Academy Island: Late Evening…

A teen, relatively tall for his age, had climbed up the cliff. He had wind swept black hair, brown eyes, and a lanky frame. He changed out of the wet suit he'd been wearing into a West Academy uniform before sprinting off into the forest.

Slifer Dorm

Winter break was here. For the duration of this time, Kai had to stay in the Slifer dorm. The only other students who were sticking around consisted of Jaden, Chumley, and Syrus. Since Banner was staying to watch over the three Slifers, Kai staying here was the logical choice.

Not that it particularly bothered Kai where he stayed over this time, and it had the added boon of being with friends anyways. Another good thing about Kai sticking around seemed to be the fact he pushed the Slifers and their dorm master to make cafeteria runs.

"I still can't believe they were going to subsist off grilled cheese and marshmallows." Kai thought, as he dug into his fifth plate of curry.

If he were going to be sticking around, the war challenger user needed more substance than that for sure. As he ate alongside Chumley and Banner, Jaden and Syrus were dueling.

(Jaden 4000/Syrus 4000)

Jaden's Field

Elemental HERO Stratos(LV 4/1800/300)

Syrus' Field

Submarineroid(LV 4/800/1800)

"Alright, with Submarineroid on the field…" Syrus began.

The roid user stopped, and everyone's attention turned to the door to the cafeteria as it was thrown open. Standing there was the guy who'd swam to and set foot on Academy Island. Right now, he didn't exactly look pleased.

"Where are they?" The guy asked, frustrated.

"Where are who?" Jaden asked.

"Jaden, I don't think that's the question we should be asking." Kai stated.

"Quite right, Kai." Banner stood. "Young man, who are you and what is a West Academy student doing on Academy Island?"

"I am Makoto Inotsume, last of the Psycho Style of dueling." The West Academy student declared, catching Syrus' attention. "Now that I'm on winter break from West Academy, I've arrived at Central Academy looking for Sheppard and Zane. I will defeat the Cyber Style."

"If he has a named style like Zane, does that mean this guy is strong?" Jaden asked.

"The Psycho Style of dueling centers around Jinzo." Banner explained, which caught everyone's attention and especially Kai's. "It centers around control of the field, limiting the usage of traps and the opponent's ability to attack."

"Unfortunately, they are rare due to the Cyber Style being more influential." Syrus added.

"Hey, don't ignore me!" Makoto exclaimed. "Like I said, I'm looking for Sheppard and Zane! Tell me where they are!"

"Zane Truesdale and Chancellor Sheppard left the island for winter break, just as you left your own academy for the same break." Banner stated.

"If you're insistent on dueling a Truesdale, you can duel me." Syrus declared, surprisingly firmly. "I'm Zane Truesdale's younger brother, and while I don't use the Cyber Style, it still has to count for something."

"Sy?" Jaden asked.

"You're challenging me to a duel?" Makoto asked.

"Yes, I am." Syrus nodded. "Since coming to this island, I've seen a lot of people who are great duelists, and they got better by dueling tough opponents like you. If that worked for them, then I need to follow their example to be a better duelist myself."

"Well, I did come all this way, so I might as well make it mean something." Makoto nodded. "Alright, we can duel outside." Makoto turned away from him. "Step on out when you're ready."

"Well, I suppose this does retroactively make Makoto a guest on the island." Banner shrugged in acceptance of what has happened. "Good luck, Syrus."

"Alright, you got the official okay from Banner." Jaden grinned as he patted his friend's back. "All that's left is to head on out and see what you can do against this guy."

"Yeah." Syrus nodded, a bit of his timidness returning though his eyes still shown with determination. "I'll give it my best shot."

"All of this is a rather surprising turn of events, but you got this." Chumley supported.

"Eh." Kai shrugged. "With the things that have been happening, I'm not all that surprised." He then smiled at Syrus. "Even though I'm not surprised, you'll do great Sy."

Syrus nodded before stepping outside, and the others within the room stepped out after him to watch the duel that was about to take place. The Roid user stepped up across from Makoto, both now standing at the front of the Slifer dorm.

