Chapter 1 - The Big Day
. Bold words - Name Introductions; Card names; Monster Stats; 'Special Attacks'; Player(s) Life Points.
. (A) / (FM) - Anime / Fan-Made - Cards used in the Anime/Manga; Cards created by the author.
. Italic - Non-English words; Epilogue and Prologue.
. ... - Next Scene
. " " - Normal Talk
. ' ' - Thoughts; Summon Chants
Ten years after the match between the King of Games and Atem, Domino City opens the Stadium Doors to give new students a spot to join the prestigious school of Duel Academy Island.
This tale is about the life of two contestants with wishes to accomplish by dueling with their souls and hearts.
Will they be able to face the danger and misadventures in school days; on an Island very far away from their homes?
'BEEP! BEEP!'
An alarm filled the room with noisy beeps that made the host of the alarm lift his body out of his bed.
"Morning already?", he asked, slamming his palm on the top of the alarm; it was '06:00 AM'. He picked up his small round glasses and put them between his grey eyes, opening the curtains from his window, showing the grey clouds covering the sky.
He was in his pajamas, picking his clothes from the closet, and went to the bathroom to prepare himself for this day, the day that would decide his future.
His name's Syrus Truesdale, a 15-year-old boy with light blue hair sectioned in three layers; with a low confident personality, his childhood wasn't one he was proud of.
In the past being easily bullied by kids of his age or even older ones at school, Syrus kept living his days alone. He only had his Duel Monster's Deck; and with all the time he had at home thinking on the best combos, he knew he would be ready. After all, he got trained for this...
He left the bathroom with his uniform asked by the Domino City Duelist Sign-Up Regulation. Walking downstairs and preparing his breakfast in the kitchen, he took fast bites of his bread and drank the hot tea from his mug.
Before leaving his house, he looked to his left at the hallway entry, where there was an old picture of him and his family, everyone smiling. He sighed sadly with only one sentence to say.
"I'm leaving.", he opened the door and left home.
Domino City was covered by fog from the clouded sky; it was hard to see the road, but the light posts gave some light for the boy to walk to his destination: The Domino Stadium. Getting close to the gates, he saw some of the Contestants and Instructors nearby talking to each other in groups. For a loner, Syrus tried his best to avoid any attention...
It was '06:30 AM'; he took a look at his deck to review what he had. He kept thinking he couldn't trust his luck, so attempt after attempt... error after error... Syrus knew he was prepared for any challenge, even if it was hard to face it.
The gates were ready to open; the blunet and the duelists went inside to prepare themselves for the duel exam to get a spot in the prestigious school of Academy City.
Syrus went to the Stadium bathroom to clear himself once again before getting called for his dueling test.
'It's all or nothing...', he thought nervously looking at the mirror before leaving a smile. "I'm doing this for me, sensei. Please watch this closely; I deserve a spot just like you told me! That's why I kept training, wasn't it?"
"SYRUS TRUESDALE, PLEASE REPORT TO THE EXAM! FIELD 2", the audio could be heard from the center of the Duel Stadium.
"I can do THIS...", he nodded as he left the bathroom and went to the Stadium.
Syrus stood in the mentioned field of the Area Sections; the Instructor was right in front of him.
Just like any other Duelist Instructor, he was wearing a blue blazer uniform from Duel Academy. He had a genuine serious look on his face, one that could show some pressure for beginner duelists.
"Name...", the Instructor asked.
"... Syrus... Truesdale, sir...", the boy replied quietly. To not show any proof of fear, he closed his eyes and bowed his head.
"Very well, Truesdale! The name's Victor; and as you can see, this duel will determine if you're worth staying in our Academy. Are you ready?"
The boy sighed once and his eyes set to the Instructor; their duel disks got ready and they inserted their decks in.
"Duel!"; "D-Duel!"
Round 1
Syrus (S): 4000 LP
Victor (V): 4000 LP
"You can go first, young boy", the Instructor answered.
