The following day
Ships and helicopters cruised through the ocean towards Duel Academy. They seemed to be in a hurry.
"Attention all crew members." The ship's captain spoke. "It's been a long journey, it seems like everyone's been after us with attack subs, secret spies and air force fighters but it'll all pay off soon. We will arrive at our destination with our payload safe and intact. Now, full speed ahead, this is the moment we've been waiting for, the moment Duel Academy gets their new rare cards!"
Ash was going over his deck for the Field Test he would take later. He wanted to make sure he did his best.
"I wasn't the greatest when I started out as a duelist. There were times Gary, Paul and Trip thought I wouldn't last long as a trainer." He said out loud.
There was then a knock on his room's door.
"One sec." Ash called out to who was knocking on his door.
He got up from his desk and opened the door. Bastion was on the other side, waiting for him.
"Are you ready?" He asked the black-haired teen.
The two headed to the main building so they wouldn't be late for the written exam.
Slifer Red Dorm
"Please, please, please let me pass this test." Syrus sat at the desk in their room with lit candles. A white headband was on his head with three copies of Monster Reborn on them. He prayed to a poster depicting Slifer the Sky Dragon on the wall. "I don't want to be stuck in this red jacket forever...not that anything's wrong with red. It suits you well, Slifer."
*RING!*
"Wah!" Syrus cried out. It was just the alarm clock going off.
"Just the alarm clock..." He walked over to where the clock was, right next to Jaden's head. "...and as usual, Jaden sleeps right through it."
He began nudging Jaden. "Jaden, wake up. The exams are taking place today and we don't wanna be..."
"WRONG!" Jaden yelled, knocking Syrus to the floor. "Because I play a trap."
"Why can't he ever sleep in defense mode." Syrus groaned. "It'd be a lot safer."
"Duh, Syrus."
He looked up to see Chumley staring down at him, head propped up on his arms. "You shouldn't be trying to wake him up. Let him sleep and make our day easier. Get what I'm saying."
Syrus slowly shook his head.
"Chumley, I don't get anything you're saying." He told his roommate.
"You see, we have two different tests today. A Written Test and then a Field Test. The Written Test should be pretty easy, but the Field Test has you paired up against other students, mostly from the same dorm and I don't wanna duel one of the guys that beat Dr Crowler. Now do you get it'?" Chumley added, winking.
"I understand alright." Syrus glared at Chumley. "It's no wonder you were held back the last three years."
"Jaden get up. I'll save you a seat." Syrus got up and ran out the door.
He continued studying for the exam even as he ran.
'Okay cram time. Let's see. A normal trap can counter a normal spell, a quick-play spell can beat a ritual spell and-' His thoughts were interrupted when he tripped on his shoelaces. "A double knot beats a single knot."
Sometime later
"You have 45 minutes left." Banner said to all the students, taking the test. Or at least, everyone awake...
"A field spell... counters a normal spell..." Syrus was sleeping his time away, and hadn't even worked on a single question.
"I didn't know this was an oral exam..." Syrus woke up to Jaden's smiling face. "Or maybe you could've done without the all night Slifer séance."
"Hey Slacker, keep it down." Chazz started yelling from his seat up top. "Unlike you, some of us are trying to pass."
"Shut up Chazz." Ash shot back.
"Hey, I try to pass, it just doesn't end up that way." Jaden argued.
"Oh Jaden..." The argument was cut short when Banner called him to get his exam. Of course, he slept through it, too."
After another hour, Banner cleared his throat, "All right, children, the written exam is now over, now please walk don't run to get in line for your new rare cards."
"They're here!?"
"Oh dear."
As soon as those words left the professor's mouth, a mass mob of students ran out from the classroom as everyone took off. Soon, only Jaden, Syrus, Bastion and Ash were left.
"Where did everyone else go?" Ash asked.
He looked around the room and no one else was present.
"They headed to the card shop to improve their deck for the field test."
"Then why aren't you and Ash getting any?"
"Oh please, one errant card and the delicate balance of my deck would be thrown off." Bastion replied.
"I have these." He removed a bunch of blank cards from his pocket.
"Why would anyone put blanks in a pack?"
"No idea." Jaden and Syrus commented.
"Well mine wouldn't." Syrus said.
"So let's go, there's nothing like the smell of new cards in the morning!" Jaden exclaimed as he dragged Syrus out of the room.
The Slifers took off running towards the card shop. When they arrived, no one was there except a girl behind the counter. "Huh? Where'd everyone go?"
"They couldn't have..."
