CHAPTER 11: Help a Friend
Monday
Time 16:00
It's been two weeks since Red Hat promised Blair to keep her secret, which means helping her keep it a secret from the rest of the Academy as well. Now, even though Red Hat already attended a few classes, due to Blair always dragging him along, he was forced to attend every class, including Crowler's, who was the one he always tried to avoid for how he treated the students of the Slifer red.
After today's class, Red Hat and Blair were leaving the main building.
"Hey, Blair." Red Hat called her.
"Yes, what is it?"
"Were you able to think of an idea to impress Zane?" Red Hat asked.
"Not yet. But maybe I'm taking the wrong approach, maybe I should go to him directly." Blair explained.
"Do you want to go to the Obelisk blue male dorm again?" Red Hat asked amazed at his idea. "The last time you sneaked in I had to help you out, we got out by some miracle without being discovered."
"Yes, I know, but I can't let that discourage me." Blair answered putting her hands on her hips proudly. "Then, let's go!" shouted Blair starting to run towards Obelisk blue dorm.
"What have I gotten myself into." Red Hat wondered as she sighed at Blair's reaction. "Blair wait for me." He said starting to follow Blair.
As soon as they get to the dorm, Blair looked around for Zane.
"Wh-Where's Zane…? I don't see him anywhere. …I know my source is reliable… Where is he?" Blair wondered. "I'm going to look inside!" Blair said to herself before being stopped by two Obelisk blues.
"Hey, wait a minute! No trespassing!" Said the Obelisk who sounded angry. "Only the elite can come here!"
"I'm just going in for a minute..." Blair tried to explain.
"Third-rate duelists like you two shouldn't even be allowed near here!"
"How rude you are." Blair answered him.
"Hey Pablo, try to calm down now." Said the other Obelisk trying to calm him down.
"Which side you're on on Bivin. These Slifer slackers shouldn't even be here in the first place." Pablo explained. "I guess these two don't understand how stupid they are." He said laughing pointing to the two Slifer.
Red Hat couldn't stand it any longer to hold back his anger to hear him insult them. "If there's a stupid here it's you!" He said pointing to Pablo.
"What? What did you call me!" Pablo snapped. "I don't like picking on the weak, but you leave me no choice. There's only one way to prove our point to idiots like you... Let's duel!"
"Huh?"
"But we don't have time to duel you one at time. Make it a tag duel!" Pablo explained. "We'll take you both on! You'll soon learn your place!"
"Hey, what's with all this 'we' business? What do I have to do with it?" Bivin said he was completely surprised at his partner's idea.
"All right! So if I beat you, I'll be a first-rate duelist, right?" Blair said.
"The odds against that are astronomical ... But yes?" Pablo joked.
"Ok! Let's do this, Red Hat! If we beat these two, we can get closer to Zane! This is a duel we can't afford to lose!" Blair said hopefully.
Soon, all four activated their duel disks.
DUEL
Red Hat & Blair: 8000 LP
Pablo & Bivin: 8000 LP
"I'll start first. I draw!" Blair draws.
Hand 6
"I summon Maiden in Love in attack mode! (Atk: 400 – Def: 300) I end my turn." Blair ends her turn.
Hand 5
"You're kidding! You want to use that little monster, it will be easier than I thought." Pablo teased Blair. "I draw!" Pablo draws.
Hand 6
"I summon Goblin Attack Force in attack mode! (Atk: 2300 – Def: 0) Now attack her monster!" A horde of goblins with clubs charged at Maiden in Love.
Red Hat & Blair: 8000 – 6100 LP
"My Maiden in Love is as strong as her love. When she is in attack mode she cannot be destroyed, and your monster that attacked her gets a Maiden counter!" Blair said.
"As if it would do any good. Since Goblin Attack Force has attacked it automatically switches to defense mode. (Atk: 2300 – Def: 0)" Pablo explained as his goblins got into defense position. "Now I set two cards facedown and end my turn." Pablo ends his turn.
Hand 3
"Now it's my turn. I draw!" Red Hat draws.
Hand 6
"Before you do anything, I play my card face down. The continuous trap Final attack Orders! All face-up monsters o the field are changed in attack position and their battle positions cannot be changed." Pablo explained by playing one of his cards face down. "This means Goblin Attack Force returns to attack position. (Atk: 2300 – Def: 0)"
"Damnit, now they will attack Maiden in Love for sure and we will take a lot of damage. It's okay, it's useless to complain better find a way to get out of this situation." Red Hat thought as he looked at the cards in his hand. "I play Graceful Charity! I draw three cards, then discard two. (discards Treeborn Frog and Granmarg) Now I play the spell card Smashing Ground to destroy the face-up monster you control with the highest defense points, and from what I remember you only had one monster on your field." Red Hat said, as Pablo gasped as his monster was crushed by a giant fist.
"I summon Breaker the Magical Warrior! (Atk: 1600 – Def: 1000) When this monster is normal summoned, he gets a spell counter that increase his attack points of 300. (Atk: 1600 – 1900 – Def: 1000) Now Breaker attacks you directly!" The wizard sword began to glow blue as it struck the opponent.
Pablo & Bivin: 8000 – 6100 LP
"I set a card facedown and end my turn." Red Hat ends his turn.
Hand 3
"Well, n-n-n-now it's my... it's my turn!? I Draw." Bivin draws.
Hand 6
"Oh man, now what do I do?" Bivin said, he appeared to be indecisive and under pressure at the same time.
Red Hat had noticed his strange behavior. "He's the exact opposite of his partner. Man, he acts like Syrus now." thought Red Hat.
"Hey, Bivin! Get moving!" Pablo shouted at him.
"Then I summon Goblin Elite Attack Force in attack mode! (Atk: 2200 – Def: 1500) " A second horde of goblins had appeared on the opponent field, but they had silver armor like those of knights. "Then I activate the facedown card of Pablo. Call of the Haunted! With this I special summon Goblin Attack Force from the graveyard in attack position."
"Before you summon your monster I activate a trap! Go Ring of Destruction! With this Goblin Elite Attack Force is destroyed, and after this we both take damage equal of its attack points." Red Hat explained as collars with explosives attached to the goblins necks before exploding.
Red Hat & Blair: 6100 – 3900 LP
Pablo & Bivin: 6100 – 3900 LP
"Great move, but now Goblin Attack Force is back on the field. (Atk: 2300 – Def: 0)" Bivin reminded him as Goblin Attack Force returned for the effect of the trap Call of the Haunted. "Now I play the equip spell card Premature Burial! I pay 800 life points to special summon from the graveyard Goblin Elite Attack Force! (Atk: 2200 – Def: 1500)" Bivin explained as the second group of armored goblins returned to the field again.
Pablo & Bivin: 3900 – 3100 LP
"Now both my goblins will attack Maiden in Love!" Both groups of goblins charged at Blair's monster.
Red Hat & Blair: 3900 – 2000 – 200 LP
"You forgot that while Maiden in Love is in attack position she can't be destroyed and your monsters get a maiden counter." She remembered Blair as Maiden in Love sent both goblin monsters a heart that had appeared in front of her.
"As if they were of any use to you." Pablo mocked them. "You only have 200 life points left, as soon as my turn comes it will be your end."
"You can stop acting like this." Bivin said to his companion who seemed not to listen. "My monsters should switch to defense position, but due to the effect of the trap Final Attack Orders they stay in attack position. I end my turn." Bivin ends his turn.
Hand 2
The situation was heavy for Blair who felt under pressure. "I have to do something or else if we lose this duel I won't be able to see Zane." She thought. "My turn. I draw!" Balir draws.
Hand 6
"Treeborn Frog effect is activate." Red Hat interrupted. "Since we are in the standby phase and we don't control any spells or traps, I can Special Summon this monster from the graveyard in defense position. (Atk: 100 – Def: 100)" Red Hat explained as the frog with halo and angel wings appeared on the field.
"Thanks for the gift, now I summon White Magician Pikeru in attack position! (Atk: 1200 – Def: 0) " A little sorceress, in a white robe with pink hair with a staff in her hand appeared near Blair. "I set two cards facedown and end my turn." Blair end her turn.
Hand 3
"Finally! It's my turn again! I'll crush you both once and for all! I draw!" Pablo draws.
