I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh! GX or anything created by Kazuki Takahashi. This work of fiction is just for fun.

"Speech"

'Thoughts'

"Mental talk with Duel Spirits"

"Announcements/ messages"

. . . - flashbacks/ what if's?

Author's Note: Hey guys! Sorry this is a tad bit late, got distracted with video games(story of my life).

So, to answer the question as to why this is rated M. Well... the main reason was, given that this is my first time writing, I don't know the limits and how far I can push the ratings, so I decided to play it safe and rate higher. It's easier for me this way, I can write freely and not worry if I accidentally passed the rating. The only way I'd be able to pass over M is if I write gore or sexual scenes in detail. There are a few scenes that I have planned which might garner the M rating, but if you guys say that I could safely put it at T after we've passed that point, then I'll lower it.

Also, the M rating isn't only for lemons. But on that topic, since the ratings are very vague on explicit content and how much you can show, if I write a lemon it'll probably be on a different platform and I'll tell you how to find it. Because funny enough, lemons aren't exactly allowed here from what I read, but I'll read up more on that one. If any of you guys know more about this, I'd appreciate it if you PM me to explain.

Okay, without further ado, enjoy the chapter and I'll see ya at the bottom!

It was an oddly warm day for the late Autumn season, but it sure was perfect for a lazy Saturday and Jaden wasn't one to let these types of days go to waste. The Slifer King, a nickname his fellow dorm mates gave him after the Tag Duel against the Paradox Brothers, was currently lazily lying on the roof of the Red Dorm, basking in the warm sun as a gentle breeze caressed him, making it the perfect weather for him to relax outside.

But, contrary to his seemingly easy-going visage, Jaden was deep in thought. The strange vision that invaded his mind after the Tag Duel was troubling him immensely.

'What even was that?' He thought to himself. 'It was like I glimpsed the end of the world… and the strangest thing was that I actually felt some kind of foreign energy pass through me.' There was another possibility though. A memory from his past life. He had gotten those before on rare occasions, but they were in the form of a dream. 'It couldn't have been a memory. The destruction and debris in the vision looked modern…'

Jaden let out an exasperated sigh. He really wished he had an answer to this, but the most worrying thing was that Yubel had gone silent after he told her about the vision. She knew what those things were, that much was obvious to him given the fearful expression she had when he described the beasts. He tried to get more out of her than a "We'll talk about this some other time.", but to no avail.

'She probably wants to know more before making conclusions.' Jaden guessed before a yawn took over him. 'Welp…' He stretched his arms and placed them back behind his head. 'No reason to needlessly torment myself with this, especially since I can't do anything about it. Yubel will come and say if it's a problem or not.'

Jaden went to his original plan in taking advantage of the great weather today as he closed his eyes, relaxed and tried to doze off. Sleep would have embraced him and pulled him away if not for…

"Jaden!" He heard Syrus shout his name. "Jaden, where are you?!"

"There goes my lazy Saturday…" Jaden mumbled as he reluctantly sat up and saw his small friend run up the stairs. "What is it, Sy?"

The bluenette whipped his head upwards and saw him. "Jaden!" He got a confused look on his face. "What are you doing on the roof?" He shook his head. "Never mind… Jaden, I got in serious trouble!"

"What? Did Crowler tell you you had to clean the classroom next week as punishment for sleeping during his class again?" Jaden asked with a grin.

"This is serious, Jaden!" Syrus snapped at him slightly. "I kinda got myself into an argument with this Obelisk guy and tomorrow I gotta duel him!" He explained in a panic.

"Syrus, calm down." Jaden urged as he jumped down onto the second floor's terrace with a thud. He patted his pants and jacket from any dust or dirt. Satisfied that he was now clean, he looked at Syrus. "Now, explain what happened." He said as placed his arms on his hips.

"I was heading back here from the cafeteria, they were serving meatballs today, when I overheard some Obelisks talking and one of them was saying bad things about you." Syrus said and saw Jaden nod for him to continue. "He said that you were lucky that Erina was your tag partner otherwise you'd be long gone and that your win against Chazz was staged! And I-I couldn't just sit there and listen to someone badmouth you, so I… uhm… told him that he was full of it and that you were the best duelist on this island…" He then looked to the side. "And then I challenged him to a duel to protect your honor." The little Slifer shyly glanced to see Jaden's reaction only to see that he had an utterly dumbfounded expression.

Jaden stood there for a few moments, not believing what he just heard. Little timid Syrus had stood up and gone and insulted someone on his behalf? He didn't believe such a thing was possible! He chalked it up to his own duel against his brother that gave him the courage to do something like this.

"Uhm…Sy?" He scratched his head, still a bit surprised by it all. "You do know that I don't really care what others think about me, right? I mean, I do appreciate you standing up for me, but there was no need."

"I just… I couldn't stand there and let someone say negative things about you, Jay!" Syrus exclaimed. "You're my best friend and have been helping me improve in every way possible. I just wanted to show you how much I appreciate you!"

Jaden smiled at that. He felt touched that Syrus held him in such high regard. He reached out and rifled the little bluenette's hair. "Alright then… Well, let's get your deck up to snuff so you can show that Obelisk that you're better than him."

Syrus wasn't all that confident that he'd win, but if Jaden believed in him, he'd be damned if he disappointed him. "Right!" He nodded with determination beginning to burn inside him.

Both Slifers were sitting on the floor in Jaden's room with the HERO duelist fully determined to create the best deck with the best strategy for his friend.

"Alright." Jaden extended his hand and opened his palm. "Let me see your deck."

Syrus slowly placed his deck in Jaden's hand. "Let's see…" He fanned out the cards. "Vehicroids, huh?" He asked with a grin.

Syrus blushed a bit. "Well… it was the first deck I made by myself and I stuck with it ever since…"

"Hey, no shame in liking a certain archetype, Sy." Jaden reassured. "I've stuck with my HERO cards since forever… Well, I do play other decks, but that's rare and it's just for fun." He added with a chuckle.

