A New Dueling Harmony
Hey there everyone and welcome to a brand new chapter of A New Dueling Harmony.
It's been a year since I've uploaded a chapter of a New Dueling Harmony but I've decided to bring back the show on the road with the third and final filler episode though that episode will have a significant part on the series as Hajime will meet a character that will bring him closer to an dangerous blonde.
Without further ado, let's go !
No Pain no Game
It was a silent night at Neo Domino City.
Hajime was just getting out of Dynamite Games after he finished a training session with Chiaki, he was still improving his skills though he always lost to the Ultimate Gamer, he still enjoyed his dueling sessions with her.
He decided to take a walk at the town before he returned home so that he could enjoy the sight of the city.
"I gotta admit, I never thought that I would be improving my skills like this, I mean, sure, Chiaki always won our training sessions but I feel that I am becoming much more good in the world of dueling" thought Hajime as he stopped or a moment before he begin to ponder something "still, I did promise to Chiaki that I will succeed without having a talent, I wonder if this the right way to do?"
"If you are answering yourself this question, then, you don't know what you have it takes in order to become a true duelist and a person" replied a voice to which the young man looked around rom its source and he saw a man walking in the hallway, basking himself into the light revealing a tall man, with an apathetic gaze on his face and an expression that is emphasized with his distinct, heavy-looking eyebrows that are usually furrowed. He has long-neck length messy black hair, which seemed to be silky and soft. His eyes are pale blue and he has long eyelashes. His attire consists of a half-tucked in, dirty white dress shirt and a sloppily worn black tie that is adorned with red decals. His lower-half consists of black trousers, a belt, and bathroom slippers
"Who are you?" asked a weary Hajime.
"My name is Yasuke Matsuda, I am the Ultimate Neurologist but I am also a duelist manager and let's just say that your keen duelist skills have attracted my interest" explained Yasuke Matsuda.
"How come?" asked Hajime.
"I usually visit the place that you are going to, Dynamite Games and I have witnessed one of your duels against the Ultimate Gamer, you may never won against her but I have sensed that within you, there is a strong duelist who wants to prove his worth to the world, you are questioning yourself if you can succeed without a talent, to tell you the truth, I am seeing that you are heading towards a straight wall Hajime Hinata, these days, no one can succeed without a talent, we all need one in order to have a purpose in this society".
"Why are you saying this to me? Are you saying that I am wasting my time and that I need a talent?" asked Hajime.
"All that I am saying Hajime Hinata is that you want a talent, I can get you one easily, as I said, your dueling skills interests me, to the point that I want you to participate in one of my dueling rings, have you heard about the underground duels?" asked the Ultimate Neurologist.
"The underground duels?" asked the young man who begin to have a bad feeling about that proposal.
"A certain type of duels where the duelists could go all out to their heart's content, of course, these kinds of duels are strictly private and the journalists won't be allowed to settle in but in the end, you will become much more stronger, in fact, I could make you the newest Ultimate Duelist through these kinds of duels" explained Yasuke.
"In other words, it's like if I go into a criminal hideout correct?" asked a weary Hajime.
"I would rather say that it would be your chance to gain a talent in order to impress the Ultimate Gamer that you befriended, you believe yourself to be worthless without a talent, correct? So, what if you've obtained a talent under my tutelage, wouldn't she be proud of seeing that her friend has become a stronger duelist and one who managed to gain a talent through these underground duels? So tell me Hajime Hinata, would you consider my proposal?" asked the Ultimate Neurologist, Hajime begin to be worried, he wondered if it would be the correct choice of joining Yasuke, he believed that he may all under a thing that could cause him to be involved into a dangerous and criminal activity.
But Yasuke has a point though, he wants to make Chiaki proud of him and if he managed to have a talent, maybe she would proud o him even more? He continued to ponder before he finally gives his answer.
"All right, I follow you"
"Good, it seems that we have managed to reach an agreement with each other, it is time for you to become the Ultimate Duelist Hajime!" said Yasuke as he begin to walk on the hallway with the young man following him.
0-0-0
After a few minutes, the two reached the building where the Ultimate Neurologist hold his dueling ring, the place was guarded by two bodyguards, one was a tall blond man while the other has long floating brown hair, the blond bodyguard nodded and opened the door so that Yasuke and Hajime could enter into the building, the two went into the elevator as Yasuke pushed the button into the underground level, the elevators doors closed and the elevator goes down into the underground.