"Ok... M-my turn, I draw!", Syrus drew his card. He looked carefully at his hand and nodded. "... I summon Truckroid in attack mode"
A big red truck, with silver cargo behind it, appeared at his side; smoke leaving his pipes. (ATK 1000/ DEF 2000)
"A simple play for someone beginner like yourself. Why would you summon a monster with a lower attack than defense points, in attack mode?", the Instructor asked mockingly.
Syrus didn't respond to that, only took his time to think about his combo, "I also activate my Field Spell card, Megaroid City!", he inserted a spell card on his field spell zone of the duel disk.
The Duel Arena showed Holograms of a Futuristic City covered by floating roads, where some merchant vehicles were driving to their destination; there was one skyscraper that looked like a Chess Rook, with an additional antenna.
"I place a card face-down and I end my turn!", Syrus declared, one set card standing in his Spell/Trap Zone.
Round 2
S: 4000
V: 4000
"It's my turn! I draw!", the Instructor drew his card. "I summon Danipon to the field.", he smirked, a little bug getting showed on his side of the field with a smug on its face. (ATK 600 / DEF 600)
"600 Attack Points? Your bug looks weaker than my Truckroid", Syrus looked confusing look.
"So I can tribute it with my Spell Card, Multiplication of Ants:", he said, the Danipon turned itself into monster pixels. "By tributing my Insect-Type monster, I Special Summon 2 Army Ant Tokens in defense mode for the double defense!"
Two tokens appeared on his side of the field. (ATK 500 / DEF 1200).
"And thanks to these 2 tokens; I activate my Spell Card, Swarm Draw!"
(FM) Swarm Draw: Normal Spell
Draw 1 card for each Insect-Type monster you control.
"Since I control 2 insect monsters, I draw two cards from my deck.", Victor explained. "Then I activate the Continuous Spell, Verdant Sanctuary!"
The Megaroid City was suddenly covered with verdant grass. Lots of bugs started crawling through the grass, which made Syrus feel a little disgusted by the sight. Victor smirked, Syrus turning his attention to him.
"You shouldn't quiver from my Spell Card. That's because I'm removing from play Danipon from my graveyard; to special summon my Azketipede, The Worm Warrior!"
A normal-sized green centipede pierced through the ground, looking at the truck with its four red eyes and a starving look; blades coming from its jaws. (ATK 1900 / DEF 400).
'This is a pure Insect deck; quite similar to the Weevil Underwood deck.', Syrus concluded. 'It revolves around swarming the field with bugs and using cards to support them. The more bugs he has, the more trouble I'll have to deal with... however...'
"Battle. Azketipede, attack Truckroid! 'Deep Bite'!", the instructor declared; the centipede crawled fast straight to the toon truck, opening its jaw and revealing its claws.
"Not so fast. I'm activating Megaroid City's effect: Since you're attacking my Truckroid, I'm sending a 'Roid' monster from my deck to the graveyard to switch Truckroid's Original Stats during this Battle!", Syrus said confidently.
He sent a card to his graveyard; Truckroid seemed stronger and bigger than before, more smoke leaving his iron pipe, with a red aura covering it (ATK 1000 - 2000 / DEF 2000 - 1000).
With Truckroid stronger, Azketipede screeched with its rolling tires rolling and smashing its head into pixels; Victor twitched his tongue while shielding himself.
V: 4000 - 3900
Truckroid (ATK 2000 - 1000 / DEF 1000 - 2000)
"And to add up your 'simple play' comment; my Truckroid now activates its Special Ability: Since it destroyed your Azketipede by battle, it now becomes Truckroid's Equip Card; absorbing Azketipede's attack points to its own!"
Truckroid opened his silver cargo so the centipede could get inside; the cargo weirdly gaining some metal claws from the destroyed monster. (ATK 1000 - 2900 / DEF 2000)
"My Verdant Sanctuary's Effect kicks in: I add one Insect to my hand with the same level as Azketipede from my deck!", Victor picked his deck and added a monster to his hand.
"I'm setting 1 card face-down and I'm ending my turn.", one set card stood on Victor's Spell/Trap Zone.
