☆4: Dull Cards

"My turn, draw!"

Yuji draws a card, creating a spectacular mahogany colored arch in the air.

"Brace yourself, Jaden! I summon Elemental HERO Prisma in attack position!"

He placed the card into his Duel Disk's blade. But nothing happened, the holographic image and special effect didn't come.

"Um.... I summon Elemental HERO Prisma in attack position!"

"..."

Nothing happened, The Solid Vision system didn't respond.

"I said... I summon Elemental HERO Prisma in attack position!!!"

Yuji shouted louder, but nothing happened.

"..."

Jaden and Syrus looking at Yuji who repeatedly placed E•HERO Prisma with confused look.

Yuji let out a deep sighs, since the duel with Trueman his Duel Disk didn't work as it should be.

He checked and do a maintenance when this thing starts to happen. He even requested help to Misawa and even Sakura, who is more knowledgeable and skilled than him.

But the problem still persists, he even brought it out to the department in the Academy, who deals with technological and equipments problem, but the problem still exists.

He even bought a new one, but nothing has changed.

"Is it still broken?", asked Jaden as he's approaching Yuji.

"Yeah...", nods him with a worried expression, as he tried another Elemental HERO's monster card.

"Trap and Spell card still working, but when it comes to Monster Card, some working and some won't", said Yuji as he turned off the Duel Disk.

"Maybe the problem is the cards itself?", asked Syrus while sitting on the stairs.

Yuji closed his eyes, "Maybe...", replied him a bit gloomy.

Just like the Duel Disk, Yuji already requested a help from someone who knowledgeable about Duel Monster card.

Based on the answers he received, there isn't anything wrong with his cards, in fact the one who inspect his cards praised him because he's done a good job on maintaining his cards in very good condition.

If there isn't a problem on his cards and Duel Disk, then the real problem lies within the user, which makes Yuji disappointed in himself.

Thinking that it was his fault, he even lends the cards to Jaden. Surprisingly, even his cards didn't respond to Jaden.

Syrus smiles wryly after looking at Yuji's gloomy expression, wondering how he can lighten his mood.

"Ah!", Syrus claps his hand, he seems to have an idea.

Jaden and Yuji looked at Syrus, wondering what he's been thinking.

"Big Bro, Yuji! Did you know that The Academy gonna issue a new Duel Disk?!"

Yuji and Jaden looked at each other, wondering if they know, but both of them shakes their head and shifted their attention to Syrus again.

Syrus grabs his PDA, then shows the image of the new Duel Disk and its specification.

The New Duel Disk has the same appearance as the one they've used, but seems sleeker and now has the color accent based on the user's respective dormitory.

Written on it, it also has a new chamber for Banishment zone, new version of Solid Vision system and its update already installed.

"It is free?", asked Yuji looking a bit skeptical.

Syrus nods, "Um, it is free"

"Thank god...", told him, letting out a sigh of relief.

"When it's come out?", asked Jaden.

"Um...", Syrus scrolled down searching for the launch date, "Ah... it's today"

"Hmm, so today, huh? I though... what did you say?"

Syrus scratches his cheek, "It's... today"

"..."

"..."

"..."

Silence ensure....

"Where is the place they're giving out the new Duel Disk?", asked Yuji as he grips Syrus' shoulders.

"I... It's on The Gymnasium!", replied Syrus, shocked when Yuji grabs his shoulders.

"Why didn't you say anything before?!", asked Yuji.

"I- I thought both of you knew!!, replied Syrus with eyes starts to spin.

"How should I know?! I'm busy with my card!!", remarks Yuji.

Jaden separated them both. Yuji sighs, a bit disappointed because Syrus didn't say it sooner. In contrast, Syrus in question become dizzy because Yuji constant shaking.

"What are we waiting for?! Let's go, everyone!", shouted Jaden.

"Ah, Let's go!", replied Yuji.

"Let's... ugh...", replied Syrus covering his mouth, holding out his barf.

After that, they started running, afraid they wouldn't get the new Duel Disk. Luckily for them, they've got a new Duel Disk, but because they were late, the three of them had to wait in line for an hour.

Later...

"Sweet! Look at this new Duel Disk!!", shouted Jaden, raising his left hand where the new Duel Disk attached.

"Hey... isn't this Duel Disk more lighter than the previous one?", asked Syrus as he's moving his left arm, amazed of how light the Duel Disk is.

While the two of them still amazed by the new Duel Disk, Yuji immediately placed his deck. The new Duel Disk immediately shuffled his deck and ejects five cards for Yuji to take.