Hand 4
"First of all, I'm going to get rid of Breaker, playing the spell card Smashing Ground! You remember what this card does, right Slifer slacker. destroy your face-up monster with the highest defense points." Pablo taunted him, as a giant punch from the sky crushed Breaker. "Now I summon Command knight in attack mode! (Atk: 1200 – Def: 1900) And with her all of warrior- type monsters I control get a bonus of 400 attack points. (Atk: 2300 – 2700 – Def: 0) (Atk: 1200 – 1600 – Def: 1900) And to make your situation even worse, I play the continuous spell The A. Forces! With this card all of my warrior-Type monster get 200 attack points for each Warrior or spellcaster-Type monster I control. (Atk: 2700 – 3100 – Def: 0) (Atk: 1600 – 2000 – Def: 1900) And now Command Knight attack Maiden in Love and make her disappear!" Pablo shouted.
"Hold a sec! I activate my facedown card. The counter trap Negate Attack!" Blair interrupted him. "I negate the attack of your monster, and then end the battle phase." A barrier formed ahead of Maiden in Love creating spiraling waves which repelled Command Knight attack.
"You just delayed the inevitable." Pablo spat on Blair move. "I set one card facedown."
"Before you finish your turn, I play my second set card. Solemn Wishes. Now each time we draw, this card increase our life points of 500 points." Blair explained.
"As you please. It's your turn Slifers or would you rather give up and run off with your tail between your legs like the losers that you are." Pablo said with venom in every single word he said before laughing.
Hand 0
Hearing that teasing Blair began to get angry, then he turned to Red Hat and saw that instead of hearing the Obelisk's words he was clenching his fist as hard as he could because he could no longer hold back his anger.
"It's my turn! I Draw!" Red Hat draws.
Hand 4
"For the effect of Solemn Wishes I gain 500 life points." Red Hat explained as a green aura around him seemed to heal him.
Red Hat & Blair: 200 – 700 LP
"Then, since we are in the standby phase, the White Magician Pikeru effect activates. It increases my life points by 400 points for each monster on my side of the field. Since I have three on the field, my life points are increased by 1200 points." Red Hat explained, while Pikeru used his wand to send out a white light that went on Red Hat causing him to recover more life points.
Red Hat & Blair: 700 – 1900 LP
"Now I play Pot of Greed to draw two cards. And like before Solemn Wishes gives me 500 life points."
Red Hat & Blair: 1900 – 2400 LP
"Well, even if you've recovered some life points this won't save you. Just wait until the next turn comes and you're done." Pablo said in a mocking tone.
Red Hat laughed at her words. "There will be no next turn for you. The duel ends now. I play the spell card Raigeki! With this all of your monster are destroyed!" Red Hat replied, as clouds began to form as a shower of lightning began to fall to strike the Obelisk monsters destroying them all.
"Oh no! We have no more monsters to defend us!" Bivin gasped.
"Would you calm down, we still have my face down card to defend ourselves." Pablo reminded his partner.
"Not for long. I tribute Treeborn Frog to summon Mobius the Frost Monarch! (Atk: 2400 – Def: 1000) When Mobius is Tribute summoned, I can target two spell or trap cards on the field and destroy them. Then, The A. Forces and your facedown card are destroyed." Red Hat explained. When Mobius created a snow and ice storm freezing Pablo's two cards they began to crumble until they fell apart.
"We are doomed." Bivin said realizing they were about to lose.
"Maiden in Love and White Magician Pikeru Attack You Directly!" Said Red Hat using Blair's monsters to attack. Maiden in Love created a sphere of pink light while Pikeru generated a beam of light from her wand which they launched at the Obelisk.
Pablo & Bivin: 3100 – 2700 – 1500 LP
"Now Mobius, finish him! Go with Ice Storm!" Mobius created spears of ice before hitting Pablo and erasing his last life points.
Pablo & Bivin: 1500 – 0 LP
"You beat us!" Bivin said.
"It-It can't be!" Pablo said, not wanting to accept his defeat as a result.
"Now don't try to go back on your word!" Blair reminded them. "Now if it's all right with you, I'll be going inside! I'm coming Zane!" She said all happy because she was finally going to see him.
"Sorry, but you just missed him!" Pablo said.
"Wha-!?" Blair was confused by what she had just been told.
"Zane already left!" Pablo continued.
"What!? Where did he go!?" Blair asked.
"Mwa ha ha ha... You really want to know?" Pablo asked with a sinister smile.
"What's with that laugh? What are you, a villain? ... Creepy" Bivin said embarrassed by his companion's behavior.
"If you want to know, you must defeat us in a duel!"
"We just beat you in a duel. You want to get humiliated even more you idiot." Red Hat thought.
"Oh come on!" Blair complained.
"All right, enough is enough." Bivin interrupted his partner. "Zane said he had some business to do, so he went home. But he said he should be back in a few days." Bivin revealed.
"I see..." Blair answered, sad to hear about it. "Well, I'm not giving up! not as long as Zane is coming back here! Red Hat let's go back to the dorm."
The duo of the Slifer started backing up.
"Of course they are quite a peculiar couple." Bivin thought.
"Mwa ha ha ha! Running away with your tail between you legs, are you!?"
At that moment Red Hat stopped walking. "As if I need to get away from a bad duelist like you, don't make me laugh." Red Hat said addressing the Obelisk, making even Blair laugh at his comment, even Bivin let out a chuckle.
"What did you call me!" Pablo said now angry, as Bivin tried to hold him back.
Slifer duo started walking back to their dorm as they laughed at his reaction.
They walked so fast that they get far enough away from the blue dorm.
"Of course you were really mad at that Obelisk during the duel." Blair pointed out.
Red Hat shrugged at his question. "I told you before, no. I really can't stand the Obelisk blue, due to their behavior and their self-centredness in believing they are the best they treat others badly thinking they are allowed, like the one we just dueled with." He answered curtly.
"In fact, it's not that you're entirely wrong about that." Blair answered agreeing.
After this exchange of views for a few seconds, they continued their way back to the Slifer red dormitory in silence. But Red Hat was still thinking about the duel they had today and something was bothering him.
Blair glanced at Red Hat and she too could see he was thinking about something. "Hey, is something wrong?" She asked.
"Well, I'm was thinking about the duel against the Obelisks, and that got me thinking about something." Red Hat replied, not sure if he wanted to finish the sentence because he thought it was going to end badly. "I think you should change the cards in your deck." Red Hat said.
"Huh?" Blair was left confused by her partner's words.
"Come on, you saw it too today. Your strategy put us at a huge disadvantage, we nearly ended up losing the duel." He explained trying to make her think.
Blair immediately frowned at the negative comment she received about her strategies. "Hey, you have no right to tell me how to use my cards! This is my way of dueling and if you don't like it, that's your problem!" Blair said angrily as she put some distance between them.
Red Hat sighed at her reaction. "I knew it would turn out like this. Of course she's really stubborn." He repeated to himself as he resumed walking.
Time 20:00
After dinner at the dorm, the two Slifers returned to their room. Blair had gone to take a bath, while Red Hat sat working on a new deck.
"I really needed a good shower." Blair said as she entered the room. He looked at Red Hat who had many cards near him. "What are you doing?" She asked curious.
"I'm working on a new deck as well as rearranging the other decks I've already done." Red Hat simply replied.
"I thought you only had the deck you used in the duel against me, and the one you used today against the two blue Obelisks?" Blair asked.
"Well, you're wrong, I've actually built a lot of decks that I use." He answered.
"What!? So you have multiple decks!?" She said amazed. "Blimey, Red Hat, you are truly a phenomenon." She complimented.
"What I'm doing is nothing that impressive. It just takes the kind of strategy you want to adopt and the right cards you need."
Upon hearing the words Red Hat just said to him, Blair was immediately reminded of what he had said today about his strategy. He understood that deep down she wanted to give him advice while she was a little rude, she felt bad about it. "Hey, Red Hat." Blair called in a thin voice.
"What's up?" He asked turning to her.
"Look... I-I-I-I-sorry." Blair said steeling herself. "I'm sorry for being so rude to you today."
"Don't worry, I didn't mind." Red Hat answered even if he didn't care so much. "But Blair, I was serious, you should modify the deck and your strategy." As soon as I said this she immediately returned in a bad mood. "Especially as soon as possible, remember what they said today in class, tomorrow we would have the written and field test. I have no doubts that you can pass the written part, but with the deck you have I don't think you could pass the field test and if you fail you will not be promoted to Ra yellow." He added.
