Author's Note: A few years ago, I completed one of my favorite stories – A Tortured Duelist. However, I had jumped the gun and had begun working on its sequel while the original story was in the works, and had divided up my talents up, which is never a good thing.

Duelist's Open Destiny is what it was called, and while it had its ups, it had its downs as well. Therefore, I present to you all with a remake of that story. With new characters, new plots, and brand new take on my world of GX, this story has been revived with a vengeance!

But, before I begin, I have to say this, I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh! Either its anime, manga, card game or its cards, and I don't own duel academy or the characters that originated from it. I do however, own the characters for this story as well as any original cards that will appear in this story. I would also like to say that this is just a one-shot opening chapter… Maybe… Depends on how people react to this.

In any case, a little warning… The story you're about to read contains gratuitous amounts of blow out of proportion moments, tremendous amounts of GAR (as well as its counterpart – MOE), anime slice of life moments, and logic that will make your head spin. You have been warned.

So, enjoy…

0-0-0-0-0-0

I'm not special, I'm just a young man who's been raised with only the bare necessities. I have no special skills other than being able to work hard for many hours without getting tired. I can't connect with some other personality inside my body, I have no special birthmark on my body, and I don't have the ability to break the rules whenever I wish.

I know that even if you surround yourself with things that can't hurt you, you won't be able to change. For some people that can satisfy them, but for me, it's not going to happen, I won't pick the same path as the people I know, since it'll lead to the same place.

The mystery of the outside world is like a voice calling out for me in the darkness… But, should I pursue it? There are skies and sceneries I've never seen before, all it would take to see them is the first step on a long journey…

Can you tell that I'm scared of this choice? Being trapped by this mystery, is that fate? Am I afraid to know what awaits me in the outside world?

I know that I could be safe in my comfort zone, but I have to do this. Am I confident that I'll be able to survive this experience?

No.

Am I guaranteeing that every day will have the sun gleaming on my back?

No.

But, this world has many different fates awaiting me, I can only look forward and I want to see the truth! I need to pursue that voice in the darkness, so, I'll start running. If this is the right path, I'll find out in the end and I'll chase after my destiny, no matter what happens!

And as my father once said, 'It's choice – Not chance – That determines your destiny.'

I merely want to draw the map to my own future, so watch over me in spirit my family. Watch as I write my own destiny! And my name is…

TTTTT

The Road of a Duelist

A Rewrite of Duelist's Open Destiny

By

Lux-Nero

TTTTT

Draw 1

The Road to Destiny

TTTTTTTT

Time: 7:08 p.m.

Domino City, home to several famous duelists who made a name for themselves in the famous game know through out the entire world. Its tall buildings gleaming in the setting sun and reflecting the light into the streets, illuminating them in the warm light. People were walking through the streets, each of them minding their own business and not paying attention to each other, with either ears glued to their cell phones or their eyes watching the streets to watch the passing cars.

Truly, a great example of modern society with each person like a gear or cog in a clock to make it function at its best…

"GET OUT OF THE ROAD, DUMBASS!"

Jumping from the street before a small car could hit him, the older man blinked a few times as he watched the car zoom down the street. "… I see humans are still the same as ever. Only they seemed to have become more annoying with these vehicles."

The man crossed his arms at the sight of the people walking on the opposite side of the street, completely unaware of the stares he was receiving from the crowds behind him. The reason was mainly because of the way he was dressed – It wasn't everyday that you saw someone dressed in a white suit in the middle of the sidewalk with a blue jacket covering his shoulders.

'It seems no matter where I go, humans are constantly showing their flaws,' The man thought to himself, watching the people messing with their cell phones, talking with each other, or ignoring anything else around them. 'They don't realize they were given a paradise, and now they're ruining this beautiful world with their filth.

'But soon, I'll be free of these pathetic beings.'

TTTTTTT

Time: 8:34 a.m.

Domino City, home to several famous duelists who made a name for themselves in the famous game know through out the entire world. Its tall buildings gleaming in the rising sun and reflecting the light into the streets, illuminating them in the warm light. People were walking through the streets, each of them minding their own business and not paying attention to each other, with either ears glued to their cell phones or their eyes watching the streets to watch the passing cars.

Truly, a great example of modern society with each person like a gear or cog in a clock to make it function at its best…

"GAAAH! I'M LATE!"

… Well, you could take your time if you weren't the one individual who was running through Domino City Park, dodging people as he made a mad dash through the slightly forested area. With a briefcase clutched in his hands, the man panted loudly as he continued to run with his shaggy brown hair (that seemed to have a few red highlights) and his red overcoat billowed with his running, "Late, late, and LATE!"

As he was turning around a tree, the man's briefcase accidentally opened up, spilling out countless papers onto the ground. The man spun around, and his eyes opened wide behind his small framed glasses, "NO! NOT NOW!"

Papers began to fly over the dirt covered ground as the glasses wearing man gave chase in an attempt to catch the papers, "I'm already late as it is! And if I lose any of these papers…"

Before the man could continue, several papers were scooped up off of the ground, making him blink a few times as he realized that someone else was picking up the papers. Turning his gaze up, the glasses wearing man saw that there was an older man dressed in a white suit picking up the papers as well. The odd thing about the older man was the fact that he was extremely pale and was almost the same shade of his white hair, as if he had never seen the sun in his entire life. 'What the?'

Before the red coat man could continue his thoughts, the suited man lifted up the papers to the red coat wearing man, "I believe that's all of them."

With a sigh of relief, the red coat wearing man took the papers, "Thanks, you really saved my tail."

The older man sighed loudly as he crossed his arms at the younger man, "You would do well not to add more litter to this already cluttered world."

"Uh, r-right," the red coat wearing man muttered under his breath as he looked over the papers.

"I'm serious," The white haired man growled with his piercing eyes aimed directly at the younger man. "Don't destroy this world with trash! People have been doing that for ages and this world has only become more polluted and…"

The red coat wearing man was about to stop the older man's rant until he caught a peek at his watch, which reminded him of why he was even in the park in the first place…

"Gah, I really don't have the time to stay here!" The red coat wearing man yelped as he stuffed the papers into his briefcase, making sure that it was locked this time. "So thanks again, sir, but I really need to go! I have to get to the Academy's entrance examination!"

And like that, the red coat wearing man ran off, leaving the older man just standing there, 'Academy's entrance examinations?'

That's when the older man looked down and noticed something was resting on the ground, obviously dropped by the younger man he had just spoken to. "More trash?

TTTTTTT

Time: 8:50 a.m.

While in the city it was a calm day, but, at a large dome shaped arena on a large seaside cliff, several teenagers were lined up waiting for the doors to allow them entry. This was the day that would change many of their lives, the day they applied for the Central Duel Academia – Prospective and young duelists from all corners of the country gathered for a chance to be one of the lucky students to enter this academy.

But our story doesn't continue with the future students. Rather it continues with the very same red overcoat wearing man who was in the park a few minutes earlier sneaking through the halls, trying his best not to get caught. With a quick look down the hall, the red overcoat wearing man slowly inched his way towards the door that he was supposed to enter fifty minutes ago…

Checking the coast once more, the overcoat wearing man opened the door and snuck into the room. 'Success!'

"I see you finally arrived, Professor Price."

The new professor gulped when he entered the office, his brown and red hair sticking up slightly as he turned his head towards the right. Leaning up against the wall he was looking at, was an older man, with a tall, broad stature that was covered with a blue overcoat that was similar to Price's (only with a black trim to it) and gun-metal gray pants. His chiseled face was displaying a vicious scowl that had a fang sticking out of the corner of his mouth and his dark hair (which had a blue sheen to it) was pulled back and had two spikes on the sides of his head that resembled of a canine's ears.

And with the fact that he had his arms crossed over his chest, his teeth barred like a wolf, and had his right eyebrow twitching, the red coat wearing man as almost able to feel the tension building in the air. "Uh… W-Well… Y-Yes! Yes, Professor Hund!"

"Price… Or, Rowen," Professor Hund sighed loudly as he pushed himself from the wall. "Whatever you wish to be called, I realize that it's your first official day at being a Duel Academia Professor… And while I realize that your nervousness would cause you to make mistakes, you are still a professor. That means you need to display yourself as a proper role model to the students."

Professor Hund threw his hand up towards Price, and began to lift one of his fingers to each word he spoke, "Intelligence! Punctuality! Tenacity! Creativity! Virtuous! These are the characteristics of being a successful professor…"

"Y-Yes, but my wake up call didn't come," Price chuckled nervously as he rubbed the back of his head. "And I couldn't get to sleep because I was nervous and…"

"Enough of your excuses, Price," Professor Hund sighed loudly as he turned away from the younger professor. "You're just lucky you managed to get here before we opened the main doors. I assume you still have the proper paperwork for the applicants that came from the junior high academies in your brief case, correct?"