"So, you decided to follow through." Makoto noted.

"I did." Syrus stated.

"Then, shall we?" Makoto questioned.

Syrus nodded as he made sure his duel disks shuffled his deck, both then activated their respective duel disk.

"Let's Duel!"

(Syrus 4000/Makoto 4000)

"You can start." Makoto stated.

"Alright!" Syrus drew. "I'll summon Heliroid(LV 4/1500/1300)." A cartoonish yet more militaristic helicopter appeared. "I will call my turn good there."

"If that's all you play, don't cry when this duel ends quickly." Makoto drew. "I summon Jinzo – Returner(LV 3/600/1400)." A bulbus headed, smaller looking Jinzo appeared. "Then, I'll use the spell Psychic Wave. Since I control a machine-type monster, I can send 1 Jinzo to the grave. It can come from my deck or the hand."

He took the one from his hand. "Now, you take 600 life points of damage." Electricity surged around Syrus (Syrus 3400/Makoto 4000). "Now, Returner can attack you directly." Returner charged an orb and fired it through Syrus (Syrus 2800/Makoto 4000). "That's my turn, hopefully you got something more than just a monster."

"This monster on the field is about to make what I do next possible." Syrus drew. "I now summon Missile Roid(LV 4/1000/200)." A cartoonish missile appeared. "Now, Heliroid will destroy your Returner."

Heliroid gunned down Returner (Syrus 2800/Makoto 3100).

"That was a mistake." Makoto declared. "When Jinzo - Returner is destroyed, I can summon Jinzo(LV 6/2400/1500) from my graveyard."

What rose up was the monster Kai remembered all too well, to the point he subconsciously rubbed his neck.

"I thought you'd have something capable of bringing out Jinzo." Syrus declared. "It's why I summoned Missile Roid. When paired on the same field as Heliroid, Missile Roid can launch a direct turn of his own."

Missile Roid was loaded up into Heliroid and fired at Makoto, whizzing past Jinzo (Syrus 2800/Makoto 2100).

"Alright, that was actually something." Makoto noted to himself.

"I end my turn with 1 set card." Syrus declared.

"That last turn wasn't bad, but it's over now." Makoto drew. "First, I activate Cyber Energy Shock, which allows me to destroy any 1 card on the field. I'll choose Heliroid." A sphere of electricity hit Heliroid, destroying him. "Now, Jinzo here will be destroyed at the End Phase.

It's all part of Returner's effect, so I see no reason not to use Limiter Removal. This doubles the ATK of all machine-type monsters I control, but they're destroyed at the End Phase." Jinzo(LV 6/4800/1500 effect). "Jinzo, destroy missile Roid with your Cyber Energy Shock. End this!"

"It won't end yet." Syrus declared. "Any monster who battle Missile Roid has their ATK and DEF decreased by Missile Roid's current ATK and DEF until the end of the Battle Phase if they declare an attack on him."

"All that will do is make this an exact victory." Makoto stated.

"It would if I hadn't set my own Limiter Removal last turn." Syrus declared. "As you just explained, it'll double the ATK of all my machine-type monsters at the cost of their destruction during the End Phase, thought that hardly matters given what's happening."

Missile Roid(LV 4/2000/200 effect)

Jinzo(LV 6/2800/1300 effect)

Missile Roid was destroyed, with the resulting waves of destruction washing over Syrus (Syrus 2000/Makoto 2100).

"Alright, you weathered that; however, I'm not about to be defenseless." Makoto declared. "By sending 1 Jinzo I control to the grave, I'm permitted to special summon Jinzo Lord(LV 8/2600/1600)." A Jinzo in darker clothing appeared. "That's my turn."

"I draw!" Syrus saw what he got and looked over his hand, it was time to go all out. "First, I activate the spell Cybernetic Fusion Support. By paying half my life points, I'll be permitted to banish monsters from my hand, field, or grave to Fusion summon a machine-type monster."

(Syrus 1000/Makoto 2100). "I'll capitalize on this by activating Polymerization. Now, I combine my Missile Roid and Heliroid from the grave with Armoroid, Dragonroid, and Rescueroid from my hand."