"RUN OUT OF CARDS ALREADY!" They rushed to the counter.
"Excuse me counter girl? There's still some cards left right?" Jaden asked.
"Of course there are. The rares are gone but we have regular packs left." She slid one over to them. "Here you go."
"WE SAID SOME, NOT ONE!"
"Ahh man! I'm done for. I slept through my written test and now I'm going to fail my field test cause I can't upgrade my deck."
"Then take the pack Syrus." Jaden offered.
"Really? You'd let me take the last pack?" Syrus asked.
"Of course." Jaden nodded.
Chazz's friends had just explained what happened at the card shop to him. "We couldn't get you a single one, sorry, Chazz."
"You know what's sorry? You two, but it doesn't matter, because there's not a single Duelist at this school who can beat me no matter what card they carry."
"Unless that single Duelist happens to be Jaden Yuki." The three Obelisk Blues turned to see a man in a long black coat and hat.
"Who are you?"
"Somebody who thinks you despise Jaden Yuki as much as I do."
"That's him!" Torimaki cried. "That's the sticky fingers who took all of the rare cards?"
"Rare cards, what rare cards? Oh, you mean... THESE!" He spread his jacket open to reveal row after row of cards.
"Enough of this cloak and dagger." Chazz said. "Tell me who you really are!"
"Don't recognize me, do you, Chazz? Well, how about now!" He threw off his hat to reveal that...
"Oh, it's just Crowler." Chazz said dismissively.
Crowler face faulted. "Is that any way to talk to the one who's going to help you beat Jaden Yuki on the field test?"
"But we're not in the same dorm." Chazz pointed out. "So I can't be his opponent!"
"Oh, you just leave that to me, you just be sure to use these rare cards in the field test against him. And once he loses miserably, he'll be kicked out of the school!" Crowler handed Chazz a stack of rare cards.
Around this time
Ash was up against Bastion.
"May the best duelist win." He flipped a coin to determine who would start the duel.
It landed on tails, so Bastion would start it off.
"Very well." Both drew their starting hands.
"My move." Bastion drew his sixth card. "Rise, Hydrogeddon."
A geyser of mud water rose up and created a gray and brown dinosaur with an amphibian tail.
Hydrogeddon
WATER
Level 4
Dinosaur/Effect
ATK: 1600
DEF: 1000
When this card destroys an opponent's monster by battle and sends it to the graveyard, you can special summon 1 Hydrogeddon from your deck.
"I'll place one card face down and end my turn." A card materialized behind Hydrogeddon.
"It's your move." Bastion calmly said.
Ash drew his sixth card, Mirage Dragon.
"I summon Luster Dragon in attack mode." He announced.
Luster Dragon
WIND
Level 4
Dragon
ATK: 1900
DEF: 1600
A very beautiful dragon covered with sapphire. It does not like fights, but has incredibly high attack power.
"Now attack Hydrogeddon with Breath of Fire." Dark blue fire was shot at Hydrogeddon.
Bastion: 3700
"I'll place one card face down and end." Ash declared.
Bastion started his next turn by drawing Star Boy.
"I summon Star Boy in defense mode." He said.
Star Boy
WATER
Level 2
Aqua/Effect
ATK: 550
DEF: 500
As long as this card remains face up on the field, increase the attack of all WATER monsters by 500 points and decrease the attack of all FIRE monsters by 500 points.
He passed after summoning Star Boy in defense mode.
"My move." Ash drew a card.
"I summon Mirage Dragon."
Mirage Dragon
LIGHT
Level 4
Dragon/Effect
ATK: 1600
DEF: 600
Your opponent cannot activate Trap Cards during the Battle Phase.
"Destroy Star Boy with Spectrum Blast." A multi-colored beam of energy came out of Mirage Dragon's mouth.
"Luster Dragon, attack Bastion directly with Breath of Fire." Dark blue flames formed in Luster Dragon's mouth before it shot them at Bastion.
Bastion: 1800
Abyss Soldier was the next card Bastion drew.
"I summon Abyss Soldier in attack mode."
Abyss Soldier
WATER
Level 4
Aqua/Effect
ATK: 1800
DEF: 1200
Once per turn: You can discard 1 WATER monster to the graveyard to target 1 card on the field; return it to the hand.
"I'll use it's effect to return Luster Dragon to your hand." Luster Dragon faded away.
"Go after Mirage Dragon." Abyss Soldier thrust a trident at Mirage Dragon, piercing and destroying it.
Ash: 3800
"Here goes." Ash drew from his deck. It was one of the blank cards he pulled earlier.