"Y-Yes, sir!" Price replied quickly, holding up his brief case. "I… I double checked the paper work last night and everything seems in order."

"Excellent," Professor Hund admitted as he walked over to one of the tables, gesturing for Price to follow him to it. "Now, do you remember your training about our selection process for applicants, and their dormitory status?"

"Uh… It was in the handbook, right?" Price asked placing his briefcase on the table. "I… I kinda lost that."

Professor Hund rolled his eyes, "… You're lucky that the performance tests don't start until ten and that we have the other professors looking over the written examinations… And while the written exams are being calculated, we'll have the practical exams."

Price lowered his head slightly, a dark aura appearing over his body, "I can't help my bad luck, sir…"

With a shake of his head, Professor Hund sighed, "It's alright… Truth be told, you aren't the first professor to make a mistake. But anyway, it's our job to first consider the duelists who graduated from the Academy's junior high academy during this time. As you know, it's a prep school with a graduating class of fifty students roughly each year.

"For these students, we aren't responsible for testing these students' academic skills since that's what their finals are for. What we need to determine the dorms for the graduating class…"

"Uh, roughly twenty of the top students usually get into the Obelisk Blue, right?" Price replied keeping his eyes closed.

"Correct," Professor Hund replied snapping the locks open on the briefcase. "They're the only first years who are admitted into Obelisk Blue as first years. The other thirty or so students get placed into Ra Yellow, or in the extremely rare cases – Osiris Red. But that last option is a rarity, since students who do graduate the prep school often maintain high scores.

"That leaves the remaining hundred or so first year applicants…"

"Oh! I know this part really well!" Price laughed in triumph. "They get in based on the scores they receive on the entrance and practical exams, right?"

"I'm quite impressed, Price," Professor Hund replied raising an eyebrow. "Then perhaps you can tell me how many first years we admit based on the non-prep entrance examination?"

"Uh… I think its either one hundred to one hundred and ten?" Price guessed with a quizzical look on his face. "Right?"

"… Yes," Professor Hund sighed loudly. "Including the prep school graduates, that means we admit at the most one hundred and sixty students into the school a year. Determining the scores of both the written and practical examinations for the non-prep applicants, we average about twenty-five to thirty percent of the first year class will go to Ra Yellow, and the remaining seventy or so percent will be going to Osiris Red."

"Yeah… But isn't that kind of unfair?" Price asked. "I mean, the prep school applicants seem to have an…"

"Tell me something, Price," Professor Hund growled as he opened the briefcase, not bothering to look inside the contents yet. "Do you know what the golden rule is?"

"The golden rule?" Price questioned with a few question marks popping over his head.

"He who has the gold rules," Professor Hund explained reaching into the briefcase. "It's a common rule that's used in business law and most of the world… So…"

Professor Hund stopped his little explanation when his hand felt the papers in hand, "… Price…"

"Yes?"

"Would you care to explain why your papers are covered in dirt?"

"Uh… Hehehehe…" Price nervously laughed. "I… W-Well, you see sir, I um…"

"Ugh…" Professor Hund gagged pulling his hand out of the briefcase. "You should take better care of your possessions, especially if they contain important documents concerning your job.

"Now if you excuse me, I'm going to disinfect my hand before we get to work. I suggest that you empty out that briefcase and try to clean anything that you can."

"Aw man," Price moaned with his head lowered again as Professor Hund left the room, closing the door behind him. "I feel like I just keep screwing up…"

Looking into the briefcase, Price's eyes widened, "… It… It's gone… No… No! NOO!"

Price snatched up the briefcase and proceeded to dump the contents onto the floor – Papers, mechanical pencils, a magazine and what appeared to be a few granola bars fell to the carpeted floor. Shaking the briefcase a few more times, Price fell to the ground, tears starting to fall from his eyes, "… My deck… I, I knew I packed it this morning… But… It's gone…"

0-0-0-0

Time: 10:05 a.m.

Putting his personal woes into the back of his head, Price was able to get his work done with Professor Hund… But the lost deck still plagued him. 'After all the time I put into it… After everything I went through with it, how could I just lose that deck? WHY!'

"Professor Price!"

Price nearly jumped out of his skin when he heard his name called. "ACK!"

"… Yeesh," Professor Hund sighed loudly with a slap to his forehead. "You scare too easily, Price."

"I… I apologize, Professor Hund," Price muttered standing up from his seat. "I have a lot on my mind… What seems to be the problem?"

"There's no problem," Professor Hund replied crossing his arms. "I just require you to do me a favor. The written examinations have finished, and I'd like you lead then entrants in group six to their designated seats and provide explanations about the next examination. Kimchi, Ayane and the others need your help, and I need to make sure that the prep decks are all set for the examination."

"Sure… N-Not a problem," Price replied heading out of the room.

A few minutes later…

Price stood in front of a large amount of teenagers (most of them chatting with each other), with a flag that had the number six painted on it, "Greetings everyone," Price spoke in a very exhausted tone. "I'm Professor Price, and I want to welcome you to the second part of the entrance exams to Duel Academia – The Practical Examination.

"For those who don't know, allow me to explain that while in the first potion of the examination, you were all tested in your knowledge about the mathematics, history, mechanics and trivia of duel monsters. This test will test your abilities in an actual duel against one of the proctors or professors here, and combined with your written examination's score to determine which dorm you will be placed in.

"No pressure. Now, if you will all follow me, I will direct you to your designated dueling arena so you can wait for your turn against the proctors."

Spinning on his heel, Price slowly began to walk away; all of the applicants in his group began to follow him… And continue their chatter…

"He's a professor?"

"He's kind of lackluster."

"I heard that professors at Duel Academia were supposed to be as hard as nails… And that some of them are pro duelists. But this guy…"

"… I wonder if we'll be allowed to eat lunch soon…"

'Do I really emit such an impression?' Price thought with the dark aura floating over his head again. 'Messing up the papers, losing my deck, and now my future students think I'm just pathetic… What a way to kick off my career as a teacher.'

It didn't take too long for Price to lead the students to their seats – They were just the bleachers that were seated around the ground floor arenas, which allowed the students to watch the duels that were designated to take place.

Price muttered under his breath as he watched his group of applicants begin to take their seats. "… Maybe I'm just destined to be a screw up…"

"Hey!"

Price jumped once more, dropping the sign in the process, "Gah!"

"I see you're still hopeless."

'Hopeless?' Price thought as he turned to the side, blinking a few times behind his glasses when he saw who was referring to him. "Hey… Aren't you…"

Standing before him, with a grim frown on his face, was the very same white suited, pale haired and skinned older man who had helped Price earlier that very morning. The only difference about him this time was that there was a suitcase in his hands, "I see you managed to get here all right, litterbug."

Price was a little dumbfounded, "You're… Why are you here?"

'Is he a parent of one of the applicants?'

"I am under no obligation to answer you," The older man replied with his arms crossed. "However, I find it odd to see that someone like you is a professor for young students."

"Well, I guess it's funny," Price muttered picking up the sign. "But, I don't think I'll be a very good professor… I can't really call myself a professor when I screw up so much."

The older man tilted his head up slightly, "… Oh yeah, that reminds me, you continued littering even after you left. Pick up your own clutter, this world doesn't need any more pollution in it!"

Reaching into pocket, the older man pulled out something that caught Price's attention – A small, red colored box that the older man lifted up to him. "I think this is yours."

Price's eyes widened, "It's… It's my deck case…"

"Littering isn't a good thing," the older man replied tossing the deck case to Price. "And you ran off so before you could be stopped to pick it up I thought I'd find you here."

'… Did he come here just to return the deck to me?' Price thought opening the deck case to see the cards inside it.

"You should be more careful," the teen stated, making Price jump once more. "A human should take care of the planet and not be so careless about dropping such garbage."

Price blinked a few times at the older man, that's something you don't normally hear, even in a Duel Academia. "Uh well, thanks…"

"Professor Price."

Price turned his attentions towards the right, seeing Professor Hund walk up to the new professor, his arms folded behind his back, "It's about time for the practical exams to begin, and we need to discuss some final preparations."

"Y-Yes sir!" Price yelped before began to turn towards the white suited man. "T-Thank you for…"

But that's when Price realized that the man was gone. "Huh?"

Professor Hund cleared his throat, making Price jump slightly to realize that the older professor was walking away. When Price managed to catch up to Hund, the older professor spoke, "… So, getting to know your future students, Price?"

"Y-You could say that," Price replied rubbing the back of his head.