After a few seconds, the elevator finally arrived at the underground where the Ultimate Neurologist took the young man in a empty pool arena where a steelcage is shown.
"There we are Hajime, the place where you can show the whole world what you capable of" said Yasuke.
"This arena?" asked Hajime.
"That's right and I know that you will give us one hell of a show" said Yasuke as he took Hajime into the arena as he let the young man entered into the cage to which he did.
When he entered into the cage, he discovered a heavy-build dark skinned man wearing nothing but a pair of dirty jeans, he took a pair of bricks with both of his hands and he smashed them across the face, breaking them but without injuring himself.
"Here's your opponent, Hajime, this is Mad Dog, the actual champion of the underground, fifteen duels, fifteen wins but as I said, your dueling skills should be more then enough to end his winning streak" explained the Ultimate Neurologist as Hajime looked at his opponent once more to which he noticed some men placing black collars around Mad Dog's biceps and on his neck much to the young man's confusion as another group of men were doing the same thing to him "don't worry about this device, this little contracption will make sure that the duel will be much more...shocking".
"What?" asked Hajime as the last man placed the black collar around his neck.
"You will find out about their use during the duel, there are two things that you need to know, the first one is that you are forbidden to leave the cage before the duel is officially finished and the second thing is about your opponent, be careful about him, despite his squeaky voice, he is considered as a dangerous duelist" explained Yasuke to which the underground duelist starts laughing at the young man.
"Twat rwright, my momma said that I am wery strong, twrust me, little guys like you, I eat them for breakfast!" mocked Mad Dog with a voice that could caused Mike Tyson to facepalm himself, though surprised, Hajime took Yasuke's advice at heart, he mustn't understimate that clown, both of them activate their duel disks.
"Now, let's see if Junko is right about Hajime, she believed that he is the perfect recipant for the Kamukura Project that she is funding with the Steering Communitee, let's put that to the test" thought the Ultimate Neurologist as he decided to initiate the duel "begin!"
"It's showtime!" thought Hajime.
Hajime vs Mad Dog
(BGM: R.A.X Theme – Eternal Champions Challengers of the Dark Side)
"Me fwirst!" yelled out Mad Dog as he drew his sixth card "I'll summon Peten the Dark Clown in Defense mode and twrust me, he's not hwere to be playing awround!"
A strange looking clown wearing a hat appeared on the field, bowing to Hajime before it blow out a raspberry at the young man, annoying him (A:500/D:1200).
"And I set a cward facedown" said Mad Dog as a hologram of a card appeared on the field.
"What? That will be all?" said Hajime as he drew his sixth card "I summon Battle Ox in Attack Mode!"
Hajime's trustworthy Battle Ox appeared on the field (A:1700/D:1000).
"Go on, strike! I dare you!" challenged the brute.
"You wish your monster to be destroyed? Fine! Battle Ox, Axe Attack!" ordered Hajime as Battle Ox launched himself at the clown, cutting him out with his axe, however, that didn't phased Mad Dog, instead, he let out a sinister cackle.
"You felled into my twrap!" singsonged Mad Dog as he revealed a trap card showing some kind of a virus attacking a deck "Deck Destruction Virus!"
"Deck Destruction Virus?" asked Hajime as he widened his eyes, Chiaki talked to him about Virus cards, usually, they were used in order to deplete an opponent deck of their monsters or special cards to prevent the opponent of retaliate.
"When a Dark fiend monster who whas 500 Awttack Points or under is destroyed in battle, I can remove 10 of your cards from your deck into the Graweyard!" explained the brute to which his explanation caused Hajime to be shocked, ten cards? That means that his deck will be diminushed quickly if he is not careful, gritting his teeth, the young man took 10 cards and send them to the graveyard.
"Dammit, since I've drawn my six cards and that I have lost ten cards, this means I have 24 cards left" thought Hajime as he begin to be worried about his deck (Hajime deck:34-24).
"And also, when Peten is destroyed in bawttle, I can remove him of my graveyard so that I can summon awother one in his place" said Mad Dog as he removed the first Peten in order to special summon another one in Defense mode (A:500/D:1200).
"I'll end my turn" said a dejected Hajime as he understand the strategy of his opponent, he plans to make him lose through a deck out, meaning that if he didn't draw a card, he is automatically lose the duel.
