I wake up early, get ready, and pack my first deck in my jacket pocket. I put my second deck in my duel disk. As I walk out to the kitchen, I see that my dad is making breakfast. Sitting down at the table, he walks over with two plates of corned beef hash, scrambled eggs, and some fruit cocktail and then brings a jug of orange juice.
"Today's your exam, right?" He asked with a yawn, "Yes, it starts in an hour, and all those who pass will be taken to the island tomorrow morning," i said before starting to eat. "Well, you should do fine; I will give you a ride to the testing location after you get done eating," he said before starting to eat. We were quiet the rest of the morning and just enjoyed the radio on our way to the testing location.
We asked, "Now that we have arrived, are you ready?" When we arrived at the arena hosting the practical test, we were filled with confidence. He said with a hint of concern, "Don't worry, I've got this." i said with absolute confidence,
As I walked up the hill to the registration tables, I noticed three separate lines for check-in, and after about 5 minutes, I reached the desk where I checked in with a girl from the RA yellow dorm. "All right, you are number 25 on field 3," she said, handing me a small slip of paper that indicated my number and the field to which I should report. As I entered the stadium, I walked around to the even side and found a spot to sit until they called my number.
After sitting here watching some of the first few matches, I noticed that most of them ended with players failing to overcome the basic strategies employed by the proctors. Most of the proctors are using basic decks that focus on a single strategy and include a type of floodgate, such as the burn deck, which utilizes cards like Negate Attack Kuribo and concludes with Gravity Bind. Most of the participants never bring more than one type of spell and trap removal, and they have almost no options for dealing with monsters that have any type of protection.
While I was lost in thought, a person wearing an all-white outfit walked to the seat next to me and asked, "Is this seat taken?" He asked, "Sure, go ahead," and after a moment, I recognized who he was; it was Bastion, and he was wearing his outfit from the first episode. "My name's Jason, and you?" I asked while introducing myself.
"My name is Bastion Misawa," he said as he sat down next to me. "Have you been here long?" he asked while observing the current exams.
"Not really, only about 45 minutes im already bored watching all these exams; most either fail to beat the proctors or barley pass hopefully they get a little bit better later on im number 25 how about you?" I said, "I am not surprised by the skill level that some of these early duels have displayed." But they should get better. Some of the higher-scoring participants are positioned around the middle of the exam, and I am ranked number 35. Since there are only 36 applicants at this location, we should not have to wait long. He remarked, noting how another individual was defeated by deck-out because they were unable to overcome a monster with 3,000 Defense and had become merely a stall victim. I can't really trash on this strategy because one of my decks wins that way.
After about another 20 minutes of talking with Bastion, my number was finally called. "Alright, that's my turn. I have to get going; see you in a few minutes." I said, standing and walking down to the tunnel leading to the second platform; as I approached, the proctor spoke.
"Welcome, are you Jason?" "Yes," I said. "Alright, my name is Mister Mark. I will be your proctor for this exam. To pass, you must defeat me in a duel and solve my puzzle. I will go first; are you ready?" he asked as he went to his side of the field.
I walked over to the other side of the field, nodded my head, and activated the duel disk. Duel start.
[Mark LP: 8,000 | Jason LP: 8,000]
Mark drew his opening hand with steady confidence. "I summon Marauding Captain in attack mode!" A holographic warrior appeared, sword raised. "And thanks to his effect, I can summon another Level 4 or lower monster—so here comes a second Marauding Captain!"
The crowd murmured in recognition as a second hologram materialized.
"And I'll use his effect to summon Command Knight!" A fiery female warrior joined them, crossing her arms.
"With Command Knight on the field, all my Warrior monsters gain 400 ATK. And as long as I control another monster, you can't target her for attacks. I'll set one card and end my turn."
The audience clapped lightly. Bastion, who was sitting in the stands, nodded to himself. "That's a strong opening—an anti-aggression lock right away."
Although my pulse raced, I drew my card confidently. "My turn. I send Destroyersaurus to the graveyard to add Jurassic World to my hand and activate it!"
The arena shimmered, transforming into a lush prehistoric jungle. The crowd leaned forward, some whistling as the trees and shrubs filled the field.
