Chapter 1

Excitement filled the streets of Chalice town. As the championship match for the local Turby Derby tournament was well underway. Across the streets were thousands of onlookers cheering on the two turbo duelists. As their Duel Runners sped through its streets creating a rush of air. Green and blue Momentum energy sparked around their bodies originating from their runners. And he could only enjoy the thrill over the course of his life dozens of turbo duels had occurred. But none of them could match the thrill of having a cheering audience. Passes the one and two stories homes with round central domes on each one. Green grass zipped into a long streak with only the road to be his only guide in the duel. He wore a blue helmet with a screen vizier and a blue jumpsuit. Looking over at his opponent Dick Atticious; the man who was only a year older than him. Drove his black duel runner which was bulkier than most Duel Runners on the market today. But was still thinner than most historical runners; Dick's runner had a black paint job with a gold stripe across its bow. And a purple one on the opposite side with a gray seat.

It was turn 37 in the duel his life points were only at 2000 while Dick's was at 800. Dick had no cards face down, two cards in his hand and one monster on the field. His ace monster Soma The Golden Spear. A giant feathered humanoid woman holding a giant golden spear. With a black shield in her other hand and a cybernetic eye with black feathers and blue skin. Soma the Golden Spear was a level 12 Effect/Momentum/Speed monster with 2800 attack and defense points. Like all Momentum monsters Soma's attack was the exact same as her defense points. Currently however Soma's attack points is 800 thanks to a speed spell that he played against Dick earlier. Even through the distance Leo could feel the man's uncertainty and dissatisfaction. Dick had been the reigning Turbo Derby Champion in Chalice town for 2 years and next year he'd be moving on to the Senior League. As the Turbo Derby was subdivided into 5 divisions for people of various ages. Since both of them were in the 12 to 14 age range they were competing in the Junior League. "Alright Dick its about time I end this and take my crown! Go Life Stream Dragon take out Soma The Golden Spear. Life is Beauti-Howl!"

Life Stream Dragon was his ace monster, a gift from his parents. As this was the very first card he'd ever received and one of the few physical Duel Monster cards in his possession. As Kabia corp had stopped printing Duel Monster about 100 years ago meaning the few remaining physical cards were worth a lot of money. Most of the game had moved purely digital; even Leo's deck was digital. Life Stream Dragon was an old card that like many had been retrained to fit in with the modern game of Duel Monsters. In fact Life Stream Dragon was more powerful now then he was. As originally this card was a synchro monster, but they were having problems staying in the meta game. But synchros were still commonplace throughout the game. Life Stream Dragon flew into the air and Dick's eyes widened as he knew he had lost the match. A white beam emerged from his dragon's mouth destroying Soma the Golden Spear. And dealing 2000 damage to Dick's life points. Dick 800 - 0. Dick pulled his Duel Runner to the side and looked up, "Damn it!" He shouted, "How the hell did I lose to Valdez? Valdez of all people."

"And it's over folks!" The holographic version of a man known as MC who had died 200 years ago give or take a few years. As thanks to advances in Solid Vision technology a near exact replica of one of the greatest Dueling announcers was created with consent before his death. His name and face had been used from sporting events to massive International dueling championship matches. "I'd like to officially announce our newest champion of Chalice town's Turby Derby tournament. Leo Valdez!" Leo pulled his blue and golden duel runner to the side and took off his blue helmet. As cheering followed and the crowd was chanting his name. Leo Valdez smiled at his first ever tournament win. He never expected to get this far. MC was a short man with long black hair, wearing a red suit with a white dress shirt and orange bow tie. He held out his hand with only two fingers in the air as chers filled the streets. So this was what it was like to win a championship.

"Leo you won!" He turned his attention to see his best friend Avery Courteous attack him in a hug. Slamming him into the ground and he could only chuckle at him, "That was so amazing! I knew you could do it." Her grip was stronger than any of enemies or school bullies. Avery was 3 months younger than him making her officially 11 years old. Leo himself was only 12; like most people in Chalice Town he had started learning how to ride a Duel Runner at the age of 3. Using what was called a Siker Runner which was basically a Duel Runner for toddlers. Never meant to go on actual duels, but acted like a bike. With similar designs and were used to teach young children to ride a runner and was a stepping stone to officially riding a duel runner. Leo himself started riding actual duel runners at the age of 8, but didn't get his own until the age of 10. As it had taken 2 years for him and his parents alongside Avery to construct their duel runners.