"I bring Luster Dragon back to the field." Luster Dragon roared at Bastion.
"Attack Abyss Soldier with Breath of Fire." Dark blue fire once again formed in Luster Dragon's mouth and was shot at Abyss Soldier, incinerating it.
Bastion: 1700
"Go ahead." Ash said.
Bastion drew Water Dragon, a monster he couldn't summon at the moment. This forced him to end his turn without doing anything.
"Nothing huh?" Ash asked, drawing a card. He then feel energy and the blank card he drew changed.
'What's happening?' He thought.
"Luster Dragon, get rid of the rest of his life points." Dark blue fire came towards Bastion, ending the duel.
Before it came to a end, Ash felt energy and took a card out of his hand.
Afterwards Ash walked off the duel field and returned to the stands to watch the next duel.
"You mean I'm dueling an Obelisk and it's Chazz?" He asked Crowler who was judging their exam.
"That's right, Jaden." The teacher confirmed. "Since you always talk such a big game, I decided to pull some strings for you so you got the challenge you deserve." He pointed to Chazz. "So congratulations, you'll be dueling one of the top ranked students at the school, what an honor! I sure hope you were able to snag a lot of today's rare cards so that your deck's up to snuff. What's wrong, aren't you going to thank me?"
"This is clearly a trap." Bastion said. "Crowler hopes to expel Jaden by having him duel a powerful opponent with nothing stacked in his favor. Only a cavalier fool would agree to this."
"I'll do it!"
Everyone gasped at Jaden's answer.
"All right, Chazz, get your game on." Jaden said.
"Indeed." Crowler said indifferently. "And in front of the whole school too so everyone can watch."
"Yeah, watch you get slammed by me." Chazz jabbed. They inserted their decks into their Duel Disks.
"Let's duel!"
Crowler ran out of the way.
Chazz: 4000
Jaden: 4000
"You're going down."
"Bring it, Slifer Slacker!"
"Oh, it's brought!" Jaden drew his sixth card.
"Coooo."
"Well, if it isn't my favorite furry friend." Jaden said looking at his Winged Kuriboh card he just drew. 'Kuriboh, you're in for a treat, because we're about to rain down some serious moves on Chazz.'
He drew a card. 'Appreciate the rare card, Crowler.'
"Fresh off the presses, Magical Mallet!"
"What's that?" Jaden asked.
"A redo, all the cards in my hand that I don't want I return to my deck and then I can draw the same number of cards."
"A rare card on the first draw?" Syrus gasped.
"And a very dangerous card at that." Bastion explained. "Now Chazz will be able to pick exactly which cards he wants and which cards he doesn't."
"I didn't even get to the best part." Chazz said, redrawing from his deck and showing Magical Mallet again. "You see, Jaden, I got to shuffle Magical Mallet too! So if I drew it again, which I just did, I can play it again and again. And that comes in handy, know why?"
"It comes in handy when I'm looking for this! V-Tiger Jet, sharpen your claws for attack mode!" A yellow mechanical tiger, shaped like a fighter jet appeared. (1600/1800)
"And there's a lot more where that came from! Check out the magic of Frontline Base, it lets me summon a level 4 or below monster this turn. And I have just the one, W-Wing Catapult!" A blue jet platform appeared. (1300/1500) "Gentlemen, start your engines!" The set of wings took off and the V-Tiger Jet soon joined it. "Now merge!" The Catapult revealed two missile launchers. The Tiger Jet landed on top of it. Thruster units appeared on the back of both the machines. (2000/2100) "All right, the VW-Tiger Catapult!"
"But wait, I'm not done yet, because he still has his special ability." Chazz told Jaden.
"That's not good." Jaden complained.
"Is this guy's turn going to end sometime this century?" Syrus asked.
"By sending a card to the graveyard, I can force one of your monsters into attack mode!" The card face Clayman was kneeling on disappeared as he stood up. "So after this Heat-Seeker Blitz from my Tiger Catapult, your life points are toast!" The Tiger Catapult fired its missiles. Jaden groaned from the smoke produced by Clayman's destruction.
Chazz: 4000
Jaden: 2800
Crowler saw all this from the special viewing box where he was watching with Chancellor Sheppard.
"My goodness." He said with fake sincerity. "Looks like Jaden can't play with the big boys after all. I guess he's not as good as he thinks."
Sheppard just stared out the window.
"I'll finish up with one card face-down." Chazz said as a face down card appeared at his feet.
