Two hours after the end of the practical tests and all the students having left the dome arena, the faculty teams still remained in the building, making sure to clean up and finish compiling all the recordings and data collected from their duels. Most of the work had already been finished, thankfully… Except for that of two teachers: the Obelisk Blue headmasters.

With a groan, Crowler took the ice bag offered by Ms. Fontaine and pressed it against his forehead, shivering slightly as he felt the cold touch his skin. "Dolce madre di misericordia... Chancellor, the next time I am asked to challenge an applicant personally, please be courteous enough to warn me when they're this… Eccentric." Of course, his superior chose that exact moment to let out a louder, heartful laugh, which only served to worsen the teacher's brutal headache.

"Well, I will say the same to you, Dr. Crowler! Perhaps this will serve as a lesson to hold back on your own acting, wouldn't you agree?"

"Provided I receive the warning to do so, then certainly…"

"Yes, yes, no need to worry… Now, professor, about the focus duelists…"

"Hmph… Very well." Still holding the ice bag onto his head, Crowler reached for a controller sitting atop a table next to him, aimed it at another monitor and pressed a few buttons. Said monitor lit up and revealed the pictures of nine different young adults: three women and six men. "Let us begin with our most… Spirited applicant. Chancellor, you've said that there was no information on signor Atlas prior to the application?"

"Correct. His documentation is legitimate, and so was his application through Industrial Illusions, but otherwise he remains a mystery."

"Hm. Well, he's certainly well-versed in dueling, at the very least. Wherever Atlas studied or learned before, it is ingrained naturally onto him. I cannot say with utmost certainty without having a thorough look at his Deck, but the boy knows its mechanics and intricacies very well." As Crowler spoke, images of his brief duel with the strange student appeared on the screen, showcasing his monsters. "He holds back resources until they are necessary, an admirable level of forethought, though that is possible to harm his matches should he hold himself back too much... And of course, his attitude is very likely to put him at a psychological disadvantage should he become too distracted."

On the screen, chancellor Sheppard cupped his chin in thought and nodded calmly, raising a paper into view. "It has also been delivered to us by Industrial Illusions that he will be utilizing a few prototype Decks for increased energy output on the hologram technology, so at the very least we can expect some surprises come the school year."

"Perfetto… Well, moving on to our other candidates before my migraine worsens… The boy that arrived with him, Jaden Yuki." The samurai user's pictures were replaced instead with those of another youth, this one more cheerful looking, and surrounded instead by colorful humanoids as he battled an instructor. "An Elemental HERO user, his written test scores were utterly abysmal… But his dueling talent cannot be denied. For such a basic deck, his usage of it is masterful, and I doubt he has revealed his full arsenal. That he defeated our highest-level instructor deck makes it clear."

"Hoh? Is that appreciation I hear in your voice, professor?" asked Sheppard wryly as he gave the doctor a mischievous stare. And to no surprise, Crowler merely scoffed.

"Hm, hardly. Skill can be acknowledged, but that does not deny the fact he has all the air of a slacker. If the Yuki boy does not apply himself, then he'll never leave the Slifer halls he shall be starting on… Just like the Truesdale boy." And if Crowler sounded disappointed before, the professor seemed outright disgusted speaking of the blue-haired child. "It is frankly shocking that he is from the same family as Zane Truesdale. His dueling skills are appalling, his written scores are lower than even the Yuki boy, and all signs point to a rock-bottom self-esteem… Chancellor, with all due respect, this boy does not belong in Duel Academy-"

"That is not our decision to make at the moment, professor," interjected the man, this time with far more seriousness and edge to his voice. "The Truesdale boy has qualified for entering the Academy, and he shall be allowed so. Any other decisions shall be made after we have personally witnessed whatever growth he is to have, understood?"

"Mmph… Molto bene, chancellor."

"Good. Now, for the other candidates?"

"There are of course our star candidates: Bastion Misawa, Chazz Princeton, Alexis Rhodes and Sora Perse." Another press of buttons, and the four images were focused, each one listing specific data next to them. "Excellent grades, fantastic performance on their duels and a stellar school history. Dare I say, some of the best Duelists to join our Academy."

"Hmm… The Princeton boy worries me, however. The weight and pressure placed upon him by his family name is sure to drive his actions."

"Irrelevant. If his skills remain sharp, I see no reason for any familiar conflict… And if I may speak freely, chancellor, it is signor Perse that I believe we should worry about."

Sheppard would admit, to see Vellian Crowler concerned was a rare thing. Annoyed? Oh, quite common. Irritated? Even more so, considering the age of the students he dealt with. Sometimes, the man would even end up choleric, particularly when the young men and women took to more… Exotic relaxation methods. But concerned, as he looked now, with a deathly-serious expression and rigid body language? The chancellor could count the moments in one hand, with this one added.

"… What do you mean, professor?"

"The boy is dangerous, Chancellor," continued Crowler as he set the bag of ice aside. "His performance on the entrance duel, I can say with certainty that it was merely a masquerade. His true colors are still hidden, and unless we are properly ready, signor Perse might prove more than we are prepared for."

"Very well then," spoke the chancellor calm yet seriously, a determined look in his eyes. "I will assign security to keep an eye on the boy. We cannot afford to have slip-ups… Not now, when we are still attempting to find our enemies." Both men let out a weary sigh in response to what any outsider would deem "mystery talk", but that to them and Fontaine, meant the fate of the world. And that Fontaine would most likely need to restock her headache pills in the near future. "What of our last two applicants?"

