Yu-Gi-Oh! ASPECT: Desire of the Duelist Ch.5 pt2

...and promptly scrunched up his face like a Picasso painting. Card Blocker and Mystical Space Typhoon?! These can’t help me now! Then he saw the other card in his hand. Wait though, this card and Card Blocker… okay. These two should be fine for now. “First, I Summon Card Blocker in Defense Mode.” As the tiny cartoonish warrior appeared on his field [Warrior-Type/EARTH/Level 3/ATK 400/DEF 400], Jaden took two other cards from his hand. “Next I’ll throw down a face-down and activate Mystical Space Typhoon to destroy your Salvation and Perdition. That ends my turn.”

Ceren’s eyes widened at two-thirds of Dual Anarchy's arsenal shattering out of existence before his eyes-then grew a grin at the note of Jaden's turn ending.

“You activate a card that gives you a bonus draw and this is all you come up with? Your drawing skill’s running dry.” He drew for his turn and pointed at Jaden's newest Warrior. “Dual Anarchy, rid the field of his Card Blocker!”

“Oh no, you don’t!” Jaden countered. “Card Blocker’s special ability activates! When he’s attacked, I can send the top three cards of my Deck to the Graveyard to give him five hundred Defense Points for each sent card!” He placed three cards on the top of his Deck into his Graveyard slot (Card Blocker’s DEF 400 -> 1900).

“That won’t help you,” said Ceren as Dual Anarchy cut through Card Blocker in spite of Jaden’s effort, “Dual Anarchy’s Attack Power’s still higher, so that whole move of yours was pointless!” He pointed to Jaden’s remaining monster. “Now Aylia, attack Blazeman!”

“Blazeman’s goin’ nowhere!” Jaden countered. “I activate the Trap, Hero Ring!”

To Ceren’s astonishment, a circle of light appeared around Blazeman’s person, intercepting Aylia’s attack and leaving its occupant unharmed. “You see,” Jaden explained, “I can equip this card to a Warrior-Type monster I control with fifteen hundred or less Attack Points, and it keeps monsters with nineteen hundred or more Attack Points from attacking it.” He saw Ceren’s slightly annoyed expression. “I was hoping to combo this with Card Blocker, but as long as Blazeman’s here to stay, I got no complaints.”

“Well, regardless of your stunt,” Ceren went on, “Nothing will change. For my second Main Phase, I’ll sacrifice my Dual Anarchy and Bombtrack Dragon to Summon Paraidux Patrol - Thronekeeper in Defense Mode!”

A tremendous shadow loomed over the field as a colossal metal guardian appeared on Ceren’s field [Machine-Type/FIRE/Level 7/ATK 2050/DEF 2550]. Ceren was all too happy to talk it up. “Here’s something you might want to know: While I’ve got Thronekeeper on the field, all Machine-Type Paraidux Patrol monsters I control can attack while in Defense Mode, and when they do I can apply Thronekeeper’s Defense Points for damage calculation!

Next, since it’s my End Phase, Bombtrack Dragon’s effect activates! Since it was sent from my Monster Zone to the Graveyard this turn, I can Special Summon one Warrior-Type Paraidux Patrol monster from my Graveyard and equip it with this card! Return to active duty, General Robina!”

The familiar blonde appeared on Ceren’s field , saddling herself atop Bombtrack Dragon as it roared at Jaden. “And there’s more! I activate General Robina’s Quick Effect! By banishing one card that’s equipped to her, I can shuffle one Spell or Trap Card on the field into the Deck! I’ll get rid of that sorry little farce you call a defense.” Jaden clenched his jaw as the protective Hero Ring around Blazeman disappeared. “With that, I end my turn,” said Ceren at last.

Jaden looked at his Deck nervously. This is my last turn benefitting off of Spellbook. Please Deck, make it count! “My draw!” he announced bravely, taking the top two cards of his Deck into his hand… and frowned. “I’ll throw down two face-downs,” Jaden said as an obscured card appeared in both his monster and Spell/Trap Zone. “That’s all for me.”

“What a pity. Soon that’ll be all from you,” said Ceren, a tad smug at his advantage. “I’ll take the helm now.” He drew for his turn. “General Robina, attack his face-down monster!”

Jaden’s heart skipped a beat. Hope! “Reveal, Elemental Hero Clayman!”

“What?!” came the surprised response as the energy blast fired from Robina’s blasters ricocheted off of Jaden’s juggernaut and struck her in the midsection (Ceren’s LP 3200 -> 2800). “Whatever,” he said dismissively, brushing it aside. “Thronekeeper, attack Clayman!”

Jaden smiled gratefully as Clayman left the field. Thanks, Clayman. I thought this would be the end for me, but thankfully this guy’s arrogance got the better of him. I’ll be sure to make my next turn count.