"Listen Red Hat, I've already told you and I'll repeat it. That's my way of dueling, even if I wanted to do it, I can't do it out of the blue." Blair replied.
Red Hat sighed at his answer. "Blair I tell you this because unlike others here I take dueling very seriously, you have to understand, dueling will continue to evolve and one can't and this can still be the same. And then look, change can help you become stronger. " Red Hat explained.
Upon hearing his explanation Blair was silent and thought. In the first duel he had here with Red Hat, he held back, while in today's duel, even she knew that they were in danger of losing because of his strategy. If she failed tomorrow's test, she wouldn't be able to get close to Zane. So Blair convinced herself and made an important decision, she took a deep breath, gathered her courage and asked her partner for help. "Um, listen… Red Hat. I know I'm going to ask you a lot, but can you help me with my deck please."
Red Hat thinks about your request. Normally he doesn't like to help someone with the deck, but something inside him told him to help her. "Okay, I'll help you with your deck."
Blair burst with happiness at his answer. "Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you Red Hat."
"Well, first of all we should find some cards to replace the ones in your deck. I should have some that you might need." He suggested Red Hat as he handed Blair some of his cards to use.
And so they spent the whole night completely redesigning Blair deck.
Tuesday
Time 7:30
Red Hat was still sleeping in her bed with his hat on as usual, while Blair had already woken up for a few seconds and in the meantime was already preparing to go out, seeing that he was still sleeping she tried to wake him up. "Red Hat wake up." she said as she shook him lightly. But Red Hat just didn't want to get out of bed. Continue like this for a few minutes, before losing patience and raising your voice. "I said, you have to wake up Red Hat!" She screamed as she pulled the covers over him and threw him to the floor.
"Ugh..." Red Hat sighed before reluctantly standing up. "I'm getting up, you couldn't wait another five minutes."
"Can I know how much you sleep? But above all how do you sleep with your hat on?" Blair frowned at his laziness.
"Please slow down." Red Hat replied before getting up off the floor. "You can know what you're worried about, even if today we have the written and the field test we have nothing to worry about. The written test is a no brainer, while the field test you have to duel against those of your own dorm."
"Sometimes I really struggle to understand you." Blair said.
Red Hat didn't pay much attention to the last comment. "Before going to class we can go to the store to buy a sandwich."
"Did you wake up late and now you want a sandwich too? Are you serious!?" Blair asked.
"If we start to run we'll make it in time." Said Red Hat before exiting the room and starting to run.
"Hey! Wait for me!" Blair yelled as she started running after her partner.
Time 8:00
After the run they had arrived at the Academy shop, where the sandwich trolley was.
Red Hat was the first to arrive, shortly after Blair arrived completely exhausted and out of breath. "How can you run so fast if all you do in a day is sleep and duel?" Blair asked.
Red Hat ignored her comment as she walked over to Ms. Dorothy who was at the counter. "Hello Ms. Dorothy, can I get a sandwich?" Red Hat asked.
"Sure, take it. For a sandwich it's 100 duel points." Mrs. Dorothy answered as she reached the PDA of Red Hat to pay for the sandwich.
At that point he took a random sandwich from the cart, opened the bag and the sandwich and immediately took a bite. "Um? Blimey, it's delicious!" Said Red Hat to check which sandwich came his way. He realized that the sandwich he had was what every student in the Academy wanted to eat.
"Congratulations! You got the Golden Eggwich! It's the best sandwich we have here. We only have one a day, so getting it means you're very lucky." Complimented Ms. Dorothy.
"Must be my lucky day today, thank you Ms Dorothy." He answered greeting the lady. As Red Hat was about to take his second bite, he noticed that Blair was looking at him a certain way. "Do you want some?" He asked, handing to her the sandwich.
"No...No, I'm fine." Blair answered stammering a bit. But after a few seconds a sound interrupted them both. Blair realized it was her stomach growling, since even though she'd woken up earlier, she hadn't had breakfast either. His face turned completely red with embarrassment.
At which point Red Hat took the sandwich and divided it into de, giving the other half that had not yet bitten to Blair. "Here." He said with his usual blank expression.
Blair, even though her face was still red, turned to him. "I accept the offer." He replied taking half of the offered sandwich before taking a bite. His face showed the feeling of ecstasy. "It's really yummy." she commented.
Red Hat laughed at her reaction. "I knew you would like it. But we better hurry if we want to get to class on time, I think the others have already started taking the test."
At that point Blair looked at her watch and saw that they were running late. "We have to hurry! We'll be lucky if we can answer halfway through the written test!" Blair yelled before grabbing Red Hat's arm and dragging him into class against his will.
Time 8:15
After their quick pit stop to eat, the Slifer couple arrived at class as everyone was already doing the written test. Well, almost everyone, Red Hat turned to see Jaden and Syrus who were sleeping instead of do the written test.
"Oh, you've finally arrived." Professor Banner called the last two to arrive. "Come here to get your tests, there's still time to do it."
As soon as they took their tests, they went to their seats to complete it. Their late arrival attracted the attention of some of those present.
"You have a great cheek to show up late for the test. I'll never understand this way of behaving of yours, I want to know why you're doing this Red Hat?" thought Alexis.
As Blair tried to answer as many questions on the written test as possible, she turned to Red Hat to see how he was doing and couldn't believe her eyes. He seemed to answer any questions very quickly.
The written test included questions like, describe this card or indicate its effects, or even mark what type of card it is. There were also questions where they simulated a duel and handed you cards and you had to describe how to win in as few turns as possible. "These questions are super easy, I don't even have to work that hard to answer. Basics like these aren't even worth the time I have." thought Red Hat bored with the written test.
While the students were taking the test, no one noticed that someone was secretly spying on Red Hat, that persone was Crowler. "I can't believe those hateful Slifers still here. There must be some way to get rid of them." At that point Crowler came up with another of his ideas. "There are, if I can't get rid of Jaden then I should aim for the other Slifer with the red hat." He thought first, also keeping an eye on Blair who was next to him. "And while I'm at it I'll teach to his friend a lesson too, just for fun, I'm a genius."
Red Hat was able to finish the exam quickly and turned it in before time ran out. Banner was incredulous, that he had already finished the exam. "Look, you still have some time, are you sure you don't want to double-check it?" He asked him.
"I'm sure of it." Red Hat replied returning to his seat.
After a few minutes the bell rang signaling the end of time.
"Alright guys, everyone turn in the written exams. You still have some time before the practice test, I suggest you take a look at your decks. Good luck everyone." Banner said.
As Red Hat and Blair were about to go to the duel field, they approached Jaden and Syrus seats and saw that Alexis, Bastion and Chumley were trying to wake them up. "I wonder why Jaden always falls asleep in class? Although I'm no longer surprised by this scene." Red Hat commented amused.
"We're talking about Jaden, the only thing that can keep him awake are duels you know." Chumley replied.
"Yes, you're right about that." Red Hat replied amused. "Come on Blair." Red Hat said to her partner as they walked out of class.
As they left, Alexis looked at Red Hat with a questioning look. "Doesn't it seem strange to you. Before, she always wanted to be with Jaden and now he's always close to the new arrival of the Slifer red." Alexis asked.
"Indeed, this change of attitude from Red Hat is intriguing me too." Bastion said.
Red Hat and Blair continued to walk without saying a word down the corridor to reach the duel field. Until Blair broke the silence. "Aren't you worried about Jaden?" Blair asked, seeing that he has slept through the entire written test.
"I have no reason. Jaden may not have much knowledge, but that replaces that with his dueling skills. It's one of the reasons I regard him as one of the few with respect." Red Hat replied.
"If you say so." Blair replied, also struck by the trust that Red Hat seemed to have towards Jaden. "One more thing, how did you finish the written test so fast? I barely had time to think about the answers."
"Please, those questions were very easy." Was his answer.
"Apparently they've already started." Red Hat said, pointing out that some were already dueling, before hearing someone shouting behind them.
"Hurry up guys!"
Red Hat and Blair turned to see that running was Jaden with the others.
"We wouldn't have run away if you and Syrus hadn't fallen asleep in class." Chumley pointed out.
"Now they definitely won't promote me." Syrus said discouraged.
"Sorry, my fault me for that." Jaden said with a sheepish smile before noticing Red Hat and Blair standing in front of him. "Hey, you two are already here."