"Yeah, well, I wish I had your skill, Jay." Syrus admitted.

"Don't sell yourself short like that." Jaden said with a serious face, making Syrus flinch. "I told you that you had the potential and I meant it. Think of this as the first step in your journey to the Pros."

Syrus nodded timidly as Jaden pulled out a card he had been looking for. "Now, we start with this one and why you don't want to play it." He said as he flipped the card over, revealing Power Bond and making Syrus' eyes bug out of his head before he snatched it right out of his hand. "Easy, man, why don't you wanna play it?"

"H-how did you know?" He asked before he shook his head. "No, just forget it… please."

"Ah, so this is about your brother, right?" Jaden guessed, making the small Slifer stare in surprise. He was spot on. "I've seen you get this troubled look on your face every time you look at this card. So, I'm guessing this is what Zane meant by knowing the difference between using and playing a card."

"When I was little, I was about to win a duel because I drew Power Bond, but my brother stopped me before I made my move and ended the duel." Syrus explained. "He told me that I wasn't worthy of a card like Power Bond. He showed me what my opponent had set to stop me and made me lose the duel. My brother then declared Power Bond off-limits until I was worthy."

"I see…" Jaden nodded. "Well, he is right. A card with such a strong drawback should be played when you're absolutely sure you can win or avoid its effect backfiring on you." He then smiled and began searching through his own collection of cards. "That being said, I got the perfect cards for you until you feel you are worthy of it." He said and handed a bunch of cards to him.

Syrus took them and read what they were. "Vehicroid Connection Zone… and Limiter Removal?!" He gasped when he read what each card did. "Jaden! These are really strong!"

"I know, right?" Jaden exclaimed with a grin. "Now, let's get to work and make you the perfect deck for tomorrow." Syrus happily nodded and began to carefully listen to Jaden as he explained what cards and strategies he could use. He honestly didn't know how tomorrow would go for him, but he did know one thing; tonight will be a long night for sure.

The next day, both Syrus and Jaden were walking towards the cafeteria where the duel would take place.

Jaden glanced at Syrus as they were walking through the halls of the academy and could see that he was nervous. "It'll be alright, Sy." Jaden gave him a comforting pat on the back. "You're more than ready and I guarantee that you'll win… I can just feel it."

Syrus stared in doubt for a few moments until her remembered what he promised himself yesterday. He wouldn't disappoint Jaden! "You're right! I'll give it my all!" He said with determination.

"That's the spirit!" Jaden grinned. They entered the cafeteria and saw a group of Obelisk boys there. One of them noticed the duo walk in.

"Hey, Keith, looks like the shrimp showed up!"

The leader of the group, Keith, turned around. He was a relatively tall boy with red spiky hair and a scar under his lip. "I didn't expect you to show up, Truesdale. I see you brought the phony with you. What, too chicken to face me yourself?"

Jaden sighed as he sat on the table next to them. "Save your lame insults, I don't care what you think about me." He then smirked. "What I do care about though, is seeing the dumb look on your face when Syrus mops the floor with you!"

Jaden's proclamation made Keith go red from anger. He laughed it off though. "Please, the wimp can barely hold his Duel Disk straight and you expect him to beat me?"

Jaden just shrugged. "You don't have to believe me. Just don't cry when it happens." He shot back with a smirk.

"That's it!" Keith shouted and pointed at Syrus. "Get ready to take a beating, Truesdale!" He said as he activated his Duel Disk.

"Jaden, was it a good idea to antagonize him?" Syrus whispered to him, a bit frightened from the outburst.

"Relax, Sy." Jaden reassured and grinned. "He's all bark, so you got this."

He nodded to him before facing Keith. "Alright, let's duel!" Syrus said as his Duel Disk sparked to life.

Keith: 4000

Syrus: 4000

"Losers go second!" Keith said as he drew his card. "I begin with Marauding Captain in attack mode!" A blond knight clad in grey armor appeared in the field, holding a longsword in each hand. (ATK: 1200/ DEF: 400) "When he's summoned, I can summon a level four or lower monster along with him." He took a card from his hand and played it. "And I choose Evocator Chevalier in attack mode!" Next to the Marauding Captain appeared a warrior who wore blood red armor and a long scimitar. (ATK: 1900/ DEF: 900)

"A Gemini monster?" Jaden gasped. 'If Syrus doesn't play smart, he'll be in a lot of trouble.'

"And with that, I end my turn." Keith confidently said.

"A-Alright, I draw!" Syrus drew his card. "I play Steamroid in attack mode!" A cartoonish steam engine appeared on Syrus' field. (ATK: 1800/ DEF: 1800)

He then pointed at Evocator Chevalier. "Go, Steamroid! Attack Evocator!" The steam engine let out a loud whistle as it began charging towards the monster. "And here's the good part! Steamroid gains 500 attack points when it attacks!" (ATK: 1800-2300)

But just then, Syrus gasped because Marauder Captain jumped in front of Evocator Chevalier, taking the hit right before Steamroid collided with him.

Keith: 2900

"W-what just happened?" Syrus stammered out as the smoke cleared.

"Isn't it obvious?" Keith chuckled. "While Marauder Captain is on the field, you can't attack any other warrior monster besides him. I thought such basic stuff would be known even by a Slifer!" He bellowed.

Syrus looked at his hand a bit worried. He didn't do the one thing Jaden tried to drill in his head last night. Don't play rashly and think. 'I could have summoned a weaker monster to deal with his Captain, because now when Steamroid is attacked it'll lose 500 attack points and I'll take more damage, plus I could've kept him for the next turn…'

"Sy!" He heard Jaden call to him. "Don't worry, the duel has just begun."

"R-right!" Syrus nodded before taking two cards from his hand and inserting them into his Disk. "I set two facedowns and end my turn."

