Branching paths. Ch 3. Dionysia.
[Start.]
Standing imposingly, Crowler stares across the field as the young slacker gets his bearings.
"Alright! Test time. So son, your name?"
The boy springs up, his arms coming to rest at his sides as his legs move together. Good form. "Uh, Jaden! Jaden Yuki."
And he botched the minor bit of respect he was given. Still, nerves are expected. "Well 'Uh Jaden Yuki'. I am Doctor Vellian Crowler, One of the department chairs of Academia. Specifically, I oversee the department of techniques."
The boy leans forward in interest. Good, he can at least be taught. "Wow, a department chair. Based on how you were dressed I thought you were some kinda freaky mascot." The boy rubs his hair without a care in the world, blabbing on how he might've been a cheerleader.
Vellian is insulted, and the words of the other examinees are also irritating, but he isn't about to let it get to him. The boy barely has a chance against his real deck, destroying him verbally would be too much to stack on top.
It'd likely be classified as cruel and unusual.
"Duel vest, Activate." His interface springs to life, Crowler caressing it like a guitarist for a moment, catching his cards as they eject into his waiting hand.
"Woah! Hey where can I get one of those sweet blue blazers?" The boy at least has an appreciation for aesthetics, previous insults aside.
"Well, a lot of hard work, high marks, and general excellence." 'Not that you'll get the chance this year, once I beat you boy.'
"Well, I'm ready! ""Let's duel!""
[Crowler's Hand. Trojan horse. Card Destruction. Pot of Greed . Confiscation. Ancient Gear Box.]
A good hand. Still, with the rules in place he can't play just yet. The slacker gets to go first.
"Alright! I'll start off with summoning E-Hero Stratos in attack mode! [1800/300. 4*.] And his effect activates, so I'll use it to add another HERO card to my hand from my deck! Then, I'll activate Polymerization to fuse Stratos, and my E-hero Clayman into E-Hero Great Tornado! [2800/2200. 8*.]"
The monster materializes like something out of power rangers, flipping three times from the remains of Stratos' card and doing a perfect three point landing.
Well, the boy knows how to put on a show, and his card is rather strong. That effect will also be annoying to get around if the boy can bring another out once the field has been set with his own Ancient Gears..
"Next, I'll use Monster Reborn to put Stratos back on the field, and activate his effect again! After that, I'll play one face down and end my turn."
Nodding his head, Crowler will admit to being minorly impressed by the boy's performance. If nothing else, he knows how to take advantage of his deck.
"Well son, you're already doing a lot better then some of the other hopefuls we've gone over. Maybe you aren't hopeless after all. But now it's my turn, so I draw!"
[Ancient Gear Soldier.]
Hmm. Not the greatest cards. Alright then.
"I'll activate Confiscation. This card lets me pay one thousand life points, and in exchange I can send one of the cards in your hand to the grave!"
[3000LP/4000LP.]
The noise of irritation that the sla-that Jaden makes is satisfying in a way all teachers know. Still. "Hmm. Elemental Hero Solid Soldier, and the warrior returning alive. All of these would be a problem, but you have no spell cards that solid can activate. I'll remove your spell card."
Jaden sighs, putting the card in his graveyard with a frown. Still, now he needs to get past the fusion.
"Next I'll play one face down, and activate Card Destruction! We both send our cards to the grave, and draw back an equal number!" The second aggravated noise is also humorous.
Gathering his hand, he places it into his grave, his duel vest giving him three cards.
[Ancient Gear Golem. Monster reborn. Ancient Gear Castle.]
Excellent. "Next, I'll activate my face down, Pot of greed!" Drawing two more cards, Vellian feels a cruel smirk grow on his face. These will do nicely.
[Pot of Greed. Ancient Gear Beast.]
"First, I'll play Ancient Gear Castle. This field spell makes all of my Ancient Gear monsters stronger by three hundred life points, and gains a counter each time a monster is summoned in any form."
Placing the card in the field spell slot, he smirks as the castle springs to life from the holographic technology.
Jaden seems a bit worried if the twitching around his eyes is any indication, but the near rabid grin seems to imply the opposite. Strange boy.
"I'll activate pot of greed once more!" [Fiendish Chain. Double Summon.] 'Excellent!'
"After that, I'll activate Monster Reborn to bring my Trojan Horse back from the grave!" [1600/1200. 4*.]
Chuckling quietly, Crowler soon gets himself back under control. "But Do not worry Jaden. It will not be here for long. I'll tribute Trojan Horse while activating its effect to summon Ancient Gear Golem in attack mode!" [3300/3300. 8*.]