“Alright,” said Ceren, disappointed at not being able to end it. “I end my turn. Not like it matters though. You hardly have anything that can threaten me.”

“Oh, don’t say that,” Jaden replied. “I’ve got one thing.”

“Curious. And that is?”

“Hope.”

A pause. Then Ceren snorted with laughter at something so cheesy. Then he saw Jaden’s stony glare. “You can’t be serious.”

“I am.”

Ceren looked at Jaden, incredulously amused. “Alright then, take your turn. Let's see how well your hope holds.”

“With pleasure.” Jaden drew for his turn. “Well, whaddaya know!” He showed Ceren the card he’d drawn. “Told you I had hope.”

Ignoring Ceren’s groan, Jaden slipped the card into the slot. “In fact, it's the Spell Card Fifth Hope! This card shuffles five Elemental Heroes from my Graveyard into my Deck! So I’ll shuffle  the Clayman, Avian, Bladedge, Wildheart, and Titantron from my Graveyard, then draw 2 new cards!” He did just that. “Next I’ll banish Fifth Hope from my Graveyard to Special Summon Spell Striker in Attack Mode!”

Another cartoonish warrior appeared on his field, this one waving a wand furiously in front of its helmeted face. [Warrior-Type/EARTH/Level 3/ATK 600/DEF 200]. “And next I’ll Normal Summon my Armor Breaker in Attack Mode!” Just like that, a third cartoonish warrior, wielding a giant hammer, sprang up next to Spell Striker [Warrior-Type/EARTH/Level 3/ATK 800/DEF 800]. “Then I activate Armor Breaker’s special ability to equip him to Spell Striker,” Jaden went on. “And I’ll have my Striker attack directly!”

Ceren didn’t even blink as Spell Striker swiped at him (LP 2800 -> 2200). “That’s not all!” Jaden continued, “Now Armor Breaker’s effect activates! When the monster he’s equipped to deals you Battle Damage, his effect destroys one card on the field! So say goodbye to Aylia the Suppressor!”

“What?!” Ceren’s shock betrayed his stony face as his strongest monster shattered to pieces.

“That’s all for now,” concluded Jaden. “Your turn.”

“Fine!” Ceren drew for his turn… then smiled. “Remember this card?” he asked. “I activate Paraidux Patrol Raid!” Seeing Jaden’s reaction, he went on, “...to banish five more Paraidux Equip Spells from my Deck-one for each card in my hand! Then I’ll have General Robina attack your Spell Striker!”

To his surprise, Jaden didn’t even grimace, not even when Robina’s shot threw up a cloud of dust. That’s weird, thought Ceren, My attack destroyed his monster and depleted his Life Points, so why wasn’t he afraid? Then it hit him. Wait, don’t tell me…

His suspicions were confirmed when he saw Jaden’s Spell Striker still on the field and his Life Point gauge unchanged. “What’s going on?” he demanded. “How’re you still standing? Do your monsters have effects?”

“They do,” Jaden answered. “First is my Armor Breaker. If the monster he’s equipped to would be destroyed by battle, Armor Breaker takes the hit for it.”

“That explains why your Striker’s still on the field. But what about your Life Points?”

“That’s courtesy of Spell Striker,” Jaden continued. “His effect prevents me from taking any damage from his battles.”

“Nngghhh,” grunted Ceren. “That won’t save you-or your Striker-for long! Thronekeeper, attack with your Crowning Glory blast!”

He felt a small twinge of satisfaction as Thronekeeper’s cannons shot at Jaden’s lone monster and finally wiped it off the field. “Don’t think I’m done yet!” Ceren went on. “Next I’ll once again shuffle Paraidux Patrol Raid into my Deck to Tribute both General Robina and my Thronekeeper so that I can Special Summon Paraidux Patrol - Bayone the Perfect Shot from my Extra Deck!”

Jaden looked on in confusion and surprise as a tall gun-wielding woman with blue armor and red hair emerged onto Ceren’s field in a chorus of lights and sound [Warrior-Type/FIRE/Level 8/ATK 3000/DEF 0]. “And this will end the Duel quick-for  when Bayone's Special Summoned, I can Special Summon one Paraidux Patrol monster from my Deck, but in exchange, she can’t attack this turn!” Ceren beamed as he took a card from his Deck and smiled at it. “And for you, Yuki, I’ve decided to take you down with the very same monster that won me my last Duel!” Slamming the card into his Monster Zone, he bellowed “BEHOLD, MY SIX PACK DRAGON!”

Jaden had no words to describe the fifteen-foot draconic machine monster that dropped from the sky from a glint of light that both he and Yubel thought was a star-until the shine of its shoulder-mounted revolver cannons became visible. Even as the dust coming from its landing, the beast rose and roared at Jaden loud enough to cause even Yubel to cover her ears. Then, every one of its cannons aimed directly at Jaden, ready to destroy him without so much as a second thought upon its master's say-so. [Machine-Type/FIRE/Level 6/ATK 2500/DEF 3000]

“So this is it,” mused Jaden, swallowing his saliva as he looked the beast up and down. “This is the monster that beat Chazz and Alexis in one turn.”