"Heh, for your sake they better be good ones!" Keith taunted as he drew his card. "I summon the monster known as Gemini Summoner in attack mode!" A wizard appeared on the field. He wore dark robes with faded red accents alongside a headpiece of the same colors. (ATK: 1500/ DEF: 0)

'Well at least he didn't Gemini summon his monster…' Jaden thought to himself.

"Then I equip my Evocator with Supervise!" Keith said.

'Nevermind.' Jaden sighed.

"This equip spell activates the Gemini effect of the monster it's equipped to!" Keith explained. "And now, I'll use Evocator's effect, by sending an Equip Spell I control, he allows me to destroy one card you control!" Syrus gasped as the red warrior shot a bolt of flame towards his right side facedown.

"Oh thank god…" Syrus sighed. "You just destroyed my Wonder Garage! And when it's destroyed and sent to the Graveyard, I can summon a level 4 or lower Roid monster!" He revealed as he placed a card on his Disk. "And I'm summoning Decoyroid in defense mode!" A small red go-cart appeared on the field. (ATK: 300/ DEF: 500) "And just like your Marauder Captain, you can't attack another monster except Decoyroid!"

"Not bad." Jaden smiled. He noticed something from the corner of his eye and looked to see what it was. He smiled slightly before going back to observing the duel.

Keith smirked. "Fine by me, Gemini Summoner, destroy that toy!" The wizard shot a yellow bolt of energy towards the toy car.

"I activate my trap card, Supercharge!" Syrus proclaimed. "When you declare an attack while I have only Roid monsters, I get to draw two cards!" Syrus drew two cards before the bolt connected with his monster, destroying it.

"And now Evocator will destroy your Steamroid!" Keith said as his monster lunged forward, sword ready to strike. "Heh, and since I'm attacking, Steamroid loses 500 attack points!" (ATK: 1800-1300) The fire warrior brought down his sword, slicing the train in two.

Syrus: 3400

"I end with a facedown." A reversed card appeared in front of Keith's feet. "Your turn, shrimp."

"M-my turn!" Syrus drew. "I summon Truckroid in defense mode!" A cartoonish truck appeared on the field. (ATK: 1000/ DEF: 2000) "Then, I'll use Monster Reborn and bring back Steamroid!" The cartoon train reappeared on the field, letting out a shrill whistle. (ATK: 1800/ DEF: 1800)

He then held up two cards. "And then I'll use Polymerization to fuse Gyroid from my hand with Steamroid on my field!" A blue cartoon helicopter appeared next to Steamroid before they got sucked into the vortex. "Let's go, Steam Gyroid!" Out of the vortex emerged the cartoon train, but the difference was that it had a propeller across its midsection. (ATK: 2200/ DEF: 1600)

"Alright, Steam Gyroid, let 'em have it!" The propeller began to spin as the toon train let out a shrill whistle before charging forward, hitting and destroying Evocator.

Keith: 2600

"Alright, Syrus!" Jaden cheered. "Keep it up like that and you have this duel in the bag!"

Syrus smiled slightly from Jaden's praise. "I set one card and end my turn."

"During your end phase." Keith interrupted. "I pay 500 life points and Gemini Summoner allows me to summon a gemini monster from my hand! I summon Blazewing Butterfly!" A big butterfly with flaming wings appeared on the field. (ATK: 1500/ DEF: 1500)

Keith: 2100

"Now it's my turn!" Keith drew his card. "I'll use Card of Sanctity to restore my hand, but sadly you have to as well." Both players drew until they held six cards. "First, I'll Gemini Summon my Butterfly so it can gain its effect. Then I discard one card from my hand to activate my trap! Gemini Ablation!" The trap card flipped up and was engulfed by flames. "I offer my Blazewing Butterfly as tribute to summon my ultimate monster!" The flame from the card shot forward and enveloped the butterfly in flames. "You're finished! Rise, Phoenix Gearfried!" The flames on the field subsided, revealing a massive man, clad in beautiful white and gold armor. A black cape fluttered behind him as he held up his sword and shield, ready for battle. (ATK: 2800/ 2200)

"Also, when I offer a Gemini monster which has its effect active, my trap card allows me to destroy one card on your field! So say goodbye to that facedown!" Keith said as a flame engulfed the facedown, blowing it up.

"My Magic Cylinder!" Syrus gasped.

"Don't worry, there's more trouble for you coming up." Keith laughed as he took a card from his hand. "I'll be using Monster Reborn to bring back my Evocator!" The flame warrior resurfaced the field. (ATK: 1900/ DEF: 900)

"You're in for a world of pain now! Gierfried, take that train down!" The massive warrior roared and charged at the train, his sword lighting up in flames before delivering a clean slice, destroying Syrus' monster.

Syrus: 2800

"You think that truck will defend you, right?" Syrus nodded slightly, making Keith laugh. "Hate to break it to you, but it won't. I activate Enemy Controller, switching Truckroid to attack mode!" Syrus' eyes widened as he watched Truckroid switch to attack. "Now, Gemini Summoner will take it down!" The wizard sent a bolt of energy, piercing the cartoon truck and making it explode.

Syrus: 2300

"And now, Evocator, attack him directly!" The flame knight jumped forward, striking Syrus with his sword.

Syrus: 400

"I'll end it off with a facedown, but next turn you'll be finished and I'll prove to you and everyone else that Slifer is a fraud!"

"No… I lost…" Syrus whispered with a sad look in his eyes.

"What are you doing?"

"Huh?" Syrus turned towards Jaden.

"Sy, the duel isn't over till the last card is played. And from what I can see, it isn't, right?"

"But-"

"No buts!" Jaden shot back instantly. "You want to be a better duelist, right?" Syrus nodded. "And you want to finally prove that to your brother, right?" Syrus nodded once again. Jaden grinned slightly and gave him a thumbs up. "Then draw your card and win this duel!"

"Right!" Syrus drew his card with newfound determination. "I play Pot of Greed and draw two cards!" Syrus drew his extra cards and gasped as he looked at them. "Jaden! I think I won!"

