A massive explosion ripped through the dew-filled forests of Academy Island, shaking the trees and scattering birds as David Rabb lowered his Duel Disk. Across from him, Damon lay on the ground, having fallen unconscious. His Life Points continued to fall toward zero, earning a smirk from David.

"Is that all?" he wondered, his voice rippling through the ensuing silence. "And here I thought Duel Academy students were supposed to be more of a challenge."

He took several slow, deliberate steps toward his opponent's fallen form, then bent down and plucked a GX Medal from their pocket with an arrogant flick of his wrist. He held it up into the sun's rays, admiring its shine in the light.

"What a disappointment," he muttered, shaking his head with a dreary sigh. "If the rest of the school is this weak, I'll be unable to collect any decent Duel Energy."

He slid the medal into his pocket as several cold chuckles emerged from behind him. The clicking of heels echoed through the forest, followed by a familiar voice.

"Complaining already?" Reggie asked, her blonde hair swaying as she walked out of the bushes. She, too, had a medal in her grasp, flicking it between her fingers thoughtlessly. She shot David a smirk upon seeing his opponent lying on the ground, defeated. "At least I see you've put in some work. Or was this Wisteria's doing?"

"That woman…" David's eyes narrowed at the reminder of the twintailed banshee. "She ran off yesterday evening. I haven't seen her or Mackenzie since."

"Oh?" Reggie inclined her head. "Perhaps she's gone to visit her plaything. I had one myself moments ago. Poor boy thought we'd marry if we won. Fufu…" She smirked and gazed down at Damon again. "Unfortunately for him, Harrington wasn't much better than your wild man here. I didn't even break a sweat dueling him."

She folded her arms behind her back, donning a pose eerily similar to Mackenzie's. David wrinkled his nose at the act, but stayed calm. "The Senior? Impressive."

Reggie shrugged as if it were nothing. "He didn't live up to his reputation. When he challenged me, I was under the impression he was as good as Zane. But it seems the rumor was greatly exaggerated. He barely put up a fight." She tossed her medal into the air, caught it, then slipped it into her own pocket. "If this is what passes for strong around here, we're not going to have any fun at all."

David chuckled darkly. "We'll gather the Duel Energy we need to, either way, I'm sure… but I thought there'd be a real challenge waiting for us here. It seems like we're wasting our time."

Reggie nodded, brushing a golden strand of her hair behind her ear. "We're going to need to find better targets. Ones who can actually push us."

David smirked. "At least I know some of our peers have found better than this lot."

His eyes narrowed.

'Czar… Let's see you put Kodo in his place. Heh Heh…'

TAG FORCE ALTERNATIVE: TWISTING THE TALE
LESSON NINE
METALMORPH! THE MIGHTY METALZOA X!

"LET'S DUEL!" the four Duelists shouted, staring at each other fiercely. From her place beside Bastion, Jasmine tensed and swiftly reached for a card.

Seeing her move, Czar grimaced. "I'll go—"

"Ladies first!" she snapped. "It's my Turn! I… Draw!"

Her Harpie Queen met her gaze.

'Well,' she thought, eyeing her hand. 'I don't see a better way to start this! And if I'm gonna show Konami and Bastion that I can pull my weight, too, then I need to make my first move count and prove I'm as strong as Alexis!'

She flashed a smile at Bastion as if to say, "I got this!" then grabbed her card.

"Here I go!" she shouted. "I summon my Harpie Queen in Attack Mode!"

In a swirl of wind, a majestic bird-woman appeared on her side of the field, her regal feathers shimmering white as her wings cut through the air like blades.

Harpie Queen - LV4 - WIND - Winged Beast - (1900/1200)

"Harpie Queen?" Kami scoffed. "You're still using that old archetype?"

"Shut up, Kami!" Jasmine bristled. "There's nothing wrong with my Harpies!"

"You've got that right," Czar chuckled, whistling at the card's looks. "You've got great taste, babe. Well, at least when it comes to cards. Your friends could really use some work."

"I don't want to hear that from you!" Jasmine squawked. "Who rips up somebody's rare card? You've got some nerve, ya big jerk!"

Czar's smirk faltered for a moment, "I only did what I did so I'd win."

"Yeah, sure. Fat load of good it did you," Jasmine murmured. "Konami told us all about what happened up North! You lost, even with all your tricks! That's why you're all really pissed off, right? You're just here to get payback!"

"T-That's not true!" Tasha complained from the sidelines. "I… I just saw what Konami's been doing, and—"

"And what? Thought you'd pull up with his nemesis and make him feel bad?" Jasmine asked. "I'm not the smartest book on the shelf myself, but even I know that's a bad idea! I mean, seriously? Just look at tall, dark, and edgy back there!" she gestured over her shoulder to Konami. "Do you really think he'd listen to Czar of all people? If so, you're way out of touch!"

Tasha flinched and averted her gaze. "It's not like I invited him, you know…"

"Then why's he here?"

"Hmph. A little birdie told me he was here," Czar smirked. "That same birdie also said that if we beat ya, we'll become one of the North's Prides!"

"Hmph! So Jasmine really did hit the mark," Konami scoffed. "Talk about pathetic! You losers don't stand a chance against me, and Jasmine's going to prove it! By beating you, she'll prove that you don't even deserve to breathe the same air as me!"

"Oh, yeah? Sounds like you've got some faith in this dumb broad of yours!" Czar spat. "Good. It'll make it all the sweeter when I tear her apart right in front of you!"

"D-Dumb broad?!" Jasmine sputtered. "Hey, I'm not dumb, idiot!"

"And I'm not an idiot, skank!"

"Moron!"

"Bitch!"

"Asshole!"

"Harlot!"

Bastion coughed, "Apologies, Jasmine. But I do believe we're getting off track. We're here to duel, not trade insults. You can save that for later."

"Heh, the Genius is right," Konami said, folding his arms. "Instead of wasting your breath on these worms, you should use it to put them in their place! Don't hold anything back, Jasmine! Show them all of your Gorilla prowess!"

"Yeah, yeah. Whatever you say, 'boss'," she offered a mock salute. Nonetheless, she reached for another card in her hand.

"I activate the effect of the Continuous Spell, Hysteric Sign!" she shouted. "When I activate it, I can add one Elegant Egotist from my Deck to my hand!"

"Elegant Egotist, huh?" Czar questioned. "Grimley, what's that card do?"

The younger boy racked his brain, "It lets her Special Summon a Harpie Lady or Harpie Lady Sisters… but it only works if she has a Harpie Lady already on the field!"

"Heh, looks like it's useless, then," Czar smirked. "She only has Harpie Queen!"

"Shows what you know," Jasmine retorted. "Right now, Harpie Queen's treated as Harpie Lady! And you know what that means? It means I can use my Elegant Egotist now!" she swiftly flung the card onto her Duel Disk, smirking as its hologram appeared on the field. "And since you already know what it does… I'll Special Summon my Harpie Lady!"

The wind picked up as Harpie Queen screamed into the air, prompting a second Harpie Lady with crimson hair to fly onto the field. Unlike the Queen's, this Harpie's bodysuit was completely purple, and her wings held a blue tint, rather than a majestic white. As she neared the group, she flapped her wings to slow her sudden descent, then landed gracefully and turned to Chazz and Grimley, fixing them with a smirk.

Harpie Lady - LV4 - WIND - Winged Beast - (1300/1400)

"And I'm not done yet!" Jasmine continued. "I'll follow up that move with another! Since I control a Level 6 or lower WIND monster, I can Special Summon my Harpie's Pet Dragon in Defense Position!"

A roar echoed through the forest, the ground quaking beneath the Duelists' feet as a gigantic red dragon emerged from above, its wings casting a shadow over the field. Its fiery breath created trails of smoke as it descended, the beast curling its massive body protectively before landing. The dragon's eyes locked onto Jasmine's opponents, its scales glinting like molten lava in the sunlight.