"Although, you should be careful not to linger," Professor Hund continued crossing his arms. "Are you getting nervous for today?"

"Oh… It… It was nothing, sir," Price answered, standing up straight. "I just well…"

"I see…" Professor Hund muttered rubbing his chin. "It doesn't matter. What does matter though is that there's a problem we'll have to deal with."

"What do you mean, sir?" Price asked as the two continued their walk.

"After you left, I had to take a phone call," Professor Hund answered with his eyes narrowed. "And it seems that I dropped my guard… An applicant seemed to have snuck into the office while I took my phone call and swiped a few papers that had the deck lists I had printed out for the proctors. They were to inform the proctors and professors about the test decks in the practical examination."

"I… I don't know what to say," Price gasped. "W… What are we supposed to do then?"

"What else?" Professor Hund replied, hurrying his stride. "By now I figure that the list might be circulating through out the applicants, and they're possibly preparing to counter them. Therefore, I have contacted Headmaster Nanbu about this situation.

"And he has told me while we're not allowed to use our own decks; we are required to access the level three decks."

"What?" Price gasped as the two reached the hallway. "But those are supposed to be used for promotion examinations, sir and…"

"This is an order, Price," Professor Hund barked with his eyes narrowed. "If it were up to me, we'd only access the level two decks, since there's not much difference between levels one and two… But the headmaster was insistent about his decision. Besides, we will be grading on a curve with this new development. So it might just be in the best interest for the students, if they win against the decks, then they'll get a higher grade."

Price just stood there dumbfounded, watching as Professor Hund continued his trek back to the office, "… Price, hurry it up! We only have a few minutes until the practical exams begin!"

"C-Coming sir!"

TTTTTTTT

Time: 10:30 a.m.

In one of the proctor's rooms, several proctors were leafing through the testing decks that they had to choose from. The examinations were only a few minutes away, and Price was a little nervous – Not only because of the fact that he'd have to duel against a student soon, but it would be with an unknown deck that was made for testing a student who was to transfer dorms.

Needless to say, for the young professor this was way too stressful for him. At least it couldn't get any worse.

"Price," a familiar gruff voice sounded, making the younger professor raise his head up. "It's time."

"I… I see," Price sighed with a frog in his throat. "So, how does this work? Do we select a few duelists from our proctor list and…"

"In a sense," Hund answered holding up a deck of cards towards Price. "Here's the deck you've been assigned to use in your first entrance duel. And we've determined who you'll be dueling against in your first match."

"Oh?" Price muttered rubbing the back of his head. "So, who am I dueling?"

"Entrant number one," Hund answered bluntly. "Eiji Hidari graduated the top of his class in academics at the prep school, he has promise to be the number one student in the freshman class and we've decided to pit him against you."

"W-What?" Price sputtered. "Then why am I dueling against him then? Would he be more suited against dueling someone who has more experience dueling in entrance exams?"

"Although that is true," Hund replied with his arms crossed. "Think of this more of a test for you as well. We have to know that you are capable of dueling in these conditions. You don't have to win, but we just wish to see your adaptability Price. So, either adapt or quit."

"That's a little harsh…" Price muttered with a large sweatdrop rolling down the side of his head. "Don't you think?"

"This world was built to be harsh," Hund answered back. "Price, this is to see how you stack up with the rest of us. If you can't hold your own against a student, then you'll look weak to the student body."

That really seemed to help with Price's fleeting confidence.

"Oh yes, that reminds me," Hund stated holding up a set of other cards to Price. "Here, you'll be needing these with that deck as well."

Price blinked a few times at the small stack of cards.

TTTTT

Time: 10:45 a.m.

Meanwhile, up in the student stands, a single duelist was watching Arena Seven, adjusting the red scarf he had over his white uniform (which had blue trim on it). "… Something isn't right…"

"Oh? And what would make you say that?"

The scarf wearing man didn't even have to turn his head as a red haired young woman sauntered up next to him. Unlike the man, she was dressed in a red vest and black skirt, although, it was in the same design as the scarf man's uniform, "I thought you said you'd show me the ropes of this academy…"

"These are the ropes, my fiery beauty," the scarf wearing man admitted with a smirk. "Besides, you were more than welcomed to stay at the island if you wanted to…"

"Yeah, but then I'd get stuck with that shorty," the red haired girl huffed as she sat down, dangling her thin legs over the side of the ledge. "Sure he gets cute when he gets angry, but that can only go so far. Sides, you've got that mysterious handsome charm going on… But anyway, what were you saying?"

"It's just something in the air," the scarf wearing man answered. "Feels like the calm before the storm or something like that."

"Yeesh, is that really such a bad thing?" the girl yawned as she ran a hand through her fiery red hair. "I mean, it's the first duels of the year, of course there's going to be tension."

"But there's a little more to it," The scarf wearing man replied, gesturing towards the dueling grounds. "Take this for example, the first proctor dueling is the new professor – And look who he's dueling against."

The girl turned her attention towards the arena that sat on the on the main floor of the testing grounds. On one side was Price shuffling the deck he was assigned, while on the other side of the area a young man in his mid-teens walked out onto the dueling field. He had combed back, yet loose cerulean colored hair that kept out of his confident and sharp face. His slim body was covered with a green jacket that resembled that of the uniform that Price was wearing, only was left wide open to reveal a pair of black pants and a black shirt that seemed to have a shattered glass design on it…

… Actually, it looked more like a web.

"Is that the Eiji guy you told me about?" The girl asked with a frown on her face. "He's got that superiority thing going on, but other than that, he doesn't seem all that interesting."

"I suppose so," the scarf wearing man replied as he stroked the scarf on his neck. "I had thought since he did so well in the prep school that he'd be a good candidate for this little group of ours."

"Meh, I'm not too fond of the group so far," the girl sighed loudly with a shake of her head. "I'm glad you're in it, but dealing with that shorty is a job in and of itself."

The scarf wearing man just chuckled in reply, "Just bear with it for now, it'll all be worth it in the big picture."

Meanwhile, down on the duel arena, the youth known as Eiji Hidari eyed Price with a leer that was as cold as a winter's night. Price could feel the chill run down his spine with every moment that the younger man cast his glare at the young professor, 'Is there something on my face?'

"Man," Eiji moaned loudly as he threw his arms behind his head in disgust. "What a letdown."

"Huh?" Price questioned with a large bead of sweat rolling down the side of his head.

"They're pairing me up with some no name professor?" Eiji spoke out loud, not really caring that Price was listening to his monologue. "This is going to be way too easy for a guy like me. Putting me up against a new professor is just sad and insulting to me."

'He does know I'm standing here, right?' Price thought to himself.

"Oh well," Eiji sighed as he lifted his left arm up, revealing the duel disk on his arm. "I guess I should take this to heart that this academy is just going to be as easy as prep school was. So, feel honored Professor, you're about to be a footstep on my path to glory!"

Price tilted his head to the side, "Well, at least you're dead set on your goals, that's always good promise to see in a student and…"

"Blah, blah, blah," Eiji insulted with his hand making the motion for a person speaking. "That's all I'm hearing professor! Just raise your duel disk and draw your cards!"

Price sighed again, "At least introduce myself first. I am Professor Rowen Price and…"

"I know the drill," Eiji spat as his duel disk activated, lighting up the device at the same time. "So quit wasting my time, Teach, and duel! The faster I hand you your loss, the faster I can get to the academy!" (ELP: 8000)

"Well, that's understandable," Price replied fitting the selected deck into his duel disk (apparently he didn't really qualify for the Duel Bandoleer when he graduated from the academy). "Well then as the student you get to choose who will…" (PLP: 8000)

"Just shut up and draw!" Eiji growled with a roll of his eyes as he pulled up his first five cards. "I'd rather get the first attack in rather than get the first draw anyway."

Price didn't know if he was to applaud the student for being direct or scold him for insulting the professor. Although, technically, Price wasn't the student's professor yet, but he just shook his head from that line of thought and drew his six cards. 'I didn't really get a chance to look through this deck, but from what I can tell, it looks like a standard deck.'

Taking a card from his hand, Price slapped the card onto his duel disk, making a face down monster appear in front of the young professor, "One set monster and one set card! Turn end!"

"At least your quick with your opening move," Eiji muttered as he drew from the top of his deck. "That's one good thing, I guess. But let me show you a real opening move! I summon Blazewing Butterfly in attack mode!"

A powerful flame erupted in front of Eiji, immediately reforming itself to transform into what appeared to be a pair of fiery butterfly wings that had a small golden insectoid body in the midst of the fiery wings (1500/1500). "Next, I'll play the spell card Insect Imitation!"