"What?!" Keith gasped at the sudden proclamation.

"Then go for it, Sy!" Jaden cheered.

Syrus nodded as he grabbed five of the seven cards in his hand. "I begin with the fusion spell, Vehicroid Connection Zone! Fusing together Stealthroid, Expressroid, Drillroid and my second Truckroid! Now they will create something amazing! Come out, Super Vehicroid - Stealth Union!" On the field appeared multiple cartoon versions of machines: a stealth fighter, truck, express train and a drill. They combined together, forming a giant robot. (ATK: 3600/ DEF: 3000)

"3600 attack points!?" Keith gasped.

Syrus nodded. "That's right, but that's not the best part. The best part is that he can take one non-Machine monster on your field!" Keith took a step back as the giant robot grabbed Phoenix Gearfried with its hand. The fire warrior suddenly disappeared.

"What just happened?" The Obelisk shouted. "Where'd he go?!"

Syrus smirked. "He got equipped to my Super Vehicroid, that's what! And here's the kicker, now he can attack all monsters on your field! All I have to do is cut his attack in half." (ATK: 3600-1800)

"Wait? Now you can't destroy any of my monsters!" Keith said, but Syrus smiled at him.

"You're right, but with this spell card, I don't have to worry about that…" Syrus held the card in question up. "Limiter Removal! This doubles my machine monster's attack points!" Syrus said and his giant robot's attack doubled. (ATK: 1800-3600)

"Super Vehicroid - Stealth Union, attack and end this duel!" Syrus said with a smile. The giant robot brought its fist back, charging up a punch. It threw the punch forward, straight at Keith's field.

"I-I activate my trap card, Mirror Force!" Keith said as a barrier appeared between the two fields. "Now your monster is destroyed!" He grinned as he thought he won, but…

The robot's fist smashed right through the barrier!

"W-What?" Keith gasped. "How? He should've been destroyed!"

"Not this time." Syrus said. "Vehicroid Connection Zone makes the monster summoned with it immune to destruction effects!" Syrus then smirked. "I thought something like this should be known by an Obelisk?" He mocked him in the same manner, making a vein pop up on Keith's forehead. The robot's fist connected with Evocator, destroying him and then the other fist connected with the Summoner, taking all of Keith's life points away.

Keith: 0

"I-I did it?" Syrus asked himself. "I did it!" He jumped in joy.

"Great job, Sy!" Jaden cheered as his small friend ran and gave him a hug.

Syrus laughed happily as he looked up at Jaden. "All thanks to you, Jay! I couldn't have done it without you!"

Jaden grinned and patted him on the back. "Thanks, now…" He looked behind Syrus. "What did you think, Zane?"

"Zane?!" Syrus squeaked and spun around to see his big brother approach him.

He stooped in front of his younger brother and gazed down at him. He nodded. "Good job." Was his short response before turning around and leaving.

Syrus stared at his big brother's back. 'I won't stop practicing, big brother. I'll reach your level one day and make you proud.' He then turned around and gave Jaden a glare. "Why didn't you tell me Zane was watching!"

Jaden grinned and rubbed the back of his head. "Well, if you knew he was there, you'd get nervous and panic on what to do."

"Oh." Syrus blinked a few times before nodding. It made perfect sense. "I guess you're right."

"Of course I am." Jaden said. "Now, let's get going. And know that you can always come to me for dueling advice, Sy." Syrus nodded as both of them left the cafeteria, leaving Keith to wallow in defeat.

It was a few days after Syrus' duel against Keith. It was currently Gym Class and the students were playing different sports. The Ra and Slifer Dorms were playing baseball.

On the baseball court, the Slifers were up on bat, while the Ras were on the outfield. All the guys were in their gym clothes in addition to wearing bandanas with their respective dorm color on their arms. The current score was 5-2 with the Slifers in the lead and next up on bat was none other than Jaden Yuki.

"Jaden, keep your eye on the ball!" Syrus shouted from the sidelines.

"Heh, it'll be hard to do that…" Jaden replied. "Since the ball is gonna go over the fence! Then he'll score, he'll score, and I'll score. Then we'll have a six run lead!"

"Hold on! Time out!" A voice called out. Running onto the field was Bastion Misawa. "I was deep into some attack point quantum mechanics and lost track of time."

"Can you throw?" One of the yellow players asked Bastion.

"Sure."

"Well, we need a fresh arm… Pitcher change!" The current pitcher left the field and Bastion took his place.

"This isn't a written exam, Bastion!" Jaden said as he pointed his bat at him. "I hope you know what you're getting into!" He readied himself.

"Oh trust me, Jaden." Bastion smirked. "It's over for you." He pulled back his arm. "Get ready, this one's coming red hot!" He launched the ball at breakneck speed right down the middle. Jaden swung… and missed.

"Strike one!"

The next throws didn't go very differently for him…

"Strike two!"

"Strike three! You're out!"

"Damn it…" Jaden grumbled. From then on the other Slifers noticed something… Jaden was getting sloppy? Syrus noticed this, how he just casually walked between bases and lazily tossed balls around.

"Time!" Syrus called as he and the other Slifers met in the middle. "Jaden, what's going on? You got two outs and walked the last three batters!"

"Well, yeah, it was the only way I could get to pitch Bastion." Jaden revealed.

"What?!" Syrus shouted. "You walked all those guys just so you could get even with Bastion?"

"Nah, not even… ahead!" Jaden corrected as Bastion took his place to bat. "You hear that, Bas? You're going down!"

Bastion smiled. "Down the base perhaps." He replied. "Now give me your best shot, Jaden!"

"You want it?! You got it!" Jaden shouted as he threw a curve ball, hoping for Bastion to miss. But, he managed to hit it.

Meanwhile, Dr. Crowler was passing by the field, trying to think of his next move on getting Jaden kicked out. "The Paradox Brothers couldn't beat Jaden! Chazz couldn't beat Jaden! I need someone who can beat Ja-AAH!!" He got interrupted by a ball slamming itself straight into his left eye, knocking him into the baseball equipment.