"I summon Elemental HERO Blazeman in attack position!", yells him as he placed the card.

Alas, the same thing happened again. His monster's image didn't get projected.

Yuji closed his eyes and let out a deep breath, after that he put the card in the deck again.

Jaden and Syrus looking at Yuji with worried expression.

"Cheer up! Maybe it only works when you duel", said Syrus tries to reassure him.

Yuji looked at Syrus with a wryly smiles, "Hmm, maybe...", he then shifted his gaze to Jaden.

Jaden who noticed Yuji's gaze immediately placed his deck and activate his Duel Disk, "The usual?!", asked him smiling like a chef that has known his regular customer.

"Yeah...", replied Yuji.

Syrus steps back, and sit on the top of the nearby rock to witness their duel.

""Duel!""

Jaden |LP 4000|

Yuji |LP 4000|

The first one to strike is Jaden.

"My turn, draw!"

"I activate Polymerization from my hand to fuse Elemental HERO Avian and Burstinatrix!"

A vortex of Blue and Green energy appears behind him.

"When the two power become one, a new HERO is awakened!", chants him.

The HERO with Bird-like armaments and The HERO with hot flaming costume, jumped! Their body begins glowing and changing into green and red comet-like form toward the center of the vortex, swirls together.

"Spread your Wings, then Dive in with Scorching Heat!"

Before Jaden placed his fingers on the extra deck, The New Duel Disk already ejected the card from the extra deck at a speed that shocked even him.

The moment he took the card, Jaden immediately show his street performance-like talent by making the card dance between his fingers.

"Fusion Summon!", told him as he shows the card to Yuji's face, then placed the fusion monster to the monster zone.

The One-winged HERO with grafted Fire Dragon Head for the right hand jumped out from the vortex to Jaden's field.

"Appear before us! Elemental HERO Flame Wingman!"

E•HERO Flame Wingman (LV.6)

ATK/2100 DEF/1200

"Hmph, it is always this guy", snorted Yuji as he witnesses its emergence.

"Set a card on the field, turn end", Jaden declared his end of turn.

Yuji clenched his hand, "Let's go, draw!", then with trembling fingers he draws a card.

[It's here!]

The corner of his mouth rose upward, after he noticed what kind of card he had drawn.

"First, I summon Elemental HERO Blazeman!"

Yuji placed the card into The Duel Disk's blade, but nothing appears on his field.

He paused for a bit then waved his hand, "At this moment, activate Elemental HERO Blazeman's effect. If this card is normal or special summoned, I can add the spell card Polymerization from my deck to my hand!"

Sadly, The New Duel Disk didn't react to him nor Blazeman's effect. Without the assistance, he quickly unmounted his deck and search for the spell card manually, then mounted it back after he shuffled the deck.

Yuji slightly bit his lips, and immediately placed the spell card Polymerization from his hand.

"I activate the spell card Polymerization!"

If the Main Deck monster won't appear or active, then what about the monster from The Extra Deck?

"I fuse Elemental HERO Blazeman on the field and King of The Swamp in my hand!"

Yuji sends the three cards to The Graveyard.

He raised his hand, and begin chanting.

"The HERO who wield the power of merciless winter and coldest Ice! Bring destruction to the opposing HERO, and return everything to ZERO!"

Unlike Jaden, There isn't a whirlpool nor a vortex appears on his field, even Elemental HERO Blazeman and King of The Swamp didn't emerge.

Strangely enough, his Duel Disk who previously didn't respond, ejected the fusion monster card E•HERO Absolute Zero from The Extra Deck.

Looking at this makes he frowned further.

"Fusion Summon!", Yuji claps, as he then gently placed the card into the monster zone.

"Lend me your strength, Elemental HERO Absolute Zero!", yells him.

Nevertheless, no monster emerges on his field.

Jaden and Syrus stunned looking at Yuji's field without a single monster with eyes widened.

"You're kidding, right?!", said Jaden, surprised.

"No way... even with the newly issued Duel Disk, Yuji still can't summon any of his monster?!", said Syrus with an expression full of shock.

Silence ensure for a bit until Syrus opens his mouth, "Then, without any monsters on his side, how can Yuji duel anymore?"

Yuji grits his teeth, he is immediately looking at the cards in his hand.

[Please! Is there something that I can use?!]

He glanced at the cards in his hand, praying that there must be a card he can use.

[Wait... If Elemental HERO can't, then what about this card?!]

