The morning air outside the Duel Academy testing stadium carried a low hum — the kind made by too many voices gathering in the same place. Examinees crowded the plaza, some running through last-minute card checks, others just staring wide-eyed at the structure looming in front of them.
The boy stopped just short of the entrance, taking it all in.
He stopped just past the gate. For a heartbeat, he simply looked and took it all in. It was all exactly as he remembered. Not from a dream, not from a photograph, but from the lingering images in his memory from a childhood spent behind a screen. The starting scenes from that first episode were seen so many times that even their minor details were etched into him like a scar, even more than a decade later. Now it stood before him, in real stone and metal.
The boy's height made him stand out: tall, with long arms and legs that developed a bit too quickly compared to the rest of his tall frame. His hair, a pale blond just shy of white, was slicked back loosely, a single rebellious strand dangling near his left eye. Sharp, dark green eyes swept across the building with a look that was part awe, part quiet disbelief.
Three years. It had been nearly three years since the night he had woken in this world. Three years of finding his footing, of thinking and planning about what could and should he do with the knowledge he had of this worlds story. Of gathering cards on a small allowance of his new loving family and knowing this moment would come. Yet the sight of the stadium still pressed something sharp and warm against his chest.
He adjusted the strap on his black vest, the standard test uniform fitting a little too neatly over his white shirt. Black slacks and worn sneakers completed the outfit. It was nothing special, but the place around him was.
His fingers caressed the shining surface of his duel disk, as if the contact with the cold metal was a way to anchor himself. A newer model, but nothing fancy. Standard battle city design, won in a local junior tournament in the year prior.
It was finally happening. Not as a spectator this time. As a duelist. The thought wasn't dramatic. Just heavy in a way he couldn't quite name. In those three years, he'd lived with the knowledge of where he was, but this was the first time he was truly standing at one of the story's fixed points. A place that had existed for him first as pixels, then as future prospect, and now, finally as the door he was about to walk through.
The loudspeaker blared out names and numbers. Examinees funneled toward the inner hall, the line moving in waves. By the time he joined it, the rhythm of the crowd had steadied — a slow advance toward the platforms inside. Through the open gate, he could already see the holograms flaring to life, monsters roaring as students and proctors clashed.
Around him, other examinees were filing into the arena in uneven clusters, some whispering nervously, others bouncing with restless energy. Sixteen-year-olds who had no idea what this place would become to them. The boy was sixteen too, at least on paper. The mirror told a different story each morning: a boy's face, steady hands, but a mind that had long outgrown the age it wore.
The platform air smelled faintly of ozone, the kind that always accompanied solid hologram projection. He didn't mind. It made everything feel even more real.
The hallway beyond the gate widened into a circular chamber, carved with concentric patterns that funneled the sound of the crowd toward its center. There were no empty corners here—everywhere Julian looked, there was movement. Duelists in the same standard-issue uniforms stood at raised platforms, duel disks ignited, holograms flaring like sparks in a storm. The clash of monsters echoed against polished walls.
He already had experience with duel disks in previous tournaments, but the sheer excitement of the little boy inside of him probably would never fully disappear, translated into the loud rapid-fire of his heartbeat. He paused just inside the threshold, letting his eyes adjust to the flood of projected light. Every platform held a different story: nervous hands fumbling over cards, confident smirks, shouted attack calls, desperate counterplays. It was noisy, chaotic, alive.
His gaze drifted, almost by instinct, to the far left platform. A small boy with round glasses and sea-blue hair was clutching his duel disk a little too tightly. Syrus. He recognized the boy, obviously. The best friend of Jaden, at least in the beginning. The brother of the almighty Kaiser. Nervous with the sight before him, as one would expect. His situation wasn't very good, from what he could see. Directing his steps to the waiting area, he missed the start of the comeback for the Vehicroid duelist. However, when finally was there, a faint smile on the boys face with the activation of his Polymerization.
"I summon Steam Gyroid in attack position." - The hologram whirred to life, with the use of a fissure to remove the proctor's Luster Dragon #2. And then came the attack declaration. A clean hit, as the characteristic continuous clinking of the change in Life Points sounded, the value dropping to zero. Syrus blinked, stunned, as the professor gave him the nod of approval.
Back in the waiting area, the blond boy revealed a faint smile. He'd known this was coming — had known it for years. Yet seeing it play out, not as fiction but here, layered over heat and sound and the sharp smell of the projectors… it was something else entirely.
He moved further into the hall, weaving between clusters of students. Some were making last adjustments in their decks, others watched the proctors like they could gather one essential intel that would change their lives. One boy in specific nervously shuffling his deck too fast, cards slipping through his fingers. It all felt achingly familiar, like stepping into an old photograph that had never stopped moving. Those things were common even in his old world. He was used to both tournament anxiety before a match and with text anxiety before an exam. But this? This was both.
They don't even know what's ahead of them, — the thought was not cruel, but with the strange clariness of someone walking through a story he already knew. Shadow Riders, the Society of Light, the Darkness… so many threats to deal in the futures. And here they were, just trying to pass their first test.