"And because I have summoned Ancient Gear Golem, my Ancient Gear Castle gets a token. And with this token combined with the spell card Double Summon, I will activate its second effect and tribute it to summon Ancient Gear Beast in attack mode! Lucky for you my Golem will go back down to three thousand attack points." [2000/2000. 6*]
"Now I'll go into my attack phase! Gear Beast, destroy his Stratos with Mechanized Havoc!" His beast rears up before flying over the field in a dead set rush to destroy Stratos, the sound of machinery pistoning together as gears clang.
It's making him nostalgic for his time in the pro circuit.
"Not so fast, teach! I'll activate Swift Scarecrow! It's effect lets me discard it to the grave to protect my monsters, and my life points, by preventing your attack! It'll also end the battle phase too! Betcha didn't see that coming!" Damn it. Arrogant brat, even if he has a point.
"Well, that's disappointing. I have no cards to play, so it's your move, mister Yuki."
Grinning like the cat that caught the canary, Yuri can't help the small bubbling excitement inside of him. Yuki is just as good as Wander said, and also just as obscenely lucky.
"I did tell you he'd do fine. Still, I'm honestly more curious about the face-downs on the field. There are a few things I can think of that would turn this around for both sides."
Turning to the side, he smiles at his current sitting companions. "Don't you agree?"
Truesdale huffs quietly. "I will agree that I have perhaps had to eat my previous comments. But if Crowler wins, that will be rescinded. Yuki does at least have knowledge of how to operate his deck well enough."
Alexis shakes her head quietly even as a small smile peaks out. "That was probably one of the most backhanded compliments you've ever given Zane. Still, the fact that Crowler is using his personal deck, and that Jaden is matching him enough to prolong the duel, is impressive. And it's still only turn three."
"Technically four, but I understand what you mean. It honestly reminds me of how things are done back at h- back at work. This duel likely won't last longer then two more turns, if that."
They both turn to him, their eyebrows raised in curiosity. He can't help the twitch in his grin as he remembers similar events back when he was working for the later duel academia. "This match is leading to a breaking point. Jaden and Crowler both do not have field clearers in their hand, otherwise they'd have used them. Both have used their own copy of Monster Reborn, and both have two monsters on the field. If Jaden is lucky, he could have two fusion monsters on the field as well. Either Jaden succeeds this turn, or he wipes and Crowler mops up what's left of him in the next. Simple, no?"
They're both silent, and even the small crowd gathered around them seems similarly stunned. Thankfully Truesdale says something before it becomes awkward.
"You make an excellent point. But, Crowler has Ancient Gear Golem on the field, and Grand Tornado can't beat it in pure attack points. I can see how he would win, but how can Yuki?"
Before Yuri can reply, a rude black haired boy pipes up from the side. "He can't. Kid's probably already dropped everything in his deck to get to this point. It's hopeless for him to win."
Staring at him with a flat look for a moment, Yuri turns back to the field. "Riveting. Ignoring that minor bit of doom saying, Jaden's face down could be Hero Signal, which would let him summon another Hero. He could have drawn Polymerization, while having said Hero Signal on the ground, to bring out another Grand Tornado. Or he could have drawn Skyscraper, which is a field spell that lets his monsters gain one thousand attack points while attacking. Or any other number of strategies that I can't tell you, simply because of how many Hero cards there are. He might even have something like the Evil Heroes. Or the Masked Heroes, god forbid. Hate those cards with their stupid lockdown effects."
Alexis sighs for a moment, looking annoyed at him. Why…
"Oh. Right, sorry. I keep forgetting that Masked Heroes are unreleased currently, along with their support structure. Evil Heroes are released, but Dark fusion is considered a ghost rare at the moment. So while he might have them, it's unlikely." Bringing a fist to his mouth, he coughs into it quietly, looking back to the field.
"Well, all we can do is find out. Look at the field."
"Now that I have Skyscraper on the field, I'll chain my face down, Hero signal on top of it to bring out another monster! And I'll bring out an old favourite, Stratos!"
A second Stratos shimmers onto the field, flexing with a grunt.
"And you already know what his effect is, so I'll get that out of the way now! Next, I'll summon the card that I drew, Elemental Hero Blazeman!"
Another Hero flashes into existence, a quick nova of flame flying off it as he poses like a kabuki. [1200/1800. 4*.]
