Author's Notes

This chapter marks the beginning of the Second Purge storyline. You can expect the story to turn a bit darker, because they'll be up against actual agressive people for a short while. I'm also glad I finally could give Masaki the little development I've been waiting for. Expect to see more stunts like these from him. Again, thanks for reading! I Hope I made the shift to a little darker style good enough!

Chapter 5: According To Plan

It's been a few weeks since the opening ceremony. The students got used to the academy's usual rhythm, and everything was good...

(Obelisk Blue Student: 4000/Osiris Red Student: 0)

The Red student smacked to the ground.

"That'll teach you not to insult us!"

The group of Blues laughed at the sight of the Red who got up and ran away, far from the Blues.

"And don't show yourself in here again, or you'll be sorry!"

Alec, Randall, Lea and Masaki saw the scene while headed for the cafeteria.

They understood that this battle between ranks had been going on for at least a year now, when an Obelisk Blue student made himself into something equal to the king of the Duel Academy students, who managed to get the Blues to discriminate the other dorms, which in turn lead the Yellows to discriminate the Reds.
It got out of control. It couldn't even be called bullying anymore. There was complete chaos in the school. Classes were frequently canceled due to the students getting into huge fights with each other, and there were always at least three people in the Academy's sick-room.

The students at the root of the problem were promptly expelled in an occurrence that was known by the students as 'The Purge', and hadn't been heard of since.

The atmosphere of animosity was down to a much lower level, but it wasn't gone. Not yet. In fact, the atmosphere was still generally hostile. Most of the dorm members couldn't get along with members from other dorms, without anything actually happening between them.

And then there were the 'Hunters'. These were the people who didn't just dislike the other dorms, they outright hated them, and actually caused problems to the other students. These problems included and weren't limited to severe beatings. The Hunters marked the return of the extremely hostile atmosphere before the Purge. While someone could have said "It's a miracle this hasn't turned into a full-scale dorm war yet," it started to look more and more like that the Hunters were after this exact thing.

Not much was known of them, not even identities. This was obvious, because if people knew who they were, they'd have been expelled a long time ago.

Randall brought up the issue. "The entire dorm-war thing is getting out of hand, guys."

Randall was fed up with it. The group was basically the only group of friends that went beyond the dorm borders, and every day they were greeted with glaring from the rest of the students.

Lea agreed. "You're right. This can't go on longer. Surely the dorms weren't made to be a source of hate?"

Masaki and Alec agreed with that.

Randall continued: "So we all agree that something needs to be done. But what can we do? I mean, it's not like we can just lure the Hunters out and ask them politely if they can stop what they're doing, or even turn themselves in to be expelled..."

And that was Masaki's cue. "I have a plan. It's a little basic right now, but we'll see what it turns out to be."

When Masaki explained his plan, the others were stupefied.

Alec shouted: "You call THAT basic?!"

Masaki was surprised. "You don't think so? Hm."

4 PM

The last class had just ended. Masaki was about to begin his little strategy.

A group of Ra Yellow students was talking with each other. Among these was Kyle, the student Alec befriended at the welcome dinner, and Egbert-Jan, the student Alec didn't befriend. Kyle was informed of Masaki's plan and made sure that everything went according to it.

Masaki walked past the Yellow students. It was at that exact moment that his phone rang. He stopped and answered it, right in the way of the Yellow students.

As expected, Egbert Jan responded to this.
"Hey, Red scum! I suggest you move, or else I might be forced to do something we'd both regret! ...Except that I wouldn't regret it... But whatever!"

Obviously, he had a way with words.

"Do you mind? I'm trying to have a conversation here!

… Yeah, their fried dumplings are the best!"

Egbert Jan got enraged.

"GET OUT OF THE WAY!"

"I rather wouldn't."

"Very well, have it your way!"

Egbert Jan dashed forward and shoved Masaki out of the way. He fell, but didn't drop his cellphone. Egbert Jan spat on him. "This isn't over, Red scum. This isn't over."

The other Yellows walked past him. Some of them smirked at him. Kyle just looked at him, smiling.

Everything was according to plan.

6 PM

The Ra Yellow dorm was having dinner. Kyle was sitting next to Egbert Jan. Both were silent. It wasn't long after Kyle decided to ask.

"What are you going to do to that Red student?"

"Why should I ask you? You're friends with that Red-sympathizer, aren't you? And that guy is part of his little clique, isn't he?"

"You're thinking into this way too much. You know as much as I do that even if I asked you out of worry for him, you know that there's nothing I could do. You're too smart for us."

The arrogant Dutch Yellow took this compliment.

"Heh, I guess you're right."

He glanced around him. The others around them were to busy with each other and their food to pay attention to the two.

"I'm gonna make sure a Hunter meets him tonight. He's gonna regret ever insulting me and the other Yellows!"

"A... Hunter?! Are you sure? Maybe he does need to be taught a lesson, but isn't sending a Hunter after him a little... too much?"

"I knew it! You're a Red sympathizer too, aren't you?!"

Suddenly, around him, there were a few people staring at them, hearing about another Red sympathizer. Alec Haven was bad enough already.

"No! I'm not saying that, but..."

"But WHAT, Kyle?"

"... Nothing. You're right."

"Thank you very much."

They continued eating.

A little while later, Kyle went into his dorm room. None of his roommates were there. He sent a video message.
"Masaki. Everything is going according to plan."

This wasn't the only message Masaki received. The other was from an anonymous sender.

