"Why are we going out so early?" Jaden walked up the hill while yawning.
"We have exams today, Jaden. And you know what'll Robert do if we're late." Syrus hurried his friend.
After a month of regular classes the first promotion exams of the year had finally arrived at Duel Academy. The first part consists of a written test, judging the basic knowledge of cards and mechanics of the game. The next part was the practical exam. Normally students would've duelled against their fellow dorm mates to see whether anyone was eligible for promoting into the next dorm rank. However, this year had an unusual caveat. Because of Robert's shenanigans the Red students wouldn't be able to get promoted.
Last week during a board meeting the Chancellor and the shareholders came to an agreement. They'd allow for upgrades of the Slifer dorm only if they wrestled it out by defeating opponents from other dorms at the exams. The board came up with a rewarding system. The more points you grasp the better things you could exchange from the prepared list of prizes. There was only one minor problem. Once the merit system would be set in place the Slifers would have their chance of changing dorms cut off.
After the announcement the Slifer dorm went into a frenzy. Not everyone was excited by the news, especially the seniors. With complaints on their tongues they started lashing out at Robert Cross. And that was the biggest mistake they could've made in their life. Seeing this as a chance the teen challenged everyone from the upper years, utterly destroying them in the process. The duels ended late at night with only one victor standing.
"If you show this kind of dueling at the exams, I'll make you suffer everyday until you graduate." Having said his threat Robert as the new representative of the dorm, signed his name on the contract.
The next few days were pure hell for the Slifers. Feeling emboldened by his winnings Robert Cross made everyone sit down and suffer lectures upon lectures. They've tried to get the Dean to intervene, but the only response they've got was an uncanny smile.
"By the way, where is he?" Jaden begrudgingly walked in the front, being pushed by Syrus.
"He said something about making sure that Chumley doesn't bail out."
"That's right! I wonder what kind of deck he's going to play."
"You have a one track mind, Jaden."
"Thanks, ha ha ha."
As the pair was getting closer to the main building they were stopped by an unusual sight. A woman was struggling with her car.
"We'll help, Mrs." Jaden rushed and started pushing the vehicle.
"Thank you, young man. It's much appreciated." She replied.
"We're so going to be late." Syrus hesitated before helping as well.
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"Did you hear? A new shipment of rare cards is due today."
"Yeah, but that has nothing to do with us, unfortunately."
A couple of Ra's passed by Robert Cross as he stood with a frown next to the lecture hall entrance.
"Am I missing something?" He muttered.
"Would you not stand here like a scarecrow? Your presence is obnoxious."
The teen raised his head only to see Alexis glaring at him.
"Still the sore loser." A tick mark appeared on her forehead. "What I'm doing is none of your business. So shoo."
"Would it hurt to be nice for a change?" Mindy asked.
"Ask her," he pointed at the glaring blonde, "Anyway, have you seen Jaden or Syrus perhaps?"
"No. Let's go." Alexis quickly stated and entered the hall with her two friends in tow.
"Well that was rude." Robert played with a silver badge pinned to his collar.
After waiting for a couple more minutes the teen finally sighed and made his way towards his seat.
"Still no sign of them."
"They better have an excuse for this." Robert replied to Bastion. "Prepared?"
"I've got all of my calculations ready. This will be but a breeze."
"That confident, huh? A shame we won't be dueling anytime soon."
"That eager to reach the sun." Bastion had a wry smile.
"You should be happy I've only got a beef with the Obelisks."
The disheartened blue students were sitting and watching the Slifer warily. After the smack down at the start of the semester it only got worse with each day. Constant duel requests made their toll on the Obelisks' minds. However there was one saving grace. With the nonsensical deck seemingly banned they could finally win at least half of the time. Making it much more bearable in the long run.
"Yes, you've made quite the scene, Robert. A shame you're not an academic like me."
"Why waste my time on formulas when I've reached the golden rule of deck building already." Robert's PDA beeped.
"It seems they'll be 10 minutes late." As he read the email from Syrus he remembered something. "I'll tell the professor."