"Heads up!" Crowler popped out of the pile and saw Jaden and Syrus. The Slifers freaked out when they saw who was hit.

"IT'S YOU! OF COURSE, WHO ELSE COULD CAUSE ME SUCH INTENSE PAIN!?" Crowler screeched.

"That's keeping your eye on the ball…" Syrus muttered, as they stared at Crowler with the ball lodged in his eye.

"Sorry." Jaden said. "It was-"

"My fault!" Bastion said as he came up to them. "I was the one who hit the ball."

"Of course." Crowler said, his mood completely changing when he heard Bastion. "Here I was looking for a new accomplice and here it hits me straight in the face! Well, the eye, but that's besides the point."

"Dr. Crowler, accept my apologies." Bastion said, bowing deeply.

"No, no, no, I've been meaning to have my contacts refitted for ages and now I have the perfect excuse." Crowler said, trying to be nice. 'And a new protégé to back me up!'

"Huh?"

Crowler jumped a bit, he forgot that Jaden and Syrus were there. "Do you two mind!?"

"Sorry." Jaden said. "See ya later, Bas!" And they ran off.

"You really shouldn't associate yourself with those Slifer Slackers…" Crowler said. "I think it's time you associate yourself with someone more on your level… like me."

Chazz entered the classroom and walked over to his seat, acting all high and mighty. "It's good being the best." He then sat down and said. "Yo, a foot massage and an iced tea, pronto!"

An Obelisk student just laughed at him. "Why should we? Go get it yourself, loser."

Chazz sat right up as he heard that. "What did you call me!? I don't think I heard you right."

The three Obelisk boys looked at each other. "It seems like he doesn't know, does he?" One of them said and the other two nodded. Chazz began to lose his cool.

"Don't know what!?" He growled out.

Another Obelisk student came up to him. "Chazz, where do you think you're sitting?"

"Where do I think I'm sitting?" Chazz asked rhetorically. "I'm sitting in my seat, it even has my name on it." Chazz pointed at the table, but when he looked his name tag was gone. "What the…!?"

"That ain't your seat no more." The Obelisk boy looked at him smugly as he pointed down towards the bottom seats. "I think you'll find your name tag down there."

Chazz stood up in shock and anger. "No way, this is all wrong! I don't belong with those losers down there! The next King of Games shouldn't sit with third rate nobodies!" Chazz then noticed Crowler enter the classroom sporting a black eye from where he got hit with the ball. "Doctor Crowler, what is going on here? I don't belong down there with the losers."

"Oh, I disagree, Chazz." Crowler said. "After all it was a loser who beat you… what was his name again…? Ah yes, Jaden Yuki… a Slifer! Remember what I told you last time, Chazz? You will duel Bastion Misawa tomorrow and if you lose, you two will switch dorms!"

Chazz gasped with a horrified look on his face. "Are you telling me that if I lose…I will become a Ra reject!?"

Crowler then clapped his hands in a mocking way. "Yes, very good, at least you are a very good listener, now if only you could duel as well."

Chazz growled as he felt humiliated by the snide remark and the rest of the class laughing at him. He fled the room immediately. "I WON'T BE A RA!"

After classes were over for the day, Jaden, Bastion and Syrus were heading towards the Ra dorm.

"Okay, okay, the last one wasn't a foul." Jaden said.

"Over the field fence and into Crowler's eye isn't if you ask me." Syrus added with a grin.

"By the way, Bastion, nice playing today, you killed it." Jaden said while looking at Bastion.

"Please you flatter me. I play like I duel, by using formulas." Bastion picked up his bat and showed it to him. Jaden took the bat and saw that it was covered in formulas. "You see, I have noticed that science, geometry and statistics have a role in everything we do in life. Whether we're counting life points, home runs or just how many helpings of dinner we have."

Syrus looked at the bat curiously. "Wow, I never thought of it like that."

Jaden looked at him while giving him the bat back. "So does that mean that you use formulas for everything?"

Bastion chuckled a little. "Come, I'll show you."

As they approached Bastion's room, he opened the door. "And here we are."

Jaden and Syrus were shocked upon entering the room. The walls and ceiling were covered in formulas! "Welcome to my dorm room… as well as my lab and workshop." Bastion said.

"Geez, Bastion, I know the yellow is hard on the eyes, but this is ridiculous." Jaden said as he looked at all the formulas.

Syrus looked around with interest. "What are these formulas for?"

Bastion walked up to them and he began pointing around. "These are for trap cards. And these for spell cards. And those… well you get it. Most of these I have memorized and as you can see I have pretty much run out of space so…" Jaden and Syrus looked confused as Bastion took out a mop and paint bucket. "Mind helping me?"

Jaden smiled and grabbed a brush and Syrus joined him. Bastion took out a step ladder for Jaden who then began to paint the ceiling and the other two began to paint the walls.

"Hey guys, look, I'm Michelangelo!" Jaden said, causing the two to laugh. "Get it? Because I'm painting the ceiliiiiiing!" Jaden yelled as he lost balance and fell off the ladder. The brush he was holding flew out his hand and hit Syrus across the face, covering it and some of his hair with white paint.

"You do realize this means war, right Jay?" Jaden got worried when he saw the look on Syrus' face.

"Now come on Sy, it was only an accident, no need to do anything hasty." But Syrus didn't listen as he picked up the bucket and was about to throw it at Jaden.

Bastion got up to stop them. "Now, that's enough messing around, give me the paint, Sy." The moment he said that, Syrus threw the bucket at Jaden, but he jumped out of the way and it hit Bastion instead, covering him in paint.

Jaden looked shocked as to what just happened before he began laughing like crazy. "So, it's funny?" An irritated Bastion said as he hit Jaden across the face with a paint rag.

This was the start of a full out paint war.