Jaden grins, his eyes unknowingly flashing yellow for a moment. "And now that I've got Blazeman on the field, I can activate his first effect! This lets me search out a Polymerization from my deck, before adding it to my hand! Next, I activate Polymerization to fuse my Stratos and Blazeman together to bring out Elemental Hero Nova Master in attack mode!"
A new Henshin Hero materializes, leaping from the remains of the two cards and striking a pose mid air, a single hand alight as the other points towards Crowler. [2600/2100. 8*.]
"And that's about it for the summoning side, but just wait till I attack."
Crowler stands there for a moment, stunned. The boy has made plays that even pro duelists might struggle with, out of sheer determination to get into the Academia. A swell of pride bursts in his chest for a moment, before being ruthlessly crushed down. He isn't the boy's teacher, and so can't feel pride for his achievements.
Yet.
"Well mister Yuki, I will admit I am actually quite impressed. Your maneuver has managed to bring you three new monsters onto the field in quick succession, and a way to defeat me. But it isn't over yet, now is it? Very well, bring your attacks upon me, my Ancient Gear shall always weather the harshest storms!"
Clenching the fist not currently holding his cards, Crowler thrusts it out for a moment, the smile on his face much less condescending than before. The boy is skilled enough to earn his place, now he just needs to follow through.
"You got it doc! I'll go into my attack phase now, and begin with Grand Tornado! Attack his Gear Golem with Howling Tornado of Justice! Mark six!"
The Hero tenses for a moment before sprinting forward, twisting as it uses the buildings to build up momentum before bringing it's leg down, aimed straight at the Golem's face.
"Springing with your strongest wasn't what I'd call the best move, but you are here to learn. I activate my Fiendish chain to disable your monster's attack! As long as it remains on the field, Grand Tornado cannot be used to attack me!"
The trap springs to life, chains suddenly snaking out from behind Grand Tornado and pulling it back, chaining it to the Skyscraper it used to try to kick at Gear Golem.
Jaden blinks up at his chained monster owlishly, before his surprise morphs into a smile. "Man, I knew you had surprises but you still manage to keep me guessing. But now you don't have anything to stop my attacks right?"
Crowler sighs loudly, but can't help the smile on his face. "Yes. Unless I get particularly lucky on my next draw, I will be done, and you will win. Now, don't keep my monsters waiting Jaden."
Bowing with a flourish, Crowler concedes that unless his next draw is a Pot of Greed into Graceful Charity , he's likely not about to win this. Three prodigies in this grouping is also a problem. Pegasus rarely sends his people, especially to academia. There's something else happening.
He doesn't have much time to muse on this, as Jaden has fired himself up again.
"Alright! Stratos, take out Ancient Gear Beast with Tornado of justice mark two! Nova Master, take out Gear Golem with Dance of a thousand fireflies!"
Stratos' run up is far less grand then Grand Tornado's, merely being a running flying kick. Nova Master on the other hand creates what seems to be thousands of a small flame, each of them flickering with a strange menace. They fly in as Ancient Gear Beast Explodes into particles, each piece latching on to Gear Golem. At first, nothing seems to happen, and a few people in the stands let out disappointed groans.
Then another groan is heard that sounds decidedly more metallic, as drops of molten slag drip onto the floor. The Ancient Gear Golem slowly melts down, its body leaning back and causing even more slag to coat it, until it finally falls apart.
Crowler stares at the remains of his monsters, letting out a sigh of disappointment in himself. "Very impressive Jaden. Is there anything else, or is it my turn?"
"Uh, well Nova Master's effect lets me draw a card if he destroys a monster, but I can't play it until next turn. So yeah, I'd say it's your turn."
"Very well, then I draw!"
[Ancient Gear.]
[Hand. Ancient Gear. Ancient Gear.]
Staring at the card he's drawn, Crowler feels a laugh bubble out of him. It's a quiet chuckle, but he can't quite help the good humour. It's a sense of schadenfreude that just feels right after a duel like this.
"My monsters cannot do anything yours without support. So I shall bow out here, rather than face at least three attacks head on. Congratulations, mister Yuki. You have more than earnt your place in Duel Academy."
As the holograms fade away, Jaden blinks again before his face shifts into disappointment. "Aww man, but it was just heating up!"
"Quite. But my Ancient Gears would not be enough to satisfy your destructive joy I'm sure."
The boy sulks for a moment, before nodding his head with a smile. "Alright, that's game. Thank you for the duel, Doctor Crowler."
"Likewise Jaden."
"Congratulations to all hopefuls that passed their test to gain entrance into the illustrious duel academy. To all who have failed, retries will be held in eight months. All successful hopefuls, you have a week to get packed before you have to meet back here, where you will be taken by helicopter to Academy Island. We look forward to teaching you."