Round 3
S: 4000
V: 3900
"My turn... draw!", Syrus somehow a little nervous drew his card and smiled a little, "Nice... I activate Graceful Charity: I draw 3 cards from my deck, but I have to discard 2. And then, I activate Megaroid City's effect: Azketipede equipped on my Truckroid will be destroyed; to let me add to my hand 1 'Roid' card from my deck!", the claws from the silver cargo suddenly transformed into pixels, while Syrus added a card to his hand.
"I Summon my Drillroid!", Syrus placed his monster on the disk. A drill-looking battle machine with a giant smirk on its face appeared next to his truck toon. (ATK 1600 / DEF 1600)
"Battle. I'll use my Drillroid and Truckroid to attack your two Army Ant Tokens! And I'll activate Megaroid City's effect; to increase Truckroid's Attack once again!", Syrus ordered; his cartoonish monsters approaching the tokens. Since the token wasn't a Monster Card, Truckroid couldn't use its effect.
"I'll set another card face-down and I'll end my turn", a second set card got placed on his Spell/Trap Zone.
Round 4
S: 4000
V: 3900
"My turn! Draw!", Victor drew his card, showing a disappointed look. He didn't have a good plan... YET.
"I'll set a monster face-down and end my turn!", a set monster was placed on his side of the field.
Round 5
S: 4000
V: 3900
Syrus stared at the Instructor's field and thought of the advantage he had. But he was also nervous about his set cards; it could be troublesome.
"I draw!", the blunet drew his card for the turn. "I summon Ambulanceroid", a toon car-sized ambulance was summoned to Syrus's field. (ATK 300 / DEF 1200).
"... And I'll start my Battle Phase! My Truckroid will attack your set monster." his truck drove straight to the set monster. It was a human-form bug with evil eyes and an open jaw. (ATK 450 / DEF 600)
"You foolish boy! My Man-Eater Bug has a Special Flip Effect: I'm allowed to destroy a monster on your side of the field; Say goodbye to your Drillroid!", Victor laughed, a hole piercing from the ground where Drillroid was standing as it fell from it, pixels flowing from it.
"But since my Truckroid destroyed your Bug, it gets now equipped to my monster.", the truck opened its cargo to put Man-Eater Bug inside, gaining some power from it (ATK 1000 - 1450 / DEF 2000).
"My Verdant Sanctuary's effect: With Man-Eater Bug destroyed, I add a Level 2 Insect monster from my deck.", Victor explained, adding a card while smirking.
"Well, my last monster can still attack. Ambulanceroid, Direct attack!", his ambulance let out some noise from its sirens, making cover his ears.
V: 3900 - 3600
"... And since we're now on Main Phase 2, I'll activate Megaroid City effect: I'll destroy Man-Eater Bug, to add a card to my hand.", Syrus picked up his card, while Truckroid opened the cargo to make Man-Eater bug get destroyed into pixels.
'Time for some defense', the blunet nodded, raising two monster cards from his hand with a spell card. "I activate the Spell Card, Polymerization: I'll fuse my Gyroid and Steamroid from my hand to the graveyard! 'Prepare your engines and let out the steam heat around the place'! Fusion Summon! My Favorite Card; Steam Gyroid!"
The two monsters started fusing into a storm, coming out a giant-looking machine with helices looking like human arms; the train tires looking like legs. (ATK 2200 / DEF 1600)
"I'll set another card and I'm ending my turn!" a third card set card now stood on Syrus Spell/Trap Zone, the blunet looking confident with this match.
Round 6
S: 4000
V: 3600
"You should be prepared for what's coming for you, kid. My turn, Draw!" Victor smirked. "I activate the effect of the monster I added with Verdant Sanctuary, Paracide Paranoid: By targeting your Steam Gyroid, it becomes an equip card to that monster!"
The monster inside his Monster Card acted like an insect thorn whip that went straight to Steam Gyroid, covering it with its thorns.
"W-Why would you do that? That didn't destroy my monster… neither decreased its Attack Points.", Syrus gulped. He knew some bad news was coming for him.
"I don't want to destroy your monster; In fact, your monster will be a sacrifice for your defeat. You see, Paracide Paranoid turns Equipped Monsters into Insect-Type.", Victor's parasite inserted a poison sting behind the fusion monster, and some poison fogs made Syrus' Monster change into an Insect.