Harpie's Pet Dragon - Fearsome Fire Blast - LV7 - WIND - Dragon - (2000/2500)

Jasmine's grin grew as she completed her setup, her field now brimming with what she thought was an unbreakable defense. "How's that for a start?" she challenged, clenching her fist eagerly. "I've got two Harpies and a Dragon! Let's see you try to break through this defense, Czar!"

Czar's grin faltered, and he glared at Grimley, who could only gulp nervously. "Heh, don't get cocky, girl. This Duel's just getting started!"

"Then I'll set two more cards and end my turn," Jasmine said. "Now it's your move!"

"Not bad. You've certainly gotten better than when we first started," Bastion mused.

"Right?" Jasmine grinned, shooting him a peace sign. "I've got this Duel in the bag!"

"Ha! Don't make me laugh!" Czar's voice cut through her celebration. "It's only the first turn of the Duel, girl. You don't have anything yet! Well, that's not completely true… You do have a target on your back! One that I'll use to put you in the ground along with your "Master", Konami! It's my turn! I Draw!"

The boy's smirk widened as he glanced at his newly drawn card. "You think those Harpies will protect you from me? Let's see how they fare against this! I summon Zoa, the Fiendish Beast, in Attack Position!"

A dark portal materialized on the ground of Czar's side of the field, and from its depths emerged a monstrous, fiendish figure in blue. Roaring gutturally, it towered over the field and flexed its massive claws, the shadows rippling around its feet to make it look even more intimidating.

Zoa, the Fiendish Beast - LV7 - DARK - Fiend - (2600/1900)

Bastion's eyes narrowed. "Zoa…? And he summoned it without a tribute?"

"Clever move," Konami muttered. "Since Jasmine already controls a monster, he can Normal Summon this particular Zoa without needing the usual sacrifices."

Jasmine's expression darkened at that. "Oh, great… Just what I need But even so! That's not gonna be enough to scare me!"

"Then let's see if this is!" Czar taunted. He swung out his hand, "I activate my Zoa's second effect! It lets me set a Metalmorph card directly from my Deck to the field!" He slammed the card face down, its back glowing as it appeared behind Zoa.

"Metalmorph?!" Bastion gasped.

Jasmine's eyes narrowed. "Not so fast! I activate my face-down Spell: Mystical Space Typhoon! It'll destroy one Spell or Trap on the field, and I choose your Metalmorph!" Her card flipped upright, and a gust of wind shattered the set card into fragments.

Czar's smirk faltered for a moment, but only for a moment.

"You think that's enough to stop me?" he growled, grabbing another card. "You're not the only one who has Spells, brat! I activate Incoming Machine! Since I now have a Metalmorph in the Graveyard thanks to your MST, Incoming Machine lets me add that Metalmorph back to my hand!" He retrieved the famed card from his Duel Disk, holding it up as if to mock her efforts.

Jasmine clenched her fists. "Darn. I really thought I had him there, too!"

"Heh, you're gonna regret underestimating me," Czar chuckled grimly. "Battle Phase!"

"Hold it! You still haven't heard about my Harpie's Pet Dragon's effect!"

"Wha-?"

Jasmine's eyes flashed as she revealed the her ace card's power. "As long as it's on the field, my Pet Dragon protects all Level Six or lower "Harpie" monsters, keeping them from being attacked!"

She expected Czar to falter at the words, but his grin only smirked wider. "Nice try, but who said I was even targeting your Harpies? Zoa, attack the Harpie's Pet Dragon!"

Zoa lunged forward, shadows coiling around its limbs as it charged through the field. Jasmine gasped as she saw it approach, and quickly threw up her arm.

"Pet Dragon, brace yourself!" she cried, though she knew it was futile.

Even so, Pet Dragon roared, its wings spreading as it stood its ground. Flames erupted from its mouth, shooting forth in a desperate attempt to hold back Zoa's advance, but even as the forest lit up with the intensity of Pet Dragon's Fearsome Fire Blast, Zoa barreled through the flames unscathed and ripped its claws through its flesh.

"Pet Dragon, no!" Jasmine cried, her hands clenching tightly as if she thought it had a chance, but it was too late. Zoa's claws dug deeper, and the dragon's roar faded into a pained screech. Cracks of purple lightning surged through the Pet Dragon's form, and with one final, thunderous explosion, it finally shattered into fragments, scattering across the forest floor and making everyone gasp.

Jasmine shielded her eyes from the blast as the dust started to settle, leaving only the imposing figure of Zoa standing in the clearing. Her Harpies hovered protectively by her side, but the absence of her dragon had disheartened them. Even worse, there was now a noticeable gap in her remaining defenses. She gritted her teeth, feeling the weight of the setback but refusing to back down.

"Is that all your dragon's got?" Czar sneered, folding his arms triumphantly.

"Don't mouth off, because in destroying it, you activated my Dragon's effect!" she snapped. "If it's sent from the field to the Graveyard, then I can send a WIND Winged Beast from my Deck there, too!" She opened her Deck and skimmed through its contents. "I choose Harpie Harpist!"

A ghostly hologram of the card briefly appeared as Jasmine revealed it, only to vanish as she slid the card into her Duel Disk to join her Pet Dragon.

Czar sneered, his confidence growing upon hearing Pet Dragon's effect. "What? Is it too scared to die alone? Ha! Talk about pathetic! And now, you've got nothing left but your birds. I'll make short work of them soon enough!"

Jasmine scowled, but not out of sorrow. She wasn't ready to back down. "You take that back! Nothing about my Harpies are pathetic, you jerk! Besides, I wouldn't get too comfortable! Like you said, this Duel's far from over!"

Czar chuckled darkly. "We'll see about that. I'll set two more cards face-down…" The two cards materialized on his field, forming a wall of potential traps. "...and end my turn."

"Ngh…" Jasmine grimaced. "During the End Phase, my Harpie Harpist's effect activates! Since she was sent to the Graveyard this turn, I can add a Winged Beast with fifteen hundred or less Attack to my hand! I choose… Harpie Oracle!"

"Add all the birds you want, broad. It won't matter after the next turn," Czar chuckled with a shake of his head.

"Those words confirm it. One of his face-down cards is surely Metalmorph," noted Bastion.

"Yeah, no kidding. You got a plan?"

"I might," he admitted with a smile.

"Good, because I'm just about out," Jasmine replied, exhaling softly. "And I'd really rather not go up against a Metalzoa right now."

She took a deep breath.

'I sure hope Alexis's group is faring better than we are… Hate to say it, but these outsiders may really know how to duel!'

-GX-

Halfway across the island, no, Alexis was not, in fact, faring better. On the contrary, right now, things couldn't be worse.

The air buzzed with a fierce, electric energy as she stared down Gate Guardian, the three titans combined pulling back what was once Sanga's great arm. The elemental forces of wind, water, and thunder ran along its frame, sending green and blue bolts of lightning surging across its form.

Chazz and Alexis stumbled back, their eyes wide with horror as they faced the towering colossus. The ground beneath them quaked with each of its thunderous steps as it advanced, cracks webbing their way through the dirt as if to crush everything in its wake.

"This can't be happening…" Alexis muttered, beads of sweat forming on her brow as she clenched his fists. She steeled herself for what was about to happen but didn't let the determination in her eyes flicker out. "Chazz, you should brace yourself!" she shouted, her voice tinged with urgency. "We need to—"

But before she could finish, Para's voice boomed across the field, "Gate Guardians Combined, unleash your wrath! Attack them directly! I'll do the math!"

The colossal beast let out a final, guttural screech as it thrust its arm forward, the elements swirling together into a massive sphere of destructive energy. Lightning arced, wind howled, and torrents of water exploded from its hand, forming a blinding beam of pure, destructive force that shot toward Chazz and Alexis. The blast tore through the air, ripping apart the ground as it raced forward.

"NO!" Alexis cried out, his voice drowned out by the roar of the attack. She shielded her eyes, her heart pounding as the blinding light enveloped them. "Chazz—!"

