It was official Haru decided, as he sat in one of the many window seats onboard the helicopter that was rapidly taking the students to the Island that would be their home for the entire year, he hated flying. See the thing was he'd never done it before, and therefore he had no idea what it was going to be like, though to say he was excited about flying for the very first time would be very incorrect.
He thought it was going to be pleasant, and peaceful. Unfortunately that was not the case. Not only was the plane cramped, but he'd been seated next to, in his opinion, one of the most annoying people he'd ever met, and boy did he know it was annoying. Curse him for winning his entrance match in the fashion he had, the light blue haired boy he now sat next to had obviously seen it and kept on asking him questions, in an excited, yet almost babbling, fashion. Something he had grown tired of very quickly.
So when the boy opened his mouth to ask questions again, he received a withering glare, under which he squirmed, and Haru was sure he'd wet his pants in fright. That would teach him, but just in case…
"Syrus, wasn't it?" He asked the boy, who looked up at him, surprised that he'd started to talk.
"Yeah," the boy said meekly, "Syrus Trusdale," and Haru couldn't help but notice the boy's expression becoming somewhat hopeful. It seemed as though the boy didn't have many friends. Well Haru certainly didn't want to be one of the few he did have.
"Well Trusdale," Haru said, "do me a favour and be quiet, I'd like to try and get some sleep, before we land."
The boy seemed to visibly deflate upon hearing this, seeming to find his feet very interesting all of a sudden.
Now that he'd shut the boy up he reclined in his seat and shut his eyes, letting the memories of the morning wash over him as he felt Yubel's warm embrace tighten around him, a soft smile flickering onto his lips as it did.
Haru deployed his Duel Disk as both his and the Duel Proctor's life points went from zero to eight thousand and Haru quickly drew his first card before looking at his hand carefully, a smirk coming to his lips.
"I place two cards facedown on the field and one monster card in facedown Defense Position."
"I'll begin," the Duel Proctor began, "by playing the magic card Double Summon, this magic card allows me to Normal Summon twice during this turn. Next I'll activate the magic card Change Of Heart, which allows me to gain control of one of your monsters until the end of this turn."
Haru watched, eyes narrowing, as his monster floated over to the Duel Proctor's side of the field, who then took five seconds to examine what the card was.
"Ah Mystic Tomato, (ATK 1400/DEF 1100), if I'd attacked you would've been able to select a Dark attribute monster from your Deck, as long as it had an Attack Power of 1500 or less, and Special Summon it in face-up Attack Position, a clever plan, but unfortunately you'll now never get the chance."
Yubel immediately felt bad, she knew what Haru had been trying to do, and once again he had failed, and now he was going to pay the price for his failure, and like always he would suffer because of her.
"It was never your fault," Haru muttered to her, "besides, I wanted him to do this, you see now that I have no monsters on the field, he'll most likely attack me, completely forgetting about the two facedown cards I have, and that he will regret. If you like, consider it your revenge against him for not being summoned."
"If he hurts you, I'll make him pay," Yubel said darkly.
"I appreciate your concern Yubel, you know how much I do, but I've got this one."
"Very well Haru, just be careful."
"Aren't I always?… Wait, on second thought, don't answer that."
Yubel's response was a slight chuckle.
"Now I'll use my first Normal Summon in order to set a monster in facedown Defence Position, and then I'll use my second Normal Summon in order to play my mighty Tri-Horned Dragon, (ATK 2850/DEF 2350), to the field in Attack Mode."
Haru looked at the giant blue dragon with its three horns with a bored expression on his face before activating one of his two facedown cards. "I play Zoma the Sprit, after activation this card is treated as a monster card with an Attack and Defense Power of 1800 and 500 respectively. It has a Dark attribute, and is classed as a Zombie in regards to its monster type, and is Special Summoned to my side of the field in Defence Mode."
As a strange purple creature rose out the ground, mist swirling around it, Haru's opponent laughed.
"So you've defended yourself, clever move applicant, but that defence of yours won't last long. Go Tri-Horned Dragon destroy his only monster."
"Not so fast," Haru called out, his other facedown card flipping up, "I activate Magic Cylinder."
"Oh no," the Duel Proctor said in realisation, his eyes widening.
"By your reaction, I take it that you know that it negates one of your monster's attacks and then inflicts you with damage equal to its attack. So you're about to take 2850 points of damage."
