This takes place in the same universe in Chapter 1. Bastion Misawa and Chazz Princeton are the focus here.
Also, if I make a mistake during anytime in the chapter, please feel free to point it out so I may correct the mistake. It will take me some time though.
CORRECTION: Temple of the Six only decreases on it's own counters. Not every Bushido Counter on the field. This has been corrected.
Today is the day that Bastion Misawa had been fearing: Exam Day. The word 'nervous' doesn't even begin to describe what he's feeling right now.
The Duel Academy Gym looks more scarier than it ever had before. Over the past month, he did everything he could to get smarter, but everytime he opens a book or looks at an instructional video, he could never really 'absorb' himself in the material. It's almost as if the world itself was trying to get him to fail.
It's a good thing that even if he fails, he can just stay where he is in the Red Dorm.
"You nervous, man?" He hears his friend, Zane, speak to him.
"Nervous? Me? No way, man."
"Just remember: You're a better duelist than you think. You're gonna do great."
Now it's Chazz's turn to speak. "Yeah… We all came to this academy to have fun, didn't we? So what if everybody else is better than us? It doesn't mean we have nothing to show them!"
It was then that Bastion received the notification on his communicator. It was time to take the exam. "I'll try my best not to puke in front of everybody." He said as he stood up.
"Uh, yeah man." Chazz nodded. "Give 'em hell!"
As Bastion made his way onto the field, he instantly recognized his opponent. "Great Shogun Fujiwara!?" He gasps. "YOU'RE gonna be my opponent!?"
Fujiwara smirks at him. "I didn't get to where I am today without taking down opponents that were perceived to be greater than I. How else do you plan to improve unless you get out of your comfort zone?"
Bastion activates his Duel Disk. "Well… I guess you got me there. I'm gonna be giving it my all."
DUEL
Bastion Misawa - 8000 LP
VS
Yusuke Fujiwara - 8000 LP
"Let me show you what I've learned!" Bastion yelled after looking over his starting hand.
"I summon Gunkan Suship Shari! (ATK: 2000) I'll then equip it with this card: Mage Power! After laying an additional card face down, my monster's attack points are now 3000! Show me what you got, Fujiwara!"
"Is that all you got!?" Fujiwara drew a card. "Let me show you how a REAL duelist does it!
I'll start by activating the field spell, Temple of the Six! You should know what this card does, right?"
Bastion scratches his head. "Uhh… If I remember correctly… My monsters get weaker the more you summon, right?"
Fujiwara nodded. "Good on you for remembering. I'm going to continue. I'll now activate the spell card, Six Samurai United! Next, I normal summon Legendary Six Samurai - Shinai! (ATK: 1500) and when Shinai is on my field, I can special summon Legendary Six Samurai - Kizan! (ATK: 1800)"
Bastion let out a gasp. "And with Six Samurai United on the field, you're able to…"
Fujiwara smirks. "I can now send it to the grave to draw two cards. Now then… I'll link off both my monsters to link summon into Isolde, Two Tales of the Noble Knights! (ATK: 1600) Allowing me to fetch Secret Six Samurai - Kizaru from my deck! Next, by sending one equip spell card from my deck to the graveyard, I can special summon Secret Six Samurai - Fuma from my deck! (DEF: 1800) And now I'll link summon AGAIN! Using Fuma and Isolde to link summon into Battle Shogun of the Six Samurai! (ATK: 1400) It's effect allows me to discard my Kizaru to fetch my ultimate spell card: Gateway of the Six!"
"Gateway of the Six!?" Bastion said worryingly. "I have no idea what that card does, but I'm guessing it's not going to be good for me!"
"Far from it, dude." Said Fujiwara. "But for now I think I'll just let you off with me placing one card face down and passing it to you!"
Bastion draws a card before looking at his monster. "There are four counters on the field, so that means Shari has 2600 attack points, but I don't want to take any chances with that set card."
He then announces. "I activate my trap card! Gunkan Suship Daily Special! By revealing another Gunkan Suship Shari in my hand, I can choose one of three Gunkan monsters from my deck! I choose… Gunkan Suship Uni! And since I already revealed Shari, I can special summon it!
Uni also has another ability! It can make my already summoned Shari a level 5! Now I overlay my monsters to Xyz summon into… Gunkan Suship Uni-Class Super-Dreadnought! (ATK: 2500) And due to it being summoned with Shari, I can draw one card!"
Bastion draws a card, then smirks. "I drew MY field spell… Gunkan Sushipyard Seaside Supper Spot!"
"And I'LL activate my trap card!" Said Fujiwara. "Threatening Roar! You can't attack me this turn!"