The moment that Eiji fitted the card into his duel disk, the Blazewing Butterfly shattered like glass, allowing multiple embers to float around Eiji as he pulled out the deck from his duel disk and fanned the cards in front of him, "I doubt you'd know what this card can do, so I'll explain slowly for ya. By tributing a monster on my field, I can special summon an insect monster from my deck who's exactly one level higher than the monster I tributed.

"In this case, I can summon a level five insect from my deck! So, arise, Grasschopper!"

The ground began to surge until a large green exoskeleton covered mantis appeared in front of Eiji, revealing two large blade-like forearms that the insect crossed a few times before it hissed loudly (2350/1000).

"Now then, let's see what sort of tricks you've got hidden under that face down monster!" Eiji laughed as he threw his hand forward. "Grasschopper! Attack his face down monster!"

The large mantis screeched loudly before it charged over the field, stabbing both of its bladed forearms into the face down monster, revealing a large stone giant that couched down (1300/2000) with its massive arms falling to the side due to the precise slashes of the Grasschopper's attack.

"A Giant Soldier of Stone?" Eiji questioned watching Price fit the card into his duel disk's graveyard. "Someone's actually running a deck with that card in it? That's pathetic, even for a guy like you."

"This isn't my deck you know," Price pointed out.

"Whatever," Eiji scoffed as he fitted two cards into his duel disk, both of them materializing in front of the youth. "I'll just set these two cards face down, and end my turn. Come on Teach, you gotta have something with a little fight in it in that pathetic deck of yours."

Price narrowed his brow slightly, this wasn't his deck, but still that didn't call for Eiji to keep insulting Price. But slowly, Price drew from the deck and then lifted his hand up towards his face down card, "I activate my trap card – Soul Resurrection! Now, I get a normal monster back from the graveyard, and play it in defense mode!"

The ground in front of Price began to glow brightly and allow the Giant Soldier of Stone to rematerialize in front of the young professor (1300/2000). "Normally, this would be used in a defensive tactic, but for now we'll be using it in a familiar method of summoning! Tributing!"

The Giant Soldier of Stone transformed into a bright orb of light that flew into the air until finally it shattered into a large earth brown colored armored being to crash into the ground in front of Price. The armored monster stood up straight when it finally recovered from its crash, using its large arms and fists to help support its massive body (2400/1000). "Granmarg the Rock Monarch! And when summoned successfully by tributing…"

"You get to destroy one face down spell or trap card on the field," Eiji interrupted with a loud yawn. "Please, there were so many people in the prep school who ran Monarch decks that I know each of their effects by heart. So just make your choice Teach, and get it over with."

"Fine, I'll choose the card on the right!" Price announced, pointing his finger towards the card on his right.

Granmarg stomped over the field and slammed his large fist into the face down card, shattering the card.

"Congratulations," Eiji sighed as he combed his hand through his hair. "You destroyed my Scrap-Iron Scarecrow, whatever shall I do now?"

Price raised an eyebrow at Eiji's proclamation, but shook it off, "Granmarg! Smash his Grasschopper!"

Spinning around, the large rock monarch slammed both of his fists into the large grasshopper, smashing it into the ground until it shattered into several green shards. (ELP: 7950)

However, Eiji just yawned as he fitted the card into his graveyard slot, "Bravo, you drew only fifty life points out from me, so bravo again. Too bad that'll be the only damage that you'll get from your own accord."

Price blinked a few times at Eiji's arrogance, but shook the thought from his head as he fitted a card into his duel disk, "I set one card face down and end my turn."

"About time," Eiji scoffed as he nearly ripped the top card from his deck. "Now, how about I show you a real move, Teach? I play the spell card – Dark World Dealings!"

The spell card appeared in front of Eiji, allowing the duelist to swiftly draw from the top of his deck, "Now, we both get to draw one card, all for the cost of discarding one card later. So draw, Teach."

Price nodded as he quickly drew from his deck and blinked a few times at the card he drew, 'What the? Why would this be in a rock deck? I know that this deck was supposed to be for a higher level, but a card like this would be useless in a regular rock deck. And why would there be an extra deck to a Rock deck either?'

"Earth to Teach," Eiji chuckled holding up one of the cards from his hand. "You going to discard a card, or are you going to just stand their posing for a statue?"

"Uh, right!" Price yelped as he held up the card from his hand. "I discard Black Stego."

"Black Stego?" Eiji muttered with a raised eyebrow. "What the hell is that doing in there?"

"I, uh," Price mumbled as he fitted the card into his graveyard slot. "I don't know."

"Figures," Eiji sighed as he fitted a card into his duel disk. "Allow me to show you how someone really does this. I discard Gigaplant, and then I'll activate my trap card – Birthright!"

Eiji's face down card lifted up, allowing a powerful flame to erupt from the card and reforming into the fiery Blazewing Butterfly (1500/1500) that screeched loudly. "Since my monster's considered a normal monster in the graveyard and on the field, I can use this trap to help out. But don't think I'm done yet, I activate the spell card Unleash Your Power!"

A the flames on the Blazewing Butterfly's body began to surge brightly, lighting up the entire field in the wing's warm glow. "Now, all Gemini monsters gain their effects! Since you're a teacher, I don't think I have to tell you what a Gemini monster is capable of, especially this one! By tributing my Blazewing, I can special summon another Gemini monster from my graveyard.

"However, this one will have its effect activated immediately!"

The Blazewing Butterfly shattered into millions of embers that crashed into the ground, "And so, I'll choose the monster I just discarded – Gigaplant!"

The very moment that the embers landed on the ground, several vines erupted from the earth, immediately wrapping around each other until they formed into a monster that resembled a gigantic Venus Fly-Trap that had a red fanged bulb and several vines that acted as insectoid limbs. The large plant screeched loudly as it finally finished forming (2400/1200). "And this monster's Gemini power is quite powerful, allowing me to once per turn to summon an Insect or Plant-Type monster from either my hand or my graveyard.

"I'll opt for the graveyard! Return my Grasschopper!"

Several vines erupted from the Gigaplant's body, and immediately dug into the ground as it immediately pulled out the large mantis-like monster from the ground (2350/1000), allowing it to screech loudly in triumphant return!

"Next, I think I'll empower my monsters by playing the field spell card – Forest!"

As Eiji fitted the card into his field card zone, several trees, bushes, and logs surrounded the two duelists and the three monsters that were on the field, however, the two monsters on Eiji's field seemed to screech loudly in joy (2400/1200 + 200/200) (2350/1000 + 200/200). "It's an old card, but its thanks to this, both of my monsters are geared to begin my assault! Grasschopper! Attack Granmarg! Get your revenge!"

The large mantis screeched loudly before it dashed across the forest covered arena and brought down both of its bladed forearms down on the Rock Monarch's body, slicing it in two even pieces. (PLP: 7850)

"And let's not forget about my Gigaplant either!" Eiji laughed as he threw his hand forward. "He should have some fun with this battle as well!"

The large plant monster screeched loudly before several vines erupted from the Gigaplant's body and slammed directly into Price's body, making him stagger back. "URK!" (PLP: 5450)

"Come on Teach, I didn't hit you that hard," Eiji chuckled as he slapped a card onto his duel disk. "Suck it up! I set one monster face down and end my turn!"

Price took a deep breath as he drew from the top of his deck, "Right, right, you're right."

Price looked at the card, 'What in the world? This card is… Now I see what this deck is capable of. I guess this is meant for a higher level duelist. I am sorry Eiji, but as a Professor and Proctor I need to…'

"Hey! Four-eyes! Are you planning on making a move?" Eiji spat, leaning forward slightly. "Or are you going to just give me my win so I can get to the academy already?"

That last comment made Eiji narrow his eyes slightly as he pulled another card from his hand, "Very well, Mister Hidari, if you want me to be serious, then I shall get serious. I activate the spell card – The Stealthy Graverobber!"

A ghostly shadow immediately appeared at Price's feet and reached into his graveyard slot, pulling out a single monster card from the device. "This spell card allows me to select one monster card in my graveyard and put it in yours. Then I'm allowed to draw another card from my deck.

"The monster I choose will be Black Stego, so here!"

The shadow immediately handed the card to Price, who at the exact second threw the card towards Eiji. The card spun through the air until Eiji lifted his hand up and caught the card between his fingers, "Now you're giving me useless cards? What's the point of that?"

Price quickly drew from the top of his deck, but then reached for another card in his hand, "Actually, I was wondering what the point of this deck was myself not too long ago, but now I actually understand it! I activate the spell card – Fossil Fusion!"

"Fossil… What?" Eiji questioned as a large vortex appeared on the ground in between the two duelists.