The Tri-Horned Dragon's claw slashed through the air only to disappear though one of the two ruby red tubes, and come out the other, which had appeared behind the Duel Proctor. As the Proctor got struck by the attack, he collapsed to the floor, as his life points went down a considerable amount so that he now held 5150, whilst Haru still held a full 8000.
"Humph," Haru said, "and to think I expected a challenge, but by the looks of it, that won't be happening. Do you end your turn?"
The Duel Proctor cast a glance at his hand, and grinned to himself, with the cards he had the kid would be done for, regardless of whether he knew this deck or not. "I set one card facedown and end my turn."
"It's as I suspected upon entering," Haru commented as he proceeded to draw a card from his deck, "all the examiners use test decks, ones which are nowhere near as powerful as their actual deck, and by the looks of your strategy so far you don't even know which deck your using, of course I could be wrong, but answer me this: How is holding back meant to test anyone? Isn't Duel Academy meant to be the best school to learn duelling at? How can it be when you don't challenge people from the very beginning?"
Not waiting for the Duel Proctor to answer, Haru played one of the three cards left in his hand. "I activate Mystical Space Typhoon to destroy your facedown card; after all it's obviously a trap card."
Haru almost laughed when he saw that the card he'd destroyed was Mirror Force. Were all his opponents going to be this predictable?
"Don't get over confident, Haru." Yubel chided lightly.
"Stop being such a nag, his move was way too predictable. He is a weak opponent."
"Indeed," Yubel agreed, before a nasty, almost sinister, smile crossed her lips, "and you know what we do with weaklings."
"Crush them till they beg for mercy, and then not grant them it?" Haru asked hopefully.
"Oh," Yubel seemed slightly surprised with the answer, but then her eyes flashed menacingly. "That's even better."
"I blame your influence," Haru said, "it's corrupting my kind and peaceful nature."
"You don't have a kind and peaceful nature," Yubel reminded him.
"Oh yeah," Haru said, sounding like he'd only just remembered that fact.
"Next," Haru said addressing his opponent, who'd spent the last few minutes staring at the kid strangely as he stared off into space, along with a lot of the crowd. "I place one card facedown, and then I'll end my turn."
"I draw," the Duel Proctor said, and as he looked at the card he drew, he smirked, "and now I play the magic card Stop Defense, forcing your monster into Attack Mode," at this remark the Zoma the Spirit on Haru's side of the field rose to a standing position, and the dark purple mist that swirled around its body disbursed, as its mouth opened wide to reveal sharp white teeth, and it unleashed its deadly claws.
"Now Tri-Horned Dragon attack," the Duel Proctor called out and the purple was shredded to pieces easily by a massive claw, and the force of the attack knocked Haru back slightly, as his life points dropped to 6950. However as they did the Duel Proctor was hit by a wisp of purple smoke that sent him crashing down to the ground, as if he'd been struck hard across the face, and his life points went down to 2300, which shocked all of the people watching.
"Oh sorry about that, I forgot to mention," Haru began in a voice that didn't sound anything near apologetic. "When Zoma the Spirit is destroyed by battle the opponent, that's you in case you were wondering, takes damage equal to the attack of the monster that destroyed it."
"I end my turn," the Duel Proctor grunted, he had nothing else he could do.
"Since you're currently in your End Phase," Haru announced, "I activate my facedown cards, one of my favourites, the quick-play magic card, Fires of Doomsday." Just then two of the Monster zones on Haru's field erupted with dark black flames. "Let me explain," Haru continued, "If I activate this card I can't Summon any monsters this turn, but since it's your turn, it won't hinder me in the slightest. It allows me to Special Summon two Doomsday Tokens to my side of the field in Defence Position. These tokens cannot be offered for a Tribute Summon, unless it is for a DARK attribute monster. These tokens have no Attack or Defense points, have a Dark attribute, and are also treated as Fiend type monsters."
Haru then took his turn, using the card he drew instantly. "I activate the power of Premature Burial, paying 800 life points, to revive my Mystic Tomato to the field in Attack Mode."
As Haru's life points went down further 6150 a strange dark orange vegetable with creepy eyes and a large purple tongue sprouted out of the ground. Upon seeing its opponent the vegetable's eyes narrowed in anger, it still remembered how it had been sacrificed against its will, and it didn't like it one bit.