"Tough luck." Bastion eyed the teaching platform." Crowler's going to oversee us."
The professor was glaring at Robert. Three weeks of watching his students lose didn't make him happy at all.
"I've got this." The blond wrote something in the PDA and tapped the send button.
Students watched with curiosity as the infamous Slifer walked towards Crowler.
"Is there something you need, Mr. Cross?" The man tried to not grit his teeth im anger.
"Actually, there is Professor." Robert smiled.
"So he can be charming if he wants to." Jasmine remarked.
"A lady killer smile and a bad boy attitude with skills to boot. How dreamy." Mindy sighed.
Alexis almost scoffed at their display of infatuation. 'He's even more pretentious than half of the Obelisks.'
"So what is it? I don't have much time for your dallying." Crowler huffed.
"I just wanted to inform you that Mr. Yuki and Truesdale will be late a couple of minutes."
"Really?" He smirked. "How irresponsible of them. It's a shame they'll miss the exam."
"And that's why they've asked for the exam to start a little later then planned."
"Preposterous. I won't waste the time of everyone else just because of two slackers."
"I don't think they'll mind." He turned to the class. "Will you?"
"I do mind." Gerald rose from his seat. "Why should we care that you're not able to keep your friends in check?"
"And here I thought we had a connection. I'll have to file a complaint to HR. Apparently, dueling doesn't make life long friendships."
"Who wants to be your friend!?" The Obelisks shouted in disbelief.
"Wow, they've got some choir action going on."
"I think that'll be enough stalling from you, Mr. Cross." Crowler haughtily said. "Please return to your desk so we can start."
"Ah shucks. You've read me like a book." His PDA beeped. "Well what do you know, there's a message for you, sir."
Crowler snatched the device from the teen. "This better be good."
The students watched as their teachers face got from mildly pissed to resignation. Not saying anything he tossed the device back to its owner before taking a seat with his head between his hands.
"I should've taken that job in Europe. I'd have been mingling with the elites in France right now." He let out a heavy sigh.
With his work done and happy from the damage he made, Robert almost skipped back to his seat.
"Would it kill you to go at least one week without locking horns with someone?" Ryouta asked.
"And miss out on the fun? Never."
After almost 15 minutes of waiting two red students ran into the class huffing.
"I told you that wasn't the turn." Syrus took a deep breath to normalize his breathing.
"Haha, my bad." Jaden scratched his head. "Sorry for being late, Teach."
"Just sit down." Crowler handed out the tests to the first row. "Please take one and pass the rest to the back."
"Does everyone have their test? If so, please start. You have exactly an hour and a half."
Robert Cross wrote down his name and turned to the next page. The first part of the test was multiple choice.
'What card can manipulate the enemy with illusions?' Robert looked at the question as if it was a joke. Four different choices laid before him with the word illusion in their name.
'Why even ask this?' He gave a check next to Illusionist Faceless Mage. 'This is going to be the longest test of my life.'
With the toll of the bell signaling the end of the test, students put down their pencils aside.
"That was terrifying." Syrus said with a pale face.
"Tell me about it." Natsuo grimaced. "Hopefully we'll get enough points to merit a cafeteria upgrade."
"With my results we won't be able to even get salt."
"We can always taste the sea with our noses, Sy." Jaden gave a thumbs-up.
"You'll taste the salt alright." Robert walked down to the boys. "Aren't you missing something?"
"Er, I did take my shower in the morning." Syrus thought for a moment.
"It's surprising to see that all of you are still here." Bastion approached the group.
"And why's that, Bastion?" Jaden asked confused.
"Didn't you know? There are rare cards arriving today."
"Rare cards!" Syrus jumped from his seat. "We have to run."
"Relax Syrus, it's not as if they can buy them all out." Jaden tried to calm his friend.
"And there's no need to jumble up your deck for no reason." Cross added. "Let the competition squirm on their own."
"So we're not going to the card shop?" Ryouta asked.
"We have some time to pass before the duels. Let's see what's so grand about these cards."