“Indeed it is,” Ceren confirmed proudly. “Your friends tried their best, but ultimately there was nothing they could do to stop this behemoth you see before you.” He paused for a moment, a nostalgic look on his face. “Here’s how it happened, in case you were wondering if you had a…”

# # #

“…way to beat you and your Scorcher!” Alexis proclaimed. “First, I’ll use my Summoned Cyber Petit Angel to add my Machine Angel Ritual from my Deck to my hand!” Thankfully, the bionic ball monster was in Defense Mode, as its small size caused it to peek over errantly at the three LV monsters at the other end of the Dueling field. [300 ATK/200 DEF].

Ceren quirked an eyebrow at this. “Now I have to deal with Rituals?”

“Oh don’t you worry, they’re not your problem yet.” Alexis then flashed out another Spell Card. “Now it’s time for the magic of Pre-Preparation of Rites! After all, being able to pull out a Ritual Monster and the Ritual Spell its name is printed on will do wonders for my Machine Angel Virtuose Ritual and my Cyber Angel Dakini!”

Two cards richer in the Duel, Alexis steeled herself. She knew her opponent would likely have something planned the second she mounted an attack, and so, she’d need insurance for what he’d likely throw back at him. Thankfully, her more reckless partner did leave one good thing for her to use. “Now, I activate Level Gauntlet!! to bolster my field.”

A giant pauldron slammed its way onto the field behind the shocked Petit Angel, in direct contrast to Chazz’s far more quietly conjured Level Spell that Armed Dragon Level Three was still posing with.

Turning back to Ceren, Alexis went on, “And finally, my activated Ascending Soul Spell should give me enough fortification before I Ritual Summon my Cyber Angel Dakini with Machine Angel Ritual, using the Cyber Petit Angel on my field and the Cyber Angel Benten in my hand as Tributes!”

With the two Cyber Fairies disappearing into the flames of the Machine Angel Altar, a six-armed cyborg burst from the pyre, triad of weapons at the ready [Ritual/Fairy/2700 ATK/2400 DEF]. “Thanks to both Ascending Soul and Cyber Angel Benten, not only do I get to return Benten from my Graveyard to my hand, but I can also add another Fairy-Type monster from my Deck since Benten was Tributed, like my Level Four Cyber Seamstress!” Alexis’s hand stood at four cards, to Ceren’s continued curiosity.“Now Cyber Angel Dakini, let’s see if you’ve got better luck against Ceren’s empty field!”

The twin blades of Dakini swung toward the derringer-wielding duelist, but Ceren was ready for it. “Crystal ball says no-and so does my Sky Smog Scorcher!” And back came the monster, ready and prepared to take the Ritual monster’s hit… only for Dakini to stop dead still, shocking Ceren and keeping the indignant Chazz’s ranting from breaking through the din.

Though in the latter’s case, the phantasmal Ojama Trio popping up near him got him back in a swiping frenzy. For Ceren though, there was…

“Machine Angel Virtuoso Ritual, GO!” Another Spell flashed up before the halted Cyber Angel, but this time, a far more mechanical altar showed up behind Alexis. “What gives now?” Ceren asked.

“Your Scorcher’s body and will, for starters!” Alexis triumphantly smiled. “This Ritual’s main demand is that it be used during the Battle Phase, but allows me to Ritual Summon a Cyber Ritual Monster from my hand by Tributing a monster you control and one from my hand or field! So with your Sky Smog Scorcher and my Cyber Seamstress in the hand both going into ancient history…”

Both monsters turned into a column of light, which converged on Alexis’s field, but did not drown out her final shout. “…here’s the one who penned their fate, Cyber Scribe LV6!”

A warrior in white-red robes and holding a gigantic book burst from the luminous column [LIGHT/2300 ATK/1300 DEF]. “And the pain’s only getting worse for you, because not only will my Tributed Cyber Seamstress add another Machine Angel Ritual from my Deck and the Cyber Petit Angel in my Graveyard to my hand, but my Level Gauntlet activates its special ability! Since I’ve brought out Cyber Scribe Level Six, this card lets me play a LV monster with a lower Level from my Deck to join the party with five hundred more Attack and Defense Points – Cyber Scribe LV4!”

This time, the book-wielding Ritual made way for its lesser processor, one whose book almost obscured her from the Aspect member’s view [LIGHT/1800-2300 ATK/800-1300 DEF]. “Now, both of my Scribes’ll take it to you directly – and thanks to the final ability of my Machine Angel Virtuoso Ritual, the damage from each of their direct attacks becomes one thousand – no more and definitely no less! Strike Ceren with your Lore Blaze and Lore Fireball!”