"You go ahead and finish up while I'm just getting warmed up." He drew a card. "Speaking of, here's a guy who can really turn up the heat, Elemental Hero Sparkman in defense mode!" The electric warrior crossed his arms to protect himself (1600/1400). "And I'll throw down a face-down.
"Not much else he can do with all the new rare cards Chazz seems to have." Bastion said.
Alexis was also watching the duel but from behind. This is a complete mismatch, how can Jaden fight back if he doesn't know what he's fighting?
"Ready for round two, Slifer Slime?" A blue machine with a spike ball lower region and two cannon barrels on its shoulders appeared. (1800/1500) "Well X-Head Cannon is and thanks to Frontline Base, so is Z-Metal Tank." A yellow tank that looked more like some kind of cruiser than an actual tank also appeared. (1500/1300)
"Wait, if he has X and Z." Syrus said. "That can mean only one thing..."
"Now I play my face-down card." Chazz said as his trap card was lifted up. "Call of the Haunted, and in case you slept through that class as well, it lets me bring a monster back from the graveyard. And I choose..." A red metallic dragon appeared. (1500/1600)
"He has it!" Bastion confirmed.
"It's him!" Syrus gasped.
"That's right, it's Y-Dragon Head! I discarded it with my Tiger Catapult's special ability." The new monsters flew up and began to lock on to one another, with X taking the top, Y in the middle and Z on the bottom. (2800/2600) "And next I'll combine them to create the XYZ-Dragon Cannon!"
"Now Chazz has two monsters out with over 2000 attack points each." Bastion said.
"But wait, Jaden, there's more." Jaden gasped. "Actually, less, you see they say that two heads are better than one. But I would have to disagree, especially when the one in question is the ultimate V to Z Dragon Catapult Cannon!" The two machines joined and transformed. The new creation looked vaguely humanoid and was made up of all the machine monsters Chazz had. (3000/2800) "Makes your Sparkman look like a spark plug, or at least it did." Sparkman disappeared.
"My Sparkman!" Jaden cried as the audience gasped.
"Oh, I'm sorry, didn't I mention V to Z's special ability? He allows me to remove one card on your side of the field once per turn." He chuckled. "And if you think that's impressive, wait until you see its attack, an attack that will strike your life points directly."
"Not so fast, Chazz, I have a trap, A Hero Emerges!"
"Blast!" Crowler cried.
"A Hero what?"
"Emerges, as in emerges onto the field. You see, now you have to choose a card from my hand and if it's a monster card, I get to play it. So take your pick, Chazz."
"Yeah, yeah, whatever, the far right."
Jaden sought out the card in question. "Sweet, Elemental Hero Burstinatrix, I'll play her in defense mode." The fiery female hero took a defensive stance. (1200/800)
"That's what you think, you Slifer Slacker, when Dragon Catapult Cannon attacks, I get to switch one of your monsters into attack mode." Burstinatrix stood. "Which means not only will she get zapped!" The Dragon Catapult Cannon fired a lightning blast. Burstinatrix cried out in pain as she was destroyed. "But your life points will too."
Chazz: 4000
Jaden: 1000
The crowd gasped.
"Aw, what's the matter, Jaden, having some test anxiety?" Chazz taunted. "I knew scum like you didn't belong at this academy but don't worry because it will all be over soon!"
"No way, Chazz, I still have a whole army of vicious monsters in my deck ready to get at you. This isn't over, it's only just barely started!" He drew a card.
And gasped.
"What do you think, Winged Kuriboh?" Jaden asked. The card cooed in agreement. "Well, all right, if you say so, let's do it! I summon Winged Kuriboh in defense mode!" The Kuriboh with white wings appeared. (300/200)
Immediately a squeal went up from most of the females in the crowd.
"And I'll throw down a face-down too." Jaden concluded. "That's it."
"That's it?" Syrus asked. "All he's done is play defense."
'I sure hope Jaden knows what he's doing.' Alexis thought staring at the Slifer boy wide-eyed.
"That's all, huh? Good, because now I get to cook that Kuriboh and I like mine well done." Chazz said. "There's about to be a fried furball on the field, you loser!"
"You don't scare me!" Jaden argued.
"I don't have to, that's his job." Chazz pointed with his thumb at the Dragon Catapult Cannon. "Dragon Catapult Cannon attack!" Once again, a giant blast of energy headed right for Winged Kuriboh.
'Secret weapon time'. Jaden stashed two cards in his graveyard. "Not so fast, Chazz, by sending two cards to the graveyard, I can activate my face-down card Transcendent Wings!"
"WHERE DID HE GET THAT?" Crowler cried.
