original White Dragons were hit by the roar containing light energy. Both shattered at once.
"That's not all." Bastion declared. "As Andrabime was fused from two differently attributed monsters, and you just lost at least 1 monster with the same attribute as 1 monster in my grave, I get to draw 1 card. Now, Andrabime will attack you directly."
"I activate my set card, Half or Nothing." Seto countered. "You either half the ATK of all monsters you control until the end of the Battle Phase or this phase itself ends."
"I'll half my dragon's ATK and press on with the damage I get." Bastion declared, and Magikey Dragon – Andrabime(LV 8/1400/2000 effect) was reduced to half her size before firing on the opposing duelist (Bastion 4000/Seto 2600). "I now set one card to end my turn."
"I draw!" Seto looked at what he got and smirked. "I activate Ultimate Fusion to conduct the Fusion summon of any monster from my extra deck that mentions Blue-Eyes White or Ultimate Dragon by shuffling the materials from across my hand, field, and/or grave back into my deck.
I'll return the two Blue-Eyes White Dragons in my grave back to the deck along with the Blue-Eyes Alternative White Dragon from my hand. In the ever-shifting tides of this game, you get with the times or are left behind.
My ultimate dragon followed the path of the former. Fusion summon Blue-Eyes Alternative Ultimate Dragon(LV 12/4500/3800)."As the three-headed, sleek retrain of Seto's ultimate fusion hit the field, the audience erupted into cheers.
"Oh man, look at that dragon!" Jaden exclaimed excitedly, more amped than ever for his duel with Yugi.
"It is certainly impressive." Alexis voiced, in awe.
"That beast certainly is enough to take a hefty chunk out of my life points; however, I still have Call of the Haunted in reserve." Bastion thought. "I'll just bring my dragon back and use his effect to destroy that dragon in turn."
"Due to one of the materials used for this having the name Blue-Eyes Alternative White Dragon, I'm allowed to destroy up to any 3 cards on your field per my turn." Seto declared, immediately dashing his opponent's hopes. "I'll have my dragon destroy that set card and your monster."
Wormholes opened beneath the two cards Bastion had on his field and sucked them in, leaving him defenseless. "I don't have a thing left to defend with!"
"Alternative Ultimate Dragon, end this with Alternative Ultimate Burst!" Seto declared.
All three dragon heads fired as one, bathing the multi-deck user with their white light as his life points were depleted (Bastion 0/Seto 2600). The hologram dragon faded as they both deactivated their duel disks.
"I've heard you want to one day teach people how to duel, Misawa." Seto voiced.
He had not forgotten that; however, people still weren't supposed to know he knew that.
"That is correct sir." Bastion stated.
"Continue to put in the work and get the required credentials." Seto turned away from. "Maybe one day, if you're lucky, I'll have a job lined up for you."
He then departed without another word. Bastion smiled as this felt like, however small it was, a step in the right direction towards his dream career. Perhaps, in a way, Seto had arranged these duels to give the three of them something they wanted or needed.
Though, that was merely a hypothesis, one the Ra knew he likely wouldn't be able to prove or disprove. Regardless of that, Bastion was left in a rather good mood as he moved to retake his seat with the Slifer and female Obelisk.
"Sometimes, it's hard to believe you just don't want to move up to Obelisk." Alexis voiced.
"I have my own goals, and if they are never met, I'll be fine with that." Bastion smiled. "Red, yellow, or blue, I'll graduate regardless of the color my blazer is."
To his knowledge, the color of his blazer would have little to do with his ability to graduate and career prospects. That is why he had applied a different meaning to it than what most held it to. Admittedly, some part of him did like being a representative of the Ra dorm.
"The second duel of today has concluded." Sheppard announced after stepping back onto the stage. "Now, we shall…" Jaden could no longer contain his excitement and practically sprinted onto the stage. "Uh alright, with Jaden on the stage I would like to call for Yugi Muto to join us."
The amphitheater roared with cheers and applause as Yugi stepped into the arena. From where the top three were supposed to wait, Joey had still been off with Kai when the King of Games stepped out to walk this way, they could watch the matches.
While Kai Delmar and Bastion Misawa were impressive duelists in their own rights, his gaze was fixed firmly on his opponent, Jaden Yuki. It's only been months now that they had met briefly on the day of the entrance exam.
This boy had an incredible amount of latent duel energy, and the heart to wield it well. Yugi's well-trained eye could perceive the duel spirit of Winged Kuriboh alongside him, waving at his former owner. He smiled as Jaden saw the spirit and grinned at his partner.
"Looks like you found a good home, old friend." Yugi smiled as he stood across from Jaden. "Seems someone is excited for this duel."
"You have no idea." Jaden declared. "I can't think of anyone who wouldn't want the chance to duel you."
"Well, I could name a few people I've met who might not be thrilled to duel me again, but that hardly matters." Yugi nodded. "Right now, what matters is the two of us are here to duel now."
"Yeah, let's throw down!" Jaden declared.