(BGM ends)
"Gwood, it's my turn, you know, you seemed to be a bad shape, little twit but in this strong bwody, there is a heart beating out here so I'll help you up a bit" teased the brute.
"No thanks!" spatted Hajime as he didn't like the tone that Mad Dog was using.
"Too late because I activate Card Destruction, with that card, we need to discard all the cards that we have in our hands, twhree for me and five for you and then, we can dwaw as many cards as we can until we reach the same amount of cards that we have discarded" explained Mad Dog to which Hajime gritted his teeth, he will once again lose the cards that he has but this time, it will be worse since it is the cards that he had on his hand and he has to draw five more cards, he discarded the five cards and he drew five (Hajime: 24-19) while Mad Dog drew three more cards "And I am not done yet, you wittle punk, I summon Des Feral Imp in Defense Mode".
A purpleish monster who ressembled a tall Gremlin appeared on the field (A:1600/D:1800).
"You bloody coward, you only planned to decrease my deck over and over while you hide your life points with your monsters" sneered the young man though his insult didn't bother the brute, instead, he let out an amused chuckle.
"A coward, you say? Then, try to prwove to me what a REAL dwelist can do, half-pint!" challenged Mad Dog as he set a card facedown.
"That damned bastard, I'll show him how we can get the job's done!" internally said Hajime as he drew a newest card (Hajime:19-18) and when he looked at it, a smirk drew on his lips, maybe that would be the solution needed to stop Mad Dog's cowardly startegies "I activate the field spell Fusion Gate!"
A vortex appeared on the field, showing long 3D perpendicular lines traveling throughout the dueling cage.
"With that card, I can banish any amount of monsters from my hand or my field so that I can summon any Fusion monsters, I banish Versago the Destroyer, who has the ability of being used as a Fusion material and Buster Blader from my hand so that I can summon Dark Paladin, here he comes!" explained Hajime as Dark Paladin appeared on the field (A:2900/D:2400).
"Well, wooks like that you planned to attack my monsters with your two monsters?" challenged Mad Dog, however, Hajime was weary of launching himself in battle blindly.
"As long as I don't have three monsters on my field, I shouldn't take any unnecessary risks, after all, if I strike down Peten, I'll lose ten more cards from my deck so I should only destroy his Dark Feral Imp for now" pondered Hajime though the brute chuckled at his hesitation.
"What's wrong? Did I scare ya?" mocked Mad Dog.
(BGM : Wild Cyclone – Yu-Gi-Oh GX)
"Not at all, Dark Paladin, strike down Des Feral Imp" ordered Hajime as the magician launched himself in order to eliminate the dark demon, however, Mad Dog laughed at the attempt.
"Nice trwy, you wittle punk but you've activate my Twrap Card : Armor Guidance Attack!" replied the brute as a Trap Card showing a man encased in a teeth-like armor is shown, Hajime widened his eyes in shock as Chiaki had talk to him about that card.
"Fuck no! That card has the ability to redirect my attack to an another monster!" paled the young man.
"I see that you know about that card, now, Peten, wear that armor and take the blast for Des Feral Imp!" said Mad Dog as Peten wore down the armor and jump before Dark Paladin who cut it in half, causing the brute to laugh it off once more "and you know the deal, when a Dark fiend monster with 500 Attack Points or under is destroyed, you must discard ten of your cwards to the graveyard, I know a wittle punk who is gonna crwy"
Hajime gritted his teeth, his strategy has been foiled and he must pay the price of discarding ten more cards into the graveyard, the young man complied and sent ten cards from his deck to the graveyard (Hajime: 18-8).
"And let's not fworget that Peten has the right to return to the field if I remove the previous one out of the graveyard" said Mad Dog as he removed the previous Peten and another one appeared on the field in Defense Mode (A:500/D:1200)
(BGM ends)
His strategy of destroying Des Feral Imp having been foiled, Hajime has no other choice, Battle Ox is not powerful enough to destroy the Imp and he has only eight cards remaining on his deck.
"I end my turn!" replied an dejected Hajime to which Mad Dog laughed once more.
"You called me a coward yet, you didn't stwrike down Peten? Perhaps I need you to give you an incentive" snarked the brute as he drew a new card "I summon Chainsaw Insect in Attack Mode".
An insect with chainsaw-like blades serving at his pincers appeared on the field (A:2400/D:0)
"Chainsaw Insect, stwrike down Battle Ox! Blading Pincers!" ordered Mad Dog as the insect grabbed Battle Ox through its pincers and activate his blades, cutting the ox in two before it disappears.