Both barrages left Ceren gasping for air, the field surrounded by blue and orange sparks (Ceren’s LP 3800 -> 1800). Wearily struggling to his feet, the Aspect member looked at his situation-one made all the bleaker by the Obelisk Duelist’s dictation – and visibly paled. “And thanks to your Scorcher hitting the Graveyard by something other than battle, I’m assuming you’re not getting it back by its special ability, right?”

“…no,” came the hiss from Ceren’s lips.

“Then I think this turn is over. And thanks to Cyber Angel Dakini, during the End Phase, I can conserve even more by returning the Machine Angel Ritual in my Graveyard back to my hand!”

Ceren could hardly believe it. His Obelisk foe had three Ritual Monsters, four cards in the hand, two Spells/Traps on the field and a barely touched four thousand. 

“Plus, thanks to my Level Gauntlet!!, each of our LV monsters’ effects can be activated as fast and often as a Trap Card, so I’ll take on Cyber Scribe Level Four’s effect to gain five hundred more Life Points.”

Okay, her Life Points were at forty-five hundred now. Things needed to change for Ceren – and thankfully, Chazz’s foolhardy destruction of the Sky Smog Scorcher had afforded him that way out quickly. One Ceren would need if he hoped to get past the barrage of LV monsters and Dakini now staring him down. And not a single one of the monsters’ Attack Points was below twenty-three hundred. What Ceren drew in his turn, however, turned things around for him.

“I tip my hat to you Alexis, but I’m afraid I have bad news. My first retrieval of the Sky Smog Scorcher could have been done by revealing two Equip Spells, but by revealing three, I can add one Machine-Type Paraidux monster from my Deck to my hand!” Ceren took another card from his Deck and added it to his hefty hand. “Now I activate Paraidux Patrol Raid!”

And with a rush, Ceren pulled out six Equip Spells – Paraidux Arms RK-2 Silver Perforator, Partycrashers, and Paraidux Arms RK-1 Last Dragonbreath, along with RK-3 Gold Standard and Salvation & Perdition, and RK-5 Infinity Launcher- and launched them into the air.

“Wait, what-?!” Chazz had finally trapped Ojama Green between his hands, Yellow and Black futilely trying to free the laughing Duel Spirit, before he noticed Ceren’s dramatic gesture.

Ceren paid him no mind. “And since I now have five or more banished Paraidux Spells-congratulations for successfully pissing me off enough to make this next move a masterpiece! It’s high time I gave you both my true double gun salute! Arise, SIX PACK DRAGON!”

An ear-splitting CRACK of lightning split in from of Ceren, and the six cards he had thrown into the air turned into balls of energy. Each of them found their home in half of the slots within two six-chamber revolver barrels that crashed into the ground, before arching to meet the light column. Their shrieks of metal caused both Chazz and Alexis to slam hands on their ears – and their six monsters between them to slam fists into the ground to keep from being blown off in the sharp winds.

In an abrupt snap, the light dissipated to reveal the chrome armor of a gigantic dragon, raising its head to meet both its opponents – and yet, Ceren’s stare was steelier than the beast in front of him [Machine/2500 ATK/3000 DEF].

Alexis was the first to recover. Then she gave a small smile. “Don’t worry; my Cyber Scribe Level Four will be all too happy to give me five hundred more Life Points to bear against that monster!” And now her Life Points stood at an even five thousand.

“I’m really unconcerned with how high your defenses are-I’ve got enough ammo to knock them down,” Ceren said.

“Well, would you be concerned with the special ability of Cyber Scribe Level Six? Because when my Life Points change in either direction, it lets me put an end to another card on the field-like that oversized bag of bolts you’ve so effortlessly Summoned!”

Cyber Scribe Level Six took aim at the sky with her large book opened to midway.

“Six Pack, meet the Scribe Smiter!”

A bolt erupted from the open tome, curled in the air and rocketed toward the Gatling giant. But as it crashed upon its form, Ceren’s smile actually seemed to get wider – before it was obscured by the dust cloud that the Scribe Smiter blast kicked up.

Chazz folded his arms. “HA! Easy come, easy go right? Now if you’re done scooping the eggs off your face, how about you start begging for mercy from the rumble of Chazz…”

The words died on his lips, as did Alexis’s planned rebuttal of Chazz’s planned play on his own name… mainly due to the shock of seeing Six Pack Dragon. Not only was it utterly unharmed by the Ritual Monster’s furious assault, but it was now adorned with two gigantic golden guns in place of its original holstered cannons – and it had one thousand more Attack Points to boot.  “Mind telling me what happened?!” Alexis shouted.