With their greetings done, Sheppard took his place in the middle of the stage. "Alright, let the match begin!"
"Let's Duel!/Get Your Game On!"
(Jaden 4000/Yugi 4000)
"I'll start." Jaden drew. "I summon Elemental HERO Stratos(LV 4/1800/300)." A blue suited warrior, with a wing pack, appeared. "Upon being summoned, I can add any other HERO monster I wish from my deck to my hand. Then, I'll activate Polymerization.
With it, I'll combine Elemental HERO Stratos with the water attributed Elemental HERO Ocean from my hand. I call forth the ice HERO. Fusion summon Elemental HERO Absolute Zero(LV 8/2500/2000)." A warrior wearing white armor appeared. "I'll throw done a face down to end it."
"Very well." Yugi drew. "I'll summon Mirror Swordknight(LV 4/1900/300)." A suit of armor with a large blade and the eye of Wdjat in its shield appeared. "One of this card's effects is that I can tribute it to summon any other monster that mentions Chimera Fusion from my deck.
I'll now summon Big-Winged Berfomet(LV 5/1400/1800)." A four-armed fiend with wings appeared. "Through its effect, I can add Chimera Fusion and the level 4 beast-type monster, Gazelle the King of Mythical Claw from my deck to my hand.
I now play Chimera Fusion to merge my Berfomet with Gazelle from my hand. Fusion summon Chimera the King of Phantom Beast(LV 6/2100/1800)." A two headed beast with white wings appeared, giving a mighty roar.
"That's not good." Greg commented.
"What's the matter?" Mindy asked.
"Those retrains of Gazelle and Berfomet are about to pop off with effects, alongside the specific fusion spell which was just used." Greg replied.
"In short, the King of Games isn't quite done." Jasmine added.
"Due to being Fusion summoned, this card can allows me to have you discard one random card at the end of this turn." Yugi proceeded. "Beyond that, the two monsters and spell I just sent to the grave for this fusion now have live effects.
That said, I'll be leaving Berfomet's alone. As for Gazelle, he allows me to add any Illusion monster I wish from my deck to my hand, Due to controlling Chimera the Flying Mythical Beast, I can do one of two things with Chimaera Fusion."
"Wait a second, that monster on your field is King of the Phantom Beast, not the Flying Mythical Beast." Jaden noted.
"Actually, it's both as one of this monster's effects treats it as the Flying Mythical Beast while on the field or in my grave." Yugi declared. "One of the things I can now do with Chimera Fusion is add it from my grave to my hand. I'll immediately use it to fuse Phantom Beast with the illusion-type Cornfield Coatl from my hand. Fusion Summon Chimera the Illusion Beast(LV 8/3100/2800).
A powerful looking fusion seemed to be emerging. While Jaden didn't know what these illusion monsters were, he knew a thing or two about fusion monsters. Given one of this one's materials was a fusion itself, it'd be better not to let this thing hit the field.
"I chain my set Solemn Judgement." Jaden declared. "By paying half my life points, this card will negate you summon and destroy the monster."
Jaden was cloaked in a yellow aura as half his life points were depleted, and a bolt of lightning struck the still coming monster, destroying it (Jaden 2000/Yugi 4000).
"That was a good move on Jaden's part." Kai noted.
He rejoined Alexis and Bastion, startling them a bit as they'd been focused on the diel, after his meal with Joey. It was pretty much just vending food and drinks, but eating with the third ranked duelist in the world was still an unforgettable experience.
"Was that really such a good move?" Alexis asked, quick to recover.
"Illusion monsters can be tricky to navigate for most duelists, so preventing one from hitting the field, as I assume that last fusion was, could be for the best." Bastion reasoned. "Even if it wasn't one, the fact one of its materials was a fusion just spells trouble."
"Due to Chimera not hitting the field, the illusion monsters in my grave couldn't have prevented this." Yugi smiled. "In that case, I activate Fissure to destroy Absolute Zero." The ground opened beneath the ice hero, and he fell in. "I now end my turn, which means Phantom Beast's priorly activated effect goes off, and you can discard that card in the center."
"You really are something, Yugi." Jaden laughed good naturedly, having a blast already from just these short few turns, as he discarded. "I hadn't exactly planned on springing Solemn Judgement this soon, but that fusion you were making seemed pretty dangerous."
"Thanks Jaden." Yugi smiled. "Getting out a fusion on your first turn shows you aren't half bad yourself, and not everyone would be willing to risk their life points as you have."
"Despite the compliments, this is still a duel." Jaden drew. "Sweet, I just drew Pot of Greed, and by playing it, I'm allowed to draw 2 cards."
He did just that, getting Winged Kuriboh and Transcendent Wings. Upon getting his little buddy, the spirit appeared and immediately indicated he wanted to be played. Yugi couldn't help but smile as Jaden grinned at Winged Kuriboh.
"Yeah, let's do it." Jaden nodded as he took that monster from his hand. "I'll be setting one monster and throwing down a face down to back him up. Your move Yugi."