"Fusion," Price corrected as he reached into his duel disk's graveyard slot once more. "You see, unlike its predecessor, Fossil Fusion is a rare kind of fusion that allows its player to fuse a monster from his graveyard and one from his opponent. And unlike other fusions, the only requirement is that the monsters be of the listed type and sometimes level.

"So, by removing the Giant Soldier of Stone from my graveyard and the Black Stego that I removed from yours…"

Eiji's eyes widened as his graveyard slot glowed brightly, allowing a ghostly version of a large black scaled stegosaurus to appear in front of him while the deceased Giant Soldier of Stone appeared in front of Price. "I can summon a beast that has survived the ravages of time!"

Both monsters were sucked into the vortex that immediately melted into the forested ground. For a few seconds, everything was calm and quiet until the ground shattered! Instantly, a large dinosaur like monster, covered with rusted over armor and a dinosaur-like skull freed itself from the confines of the earth, roaring loudly in triumph (2500/0). "Fossil Dragon Skullgar!"

"Not bad teach, but you forgot one thing," Eiji chuckled as he held his hands up to reveal the holographic forest. "You're in my domain! As long as the forest remains standing, my monsters will not fall!"

"Therefore," Price added as he slipped two cards into his duel disk. "I shall set two cards face down, and end my turn."

'Not even going for my face down monster, eh? Fine, not like I need to use it anyway,' Eiji thought as he quickly drew from the top of his deck. 'If he thinks that I'm going to fall for those little tricks, he's dead wrong. I know that he wants me to attack with my monsters, then he'll spring with Mirror Force or even Magic Cylinder to counter my attacks.

'Well, like I said, I'm not falling for it.'

"Sorry teach, but such mundane tricks aren't going to work on me!" Eiji laughed as he held up the card he drew. "Cause ya see, I just drew the magical charms of Mystical Space Typhoon! Now, one of your face down cards will be destroyed this turn! Only question is, which one will it be? Left or right?"

For a moment Price and Eiji's eyes locked on each other, not moving for a few seconds… At least until Price turned his gaze towards the right for a few seconds, making Eiji smirk. "Heh, I think I have my choice! I choose to the one on the left!"

Eiji slipped the card into his duel disk, making a powerful cyclone erupt from the device and fly through the air, instantly crashing into the set card and sending it flying through the air to reveal a dark pink colored card before it shattered, 'Heh, just as I thought, a trap card!'

"Now then, I'll set another monster face down," Eiji continued as the set monster appeared in front of him. "And then, I'll enact Gigaplant's effect once more! Arise my Blazewing Butterfly!"

A powerful flame erupted from the ground, instantly reforming into the screeching fire winged butterfly (1500/1500 + 200/200). "Next, I'll go straight into my battle phase and actually get started on ending this duel! Gigaplant! Send his pile of bones right back to the graveyard!"

Screeching loudly, the large man-eating plant had several vines erupt from its stomach area and snapped them towards Skullgar.

"I activate my spell card!" Price announced as the last card on his field flipped up, revealing a green bordered card that depicted a duel monster card undergoing some 'alternations'. "Code Change! I select Forest and declare rock!"

The spell card glowed brightly, and yet nothing seemed to happen to the field spell, making Eiji laugh loudly, "Ha! Your spell card didn't do a damn thing teach! Continue with the assault!"

The vines continued their assault towards Skullgar, but, the fossilized monster merely lifted its claws up and caught the vines, surprising both Eiji and the Gigaplant. Even more so, Skullgar spun slightly and pulled on the vines, making the Gigaplant screech out in pain as its roots were slowly being pulled from out of the ground. Then with one final pull, Skullgar yanked the Gigaplant into the air, and immediately slammed it back into the ground. (ELP: 7650)

Needless to say, Eiji's eyes widened when he watched one of his more powerful shatter right in front of his eyes, "I… I… What did you do to my monster?"

"It's what my spell did," Price explained, gesturing towards the Code Change card. "A lot of players enjoy using monster types in their duels, and I guess this card was added as an attempt to use that to its advantage. Since your forest empowers insects, beasts, plants and beast-warriors, my spell card allows me to change that. For the time being, your forest spell empowers only Rock-Type monsters, which in turn not only empowered Skullgar, but it also lowered the attack points of all your monsters as well."

"Well isn't that just peachy!" Eiji snapped as he looked to his Grasschopper (2350/1000) and Blazewing Butterfly (1500/1500). 'Damn it! I should've waited to summon! Then I could've used Blazewing to bring back Gigaplant and then summoned Blazewing right back to the field!

'But, I've still got a contingency plan left. Besides, with my field spell working against me, he'd just be able to destroy Gigaplant next turn. And the odds of him drawing another monster to take out Blazewing are hard to tell as well…'

"I choose to end my turn by switching Grasschopper to defense mode."

As the large mantis like monster crouched down, a green aura erupted over both it (2550/1200) and the Blazewing Butterfly (1500/1500 + 200/200), increasing their strengths, "Wait, what the?"

"My Code Change only works for one turn I'm afraid," Price explained with a slightly embarrassed smile. "After all, it's a quick-play spell that can change a card, so, it has its limitations I'm afraid."

"You bastard," Eiji sneered through his clenched teeth. "You knew it was going to be like that!"

"Well, I didn't say the effects were permanent, you know?" Price chuckled sheepishly with a blush on his face. "I apologize if it was confusing to explain."

"THAT'S NOT THE POINT!" Eiji snarled with his hand raised in the air. "That's important information that needs to be delivered to the student!"

"I told you how my card works," Price replied as he drew. "And as I heard, were you not the top duelist in the prep school? If that was the case, then I would figure that you'd know what a majority of the cards that I'm using are capable of."

"Urk!" Eiji yelped as he staggered back slightly.

"Now, if you'll excuse me," Price stated as he looked at the card in his hand. "It's my move and I plan on using it to the best of my ability, Mr. Hidari. So, I'll remove Granmarg from the graveyard in order to summon the Gigantes from my hand!"

A loud roar blasted through the air, instantly allowing a large ogre like monster to crash into the ground right next to Skullgar, wielding a large dead tree single handedly (1900/1300). "Now then, Skullgar! Attack his Blazewing!"

Skullgar roared loudly before it ran across the field and slammed its skull armored head into the larger butterfly's body, shattering it into millions of embers (ELP: 6850)

"And Gigantes! You are to attack as well!" Price commanded as he threw his hand forward. "Your target is the Grasschopper!"

Stomping forward, the large ogre slammed the log/club into the large grasshopper monster and sent it flying. Price lifted his hand up over his eyes and whistled, "Wow! That's gotta be a home run!"

"If your jokes are this bad," Eiji snarled as he drew from the top of his deck. "I'd hate to be a student in your classes then!"

That seemed to stab Price right in the heart when he heard that, making tears appear in the corners of his eyes, "Oh…"

'I can't even get a good read on this guy,' Eiji thought as he looked at the spell card in his hand. 'One minute he's nothing more than a pathetic parody of a duelist, the next he's able to completely destroy my Gemini Combo, and now he's back to being a sniveling pathetic man!

'But that's fine, if he wants to play hardball, I'll be more than glad to be the one to teach him a lesson'.

"First off, Teach," Eiji announced as he fitted the card he drew into his duel disk. "I'm going to set a spell card face down, and then, I'm going to flip face up my Morphing Jar!"

The face down monster on Eiji's field flipped up, forming into a large gray jar that was covered with dust. That's when a loud laugh echoed through the air as the jar fell forward to reveal a large eye and mouth filled with yellow teeth inside the jar (700/600). "I realize that this card doesn't fit well with insect decks, but it's a powerful card that can help in almost any deck, especially since I don't have any cards in my hand!"

"You realize I don't have that many cards in my hand as well, right?" Price pointed out as he lifted up the single card in his hand before he fitted it into his duel disk's graveyard slot.

"You'd still get five cards either way," Eiji replied as he fanned off the top five cards from his deck while Price did the same. "As long as I'm concerned, it's a small price to pay for hand refreshment."

Looking at the five cards in his hand, Eiji's smirk began to reappear on his face, "And now for my conquest. I'll start by activating the spell card I had set just a few moments ago – Monster Gate! I'll be tributing my Morphing Jar, which allows me to pick up cards from my deck until I pull a monster from my deck.

"And if that monster can be normal summoned, I can summon it immediately!"

Eiji plucked off the top card from his deck, instantly allowing a spell card to appear over his head (Multiplication of Ants). "Spell…"

Eiji pulled another card, allowing another card to appear over his head, this one an hot pink bordered card (Parasite Worm), "Trap…"

And pulling the third card from his deck, an orange card appeared, "And finally, a monster! So, say hello to the mighty Pinchhopper!"