“Think I went to all that effort for something this vulnerable to your shoddy tricks? That targeted strike of yours only allowed my Six Pack Dragon to load up with the Partycrashers I just removed from my Deck – which gives it a thousand more Attack Points!” (Six Pack Dragon/ 2500 -> 3500 ATK/2000 –> 2500 DEF).

“Targeted assault, huh? Well, I think I’ve had enough of seeing that dragon. I’ll rid it with one of my own!”

“Wait, Chazz, no! I don’t think it’s just the targeting is what caused-”

“Second a Duelist tells you what they are, believe ‘em!” Chazz proclaimed. “And don’t worry Alexis, I’m doing this to get past that mistake I clearly made earlier with Level Modulation!” Turning to Ceren, he continued. “I activate my strongest Armed Dragon’s effect immediately, thanks to Alexis’s Level Gauntlet!! Now, by dropping a monster from my hand, I can destroy all monsters you’ve got with Attack Points equal to or less than its Attack Points! And since your monster’s at thirty-five hundred points, here’s a monster with equal Attack Points to put it down-the Ultimate Obedient Fiend!” 

The departure of the Level Ten Fiend signaled Chazz’s barrage, and despite the shouts of a shocked Alexis, Armed Dragon Level Seven shot off a flurry of its blades at the mechanical beast, causing another explosion. When the smoke cleared this time, Alexis sank to her knees, while Chazz took a step back in disbelief. Before them stood, once again, the unmarked Fire Machine monster – and worse yet, it now held another weapon in its hands like it was the Jaws of Life.

“How perceptive of one of you.” Ceren pulled one of his arms behind his back and smiled. “Because now the last piece of my plan is in place. That’s the Infinity Launcher you now see on my monster, and with two thousand extra Attack and Defense Points to boot, I’m very sure I can put it to good use!”

Six Pack Dragon gave off another grating roar at Ceren’s triumphant words, while Alexis and Chazz gaped in amazement as its Attack Points rose to a whopping fifty-five hundred.

“I…I…” Chazz tried to put up a brave front, but it was failing in the face of a well-stocked wyvern like the Six Pack Dragon – especially one that was that way now because of his futile strike. “…No monster’s supposed to be like that! Who are you?!”

The Aspect member snorted. “Sorry, only make that kind of small talk with my equals. And Yuki’s not here yet.”

Before Chazz could snap back, the Six Pack Dragon stepped forward. “Six Pack, your first hit is on the Armed Dragon Level Three! Fire at will with your Supreme Electron Silencer! And thanks to your innate ability, that Armed Dragon will lose three hundred Attack and Defense Points for each face-up Spell I control!”

Three barrels focused on the still-posing Armed Dragon Level Three, still posing and still at twenty-eight hundred – but the shock of its Attack Points being forcibly being dropped to nineteen hundred, from the stray sparks coming off the Dragon, brought it back to attention. When it noticed the charging points of light from the Fire Machine monster, it tried to bring its shield to bear against the barrage. Unfortunately, the shield didn’t even get down over its head before the blasters tore the little dragon to shreds, and put Chazz’s Life Points in a similar fashion, chopping it down to four hundred.

Chazz tried to struggle to his feet, but the pain of the impact was doing its number on him. Unfortunately, a shining glint in the air looked to ruin his day further. “Oh, and yeah, I’ve heard of those Level Spells. And I’m aware of their drawbacks too. I believe that your Armed Dragon Level Five owes its existence to that little Guard of yours, correct?”

“W...what of it?” Chazz spluttered.

“Well, since its wielder is gone, so is the monster it Summoned, Level Five-and I believe it comes with a…”

“Five hundred Life Point penalty for each lost monster…” Alexis trailed off.

“Clever girl…”

That statement did not come from Ceren, but the finger gunshot off in Chazz’s direction as the defunct Level Guard!! crashed into him and shattered did.

Life Points fully depleted for Chazz, Ceren turned to his Obelisk-affiliated friend. Alexis had made her way back to her feet, but her eyes were wildly switching between each of her monsters.

Then something struck her.

“Wait a second! Did you say your FIRST hit was to Chazz’s monster? Meaning that thing can attack more times?!”

“Oh yes, Alexis-this can make a second attack on a Special Summoned monster each Battle Phase, thanks to the Partycrashers.”

Ceren’s tone suddenly turned somber. “And really – I feel like I’ve been fighting one and a half Duelists. But goodness, what a one! I’m actually rather impressed with your perception of all ends of this duel, even if fruitless on Chazz’s end.”

“Um… thanks…” Alexis stuttered.

“…No, thank you. For giving me more stuff to talk of with Jaden later, for actually being a threat in this Duel…and for keeping the monster that destroyed my Sky Smog Scorcher on the field.”

“Wait, what?!”

“Open fire, Six Pack.”