At the far end, the speaker sounded with a characteristic metallic distortion. "Applicant 485, Julian Ashford. Please report to exam field 3."
Julian checked his duel disk one last time. His chest steadied with a single, quiet thought. It was time to stop watching. His deck, the beginnings of a GOAT-format staple: Chaos. He didn't have the money to gather the boss cards before coming to the academy, but with removal and consistency alone, he should be fine. It was a good structure for a deck, with large room for improvement once he gained access to the academy's shops with their unique items and discounted prices. All hail the deals between KaibaCorp and Industrial Illusions for the foment of future pro-players in the Duel Academy system.
With the characteristic metallic sound of something akin to an elevator, the platform beneath him raised to the arena, a proctor on the other side of the field already. His duel disk snapped open, its projection field humming to life. He looked at Julian the way one looks at an applicant to be processed, not a real opponent.
"Twenty minutes. Standard tournament regulations." the man said flatly. "Let us begin."
"Duel!" shouted both, as was game etiquette suggested for the start of a game.
The examiner made his first move with all the enthusiasm of a man sorting paperwork:
"I'll start with Mystic Tomato in defense position and one card face down." with a single flick of his wrist, the proctor took the two cards and positioned them in the disk. The sinister smile of the Dark Plant monster glaring at him. "Your turn."
A standard start. It wasn't the renowned T-set he was used to, but in this world defense monsters could be summoned face-up, so that was similar enough.
"I'm going to start with Graceful Charity, which allows me to draw 3 cards of my deck by the measly price of discarding 2. After that, I'll set one monster and three cards on the backrow. The turn is yours, chief."
Graceful Charity, a drawing staple and one of the best cards ever printed. A pricy card, but it was the last good luck present given to him by his parents before the academy. Fortunately, Industrial Illusions didn't have the concept of a banlist, only of limitations. And even those were more by the power of an widely available card then its full potential, which explained some bullshit things he watched on the anime. But that was the world he lived in now.
"Reactive, huh. Let's test those defenses of yours." the proctor drew his card and began his attack. "I'll start summoning Archfiend Soldier in attack position. Then, Tomato is also going to change into attack."
"Let's do this." commented Julian looking at the proctor's monsters, ready.
"For sure, if you insist. Battle, Archfiend Soldier attacks your facedown card." the monster jumped into action, using its sharp claws to reveal the set card.
"Old Vindictive Magician. It's flip effect allow me to destroy one monster on the field. Say goodbye to your Tomato." the hunched spellcaster extended his hand when revealed, activating his effect and exploding the plant monster into thousands of holographic bits.
"Yes, but your monster it's still destroyed. You may have protected your Life Points so far, but reacting only will not make you win." the black haired man noted, with the magician also being destroyed and sent to the graveyard.
"I know, and that's why I have this. Trap card activate, Michizure! When a monster on my side of the field is sent to the graveyard, I can choose one of yours and take it with me. Your soldier is also down, and now you are wide open." the proctor agreed with his head, setting a couple more cards before passing its turn.
High above, on the balcony of the observation deck, two figures watched with arms folded.
"Efficient." Alexis murmured, her golden hair catching the light of the field below. "He's not wasting a single card. Traded two for two and shifted the momentum to him, leaving the professor open to a direct attack."
Zane finally allowed himself a small hum before finally speaking. His tone was quiet, measured. A bit amused, but still not fully convinced. "He's playing well, but against an exam deck. That doesn't mean much yet. I want to see how he reacts when some real pressure turns back on him."
Down there, before the end of the turn, Julian made one last activation.
"On your End Phase, I'll activate my Call of the Haunted, special summoning one monster on my graveyard. Reveal yourself, Fiend Megacyber!" a big goliath with golden armor appeared on his side of the field, rising to its full height with fists crackling with blue electricity. Its cold blue eyes scanned the field like a predator, ready to strike.
The card was already prepared on his grave by the discard effect of Graceful. The advantage was set, now he only had to not let the ball drop and bring home the game. Taking one card from the deck, Julian started his offense.
"Draw. Pesky things, trap cards. Let us not do that, okay? I activate Cold Wave." the proctor left a chuckle and revealed a trap card of his own.
"Magic Jammer. I discard one card from my hard and negate the activation of your Spell. Nice try, kid, but we can't make that too easy for ya'." Julian frowned, looking at the Kycoo on his hand. If the spell went through, he had a clean game on his hands. But now, two face down cards were between him and victory.
"Mystical Space Typhoon, let us blast through one of those remaining cards there. The one on my right, please." the characteristic destruction sound effect echoed through the arena as the fierce winds revealed and destroyed the proctor's Sakuretsu Armor. "Ooh, I'm glad I don't have to deal with that one."
A bit more confident in having destroyed at least one battle trap, Julien went for the kill. "I summon my Kycoo, the Ghost Destroyer in attack position." the bald exorcist entered the field, but it was prontly responded by the last face down card.