"Sy is banishing 5 roids for a fusion summon!?" Chumley asked. "Jay, what monster does Sy have that takes so many materials?"

"Beats me." Jaden shrugged. "He didn't have it back when we were preparing for that tag duel."

"Must be something recent he picked up." Kai reasoned.

"Five become one to Fusion summon Barbaroid, the Ultimate Battle Machine(LV 12/4000/4000)." A large, red and white robot appeared while readying its gears. "Barbaroid attack Jinzo Lord!"

Jinzo Lord was smashed into the ground (Syrus 1000/Makoto 700).

"Well, that's some machine you got there; however, I'm still in this." Makoto declared.

"Not for long as one of my machine's effects inflicts 1000 life points of damage to you if he destroys a monster by battle." Syrus declared.

Makoto could only watch as a wave of heat washed over him, depleting the rest of his life points (Syrus 1000/Makoto 0).

"I…lost to the Cyber Style." Makoto looked at the field in shock before shaking his head. "No, not even to it. To someone imitating it."

"No." Syrus voiced. "I wasn't using the Cyber Style. Just because I'm related to someone who uses it, doesn't mean I use it." He approached the Psycho Style user. "You're a good duelist Makoto, so don't go beating yourself up over this."

Makoto blinked at that before nodding. "One day, we'll have a rematch where I will defeat you." He offered his hand with Syrus smiling as he shook it. "You, Sheppard, and your brother, I'll defeat you all."

"I'll be waiting for that day." Syrus smiled. "Since you're here, you might as well stick around for just a bit, at least before making your way back to West Academy."

"Yeah, stick around!" Jaden called out, drawing the pair's attention. "The two of us just got to duel sometime before you leave."

"We got plenty of food and room." Kai added.

Makoto was a bit surprised to receive such an offer.

"I can't very well let a child go off, so you'd be welcome to stay for at least a bit." Banner voiced.

Makoto gave a small smile. "I suppose I got time before I need to make the trek back to West Academy."

For at least a few days of winter break, Makoto stuck around the Slifer dorm and joined in the festivities before ultimately departing. The Jinzo user wanted to ensure he didn't miss class, seeing that as his path forward to beating the three people now on his list.

Outside the Ra Dorm: After Winter Break, Day…

"Bastion, I would like that rematch."

Kai walked to the Ra dorm, determined now to cross another stipulation off the list. As he arrived, Bastion was waiting exactly where he had that day before school officially started.

"Good afternoon." Bastion greeted. "I must admit, this feels a little nostalgic."

"I know what you mean." Kai gave a small smile. "The day before classes starts, and we're going to duel. This time, I'm planning on coming out the victor."

"We shall see." Bastion smiled back at his friend. "Come on, let's head to the nearby cliff and get this contest of ours underway." The pair then moved to that cliffside overlooking the ocean. "Before we begin, you can select which deck I use."

He unbuttoned his blazer to reveal his six deck boxes. "The six attributes, or the one on my waist. Before you ask, the one around my waist is the deck I received from Seto, adjusted to my preference."

"I should be aiming to best the Gravekeeper's, but I can't deny my curiosity on just what that seventh deck he now has truly is." Kai nodded. "The waist deck."

Bastion retrieved and inserted the selected deck. "Then, that is what you shall face."

They moved across from each other and activated their duel disks. "Let's Duel!"

(Kai 4000/Bastion 4000)

"This time, I'll go first." Kai drew. "I'll begin by summoning Heroic Challenger – Thousand Blades(LV 4/1300/1100)." A silver armored warrior, with blades on his back, appeared. "Once per turn that this monster is in attack position, I can discard a Heroic card from my hand.

Then, I can special summon any Heroic monster from my deck, and Thousand Blades goes to defense." He sent Heroic Call to the grave and switched Thousand Blades' position. "I'll special summon Heroic Challenger – Spartan(LV 4/1600/1000)." A beige and gold spartan appeared.

"Lastly, due to this effect, I'm only permitted to special summon Heroic monsters. I now construct the overlay network with my two level 4 monsters. The most noble of knights is clad in lights! Xyz summon Heroic Champion – Excalibur(R 4/O 2/2000/2000)."