"Next, I activate Jurassic Power! All Dinosaurs I control gain 300 ATK, and I can summon Level 5 or higher Dinosaurs without tributing."
The crowd murmured with excitement. Bastion adjusted his collar, eyes narrowing in thought. So, he's running a specialized field spell. Interesting…
"But that's not all," I continued. "I'll use Jurassic Power's effect. I send Black Brachios from my hand to the graveyard—" I slid the card into my disk, the hologram of a reptilian beast flashing briefly before dissolving into pixels.
"—to add a Dinosaur with 1200 DEF from my deck to my hand! I choose Mighty Dino King Rex!"
The crowd reacted with a mix of gasps and applause. Some of the students leaned forward, recognizing the synergy.
"And because I control no monsters, I can Special Summon Double-Headed Dino King Rex straight from my hand!"
A thunderous roar filled the stadium as the two-headed dinosaur crashed onto the field, shaking the ground with its steps.
"Next, I Normal Summon Mighty Dino King Rex thanks to Jurassic Power; I don't need to Tribute!"
The audience erupted in cheers as two massive dinosaurs now faced down Mark's warriors.
"And now—" I raised my arm high. "I banish Destroyersaurus and Black Brachios from my graveyard… to summon the ultimate predator! Rise! Ultimate Conductor Tyranno!"
The crowd exploded with noise as lightning split across the arena, a colossal silhouette stomping into reality. The proctor's eyes widened briefly before narrowing again. This boy… he's not just a casual duelist. He's built his deck with frightening precision.
"And I'll play Tail Swipe! By targeting one of my Level 5 or higher Dinosaurs, I can return two of your monsters to your hand. I target Ultimate Conductor Tyranno so say goodbye to one Marauding Captain and Command Knight!"
The hologram tail swung, knocking the warriors off the field in a flash of light.
The crowd gasped in awe. Bastion leaned forward. "A clean counter. He dismantled the lock in one move."
Mark's composed expression faltered slightly, but he quickly regained his composure.
"Battle Phase! Mighty Dino King Rex attacks your Marauding Captain!"
Mark snapped his face down open. "I activate Rush Recklessly! My Captain gains 700 ATK!"
The crowd cheered in excitement.
But I didn't flinch. "My monster still crushes him!"
The Captain charged valiantly, only to be stomped beneath Rex's massive foot.
[Mark LP: 8,000 → 6,100]
"Mighty Dino King Rex's effect activates! It destroyed a monster, so it can attack again. Direct attack!" Rex slammed its foot into the ground, sending a stone spike hurtling toward Mark.
[Mark LP: 6,100 → 2,300]
"Now finish it, Ultimate Conductor Tyranno! Direct attack!"
Tyranno roared, electricity crackling before it stomped, releasing a wave of purple lightning that crashed into Mark.
[Mark LP: 2,300 → 0]
The arena erupted in cheers. Bastion clapped politely, but his eyes were sharp, studying every move I'd made.
Mark deactivated his duel disk as the holograms faded. He exhaled, then smiled. "Well done. You passed. Please take this paper and report to registration."
He handed me a slip with my name, a big A+, and a yellow stripe down the side of it.
The walk through the tunnel felt surreal, the crowd's cheers still echoing behind me. At the registration alcove, televisions displayed ongoing duels while teachers processed paperwork. I handed my slip to a Ra Yellow instructor.
"Excellent work," she said, typing my name into the computer. "You'll be placed in Ra Yellow. If you perform well on midterms, you could move up to Obelisk Blue." She handed me a pamphlet. "This includes everything you'll need tomorrow, including when to be at the docks."
I thanked her and stepped aside for the next student.
Outside, I unfolded the pamphlet. Supplies, books, dorm rules—it was all there. The titles of the books caught my eye: The Art of Fusion Summoning. Rituals and You: A Beginner's Guide. Echoes of the Pharaoh: Ancient Duel Spirits of Egypt.
For the rest of the day, I wandered the shopping district, picking up what I didn't already have. The sun dipped low as I boarded the bus home.
– - - - -
As we flew across the ocean with the other new students, I looked out the window and eventually saw Duel Academy come into view. The pilot announced our arrival as we got closer to the island, and I overheard Jaden and Syrus expressing their excitement at seeing it. Ten minutes later, we landed on the helipad near the docks and made our way to the auditorium, where Chancellor Sheppard addressed all the new students; just like in the anime, Jaden was sleeping while standing.