After they were done and cleaned up the mess, Bastion invited the Slifers to dinner at the Ra cafetaria. As soon as they entered, they got a plate and filled it with food from the buffet.

They joined Bastion at the table and began to chow down. "Man, Bastion, I've never had this much fun while painting." Jaden said with a laugh and Syrus only nodded due to having his mouth full.

"Yeah!" The small Slifer said after finally swallowing his food. "And the Ra food is pretty good!"

Bastion smiled at Syrus. "Oh, you flatter us too much. It can't be that much better than the Slifer food."

Jaden laughed and pointed at Bastion's plate. "Believe me, the closest thing to lobster in the Slifer dorm is the dorm cat's breath."

Syrus nodded. "Speaking of bottom dwellers, what did Crowler want to talk about with you after the game?"

"Well actually, he wanted me to take the test to become an Obelisk. He will select a student from the Blue dorm for me to duel tomorrow." Bastion replied.

Jaden snapped his fingers. "So that's why you wanted your room painted." He smiled. "You'll be switching dorms tomorrow. Well, you deserve it, congrats, man."

"Oh you flatter me again. It's too early to congratulate me, after all, I haven't even dueled yet." Bastion modestly said with a smile.

"Oh come on, Bas, I've seen you duel and you're pretty good, you have this in the bag." Jaden said with his trademark grin.

"Well, thank you." Bastion smiled at him and nodded. As they resumed dinner, he looked at them with a sad smile.

In the Obelisk boys' dorm, Chazz was having a video call with a few not so pleasant people, his older brothers, Slade and Jagger.

"Get it, Chazz?" Slade asked.

"Yeah." Chazz replied, a bit irritated.

"We can't hear you." Jagger said.

"I said I got it!" Chazz rolled his eyes.

"You better." Slade threatened. "The Princeton brothers have a plan, and Jagger and I are following through with our ends."

"And you better be following through with your part, Chazz." Jagger spoke up. "Think about it, the worlds of politics, finance and Duel Monsters! If we have control over all three of them, then we can control the entire world! So in order for our plan to work, you need to be the best, so don't mess this up."

"No matter what it takes." Slade added before ending the call.

Chazz got up from the couch. 'Be the best?' He grit his teeth. 'How can I be the best with lucky punks like Jaden around?'

Chazz walked over to the window and saw Bastion follow Syrus and Jaden with a bag on his back towards the Slifer dorm. 'What's this? Bastion is staying over at the Slifer dorm for the night? That means his room will be completely empty...' Chazz got an evil grin on his face as a great idea came to him.

In the morning, Jaden was awoken by someone pounding on his door. "Jaden! Jaden!"

Jaden got up and opened the door to see Ms. Dorothy on the other side. "Miss Dorothy? What is it?" He asked in a sleepy voice.

"I was unloading some supplies at the dock when I saw them… cards tossed everywhere in the water!" She revealed why she was in such a panicked state. Jaden gasped as he was quickly awoken by the news.

The door to Syrus' room opened and the small boy emerged with Bastion trailing behind him. "What's going on?" The Slifer asked as he rubbed his eyes.

"Sy, someone probably tossed a deck in the water by the docks!" Jaden said, making the two boys gasp in shock. "Come on, we gotta get down there!" He urged them as he began running down to the docks.

A few minutes later they arrived at the docks, Miss Dorothy was telling the truth. In the water floated a whole deck worth of cards.

Jaden noticed a certain card among them. "That's Ring of Destruction!"

"And there's Vorse Raider!" Syrus added.

"Bastion, these are your cards." Jaden said, remembering these cards from Bastion's entrance duel.

Bastion looked at the cards. "This is all my fault. This deck was in the desk we moved in the corridor while we were painting yesterday."

"Who could do something like this?" Syrus wondered.

"Someone who doesn't want Bastion to be an Obelisk Blue, that's who." Jaden said with narrowed eyes. "What are you going to do Bastion? Your deck is gone and the duel is in an hour."

Bastion fished out his Vorse Raider and smiled at him. "Leave it to me, Jaden."

The group entered the duel arena where Dr. Crowler and Chazz were waiting for them. On their way there, they met up with Erina. Jaden had told her the previous night about Bastion's promotion duel and she came to cheer for her friend.

"Ah, Bastion, you made it." Crowler greeted, but then he saw Jaden and his mood soured. "And I see you've brought some friends."

Chazz smirked. "I hope you duel better than the company you keep."

Jaden narrowed his eyes as he saw Chazz. "Chazz is Bastion's opponent? Now it all makes sense, he's the one who tossed Bastion's deck in the ocean!"

"Pardon?" Crowler asked.

"I don't know what you're talking about, I haven't done anything." Chazz denied without shame.

"Oh, is that so, Chazz?" Everyone turned to see Alexis and Zane walk in.

"Hey guys." Jaden greeted as he and Alexis shared a quick smile before she focused a glare at Chazz.

"I saw you, Chazz, you dumped the cards in the water and ran away." She said. "I normally don't snitch, but you don't mess with someone's deck."

Jaden turned around and glared at Chazz. "That's low even for someone like you, Chazz."

"Oh come on, who's to say I didn't dump my own cards in the ocean?" Chazz said, still lying. "Bastion and I must have similar decks."

"You're a damn liar, Chazz." Erina growled.

Chazz glared at her. "No one calls me a liar, or a thief!"

"Fine, you are no thief." Bastion finally spoke up. "Let's start this duel already."

"But, Bastion, what about your deck?" Jaden asked.

"Sorry to worry you needlessly, but a smart duelist has a reserve deck, or few." Bastion unzipped his jacket. "You saw those calculations in my room, right? Well…" He opened his jacket, revealing a vest with six deck boxes attached to it. "They were for my decks! And each one is as powerful as the others!"

Chazz growled, he hoped he could win without dueling, but it seemed he had to put Bastion in his place. "You can do whatever you want with your six crummy decks, because all I need is one. Let's get started so I can put you in your place!"