A red and silver armored warrior, wielding the blade, appeared. "By detaching 2 overlay units, Excalibur can double his attack until the end of your next turn." Heroic Champion – Excalibur(R 4/O 0/4000/2000 effect). "I'll end my turn with two set cards."

"Very well, it's my turn!" Bastion drew. "I'm sorry, but it appears a change of venue is in order as I activate Magikey World." As he inserted the field spell, the duelists ended up within a circular room with a skylight above which let in brilliant blue light."

"Magikey?" Kai thought. "That's a strange name for an archetype."

While a field spell didn't automatically mean this was an archetype, it was still a relatively safe assumption one could make. This assumption would only be confirmed by what the Ra did next.

"When I activate this, I'm permitted to add any 1 Magikey monster from my deck to the hand." Bastion knew who to select. "During my Main Phase, I can add the spell Magikey Maftea from my deck to my hand. Then, I must place one card from my hand to the bottom of my deck.

Now, I shall summon Clavkiys, the Magikey Skyblaster(LV 4/1900/1900)." A blond-haired warrior in an adventure outfit appeared. "Now, I activate Magikey Maftea allowing me to conduct a Fusion or Ritual summon of a Magikey monster."

"That spell can allow either summoning method?" Kai questioned, only really knowing of a spell like that being in Yugi Muto's repertoire.

"That it can; however, it goes a little further." Bastion informed. "As I control a normal monster, this spell can now utilize any 1 normal monster from my deck as a material or for tribute. So, I'll fuse Clavkiys on the field with Alexandrite Dragon from my deck."

"Okay, that is certainly a way to make normal monsters relevant." Kai thought.

"I open the door to the realm of the beast." Bastion continued. "Fusion summon Magikey Beast – Ansyalabolas(LV 4/2200/2000)." A large, black beast with Clavkiys riding on the back appeared before letting off a roar. "This is a rather useful fusion. First, upon being summoned, I can add a Magikey Maftea from my grave to the hand."

"That means he can fuse again or Ritual summon." Kai thought.

"Ansyalabolas' second effect brings one monster you control to heel, provided I have a normal monster within my grave who shares an attribute with the monster of yours I target." Bastion proceeded. "Alexandrite Dragon is light attribute just like Excalibur."

Heroic Champion – Excalibur(R 4/O 0/4000/1000 effect). "As a bonus, the monster forced into defense losses 1000 DEF. Now Ansyalabolas will destroy Excalibur, and any monster destroyed in battle with this fusion is banished!"

"That's an interesting fusion, but I'm not keen on seeing Excalibur banished." Kai stated. "I'll activate my first face down, Monster Recovery. This quick-play spell returns all monster on my side of the field to the deck, extra deck in Excalibur's case, along with whatever is in my hand. Then, I get to draw 5 new cards."

"You acquired a new hand, though you're left with no monsters to defend yourself." Bastion declared. "That means my Magikey Beast can attack you directly!"

"That's why I set my second card, Nutrient Z." Kai countered. "Before I take any battle damage that's 2000 or above, I'll gain 4000 life points."

Green particles rained down on the war challenger user (Kai 8000/Bastion 4000). Ansyalabolas then passed through him (Kai 5800/Bastion 4000).

"I expected nothing less from you." Bastion smiled. "I'll merely set one card of my own to end my turn."

"My move." Kai drew. "When I returned Excalibur back to the extra deck, his materials still would have gone to the grave, so I'll activate Monster Reborn to return Heroic Challenger – Spartan(LV 4/1600/1000) back to the field."

"He would call on Spartan rather than Thousand Blades?" Bastion question internally. "He must be aiming for a turn that's more cost effective."

"Now, I tribute Spartan in order to summon War Rock Skyler(LV 6/2200/2200)." A red headed, female warrior appeared. "She gains 100 ATK for every monster you control." War Rock Skyler(LV 6/2300/2200 effect). "That's not all as I'm equipping her with Magnum Shield."