Among the cards in his hand, one card stood up. The top right corner of the card let out a mysterious shinning, as if the card telling him to played it instead.

"From my hand, I activate the spell card Double Summon!"

Yuji took one card, and raised it high, "By sacrificing Elemental HERO Absolute Zero, I summon this monster!"

[Please, answer me!]

He closed his eyes and prayed that this time, it'll work.

"From the dark dimension, you who wield the flame of destruction. Set ablaze those fools who dare to stand in front of your mighty and beautiful eyes"

Cracks appears on the space behind him.

"Advance Summon!"

The boundary shattered, a majestic dragon with dual colored eyes emerges from the other dimension.

"Come forth, the dragon whose eyes shine with bravery and determination! Odd-Eyes Advance Dragon!!!"

A majestic dragon appears on Yuji's field, roaring and staring at Jaden with fervent fighting vigor.

Odd-Eyes Advance Dragon (LV.8)

ATK/3000 DEF/2500

Jaden started to sweat, it was the first time he has faced a dragon with the same intimidation caliber like The Blue-Eyes White Dragon.

Even so, he can't stop grinning looking at the majestic dragon's eyes.

Syrus widened his eyes, and can't help but to gulp his saliva. Just like Jaden, among the dragon he had face, this particular dragon sends a shiver into his spine.

Yuji raised his fist, and joyfully cheers, "Yes!!! It's still working!!!"

Jaden smiles, "Isn't that great, Yuji? Your card is still working! Now we can duel for real!!", told him as he clenched his hand.

But Yuji in front of him shakes his head, "No..."

Jaden raised his eyebrow, "Eh? Why?"

Yuji let out a wryly smiles, "Don't you forget something, Jaden?"

Jaden tilted his head, wondering about what Yuji is saying, then-

"Ah!!!", he realized that his Elemental HERO Flame Wingman is still standing.

As he knew, Yuji's E•HERO Absolute Zero has the effect that it can destroy all the monster the opponent controls if it leaves the field.

But Yuji's Absolute Zero's effect didn't trigger nor activate.

Yuji let out a dried laugh, "It seems that I can no longer use Elemental HERO cards for the time being"

He then stares into Jaden's eyes, "Sorry Jay, but let's end it here"

"Yuji...", Jaden uttered his name, his face filled with disappointed expression.

Yuji who noticed his tone and expression smiles, "What wrong with your face? Glad that I can no longer use Elemental HERO?!", teased him.

Jaden scratches his cheek, "Um... no, not that, it just..."

Yuji smirks, "I know, I know. It's only for a while, but... enjoy your win. When the time comes for me to be able to use Elemental HERO again, I will steal this victory from you!"

Told him as his eyes become sharper like an eagle.

Jaden rubs his nose, grinning, "Then, I'll wait for it!"

Yuji nods, "Just you wait for it!"

He then turned around, and started walking away.

Jaden and Syrus raised their eyebrows.

"Wait... where are you going?! Slifer Red, isn't that way!", asked Jaden.

Yuji stops, then turned his head toward Jaden and Syrus. Looking at both of them, Yuji can't help but to sneer and teased those two.

"Sorry, I've got a date!", replies him.

But before he's leaving both of them for real, "Ah, I forgot! Odd-Eyes Advance Dragon's effect activate! Take that, 2100 damage!"

Fortunately, Odd-Eyes Advance Dragon's effect can still be activated. With eyes full of disrespect, the dragon spits a fireball toward E•HERO Flame Winged Man, burning him to crisp.

Jaden |LP 4000>1900|

Without further ado, Yuji fastens his walking pace, leaving his friends with stunned expression plastered on their face.

.....................................

Later, on the cliff overlooking the harbor.

"You're late!"

A beautiful girl crossed her arms, looking at Yuji with a serious and grumpy expression.

The girl has long dark blonde hair and with a chest that shouldn't belong to a mere high school student.

"Sorry. Something urgent is coming up, you see?", smiles him as an apology.

"Something urgent?!", asked Alexis as she narrowed her eyes.

Yuji nods, "Yeah, I have to go picked some flowers on the way. Sadly, there isn't any beautiful flowers that I can give it to you"

Alexis let out a deep, tired sigh, "You shouldn't talk about that to a girl, you know?"

"Hahahaha, haha ah...."

Yuji's demeanor changed, his smiling expression vanished in an instant as he then glared at her with eyes sharp as an eagle targeting its prey, making Alexis a little intimidated.

"Alexis, we need to talk"