"Well, we certainly couldn't miss the field test." joked Red Hat.
"The same goes for me, as soon as the others reminded me that there was a duel for the field test I came running here. I really hope I can duel you Red Hat, to get my rematch." Jaden said enthusiastically.
"I hope so too Jaden." Red Hat replied with slight enthusiasm, too. "But I will win this too, if we duel each other, especially with the new deck I prepared for today." He added.
"What!? Did you make a new deck!? Oh man, I'm dying from curiosity now, what cards does this one have, do you have any rare ones, can you show me please." Jaden has bombarded with questions.
Blair was looking at Jaden thinking he was as crazy as the first time she had met him, the others instead felt embarrassed. Only Red Hat seemed amused by his behavior. "You'll have to wait for Jaden. However, you'll be in for a nice surprise when you see this deck in action."
"Okay, then I'll count on it." Jaden replied.
A voice from the microphones called Red Hat, telling him to report to the field for the field test. "Looks like my turn has already come." Red Hat said.
"Good luck buddy." Jaden wished him luck on the test even though he knew he didn't need it.
"Thanks Jaden." Red Hat replied by raising his hand thumbs up in response as he headed onto the field.
As soon as he arrived on the field Red Hat saw that his opponent wasn't a Slifer red, but it was the Obelisk blue with which he dueled with Blair yesterday. "Why are you my opponent?" Red Hat asked.
Pablo laughed. "Didn't you know? Since you have a higher score than even some Obelisk blues, you will face high scoring students, that's why I'm here."
Meanwhile, in another room, Crowler watched the scene amused. "I'm a genius. Pablo is one of the best first year Obelisks, he'll give that Slifer a lesson and I'll finally be able to get rid of him. I can already taste the joy of him leaving."
Also Jaden and his friends saw that Red Hat's opponent was an Obelisk.
"Oh man, the situation doesn't look good at all." Syrus said worried.
"Don't tell me Syrus. But why is Red Hat have as opponent a Obelisk?" Chumley asked.
"I think someone targeted Red Hat." Bastion speculated.
Blair tried to find a spot to see her partner better, when she found it she could see Red Hat well, but was quite surprised by his opponent. "But I know that guy! He's that Obelisk who challenged me and Red Hat yesterday in a tag duel." Blair said.
Everyone was surprised by his words. "What are you talking about Blair?" Syrus asked.
"Yesterday, Red Hat and I went to the Obelisk blue male dorm, but that guy was obnoxious from the start and said to leave, we didn't listen to him and challenged us to a tag duel." Blair explained.
It seemed to Bastion that something was wrong, so he decided to ask to clarify things. "Sorry Blair, what were you doing in the Obelisk male dorm?" Bastion asked.
Blair began to worry upon hearing her question. She couldn't say that she was there because she wanted to see Zane, otherwise this would have somehow led to the fact that she was actually a girl and that she had broken into a dorm that wasn't hers, and would have expelled her before she could reveal to Zane her feelings. "Well, well, we were there because there was someone I wanted to see, but he was there and I've already told you guys the rest of this story." He answered trying to remain as vague as possible.
It seemed to Bastion that he wanted to hide something, but he decided to let it happen because he thought it was just an impression.
Meanwhile at the duel field.
"Get ready. Because this time I'm going to show you that you're a third-rate duelist who can't beat the elite like me." Pablo said.
"Sure. Like there's a chance you can beat me." Red Hat replied. "Someone is trying to play a trick on me, I don't know who it is, but pitting myself against this idiot won't change anything. As soon as I find out who did it, however, I'll make him pay." He thought as he activated the duel disk.
"You're about to lose!" Pablo said activating the duel disk too.
DUEL
Red Hat: 8000 LP
Pablo: 8000 LP
"Bests first, Slifer. I Draw!" Pablo declared.
Hand 6
"I'll start by activating the spell card Final Countdown! I pay 2000 life points, after 20 turns have passed since the activation of this card I automatically win the duel." Pablo explained.
Pablo: 8000 – 6000 LP
"I summon Solar Flare Dragon in attack mode! (Atk: 1500 – Def: 1000) I set a card facedown and end my turn, but first Solar Flare Dragon effect activates! During each of my end phase you take 500 points of damage!" Pablo said, as his dragon created a ball of fire from his mouth and hurled it at Red Hat.
Red Hat: 8000 – 7500 LP
Hand 3
Final Countdown Turn 1
"Now it's my turn. I draw!" Red Hat draws.
Hand 6
"I play Pot of Greed to draw two cards."
"I'll chain your spell by playing my trap card. The continuous trap, Gravity Bind! " Pablo interrupted him, revealing his card face down. "Now the level 4 or higher monsters can't attack!"
"As if something like that scares me." Red Hat repeated in his mind unconcerned before draw the two cards. He turned to see Jaden in the stands before a slight smile formed on his face. "Get ready for surprise Jaden." thought Red Hat somewhat amused.
"I arrived on time." Alexis said approaching Jaden and the entire group along with Zane.
"Alexis? Zane? Shouldn't you be doing the field test?" Syrus asked confused by their presence there.
Blair hearing that the person who had just arrived was Zane, she got caught up in emotion as her face took on a red tinge on her cheeks. "Oh man, oh man! I can't believe I'm standing next to Zane right now! What am I supposed to do now?!" Blair thought to her mind, which was all agitated.
"Actually, I've already passed the field test." Alexis answered. "The other reason is to see Red Hat. I want to watch more of his duels, to prepare for when I duel him again." She explained with a serious look in her eyes. But there was another reason Alexis had that she didn't want to tell others. "I want to understand why Red Hat now spends its time with the newcomer. Since he's been here, he's been acting differently than before." Alexis thought as she watched Blair, she was closely watching her partner's duel so she didn't realize she was being watched.
Zane was also watching the duel, he was interested in this slight change in Red Hat attitude, and he also wondered who it was that had given him an Obelisk as an opponent, even if he had more or less an idea who it was.
"Yeah, I'm also very interested." Jaden said enthusiastically. "I also want to see the new deck he built."
This news really got Alexis' attention, Zane not as much as hers. They knew that Red Hat had more than just his chaos deck, the question was which deck did they make this time they wondered.
Back to the duel.
"I summon Elemental HERO Wildheart in attack mode! (Atk: 1500 – Def: 1600)" A wild looking dark skinned man with tattoos, a sword on his back appeared on the Red Hat side of the pitch. Leaving Jaden and his friends very surprised.
"What?!" Syrus shouted in shock.
"So the deck that Red Hat created is an Elemental HERO deck?" Chumley asked Blair.
"Exactly. He's been working on it since yesterday all day." Blair replied.
"Oh, this is great! Red Hat dueling a deck similar to mine! Now I'm super excited!" Jaden said aloud happy that his friend was using the same cards as him.
"Hahaha. I see why you're a Slifer. You're so stupid you forgot the effect of my Gravity Bind trap! Your Wildhearth can't attack!" Pablo taunted him.
Red Hat shrugged at his comment. "I, on the other hand, understand how you ended up at the Blue Obelisk instead. You're an idiot like most of them who think they're intelligent when they're the exact opposite."
"What did you call me!" Pablo said angrily.
"Since you don't get it, I'll explain to you. Thanks to its effect, Wildhearth is immune to trap cards. In other words, your Gravity Bind has no effect on it." Red Hat explained.
Pablo gasped at his explanation, before regaining his composure. "Even if your monster is immune to my trap card, he and my Solar Flare Dragon have the same attack points." The Obelisk said in a confident tone.
"Here is your second mistake. I activate the equip spell United We Stand and equip it to Wildheart! Now Wildheart gain 800 points of attack and defense for each face-up monster I control. (Atk: 1500 – 2300 – Def: 1600 – 2400) Now Wildhearth attack Solar Flare Dragon! Go with Wildslash!" Wildheart made a big leap into the air before hitting the dragon with his sword causing it to explode.
Pablo: 8000 – 7200 LP
"I end my turn." Red Hat ends his turn.
Hand 4
Final Countdown turn 2
"Good move! Red Hat is doing great with Elemental HERO!" Jaden said with a hint of pride about how his friend made a good move with a card he also uses.
"Yeah, you're right. He's playing well." Syrus added.