And with a flurry of plasma, Alexis’s Cyber Scribe Level Six was literally lost in the lights. But past the whine of the lasers the Ritual Monster was caught in, Alexis managed to get out some words of her own. 

“Your dragon’s not the only one that can take a hit – my Cyber Scribe Level Six can survive one battle it normally wouldn’t each turn!”

“If only its power and your Life Points were as hardy, Alexis!” And once again, the lightning aura wrapping around the Cyber Scribe dropped its twenty-three hundred Attack Points to fourteen hundred. In addition, it also put Alexis’s Life Points at nine hundred – and her into a backward tumble.

Thankfully, her field was intact. But Ceren was not finished with her. “I end my turn, and you as well. My profound apologies.”

“I’ve still….got nine hundred…Life Points,” hissed Alexis, pulling herself to her feet and holding her side.

“And Six Pack’s final effect, Double Tap, will siphon them off. Since I equipped an Equip Spell to it with its effect this turn, it inflicts one thousand extra points of damage to you at the End Phase.”

Alexis could only stare blankly as Six Pack Dragon issued a blast of fire – this time, from its gaping maw – directly at her.

The illumination from the explosion – and the direction Ceren’s head took to avoid the cloud of dust from that explosion – brought another girl to his attention. She was hiding in a tree, with long purple hair. And Ceren, judging by her scramble after Alexis’s Life Points hit zero, was likely about to blow his cover improperly. Thankfully, Six Pack Dragon was a bit more than the average monster, and so he pointed at the tree.

“Need a bit more power then, Ehris. Six Pack, knock our guest from the tree and only that. I don’t feel up to scraping her off the floor – After this Duel, Ra knows I’m done…”

###

"...with my feature presentation."

Banner watched as the rift closed in front of him before turning around to face its emitter, Ehris. “It’s not just you two, is it?” Banner asked, his calmness in spite of what he’d just witnessed taking Ehris by surprise. 

“What do you mean?” she asked.

“I mean, someone like you who can open up rifts in time and that boy down there with the Paraidux Patrol cards capable of materializing his monsters. Something just tells me there’s more where you two came from.”

“Very astute of you, Professor Banner,” said Ehris, idly looking at her clenching fist. “But I’m not telling you a thing.”

“Well in my experience, if someone says something like that they usually are working with someone else. So if I had to guess, I’d say you’re part of a larger organization dead-set on getting rid of Jaden. Then there’s the fact that you’re here with me right now; you can’t be a mere foot soldier as your abilities and the fact you’re refraining from engaging anyone in combat suggests you’re one of the higher-ups.”

Ehris’s eyes widened at Banner’s surmising. “That’s very impressive,” she admitted, “But I know things about you too, Professor Banner. Oh wait, sorry, how rude of me. Amnael.” Banner froze. “That’s right. My group and I know everything there is about the time you tried to unlock the Sacred Beasts. I have to say, I’m surprised; to think that someone as laid-back and under the radar as you would actually be part of something so nefarious.”

Banner just floated there. “What do you want from me?”

“Oh, nothing from you. But I would like you to not interfere with Ceren’s Duel. It’d be a shame if anything happened,” she added, with a hint of a threat towards Pharaoh. But to her surprise, Banner just smiled. “No need to worry on that front,” he said, “I don’t intend on interfering.”

“Oh? And why’s that?”

“Because of who you’re pitting yourselves against. Jaden Yuki is one of the finest students to ever come through this Academy. While it’s true I played a part in the Sacred Beasts being unsealed, I also made sure someone would be able to stand against them. He is that someone. If you know of me, you must also know of Kagemaru. Jaden defeated not only him, but the vessel containing the Light of Destruction the following year. In fact, he’s directly responsible for defeating most of the threats facing Duel Academy.”

“That’s odd,” countered Ehris, “Because from what I heard, he was also responsible for what befell this Academy earlier this year.”

Banner tensed up. “Did he ever tell you about it?” asked Ehris. “The look on your face makes me think the answer's at least a maybe.”

Banner paused for a moment, looking out at the redcoat. “We all have our demons,” he said knowingly.

“Are you seriously giving me that as an excuse?” asked Ehris with a laugh in her voice. “Because what Jaden did goes far beyond simply being troubled. And if he survives his Duel, he’ll be taken to one such result of his reign of terror, personally.”

“I understand full well that Jaden did something awful,” said Banner. “He’s become more secretive ever since he came back from the other dimension, and he’s less talkative now than he ever was before. But I believe that my student is not only back in his right mind, but that his heart’s also back in the right place. Whoever he was in the other dimension, he left it all back there and moved on. So rest assured, Miss Ehris, that I won’t interfere with this Duel. Because Jaden doesn’t need me to.”

Ehris narrowed her eyes at Banner. That optimism of his is annoying, she thought, But no matter. His tune will change when Ceren prevails. So much of this world and the worlds beyond will. With nothing else to do, she and Banner resumed watching Ceren’s latest Duel now finally freed of the time-halting spell Ehris had emitted.