After a few minutes, I made my way to the yellow dorm. While walking to the yellow dorm with some other students, I overheard them discussing Jaden's duel against Crowler; they were not referring to Flame Wingman but rather to Elemental HERO Terra Firma. It appears that the duel referenced was from the manga, so I should anticipate some of those events occurring soon; however, the first season of the anime is expected to take place before any of those events.
Upon arriving at the dorm, I don't see Bastion, so he must still be talking with Jaden. Professor Sartyr started to give everyone a tour of the dorms and show everyone their assigned rooms; some of the things that were not shown in the anime or manga were that the dorm is on the left side of the lake and that going to the back of the dorm is a small garden.
After the tour, I went to my room, where all of my luggage had already been delivered. Walking inside the room, there was a double bed in the far right corner with a yellow and black bedspread; across from it was a small closet; and on the wall was a window with a clear view of the lake. Next to it, an L-shaped desk was set up with my computer, and the other side was available for me to do my schoolwork or deck building. In the middle of the wall the door and closet were on was a completely empty bookshelf.
After looking around, I started to unpack my luggage. First, I placed my folded painting easel next to the bookshelf and stored my canvases under the bed to keep them safe and accessible. Then, I put my hiking backpack with supplies for going to the spirit worlds in the closet and filled the bookshelf with my books on the top shelves and my box of extra cards on the bottom shelves.
Eventually, I heard a knock on my door while I was finishing hanging a few family pictures and maps. "Come in," I said, hearing the door open behind me. "Nice room! I see you are interested in painting, and I assume you are also interested in geography based on the maps you have," Bastion asked as he shut the door. "Yeah, I'm learning to make cards, but I just started, so don't expect much. However, you could say I'm interested in geography because of my mom's job as an archaeologist who is working for Pegasus and Kiba to find different records of Duel Monsters from around the world," I said with a small smile.
After we discussed some of the duels we had in the past and some deck-building strategies, he said, "I almost forgot the welcome dinner is going to start soon; we should get going." He stood up from the chair and walked out the door.
The Ra Yellow dining hall glowed with warm light as Jason followed Bastion and the other new students inside. The long rectangular tables were already filled with boys and girls in their bright yellow blazers; the buzz of chatter and clinking of dishes was bouncing off the polished wood and high windows. The scent of steamed rice, grilled fish, and miso broth drifted through the air, making his stomach growl despite the nerves humming faintly under the surface.
Professor Sartyr, the head of the dorm, stood at the front near a podium decorated with a small Ra Yellow banner. His round face beamed with his usual cheer as he spread his arms wide.
"Welcome, my brilliant new Ra Yellow students!" he announced, his voice carrying easily across the room. "You've all proven your skill, your discipline, and your potential. Here at Ra Yellow, we value both talent and perseverance. You are the balance between the dreamers and the elite; you will shape the future of dueling."
A ripple of applause spread across the tables. Sartyr nodded, clearly pleased. "Now, eat well, rest well, and be ready for class tomorrow morning. But more importantly, get to know one another. These faces around you will be your rivals, your allies, and perhaps even your lifelong friends."
With that, the clatter of chopsticks and the laughter of students took over. Jason found a spot at one of the middle tables, Bastion settling beside him. Across the table, three unfamiliar students glanced his way, sizing him up with the quick curiosity only duelists seemed to share.
The first to speak was a broad-shouldered boy with spiky brown hair. He shoveled rice into his mouth before setting his bowl down with a grin. "Kenji. I run a Warrior deck mostly geared for fast swarms and quick strikes. You won't see me stalling; I'd rather hit hard and finish before my opponent even knows what happened."
Jason nodded. "Jason. Dinosaurs are my thing. Big, heavy hitters are my thing, but I also enjoy strategy. Sometimes brute force needs brains to back it up."
"Ha! Now you're speaking my language," Kenji said, raising his cup in mock salute.
The second student leaned in, his narrow glasses flashing under the light. "Daichi," he said crisply. "I specialize in Machines. Precision, calculation, and overwhelming board presence. My deck is built to outlast and dismantle anything in its way." He gave Jason a sharp look, as if measuring his worth.