The energy blast crashed into them with full force, and their screams echoed as their vision turned to pure white. The power of the combined elements overwhelmed them, and for a brief moment, it felt like they were being torn apart, caught in the raging storm of the Gate Guardian's fury.

"Chazz! Alexis!" Syrus, Jaden, and the Obelisks shouted, their eyes wide as they watched their friends disappear in the blinding explosion.

When the light finally faded, the battlefield was left scarred, the ground scorched and smoking where the attack had struck. But to their shock, Chazz and Alexis weren't sprawled out on the ground.

"What's this?!" Para gasped. "How did you escape our attack?"

"Please, brother! Remember the timing!" Dox bellowed. "Attack? That's whack!"

"Heh Heh Heh…" Chazz smirked. "The only thing that's whack here is your dueling! You didn't even notice that the card I discarded earlier was my Bacon Saver! While he's in the Graveyard, I can banish him to negate a monster's attack! It's only a Once per Duel technique, but one I'd say came in handy."

"Chazz…" Alexis sighed in relief. "Thank goodness. You scared me!"

"That's our Chazz for ya!" Taiyou cheered. "Chazz it up! Chazz it up!"

"Heh!" Chazz smirked and gave them a thumbs up. "These losers don't stand a chance!"

Para frowned. "I end my turn. It seems there is still… much to learn."

"But with Combined still on our field, we will still surely make you yield!" Dox added quickly.

"Then I'll just have to get rid of it, won't I?" Alexis chimed in with a frown. "It's my turn. I draw!"

She glanced at the card.

'Perfect!' she thought. "I activate Polymerization, fusing my Etoile Cyber and Blade Skater to create…!"

A vortex of swirling energy erupted on the field, sucking Alexis's two monsters out of her hand and into the portal it created. Etoile Cyber and Blade Skater spun through the swirling energies, their forms twisting and merging together in a brilliant flash of light. The winds whipped around Alexis as her newly fused monster emerged a moment later.

"The one and only… Cyber Blader!" she finished.

The sleek warrior somersaulted onto the battlefield gracefully, her long blue hair swaying behind her as she landed in front of Alexis. Its eyes focused sharply on Gate Guardians Combined, reading its opponents and preparing for the strike.

Cyber Blader - LV7 - EARTH - Warrior - (4200/800)

Para's eyes widened in disbelief. "Forty-two hundred Attack Points?! How—?!"

"Cyber Blader's effect kicks in when you control exactly two monsters," Alexis explained. "If you do, then her attack power is doubled!"

"That's great news!" Syrus cheered. "Now Cyber Blader is the strongest card on the field!"

"And since you don't have any face-downs," Alexis continued with a smile, "she's not afraid to attack! Let's go, Cyber Blader! Take down their Gate Guardian! Whirlwind Blade!"

Cyber Blader leaped into action, spinning at lightning speed as she dashed forward. The air around her swirled, kicking up gusts as she advanced on Gate Guardians Combined. The elemental behemoth raised its massive arm and roared as she advanced, summoning the combined forces of wind, water, and lightning to meet her approach.

Beams of green, yellow, and even blue electricity flew outward, but with a graceful twist, Cyber Blader dodged the attacks, cutting through the chaos like a knife through butter. Her ice skates glowed as she closed in, and with a powerful harrumph, she kicked right through Gate Guardian's center, expelling Kazejin from the fusion. Sparks flew as the green guardian flung through the air, and a shockwave soon followed, rippling through the battlefield as it crashed into a tree.

"No! Gate Guardians Combined!" Para shouted, eyes wide with shock as their trump card was struck.

But he spoke too soon, for just as the words had finished escaping his lips, Cyber Blader spun in mid-air, her kicks slicing through the giant's elemental core. The colossal creature let out one final, anguished roar, then destabilized, giving way to cracks of energy that raced across its form. With one last groan, the Gate Guardian exploded in a flash of light, sending out a wave of heat and force that shook the entire field!

The shockwave tore through the forest, bending the trees with its powerful gust. Chazz shielded his eyes, but Alexis stood firm, watching Gate Guardian crumble.

"YES!" Syrus cheered from the sidelines. "She did it!"

As if to confirm, Cyber Blader landed elegantly in front of Alexis, her right leg raised as if waiting for someone to demand an encore.

CHAZZ/ALEXIS: 4000 LP

PARA/DOX: 3550 LP

Alexis gave a confident smile. "Looks like your Gate Guardian couldn't guard much."

Chazz smirked, "Told you, you guys don't stand a chance against us!"

"Sweet moves, guys!"

"Yeah, that's the Untouchable Queen for ya!" Raizou added.

"Lexx it up! Lexx it up!"

"Okay, let's not go too far!" Chazz barked.

"He's right, you guys. This Duel's not over," Alexis said, standing firm.

"How right you are," Para said, his voice cutting through the dust, "for in destroying our Gate Guardians Combined, you've only sealed your fate!"

"For when it dies, it doesn't leave. Instead, it just loses weight!" Dox added.

"U-Uh oh," Syrus murmured. "Those two are rhyming again!"

"Not good. If they're still rhyming…"

"...it means they've still got a plan!" Jaden finished.

"Behold, our Combined's effect!" Para said, cutting through the smoke with a swipe of his hand. As the dust parted, Alexis's eyes widened as she saw a new being.

Standing at two-thirds the height of Combined, this new Guardian surged with power, surrounded by crackling bolts of lightning and waves of water whirling around it.

Gate Guardian of Water and Thunder - LV9 - WATER - Aqua - (2550/2300)

"Hey, what's the meaning of this?!" Chazz roared, shaking his fist. "Cyber Blader should've destroyed that trash heap!"

"And it did," Para answered. "But when Combined leaves the field, it leaves us with one final present!"

"Another Guardian. Lesser in strength, but just as ready to torment!"

""Gate Guardian of Water and Thunder remains to avenge Kazejin! Surrender to its awesome might, for there is no way to win!"" they chanted.

"As if!" Chazz snapped. "You losers might've gotten another monster on your field, but don't forget, because you have two, Cyber Blader still has her Attack Points!"

'Yeah,' Alexis agreed mentally, though her lips curled into a frown. If the Paradox Brothers summoned that anyway, it meant something had to be up. She glanced at her hand. 'I guess I'll just have to figure their plan out the hard way.'

"I'll set one card and end my turn. It's… your move, Dox."

"It is, indeed," the green brother said, reaching toward his Duel Disk. "And now, with this turn of mine, I shall soon make you bleed! I Draw!"

He glanced at his card.

"And activate Riryoku Guardian! Since our Life Points are lower than yours, it lets me target a Gate Guardian! I target Gate Guardian of Water and Thunder, of course!"

"And in that moment," Para cut in, "Gate Guardian uses its force! Once per chain, its power unseals, decreasing that of those you would heal!"

"Your Cyber Blader's Attack will be zero! Riryoku Guardian we then reveal!" Dox continued with an evil grin. "After targeting Gate Guardian, this card will halve your Life Points! Then, the targeted Gate Guardian gains Attack equal to your new Life Points!"

"What?!" Chazz gasped, glancing at his Duel Disk as he heard its chime fill the air. Alexis glanced down as well, her eyes wide as she read their new Life Point total.

CHAZZ/ALEXIS - 2000 LP
PARA/DOX - 3550 LP

"Two Thousand Life Points…" she murmured, "but then… that means!"

She glanced at Para and Dox, taking in their oppressive grins. Behind them, their Gate Guardian radiated a crimson aura.

Gate Guardian of Water and Thunder - LV9 - WATER - Aqua - (4550/2300)

"O-Over Four Thousand Attack…" Chazz breathed, staggering backward.

"It's not just that, Chazz!" Jaden reminded. "Check out Alexis's Cyber Blader!"

A quick swivel of their heads revealed a situation far more damning.

Contrary to the confident stance the girl held before, Cyber Blader now stood hunched over, panting as if she were out of breath.