"Well I did have help," Leo admitted. Avery smiled at him and then his mother snapped a picture of him and Avery. Dozens of flashes appeared and a moment later his parents appeared from the crowd. "Stop taking pictures of us!" Avery didn't seem to mind, but didn't break her grip. Laughter emerged from the crowd as three men approached him. Two of them were bodyguards, the other man was the mayor of Chalice town, a small town located in the much larger Turbo City. Turbo city got its name from the amount of Turbo Duelists in the city which surprised even those found in modern day Japan. The country that had birthed the Duel Runner; the mayor was dressed in a golden two piece tuxedo. With a red tie a tall man with a brown mustache and matching colored hair. "Who are you?" Leo asked not exactly sure who the man was, but he knew the man was important.

"Well Mr. Valdez I am mayor of Sitro of Chalice town and the man who hosts the Turbo Derby and I'm here to commerlate your victory today. If I must say that was a mighty fine duel you had," with that the mayor held out his hand and Leo shook it.

"Oh cool. Well hello then Mr. Mayor. I'm Leo Valdez. Winner of the Turby Derby Junior cup and future King of Turbo Dueling. My goal it take it to the top and surpass the legendary king himself. One day I'll build a legacy even greater than Jack Atlas himself." Leo proclaimed loudly for the entire crowd to hear. Jack Atlas was the legendary king of Turbo Dueling who had never been surpassed since his death. Winning an unprecedented 100 Turbo Dueling tournaments across the globe. Whose record was almost perfect winning more matches then he had ever lost. The few (recorded) losses anyway were almost always due to the legendary warrior himself. Though it was speculated that Jack had more losses than were known, but no proof. Even so, if his record was worse than was known. Jack Atlas was still the king of Turbo Dueling and one expect the legendary warrior himself even came close. That was Leo's goal in life to one day surpass him.

"Well it's always good to have ambition," The mayor said. "And if you are truly the future King of Games. That Chalice town is grateful to have you Leo Valdez. As the winner of this 112th Turbo Dueling Derby Junior League I'd like to give you this prize. It's something very valuable and will more than certainly help you on your path to become the greatest Turbo Duelist in the world." With that the man pulled out from his breast pocket a physical Duel Monster card. Leo took it from the man and his eyes wide at the card. With that Leo held out the card proudly.

"I'm going to the top!" Leo shouted to thunderous applause. With that his name was forever placed in the history book for Turbo City and Chalice Town. As a winner this was the beginning of something greater than himself. Something greater than even Leo realized.

Leo, Avery and Leo's parents spent the rest of the day in celebration. It was his crowning achievement besides completing his Duel Runner. Winning the Turbo Derby was the 2nd greatest achievement in his life. They came to a small dinner in Chalice town known as Chalice's dinner. A local restaurant that had been around for quite some time. On the rare occasions that something important arose and this was the definition of one such occasion. After having a meal Leo finally laid out the Duel Monster card he had ever gotten. It was a very old card. Who knows how much it was worth, but he didn't have any plans on ever selling it. Kuriboh. A level 1 dark fiend/effect monster with 300 atk and 200 def. Him and Avery were studying the card intensively, something this old was from the very start of the game. It was centuries old and in good condition too. "You can come on out now." Avery said with a smile, "We want to see your face Kuriboh and be friends."

"Kurriii!" A moment later Kuriboh finally made his appearance with a ghost-like tangibility. A round furball with small arms, legs and purple eyes who looked around at them. "Kurii!" He shouted happily as he flew around Leo and then Avery. It was a surreal moment as very few Duel Monsters spirits would ever reveal themselves to people. This particular one was more than eager too. Kuriboh was rather eager to fly from person to person trying to introduce himself to them. Out of the 4 of them only 3 of them could see Kuriboh; that being Leo, Avery and Leo's mother. His father lacked the ability to see Duel Spirits, but the other 3 different. "Kuri?" Kuriboh asked as he flew around Leo's father who looked utterly oblivious to what was going on.

"He can't see you Kurbioh," Avery said.

"Kuri?" Kuriboh said with tears in his eyes. "Kuri Kuri…Kuri!" Kuriboh called out in alarm and Leo wrapped his arms around his duel spirit. Even though it was a ghost the furball was very physically intimate with people.

"Isn't he adorable?" Leo's mother asked.

"Who?" Leo's father asked. "Is this another Duel Spirit?"

"Yes," Leo, Avery and his mother said in sync.

"Of course Mr. Valdez and he's a very friendly one at that. And totally cute," Avery said.