"But he still has to be careful." Bastion said leaving them confused. "The Final Countdown card that Pablo played earlier still has its active effect, Red Hat must finish the duel quickly or he will lose." He explained.
Their thoughts were interrupted when Jaden, Bastion, Syrus and Chumley were called to the microphone to take the field test.
"Oh, blimey. I wanted to see the rest of Red Hat duel." Jaden complained. "Okay, come on guys let's go. I'll get Red Hat to tell me the rest of the duel later." He said as he left with his friends to take to the field.
Hearing what Bastion said earlier, Blair began to feel a little worried about her partner.
"I draw!" Pablo draws.
Hand 4
"I set a monster facedown and end my turn." Pablo ends his turn.
Hand 3
Final Countdown turn 3
"It's my turn. I draw!" Red Hat draws.
Hand 5
"I summon Breaker the Magical Warrior in attack mode! (Atk: 1600 – Def: 1000) And when Breaker is normal summoned he get a spell counter that increase his attack points of 300. but you don't have to worry about that, because I use the second effect of Breaker, I remove the spell counter on him to destroy Gravity Bind." Breaker's sword began to glow with a blue light, before launching a blast of energy at the opponent's trap and destroying it. "Since I now have another face-up monster, the points of Wildhearth increase of another 800. (Atk: 2300 – 3100 – Def: 2400 – 3200) Now Wildheart attacks his monster face down!" When Wildhearth rushed at Pablo's monster it turned out to be a ladybug-like insect with symbols on its back that looked like four stars.
"You fell for it. You activated the flip effect of 4-Starred Ladybug of Doom! That destroy all level 4 monsters on your field. (Atk: 800 – Def: 1200)" Pablo said, after his monster was destroyed, Wildhearth and Breaker also exploded.
"I end my turn." Red Hat ends his turn.
Hand 4
Final Countdown turn 4
"I draw!" Pablo draws.
Hand 4
"I summon a monster facedown. Than i activate the continuous spell The Dark Door! Now we can attack only with one monster during each battle phase. I end my turn." Pablo ends his turn.
Hand 2
Final Countdown turn 5
"It's my turn. I draw!"
Hand 6
"From what I understand, he's using a stall deck. I better save the resources I have at the moment, in this type of deck there are no monsters with many attack points." Red Hat thought. "I end my turn." Red Hat ends his turn.
Hand 6
Final Countodown turn 6
"What's the matter with you, mister big shot, you can't do anything. You're pathetic." Pablo mocked him. "I draw!" Pablo draws.
Hand 3
"For the moment, I'm stopping now too, so I end my turn." Pablo ends his turn.
Hand 3
Final Countdown turn 7
"I'm starting to get tired of this situation. I draw!" Red Hat draws.
Hand 7
"I summon Elemental HERO Bubbleman! Since Bubbleman is the only card I have on the field, I can draw two cards. Now I play Graceful Charity. I draw two cards, than I discards two. (discards Snatch Steal and Dark Magician of Chaos) I activate the spell Polymerization to fuse Bubbleman on the field with Avian and Sparkman in my hand to fusion summon Elemental HERO Tempest! (Atk: 2800 – Def: 2800) Now Tempest attack his facedown monster! Chaos Tempest!" Tempest fired a blue beam from the cannon on his right arm, destroying Pablo's face down monster which was Nimble Momonga (Atk: 1000 – Def: 100).
"You did exactly what I wanted." Pablo said smiling. "When Nimble Momonga is destroyed by battle and sent to the graveyard, I gain 1000 life points, then I can special summon any number of Nimble Momonga from my deck in facedown defense position." Pablo explained, while two other monsters were summoned on his side of the field and around him a green aura appeared that seemed to heal him.
Pablo: 7200 – 8200 LP
"I end my turn." Red Hat ends his turn.
Hand 5
Final Countdown turn 8
"It's my turn. I Draw." Pablo draws.
Hand 4
"For now I can also avoid playing someone of my cards, so I simply end my turn." Pablo ends his turn.
Hand 4
Final Countdown turn 9
"It's my turn. I draw!" Red Hat draws.
Hand 6
"Tempest attacks his facedown monster! Chaos Tempest!" Tempest fired a blue beam from his cannon again, destroying Pablo facedown monster which was the second Nimble Momonga.
"When Nimble Momonga is destroyed by battle and sent to the graveyard i gain 1000 life points."
Pablo: 8200 – 9200 LP
"In the meantime, you won't have the opportunity to earn more with the last Nimble Momonga you have. Because I play Nobleman of Crossout! I destroy your last facedown monster and banish it." Explained Red Hat. When the figure of a man in knight's armor appeared on the field hitting Pablo's face down monster destroying it. "With this, I end my turn." Red Hat ends his turn.
Hand 5
Final Countdown turn 10
"Your end is approaching, and it will be a moment that I will enjoy with pleasure. I draw!" Pablo draws.
Hand 5
"I set a monster facedown and end my turn. your turn Slifer Slacker."
Hand 4
Final Countdown turn 11
"I draw!" Red Hat draws.
Hand 6
"Tempest attacks your facedown monster." Tempest prepared to attack the facedown monster which revealed itself to be the Cyber Jar (Atk: 900 – Def: 900).
"Cyber Jar flip effect. Now all the monsters on the field are destroyed, then we draw 5 cards from ourd deck, if there are level 4 or lower monsters we can special summon it in face-up attack position or face-down defense position the other cards go in our hands."
"This guy is really stupid. Sure the card he just played is useful, but doing so will give me resources that will be a disadvantage for him in a duel like this now, but I bet someone like he didn't even think about it." Red at thought in disappointment with the Obelisk play. "Then I'll go first. First draw, Elemental HERO Bladedge, second draw, Elemental HERO Burstinatrix in defense mode (Atk: 1200 – Def: 800), third draw, Pot of Greed, fourth draw, Monster Reborn, fifth draw, Heavy storm."
"Now let's see what I get. First draw, Solar Flare Dragon in attack mode. (Atk: 1500 – Def: 1000) Second draw, Level Limit - Area B, third draw, Odeal of a Traveler, fourth draw, Monster Reborn, fifth draw, Twin-Headed Behemoth in attack mode. (Atk: 1500 – Def: 1200)"
"I set four cards facedown and end my turn." Red Hat ends his turn.
Hand 6
Final Countdown turn 12
"You are one step away from your end. I draw!" Pablo draws.
Hand 8
"First of all, I play Graceful Charity. I draw three cards, then I discards two. I play Monster Reborn to special summon from my graveyard the other Solar Flare Dragon. (Atk: 1500 – Def: 1000)" Said Pablo, as a second dragon made of flames appeared on his side of the field. "While I control another Pyro-Type monster, this card can't be attacked. But let's go for the order first. Attack Burstinatrix with Behemoth!" The monster with the two dragon heads lunged at Burstinatrix, hitting her with his two heads that bit her, destroying her. "Now, my two Solar Flare Dragon attack you directly!" The two flame dragons hurled flames from their mouths at Red Hat.
Red Hat: 7500 – 6000 – 4500 LP
"Hahaha. Maybe I won't even have to wait to use the Final Countdown effect. Since you have very few life points left." Pablo teased him.
Red Hat silently ignored the comment completely.
"What is it? Are you scared by any chance? I'd wait if I were you, because the worst is yet to come. I play the continuous spell Level Limit - Area B. Now with this card on the field, all level 4 or higher monsters change to defense position. I set a card facedown and end my turn. But before I finish, the effect of both my Solar Flare Dragons activates. Which deal 500 points of damage to you during each of my end phase. With two of them the total damage is 1000 points." The two dragons created fireballs which they launched at Red Hat.
Red Hat: 4500 – 3500 LP
Hand 5
Final Countdown turn 13
"Hahaha. At this point I don't even need to wait for Final Countdown to take effect. You have very few life points left, and in a few turns you will lose them all." Pablo mocked him.
Meanwhile on the stands.
Jaden was rushing his friends back from their field test to see the rest of the Red Hat duel. "So? How's the duel going?" Jaden asked curiously to Alexis.
"The situation is a bit serious for Red Hat. If he doesn't end the duel soon Pablo will win due to the effect of Final Countdown. But due to the cards he left on the field Red Hat has almost lose half life points left." Alexis explained.
"In other words, Red Hat's chances of winning are very slim. Unless it has a plan, it's going to lose this duel." Bastion admitted.