"Cyber Blader?! What-?" Alexis paused as she saw her card's stats.

Cyber Blader - LV7 - EARTH - Warrior - (0/800)

"Z… Zero Attack…?" she gasped.

"No way! That can't be right!" Chazz shouted.

"Oh, it is, I'm afraid," Dox chuckled, not looking frightened one bit. "And now that your monster is frail and weak, it's time for your final grade!"

"Gate Guardian of Water and Thunder, unleash your deadly fury!" Para added. "Attack their weakened Cyber Blader, and win like in Missouri!"

"What? Brother!" Dox gasped. "You went to the US without me?"

"No, brother. Just rhyming. You know I can't afford the fee."

"Plane tickets are quite expensive."

"So much so I'm apprehensive."

"Then perhaps we should charge more."

From Pegasus? That's such a chore."

"Alright, that's enough! Will you two stop?!" Chazz grumbled, clenching his fist. "In case you've forgotten, we're kind of in the middle of a Duel here!"

The two brothers look at each other, then back at their two Blue opponents.

"Apologies, we'll beat you now," Dox said, resuming his pose. "Against our power, you'll surely bow! Gate Guardian, use your attack! And send these Duelists… flying back!"

The massive, elemental colossus roared, its voice booming like a storm through the forest. The Solid Vision storm it conjured raged overhead as water pooled around its feet. Bolts of lightning rained down and electrified its body, allowing it to raise its massive fist, now surging with electrical energy. With a burst of speed, the creature then lunged forward toward Cyber Blader, but just as it was about to attack, Alexis threw out her hand.

"Stop right there! You just activated my face-down! Hallowed Life Barrier!" she shouted. "By discarding a card, I can reduce all damage to my Life Points and Monsters to zero!"

She slid her Cyber Petit Angel into the Graveyard just in time, prompting a white barrier to shimmer into view as Gate Guardian punched. A blinding flash lit the field in conjunction with a bolt of lightning, the sound of thunder cracking through the field as everyone shielded their eyes. As it faded, a ghostly figure materialized behind Alexis, humming softly in prayer to protect both her and her Cyber Blader.

"Tch! Not bad, student," Dox admitted begrudgingly. "But couldn't you have used that card earlier? Being so dramatic's imprudent!"

"Coming from you? I think I'm fine," Alexis retorted, lowering her arm. "Now, are you done or not?"

Dox grimaced. "I end my turn."

Cyber Blader sighed in relief, her back straightening as Gate Guardian's weakenng effect wore off.

Cyber Blader - LV7 - EARTH - Warrior - (4200/800)

'I get it. So that attack-reducing effect only lasts 'til the End Phase,' Chazz thought. 'Good! That means it should be super easy to wipe these bums out all at once! Or, at least, it would have been!' he grimaced as he eyed the Gate Guardian. 'Thanks to that Riryoku Guardian of theirs, that thing is just way too strong!'

As if sensing his gaze upon it, the Gate Guardian stood taller, towering over the forest and trees as its presence weighed down upon Chazz.

"Tch!"

'I'm not giving up! That word's not in my dictionary!' he thought. 'But… do I have anything that can get rid of that card in one move?'

If he still had his XYZ, the answer would've been yes. But Para had already torn through it, leaving him practically defenseless! Even worse, their new Gate Guardian could reduce Attack Points to zero. If he didn't get rid of that thing right now, then they would win on their next turn…

"Chazz?" Alexis asked, noticing the strained look on his face. "Are you alright? It's your turn!"

"Y-Yeah! I know!" he snapped. "Just give me a second!"

He racked his brain. There was one card that could do it. But whether or not he could actually draw it was another matter entirely. Chazz stared down at his Duel Disk, the weight of the situation pressing down on him. He knew he could do it. He had the cards. He had them! But drawing them…

"Relax, Chazz!" Jaden called. "You've totally got this! Everyone here knows you're a sweet Duelist! How could you not be? You beat me!" he grinned.

Chazz stilled, casting his narrow gaze over to Jaden.

"Like that's some sort of accomplishment, slacker! Why don't you shaddap and watch?"

"That's the spirit!" Jaden grinned, giggling to himself eagerly. "Get out there and show 'em what's what! Or, ya know, Chazz it up!"

"Like I need you to tell me that! Who do you think I am?" he barked. His hands hovered over his deck. "I'm Chazz Princeton! Of the Princetons! And if there's one thing you should know about Princetons… it's that we… Never Lose!"

He drew his next card, a memory flooding his mind as he pulled it swiftly. It was a few days ago, the day his older brothers had called to check in on him. Slade and Jagger stood before the screen, their arms crossed, and expressions serious.

"Chazz, you've proven yourself," Slade had said, his voice firm yet proud. "We've heard the rumors coming out of the school. Not one loss? You're a Princeton, through and through!"

Jagger nodded, stepping forward and grinning cockily into the screen. "We've seen your growth, bro. And while it's true we gave you a hard time, it was always because we knew you had it in you. Now, it's time you use these."

Chazz's eyes widened as a package suddenly slid under his door. When he opened it, the glint of holographic foil shimmered in the light. Inside were some of the most powerful cards their family had ever possessed—ones he'd never thought he'd lay his hands on.

They were his family's symbol. Its strength!

Slade smirked. "These cards are our family's pride and joy, Chazz. And we're trusting you with them because we know you can handle it. Go out there and do us proud."

Chazz had felt his chest swell with pride. "I won't let you down. I'll show everyone what a Princeton can do!"

"Good," Jagger had said.

The memory faded, and Chazz's eyes sharpened as he returned to the present. The fire in his eyes reignited. He clutched his deck, drawing the top card with newfound confidence.

'This is it… I have to believe in myself, like my brothers believed in me. I can do this. I will do this!'

He glanced at the card he'd drawn, and a grin broke across his face. This was just what he needed to reach them! "I activate my Spell—Pot of Greed!"

The familiar green pot appeared on his field, its eerie grin mimicking his own. "This lets me draw two more cards!" He swiftly added the two new cards to his hand, and as he glanced at them, his grin widened further.

"Perfect. Just what I needed."

He slammed one of the cards onto his Duel Disk. "It's time for me to Chazz it up more than I've ever Chazz'd before! Behold, the power of real lightning! I activate… RAIGEKI!"

-GX-

Bastion tightened his grip on his Duel Disk as he heard a distant rumble, the sound echoing faintly from the other side of the island. It was low and heavy, almost like the roll of approaching thunder, yet the skies above were clear. Strange. He scanned the horizon for storm clouds.

'Hmm… I don't recall hearing anything about bad weather today,' he thought. 'Could that belong to another Duel? It's possible. The whole island's fighting. Still, if there's one thing I've learned, it's that it would be prudent to finish this quickly. On the off-chance a storm is approaching, I'd rather not get my cards wet.'

He locked eyes with Czar, who stood confidently behind his Zoa and face-down cards. The fiendish beast loomed menacingly, its claws flexing as it awaited Bastion's move.

His lips twitched.

'I shouldn't keep them waiting.'

"It's my Turn. I draw!" he declared, his voice cutting through the silence. He glanced at his hand, assessing his options. 'His Zoa is indeed powerful, but it's not invincible. Not yet, but it will be if I don't act quickly. Fortunately, I have just the thing to keep it from becoming a problem!'

He grabbed three of the cards from his hand and slid them into the Graveyard.

"I send Beta, Gamma, and Alpha the Magnet Warriors to my Graveyard!" he announced, "and through their sacrifice, bring forth… VALKYRION THE MAGNA WARRIOR!"

A swirl of magnetic energy crackled in the air as Bastion's Magnet Warriors vanished into a vortex of light. The ground trembled, and the sound of grinding metal echoed through the field as they marged, their individual parts coming together to form one new body.

With a blinding flash, the Magnet Warriors fused into a hovering figure, their eye glowing a bright silver as a swrod appeared in its hand.