Bastion inserted one of his decks into his Duel Disk and activated it. "You're just a theorem to be solved, Chazz, a code to be cracked, you're finished!"

"Bring it, you Ra reject!"

"Duel!"

Chazz: 4000

Bastion: 4000

"Get ready, cuz you're about to get it!" Chazz drew his card. "I summon my Chthonian Soldier in attack mode!" The dark warrior appeared on the field. (ATK: 1200/ DEF: 1400)

"I place one card face down and that will do for now." A facedown appeared in front of Chazz's feet.

Bastion drew his next card. "Oh will it now?"

"Bastion has something up his sleeve." Jaden commented with a smirk.

"He works quickly." Alexis said as she and Zane came up to stand besides Jaden, Syrus and Erina.

It didn't go unnoticed by Erina that Alexis stood a bit closer to Jaden. 'Geez, just kiss him already.' She snickered silently.

"I summon Hydrogeddon in attack mode!" A large dinosaur made out of mud water arose from the ground. (ATK: 1600/ DEF: 1000)

Bastion pointed at Chazz's monster. "Attack Chthonian Soldier with Hydro Gust!" Hydrogeddon let out a stream of water from his mouth and destroyed the soldier.

Chazz: 3600

Chazz smirked. "Thanks, you just activated my Soldier's effect! Now you take the same amount of damage I did!"

Bastion: 3600

"Not bad." Zane commented.

Jaden looked at Bastion, noticing that he wasn't even a bit surprised. "Seems like Bastion expected that."

Bastion smiled. "I am aware of your Soldier's effect, but I calculated that the points I sacrificed were worth it to activate my Hydrogeddon's effect!" He took out his deck and searched through it. "When Hydrogeddon destroys a monster in battle, I can immediately summon another one from my deck. So rise, Hydrogeddon!" Another one rose from the earth. (ATK: 1600/ DEF: 1000)

"And since it's still my battle phase, I can wage a direct attack on you, Chazz! Hydrogeddon attack Chazz directly with Hydro Gust!" The new monster fired a stream of water at the now horrified Chazz and when it hit him, it made him fall on his back.

Chazz: 2000

"You'll pay for that!" Chazz growled as he drew his card. "I activate my trap card, Call of the Haunted! And with it I bring back my Chthonian Soldier!" (ATK: 1200/ DEF: 1400) He then plucked a card from his hand. "Next, I activate the spell Inferno Reckless Summon! After I special summon a monster with 1500 attack or less, we must special summon in attack mode all monsters from our deck, hand or graveyard that match the name of one monster on our fields." Chazz grabbed two cards from his deck. "And I choose my other two Chthonian Soldiers!" Two more dark soldiers appeared side by side with the first one. (ATK: 1200/ DEF: 1400) x 2

Alexis was a bit confused. "Why would he do that? It doesn't make sense, Chazz's monsters don't have enough attack points to take down Bastion's." She said as Bastion played his third Hydrogeddon from his deck. (ATK: 1600/ DEF: 1000)

"Not on their own they won't." Zane said as Chazz took another card from his hand.

Chazz looked at Zane. "That's right, Truesdale. And now I will show you why I will replace you as the best student in this school!"

Zane cocked an eyebrow at the bold statement. "You?" He asked in a slightly mocking tone before he looked at Jaden briefly. "Sorry, Chazz, but Jaden will most likely take my place when I graduate, not you."

Jaden's eyes widened when he heard him say that. He kind of felt honored to be praised by the best student in school… it probably would have been even better if they hadn't butted heads a few weeks back.

"What!?" Chazz gasped. "You have to be out of your mind to think that Slacker would outdo me?"

Erina scowled, she was getting tired of Chazz's snobby attitude towards everyone else. "You're so pathetic, Chazz, the only ones who believe you'll actually be the best are those two idiots that hang out with you and yourself. Everyone here has a better chance of being the best than you do."

Chazz growled. "Shut the hell up! I'll show you all just how wrong you are! I activate Chthonian Alliance! The monster equipped with this gains 800 attack points for every monster on the field with the same name as him, including himself!" The leftmost Soldier grew in size and power. (ATK: 1200-3600) "That brings its attack points up to… well, you're the math nerd, you figure it out."

"Now, Chthonian Soldier, attack his Hydrogeddon." The enhanced soldier took and destroyed one of the Hydrogeddons with a swing of his sword.

Bastion's LP: 1600

Syrus looked really worried. "Oh man... Bastion lost more than half his life points. He's losing the duel!"

Erina patted him on the head. "Easy, Sy, Bastion's better than you give him credit for."

"Bravo, good show, but this will end shortly." Bastion drew his card. "I now summon Oxygeddon." A green pterodactyl made of wind appeared on the field. (ATK: 1800/ DEF: 800)

"Now, attack one of his weaker Soldiers with Vapor Stream!" Oxygeddon shot a stream of air and destroyed one of the Soldiers.

Chazz: 1400

"Did you forget what my Soldier does?" Chazz scoffed. "Some genius you are."

Bastion: 1000

"I'm not finished yet! Hydrogeddon, attack the other weak Soldier!" Hydrogeddon destroyed the other Soldier. Both players taking damage due to Chthonian Soldier's effect.

Chazz: 1000

Bastion: 600

Syrus looked at Bastion, both confused and worried. "Oh no, why is Bastion attacking like that? He's hurting himself when he destroys those Soldiers!"

But unlike him, the others had smirks on their faces. "No, he's doing just fine." Jaden said, making Syrus even more confused.

Erina nodded in agreement with him. "Bastion is playing really smart here."

"The Chthonian Soldier equipped with Chthonian Alliance has 3600 attack points." Zane began to explain. "Bastion would have to summon a really powerful monster in order to defeat him, but there is another way... look at the last Soldier." Syrus looked and saw that the last Soldier on the field was severely weakened. (ATK: 3600-2000)

Syrus nodded as realization struck him. "Oh, by destroying the other two, he weakened the big one's attack by 1600."