Blair, Syrus and Chumley were concerned that Red Hat might lose. with a voice he turned them away from these thoughts. "I wouldn't worry too much." Jaden said with his signature smile. "We saw it with our own eyes. Red Hat always has an ace up its sleeve. In whatever situation it finds itself, even the most desperate, it always manages to find a way out." Hearing those words his friends calmed down a bit. Returning to observe his duel.
"I draw." Red Hat draws while keeping his head down with his hat covering his face.
Hand 7
"I play one of my facedown cards. Pot of Greed to draw 2 cards." Seeing what he had draws he smiled as he raised his head.
"Why the hell are you smiling?" Pablo asked confused.
"Because now I have everything I need to win this duel." Red Hat answered. With Jaden who was more excited than anyone because he knew he meant it.
"You're bluffing!" Pablo replied not believing his words.
"This is to be seen. I play my second card face down. Mystical Space Typhoon to destroy Level Limit - Area B." Strong gusts of wind will destroy Pablo's spell card. "Now I play the third card face down, Monster Reborn! With this I special summon from my graveyard Dark Magician of Chaos in attack position! (Atk: 2800 – Def: 2600) When Dark Magician of Chaos is summoned I can add a spell from my graveyard to my hand and I choose Monster Reborn." Red Hat said as the card dropped out of the duel disk graveyard slot. "Now I play Monster Reborn again. This time I special summon from my graveyard Elemental HERO Wildhearth. (Atk: 1500 – Def: 1600) Now I play my fouth face-down card Polymerization! I fuse Wildhearth on my field with Bladedge in my hand to fusion summon Elemental HERO Wildedge! (Atk: 2600 – Def: 2300)"
Pablo trembled at first for the monsters Red Hat had just summoned. But he remembered that he had left a card face down. "Your monsters may be strong, but there's no way they can outrun my defense." Pablo said confidently.
"I wouldn't be so sure since your defense is about to be blown away." Red Hat said leaving the opponent confused. "You recognize this card. It's the one you made me draw with the effect of Cyber Jar." Red Hat said turning the card over to Pablo showing Heavy Storm. "I play Heavy Storm to destroy all spell and trap cards on the field! Since I don't have anyone on my field the only card destroyed is you face-down card." Strong gusts of wind began to blow before destroying the face-down Obelisk card which was Ordeal of a Traveler.
Pablo saw his trap card being destroyed but he still wasn't discouraged. "You may have also destroyed my trap, but you can only attack my Twin-Headed Behemoth in this turn, since the effect of my two Solar Flare Dragons prevents you from attacking them. Resign yourself, you are about to lose this duel. Not that a Slifer like If you could ever beat an elite like me from the start, you never stood a chance." Pablo stated.
Red Hat didn't respond to his taunts at all. "Who said I was done. I play the Raigeki spell card! Now all monsters on your field are destroyed!" Dark clouds began to form over the camp, before a shower of lightning began to fall and destroyed all of Pablo's monsters.
"It's not possible! Now I have nothing left!" Pablo said in bewilderment.
"If I were you I would prepare for what is to come now. Dark Magician of Chaos and Wildedge attack you directly!" The Dark Magician of Chaos launched a sphere of purple energy from his scepter as Wildedge attacked with a swing of his sword taking away a large chunk of his life points.
Pablo: 9200 – 6400 – 3800 LP
"All those big words and I'm still here with some life points."
"Not for long. I play the quick-play spell De-Fusion! Now Wildedge returns to my extra deck and in its place come Wildhearth and Bladedge! (Atk: 1500 – Def: 1600) (Atk: 2600 – Def: 1800) And with this attack I end the duel!" Red Hat shouted aloud as Wildhearth and Bladedge attacked Pablo taking all his life points away.
Pablo: 3800 – 2300 – 0 LP
"That's not possible! How did I lose to this Slifer again!" Pablo said aloud for losing.
All of Jaden's friends saw that Red Hat hadn't left the arena yet, Alexis and Zane were expecting one of those scenes he would do after defeating the Obelisks but instead he just walked off without saying anything which left them quite surprised.
Meanwhile, Crowler observed from his seat how the duel hadn't turned out the way he wanted. "It's not possible! How can this Slifer manage to beat all the Obelisk blue! It's a real nightmare!" Crowler said in shock.
Back in the spectator seats, Red Hat saw that Jaden was there with Bastion, as well as Syrus and Chumley. "Have you guys completed your field test yet?" Red Hat asked.
"I just finished, but I managed to win the duel." Jaden replied.
"The same for me. It all went according to my calculations." Bastion replied.
"I shouldn't be surprised that you've had some victories in your favor." Red Hat said.
"Well, Jaden had no choice. Since he slept the whole time during the written test he had to win the duel." Bastion pointed out.
"Come on, I never lose a duel." Jaden replied amused.
"I wasn't so lucky though. I won the duel, but I slept through the written test so I won't have a good score." Syrus said sadly.
"We're in the same boat, Syrus. I didn't do well in the written test either, and I won the duel by a whisker." Chumley agreed with his friend being in the same state.
"Hey, come on you two, don't make such faces. The important thing is that you at least passed the duel." Jaden said to comfort his friends a little, who calmed down at his words. At that point Jaden turned to Red Hat. "Aside from that, Red Hat your duel was great. I didn't realize the deck you built was an Elemental HERO deck like mine. You were great using them. Next time we duel the two of us, use that deck so we can have a battle between Elementals HERO."
"I have to agree with Jaden on this one. You made great use of the Elemental HERO cards even though it was the first time we've seen you use them." Bastion complimented.
"Come on guys, you're giving me too much credit. I just had a duel with a deck that I built like always. And then I just fought like Jaden did, with him as an example after the duel we had. However, I still have to work on this deck." Red Hat replied.
At that point their chat was cut short when they heard it was Blair's turn to duel.
"It's my turn now." Blair said she was ready to duel.
"Hey, Blair, good luck." Jaden wished her patting her on the shoulder.
"I don't need luck. With Red Hat's help rebuilding my deck, I know I can win." Blair admitted confidently as she walked down to the duel arena.
"Wait? What help is he talking about?" Jaden asked confused.
"We stayed up late last night working on your deck for the field test." Red Hat explained.
"Great. Now I'm curious to see what Blair can do." Jaden said enthusiastically.
"I'm also curious about his abilities, although the thing that intrigues me the most is that you helped him. You usually prefer to be alone and don't help anyone but Jaden." Bastion said, intrigued by her attitude.
"Blair is a nice person, it's comfortable to be with him." Red Hat said.
Jaden and his friends seemed to believe him, but Bastion had a completely different opinion, Alexis and Zane had also listened to the speech and they both didn't seem to believe his words either, but they decided not to ask questions if he didn't want to talk about it.
At the end of the speech Jaden and Red Hat and all the others took their seats to watch Blair duel, but they were all surprised to see that Blair's opponent was a blue Obelisk.
At the time Crowler was laughing at this scene. "I may not have been able to deal with that red hat Slifer, but at least I'll be able to do something with his friend."
"Can we know what's going on? Why do Red Hat and Blair have as opponents Obelisk blue?" Syrus asked confused.
"I can't tell you either Syrus." Bastion said as confused as the others.
"There is only one person who could do such a thing." Zane said.
Everyone seemed confused by his words, before I looked in the same direction at the post where Crowler was.
"You think Crowler did this?" Alexis asked.
"Who else could it be. He hates red Slifer, especially Jaden, and now he's trying to pick on Red Hat." Syrus explained knowing the teacher.
Realizing that he had done this, Red Hat clenched his fists as hard as he could trying to hold back his anger. "That worm, picking on us isn't enough for him, now he's trying to humiliate those close to us." After a few seconds she finally calmed down hoping that Blair could win using her new deck as well as she could, even if she didn't have time to study it properly, the whole group watched the duel very attentively.
"So would you be my opponent? I don't understand why I have to deal with a Slifer slacker, but Dr. Crowler asked me to so I might as well do it. It won't be long." Said the Obelisk activating the duel disk.
"If I were you I wouldn't be so sure." Blair answered by activating her duel disk.
DUEL
Blair: 8000 LP
Obelisk blue: 8000 LP
"I'll start if you don't mind. I draw!" Blair draws.
Hand 6
"I set a monster facedown. I set a card facedown and end my turn." Blair ends her turn.