Valkyrion the Magna Warrior - LV8 - EARTH - Rock - (3500/3850)

Czar's eyes widened and he took a step back, his earlier confidence faltering. "V-Valkyrion the Magna Warrior?! You had that card in your Deck?!"

"Told ya he's a Genius!" Jasmine taunted. "You jerks don't stand a chance!"

"I know all about Metalmorph's technique, as well as Metalzoa's Attack!" Baston decreed. "But even if you summon it now, Valkyrion will still be stronger!"

"Is that what you think?" Czar chuckled. "I'll admit your Monster's impressive! But don't think for a second that thing can stand up to my Metalzoa! I activate my face-down card! MAX METALMORPH!"

Bastion's eyes widened. "Max Metalmorph? I've never heard of that card!"

"Heh. You wouldn't have, twerp! It's a North Academy special! And for the record, what it dishes out it way better than the OG! First, I have to sacrifice a Level Five or higher Fiend-type on the field. So say goodbye to Zoa, not that he was gonna stay long in the first place!"

Zoa growled softly, its fiendish face twisting as its body was surrounded by golden particles.

"And now…" Czar grinned. "You can say hello… to the mighty METALZOA X!"

A bolt rained down from the sky at his words, consuming Zoa entirely. The beast roared as the blazing light clad its body in a new form. Bastion and Jasmine grimaced and shielded their eyes as the light washed over them, grunting as the ensuing shockwave pushed them and Valkyrion back.

From the sidelines, even Konami narrowed his eyes in astonishment.

'That thing's got power,' he thought to himself. 'But will it be enough to beat them?'

They were about to find out, for as the smoke cleared, its new form was revealed. Gone was the thick, light blue flesh, replaced by silver steel. Golden claws lined its hands and feet, and sharp spikes adorned its knees and elbows. With a sharp cry, it struck its claws against one another, sparks flying and forming a golden X as it struck an imposing pose.

Metalzoa X - LV8 - DARK - Machine - (3000/2300)

"Metalzoa… X?" Bastion inquired. "It's quite impressive… but I'm afraid even that boost won't be able to save it from Valkyrion's attack."

"That's where you're wrong, because I haven't explained Max Metalmorph's effect," Czar smirked. "Once it's used, it attaches itself to the new Monster as an equip spell! And then… it gives that Monster four hundred Attack and Defense Points!"

"What?! Four hundred?!"

"And don't forget, I've got the old Metalmorph, too!" Czar continued. "So by equipping both to Metalzoa X, he'll gain seven hundred points total!"

A silver aura emerged from the machine's body as Czar flipped his face-downs, cladding it in the imposing steel of both Metalmorph Trap Cards. Metalzoa's ensuing screech sent a shockwave rippling through the field, prompting both Jasmine and Bastion to stagger and brace themselves for the fight ahead.

Metalzoa X - LV8 - DARK - Machine - (3700/3000)

"Darn… I missed my chance!" Baston winced.

Czar laughed. "Get good, loser! There's no way you're beating Zoa!"

"Not this turn," Bastion admitted, "but that doesn't mean I'm out! I can still use Valkyrion's effect! Magnet Discharge! By tributing him, I can bring back Alpha, Beta, and Gamma from the Graveyard!"

"Maybe so, but I'm not gonna sit here and let you build a defense!" Czar countered. "I activate Metalzoa X's special ability!"

"What?!"

"Twice per turn, if you use a Monster effect or activate a Spell or effect, then Metalzoa gets to destroy a Monster on your side of the field! Since Valkyrion's already gone, I'll target the broad's Harpie Queen! Go, Metalzoa! Tear that Harpie to shreds with X-Claw Crusher!"

Metalzoa X's eye glowed bright as it slashed its claws through the air, rending the majestic bird-woman's form in two with a single strike. Harpie Queen let out a piercing cry before shattering into golden shards, her feathers scattering into the wind harmlessly as her form disintegrated in a cracking eXplosion.

"No! Harpie Queen!" Jasmine winced, shielding her gritted her teeth. "You big jerk! You're gonna pay for hurting my Harpies!"

Czar sneered. "Talk all you want, but you're all bark and no bite! Mark my words, Metalzoa X will crush everything you throw at me!"

"Perhaps for now," Bastion admitted, "but we still have our defenses! Since Valkyrion was tributed for his effect, Alpha, Beta, and Gamma appear! Naturally, I'll Special Summon all of them in the Defense Position."

The ground beneath him rumbled once more as three pillars of light shot up from the ground. From the glowing columns emerged the familiar forms of the Magnet Warriors, each one standing firm as they positioned themselves in a defensive formation.

Alpha the Magnet Warrior - LV4 - EARTH - Rock - (1400/1700)

Beta the Magnet Warrior - LV4 - EARTH - Rock - (1700/1600)

Gamma the Magnet Warrior - LV4 - EARTH - Rock - (1500/1800)

The three Magnet Warriors formed a barrier, their combined power creating a defensive wall that stood between Bastion and Czar's powerful machine.

Czar scoffed. "A few ugly pebbles aren't going to save you from me. Metalzoa X will tear through all of them eventually, and then, your Life Points are mine!"

"We'll see about that," Bastion replied, his posture still exuding confidence. "I've set up my defense, and thanks to it, you've revealed Metalzoa X's effect. For now, I'll end my move."

Czar's eyes flashed with annoyance. "You're just stalling! On our next turn, we'll tear through every last one of those stupid rocks! Just watch!" His eyes shifted over to his partner. "Grimley! You're up!"

"R-Right!" the ponytail-rocking boy nodded, raising his Duel Disk. "It's my turn. I draw! And then… I'll summon Double Coston!"

A ghostly chill filled the air as black wind erupted from Grimley's Duel Disk, wrapping around his chosen Monster Zone as two spectral spirits rose onto the field. Swirling around each other with silly, blue-tongued faces, their prankish giggles and eerie grins sent a shiver down Jasmine's spine.

Double Coston - LV4 - DARK - Zombie - (1700/1650)

"Oh, great. He looks a little cute, but summoning Zombies must mean he's a creep!" she squirmed.

"You've got that right," Czar chuckled. "But even this weakling's got enough skill to beat you! Show 'em, Grimley!"

"Yeah, sure! I activate the Spell Double Summon!" he revealed. "It lets Normal Summon twice per turn."

"Interesting tactic," mused Bastion. "I recall Double Coston's effect allows it to be used as two Tributes as well…"

"Y-Yeah. As long as the Monster I summon is DARK, anyway. Luckily for me, it is a DARK-type! But here, why don't I show ya?" he removed the twin spirits from his Duel Disk. "I tribute my Double Coston!"

The shadowy form of Double Coston disintegrated, leaving behind a swirling vortex of dark energy. The field rumbled as the ground cracked beneath Grimley's feet.

"Now, arise, Archfiend Emperor, the First Lord of Horror!"

The vortex erupted into flames, and from its depths emerged a towering, demonic figure. Its crimson eyes blazed as its sat itself upon a bony throne, its skeletal armor glinting menacingly under the light of the sun high above.

Archfiend Emperor, the First Lord of Horror - LV8 - DARK - Fiend - (3000/2000)

Bastion's eyes narrowed. "An Archfiend monster… this could be trouble."

Grimley smirked. "Oh, believe me, you have no idea. You see, my Archfiend Emperor has a very special effect! By banishing one Fiend monster from my Graveyard, I can destroy one card on your side of the field!" He glanced over to Czar momentarily as if asking for permission, and once the boy nodded his head, he flicked his hand, ejecting Zoa from the Graveyard. "I banish Zoa, the Fiendish Beast to destroy your Gamma the Magnet Warrior!"

The Archfiend Emperor raised its clawed hand, and a pulse of dark energy shot forth. It smashed into Gamma the Magnet Warrior, consuming the rock construct in a wave of black flames. Bastion gritted his teeth as the final pieces of Gamma dissolved.

"Losing Gamma…" he spoke with a wince. "That puts a dent in my defense."