Jaden nodded. "Exactly, Sy, so if Bastion wanted to beat that thing he'd have to sacrifice a few life points."

Bastion smirked. "I now place one card facedown and that'll do."

"Will it, Whiz Kid? I doubt it!" Chazz taunted as he drew his card. "I sacrifice my Chthonian Soldier along with all cards in my hand to summon the Infernal Incinerator! Bet you didn't see that one coming, did you?" Chazz laughed as he discarded his hand and the Chthonian Soldier disappeared in a sphere of fire. Jaden and the others began to look worried, and Bastion covered his face as an explosion occurred. And in its aftermath, a weird lizard-like thing with a top half of a zombie on its head appeared. (ATK: 2800/ DEF: 1800)

"I hope you brought your calculator with you, because unless you beat him next turn, you're toast!" Chazz laughed. "Face it, Bastion, you're done for! Especially since he gains 200 attack points for every monster you have on the field." (ATK: 2800-3400)

Jaden gasped. "It has 3400 attack points? Bastion's facedown better be good if he wants to survive this."

"Do you think he can turn this around?" Syrus asked.

Jaden nodded and smiled. "I'm sure he can, but first he has to survive this turn."

Chazz laughed. "The results were clear from the beginning of the duel! Now, Infernal Incinerator, attack with Firestorm Blast!" Infernal Incinerator unleashed a stream of fire towards one of the Hydrogeddons, but Bastion quickly pressed a button on his Disk.

"I activate my trap, Amorphous Barrier!" A wall of ice appeared in front of Bastion's monsters. "When I have three or more monsters on my field, this trap negates your attack and ends the Battle Phase. Sorry, but nice try, Chazz."

"That was close." Syrus sighed in relief.

Chazz smirked. "That makes no difference. You'll get one more turn and then Infernal Incinerator will finish you off."

Bastion drew and smirked. "Sorry Chazz, but you won't be getting another turn."

Chazz lost his smirk and got an irritated expression. "What?"

"You heard me, I activate the spell card, Bonding – H2O." Bastion inserted the card. "Now by sacrificing two Hydrogeddons and one Oxygeddon…" The three monsters turned into three geysers and combined. "I summon the mighty Water Dragon!" A pillar of water appeared on the field and out of it appeared a serpentine dragon made of water. (ATK: 2800/ DEF: 2600)

"And since the number of monsters has decreased, so does your Incinerator's attack." Bastion said as he pointed at Chazz's monster. (ATK: 3400-3000)

Chazz smirked. "It doesn't matter, even with the power decrease he's still more powerful than your Water Dragon." But to his shock Bastion smirked back.

"Better double check your work Chazz." He warned. "Because I've done all the math!"

"All the math?" Crowler questioned. "Does that mean that…?"

Alexis smirked. "Bastion planned this from the very beginning!"

A tidal wave formed from Water Dragon and hit his Infernal Incinerator, making it roar in pain, and everyone gasped as they saw its attack drop. (ATK: 3000-0)

Chazz gasped in horror. "No, its attack points!"

Bastion had a smirk on his face as he began to explain. "It's my Water Dragon's effect Chazz! You see, when he is on the field, all fire attribute and pyro-type monsters lose all of their attack points. Now this duel is over, go Water Dragon attack with Tidal Blast!"

Chazz could only watch as Water Dragon unleashed a huge water stream at Infernal Incinerator, destroying it and causing Chazz to fly off the arena and flooding the arena with water.

Chazz: 0

"A well played duel, Chazz." Bastion said when Chazz surfaced and the water began to disappear. "But not well enough."

Chazz glared at him. "It was pure luck! You just happened to draw a lucky card, that's all."

Jaden glared at Chazz. "Why don't you man up and accept defeat with grace like a real duelist and not blame it on luck, Chazz?"

Bastion nodded. "I agree with Jaden, Chazz. And you would have lost this duel one way or another. I was prepared, you can deny it all you can, just like you deny tossing my deck into the ocean."

Chazz glared at him. "Oh yeah? Well, if you're so sure I did it, then prove it!"

"If you insist…" Bastion took a card out of his pocket and showed it, it was the Vorse Raider that he pulled out of the ocean earlier. "I pulled this card from the ocean. It has a formula written on it, I suppose you could have written it, but the math would have been wrong and it's not."

Bastion put the card away and sighed. "Chazz, you stole, you cheated and you lied, you deserve to be demoted."

Chazz hung his head. "I can't believe it, I lost again." He screamed in anger.

Crowler walked up to Bastion with a happy look on his face. "Bastion Misawa, congratulations and welcome to Obelisk Blue!"

Bastion shook his head. "Thank you, Dr. Crowler, but I'm sorry. I have to decline your invitation."

Crowler took a step back in shock. "What? B-But what for?"

"When I first came here, I decided that I would become an Obelisk Blue only when I was the top student among the freshman class." Bastion said, turning towards his friends. "And I still have three people to overthrow. Alexis, Erina, and the greatest among them all, Jaden."

Erina smirked at that. "So, Bastion, does that mean we'll be expecting a challenge from you soon?"

Bastion smiled and nodded. "Yes, but only when I perfect a deck to match each of your own. Jaden, remember all the calculations in my room?" Jaden nodded. "Well most of them are for these prototype decks here, they were designed to take you all on, two for each of you."

Chazz heard that and growled. "Prototype deck!? I lost to a damn prototype deck!?"

Bastion ignored him. "Soon, the walls of my room will be filled with new formulas and when my decks are done, I'll start taking you down one by one."

The three of them smirked at Bastion. "Well, until then, pal!" Jaden said, giving him a thumbs up.

"Until then." Bastion promised.

A bit of foreshadowing for the Duel Off at the end there.

So yeah, I decided to add some development for Syrus because I realized that I removed him from his only cannon duel and it would be kinda weird to have his first duel during season 2. Hope you enjoyed it.

Anyways, I'll see you guys next time! Stay safe!