Thomas Kaiba. Steo Kaiba's foster son. Tall, well-build with muscled body, short dark hair and cold, cobalt eyes looking from behind rectangular glasses. He was taking his exams at the duel Academy. That wasn't his idea. He was good duelist, however Seto had other conception.

"For now I learned one thing, and one thing only" said Thomas to his foster father "You are an old goat, who cannot be satisfied even with perfection"

"You are far from being perfect. Especially when it comes down to duel monsters. You can hardly keep up with me. And I did my best to train you" Seto Kaiba sighed. He was old. Too old for this. And Thomas was the only person he encountered, who could be up to challenge. After all Kaiba was the only one left...

"Therefore you want me to attend to your Duel Academy, so I can become better duelist?" Thomas shook his head "Why this card game is so important. I can hardly believe in all the stuff you've been telling about shadow games, however even according to your stories that's in the past. And your company needs more than just duelists" muttered Thomas "Why is it so important?"

"I don't have to explain anything to you" barked Kaiba "I'm in charge. You follow orders. Simple as that" Kaiba sighed one more time "I will explain things to you when the time comes, for now play along"

"Fine!" muttered Thomas "I'll do it. But from my point of view it's a waste of time"

"Perhaps it is" replied Seto Kaiba "Perhaps it's not"

Meanwhile Akiza Izinski was thinking about the duel academy. She also didn't want to be a student. The truth was her parents wanted to get rid of her, because they were afraid of her psychic powers. On the other hand dueling was the only thing she ever enjoyed. The only thing left for her to do since she had no friends and her own family considered her as a monster. Duel academy was both prison and only chance to find happiness.

The day of exams. Thomas already passed the writing exam with flawless score. He could see jealousy in eyes of others. 'Kaiba's foster son obviously wasn't welcome here'. There was only one thing left. Duel.

"Welcome lad" said his opponent "I'm headmistress of the Obelisk Dorm, Alexis Rhodes I'm and your examiner. Are you ready to duel?"

"Yeah, whatever" muttered Thomas. He already started with the lack of respect for his oponent. Miss Alexis Drew her cards

"Ok kid. I summon cyber Tutu in attack mode. Your call" said Alexis Rhodes

"Fine then" said Thomas drawing his cards. Oh damn it! Not a single monster "I play two cards face-down and that's that"

"That's all kid?" said Alexis "Haven't you even drew a monster?"

"Perhaps. It's your move" replied Thomas with poker face

"Fine then. I summon Blade skater" replied Alexis "Now attack him directly"

Thomas sighed "I play trap Life-force. Now By sacrificing 400 of my life points I can negate any damage. It's going to be only 800 points this turn"

"Not bad Kid" admitted Alexis "I end my turn"

"Now my turn" he drew a card and muttered with disappointment "Two cards face-down and end my turn"

"Really?" said Alexis sarcastically "Then it's my move I draw. Now I summon Etoile cyber. Now attack him directly"

Once again Thomas took damage. And once again he remained cold. Alexis ended her turn by playing a face-down.

"If that's all you're going to do then allow me" as he drew a card "I skip my turn" said Thomas.

"You don't even try" said Alexis with disappointment "And I thought you were the best" She drew a card. I activate my polymerization to merge Cyber Skater and Etoile Cyber into Cyber Bladder. Now I play Mystical Space Typhoon to destroy your life force. Now Cyber Bladder, attack!

"I plat Drain Shield. All damage will be added to my life points instead" said Thomas with calm look in his eye

"Then I play de-fusion" replied Alexis "Now Cyber Bladder become Blade Skater and Etoile Cyber again. Now I attack you directly with Cyber Tutu"

3100 points left.

"Now Blade skater, attack!"

1700 points left. And Thomas knew it was enough to wipe him out. Etoile Cyber special ability meant that her attack points were raised by 500 during damage calculation when attacking directly.

"Etoile Cyber, attack him directly" said Alexis

"I play my Spell Shrink" grinned Thomas "Your Danceress loses some points. Half of them to be exact"

"But she doesn't lose her special ability, as I'm sure you are familiar with. When she attacks you directly she deals additional 500 points of damage"

600 points. More than enough to win this.

"Anything else?" asked Thomas

"That's it kid. Make your move and make it count" Alexis seemed confident. To bad for her

"Stand back girl and watch how it's done" Thomas drew a card "Now then, since I finally drew a monster I think I will summon it to the field. I Summon unhappy Maiden" after a brief pause he added "In attack mode. Then I play my trap. Torrential Tribute. With it I can destroy every monster on the field"

Alexis eyes widened as all her monsters were vanished.

"I'm not done" Said Thomas "Next I play Monster Reborn to bring back my Maiden. In attack mode of course"

"You made a rookie mistake" said Alexis with a smile on her face "With this card you can bring back any monster from the grave. You should have picked one of mine instead. One that will deal some damage that is"

"I'm not done" said Thomas "I play Scapegoats to summon four lamb tokens on the field. Now I play my card of Sanctity. We both draw until we hold sic cards"

Thomas drew his cards. There it is. He grinned.

"You wonder why I filled my field with tokens and played my Maiden in attack mode? Here is the answer. My United we Stay equip spell. With it my maiden gains additional 800 points for any monster on the field. That would be 4000. Enough to wipe out your points. Open wide and suck on this attack!"

Alexies yelped as all her life points vanished after being struck by Unhappy Maiden's attack.

A huge explosion of applause occurred as Thomas raised his clenched fist and shouted: "LIKE A BOSS!" Entire duel he was simply setting up a trap to win in one turn. That was impressive.

"Well played" said Alexis "Admirably well played. Allow me to be the first one to welcome you in the duel academy"

"Thank you miss Rhodes" replied Thomas "That's game"

That phrase was way too familiar...