"Now," Haru said, before smirking, "Mystic Tomato, attack his Tri-Horned Dragon!"
"Is he mad?" Was the shared thought of his opponent and the people watching, yet the boy didn't even flinch as his monster was sliced into pieces, and his life points went down to 4700, in fact he started to laugh.
"What's so funny?" The Duel Proctor demanded.
"Don't you remember my monster's effect? When it's destroyed and sent to the Graveyard as a result of battle I can search my deck for a DARK-Type monster with 1500 ATK or less and Special Summon it to the field, and you said I'd never get this chance." Haru added the last bit in an accusing tone, and the Duel Proctor noticed the glare he was receiving from the boy. "So now I'm able to Special Summon my favourite monster," Haru continued, "so come forth Yubel, (ATK 0/ DEF 0), it's time to fight."
Dark mist began to swirl around Haru's body, before a strange winged creature appeared behind him.
The creature's body was a mixture of black and a pinkish purple. Its eyes were each a different colour, one was a dark orange, whilst the other was a dark sea green. It also had a large yellow eye in the middle of its forehead, its two coloured spiky hair, white and dark purple, seemed to be trying to hide it, and not very well. The creature's breasts were black in colour; one might've said it was trying to make a fashion statement because it looked almost like it was wearing a tank top, it also had a pair of large black wings protruding out of its back, as well as a hideous clawed right arm, a dark purple in colour.
As the people, both watching and duelling looked at the creature which had appeared on Haru's field screams of fright were heard, and not all of them were female, as well as exclamations of: "What is that thing?"
Upon hearing the exclamations Haru's face darkened and his eyes burned with anger. No one called Yubel "a thing" and got away with it unscathed.
A glance at Yubel told the boy not to worry, people would learn respect soon enough. "I'll end my turn with one card facedown," Haru said, before he did so. He now held no cards whatsoever.
"Why," the Duel Proctor wondered as he looked at the creature, shivers going down his spine, "would he leave a creature with no Attack Points on the field in Attack Mode? It must have some kind of effect!"
Yubel began to glow. "During my End Phase, whilst Yubel is on the field I have to tribute 1 monster or else she is destroyed. So I'll tribute one of my Doomsday Tokens in order to keep her on the field."
As one of the black flames died, Yubel stopped glowing. She directed her eyes towards Haru's opponent, before smirking slightly.
The Duel Proctor took his turn, assessing the situation carefully. The applicant had two monsters on the field, one of which obviously had an effect, and another a Token, which if left un-dealt with would mean the boy's monster could stay round for one more turn. Sure, he may have the stronger monster but, based on how the match had gone so far, he was sure the boy could easily get rid of it. Lastly there was the applicant's facedown card, however the Duel Proctor didn't have a method of checking what it was, or getting rid of it, so he was just going to have to try and defeat the boy this turn, and with the cards he held he could do it.
"Firstly I activate the power of another Stop Defense in order to change your Doomsday Token into Attack Mode, and then I'll activate my Megamorph card, and equip it to my Tri-Horned Dragon. Now, as long as my life points are lower than yours, my monster's attack strength doubles."
Haru watched, unimpressed, as the dragon opened its mouth and a large stream of orange flame came out heading towards the small black flame on his side of the field. Yet it never hit, never overpowered the, now seemingly quivering, black flame for just at the last second Haru's trap activated.
"Since you've declared an attack, this card activates," Haru explained, "my Call of the Earthbound. I now have the power to choose the attack's target, and I chose… Yubel."
"What!" The Duel Proctor shouted.
Yet he could only watch helplessly as the attack veered off course heading straight towards the teenage boy. However, just as the attack was about to hit, the boy fell back, before his creature's large black wings folded round him.
Though the flames were strong they couldn't get through the shield Yubel had created, and as Haru stood safely wrapped in her embrace he was reminded for the thousandth time, that, as long as she was with him, he would be safe.
"Yubel can not be destroyed by battle," he murmured, just loud enough for his opponent to hear, "and I take no damage from a battle involving her."
"What, no way!" The Duel Proctor gasped.
"Also, if you attack Yubel, before Damage Calculation, I can inflict you with damage equal to the Attack Power of the monster you attacked with."
Upon hearing this all the colour in the Duel Proctor's face drained, leaving his face white with surprise.
"Now," Haru's voice lowered to barely a whisper, "Yubel, end this."