Hand 4
"All those words and that's the best you can do. You're pathetic. Let me show you how an elite duelist plays. I draw." Obelisk draws.
Hand 6
"I summon Gearfried the Iron Knight in attack mode! (Atk: 1800 – Def: 1600) Now Gearfried attacks his monster!" The monster warrior ran towards Blair's face down monster which turned out to be Mystical Elf. (Atk: 800 – Def: 2000)
"Sorry mate, but my monster has more defense points." Blair screamed as the knight's attack was cut short by a wall of light created by Blair's monster.
Obelisk blue: 8000 – 7800 LP
"A lucky hit, that's all. But that can be remedied. Using this spell card. Shield Crush! That destroy a monster in defense position on the field, like your monster." The Obelisk explained as a beam of green light destroyed Blair's monster. "I end my turn here." The Obelisk ends his turn.
Hand 4
"Now it's my turn then. I draw!" Blair draws.
Hand 5
"I play Smashing Ground to destroy your face-up monster with the highest defense points. On your field you have only Gearfried, so the target is him." Blair said as Gerafried was crushed by a giant punch from the sky. "Now I summon Shining Angel in attack position. (Atk: 1400 – Def: 800) A man in white robes and angelic wings appeared on Blair's side of the field. "Now get ready, because my monster attacks you directly!" Blair said as her angelic monster created a ball of light in his hands which she hurled at the Obelisk.
Obelisk blue: 7800 – 6400 LP
"With this I end my turn." Blair ends her turn.
Hand 3
"It's my turn. I draw!" Obelisk draws.
Hand 5
"I activate my trap card, Call of the Haunted!" The Obelisk reveal his face-down card. "I special summon from my graveyard Gearfried the Iron Knight. (Atk: 1800 – Def: 1600) "Now I normal summon Command Knight. (Atk: 1200 – Def: 1900) And with her on the field, all of warrior-type monsters I control get a bonus of 400 attack points. (Atk: 1200 – 1600 – Def: 1900) (Atk: 1800 – 2200 – Def: 1600) I continue playing this card. The continuous spell, The A. Forces! Now all warrior-type I control receive 200 attack points for every warrior or spellcaster-type monster I control. (Atk: 1600 – 2000 – Def: 1900) (Atk: 2200 – 2600 – Def: 1600) Get ready, because now Command Knight attacks Shining Angel!" The female knight in armor struck the opponent monster with her sword.
Blair: 8000 – 7400 LP
"By doing so, you triggered the effect of Shining Angel. When this card is destroyed by battle and sent to the graveyard I can special summon from my deck one light monster with 1500 or less attack points, in face-up attack position. Now I special summon another Shining Angel. (Atk: 1400 – Def: 800)" Blair explained, as a second monster just like the first appeared on his side of the court.
"It will mean that I will also get rid of him with the attack of Gearfried the Iron Knight!" Gearfried struck Shining Angel with the blade on his right arm.
Blair: 7400 – 6200 LP
"I use the effect of Shining Angel to special summon Silent Swordsman LV3 from my deck. (Atk: 1000 – Def: 1000)" A small swordsman had appeared on Blair's side of the field.
"Sorry, I'm lost. What is a LV monster?" Syrus asked confused.
"Beats me." Jaden said.
"I don't know either." Chumley replied.
"They are special monster cards." Bastion replied, attracting the attention of the Slifer trio. "They are monsters that at each turn, if you meet the conditions of their effects and as if they will evolve, becoming even stronger." Has explained.
"So those are the cards you gave Blair for the deck?" Alexis questioned Red Hat.
"Yes, although perhaps it was a risk to use them already now." Red Hat said.
"What do you mean?" Syrus asked.
"I mean, we built that deck in a hurry for today's field test, Blair didn't have time to fully understand the deck we built. And I'm afraid this could have consequences for the duel." Red Hat responded.
"I wouldn't worry. I mean, Blair said he believed in the deck you helped him build, and he seems like he knows what he's doing." Jaden said trying to reassure his friend.
"I hope you're right Jaden." Red Hat said as he looked back around the dormitory.
"It doesn't matter which monster you summon, you still lose. I end my turn." Obelisk ends his turn.
Hand 3
"It's my turn. I draw!" Blair draws.
Hand 4
"Since is my standby-phase I can send Silent Swordsman LV3 to the graveyard to special summon from my deck Silent Swordsman LV5! (Atk: 2300 – Def: 1000)" A vortex of light swirled around the Silent Swordsman as both the swordsman and his sword seemed to grow larger.
"Did you see? Silent Swordsman got bigger." Syrus pointed out.
"Yes, I saw Syrus." Chumley agreed.
"That's a sweet monster." Jaden said.
"I play Pot of Greed to draw two cards." Looking at the cards she had drawn, she couldn't help but smile. "Now I play the spell card Raigeki! All of your monster are destroyed!" A shower of lightning destroyed the monsters of the Obelisk blue.
"A good move by Blair." Bastion complimented. "Because of Command Knight as there was another monster on the opponent's field, Blair could only attack Gearfried the Iron Knight which was stronger."
"Another card you gave him?" Alexis asked Red Hat.
Red Hat only nodded to her question.
"Now Silent Swordsman LV5 attack you directly!" The swordsman struck the Obelisk with one swing of his great sword.
Obelisk blue: 6400 – 4100 LP
"I end my turn." Blair ends her turn.
Hand 4
"That's enough. I won't be ridiculed by a Slifer. I draw!" The Obelisk draws.
Hand 4
"I play Graceful Charity to draw three cards then discards two." The Obelisk smiled at the three cards he had drawn as he discarded two. "Now I play Monster Reborn to special summon the card that I have now discarded. Now I special summon from my graveyard Gilford the Lightning! (Atk: 2800 – Def: 1400) " Lightning struck the field creating a cloud of smoke, when it dissolved there was a warrior with white armor parts with yellow strokes with an aura of electricity around them. "But he won't be alone. I summon Warrior Lady of the Wasteland. (Atk: 1100 – Def: 1200) And with two warrior-type monsters on the field due to The A. Forces effect they both gain 400 attack points. (Atk: 2800 – 3200 – Def: 1400) (Atk: 1100 – 1500 – Def: 1200) Gilford Attacks the Silent Swordsman LV5! Lightning Crush!" Gilford raised his sword straight up throwing a bolt of lightning at Blair's monster causing it to explode.
Blair: 6200 – 5300 LP
"And now I make a direct attack with Warrior Lady of the Wasteland!" The opponent monster warrior struck Blair with his sword causing her to fall to the ground on her back.
Blair: 5300 – 3800 LP
"And with that I can end my turn." The Obelisk end its turn with a satisfied air.
Hand 2
Blair looked exhausted as she struggled to get off the ground from the latest attack she received.
"Better stay where you are, after all you who are lying on the ground crawling a perfect place for a Slifer slacker like you." The Obelisk teased Blair, Making many people start laughing at Blair especially the Obelisk blue.
"Show him who's boss."
"The Slifers are all incompetent."
"Those like him should leave the Academy."
Needless to say, Red Hat was starting to get really angry. Not because of the insults to the Slifer, also because it would have shown them who was the true incompetent, but because they were making fun of Blair, even if he didn't quite understand why, and just hearing them made him furious. If he could he would have challenged them all to a duel.
"When they do that, I really can't stand them." Syrus complained.
"Yeah, you're right. As soon as they see someone in trouble they immediately make fun of him." Chumley agreed.
"There's just no sportsmanship in that." Bastion added.
"I'm only ashamed when they act like this." said Alexis with a sorry expression for the behavior of her companions in the same dormitory.
"It's not your fault about this Alexis. It's their fault for acting like idiots." Jaden said.
Blai almost looked like she was about to start crying.
"Ah, what is it? You are about to cry. Don't worry your misery is almost over."
Alexis was about to go downstairs to tell everyone to call it quits but was interrupted by someone. "Don't give up Blair!" someone shouted loudly. Everyone in the group turned in amazement to see that the owner of the voice was Red Hat.
Even Blair could hear him turning in her direction.
"You want to listen to these idiots who can't even duel properly. Believe me, you are stronger than they will ever be. You said you had a goal to achieve no. Well then you just can't afford to lose then." He kept saying to her aloud.
Syrus, Chumley, Bastion and Alexis didn't expect this behavior from Red Hat. Jaden instead was smiling happy for his friend's speech, even Zane's face formed a slight smile at his words.