"That comes in handy when I activate my Quick-Play Spell, Cocoon of Ultra Evolution: By tributing an Insect-type monster equipped with an Equip Card, I can special summon an insect monster from my deck, ignoring its summoning conditions!"
Steam Gyroid got absorbed together with Paracide Paranoid into cocoon webs, pixels leaving the cocoon due to the monster's sacrifice.
"From my deck, get Special Summon; 'The Doom of the Swarm', Dreadscythe Harvester!", a Light Green Mantis carrying what looked like a Scythe stood on his left field. (ATK 2300 / DEF 1600)
(A) Dreadscythe Harvester: Effect/WIND/Insect/Lv 8/ATK 2300/1600
(Quick Effect): You can Tribute 1 monster; this card gains ATK equal to the Tributed monster's ATK
"Steam Gyroid, who was supposed to protect me... turned a sacrifice against me?", Syrus backed up for a bit.
"That's right, boy. But don't worry, because when your Steam Gyroid was sent to the graveyard, my Paracide Paranoid was sent as well... which means DOUBLE the trouble for you.", Victor laughed, while Syrus gasped.
"I activate Paracide Paranoid's effect: I Special Summon an Insect from my hand, ignoring its summoning conditions. 'From the deep grounds, grows the Bug Grinder'! Arise, Doom Dozer!"
Piercing through the City grounds, another giant bug appeared in Victor's right zone. It was a giant red centipede that looked similar to Akzetipede; however, its claws were more dangerous than the last centipede, and its anger was more showing off. (ATK 2800 / DEF 2600)
Syrus was feeling helpless, trembling everywhere now as the 2 giant monsters were looking at him menacingly.
"What's wrong, scared of my bugs now? Then how about a third one? I Summon Flying Kamakiri #1!", a green insect with arm blades appeared in the middle of the field. (ATK 1400 / DEF 900)
"Let's go Battle! Doom Dozer, attack his excuse of Truck; 'Underground Calamity'!", his giant centipede pierced through the area right to the Truckroid.
"I was waiting for that! I activate my Trap Card, Magic Cylinder: The attack is canceled, and I'll send the attack right back at you!", two giant cylinders appeared next to him, and Doom Dozer accidentally got inside the Left One.
For a certain period, Syrus looked at the cylinders; suddenly blushing a bit from a memory he had from imagining a familiar sorceress staying in the middle of the cylinders, while magic would burst from the Right emptied cylinder. Instead, Doom Dozer came out from it at a fast speed to Victor's trail.
"Wait! NO! Stop the attack!", the Instructor asked shocked, but it was too late. Doom Dozer passed through him, and he took the damage from his insect attack points, "AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
(V: 3600 - 800)
'Almost passing the duel' thought Syrus snickered while bumping his fist.
"Grrr. You and your tricky moves won't work again. Flying Kamakiri #1, attack his Ambulanceroid!", his insect went straight to the toon car; its blades clashed with the weak monster, getting instantly destroyed.
Syrus shielded himself from the winds of Kamakiri's attack while squirming for a little.
(S: 4000 - 2900)
'Why would he attack my Ambulanceroid first?', he thought.
"And finally, Dreadcythe Harvester will attack your Truckroid! 'Mantis Blade'!", Victor ordered the mentioned mantis swinging his scythe to clash against Syrus' truck.
"Here comes...", Syrus gulped.
"And to end this, I'm activating my Dreadcythe's effect: By tributing my Doom Dozer, my monster will gain its attack points", his giant centipede suddenly disappeared to empower the giant mantis attack (ATK 2300 - 5100 / DEF 1600)
"... 5100 ATTACK POINTS?", Syrus gasped with wide eyes. "I've got to do this! I activate my Megaroid City's effect: Even if Truckroid is getting destroyed, I'll send a 'Roid' monster from my deck to the graveyard, to switch its Attack with Defense.", by sending a card to his graveyard, his truck got stronger, covered in a red aura. (ATK 1000 - 2000 / DEF 1000)
"But that's not enough, kid. You'll still take 3100 damage and you'll lose!", Victor explained, as the scythe clashed and caused a smoke blast at the end. The holograms from Megaroid City suddenly wore off, for Victor's triumph. "Hmph... this tricky brat, seriously."
