Chapter 51: Something to Fight For

Barrett scanned his surroundings. As far as he could see was desert, with dunes of sand rising up around the small platform he found himself on.

"Death Valley? Hmm…"

"How perceptive of you. Of course, I shouldn't expect any less from a soldier of war."

A tall, muscular man with blonde hair wearing a purple trench coat materialized in front of Barrett, startling him.

"I suppose you're my opponent. Who are you?"

"My name is Rafael, not that it'll matter. Once I'm finished with you, Duel Academy will be one step closer to defeat."

"So, you're aware of Duel Academy?" Barrett mused. "Then you and I have the same goal."

Rafael scowled as he tossed his overcoat away, revealing a tan tank top.

"No, we don't."

DUEL!
Rafael: 8000

Barrett: 8000

"I'll begin with one monster face down, and one card face down. I end my turn."

Odd, Barrett thought to himself. All that talk for such a lackluster play. What is he planning? Whatever it is, I need to finish this before he puts it in motion.

"I'll begin with the spell card Unexpected Dai! Since I have no monsters on the field, I can special summon X-Head Cannon from my deck (1800/1500) in attack mode! Next, I'll activate Frontline Base! This lets me special summon Z-Metal Tank (1500/1300) in defense mode. Then I'll summon Y-Dragon Head (1500/1600) in attack mode! But they won't be around for long, because by banishing them I can call forth XYZ Dragon Cannon (2800/2600)!"

"You claim you also want to destroy Duel Academy, and yet you continue to use Fusion?"

"Duel Academy does not represent the Fusion Dimension as a whole," Barrett shrugged. "As such, I feel no need to discard my cards just to distance myself from them. Now, by discarding one card from my hand, I'll destroy your face down!"

One of the Fusion monster's cannons fired, destroying the face down Beginning Knight.

"Now Dragon Cannon, attack him directly!"

Rafael remained stoic as the attack hit him, unnerving Barrett.

Rafael: 5200

All he did was summon a weak monster and set a card he couldn't use, and he doesn't even flinch? What is your game, Rafael?

"I'll end my turn with the spell card Machina Armored Unit. Your move."

"I'll begin by summoning Manju of the Thousand Hands (1400/1000) in attack mode! With his effect, I'll add the Ritual spell Super Soldier Ritual to my hand. Now, I'll activate it!"

"A Ritual Summon?"

"I offer Arise Gaia the Fierce Knight and Super Soldier Soul as Tributes! Come on out, Black Luster Solider-Super Soldier (3000/2500)!"

Barrett eyed the new monster warily. As old as Ritual Summoning was, the monster was still stronger than his.

"Since Arisen Gaia was tributed, I can now special summon a Black Luster Soldier monster from my hand. Come on out, Black Luster Soldier- Sacred Soldier (3000/2500)! Now Fusion Scum, prepare to face oblivion! Super Soldier, scrap that Machine!"

Barrett: 7800

"Super Soldier's effect activates! When he destroys a monster in battle, you take damage equal to that monster's attack in the graveyard!"

Barrett could only let out a startled gasp before having the business end of Super Soldier's sword rammed into his gut.

Barrett: 5000

"Machina Armored Unit's effect activates! Since a Machine type monster was destroyed by battle, I can special summon another from my deck with the same attribute but less attack points. Come on out, B-Buster Drake (1500/1800) in defense mode!"

"Then Sacred Soldier will destroy him as well!"

"And by doing so, I can add C-Crush Wyvern from my deck to my hand."

"Manju, attack him directly!"

Barrett grunted, raising his arms to defend himself from the multiple barrages from the effect monster.

Barrett: 3600

"I end my turn. Surrender, and your death will be quick. Painful, but quick."

"As tempting as that sounds, I can't. I promised I'd always protect Serena, and that's what I intend to do!"

Rafael seemed to flinch at his words, but Barrett paid it no mind.

"I'll start by summoning C-Crush Wyvern from my hand. But it won't be there for long, because by banishing it and the A and B monsters from my graveyard, I can Contact Fuse once more! Come on out, ABC- Dragon Buster!"

"It has the same attack as my soldiers!"

"But your Manju is weaker! Dragon Buster, attack Manju!"

Rafael: 3600

"Now, by discarding another card from my hand, I can banish your Super Soldier!"

"I activate my trap card, Super Soldier Shield! Since your monster's effect targets my Black Luster Soldier monster, I can negate and destroy it!"

Super Soldier raised his sword, blocking the cannon fire before throwing it, smashing Barrett's monster to bits before it returned to his arm.

"Now do you see how hopeless it is, you coward?"

Barrett remained silent, before speaking.

"Why do you have such distaste for me? I have done nothing to you."

"What does it matter to you?"

"You're about to finish me off, why not humor me?"

Rafael sighed.

"You soldiers are always the same: you come into a place, destroy it, and leave without suffering the consequences. This war of yours is no different."

"Agreed."

"Huh?"

"Why do you think I left? Duel Academy is running countless lives in a war for a goal so hypocritical it hurts. And my daughter…"

Barrett sighed.

"I end my turn."

Rafael's face turned to one of pity as he drew his card.

"I cannot back out, but I can make your end quick. Super Soldier, Sacred Soldier, attack him directly!"

The two soldiers charged, slashing at Barrett with their swords.

"You fought well. You deserve a warrior's death."

"Thank you, but I'm not done yet."

"Huh?"

When the dust settled, Barrett was still standing. Barely, but he wasn't done yet.

Barrett: 600

"How?"

Barrett took out a card from his pocket, which was Electromagnetic Turtle.

"By banishing this card from my graveyard, I can end the battle phase."

"But why even bother taking damage in the first place?"

"Because sometimes taking the injury is worth the risk. And if hurting me helps you, then fine."

Rafael remained silent, before nodding.

"I end my turn. I admire your tenacity, but this duel will end on my next turn."

"Then I'll have to end it on my turn. To begin, I activate Pot of Greed. This lets me draw two cards."

When Barrett saw what he had drawn, he sighed.

"I'm sorry."

"Huh?"

"I activate the spell card, A-to-Z Formation! By paying half of my life points, I can return six Light Machine Monsters from my banished zone to my deck to special summon my ultimate monster! Return, A-Assault Core, B-Buster Drake, C-Crush Wyvern, X-Head Cannon, Y- Dragon Head, and Z-Metal Tank!"

"What? Six monsters?"

At Barrett's command, the six machines appeared on his field, and began shifting to merge together.

"Contact Fusion! Appear, A-to-Z Dragon Buster Cannon (4000/4000)!"

"Incredible…"

"Dragon Buster Cannon, attack Super Soldier and end this duel!"

"Are you joking? I'll still have life points!"

Barrett didn't reply, he just revealed the last card in his hand: Honest (4000-7000). Seeing that he was defeated, Rafael smiled as the blast tore apart his monster and hit him, sending him flying.

"Well done…fusion…"

Rafael: 0000

Barrett approached his fallen enemy, but it soon became apparent that he could do nothing for him as Rafael began to disintegrate.

"Thank you, Barrett…now I can rest in peace."

"Why even bother going through this in the first place if you knew the consequences?"

"I wanted to avenge…my family. They were killed…by soldiers. Dartz promised to use The Quantum Cube to bring us together…I guess he didn't lie."

Barrett nodded solemnly.

"That daughter you spoke of…protect her…with your life."

"Always."

Rafael smiled, before fading away. Barrett closed his eyes, silently saluting his enemy before continuing on.

"Rafael…you will be avenged.