"I still have the advantage!" Bastion looks at his monster. "I end my turn!"
Fujiwara draws a card. "Thanks to that field spell of his, if I destroy his monster, he'll just pump out another one to replace it! I gotta make sure that doesn't happen!"
He then looks over his hand. "I special summon another Kizan from my hand! (ATK: 1800) Then I activate this spell card, Asceticism of the Six Samurai! Allowing me to special summon The Six Samurai - Zanji from my deck! (ATK: 1800)
With two special summons, my gateway has four bushido counters! By removing four counters, I can fetch Fuma from my graveyard to my hand! I'll then normal summon Fuma! (ATK: 200) And perform a synchro summon using Fuma and Zanji to bring out Legendary Six Samurai - Shi En! (ATK: 2500)
And now I'll activate Gateway's effect AGAIN! Removing four counters to fetch my original Kizan from my graveyard! I'll then special summon it before overlaying it with my other Kizan to Xyz summon into Shadow of the Six Samurai - Shien! (ATK: 2500)"
Bastion scratches his head. "Wait, how many Bushido Counters do you have on your field right now?"
"Right now, I count 19." Answered Fujiwara. "10 for my field spell. 5 for Shogun. And four for Gateway. I'll special summon one more monster: Grandmaster of the Six Samurai! (ATK: 2100)
"My field spell now has 11 counters. Shogun has 5. And Gateway has 6 for a total of 22 counters! Your monster now only has 1800 attack points while my Shogun has 3200!
I have more than enough power to win this turn! And with my synchro monster's special ability, your field spell's effect is useless!"
Bastion fell to his knees. "There was nothing I could do… That… That was so incredible!" LP 0.
Zane, on the other hand, wasn't nearly as amused. "That was a complete mismatch! How exactly was Bastion supposed to win that one!? Well there's no use in complaining, I suppose. Just got to get good."
He and Chazz then got notifications on their communicators. They're going to be up soon. He then nods at his friend. "Good luck in yours."
Chazz nodded back. "Good luck in yours."
By the time Zane looks down again, he's greeted by a familiar face. "What the… SYRUS!?"
Chazz blinks twice. "Syrus? Your brother?" He then looks down. "AH! Your brother is gonna be my opponent, Zane!"
Zane then pats him on the shoulder. "Good luck man… You're gonna need it!"
Syrus Truedale looks even more menacing up close than from a distance. While he's not as tall as many others at this academy, his expression is more than enough to frighten people.
Chazz, on the other hand, tried his best to put a friendly smile on his face. "So… Syrus Truesdale, huh? You know, I think they'd let you be a Trainee Instructor here if you want to, hehe."
Syrus' expression doesn't change. "You think I don't know that? You think I'm too good for the Pro Circuit? You wanna suggest things to me… Beat me in a duel first!" He then readies his duel disk.
Chazz then does the same. "Right. Right. I shouldn't have done that. I should focus on beating you first."
It was then that Chazz notices Jaden looking down on both of them. He has his arms folded with a sinister smile on his face. "Nobody can beat Syrus Truedale, nobody!" Jaden thought. "Hell, even I can't beat him… And I'm me!"
DUEL
Chazz Princeton - 8000 LP
VS
Syrus Truedale - 8000 LP
"I'll let you go first." Said Syrus. "Makes things quicker for me that way."
"I won't let you down!" Chazz draws his starting hand. "To start things off, I'll summon my Fluffal Dog in attack mode! (ATK: 1700)"
Syrus tilts his head to the side. "Fluffals? That's a… interesting archetype to say the least."
"Fluffal Dog's effect allows me to fetch Fluffal Owl from my deck! And that's gonna be it for my turn!"
"Then it's my turn!" Shouted Syrus. "I draw!"
"And DURING your main phase!" Interrupted Chazz. "I can activate a monster effect in my hand! Edge Imp Scythe! I can fuse it along with Fluffal Dog to Fusion Summon… Frightfur Cruel Whale! (ATK: 2600)"
Syrus couldn't help but shake his head while smiling at the same time. "Man… I can't tell if you're brave… or just plain stupid. You just activated a monster effect during my turn!"
Chazz raised an eyebrow. "Yeah… So?"
"So… I can activate THIS! GO! TRIPLE TACTICS TALENT! Take control of his monster!"
"WHAT!?" Chazz could only watch as his monster turned against him and went to Syrus' side.
Syrus looks at his hand. "And I'm just getting started! I normal summon this monster, Machina Gearframe!"
"Wait, Machina Gearframe!?" Chazz couldn't believe what he was seeing. "Zane has that card!"