Suddenly, when they thought the duel was already over; some spectators were awed when the smoke screen wore off and Syrus was still intact in Life Points.
(S: 2900 - 900)
"H... HUH? HOW?!", the instructor asked.
"I activated my Quick-Play Spell; Emergency Provisions: By sending my Field Spell to the graveyard, I was able to get an extra 1000 Life Points, the moment your attack clashed with me.", Syrus explained.
"I see... I see. Very well done, Syrus. I end my turn.", the instructor said.
Round 7
S: 900
V: 800
'This is it; I've come this far... Now the outcome.', Syrus closed his eyes and drew his card. "My turn. And I start it by activating my Trap Card, Fusion Reserve: I'm allowed to add to my hand a Fusion Monster Material from my deck, and if 'Polymerization' is in my Graveyard, I can add it to my hand as well!"
Adding those cards to his hand, he picked another card from his hand. "And next, I play this Spell; Old Model to the Frontline!"
(FM) Old Model to the Frontline - Normal Spell
Target 1 Machine-Type monster in the Graveyard; Special Summon it.
"Thanks to this Spell Card, I get to revive back my Expressroid!", on his field appeared a cartoonish express train, the front tires were treated like arms (ATK 400 / DEF 1600)
"What? Where did that monster come from?", Victor asked shocked.
"Did you forget? I've been constantly sending my Roid monsters to the graveyard thanks to Megaroid City, my friendly monster included.", Syrus smirked.
"So that I can activate Expressroid's effect: I'll add to my hand Drillroid and Truckroid from my Graveyard! So that I can activate Polymerization once again! I'm fusing away my Expressroid, Drillroid, Trucroid, and Stealthroid.", his four monsters instantly flew away to a giant hole to combine themselves into a giant vortex.
"What... is that thing?", both the instructor and some spectators asked in admiration.
"'Mighty Steamy Warrior; Mechanic Handy Heart! Bring forth the salvation of my fears, and Come Forth!' FUSION SUMMON! Unite into one, Super Vehicroid- Stealth Union!"
From a sudden instant, a giant transformer clashed into the field; the express train heads were on his shoulders; he had giant mechanical arms and drillers on his legs; the truck's cargo was glued on his chest, and a giant 'V' on his back, representing the Stealth Jet's wings. (ATK 3600 / DEF 3000)
(A) Super Vehicroid - Stealth Union: Fusion/EARTH/Machine/Lv 9/ATK 3600 / DEF 3000
If this card attacks a Defense Position monster, inflicts piercing battle damage. Once per turn: You can target 1 monster on the field, except a Machine-Type monster; equip it to this card. While equipped with this effect, this card can attack twice during each Battle Phase. If this card attacks with this effect, its original ATK is halved until the end of the Battle Phase.
"That thing looks... Gigantic.", "It looks ironic when you're looking to size of the one who summoned it.", "This duel is getting very interesting..."
Some random comments were coming from inspired duelists that were still waiting for their turn. Victor looked around and smiled as well.
'This kid has potential in our Academy...'
In the meantime, Syrus was trembling. Not from fear, but from excitement... That was the worth of the training he's been doing during all his free days. It was like a blessing for him to get this far.
"Alright, my faithful buddy. Activate your effect: 'Astral Cannon'!", Syrus asked, his Fusion Monster opening the cargo from his chest, which absorbed Doom Dozer with intense power. The giant mantis suddenly disappeared from Victor's side.
"Huh? What did you do, boy?"
"That's Stealth Union's effect! It absorbs Dreadcythe Harvester, treating it as an Equip Card to my monster!"
"I see...", Victor laughed to himself. "But you do know what happens when you attack my Flying Kamaki#1, do you? And even by destroying it, I'll be able to add another Insect monster, thanks to Verdant Sanctuary."