"More than just a dent!" Czar retorted. "And guess what? We're not done yet. He's also activating the Graveyard effect of Incoming Machine!"

"What?!"

Czar smirked. "Since I control a Metalmorph card, I can banish Incoming Machine from the Graveyard to switch one Defense Position monster to Attack Position!"

A spectral image of the Spell card emerged from Czar's Duel Disk, and a mechanical claw reached out, grabbing onto Alpha the Magnet Warrior.

Bastion's eyes widened. "Alpha?! No!"

The claw forcibly lifted Alpha and shifted its stance, forcing it into Attack Position.

Czar laughed. "Perfect setup, Grimley! Now, let's do some damage!"

"Right!" Grimley nodded. "Battle Phase! Metalzoa X, attack Alpha the Magnet Warrior!"

Metalzoa X roared in fury as it charged forward across the field, its claws glowing gold with rage as it loomed down over Alpha. As it moved closer to its target, Czar swung out his hand, a foul smirk crossing his features as he added a reminder.

"And don't forget the effect of Metalmorph," he added, clenching his fist. "Since its equipped to him, Metalzoa gains half of the Attack Points of its target! Alpha has fourteen hundred Attack, so X here gains an extra seven hundred!"

Metalzoa X - LV8 - DARK - Machine - (4400/3000)

"Oh dear," Bastion murmured, eyes wide as it towered over him. With a screech, Metalzoa X slashed its massive claws through Alpha, shattering the silver Magnet Warrior to pieces with a single swipe. The impact sent shockwaves through the field, and the fragments scattered across the forest clearing. Bastion and Jasmine grimaced and shielded themselves with their Duel Disks, grunting as they withstood the blow even as their Life Points fell sharply.

BASTION/JASMINE: 1000 LP

CZAR/GRIMLEY: 4000 LP

Jasmine clenched her fists. "They're hitting us hard…!"

Bastion frowned but remained composed. "Stay calm, Jasmine. We've faced worse. We can still turn this around."

"Not after this!" Grimley continued. 'You forgot I still have another Monster! Archfiend Emperor, do your thing! Attack and destroy Harpie Lady!"

Archfiend Emperor raised its hand, summoning another sphere of black fire in its claws. The dark orb pulsed and crackled as it grew, throbbing with the vile energy of the archfiends. With a thunderous "Hmph!", the Emperor hurled the sphere directly at Harpie Lady, sending the projectile through the air, and unleashing a fiery explosion. upon impact, it consumed the red-haired Harpie Lady in an instant! Her piercing shriek echoed through the forest as she shattered into thousands of fragments.

Jasmine winced as her monster was obliterated, raising her arms to protect herself from the explosion's shockwave. "No…! Harpie Lady…! How dare you pick on her, jerk!"

Grimley smiled. "Sorry, but now, you've got almost nothing left to protect you! Come Czar's next turn, Metalzoa X and Archfiend Emperor will finish you off!"

A bead of sweat rolled down Jasmine's cheek as she analyzed the field. 'Hate to admit it, but the boy-toy's right! Things aren't looking too good. I'm staring down two powerful bosses, and that Metalzoa X is tough! Even Alexis would have a hard time staging a comeback against that… but Alexis isn't here right now. And it's MY turn coming up!' She bit her lip, trying to steady her breathing as anxiety clawed at her. 'If this was Bastion's turn, maybe we'd have a chance. He'd know how to use the Magnet Warriors to their full potential. But it's my turn next… and I don't know what to do. I can't mess this up… I can't!'

"Hmph! Stop slacking, Gorilla! You're starting to make me look bad!" Konami's voice called out from the sidelines. He folded his arms, his eyes cold. "What are you acting all concerned for, anyway? I don't remember wasting all that time with Bastion training a loser. Either make your move or get off the field! We're not here to watch you freak out!"

Jasmine's head snapped up, her eyes flashing with frustration. "Is that supposed to be your way of encouraging me?!"

Konami smirked at her. "So what if it is? You got a problem, Gorilla?"

"Ugh! You're darn right I do! You don't have to be such a jerk!" she shot back. "Ever think about being, I don't know, nicer? You don't always have to act so edgy!"

"I'm not edgy!" Konami denied, but a faint smirk tugged at his lips. "And you could be a little more mean in your life. 'Cause if you aren't, you're gonna lose. So, what's it gonna be?"

Jasmine clenched her fists, feeling the weight of the challenge in his words. She looked back at the field. 'Alright, Konami… I'll play your stupid game, damn it! If that's what you want, I'll show you. I'm not gonna go down without a fight!'

Konami's smirk grew as he folded his arms. 'Show them what you're made of, Jasmine. You're my first and only apprentice! I won't accept you being beat!'

"It's my turn…! I draw!" she shouted, grasping a card. Its dark brown color shimmered for her. Her eyes widened. 'I got it! But I can't use it yet! Not with Metalzoa X looming over the field! But… it's not invincible! In fact, it's anything but!'

Her smile grew as she set her drawn card in with the rest of her hand. Then, her fingers shimmied to another card she had yet to play.

"You know, Czar, you talk a big game, but you really are stupid," she said. "I mean, you saw I was playing Harpies, and you still filled the field with Traps?"

"What?" Czar grimaced, squinting his eyes as he took in her words.

Closing her eyes, Jasmine took a deep breath and raise two fingers, "There are two things Harpies are famous for in Duel Monsters, dummy. The first is belonging to Mai Valentine… and the second…?"

She grabbed her card and played it.

"Is having HARPIE'S FEATHER DUSTER!"

Czar gasped as the massive feather materialized above his field, sweep, sweep, sweeping its way across his backrow and kicking up a storm.

"No! Impossible!" he shouted, his eyes bulging in horror. "How could some nobody have that card?!"

"I'm not a nobody! I'm Jasmine!" she yelled. "And you're never gonna forget my name once I take you two out! And with Harpie's Feather Duster, that just got way easier, 'cause it'll destroy all your Traps!"

"Nngh…!" Czar grimaced, shielding his eyes as both of his Metalmoprhs were blown away. "Lucky move, broad, but don't think for a second that it's gonna save you! Don't forget, since you activated a Spell, Metalzoa X can use his effect! This time, I'll destroy your last Magnet Warrior, Beta!"

"Fine by me!" she said, channeling Konami. "I don't need that weakling anyway!"

Beta exploded in anguish.

"W-Weakling?" Bastion gasped. "Beta's an important part of my strategy!"

"Yeah, yeah, save it Genius! Right now, momma's cookin'!" she smirked. "And I'm not done yet, because now, I'm gonna discard this! Harpie Oracle! In case you've forgotten, I added this card to my hand on your turn, Czar. And now, by discarding her, I can activate my face-down, Hysteric Party!"

"Hysteric… Party?" Grimley repeated, furrowing his brow.

"It's a Trap card that lets me summon "Harpie Lady" from my Graveyard," she explained. "And not just one of them. Not just two of them. Nope! As many as possible!"

"But you only have one Harpie Lady!" Grimley asked.

"No, she doesn't," Czar grimaced. "Because her Harpies… are all treated as Harpie Lady in the Graveyard!"

"Come on out, my beautiful birds!" she sang, spreading out her arm. "Lady, Oracle, Harpist, and Queen! Rise to serve me again!"

A chorus of shrieks and screeches filled the air as the four birds rose as one unit, their human-sized wings shimmering like the rainbow as they soared and flew around Jasmine.

Harpie Harpist - LV4 - WIND - Winged Beast - (1700/600)

Harpie Queen - LV4 - WIND - Winged Beast - (1900/1200)

Harpie Lady - LV4 - WIND - Winged Beast - (1300/1400)

Harpie Oracle - LV4 - WIND - Winged Beast - (1300/1400)

"Mm…" Kami pursed her lips. "I have to admit, that's not a bad play. Building your defenses to buy more time?"