All three of the cards over Eiji's head shattered like glass, instantly allowing a large green exoskeleton covered grasshopper to appear amongst the holographic forest (1200/1000 + 200/200). "And I couldn't have asked for anything better!"

"Indeed, for if your hopper is destroyed," Price explained with his hand held up. "You can instantly summon an insect from your hand, regardless of its level. It's a standard card to have in an insect deck."

"Glad to see you agree with me, teach!" Eiji announced as he turned around a card in his hand. "Cause now, I'm activating the spell card, one called Insect Costume! Now, I have to send one insect from my hand to the graveyard – Like my second Blazewing Butterfly, but in return, I can add any insect type monster from my deck and add it to my hand."

Several holographic cards appeared in front of Eiji, allowing the young student to eye the cards before he lifted his finger up, "I believe I'll choose this one."

The moment that Eiji placed his finger on the holographic card, his duel disk began to beep loudly. Holding his hand up to his duel disk, Eiji caught the single card that he had selected and tucked it into his hand before he held up his hand towards his Pinchhopper, "And for my spell card's final trick, I have to destroy one insect monster on my field."

The Pinchhopper screeched loudly before it shattered into millions of pixels that flew through the air, "And like ya said teach, when destroyed, I get to summon any insect that I've got in my hand. So, I'll choose the mighty – Brain Crusher!"

The remaining pixels of the Pinchhopper began to merge into a large daunting form that squirmed and slithered until it amassed into a large insect with a long neck and several legs with a purple exoskeleton. Several wings sprouted from the insect's back as its long thin clawed arms reached forward towards its next target (2400/1500 +200/200).

"And I haven't even started yet!" Eiji announced as he pulled two cards from his graveyard, revealing the Blazewing Butterfly and Grasschopper. "I can now remove two insects from play in order to summon…"

"Doom Dozer, right?" Price guessed as he pushed up his glasses.

"Don't steal my lines!" Eiji snarled as he slapped the card onto his duel disk, making the ground rumble greatly before it shattered into unleash a gigantic red and black armored millipede with several mandibles from its head (2800/2600 + 200/200). "Yes, it's Doom Dozer, and its going to destroy everything you've got! First off, Brain Crusher! Destroy his Skullgar!"

The large mutated insect stomped over the field and immediately screeched loudly before it unleashed a large amount of purple liquid from its mouth over the fossil dragon's body, melting the large rock monster's body into the ground. (PLP: 5350)

"A good decision," Price pointed out as he fitted the monster card into his duel disk's discard slot. "However, I should point out my monster can't be special summoned except by Fossil Fusion, so your Brain Crusher's effect cannot come into play."

"Like I really care," Eiji chuckled as he snapped his fingers, making the Doom Dozer rush across the field, instantly allowing the large insect to coil around the Gigantes. "I'm more interested in destroying your monsters, sides, they'd only slow me down if I got them! Doom Dozer! Eliminate!"

And, in one second, the mighty Doom Dozer constricted its body and crushed the Gigantes into millions of pixels. (PLP: 4250)

"And when you take damage," Eiji chuckled as a small surge of static electricity flowed through Price's duel disk. "My Doom Dozer forces you to discard the top two cards from your deck!"

Price merely shrugged as he pulled off the top two cards from his deck and fitted them into his duel disk. "Yes, but you realize that I too have an effect to enact, correct?"

"Yeah, yeah, I know all about your Gigantes' effect," Eiji sighed with a wave of his hand in the air as his Forest field spell disappeared, removing the power bonus from his two monsters (2800/2600) (2400/1500). "But frankly, that doesn't matter. I've got two powerhouses out on the field, and both of them are ready and raring to beat ya into the ground!

"Besides, better to get rid of that monster version of Heavy Storm out of the way when I only had one spell out. Now I can safely play all the spells and traps that I want! Like this one! I activate the continuous spell card – Verdant Sanctuary!"

Several vines, dead logs and fungi began to spring up around Eiji's side of the field, eliciting a pair of soft growls from his two towering insect monsters. "Next, I'll set one card face down as well, and I'll set another monster face down, turn end!"

'Thanks to my spell card, if he manages to destroy either of my face up monsters, I can add another monster of the same level from my deck perhaps another Doom Dozer or another level eight or level seven insect. And my two face down monsters are Flying Kamakiri 1 and Howling Insect, so, I'll be able to get plenty of fodder in my graveyard!

'And my face down trap card is Call of the Haunted, and it'll only take a single push of a button to summon Gigaplant, and then I can get my rush back into full swing again!'

"I have to say, you certainly have a knack for bouncing back, Mr. Hidari," Price commented as he drew from the top of his deck. "You've managed to hold your own against this deck and managed to garner yourself an advantage on the field."

"Heh, it helps when my opponent can't use that deck to its full power," Eiji snickered as he crossed his arms. "Seriously, I would've expected a better duel from Professor Hund. From what I heard he's a prodigy and was instantly made the headmaster of the Blue Dorm, defeating his predecessor on his first day! And if I was able to beat him for my entrance examination, then I would've been able to get my name around the entire academy!

"But no, I get stuck dealing with a damn no-name rookie professor. So take your turn so I can get this duel out of the way and get to the academy!"

Price sighed loudly as she slumped forward slightly, "Uh, I know that I'm not technically your professor yet, but could you at least show a little respect? I will become your professor and…"

"Tell ya what, teach," Eiji snickered with a devilish smirk on his face. "How about you just end your turn right now and let me finish you off? Then I can just get into Obelisk Blue immediately and then we can get this tedious duel out of the way?

"Or you can struggle and put up some sort of defense that will ultimately fail against me."

"I… I well," Price staggered adjusting his glasses slightly.

"Are you even cut out for this?" Eiji spat.

Price's eyes widened behind his glasses, making him raise his hand to his face. This went unnoticed by Eiji who turned his head to the side and continued his verbal onslaught, "Seriously, you may have gotten some good moves in, but I consider those nothing more than cheap shots. Besides, I'm at the top of my class, I'm a man destined to be king, and I have no intention of letting some professor who's wet behind the ears stop me from achieving my destiny!"

Taking a deep breath, Price carefully removed his glasses from his face and folded them at the collar of his shirt, revealing that his eyes were now sharp and narrowed down, "Eiji Hidari, I can honestly respect your strength and your determination…

"And this may be my first day as a Duel Academia Professor, so, I might make mistakes – But know this, this isn't my first day as a duelist. I've seen strategies like yours, and I've faced against some tiresome strategies at the same time. So, if you won't respect me as a professor, then respect me as a duelist.

"But I know I can't earn your respect just like that, I have to show you that I am an excellent duelist! And I'll start with the spell card Foolish Grave!"

Like with Eiji's deck, several cards appeared in front of Price, allowing his narrowed eyes to trail over the cards until he pointed to a single card, "I'm willing to bet that you've heard of the card, Foolish Burial, right?"

"Duh," Eiji sighed with a shake of his head. "It allows you to send a monster from your deck to the graveyard, it's a very useful card that can be used for several kinds of decks. But this spell card is news to me."

"Actually, this spell card allows me to discard a monster my deck," Price explained with a smirk on his face as a card popped out of his deck and into his hand. "But unlike its predecessor, it sends the monster I select to your graveyard instead."

Price held up the card and immediately tossed the card towards Eiji, allowing the student catch the card in his finger tips, "… Gilford the Lightning? Seriously, this deck of yours is all over the place. I can understand the dinosaur monster in your deck, but this is a warrior! You talk about being a duelist, but I know for a fact that to be a good duelist, you should at least have decent cards!"

"How right you are," Price retorted as he held up a card from his hand. "So, I'll activate a good card for this deck, Guidance to Ore!"

As Price fitted the card into his duel disk, a large coal mine appeared behind the new professor, "Next, I'll set one monster in defense mode, and I'll set one card face down. Turn end."

The two set cards appeared in front of Price as he crossed his arms and lowered his head slightly.

Eiji rolled his eyes, "Ya know, after a speech like that, I would've expected a kick ass monster, or even a spell like Dark Hole or even something more dramatic. But no, you're just playing a pair of spell cards and turning into a turtle strategy. I'll be glad to challenge your proclamation!"

Snapping his next card up from his deck, Eiji looked at the card, 'Hmm, I didn't draw a monster, and I'd rather not put my defenses in harm's way. Cause I don't know what he's got face down.

'But that doesn't mean I don't have any ideas for how to deal with his cards. Besides, even if his face down card is something like Mirror Force, it'll only help me out!'

"Brain Crusher!" Eiji announced as he threw his hand forward. "Destroy his face down monster!"