Opening her wings Yubel easily disbursed the flames that had surrounded her, and then out of the ground came a spiky dark green vine, which headed straight towards the Duel Proctor. It bypassed his monster and wrapped itself around him.
As he screamed in pain and agony, his life points dropped to 0.
The match was over, and the duel disks deactivated, and the Duel Proctor collapsed on the floor in a heap.
Slowly Haru walked over to his opponent, suddenly aware that everyone was looking at him. Reaching out a hand he helped the Duel Proctor up.
"Well played applicant, well played. Please, follow me."
The Duel Proctor led him out of the duelling field, and then around the others until they reached the back of the room, where a numerous number of people were sitting behind desks, staring blankly at computer.
As they approached one of the computers, the woman behind it looked up.
"Applicant Number?" She asked in a tired, bored voice.
"91."
The woman typed the number into the computer, before reading off the information she was confronted with.
Name: Haru Yuki
Writing Exam Score: 75
Practice Exam Score: 80
Duel Proctor's Mark:
"What's the third mark mean?" Haru asked.
"Oh," the woman said, "we have computer's monitor and collect data from your match, making up the score you see there," she indicated, "however we then get the examiner to give their feedback in the form of a mark, and then the computer works out a percentage, using either the Duel Proctor's mark or the Exam score, which ever is higher for your practical examination mark, and then puts you in a dorm depending on your overall score."
Haru nodded his head in understanding, as the Duel Proctor conveyed his thoughts to the woman, who quickly entered the score she was given.
Duel Proctor's Mark: 90
Pressing a button on the keyboard the woman waited a few seconds, before reading off the screen again.
Name: Haru Yuki
Age: 15
Hometown: Domino City, Japan
Overall Mark: 83
Recommended Dorm: Ra Yellow
After reading this the woman passed him a bright yellow jacket.
"Enjoy your term," the woman said.
Haru nodded before walking off.
As the Duel Proctor watched him go, a single thought ran through his head.
"That kid will go far, I just know it."
Haru soon found himself back up in the stands, under the gaze of many people. Yet none of them held any interest to him.
"So how'd it go?" A voice asked from behind him.
Haru turned around to see the same guy he'd been talking to earlier.
"Ra Yellow," the boy noted after seeing the uniform. "I see. I saw your match, rather impressive. I might have at last found a worthy opponent."
With that the boy turned and walked away, leaving Haru alone to watch the rest of the duels play out.
"I know I have," Haru said to himself, though whether it was the person who'd just walked away, or the person who Haru now had his eyes fixed on couldn't be determined.
Haru was brought awake abruptly by someone calling him, rather loudly.
"Wake up, we've landed."
Haru opened his eyes to see that they had indeed landed, and people were already disembarking. Nodding his thanks to Syrus, Haru quickly collected his things and got off the helicopter, and joined the mass of waiting students.
"May I have your attention please," a loud voice called out, and all heads turned to see a tall person with blonde hair, and a face that made it hard to tell whether they were male or female, and wearing a blue uniform though it seemed far more regal then the one the boy at the entrance exam had worn. Walking towards them, the blonde's hand held a megaphone.
Next to the blonde man walked a bald, middle aged, man in a maroon coloured jacket, with dark grey trousers. His eyes sparkled with delight upon seeing the students.
"My name," began the tall blue uniformed blond, only to be interrupted by one of the students.
"Are you male or female?"
The person seemed to get really angry at that remark, a fact the person in the maroon jacket picked up on.
"Now, now Crowler, simmer down," he said, and every one could tell he was trying his best not to laugh, "perhaps it will be best if I do the introductions?"
"Why of course Chancellor," the person, now identified as Crowler, said smiling.
"I'm Chancellor Sheppard, I run this Academy, and the man, yes he is indeed a man, next to me is Doctor Vellian Crowler, head professor here, and head of the Obelisk Blue Dorm, on behalf of everyone here we would like to welcome you to Duel Academy."
"Now you should have all been told where your dorms are on the flight over here," Doctor Crowler said looking at the students, well all except those wearing blue, with a disproving look, "get moving."
Haru, realising he didn't know where he was going, made to follow one of the other students wearing yellow, but as he did so he was stopped by Chancellor Sheppard.
"Haru Yuki," he began gravely, instantly getting the boy's attention. "We need to talk."