# # #

Aw man, thought Jaden, I haven’t gotten any solid good draws in the last three turns. And this guy’s just been hammering away at whatever I Summon. Plus he’s now got the two toughest monsters of his Deck – at least I hope they are – out on the field. He looked at his Deck and gulped. Here goes…something!

“Wait,” came Yubel’s voice. “You don’t know anything about his monsters. Ask so he doesn’t have anything to surprise you with.”

Good idea, Jaden agreed. “Before I start my turn,” he said out loud, “I’d like to know what your monsters’ effects are.”

“Sure thing,” said Ceren. “You’ve probably found out everything you need to know about my Six Pack Dragon from Blair's scout report, but Bayonne allows me to equip Paraidux Equip Spells from my hand to monsters I control regardless of their equipping conditions, and is also unaffected by the effects of monsters with twenty-five hundred or less Attack Points.”

So his Equip Spells couldn’t be equipped regularly before. I was right! thought Jaden. But knowing that won’t help me now. I need to Summon something that’s powerful enough to take on both Bayonne the Perfect Shot and his Six Pack Dragon without being vulnerable to their effects. He glanced at Six Pack Dragon. But if I were to fuse, his Six Pack Dragon would just take me out right there and then as soon as it attacked. That, and it would only get more powerful as Ceren would only equip more cards or it to use against me. He looked at his Deck. All this thinking isn’t helping. If I don’t draw something, I’ll never get anywhere.

“Here goes...something!” he announced boldly as he drew for his turn… and frowned for the third time in a row. Dammit! This card can’t help me either. Even if I Summoned something with it, Ceren would just finish me off with… wait, hold on; maybe there is something I can do here! 

“I activate the Flute of Summoning Kuriboh! This card lets me add a furry friend of mine from my Deck to my hand, so I’ll go right ahead and add my Winged Kuriboh!” He added it and shuffled. “Next  I’ll Set a monster and end my turn.”

“That was… anticlimactic,” said Ceren, drawing for his own turn. “Guess ensuring the thrill in this Duel's up to me. I’ll equip Bayone the Perfect Shot with Paraidux Arms RK-4 Ember Missile Pack from my hand. And it’s aimed at anything you conjure up from here on out-because when a Spell Card would be activated or a monster with higher Attack Points than the equipped monster would be Special Summoned, I can banish this card to neutralize and destroy them. Just in case you were thinking about activating that Polymerization on your next turn,” he added with a smirk before pointing to Jaden’s Set monster. “Now Six Pack Dragon, attack his Set monster!”

Upon his order, the giant mechanical beast opened fire, incinerating Jaden’s only line of defense. “Before you do anything else,” Jaden interrupted, “Winged Kuriboh’s effect activates! Since it was destroyed and sent to the Graveyard, all Battle Damage I take this turn goes to zero!”

“Son of a…” muttered Ceren, before cutting himself off and gesturing to Jaden. “I end my turn. You're up.”

“Sure thing,” said Jaden. He took a breath and drew. “Finally!” he exclaimed at the top of his lungs. With a look at Ceren, he played what he hand. “I activate the Spell Card called A Forbidden Tactic! It only works when I have 2 or less cards on the field, and allows me to reveal a Level 7 or lower monster in my hand with 2000 or more ATK, like my Elemental HERO Neos, to draw 1 card for every thousand Defense Points it has! Unless of course, your Ember Missile Pack has any objections?”

“Not right now,” said Ceren, “You’re at the end of your rope, so there’s not much you can do.”

“How courteous. I draw two, thanks to Neos' two thousand Defense Points…” Jaden checked the two cards he’d just added. He looked at them, then to Ceren, then grinned. “…and now I’ll activate the Spell Card Monster Reborn, to bring back the Thronekeeper from your Graveyard!”

Ceren weighed his options: His Six Pack Dragon could protect itself from destruction twice per turn and would deal Jaden damage if he so much as attacked with a Special Summoned monster. But then again, Jaden had other cards in his hand, and if even one worked with the Thronekeeper was Summoning…

“Forget it!” the derringer-wielding Duelist interrupted. “I activate Ember Missile Pack’s effect to banish it to negate and destroy Monster Reborn!”

“That’s fine with me!” retorted Jaden, “Because now it’s time for what I was planning for all along!”

“Wait, what?!”

“That’s right! I figured you’d negate Monster Reborn! I mean, who wouldn’t? So now I’ll activate my face-down card…!” He pointed dramatically at it as it flipped up. “Polymerization!”

Ceren jaw dropped. What in the world?!

Jaden would not be deterred by his opponent's shock. "This'll let me fuse my Elemental Heroes Neos and Sparkman to create my newest Hero! I Fusion Summon the Elemental HERO Nebulos!”