"No, I'm going to win!" Jasmine said. "And that's why… I'm activating my Oracle's special effect! If she's summoned, I can a Spell that mentions "Harpie Lady Sisters" from my Grave to the hand!"

"Idiot! You just ran right back into Metalzoa's effect!" Czar sneered. "You might've missed it, but it can be used up to twice per turn, remember?! Say goodbye to your Harpie Queen!"

Jasmine grunted as the Harpie exploded, but added Elegant Egotist to her hand.

"Idiot!" Kami huffed. "I take back what I said! You're—"

"No. She's got this," said Konami.

She raised a brow at him. "And how would you know?"

"Because," Bastion said, looking quite pleased, "we're the ones who taught her this combo."

"It's over, Czar! I see why you had to cheat to try and beat Konami! With those reckless moves of yours, you wouldn't have lasted a week in Obelisk Blue!" Jasmine yelled.

"The hell'd you say? You don't know anything, you dumb broad—" he paused, spotting the two cards in her hand. 'Wait a second!' he thought. 'She wasn't done?! That means…!'

"You overextended!" she roared, "and Metalzoa X's effect can only be used twice per turn, right? In other words…" she grabbed the card, "it's open season to play this! I tribute my Harpie Lady and Harpie Oracle to summon the last card you'll ever see!"

Storm clouds began to roll in around them, flashing with lightning from high above. Czar and Grimley took a step back, gazing up into the swirling pillar emerging above them.

"O purifier, bestow upon me your wings of light and love!" Jasmine chanted. "And lay waste to all my foes who trample upon these lands! Encouragement! Beauty! These are the pillars you stand on! Advanced Summon! Come now, Simorgh, Beast of Ancestry!"

Jasmine's confident cry echoed through the forest as a powerful gust of wind surged from the skies above. Lightning flashed, and the storm clouds swirled faster, their movements synced with the beating of wings. With one last flap, a massive, majestic figure emerged from the vortex, cutting through the storm clouds and bringing light with its golden feathers. Simorgh, Bird of Ancestry, soared down into the clearing, earning gasps of shock and awe from the crowd as it let out a cloud-clearing cry.

Simorgh, Bird of Ancestry - LV8 - WIND - Winged Beast - (2900/2000)

"Simorgh has a special effect!" Jasmine called, raising her hand. "If I Tribute Summon it using only WIND monsters, I can return two of your cards to the hand!" she explained. "So, say goodbye to your Archfiend Emperor and Metalzoa X!"

"No! Not my Metalzoa!" Czar shouted, his face contorting in anger as the powerful gust from Simorgh's wings blew his monsters away. The two cards lifted off the ground, spinning upward before vanishing from the field entirely.

Grimley's face paled, stumbling back as his Emperor reappeared in his hand. "We… we lost everything!"

"And now, I'm coming for you!" Jasmine declared. "Simorgh? Harpie Harpist? Attack Czar and Grimley directly! Defeat them with… With…!" she grimaced. "Edgy Genius Wing!"

"Hey!" "Oi!"

Simorgh and Harpist beat their wings as a massive cyclone formed, spinning and swirling with all their power as they guided it toward their target. Czar and Grimley raised their arms in a desperate attempt to shield themselves, but the cyclone engulfed them completely, their Life Points dropping to zero in an instant.

CZAR/GRIMLEY: 0 LP
BASTION/JASMINE: 1000 LP

Czar stumbled backward, his Duel Disk sparking and his expression one of pure disbelief. "No… how could I lose… to her?"

"Simple. She's my apprentice," Konami scoffed.

He strode foward as the monsters faded, looking down at Czar as if he were scum. "And since you couldn't even defeat her… how could you ever beat me?"

Czar gritted his teeth, his hands clenching into fists. "S-She got lucky, that's all! We weren't prepared!"

"Oh, save it," Konami interrupted, his tone dripping with disdain. "You just weren't good enough, and that's all there is to it. You think you're some kind of hotshot just because you managed to get me expelled? Well, guess what? You're nothing here. And that goes for the rest of you, too!"

Jasmine's triumphant grin faltered slightly as she watched Konami continue. "Uh, Konami, maybe that's enough. I mean, we already won…"

"Not yet, you haven't," Konami snapped, his gaze still fixed on Czar. "He needs to know his place." He reached down, snatching the GX Medals from both Czar and Grimley's shirts. "You two don't deserve these. They belong to the winners."

He tossed one medal each to Jasmine and Bastion, his eyes cold. "Take them. Wear them, flaunt them, if you have to. Let everyone know that anyone who steps up to us is gonna get knocked down. These losers already decided that we're gonna be the villains of this story, so we might as well start acting the part. No point pretending otherwise."

Jasmine caught the medal, staring at it for a moment before looking back at Konami. "But that's not—"

"—what you intended?" Konami interrupted, his smirk fading. "I'm not here to play nice, Jasmine. I'm here to win. That's all. And if that means crushing every so-called 'Duelist' on this island, then so be it!"

Bastion hesitated, the medal feeling heavy in his hand. "There's a difference between being strong and being cruel, Konami. We don't need to rub salt in their wounds."

Konami's eyes flashed. "You think I don't know that? The world's not going to give us a break, Bastion. You show even the slightest bit weakness, and these North wannabes will eat you alive. You think they're going to give you a medal for playing nice? Ha! Wake up."

Czar glared up at Konami, seething as he crawled on the ground. "You think this win changes anything, Kodo? I'm going to make you pay for this. All of you!"

Konami smirked as he turned back to him, though his expression remained cold. "You couldn't even beat Jasmine, Czar. Next time, bring a real challenge."

He turned his back on Czar and Grimley, his red jacket fluttering as he started walking away. "Let's go. We've got more medals to collect. We can leave this scum here to rot."

Jasmine and Bastion glanced at each other, uncertain, though they ultimately followed.

"W-Wait!" Tasha called after them, running out from the crowd. "Konami, I… I won't give up! I'll make it up to you… somehow!"

Konami stopped for the briefest of moments. "I'll believe that when I see it."

Then, he started moving again, dragging Kami and the rest with him.

As they moved through the trees, Jasmine glanced back one last time, her fingers tightening around her won medal. She wasn't sure how she felt about it—was this really the right way to do things? But as Konami's words echoed in her mind, she forced herself to push her doubts aside.

If they were going to be seen as villains, then maybe it was time to stop pretending otherwise.

'Yeah,' she thought, nodding her head. 'Just for now… I'll play the heel!'

-GX-

"Did that do it…?" Chazz murmured, gazing into the aftermath of his Spell. Raigeki had utterly decimated the clearing, staining even the grass itself black. Small fragments of electricity continued to race across the forest, sparking and crackling every few moments as everyone stared on in shock.

"Raigeki… That's one of the most legendary cards Pegasus ever made!" Raizou gasped.

"How'd Chazz get his hands on one? They run at a million a piece!" Taiyou added.

"Heh. Don't underestimate a Princeton's connections," Chazz sneered. "I might not have any fancy black cards, but that doesn't mean I run commons!"

"Either way, that's a sweet card you've got there, Chazz!" Jaden grinned. "Mind letting me take it for a spin?"

"As if! Get your own copy, slacker!"

Jaden grinned. "Aww, come on. Don't be stingy. Sharing is caring!"

Alexis groaned and palmed her face. 'At least this Duel's going well,' she thought. 'With that Raigeki, the Paradox Brothers should've been left defenseless! All we have to do is get enough monsters, and we can wipe them out in one swing!'

Or, that should have been the case, but as the dust of Raigeki faded… it was not an empty field that revealed itself, but rather, the lightning of Sanga.

"What?!" Chazz gasped, staggering back in surprise as he gazed on the Monster. "What's the meaning of this?! You posers should be completely open right now!"

A pair of chuckles emerged from the smoke as Para and Dox re-emerged, looking none the worse for wear despite Raigeki's assault.

"Foolish Chazz, we can't beat!"

"Our Guardians are too unique!"

"When Water and Thunder disappear…"

"The name of Sanga, you shall fear!"