But suddenly, the dark collars seems to activate themselves much to Hajime's shock.
"What the?" was about to say the young man until an electrical shock struck him, causing him to yell in pain (Hajime: 3300) "Hold on a sec, Yasuke, what the hell just happened to me?"
"I warned you Hajime, in this arena, everytime that you will lose an amount of life points, you will receive an electrical damage, more of your life points will be decreased, the more you will feel the pain, it's a game where you might feel some burns" explained the Ultimate Neurologist, however, his explanation caused Hajime to be angry, so, everytime that he will lose his life points, he will be shocked? He put him into a life or death situation?
"You double-crossing bastard, you lied to me and I'm gonna make sure that you will pay for tricking me!" raged the young man but this only caused Yasuke to chuckle.
"How rude! Look around you Hajime, I've promised you a crowd that is watching your every move with excitement, waiting for you to crush your opponent and here they are and if you want to obtain a talent then you will have to defeat Mad Dog in this cage" said the Ultimate Neurologist, however, Hajime wasn't sure about his winning chances.
"That's almost impossible, don't you get it? I've only had 8 cards left in my deck…" was about to say Hajime but the brute cut him off.
"Seven cards you pwunk, when Chainsaw Inset attacks, the opponent has to draw a card from their deck" replied Mad Dog as Hajime gritted his teeth, he was lose to lose the duel by a deck out, he drew the card just as Yasuke decided to intervene (Hajime:8-7).
"You have to Hajime! Mad Dog is a man whom you have to crush if you want to gain access to your talent, you cannot let him win" cheered the Ultimate Neurologist.
"How?" asked the young man.
"Think of your friend" adds Yasuke to which Hajime quickly understood who he was talking about.
"Chiaki?" asked Hajime.
"That's right, think about the shame that she would be forced to bear if she learns that her teachings hasn't allowed you to defeat Mad Dog, use your potential, you must win for her!" cheered the Ultimate Neurologist to which his words seems to have stricken a nerve in Hajime, he was right, what if Chiaki learns that the young man wasn't able to defeat Mad Dog with her lessons? Would she be disappointed in him? The thoughts of this frightened him.
He cannot lose here, he cannot even think of losing here, he has to win, he has to make Chiaki proud, he has to show her that her teachings weren't not or nothing.
He wants to win; he wants to make her proud.
He cannot give up!
HE CANNOT LOSE!
"Are you planning to play you wittle punk? I've got a snack to eat!" mocked Mad Dog as he leaned his left ear with his finger, unknown to the young man, Mad Dog had ended his turn when he was talking with Yasuke, however, Hajime turned his gaze on him, glaring daggers at him.
"You won't leave here unscathed, you hear me? I'll make sure that you will lose right here, right now, you scumbag!" said Hajime, his determination showed itself but it ravels with his anger, he wants to destroy the brute with his cards.
"Such hatred Hajime! It is powerful indeed, his desire to please that Chiaki seems to be his greatest strength when it is fueled by despair, now, all that we need to know is it will allow him to have the potential needed or the Kamukura project" noticed Yasuke as he watched the duel with an keen interest as Hajime drew his newest card (Hajime:7-6).
(BGM: The Pyramid Round 1 – Mortal Kombat 1)
"I'll activate Card of Sanctity, this card will allow us to draw cards until we have six in our hands, since I have three cards in my hand while you have five, I'll draw three cards while you have to draw one card" explained Hajime to which it caused the brute to laugh.
"You probably lost your mind you wittle shit, you fworget that you will be done to your last our cards" mocked Mad Dog as he drew his card while Hajime drew his three cards (Hajime:7-4).
"I didn't forgot that but do know this, you will lose this duel during that turn" glared the young man.
"Th, you speak nwonsense!" growled the brute while Yasuke was surprised; it seems that Hajime had a plan on his mind.
"Hajime, are you sure that you can win on this turn?" asked the Ultimate Neurologist.
"I am goddamned sure about this, because I activate Fusion Gate, I remove rom play Blackland ire Dragon, Koumori Dragon and the The Dark - Hex-Sealed Fusion who can allow me to use it as a substitute or a DARK Monster as a fusion material so that I could fusion summon Blackland Void Dragon!" yelled Hajime as Naegi's trademark monster appeared on the field (A:3100/D:2400) much to Mad Dog's horror, for the first time since the beginning of the duel, the giant lost his smile.