A rather large shield appeared before War Rock Skyler(LV 6/4500/2200 effect). "As Skyler is in ATK position, she gain ATK equal to her DEF. "With that power, I will strike down your Ansyalabolas. "Due to an Earth warrior-type monster battling, Skyler's effect activates.

I'm now permitted to special summon any level 5 or lower warrior-type monster from my grave. Welcome back Heroic Challenger – Spartan(LV 4/1600/1000). Then, all War Rock monsters I control gain 200 until the end of your turn."

War Rock Skyler(LV 6/4700/2200 effect) rushed forward, using the shield to bash the beast before slicing it down with one sword strike (Kai 5800/Bastion 1500). War Rock Skyler(LV 6/4600/2200 effect)

"I will not permit this duel to end now." Bastion declared. "I activate my set card, Call of the Haunted which allows me to revive any 1 monster from my grave. I choose Magikey Beast – Ansyalabolas(LV 4/2200/2000)."

War Rock Skyler(LV 6/4700/2200 effect)

"Well then, looks like I have no choice but to end my turn." Kai stated.

"I draw!" Bastion looked at what he got. "I shall once more activate Magikey Maftea to now combine Magikey Beast – Ansyalabolas with Gene-Warped Warwolf from my hand. I now open the door to the realm of the dragon. Fusion summon Magikey Dragon – Andrabime(LV 8/2800/2000)." A large, mighty green dragon appeared with a roar.

"Considering the effects your beast held, I can only imagine this one is that much stronger." Kai stated.

"You'd be right as once per turn I can target any 1 normal or Magikey monster in my grave, I choose the earth attributed Gene-Warped Warwolf. Then, all monsters you control who share that attribute are destroyed. Go, Vicious Roar!"

"What!?" Kai exclaimed with wide eyes.

Andrabime roared while imbued with earthen energy which resulted in Skyler and Spartan shattering.

"That's not all." Bastion declared. "As Andrabime was fused from two differently attributed monsters, and you just lost at least 1 monster with the same attribute as 1 monster in my grave, I get to draw 1 card. I drew into a second Clavkiys, the Magikey Skyblaster(LV 4/1900/1900).

I'll normal summon him. Then, these two monsters shall attack you directly." Clavkiys blasted at Kai while Andrabime breathed out green fire (Kai 1100/Bastion 1500). I shall set one card to end my turn."

"I'm piecing together just what that deck of yours can do, and it is certainly something Bastion." Kai stated.

"Why thank you." Bastion smiled. "I'm quite happy with how this deck utilizes attributes to fuel its effects and am genuinely impressed with its usage of normal monsters in an era where I had assumed such cards would only find uses in how Jaden has played them."

"That said, this is still a duel!" Kai drew. "Since you control a monster, and I control none, I can special summon Heroic Challenger – Assault Halberd(LV 4/1800/300)." A purple armored warrior, wielding a halberd, appeared.

Since I control a Heroic monster, whose not level 1, I can special summon Heroic Challenger – Knuckle Sword(LV 1/600/200)." A gold and silver armored warrior, wielding a knuckle sword, appeared. "I tribute my two monsters to summon War Rock Meteoragon(LV 7/2600/2600)."

A white-haired warrior in red and gold armor and with two blades appeared. "Meteoragon will now attack your Clavkiys. When an Earth attributed warrior battles, Meteoragon grants all War Rock monsters I control 200 extra ATK.

This last until the end of your turn, and he can make up to 2 attacks on monsters as well." War Rock Meteoragon(LV 7/2800/2600 effect) sliced at Clavkiys, but he managed to block with his gun (Kai 1100/Bastion 600). "How is Clavkiys still on the field?"

"Magikey World's last effect." Bastion replied. "This first time a non-token normal monster I control would be destroyed; it is not."

"Alright, I'll have Meteoragon clash with Andrabime." Kai declared.

Meteoragon clashed his blade with Andrabime's claws, and the two monsters took each other out.

"Why would you clash with Andrabime rather than attack Clavkiys?" Bastion inquired.