Winged Kuriboh's wings suddenly grew and deflected the blast.
"It can't be!" Chazz exclaimed.
"Oh it be." Jaden confirmed. "Transcendent Wings has evolved Winged Kuriboh into a level 10 monster." Winged Kuriboh Level 10 had its small face wrapped in a helmet that looked like a dragon and extremely large angelic-like wings. (300/200) "And it gets better, by sacrificing itself, Winged Kuriboh destroys all monsters in attack mode and deflects their attack points back as damage to you. Kuriboh, show him how it's done!" Dragon Catapult Cannon's blast was deflected back at the giant machine and it was destroyed, taking a huge amount of Chazz's Life Points.
Chazz: 1000
Jaden: 1000
"Lucky punk." Chazz said glaring daggers at Jaden.
"Lucky?" Jaden asked. "Nah, I just happen to have a soft spot for old ladies. But not for you, Chazz, and that's too bad because with a thousand life points apiece and my turn coming up, all I need is the right monster and you'll be finished."
"Serves Chazz right; he had it won with just those two monsters separately." Bastion noted. "But his arrogance got in the way."
"Here goes something!" Jaden drew a card. "Yes! Elemental Hero Avian!" The feathered E-Hero appeared, shocking all of the spectators. " Attack!" The winged hero charged forward and slashed its claws across Chazz's side.
Chazz: 0
Jaden: 1000, Winner
"He did it!" Syrus cried happily.
"Impossible!" Crowler cried leaning against the glass. "Not with all the rare cards I gave Chazz, this simply can't be!"
"Rare cards, what exactly are you talking about, Crowler?"
Crowler jumped, he hadn't realized he been talking out loud or that Chancellor Sheppard was listening in. "Uh... nothing... I... uh... have to go grade some tests." He quickly walked off.
Sheppard laughed at Crowler's back.
Jaden waved to the crowd who was cheering for him, and pointed at Chazz. "That's game, unless you want to duel again."
"Oh we will." Chazz hissed.
"Jaden!"
"Nice job." Ash said as he casually walked over to Jaden.
"That was well done, Jaden." It was Chancellor Sheppard, speaking over a loudspeaker. "Never in the history of our revered academy has a Slifer ever dueled an Obelisk at these exams. Not only did you hold your own, but you won! Your courage against overwhelming odds is... inspiring. It is with great pride that I grant you the promotion to Ra Yellow. Good job!"
The crowd cheered again.
"You're the best, Jaden!" Syrus complimented throwing his arms around the taller boy's waist.
"I do what I can." Jaden said with a smile.
"Good show, Jaden, allow me to be the first to welcome you to the Ra dorm." Bastion offered.
"And as for you Ash, you did so well in that duel I'm promoting you to Obelisk Blue." Chancellor Sheppard added.
"Welcome to the blue dorm." Alexis was the first to welcome him to the blue dorm
Later that night at the Slifer dorm, Chumley was contemplating on searching for a new roommate after hearing from Syrus that the E-Hero duelist got promoted.
"Hey Syrus, if you're gonna mope around, you might as well make me a grilled cheese." The koala boy ranted.
"I just thought Jaden would say goodbye to us at least..." Syrus said sadly
"Hey, who's talking about saying goodbyes?"
Both Slifers turned to the side to see Jaden leaning against the open doorway of the dorm. Syrus jumped up out of his bed. "Jaden?! What are you doing here?!"
"I wanted to say congrats on passing your field test. Also, in case you've forgotten." He placed his hands on his hips, "I live here!"
"What?!"
Jaden shrugged, "Sure, Ra Yellow has nice, clean sheets, lack of cockroaches, and those spiffy blazers, without you Syrus, it's not my home!" He explained. Syrus sniffed and dove at him, tears falling from his eyes like a waterfall. His roommate squirmed, "Hey! Easy, Syrus, you're getting my jacket soaked!"
Syrus looked up, tears still going, "I thought...I thought I lost you forever! Now I'm never letting go!" Jaden sweat dropped, "Just chill out, Syrus! Come on, get off!"
Chumley laughed at the entire ordeal.
"Stupid Slifer, you lucky punk!" He shouted. "I'll show you, who's superior around here!"
"Will you be quiet." Ash demanded. He wasn't interested in hearing Chazz complain.
Ash stared at the cards that changed during his duel against Bastion which were Blue-Eyes White Dragon and a little purple green eyed creature with rainbow hair called Rainbow Kuriboh.
Rainbow Kuriboh then winked at Ash, surprising him.