As he said all this, Neos and Sparkman appeared, twisting and coalescing into a shining star which projected out an armored version of Neos. This entity, clad in silver armor and with jagged jade blades ejecting from his arms, touched down upon Jaden’s field. [Warrior-Type/Fusion/LIGHT/Level 9/ATK 3000/DEF 2500]. “And next,” Jaden continued, “I activate Nebulos’s sweet special ability! I can Tribute this bad boy to Special Summon one Neos Fusion Monster from my Fusion Deck! So I’ll Tribute Nebulos to call out my Elemental Hero Air Neos!”

Ceren clenched his jaw as one of Jaden’s Neos Fusion Monsters flashed away and begat another, this one wearing sharpened crimson armor [Warrior-Type/Fusion/WIND/Level 7/ATK 2500/DEF 2000]. “And here’s a nifty trick courtesy of Air Neos! Since my Life Points are lower than yours, he gains Attack Points equal to the difference!”

“Crap, that’s two thousand points!” muttered Ceren as Jaden’s winged warrior glowed with green light (ATK 2500 -> 4500).

“You’re right, it is! And I aim to use all of ‘em right now!” Jaden took his last card from his hand and played it. “But before I do, I want to make sure nothing can get in the way of stopping your Dragon and saving my friends, so I equip Rainbow Veil to my Air Neos! When the monster this card’s equipped to battles an opponent’s monster, while that monster’s on the field its effects are negated on the Battle Phase!" Jaden pointed to Ceren’s powerhouse. "Now Air Neos, take down Six Pack Dragon!”

Ceren could do nothing but stand there in silent fury as Jaden’s monster bore down on his. All of my Dragon’s mighty powers, negated! And all by that stupid Rainbow Veil card! With a single punch, Air Neos burst through the mighty Machine monster's shattered Ceren’s best monster to pieces (Ceren’s LP 2200 -> 200; Air Neos’s ATK 4500 -> 2500). “My turn’s not over yet,” Jaden went on. “Next I’ll banish my Hero’s Second Signal from my Graveyard and gain Life Points equal to Air Neos’s Attack Points.” Placing the card in his pocket, he spread his arms wide and basked in the sparkles that showered down upon him (LP 200 -> 2700). “Alright then,” said Jaden at last, “That ends my turn. Thankfully Nebulos has another effect that protects my Air Neos from returning to the Fusion Deck by card effects.”

Ceren shook unceasingly, utterly beside himself with rage.  Unbelievable! No one’s ever defeated Six Pack Dragon! That card’s my pride and joy, and he beat it in a matter of seconds like it was nothing!

Then the thought occurred to him. I need to Summon Bertha. Curse the waiting, she’ll put this guy in his place! He checked his hand. I have everything I need to bring her out, too!

“Jaden Yuki!” he called out to Jaden. “It’s time for you to experience a power like none you’ve ever seen before!”

Jaden tensed. What kind of power is he talking about now?

Ceren drew his card for that turn. “First I’ll Summon Paraidux Patrol - Inspector Lili in Attack Mode!” As he finished speaking, a long-haired woman in a reddish-brown trenchcoat appeared on his field [Warrior-Type/FIRE/Level 4/ATK 1900/DEF 1000]. “And then I’ll Set four cards face-down!” he announced as the backs of four cards appeared between him and his monsters. “And now I’ll combine my Level Four Inspector Lili with my four face-down cards!”

What?! Jaden’s eyes widened. “What’s going on?! What are you doing?!”

“Summoning a kind of monster that you’re among the lucky few to witness!” Ceren bellowed, raising his free hand to the sky as Inspector Lili’s body ignited and shot up into the air in a brilliant tongue of orange light. As Jaden watched in a mix of confusion and suspense, the tongue split into two parallel lines. Jaden wondered what these were until he saw Ceren’s four face-down cards glow bright green and shoot up into the air in similarly brilliant green tongues, which stretched themselves between the two parallels, revealing the two of them to be helices. The four Spell Cards formed four rung-like lines between the two helices, which then twisted around the connecting rungs, forming what looked like a strand of genes guiding the gazes of everyone present up into the sky where a bright white tunnel opened up. The strands of light entered the tunnel and straightened out.

“It’s all over for you now, Yuki!” boomed Ceren, projecting his voice above the clamor. “This is the birth of a brand-new breed of monster! Bear witness to my new dame of destruction! I ADVENT SUMMON PARAIDUX PATROL - BERTHA THE BALLISTIC!”

Advent Summon?! Jaden could barely hear his mind say the words as the wind grew to a deafening howl, and the light intensified to nearly blind him. Shielding his eyes with his arm, Jaden glimpsed into the tunnel as a humanoid-shaped mass of chrome appeared in its light and began to pull itself from the gateway...

TO BE CONTINUED....