"Mm… Yes, signorinas Witzer and Augur… Both also accomplished Duelists, utilize rather… Unorthodox strategies and Decks, but… Well, signor Atlas is not the only one with an attitude problem," and seeing the uncomfortable grimace in Crowler's face, Sheppard's mood was lifted, if only slightly so. It seemed that this year their new candidates were quite interesting, in a way.

"Whatever you mean, professor?" But before Crowler could speak up, it was Fontaine that stepped forward, seeming somewhat sheepish.

"How may I put this, chancellor… Miss Witzer has a penchant for more… Pyrotechnic displays during her duels… Not to mention her attitude being quite similar to that of Mr. Atlas. As for Miss Augur, she has a certain, umm…"

"What Miss Fontaine is trying to say, chancellor, is that unless signora Augur controls her impulses and more overt desires while Dueling, then there won't be anyone in the entire Academy who will Duel against her… Or who will allow her to stay on the dorms," spoke up Crowler with the slightest hint of despair in his voice.

"… I… See, professor… Well, I will see what… Arrangements can be done."

"Grazie, chancellor."

"Well, send the data and grades back to the Academy, then go back to the hotel, both of you. Rest up while you can."

-O-

"Of course, chancellor."

"Good. Sleep well, professors," said Sheppard warmly, his usual smile returning to grace the two faculties. "The school year will start soon, and I don't want you two looking like our students on our first day! Ahahaha!"

"Urghh… Si, cancelliere."

And with a polite nod from both, the call ended, leaving the chancellor both alone… And haunted by his thoughts. The man rose from his chair and stepped to the massive windows that were behind his desk, overlooking the entire Academy building and most of the island. But chief to his attention were the seven pillars that rose almost as high as the school's central building, proof of the accursed treasure that slept beneath the foundations… And the cause for the dark storms that Sheppard could see and imagine forming, just over the horizon.

"And yet… Even in these trying times, there will be hope born anew in the hearts of the young," spoke the chancellor softly to himself, one of his hands brushing unconsciously against the Deck he kept upon his waist. "So come, you servants of darkness… You will find no easy task ahead of you."

-O-

A week later, the results for the practical exams had come through, and with them the chosen duelists to join the prestigious Duel Academy.

And amidst those applicants, nine Duelists, destined for many hardships and challenges… But whose stars would shine brighter than any, and banish away all evil.

YU-GI-OH! GX: CALL OF SOUL

NEW GAME

-START-

~O~

As promised, a quick epilogue to what was essentially the prologue to the fic. Just a short little peek at some of the stuff that awaits our glorious five years of education on saving the world… Or some shit like that.

Now, onto more… Unpleasant matters.

See, I like to think of myself as a mostly chill person. I'm not the kind of person to dismiss people giving criticism to my stories, because that would be haughty beyond measure, and 90% of the time critiques help you develop your story for the better! Such critiques are the reason I am willing to go back and retcon stuff from my fics, either because of the criticism itself, or because it makes me realize a change of plans is needed. It's happened with the Charge the Heavens, it's happening with Titanomachy, and happened in this fic just now (that being, I've made the executive decision to change the SI's first name from "Jack" to "Drake", though I'm keeping the surname.

However, I've also been getting less useful criticism, sometimes either back-handed, or directly insulting the fic itself, me, or the decisions made for the fic. So unfortunately, I find myself needing to put my foot down harsher than I usually would.

Yes, I know the decision to alter cards means more work and some confusion. It's why I'm doing my best to keep the cards as close to their original selves as possible.

Yes, I know there are more powerful cards/more meta decks/more usual combos than what I've picked, and honestly, I don't care. The SI is me, and the Decks he's brought are the ones I have the most emotional attachment to due to a number of reasons. I don't care how Predaplants or Crystron or whatever is stronger, they're not the cards I hold dear, so I won't be using them.

And NO, I will NOT be changing the entire fucking planned fic because two chapters in someone shows up and says "This fic is terrible". We're two chapters in, literally only covered the first fucking episode of the anime, and only barely touching upon any plot whatsoever. I am not someone who goes around saying "NO TRUST ME THIS FIC IS GREAT YOU'LL SEE JUST BLINDLY BELIEVE ME!", but I also have my limits. Decide your opinion on the fic once we have more than two chapters to develop things. If we get to, say, the Society of Light and you, someone who was enjoying the fic until now, say to me "This isn't fun anymore", I will understand completely. Because you've had time to read and we've had time to develop. I am fully aware that this is something that can happen, but at the same time I'm sticking to the plot I've decided for Re-GX. So please, for all that is holy, STOP TRYING TO DICTATE THE FICBASED ON WHAT YOU THINK WILL HAPPEN OR SHOULD HAPPEN, WHEN WE HAVEN'T EVEN GOTTEN THERE.

If you want to leave criticism, CONSTRUCTIVE criticism at that, then by all means! I am more than willing to hear and build upon it! The fact that Charge the Heavens had a third of it's fifth chapter rewritten should serve as proof that I am willing to change stuffif I see that the offered criticism is better than what I previously had. If you're here to just throw shade/shit at my story, then you're doing it to the wind. I won't care, and I will actively ignore it.

And if I hadn't fixed my pettiness years ago, I would probably write something out of spite. But I am a better person now thanks to a lot of people online that I owe much to, so that won't be happening from me.

Apologies for the anger-posting, but I had to say it.

Have a good night everyone, stay safe.