"Masaki. Meet me at the forest opening south of the Yellow dorm on 12 'o clock tonight. Come alone. If aren't there, or not alone, I suggest you pack your stuff tomorrow or something... bad... might happen."

Masaki could only grin.

12 AM

Masaki walked to the opening. Upon arriving, he noticed his opponent was already there, covered in a cloak. Masaki recognized the cloak. People could buy them at one of the school stores, and with a costumed party coming up soon, a lot of people had bought one of them, or a similar one.

To think what kind of chaos this Hunter business could become if every owner of one of those cloaks was a Hunter!

The Hunter spoke. "Masaki. You have angered the Hunters of Yellow with your actions! You are to leave the school, or else we will make sure that a great deal of... accidents will happen to you."

Masaki grinned again. "How about I make you a deal?"
The Hunter thought about it for a while. "... Go on."

"We will duel. If you win, you may beat me up after this, and I will leave tomorrow."

"Heh. Sounds interesting."
"And if you lose, you will meet with the Chancellor, admit that you are a Hunter, and leave the school yourself."
The Hunter got his Duel Disk ready. "You're gonna have to defeat me first, Red. And considering your rank, I don't think that's gonna happen anytime soon."

He accepted! Masaki knew this was the key moment. He had to win this duel, or else he could say goodbye to his plan, and the Academy!

(Masaki: 4000/Hunter: 4000)

"Better Duelists first. That would be me." Our Hunter took the first turn and drew his card.

"I'll summon Double Coston in Defense Mode!"

Two freaky grinning black ghosts entered the area. They hovered around each other.

(Double Coston: 1700 ATK, 1650 DEF)

"Turn End."

"My turn!" Masaki drew his card.

"This duel could take a maximum of... 2 turns. Including this one."
"Five turns?! Don't make me laugh. That's impossible! Especially for a failure like you!"

"We'll see. I activate a couple of Spell Cards!

First, I activate a Field Spell: The Dark Sea! This card allows me to have infinite cards in my hand, doubles the amount of cards drawn if by an effect of a Darksea monster, and can negate a Darksea monster's destruction if I wanted to."

The entire field turned into a sea filled with black water and strange grins all over the place.

"Next, I activate Darksea Port! This card allows me to double the amount of cards drawn whenever I have to draw a card! Draw Phase, through an effect, you name it!"

The Hunter started to get impatient. "Who cares how much cards you draw?! Just get on with it!"

"In due time, friend. First, I want to activate ANOTHER Darksea Port!"

"For the love of God, I should just get over there and hit you!"

"Please don't. That wouldn't be good Duelist etiquette. Anyway, I summon a monster: Darksea Salvage Ship!

(Darksea Salvage Ship: 100 ATK, 100 DEF)

"What are you gonna do with that piece of crap?!"

"Draw cards. Whenever I take damage while Salvage Ship is on the field, I get to draw two cards. Double that. Double that again. Double that yet again. 16 cards for every time I take damage."

"Hah! What use could drawing 16 cards possibly have... Unless..."

"That's right. I'm going to summon Exodia."

"You motherfucking..."

Masaki just smiled. "I'll set a Trap. I'll even tell you what it is. Solemn Wishes, to prevent you from being able to defeat me next turn."

"So... Whatever I do, I lose."

"That is correct."

"Then get a load of THIS!"

The Hunter threw off his Duel Disk and dashed forward. "Who needs dueling if I can just beat your ass anyway?!"

Masaki looked surprised. "Shit," he yelled, as the Hunter ran towards him. He ran away for a few steps, and then stopped and walked back again.

The Hunter was pinned down by Randall and Alec. He shouted out some random insults, but couldn't do a thing.
"Masaki, you bastard! I told you to come alone!"
"I did. They did, too. In fact, they were here a little earlier! Now, I don't suppose you would want to turn yourself in, do you? Well, here's the deal."

Masaki grabbed a camera from his bag. Alec ripped off the cloak's hood, giving the three view of the Hunter's identity.
Alec commented. "My, my, Echbuhrrt Jhannn... Am I pronouncing that right?"

"NO YOU AREN'T, YOU ASSHOLE! Let me go!!"

Masaki took a picture and continued.
"As I said, here's the deal. We have proof. We have three witnesses stating the exact same. We could take this case to the school court, and I can guarantee you'd lose. So either we do that, or you turn yourself in."
"There's other Hunters... They'll take you guys down and cover for me..."

"And that's not gonna work either! Without any proof, they can't cover for you, and would instead be seen as co-conspirators, and eventually, Hunters as well! And don't tell me you don't know about the guard they keep stationed around the dorms and rooms of witnesses of cases of this caliber!"

"... Allright, I'll turn myself in. But trust me, the other Hunters will get you sympathizers!"

Masaki laughed. A bit maniacally, even. "Everything went according to plan! Now get out, Hunter. We'll miss you."

The once so proud Yellow student was nearly reduced to tears and ran away.
"How did you know all these things about our school court and everything?" Alec asked.
Masaki checked if Egbert Jan was gone already.

"We don't have a school court. Just the usual teacher-interrogation."

"And your first hand?" Randall wondered.
"Orchestrated. With a deck in 60 cards, you need to be damn lucky to get that combo in one turn. He was to agitated to notice I never auto-shuffled it."

Alec looked at him. "Masaki, you're one creepy bastard."

"I know, isn't it great?"

Randall said "Well, I guess the plan is set in motion now, huh?"
Masaki nodded. "Yup. The Yellow Hunters won't take kindly to this, and that's exactly what we want."