"It's because of the effect the last card in my hand has." Kai retorted. "When an earth attributed warrior-type monster is destroyed by battle, I can special summon War Rock Bashileos(LV 8/2700/2700) from the hand or grave." A muscular man with a large axe appeared.

"Well, that's quite impressive." Bastion stated.

"Not as impressive as the fact that during a Battle Phase in which Earth warrior-type monsters battle, War Rock Bashileos(LV 8/2900/2700 effect) can attack directly while gaining the standard 200 ATK increase until the end of your turn. Now, he will attack you!"

Bashileos lunged past Clavkiys, preparing to end this with one strike of his axe.

"I activate my face down Defense Draw." Bastion declared. "All battle damage from this attack is reduced to 0." Bashileos was met with a shield which absorbed the impact of his attack. "Now, I'm permitted to draw 1 card."

"Er, I end my turn." Kai stated.

"Alright, my turn." Bastion drew, only to pause. "Kai doesn't have anything in his hand, I don't recall him sending anything that can be used from the grave, and Bashileos might not have any further effects than those he's shown."

The Ra knew what winning this duel meant for Kai, the stipulations Zane Truesdale had set for the war challenger user had been included in that message he sent to everyone. Bastion was one of three things standing in Kai's way from getting something he felt was needed.

Kai saw the conflict within his friend. "Bastion, don't hold back." The Ra looked his way. "If I'm going to fulfill Zane's request, I'll do it genuinely. Even removing that factor, I won't accept any less than your best. Show me what you got."

"Alright." Bastion's resolve had been firmed up. "I shall start by activating Piercing the Darkness which has effects I shall reveal as they become pertinent. Right now, I shall activate the effect of Magikey World to grab a second Magikey Maftea from my deck.

I'll then use it for a ritual monster this time, and I tribute Clavkiys as the full requirement. Ritual summon Magikey Mechmusket – Batosbuster(LV 4/2000/2200)." Clavkiys appeared wielding a minigun. "By ritual summoning him, I can add a Magikey card from my deck to the hand."

"Be that as it may, my War Rock is still 900 ATK stronger than that ritual." Kai reminded.

"Piercing the Darkness fixes that." Bastion declared. "Level 5 or higher normal monster, A Ritual monster created through tributing a normal monster, or an extra deck monster who had a normal monster as material.

In all cases, the monster involved in that battle gains ATK equal to the opponent's monster until the end of the turn. Magikey Mechmusket – Batosbuster(LV 4/4900/2200 effect) end this by destroying Bashileos!"

Batosbuster fired on Bashileos, destroying him (Kai 0/Bastion 600).

As the holograms faded, Kai walked over to Bastion and offered his hand. "You had me beat once more."

"Well, you almost had me." Bastion shook the offered hand. "Any time you want another rematch, just ask."

"Yeah, I'll keep that in mind." Kai stated before walking off.

Kai didn't think this loss required a full-on addition, like when he added War Rocks to his Heroics. The simple fact is adding in a full blown third archetype to his deck, at least from all that prior research he has done, wouldn't do him any favors.

Perhaps there was some third archetype which would minimally impact his deck, but that seemed like a long shot, last resort. No, what he realized in this duel is that it was time to inspect the staples, broader range of support, and adjust his deck's ratio.

He wanted to ensure he had options since Bastion was able to maintain hand advantage where his deck faltered. Simply put, he was close to being able to rematch Zane, but he wasn't quite there. Just a few more tweaks to his deck, and a little more skill should see him that last leg.

It has been decided. Between the poll, reviews, and private messages, Chazz Princeton will be sticking with his Armed Dragons/Ojamas/Unions from the anime. Of course, obviously given modern support as I have done for countless other characters.

Threebranch: Potentially and good to hear.

Vital Info: It depends on how you look at it. There eventually comes a point in every Yugioh protagonist's story when they just aren't supposed to lose again. As things stand, this is still the first half of season 1, losses are by far acceptable here. As for the mention of Chaos within Kai, I will at least confirm going with him being the Supreme King isn't my intention. As for the truth coming out, it does help that I feel this group, canon and non canon members alike, are closer than the canon group in my opinion.