The large mutated insect stomped over the field and threw both of its clawed forearms into the face down monster, shattering the card while lifting up the monster that it had hidden underneath it – A large golem like monster that was covered with green bulky armor with a pair of spikes on its back (1000/1900). The large insect hissed loudly before it ripped the golem into millions of pieces. "Heh, is that the best defense you could come up with?"

Eiji continued to gloat, unaware that five small green metallic discs began to roll at his feet, "Seriously, what is going on through that head of yours and…"

Before Eiji could continue, the discs rolled up against his feet, making the young prodigy look down at his feet just as the five disks began to gleam brightly! "Huh?"

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMM!

"GAH!" Eiji roared as the five discs exploded around him, making him stagger about the holographic flames. (ELP: 6350)

"Oh yeah, the monster you just destroyed was Mine Golem," Price pointed out as he pulled the deck from his duel disk. "And when destroyed, you take five hundred points of damage. It works quite well with my spell card too, since whenever a rock monster is destroyed, I can special summon another one with the same name from my deck."

Price selected his card from his deck and immediately slapped the card onto his duel disk, making a second Mine Golem appear in front of him, its arms crossed over its chest while it knelt down (1000/1900).

Meanwhile, the holographic smoke was rolling off of Eiji's body, revealing a very annoyed look on his face, "Like that'll really work against me! Once again, all you've pulled is another cheap shot!"

"Then you won't mind if I pull another," Price chuckled as he pushed a button on his duel disk. "I activate the trap card – Rock Bombardment!"

Reaching for his deck once more, Price pulled out a single monster and turned it around to reveal a monster called Monk Fighter (1300/1000) before he fitted it into his duel disk's graveyard slot, "Now, since I discarded a rock monster from my deck, I can blast away another five hundred points!"

A large shadow appeared over Eiji's body, making the young student look up with his eyes widening at the sight of a large boulder falling at breakneck speed towards him. However, the moment his legs started moving, the boulder landed on Eiji with a comical splat sound filling the air. (ELP: 5850)

A moment passed and the boulder disappeared, revealing that Eiji was laying on the ground with his annoyed look having evolved into a look of pure bloodlust, "… Are you done with your cheap shots and bluffs? Cause I'm going to make you pay for each and every one of them."

Eiji leapt to his feet and held up one of the cards in his hand, "Now then, I think I'll start by turning your advantage into a disadvantage! You think you're safe since you've got that Mine Golem? Dead wrong!

"I activate the spell card – Enemy Controller!"

A large game controller appeared in front of Eiji, with the game chord flying across the field and into the Mine Golem's chest, "Up! Up! Down! Down! Left! Right! Left! Right! B! A! Start!"

The buttons on the game controller began to move in accordance to the commands that Eiji announced, instantly making the Mine Golem stand up straight and uncross his arms, "And thanks to the Konami Code, I can make your monster stand up to attack mode! Meaning its wide open for my Doom Dozer's attack!"

The large insectoid monster rushed over the field and coiled around the Mine Golem's body before it constricted and crushed the golem into several pieces of rock. (PLP: 2450)

Price stepped back before he threw his hand forward, "Yes, but you forget, my Mine Golem still pulls off another five hundred points of damage from your life points!"

Several small explosions rocked over Eiji's field, making the young duelist grit his teeth, "Please! Like that'll actually make a difference!" (ELP: 5350)

"It will," Price announced as he slapped a card onto his duel disk, making a third Mine Golem appear before him (1000/1900). "Thanks to Guidance to Ore, I can summon the final Mine Golem."

"Heh, yeah, and I'm going to activate my trap card," Eiji chuckled as the ground erupted with several vines. "Call of the Haunted! So I can bring out a familiar face! Return my Gigaplant!"

The large Venus Flytrap-like monster reemerged on the field, screeching loudly in being back on the field (2400/1200). "And now, for the attack! Gigaplant! Eliminate his last Mine Golem!"

Several vines shot out from the Gigaplant's stomach and immediately crashed into Mine Golem's body, making the rock monster explode in a great blaze. (ELP: 4850)

"It may have cost me a few more life points," Eiji chuckled as he held up a pair of cards from his hand and fitted it into his duel disk, making it appear behind all five of his monsters. "But it's a small price to pay to make sure that you can't tribute summon anything dangerous."

'And my face down card is Bottomless Trap Hole, I happen to know that most rock decks have a real ace up their sleeve, and looking at the fact that he's been sending rock monsters to the graveyard, chances are he's about to summon that monster – Gaia Plate the Earth Giant! But I'll stop him in his tracks, and if he thinks his Guidance of Ore will help, he's dead wrong about that too! I can use my Dust Tornado to blow his trap off the field!'

"Trust me, Mr. Hidari," Price replied as he slowly drew from the top of his deck. "You never know when those life points of yours are going to be needed."

"Yeah, well as long as their higher than yours, I don't care," Eiji snickered as he pushed a button on his duel disk. "Now I activate my trap card – Dust Tornado! And I'll use it's effect to blow away your Guidance to Ore!"

A powerful twister flew across the field and slammed into the large mine shaft, instantly destroying the structure.

"Not bad," Eiji pointed out as he reached into his graveyard slot. "But that won't stop me, I'll remove two of the Mine Golems from my graveyard in order to special summon one of this deck's most powerful monsters!"

The ground began to rumble, and immediately shattered open to unleash a large golem-like creature that looked to be made up of only large boulders and rocks. The moment that the rocky monster was fully above the ground, it slammed its large fists together (2800/1000). "Gaia Plate, the Earth Giant!"

"Too bad you're not going to be able to use him!" Eiji laughed loudly as he pushed a button on his duel disk, making a large hole appear underneath the Earth Giant and making it fall through it. "My Bottomless Trap Hole will make sure of that!"

Price smirked as he watched his large giant disappear into the earth, "Not a bad move, Mr. Hidari, you've got excellent foresight."

"No duh," Eiji spat with a crooked smirk on his face. "So, are you going end your turn now?"

"Actually, I was thinking about playing a few more cards," Price replied as he held up the card he drew. "You see, Mr. Hidari, the average deck size is around forty cards, and even if you run the maximum of three of a certain card, the odds of you drawing it aren't that good. Unless of course you know how to stack decks, but that's considered cheating."

"Is there a point to that?" Eiji yawned as he crossed his arms.

"I'm getting to it," Price answered as he held up his duel disk. "This deck was designed to only hold forty cards, and in order to acquire the cards you need, you need to be able to thin your deck. Which is actually a double edged sword technique and requires a lot of skill to pull it off, and even then, there's a chance that your opponent can easily stop your strategy and you'll be left dead in the water.

"However, this isn't the case this time. And thanks to you, I've managed to secure my victory."

"What?" Eiji questioned raising an eyebrow.

"But don't worry," Price explained as he held up a card from his hand. "You've done well enough against this deck to get into Ra Yellow."

"Stop talking crap, teach," Eiji growled as he threw his arm to the side. "You've got nothing but bluffs!"

"We'll see about that," Price replied as he fitted a card into his duel disk. "I play a second Fossil Fusion!"

The moment that Price fitted the card into his duel disk, another vortex warped the field in between the two duelists, making the last Mine Golem and a very powerful warrior dressed in red, ripped cloth and sparking armor appear on the field, both of them being absorbed into the vortex. "So, I'll fuse my last Mine Golem and the Gilford the Lightning that I placed in your graveyard, in order to summon the last monster for this duel."

The vortex merged into the ground, shaking the ground until a large rusted over blade shot from the ground. Immediately afterwards, a dull golden blur flew through the air as well, grabbing the rusted blade in its claw hands. The blur crash landed in front of Price and snapped the blade to the side, revealing a powerful warrior dressed in dull-gold skeletal armor with a long billowing cape attached to its horned shoulder pads.

The warrior lifted its blade towards the insects at Eiji's field and roared a loud battle cry (2800/1300). "Fossil Warrior Skullking!"

"It's… Its kind of impressive and cool," Eiji scoffed to the side with his eyes closed. "But your prehistoric atrocity isn't going to last long on the field! All I gotta do is suicide it with my Doom Dozer, and I can easily get to your life points next turn!"

"Then let's test that theory," Price replied as he reached into his graveyard slot and pulled out a single card. "Remember when you played your Mystical Space Typhoon? You destroyed a very potent trap card called Skill Successor, and by removing it from the graveyard, I can increase Skullking's attack by eight hundred points until the end phase of this turn!"

A powerful blood red aura wrapped around the fossil warrior's body, making the warrior grit his teeth before he snarled a powerful battle cry (2800/1300 + 800/0).