"Revived he'll be, from Banished Zone!"

"With strength of will, he'll fight alone!"

"But with his strength, you'll surely falter!"

"A sacrifice, set on the altar!"

"No… It can't be…" Alexis breathed, staring up at Sanga. The bronze Guardian hovered above them, crackling with bolts of electricity.

Sanga of the Thunder - LV7 - LIGHT - Thunder - (2600/2200)

'We can't just attack into it,' she thought, biting her lip. 'Its effect will reduce the Attack of any Monster that does to zero! Not only that, their Gate Guardian's already reduced Cyber Blader's Attack Points! I can't see a way out of this. Is… Is this the end?'

"Heh. I'll give it to ya, you really know how to duel," Chazz smirked. "I see why you were able to play against Yugi. If this was the old me, I'd lose."

"Chazz?" Alexis wondered, gazing over at him in confusion.

"Luckily, I'm not the old me. I'm the Chazz…Improved! You know what that means? It means I saw your 'comeback' from a mile away! And now, I'm gonna teach your Sanga who's really of the Thunder."

"Impossible! Surely, you jest!" Para gasped, eyes going wide.

"Indeed! Sanga you cannot best!" Dox added, raising his fists.

"Oh, but I can," Chazz retorted, his smug grin growing wider. "And it all starts with the Continuous Spell you left for me… XYZ Combine! In case you've forgotten, it has an effect that works while I control a Fusion, and I'm gonna use that effect right now to send Cyber Blader back to the Extra Deck!"

"Chazz?!" Alexis gasped, watching as her ace vanished in a streak of light.

"And in her place… I can bring back X-Head Cannon and Y-Dragon Head!" he roared.

The whirring of his two machines filled the air as they rematerialized, their red and blue steel gleaming in the clearing as they aimed their cannons at Sanga.

X-Head Cannon - LV4 - LIGHT - Machine - (1800/1500)

Y-Dragon Head - LV4 - LIGHT - Machine - (1500/1600)

"Ha! That is your plan? You fool!"

"Against their prowess, Sanga still rules!"

"And don't even think about Contact Fusion!"

"For winning with theirs is just a delusion!"

"Oh, I know," Chazz smirked. "Which is why I'm not using their XY Fusion. No… I'm sacrificing my X-Head Cannon for a Tribute Summon instead!"

"Tribute Summon?!" Syrus gasped. "I didn't know he had cards he could Tribute for!"

"Neither did I," Jaden pumped his fist. "I can't wait to see what he brings out!"

The wind whipped and the earth shook as Chazz raised his hand to the sky, his drawn card glowing as he closed his eyes to utter a chant.

"Primal force within the earth, awaken now and bring forth destruction! So says the Chazz! Advance Summon! PRIMITE IMPERIAL DRAGON!"

The ground erupted in the space before Chazz as he placed the card on his Duel Disk, chunks of earth and rock shooting into the air as a massive clawed foot emerged from the hole. A deep, earth-shaking roar echoed through the clearing as a colossal dragon climbed upward, shaking the trees and sending the nearby birds scattering into the sky. Its body was encased in stone-like armor that shimmered with metallic hues, its scales glinting in the sunlight as it spread its wings, which were jagged and sharp like mountain peaks.

Primite Imperial Dragon - LV6 - EARTH - Dragon - (2600/0)

Alexis shielded her eyes as the dragon's shadow loomed over the field. "That's… incredible!"

Para and Dox, however, remained unfazed. "A beast of rock? Hah, what a joke!"

"Our Sanga will strike it down with a stroke!"

"Oh, is that what you think?" Chazz challenged, his smug grin growing wider. "Looks like you posers don't know a thing about my dragon's special effect! You see, since I summoned it by sacrificing a Normal Monster, it gains a couple of special effects, the first of which negates yours!"

The Paradox Brothers' eyes widened as their Sanga of the Thunder let out a screech, its power fading away as Primite Imperial Dragon's roar silenced its lightning and fury.

"But that's not all," Chazz continued, his smirk turning into a confident grin. "Since I used a Normal Monster as a Tribute, my dragon's second effect also activates. It banishes all monsters you control that share the same Type or Attribute as a Normal Monster in my Graveyard. And guess what? The only Normal Monster in my Graveyard is X-Head Cannon. A LIGHT Attribute Machine!"

Dox's eyes went wide. "LIGHT? Oh, no… Sanga of the Thunder… it's also LIGHT!"

"Exactly! And you know what that means?" Chazz sneered. "It. Goes. Bye-Bye."

Primite Imperial Dragon unleashed another roar, and a surge of energy crackled from its jaws. Sanga of the Thunder was engulfed in a burst of golden light, its form disintegrating into particles before being banished entirely from the field.

"No! Sanga!" Para cried out, his face twisting in disbelief.

"Great move, Chazz! Now, they're wide open!" Alexis praised, smiling at him.

"Now, you just gotta bring it home!" Jaden cheered. "You've got this, pal!"

"Oh, I know I do!" Chazz smirked, swinging out his hand. "Because I'm the Chazz. And the Chazz says, "This Duel is over!" Primitive Imperial Dragon! Y-Dragon Head! Attack!"

"No…"

"NOOOOOO!"

The Paradox Brothers screamed as the cards did.

A booming explosion ripped through the clearing Chazz's new card swung down, crushing the two martial artists beneath the weight of its Solid Vision fist. The sound of their falling Life Points filled the air as Chazz gazed through the smoke, ending with a final beep to confirm the dual attack had gone through.

CHAZZ/ALEXIS - 2000 LP
PARA/DOX - 0 LP

His smile returned full-force.

They had done it.

They just beat Pros!

"Way to go, Chazz!" Jaden praised, immediately running up to congratulate the pair. "You two, Alexis! Man, you guys really showed those Pro Duelists what's what!"

"I'd say," Alexis agreed, glancing at Chazz with pride. "I knew you were a good Duelist, Chazz. But this one really took the cake!"

"I-It was nothing," he blushed, folding his arms as he glanced away. "I just couldn't hold back after hearing they wrecked the Obelisks, that's all!"

"Yeah, totally," Syrus said, shooting him a sly smile. "And impressing Alexis had nothing to do with it, right?"

"Shaddap, ya slacker!"

"Oh dear, brother, it seems we lost…"

"It seems our paycheck will be tossed…"

"Still, this Duel was quite fun."

"The next Generation's time has begun."

The two brothers rose from their defeated position, striding over to Alexis and Chazz.

"To honor our deal, we offer you this,"

"All the medals we once dismissed."

"Take them you shall, and win your next Duel!"

"To lose after beating us would be cruel!"

"Hmph!" Chazz scoffed as he took the offered medals along with Alexis, examining the pile before smirking and shoving most of them into his pocket. "Don't worry. The Chazz has no intention of losing any time soon. I'm going all the way to the finals! And there's no one here who can stop me!"

"We'll see about that, Chazz," Alexis said, pocketing her medals with a smile. "We might've teamed up this time, but there's no telling when we'll duel next. When that happens, I hope you bring the same skill you showed me this time."

"R-Right! Sure, Lexie. I mean… if you're okay with that."

"Oh, man! After seeing that, there's no way I can hold back any longer!" Jaden cheered. "Someone out there's gotta give me a Duel! This tournament's gonna be fun!"

And as Chazz turned to chastise Jaden for suddenly yelling in his ear, the Paradox Brothers made their escape, knowing the future… was left in good hands.

TAG FORCE ALTERNATIVE: TWISTING THE TALE
LESSON NINE
END

Incredible! It looks like Duel Academy won't go down like mere chumps! But will our two groups be able to keep grasping victory on the way to the finals? With North Academy and Pros alike converging on Academy Island, there's only one way for us to find out...! Tune in, NEXT TIME on Tag Force Alternative: Twisting the Tale! Lesson Ten - Nightfall!

"Heh Heh Heh... Class dismissed," Mackenzie sneered.