Yugi drew. "I'll activate Ancient Rules to special summon any level 5 or higher normal monster I wish from my hand. I choose Dark Magician(LV 7/2500/2100)." As the purple robbed spellcaster appeared, the students cheered. "Now, Dark Magic Attack!"
He generated and lobbed a sphere of dark magic at the face down monster which flipped up to reveal Winged Kuriboh(LV 1/300/200).
"I now activate the quick-play spell Transcendent Wings." Jaden declared. "By sending Winged Kuriboh from my field to the grave, and discarding two cards from my hand, I can special summon Winged Kuriboh LV10(LV 10/300/200) from my hand or deck."
Yugi was amazed to see what those two had achieved as a Winged Kuriboh with huge wings appeared. He flew over and landed atop the spellcaster.
"As a quick effect, I can tribute my newly evolved buddy to destroy all attack position monsters you control. Then, you take damage equal to their ATK." Jaden continued, discarding the last two cards in his hand.
"Alright, that's the combination that helped Jay beat Chazz!" Syrus cheered.
"Go for it, Yuki!" Topher called out.
The rest of the group was just as stoked by this turn of events. Yhere was soon a powerful burst of blue energy that exploded outward.
"I must say, that is one powerful combo you've worked out there Jaden." Yugi called out, as the energy faded only to reveal Dark Magician was left unharmed while his life points were left untouched (Jaden 2000/Yugi 4000).
"What!?" Jaden asked.
"I countered your Kuriboh with my Kuriboh." Yugi responded. "By discarding him, any damage a monster world inflict to me, weather it be their battle or by effect, is reduced to zero. Additionally, one monster of mine can't be destroyed by that same battle or effect."
"Man, you really are something else." Jaden grinned. "Well, I have nothing I can do now, and since I interrupted your attack by using my quick-play, it looks like this duel is over."
Yugi nodded at that. "Dark Magician, end this with Dark Magic Attack!"
Once again, the purple robbed spellcaster generated and threw his sphere of dark magic, which went through the Slifer (Jaden 0/Yugi 4000). The students cheered upon the end of another duel.
"That was an excellent duel, Jaden." Yugi approached the Slifer as the hologram of his trusted companion faded. "Know you have nothing to be ashamed of. You played your best, and you'll one day be a pro duelist I feel few could truly match."
"Thanks, Yugi." Jaden smiled with a nod. "For your words, and such a sweet duel."
The two of them shared a hand shake, which only had the audience cheer louder.
"Man, Yugi really is something else." Dimitri noted.
"Yeah." Sadie nodded. "I think I can count on one hand the number of people who've actually beaten Jaden, yet he couldn't take one life point off the King of Games."
"Seeing the top 3 duel, one after another, shows exactly how they've maintained their standing all these years." Bastion noted.
"While they're the top 3 for their dueling skills, I think it's more than that which sees them deserve their place." Kai smiled as the memory of his talk with Joey ran through his mind. "Anyone strong enough can stand at the top, but to be worthy of it takes more than that."
Aside from everything else that talk with Joey did for him, it showed Kai what it truly meant to stand at the top of the dueling world. He knew now who he would strive to be over his time on Duel Academy Island. Hopefully, by the end of his time here, he'll become that person.
To talk about this chapter, while it is true this Jaden is utilizing a stronger Elemental HERO deck, almost everyone has more modernized support for their decks. As such, that part essentially cancels out, and we're left with a simpler problem. It's season 1 Jaden vs well past end of his series Yugi Muto. This does not mean Yugi is an invincible demigod, but I do think at this point he stomps any season 1 character in a straight duel.
I do lump my oc in with that stance as if he'd taken on Yugi instead of Joey, he'd have done no better than Jaden did here. Anyways, this is the end of the tests, as Jaden, Bastion, and Kai are the ones being tested, but there are still two duels to get through. Not to mention there's still the exhibit event left before I move on from this mini arc I decided to cram in here.
Threebranch: I will say, I think Konami did a good job giving new Flame Swordsman support because how they work really feels like how Joey would utilize them. Glad I could help and that you've enjoyed this.
barryc10: Good, the point I want is getting across.
Vital Info: As Kai said, he's not just going to forget about his current goals concerning Bastion and Zane if he does defeat the former. That said, after that business, he's going to work on mellowing out. Between now and the end of this current goal, he's going to be working on slowing down and enjoying the time he does have. While this here will all be a mini arc, I am cutting the 'Tests' name here at a two parter as now there is technically no one being tested in the sense that Kaib wanted.
It wasn't straight out said; however, if you go back to the helicopter, Seto does remind the pair not to talk about things openly. Only Sheppard, Mokuba, and the boys know. That is confirmation that at this point at least, these two do know the full story. As for North Academy, I mean I suppose I could move the one chapter I do have planned for after this mini arc rather than placing it to just the chapter before the actual school duel. Maybe...we'll see.