"Now then, destroy Doom Dozer!" Price commanded as the powerful ancient warrior leapt into the air.

Eiji's eyes widened as he watched the powerful warrior fall back to the earth, bringing its rusted blade down on the powerful insect and cleaved the monster in two separate pieces that exploded into millions of pixels. (ELP: 4050)

"… Heh," Eiji laughed as a card popped out of his deck. "Thanks teach! You just activated Verdant Sanctuary's effect! Now I can add an insect that's the same level as my Doom Dozer from my deck, like a second Doom Dozer!"

'Next turn, I can have my second Doom Dozer destroy Skullking, and then I can instantly destroy the rest of his life points!'

"Skullking! Attack Brain Crusher!"

"Wait, what?" Eiji yelped as the Skullking spun around and sliced his blade right through the large mutated insect's neck, dismembering it completely! "How in the world did you…" (ELP: 2850)

"As long as you have monsters out," Price explained as the Skullking sliced his sword through the air, sending some of the remaining blood from its latest victim to the ground. "My Skullking can attack. Meaning, he can attack your Gigaplant as well!"

Before Eiji knew it, the Skullking had appeared before his large plant monster, and had stabbed its sword right through the Gigaplant's bulb and caused the plant to wither away. (ELP: 1650)

'If that's what his monster can do,' Eiji thought as he looked at his two face down monsters. 'Then I should refrain from activating my Howling Insect and Flying Kamakiri 1's effects. I can always add copies from my deck to my hand with Verdant Sanctuary, and I'll still be able to pull off destroying his king next turn and then get him with my monsters!'

"Now to end this!" Price shouted as the Skull King roared loudly and spun its blade behind it. "Skullking! Attack the face down monster on the left!"

"What's the point of attacking my monster?" Eiji asked as the blade stabbed right through the face down monster, revealing a large mantis like monster with several small arms and many wings (1400/900). "They're in defense mode and…"

"Which is exactly why Skullking's other effect works perfectly," Price replied as he fitted his glasses back on his face, a bright smile on his face. "Tell me Eiji, what is trampling damage?"

Eiji's eyes widened as the Flying Kamakiri 1 shattered into millions of pixels that flew into his body, "Gah! Damage that's inflicted through defense!" (ELP: 0)

Slowly Eiji fell to his knee, his eyes widening at the same time, "What…"

"It was an excellent duel, Mr. Hidari," Price commented as he walked over to the kneeling student. "And I should tell you that…"

"Oh screw off!" Eiji snarled as he stood up. "Do you realize what this means? I lost to some nobody professor for the entrance duels! I can't get into Duel Academia now you four-eyed bastard!"

Price stood there, blinking a few times as Eiji stomped away from the new professor with a puzzled look on his face. "Uh… I was going to say that the grade was curved and you'd still get into Duel Academia. I mean, he… Oh, he's gone."

Price rubbed the back of his head with a nervous look on his face, "This won't end well."

TTTTT

"Wow… So it looks like Eiji's mini win-streak finally came to a close," The red haired girl cooed. "I can honestly say I'm surprised… But I like that new professor's style!"

"… You say that about any cute guy who wears glasses," the scarf wearing man pointed out with a large bead of sweat rolling down the side of his head.

"Well… Yeah," the girl chuckled with a bead of sweat rolling down the side of her head. "But I'm a girl, I've got hormones and good taste… Sides, I'm a sucker for handsome guys with glasses."

"… Moving out of this conversation," the scarf wearing man muttered closing his eyes. "I'm going to have to speak to the headmaster about this."

"Was that duel really all that great?" The girl asked blinking a few times.

"It wasn't that," the scarf-wearing man admitted as he began to walk away. "It's the decks that the proctors and professors are using… There's something wrong about them, and I intend on finding out what's going on."

"Man, why is it you're so serious now?" The girl sighed with a roll of her eyes.

The scarf-wearing man stopped in his tracks, and merely shrugged. "Its been a long day… Just let me get some sleep and I'll be back to my normal self."

TTTTTT

Time: 2:00 p.m.

It had been a long day for Price, and after a few duels (a majority of them ending in his victory, much to his displeasure), and at the moment he was taking a break in the stands opposite of the students.

It was at times like this that Price really took the value of a good cup of coffee to a new level. Sipping on the cup he had, Price couldn't help but sigh in relief, "At least it's almost over…"

"Indeed," a familiar, yet rough voice sounded. "And I have to say, for a new professor, Price, you're starting to show promise."

Price nearly spat out the coffee he had in his mouth before he turned towards the right to see Professor Hund standing to his side with a cup of coffee in his own hands. "P-Professor Hund!"

"Price, I would suggest you work on that speech problem of yours," Hund suggested as he took a seat not too far from Price. "But other than that, you show promise."

"Yeah, but using a deck that's meant for dorm upgrading seems a bit… Underhanded," Price pointed out as he lowered his head.

"Perhaps," Hund answered with his own sip of coffee. "But, nothing in life comes easy, the sooner these kids learn that, the better duelists they can become. And like I said before, the duelists are getting a curved grade. Take that Eiji student you dueled against a few hours ago.

"Thanks to his solid academic work, he's already secured himself a spot in Duel Academia, but thanks to his duel, he won't be place in Obelisk Blue. More than likely, he'll be placed in Ra Yellow."

"Then what was his outburst for?" Price asked with his head tilted to the side.

"… Some people take this game way too seriously," Hund replied quickly.

TBC Maybe…

TTTTTTT

Card Stats

Insect Costume / Normal Spell / Effect: Send 1 Insect-Type monster from your hand to the graveyard. Add 1 Insect-Type monster from your deck to your hand. Then, destroy 1 Insect-type monster you control

Image: Three insects lining up behind each other, with a great light flashing around them.

This card was used in the Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's anime

Code Change / Quick-Play Spell / Effect: Select 1 face-up card on the field whose effect involves a Type(s) of monster and declare a type. Until the End Phase, the Type(s) mentioned in the selected card's text becomes the declared Type.

Image: A duel monster card being altered with a fact name.

This card was used in the final duel of Yu-Gi-Oh! GX by Yuki Judai.

Guidance to Ore / Continuous Spell / Effect: When a Rock-Type monster you control is destroyed, you can Special Summon 1 monster from your Deck with the same name as the destroyed monster.

Image: A large coal mine

This card was used by Iwamaru in the Yu-Gi-Oh! GX anime.

Fossil Fusion / Normal Spell / Effect: Remove from play, from either player's

Graveyard, Fusion Material monsters that are listed on a 'Fossil' Fusion monster card, and Special Summon that monster from your Extra Deck. (This Special Summon is considered to be a Fusion Summon).

Image: A pair of dinosaur skeletons fusing together

Fossil Dragon Skullgar / Earth / LV. 6 / ATK: 2500 / DEF: 0 / Rock/Fusion/Effect: [1 Rock-Type monster in your Graveyard + 1 Level 4 or lower Dinosaur-Type monster in your opponent's Graveyard]. This card can only be Special Summoned with "Fossil Fusion".

Description: A large fossil like dragon with a skeleton like hide with several spikes jutting from its back and a large silver underbelly.

Fossil Warrior Skullking / Earth / LV. 8 / ATK: 2800 / DEF: 1300 / Rock/Fusion/Effect: [1 Rock-Type monster in your Graveyard + 1 Level 7 or higher Warrior-Type monster in your opponent's Graveyard] This card cannot be Special Summoned except with "Fossil Fusion". While your opponent controls a monster, this card can attack as many times as possible. During battle between this attacking card and a Defense Position monster whose DEF is lower than the ATK of this card, inflict the difference as Battle Damage to your opponent.

Description: A mighty warrior dressed in demonic, skeletal armor with a long flowing black and red cape with a large, rusted over saber in his claw like hands.

The preceding four cards were used by Jim Crocodile in Yu-Gi-Oh! GX

Foolish Grave / Normal Spell / Effect: Select one monster card in your deck and send it to your opponent's graveyard.

Image: A broken Saggi the Dark Clown Statue down on the dirt of a fresh grave

The Stealthy Graverobber / Normal Spell / Effect: Select one monster card in your graveyard and place it in your opponent's graveyard. Then, you may draw one card from your deck.

Image: A grave robber dressed up as a ninja digging up a grave

TTTTT

Next time…

Welcome to Duel Academia!

I want to thank you…

There's no difference between us!

AAAH!

-lips licked-

Gah! You… You're just…

Is there really a problem?

If you want a fight! I'll give it to ya!

Why do I keep screwing up?

Ever on and on I continue circling

I can only see your soul…

And it burns brighter than the moon behind you!

Draw 2

Rough Seas