"Who do you think it was that GAVE him his cards!?" Syrus shot him an annoyed look. "Gearframe's effect lets me fetch Unclaspare! Which I can then special summon! After it's special summoned, I can send Fortress from my deck to the graveyard! Next, I overlay Gearframe and Unclaspare into Gear Gigant X! (ATK: 2300) Gigant's effect, in exchange for detaching one material, let's me fetch Infinitrack Harvester from my deck!"
"Huh? Infinitrack? I've never heard of a card like that."
"Then allow me to show you what it can do." Said Syrus.
"I activate Machina Redeployment! Discarding Harvester to fetch Megaform and Ruinforce from my deck! Now for Machina Fortress' effect in my graveyard! I discard Ruinforce to special summon it! (ATK: 2500) Next, I'll perform a link summon! Linking it off with Gigant X to Link Summon Ancient Gear Ballista! (ATK: 1500)"
"Infinitracks… Machinas… And now Ancient Gears?"
"And I'm not done yet." Said Syrus. "Ballista's effect lets me fetch Ancient Gear Box, which THEN allows me to fetch Infinitrack Anchor Drill!
I will now send Ancient Gear Box along with Infinitrack Trencher to special summon Machina Fortress from the graveyard again! And now Trencher's effect triggers in the graveyard! By banishing it, I can special summon Harvester from my graveyard! (DEF: 2100) And when it's special summoned, I can fetch Infinitrack Brutal Dozer! Harvester's other effect then goes off. Making both it and Machina Fortress Level 9! I overlay both monsters to xyz summon Infinitrack Earth Slicer! (ATK: 3100) Now by detaching one of its materials, I can destroy your Cruel Whale!"
"But why destroy my monster!? Why not just attack with it!?" Questioned Chazz.
"So I can do THIS! By banishing Fortress, Gearframe, and Unclaspare in my graveyard, I can special summon Machina Ruinforce! (ATK: 4600)" "4600 attack points!?"
Chazz couldn't believe what he was seeing. It's like a darker version of Zane's Machina Citadel. That was probably what the designers were thinking anyway.
Syrus continues. "I now activate the special ability of Brutal Dozer in my hand! By tributing Ballista, I can special summon it! And when it's summoned, I can special summon an Infinitrack monster from my deck… I choose Infinitrack Tunneler! (DEF: 500) Now I'll xyz summon AGAIN! Overlaying my two level 5 machine type monsters! Infinitrack River Stormer! (ATK: 2500)
It's all over for you, Chazz… Next time, get some better cards… Machina Ruinforce, Earth Slicer, River Stormer… EXCAVATE!"
"AH!" Chazz fell to his knees. These Obelisk Blue students are no joke. LP 0
But it doesn't change the fact that there's only one way forward, and that is up. "I will get stronger, Syrus!" He shouts at him while he was walking away. "I promise."
Syrus looks back at him. "Don't make promises you can't keep!"
Chazz then looks over at Zane's duel and is amazed at what he saw. "Machina Fortress! Attack him directly!"
Now it's an Obelisk Blue student's turn to fall on his knees. "You just got lucky!" LP 0
Zane looks down at him. "I learned from the best!" He then looks at Chazz. "Man, I'm on a roll, aren't I, Chazz?"
It was then that they both heard the voice of the Chancellor from above. "That was well played, Zane Truesdale! All your hard work and dedication has led you to this moment right here!
You truly have set an example for every other Slifer Red student to follow! It is with great pride that I grant you promotion to Ra Yellow! Good job!"
The smile on Zane's face only grew. "Ra Yellow! Wow! I'm really going places!"
Later in the evening, Bastion and Chazz look over each others cards. Chazz broke the silence. "The next chance I get, I'm getting one of those sweet booster boxes. With any amount of luck, I could pull something decent."
"I'm playing with an incomplete deck." Said Bastion. "I have a bunch of cards lined up to buy. Only problem is that I'm lacking the funds."
"It's just something that you buy into." Chazz lets out a sigh.
It was then that the door to their room opened. "Hey guys, miss me yet!?" Zane walked in with an awkward smile on his face.
Chazz blinks rapidly. "Aren't you supposed to be in the Ra Yellow dorm?"
"As much as I'd like to rise up in the ranks… I think I'd have a happier time bringing everybody up… Rather than pushing them down like my brother does. And it all starts with me living here with you two."
"You know… That idea's not half bad." Chazz nods at him. "We can create a better Duel Academy. One that's focused not on dividing people but uniting them."
They all stay silent for a little while longer before Chazz speaks up again. "I just need to get some better cards first!"