"3100 Attack Points?" gulped Mad Dog, it has enough Attack Points to destroy any of his monsters and he knew that Hajime won't attack his Peten.
"And you don't know anything about his effect, Blackland Void Dragon an gain 300 Attack Points for every monsters on our graveyards, though you don't have any on yours, I have almost 20 monsters on mine which means that my monster will gain 6000 Attack Points!" explained the young man.
"What? It can't do that!" yelled both Mad Dog and Yasuke as they were surprised that the dragon had such ability.
"Yes, it can!" raged Hajime as Blackland Void Dragon roared while it received his attack boost (A:3100-9100) "and if you are scared you sunavabitch, you should because when Blackland Void Dragon attacks a monster, it decrease an monster Attack Points through 100 for each monsters in our graveyards!"
"W-what dwid you say?" gulped the brute.
"I-incredible, not only this monster has become stronger but it can weaken his opponent's monsters" said Yasuke until he realized something: there will be few duelists that will have succeeded in overcoming such an hardship but the young man has overcome it with the power of despair and yet, he remained in control of his actions, realization hit the Ultimate Neurologist, Hajime has proven himself worthy "Junko was right, he is the one, he is the true candidate for the Kamukura Project!"
"You are finished! Blackland Void Dragon, attack Chainsaw Insect, Void Gale Blast!" ordered Hajime as the dragon let out a powerful spiral-based black blast that destroyed the insect (A:2400-400) removing 8700 life points from Mad Dog who was sent lying as his body was overfilled with an electrical shock while a powerful shockwave wavered around the room (Mad Dog:0)
Hajime wins!
(BGM ends)
The duel was over as Fusion Gate disappeared, leaving Hajime alone as he was breathing heavily, he looked at his opponent and he noticed that Mad Dog wasn't moving, he was out cold and he also viewed that he has destroyed the surrounding area.
"W-w-what did I do?" asked Hajime, how could he have let himself do this? He wasn't the kind of guy who would duel so…savagely, there was no honor, no glory, it was nothing but senseless brutality, he turned his gaze to Yasuke who moved towards him "WHAT DID YOU DO?"
"You spoke as if I have pulled some invisible strings Hajime, on the contrary, you have showed your true nature Hajime, the nature of an Ultimate Duelist!" calmly said the Ultimate Neurologist.
"The nature of an Ultimate Duelist? What the hell you are talking about?" angrily asked Hajime.
"The underground duels are the perfect way to obtain the talent of an Ultimate Duelist, it allows you to show your true potential, allows you to remove your ears, your doubts and replace them with your true potential, the potential of surpassing the odds!" explained the Ultimate Neurologist.
"But it wasn't me, I am not the kind of guy who would…" begin to say the young man but Yasuke put his hands on Hajime's shoulders in order to reassure him.
"You are that kind of man, the moment I laid my eyes on you, I knew it that you will be the suitable andidate or the Ultimate Duelist mantle, you will become the strongest duelist that this world has even seen" reassured the Ultimate Neurologist to which it caused Hajime to be surprised, despite his old nature, Yasuke was helping Hajime to cope with his doubts "of course, such a quest will take some time and you can't succeed this alone, allow me to lend my help and together, you will obtain your talent and you and your friend, you shall be equals!"
"Yasuke…"
0-0-0
Meanwhile, a shadow was watching Hajime's duel with Mad Dog and she let out a satisfied laugh.
"UPUPUPU! So, it seems that Yasuke has succeeded in recruiting the guy from the Kamukura Project, well, I do admit that he is…intriguing, when he got angry, I felt it, the despair, the anger, the hatred, he was…formidable, I shall lay my eyes on him for the time being, one he will hit the bottom, his despair shall equal mine and then, he will finally achieve his true purpose, UPUPUPU! HAHAHAHAHA!"
And there it is, I hope that you have enjoyed this chapter, though it might shorter than the other chapters.
I based this chapter on Zane Truesdale duel against Mad Dog whom he inspired my own version of Mad Dog (the two are not the same person despite sharing the same name).
Net time, the tillers will finally be over and the net arc of a New Dueling Harmony will finally begin and it shall be a much, MUCH longer arc than the previous one, I'm sure that almost two-third of my story when I planned it will be based on this second story arc.
As always, don't forget to fave, follow and review this story (and no half-assed comics proposal please).