Blair had listened to all of Red Hat speech without saying anything as she kept her head down. "It's my turn. I draw." Blair draws. Blair looked dumbfounded by the card she'd just drawn, but still kept her head down.
Hand 5
"I play Monster Reborn to special summon Silent Swordsman LV5 in defense position from my graveyard. (Atk: 2300 – Def: 1000) I set a monster face-down. I set a card face-down. I end my turn." Blair ends her turn.
Hand 2
"It doesn't matter how many monsters you summon, they're just as worthless as you are. I draw!" Obelisk draws.
Hand 3
"I summon Ninja Grandmaster Sasuke in attack mode! (Atk: 1800 – Def: 1000) And with him on the field, my monsters get extra attack points. (Atk: 3200 – 3400 – Def: 1400) (Atk: 1500 – 1700 – Def: 1200) (Atk: 1800 – 2400 – Def: 1000) With this attack you are finished! Warrior Lady of the Wasteland attack Silent Swordsman LV5!"
As the female warrior approached the opposing monster Blair slowly raised her head revealing that she was smiling.
"Why the hell are you smiling?" The Obelisk asked confused.
"Because you fell into my trap. I activate my trap card! Go Mirror Force! All of your monsters in attack position are destroyed." As the opposing monster continued to attack, a mirror-like wall appeared which stopped its attack and sent it back destroying all of the opposing monsters.
"It can't be true?! How did I fall for it?!" Said the shocked Obelisk that he had fallen into this trap.
"Next time you will learn not to underestimate your opponent." Blair replied smugly.
Meanwhile Jaden and his friends had observed the whole scene.
"You saw what he did." Syrus said.
"Here we saw it too." Chumley replied.
"He waited for the right moment to use that trap card. That's why he didn't activate it before. the way he did it it looks familiar." Bastion said.
"Sure looks familiar Bastion. It's the same way Red Hat plays." Alexis answered looking at the latter.
"Good move Blair." Thought Red Hat satisfied breathing a sigh of relief.
"I'll make you pay for this Slifer. I set two cards face-down and end my turn." Obelisk ends his turn. "If he tries to summon a strong monster I will use Torrential Tribute to destroy all his monsters. If he instead attacks me I will play Sakuretsu Armor to destroy the attacking monster." He thought.
Hand 0
"Ok, now it's my turn. I draw!" Blair draws.
Hand 3
"I play Mystical Space Typhoon for destroy one of your set cards. I choose that on the left." Strong gusts of wind blew destroying the opposing card which was revealed to be Sakuretsu Armor. "I switch Silent Swordsman LV5 in attack position. Then I switch my face-down monster in attack position. Come on out Silent Magician LV4! (Atk: 1000 – Def: 1000)" From Blair's side of the field had appeared a little sorceress in blue and white robes with a scepter in her hand.
"Now you're the one who fell into my trap. I activate my trap card. Torrential Tribute! All the monsters on the field are destroyed!"
"I don't think so." Blair answered leaving his opponent confused by his words. "I respond by playing my card face down. The counter trap Solemn Judgment! I pay half of my life points to negate the activation of your card and destroy it." An old man with a solemn aura appeared on the field creating waves of light that hit his card destroying it.
Blair: 3800 – 1900 LP
"Even if you neutralize my trap I still have life points left. And I don't think your little wizard can do anything about it." The Obelisk scoffed.
"Unless, I play this spell card. I play Level Up! Now I send a LV monster on my field to the graveyard and special summon from my hand or deck a monster that is listed in the name of the monster I sent. So I send Silent Magician LV4 to the graveyard and special summon from my deck Silent Magician LV8! (Atk: 3500 – Def: 1000)" Blair's Silent Magician was enveloped in a vortex of light that when it dissolved had grown much larger looking like an adult.
"I don't like how things are going." The now frightened Obelisk admitted.
"And you'll like them even less now. Silent Swordsman LV5 and Silent Magician LV8 attack you directly!" The swordsman attacked with his sword as the wizard fired a beam from his scepter.
Obelisk blue: 4100 – 1800 – 0 LP
"Yupee!" Blair said jumping for happiness before retracting her words. "Um... I mean great!"
"I can't believe it. I lost to a Slifer!" cried the obelisk heartbroken at losing.
Crowler wasn't exactly happy either. Indeed he fell on his back to the ground seeing the result. "No. That can't be true! They didn't even beat that little Slifer! How could that happen!" She was screaming like she was having hysterics.
Red Hat decided to get off his seat to go to Blair followed by his friends.
"Great Blair! You won the duel." Chumley congratulated.
"Yes. You showed him that Slifers are strong too." Syrus said.
"It was a good duel Blair. Who knows, maybe the next one will be between us." Jaden said.
"Thank you guys." Blair thanked before walking over to Red Hat.
"Great job Blair." Red Hat said.
"The credit is also yours, for giving me a hand with the deck." Blair said. "Now we will both switch to Ra yellow."
"No Blair. You'll go to Ra yellow. I'll stay at Slifer red." Red Hat explained.
"I just can't figure you out on this thing Red Hat." Blair said confused.
"I told you before, remember. I wouldn't really like to be around an obnoxious people like the one we saw today. At least staying at Slifer red I can be around someone friendly." He said turning to Jaden.
After some silence between the two, Red Hat asked Blair one more thing. "So, ready to go to Ra yellow?"
Blai now seemed confused by that question. It was true that she wanted to work her way through the dormitories to get to Zane. But now she felt a little sad, because she wouldn't be with Red Hat. By now she knew that everyone considered him a bad person, but he had been nice to her, he had given her a hand with her deck, and he was among those who defended her while the others teased her today. Not to mention that he was the only one who knew her secret, she felt that he was the only one she could confide in. Blair turned to him as she shook her head. "No. I'll stay with you for a while longer. You're the only one I can talk to about my secret after all." Blair said smiling.
Red Hat was surprised and confused by her words. As he turned his head without being seen, he lowered his head, covering his face with his hat so as not to show that he was smiling. "I see. Well then, let's go back to the dorm."
"Yes, but first there's something I have to do." Blair said smiling even more.
"What?" He asked as he saw her smile.
As soon as she finished that sentence, Blair jumped up, and grabbed Red Hat's hat.
"What? But? Hey, give it back to me!" Red Hat yelled as he covered himself so his face would not be seen.
Blair responded by sticking out his tongue. "You have to catch me first." He said as he started to run.
"Blair! Give me my hat back! Now!" yelled Red Hat as he ran after her.
All his friends were watching him. Jaden looked happy, while Syrus, Chumley and Bastion were surprised by his behavior.
Zane and Alexis were also watching him. "I didn't expect that he would behave like that today. Defending another Slifer, that was unexpected." Alexis said.
"Who knows. Maybe that guy was just what Red Hat needed to finally change his ways. Maybe there's someone other than Jaden who can keep him calm." Zane said with a slight smile as he walked away followed by Alexis.
Even Chancellor Sheppard was watching him from his seat. "Red Hat, seeing you making friends and not getting aggressive brings me calm and happiness. And I bet he would be happy to see you like this too." He thought.
Here is the new chapter. At the beginning of this chapter I included the first episode of Blair as Maiden in love from Tag Force 3, because that way I would use it as an excuse to point out to Blair that her deck with Maiden in Love was not very strong So Red Hat would help her make a deck that would be more useful, by the way the deck I had Blair use in her duel was inspired by the deck she had in Tag Force 1 which was called Serene Silence with some cards from Red Hat. As for the part of the written test and the field test, I was inspired by episode 4 of Yu-Gi-Oh Gx Raring To Go. Since Blair, as we know, had only arrived at the Slifer for a few days to then be transferred to Ra yellow thought I'd do the same thing as that episode. The written test and the practical test instead I took them from those who made you do in Tag Force. The final scene however I did it this way to show that Red Hat seems to have taken Blair as a friend and in fact he didn't make fun of Pablo after he defeated her or for example as the defense of Blair during her duel. In this one I had Red Hat use an Elemental HERO deck because to be honest it's one of my favorite decks, every time I started Tag Force it was the first deck I created, so I put it on my personal whim. For those asking me I know that Blair is also the user of the Lightsworn deck, but I won't give it to her now but later. The last scene between her and Red Hat was just for comedy. That's all I had to say for this chapter, let me know what you think in the comments.