His smile may have a bit more smug in it then he wants, but he's honestly quite satisfied with how things have turned out. Yuki has a far stronger deck than Wander remembers, meaning that he might actually get challenged this time around.
Still, when Masked Heroes drop Yuki will be hell to face.
"You said it would finish within two turns right? How."
Turning to Truesdale, his eyebrow raises. "Hmm? How what?"
"How did you know Crowler wouldn't draw a field wipe? I can understand Jaden not needing it, but Crowler's deck is usually custom tailored from his time in the pro circuit. So how did you know?"
Ah. An excellent question. "To be honest, I didn't. But, with how the duel was going, I have doubts that Crowler would've used that right away. If he did have one, he'd have sat on it until he absolutely needed it. So the fact that he hadn't was enough for me to figure that he didn't have one, and his turn shows that he also didn't draw one. Why?"
Truesdale is silent for longer than would usually be socially acceptable, even turning away from him. "Your hunch paid off. If you're half as skilled as your intuition shows, and if Jaden can bring that level of skill to any duel he faces, I'll look forward to facing the both of you. Have a pleasant week, Yuri."
Smiling again, Yuri nods his head. "Likewise Truesdale. Win or lose, the duel will still be fun."
Zane nods his head before turning around, walking around the bowl. Yuri turns back to his jacket, picking it up and placing it back on his shoulders.
"Y'know Yuri, that was probably one of the longest times I've heard Zane speak to someone. He must be really excited to face you."
His body jolts, as he'd thought that Alexis would follow after Zane or left. Turning back to her, the smile on her face shows that she saw the jump. It is an evil smile.
"What, did you forget I was here? Or did you think I'd walk off with Zane?"
Blinking, it feels like he's just been maneuvered into a trap. "I thought that, since Zane was your friend, you would prefer to be in his company?"
He knows his voice sounds uncertain. Socializing feels like a strange minefield compared to how things used to be when he was the monster of academia. She doesn't seem offended at least.
"True enough I guess... Zane tends to prefer keeping his own company and the crowd that formed around us probably didn't help. Anyway I have my own questions for you." She paused for a breath. "How did you get a job at Industrial Illusions? How did you do it without going through Academia first? I've never seen your name pop up. Not even overseas!"
The more she speaks the further she leans in, a manic gleam in her eyes. Yuri can't help but edge away, a bit of sweat starting to form on his forehead.
Her other self was too collected to act like this, so that experience is no help. And he didn't exactly socialize with people beforehand.
Yuya would probably act like an idiot in a way that would somehow be endearing. Yuto was too damaged to really interact with someone. Yugo dealt with people that were begging for tips on how to move up in the world sometimes, so that should help.
"Well, as people generally say, it's not what you know but who you know. I managed to luck into a situation that benefited me. I've also only recently gained this position. Still, I thought you would be the type to want to go into the pro circuit, no?"
Frowning for a moment, Alexis shakes her head. "That doesn't matter right now. Can you at least tell me if you hear about any openings for internships or something? Something that I could do straight away if you can?"
Blinking owlishly, he'd almost frown if not for the raw grief in her tone. Scratching the back of his neck, he looks away. "I'll do my best. Don't expect a miracle though, as I don't tend to ask Mister Pegasus for much of anything. As eccentric as he is, the man isn't a joke."
He hears Alexis sigh, before the bench becomes lighter. "Anything is better than nothing Yuri. I know you don't owe me anything, but I need to do something."
Alexis sighs and stands up, "Anything is better than nothing Yuri. I know you don't own me anything..." She clenches her fists and whispers, "but I need to do something."
He looks up at her and they briefly make eye contact, he can see the pain in her eyes. Yuri nods, silently acknowledging that she is in a form of pain he doesn't understand. But Yuya would at least expect him to attempt to help.
"I will try. Have a good day, Alexis."
She huffs out a quiet laugh, barely even a dry chuckle, before nodding to him. "You as well Yuri. I'll be waiting to hear from you on the island."
As she walks away, Yuri can't help the frown on his face. This new world is far harder to get used to then expected. Duels for fun, helping people, duel spirits that aren't Starving Venom. They're all so strange.
He's been sighing a large amount lately. Not even out of melancholy, but simply from how different the situations are. He'd almost prefer the times before Yuya, where he was simply the monster that didn't have to understand anyone to lead them to victory.
Unfortunately for him, exposure to Yuya was contagious, and he feels the need to live up to his "brother's" expectations.
Joy.