In front of the card shop a group of eager students were banging against the metal shutters.
"Give us cards!"
"You can't do this to us!"
"We demand to be treated seriously!"
The relentless shouting would have continued on if not for a sudden marching sound of footsteps.
"Oh boys and girls, are you looking for these?"
A man dressed like a military officer made his way towards the crowd with a briefcase in hand. Following the man was a brigade of soldiers.
"Please stand aside or we'll have to use force." The leader of the security detail made the students get out of the way.
The shutters lifted ever so briefly so the man with the cards could pass through. Anticipation reached sky high levels as the customers counted every second.
Eventually the shutters were reeled back making the crowd run to the counter.
"Four packs, please!"
"No, I want ten packs first!"
"Get off me you dimwitted fool!"
"Take my money!"
Sammy the cashier raised her hands. "I'm very sorry, but we don't have any packs left."
"Huh!"
"No packs!"
"Is she joking or something."
The woman cleared her voice to get the crowd's attention. "I'm very sorry, but this gentlemen bought all of the cards. First come first served."
They looked towards the direction she was pointing to and saw a shady dressed man covering his face.
"Indeed, it was I who bought them all."
"That's not fair."
"Isn't that illegal."
The disheartened students began leaving the shop since there was nothing else to do here. After their departure a small group entered the now rather empty card shop.
"Where is everyone?" Syrus asked.
"Probably bought out the whole inventory." Ryouta chimed from the side.
"Hello, Sammy. Why's the shop so desolate at this hour."
"Hi there, Robert. We've just ran out of rare packs."
"That's catastrophic." Syrus wailed.
"If you want we still have some regular packs." She brought out one single pack.
"Some is plural, my girl." Cross chuckled. "Who wants it?" He asked his friends.
"I'm good." Natsuo replied.
"I'd rather save up for some singles." Ryouta remarked.
"Then I'll take it." Robert paid with his PDA.
"Hey, what about us?" Syrus shook the teen by his jacket.
"What's with the racket. Oh it's you." Mrs. Dorothy walked out from the back room of the store.
"You work here, Mrs. Dorothy?" Jaden asked.
"Work here? I own here." She puffed her chest proudly.
"What do you mean 'you work here?', Jaden? You've seen her many times." Robert blinked in disbelief.
"Really?" The group could swear that question marks appeared above the teen's head.
The older woman giggled. "I have something for my two Auto Club members." She placed two packs on the counter. "I've stashed these as a reward for you."
"These are the rare packs?" Tears started forming in Syrus's eyes.
"The same ones." Mrs. Dorothy winked.
"That's sweet, mam." Jaden had a goofy grin.
"And what about me, am I chopped liver?" Robert Cross used his puppy eyes.
"You?" She huffed. "You should reimburse me for using my name."
"Oh come on. I did it to save your saviors' asses."
"Then here, "she took out a jar, "Have a cookie."
"Now we're talking." He closed his eyes in glee as he took his first bite. "Chocolate and macadamia nuts."
"It's that easy?" His friends couldn't believe he could be subdued by dessert.
"Let's see what we've got here." Jaden opened his reward. "Nothing can beat the sweet fragrance of a freshly opened pack."
He slowly shuffled through the cards. "There's even support for you buddy."
"Kuri."
"Who are you talking to, Jaden?" Syrus already checked his pack. He found a copy of a card he desperately needed for his new strategy.
"And the last card is... well what do you know. We have a new friend." Jaden's eyes lit up.
"Damn it. Why is it always you?" Robert sighed as he saw the card. "I'm leaving before I punch someone by accident."
"Oh yeah, we have to go to the practice area soon." Ryouta looked at his watch. "The duels are starting in 10 minutes."
"Let's get our game on." Jaden air punched.
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This chapter was more plot oriented, sorry for that. However the next few chapters will be individual duels of our new and old cast of characters.
I've got many responses asking me to use decks from the Tag Force games. What do you think about that?
Anyway, thank you for reading and enduring my not so licious schedule. Hopefully I'll make up with the new chapters.