"Trap hole, your summoned monster is destroyed." Julian glazed at the book of moon on his hand, but decided not to activate it. It would still not be lethal, and the versatile card could still do a lot of heavy lifting in the duel. As per the card effect, Kycoo went to the graveyard and Julian's turn continued.
"But now you are wide open. Megacyber, attack!" the hulking warrior (DARK/Warrior/Level 6/2200 ATK) lunged forward, using his jolting armoured fist to deal the first blow of the duel (Proctor LP: 1800). "I'll finish with one more card facedown and end my turn."
The proctor started his turn and went right for the counterattack. "I summon Goblin Attack Force in attack position!"
"You're not the only one with one of those, sir. Chain, activate Bottomless Trap Hole! Your goblin army is banished!" similarly to what happened to Kycoo, the green soldiers were met with a hole on the ground beneath their feet, making the animation of the beginning of a fall before shattering as well. However, the pieces of the destruction were dragged by the hole, shattering them into holographic dust into the banish pile.
The professor looked at the last card on its hand, another normal summon monster, unable to solve his current duel situation.
"Very well, applicant. I finish my turn, end this. Welcome to the academy." Julian nodded with his head, drawing and ordering Megacyber one last time to finish the game (Proctor LP: 0).
Feeling the elevator beneath him already starting to move, Julian glanced at the top balcony, looking at the Obelisk students already enrolled by their merit on Prep Schools, a luxury his working class family was unable to afford, gathering money for his academy enroll. Soon, he would walk among them. Being successful in the academy and going pro was an easy way to make a good living. Confort, luxury, excitement, stability and a good retirement for his old folk, what more could a student wish for?
Once again, on the same balcony, the final comments on his performance were being traded amongst the blue students.
"It was a exam deck, but a removal like that would work even if it was your Cyber End, Zane. He was not bad." Alexis started.
"Strong fundamentals, but being able to trade one for one with trap cards doesn't make him top tier. It was clean, though, I give you that." the tall boy immediately glanced at another match that called his attention before finishing his comment on the previous one. "As a first year, he should be in your class. Keep an eye on him at the academy, if you wish so. Let's see what he can do then. After this game, unless he flunked hard on the written exams, he'll be on Ra."
One row below, two other Obelisk students also commented between themselves on the duel that just finished, before being interrupted by Chazz.
"A dime in a dozen. He's good, but I saw several of these in the Junior Championships when I won. A solid performance against a mediocre deck doesn't mean anything. At least he's not a slacker."
The hallway leading to the applicants' stands was dim and narrow, the hum of the arena echoing faintly through the concrete walls. As Julian walked toward the light spilling in from the far end, a figure rounded the corner in a hurry. Their shoulders brushed for the briefest moment, just enough for Julian to notice the messy brown hair and the broad, careless grin on the boy's face before he disappeared down the hall behind him.
Julian didn't give it much thought. It was just another applicant, probably one of the hundreds who had shown up for the entrance exams today. Still, there was something oddly weightless about the way that boy moved, as if the world itself couldn't keep the carefree boy from bouncing forward.
Stepping out of the tunnel, the sound hit him first: the layered roar of holograms, footsteps, and dozens of voices whispering excitedly in the stands. He followed the steps upward, eyes drawn to the wide view of the arena below.
"Hey" a voice called near the end of the row. A boy with a sharp, neat haircut and a calm expression waved him over. Next to him, a much shorter kid with a blue jacket practically leaned out of his seat. "That was your duel down there, right?"
Julian nodded, still half-distracted by the panoramic view.
"You played really well." Syrus said, his tone genuine and his eyes bright with excitement.
"Efficient and clean," Bastion added with the flat certainty of someone stating a solved equation. "I could tell your control over tempo was intentional. Good control of resources too. Most students here don't think that far ahead."
Julian gave a small shrug, not sure what to do with the praise. "Thanks." His attention drifted back to the center of the arena. "Wish I could say the same, but you know… I missed most of your things. But I'm sure we'll have a lot of time to see each other's skills at the academy."
Down below, a tall figure in a white coat and cravat strutted across the dueling platform. Even from this distance, there was no mistaking that pompous walk. Julian's pulse ticked up a notch. Crowler. He was really about to see it: the duel.
As the proctor finished setting his Duel Disk, Julian rested an elbow on the metal bar in front of him, leaning slightly forward. "This is it…" he muttered under his breath, though he wasn't talking to either of the boys.
"What?" Syrus asked.
Julian shook his head lightly, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Nothing. Just… excited."
Below, the sound system kicked in, Crowler announcing his challenge with theatrical flair. The applicant walking into the arena from the opposite gate was the same boy Julian had passed in the hallway. Of course it was.
The stadium seemed to grow quieter for a second. The two duelists faced each other, raising their Duel Disks in unison.
"DUEL!"
The synchronized cry rolled through the stadium like a spark, and the holograms flared to life once more.