"I'm aware of that. That's why I'm not planning on attacking your Flying Kamakiri. I'm planning instead on summoning this monster in my hand... Bulldroid!"
On Syrus zone, it appeared a yellow crawler with a big metal blade on the front. (ATK 1500 / DEF 1800)
(FM) Bulldroid: Effect/EARTH/Machine/Lv 4/ATK 1500/DEF 1800
If this card is Summoned: Target 1 monster your opponent controls; return it to the hand. If this card is destroyed by battle: Discard 1 random card from your opponent's hand.
"And Bulldroid's effect activates: Your Flying Kamakiri will now fly away back to your hand!", the green bug suddenly got sent back to Victor's hand, leaving his field clear. "And now, your Monster Zone's empty. Battle! Super Vehicroid - Stealth Union, attack him directly! 'Burst Cyclone Gale'!"
His Fusion Monster switched his mechanical arm into a cannon, sending a massive blast of air direct to the instructor's Life Points.
"That won't work on me, boy! My Trap Card activates, Dozer's Karma!"
(FM) Dozer's Karma: Normal Trap
When your opponent declares a direct attack, while you have a Level 8 Insect in your Graveyard: Negate the attack, and destroy all face-up Attack Position monsters your opponent controls.
"Thanks to my Trap Card, all your monsters will get automatically destroyed! Too bad for you, boy!", Victor smirked.
"Yes... too bad for you!", Syrus smirked as well, revealing his last set card. "I'm activating my Counter Trap, Emergeroid Call: It negates the activation of your trap card; which means this match is over!"
'Indeed, it is...', Victor sighed, taking the blast of air from the attack and his Life Points decreasing to nothing.
(V: 800 - 0)
SYRUS WINS THE DUEL
"... I DID it... I WON!" Syrus murmured happily. Clapping sounds and whispers were sounded from the crowd; the adult approached close to the blunet to shake his hand, which made Syrus cringe a little before giving him his hand as well.
"Congratulations, Syrus. You've got a spot for the Duel Academy School." Victor smiled at Syrus.
"T... Thanks, a lot for this duel, sir."
They finished shaking their hands; Syrus was about to leave the Center of the Duel Stadium, when a black-haired guy came close to him, walking downstairs to do his duel field.
"Well, Well! Interesting combinations you showed up to that duel, Syrus. That was a close matchup. I'm about to have my match in a bit, do you want to watch it?", the nice guy asked and extended his arm to offer him a handshake.
"T-thanks for the invite... I will watch it… later, I guess", Syrus told him nervously, showing him a forced smile. He went back to the Stadium bathroom to calm himself down again.
'What a fascinating person...', The black-haired boy thought and looked at the Center of Duel Stadium. 'Now then... It is time to perform my Formulas for Success.
From the top of the field duels, one teen above 17 years old looked down with his arms crossed. After watching Syrus' duel, his serious looked suddenly turned into a small smile. Wearing a standard Obelisk Blue uniform; his short dark-blue hair was sectioned in 3 layers, and his blue cold eyes could scare anyone who dared to threaten him. But not to the one who cared for him: His younger brother. "This year will be interesting. Don't you agree, Syrus?"
- End of Chapter 1 -
"I'm the only one worthy of being called the true Dark Magician user, don't you think? There can only be one Master of Magicians, and that's ME.", the opponent chanted mischievously. "YOU LOSE! Dark Magician, 'DARK MAGIC'!"
"I activate the effect of Dark Magic Curtain:" Yugi declared, by the time he was about to receive a direct attack. "This turn, I can Summon a 'Dark Magician' monster from my deck by paying half my life points"
"I-Impossible! You shouldn't have another Dark Magician in your deck…"
"Yes, I DO have only one Dark Magician in my deck! But, in the world of Duel Monsters, there's one female magician that is called the "Magician's Disciple". And her name is…"
The rest of the words vanished; Syrus looked up at the bathroom mirror. Waking up from his train of thoughts with his face covered in cold water; he remembered this scene from a Duel he saw on TV; a replay he would never forget. He cleaned himself with a bathroom towel and felt his face get redder; it wasn't from the cold water.