Yu-Gi-Oh! GX - Episode 021

The Duel Off - Part 1, known as '''Fusion Seal! Judai VS Misawa (Part 1)''' in the Japanese version, is the twenty-first episode of the Yu-Gi-Oh! GX anime. Jaden Yuki is pitted against Bastion Misawa in a duel to determine which of them will represent Duel Academy in the inter-school match against North Academy. At the same time, a reporter named Gerard arrives on the island, and goes undercover to gather information about the Abandoned Dorm.

Summary
At the docks, a ship is unloading at Duel Academy. A scuba diver sneaks onto the island from the ship and states he's going to uncover the school's dark secrets. Chancellor Sheppard is having a staff meeting, in which the teachers attempt to decide who will represent Duel Academy in the inter-school match against North Academy. Dr. Crowler insists that there is no reason not to have Zane Truesdale, who also attends the meeting, as their representative just as it was last year. Sheppard reveals that North Academy has chosen a first-year student, so Sheppard wishes to to choose one as well. Zane has no problem with this, and suggests Jaden Yuki for the position. Crowler does not wish for a Slifer Red student, especially Jaden, to represent them, and nominates Bastion Misawa. He suggests that the two duel to determine who will earn the right to be their representative. The scuba diver has infiltrated the school, and enters a locker room and steals a Slifer Red jacket, intending to use it to blend in with the students. Professor Banner announces the news to Jaden and Bastion during class, and Bastion reveals that he's been building an entirely new Deck specifically to counter Jaden's Elemental Heroes, and that he's nearly finished.

The scuba diver wanders the halls, perplexed as to why Obelisk Blue and Ra Yellow students will not speak with him. Jaden meets with him, and assumes that he was held back a few years, as he appears older than a student should. Jaden drag him back to the Slifer dorm, where he rebuilds his Deck for his duel with Bastion. He drops a "Skyscraper" card, and the diver picks it up, remembering his own past, where it appears he used an Elemental Hero Deck of his own, and suffered a loss to Seto Kaiba. He accidentally lets slip that his name is Gerard after insisting that Jaden cease calling him "old timer". He then states he doesn't like dueling, leading them to question why he's at Duel Academy, and he says he doesn't enjoy it because he is not good at it. Chumley Huffington sympathizes with him, having been held back himself, and states that watching Jaden duel inspired him to do better. Syrus Truesdale suggests that Gerard watch Jaden duel, hoping this will help inspire him to become better himself. Gerard then attempts to get the information he needs out of them, and asks if they know if the rumors about disappearing students have any truth to them. Jaden asks if he means the Abandoned Dorm, which intrigues Gerard, as he hadn't heard of it. This gives him a starting point for his research, and he later ends up outside the Abaonded Dorm, where he meets Alexis Rhodes. He questions her about the missing students, but she advises him to cease his search. She departs, and he pulls out a camera, and begins to take pictures, stating that if he breaks this story, the money he gets from it could set him up for life.

At the Ra Yellow dorm, Bastion sits at his computer, still analyzing Jaden's Deck. He determines that he needs to stop Jaden from Summoning "Elemental Hero Flame Wingman" and "Elemental Hero Thunder Giant", which would mean stopping their respective Fusion Material Monsters. Racking his brains, he develops a strategy that would neutralize both threats. The next day, the whole school gathers to watch the duel, and Gerard determines that with them distracted, this is his ideal time to act. He sneaks into the library, and begins attempting to hack into one of the school's computers. At the arena, the duel begins, with Bastion Summoning "Carboneddon" in defense position. Jaden Summons "Elemental Hero Burstinatrix", using it to attack and destroy "Carboneddon". Jaden Sets a card, and Bastion draws, thinking that the card he drew is the one that will lead him to victory. He Summons "Oxygeddon" and attacks, but Jaden negates the attack by activating his face-down "Hero Barrier". Bastion Sets the card he drew and ends his turn. Jaden Summons "Elemental Hero Sparkman" and equips him with "Spark Blaster", using it's effect to switch "Oxygeddon" to defense position. He attacks and destroys it with "Burstinatrix", which activates "Oxygeddon's" effect, dealing 800 damage to both players. Jaden attacks directly with "Sparkman", reducing Bastion to 1600 Life Points. This greatly worries Crowler, as he's the one who nominated Bastion for this duel, and he appears to be losing so early on.

Bastion Summons "Hydrogeddon" and destroys "Burstinatrix" with it. Since it destroyed a monster in battle, "Hydrogeddon's" effect activates, letting Bastion Summon a second copy from his Deck. He then activates "Living Fossil", Special Summoning "Oxygeddon" from his Graveyard, though it's effect is negated and it's attack decreased by 1000. He then plays "Bonding - H2O", Tributing his three monsters to Special Summon "Water Dragon". Bastion believes that Summoning such a powerful monster will force Jaden to Summon a Fusion Monster - and fall right into Bastion's trap. Jaden plays "Polymerization" in an attempt to fuse "Sparkman" with the "Elemental Hero Avian" and "Elemental Hero Bubbleman" in his hand to Fusion Summon "Elemental Hero Tempest". Bastion activates his face-down "Cursed Seal of the Forbidden Spell", discarding "Double Spell" in order to negate "Polymerization" and prevent Jaden from playing it again during the current duel, even if it's a different copy. With this, Bastion has sealed off Jaden's main method of Summoning his Fusion Monsters.

Bastion's turn

 * Summons "Carboneddon" (900/600) in defense position.

Jaden's turn

 * Summons "Elemental Hero Burstinatrix" (1200/800) in attack position.
 * Attacks and destroys "Carboneddon".
 * Sets a card.

Bastion's turn

 * Summons "Oxygeddon" (1800/800) in attack position.
 * Attacks "Burstinatrix", but Jaden activates his face-down "Hero Barrier", negating the attack.
 * Sets a card.

Jaden's turn

 * Summons "Sparkman" (1600/1400) in attack position.
 * Equips "Sparkman" with "Spark Blaster".
 * Uses "Spark Blaster" to switch "Oxygeddon" to defense position.
 * Attacks and destroys "Oxygeddon" with "Burstinatrix", with the former's effect activating, inflicting 800 damage to both players since it was destroyed by a FIRE-attribute monster (Jaden 3200, Bastion 3200).
 * Attacks directly with "Sparkman" (Bastion 1600).

Bastion's turn

 * Summons "Hydrogeddon" (1600/1000) in attack position.
 * Attacks and destroys "Burstinatrix", with "Hydrogeddon's" effect activating, letting Bastion Special Summon another copy of it from his Deck.
 * Activates "Living Fossil", Special Summoning "Oxygeddon" from the Graveyard, though it's effect is negated and it's attack decreased by 1000.
 * Activates "Bonding - H2O", Tributing his three monsters to Special Summon "Water Dragon" (2800/2600) in attack position.

Jaden's turn
Duel continues in the next episode.
 * Activates "Polymerization" intending to fuse "Sparkman" with the "Elemental Hero Avian" and "Elemental Hero Bubbleman" in his hand to Fusion Summon "Elemental Hero Tempest", but Bastion activates his face-down "Cursed Seal of the Forbidden Spell", discarding "Double Spell" to negate "Polymerization" and prevent Jaden from activating it again during the current Duel.

Mistakes
In both versions, when "Carboneddon" is Summoned, it is shown on the Duel Disk in attack position, despite being Summoned in defense position.