Finally, the girl across the table set her chopsticks down with deliberate care. She had short black hair, cut neat and sharp, and her gaze was piercing enough that Jason almost shifted in his seat. "Ayumi. I duel with Spellcasters—mostly a Dark Magician Girl deck."
Jason raised a brow. "Dark Magician Girl? That's pretty unique."
Her lips curved in the faintest smile. "I grew up studying Yugi Muto's duels. Everyone remembers the Dark Magician, but I always thought Dark Magician Girl was overlooked. Her combos are faster and more flexible, and she's got plenty of support if you build her right. My whole deck is tuned around her."
Kenji let out a low whistle. "Whoa, basing your deck on the King of Games' playstyle? That's bold."
Ayumi narrowed her eyes slightly, but her voice remained calm. "Not his style. His inspiration. There's a difference. I don't copy decks; I refine them."
The four fell into natural banter as the food kept coming; platters of tempura, bowls of steaming soup, and neatly arranged sushi rolls passed down the tables. Students swapped stories of their entrance exams, laughing at mistakes and bragging about clever plays.
However, the conversation inevitably returned to the topic of decks, as it always did.
"So," Daichi said, pushing his glasses up with one finger, "Dark Magician Girl, huh? No offense, Ayumi, but isn't she weaker than Dark Magician? I mean, her attack points—"
Ayumi's chopsticks clicked sharply as she set them down, her gaze locking onto his. "If you think raw attack points are what make a card strong, then you've already lost."
Kenji burst out laughing. "She's got you there, Daichi."
Ayumi's expression softened only slightly, her pride shining through. "Dark Magician Girl isn't about brute strength. She's about synergy. With the right support, she can outpace a stronger monster before your turn's even finished. Yugi showed the world that it's not about the card's stats—it's about the duelist who knows how to use it."
Daichi raised his hands in mock surrender, but he continued to grin. "Alright, alright. I suppose I need to see her in action before I make a judgment.
"Good," Ayumi said simply, a small, confident smile tugging at her lips as she picked her chopsticks back up. "Because I don't intend to lose to anyone here."
Jason smirked, amused by the fire behind her words. It reminded him of the determination he had observed in Jaden earlier that day, but Ayumi's pride carried a different kind of weight: it was controlled, honed, and sharp.
"I guess Ra Yellow will be lively this year," Jason said, interrupting the moment. "Warriors, Machines, Spellcasters, Dinosaurs we're a pretty balanced table already."
Kenji laughed. "Balanced? More like explosive. I say we make a pact. Before the semester's over, we all duel each other at least once. Winner gets bragging rights."
"Agreed," Ayumi said immediately, her tone leaving no room for doubt.
"I accept," Daichi added.
Jason chuckled, raising his cup with the others as their makeshift pact was sealed over plates of half-finished food.
The rest of the dinner flowed with easier conversation, with students comparing favorite cards, arguing about which duelists were the strongest in history, and debating which classes might be the hardest. Jason stayed engaged, soaking it all in. These weren't just faceless rivals anymore; they were personalities, each with their own style, pride, and quirks.
By the time the meal ended, Professor Sartyr stood again, clapping his hands for attention. "Well done, students! Tomorrow marks the beginning of your Duel Academy journey. Classes begin promptly at nine o'clock. Be prepared—your minds must be as sharp as your decks! Until then, good night, my Yellow students!"
A chorus of chairs scraped against the floor as students rose and filtered out. The moonlight spilled through the tall windows, casting silver across the hall as Jason followed Bastion and the others back toward the dorm rooms. The night air was cool, carrying the distant sound of waves against the island's shore.
At his room, Jason paused, giving a brief wave to his new acquaintances before slipping inside. The quiet of his space wrapped around him like a blanket. His belongings were neatly unpacked, his desk clear save for the box of cards he'd set aside earlier.
For a moment he ran his fingers across the lid, tempted to shuffle through the deck again, but he forced himself to leave it be. Tomorrow was the real start of everything. He needed rest, focus, and a clear head.
He crossed the room, shutting the window against the night breeze, and sat briefly on the edge of his bed. The muffled laughter of students down the hall drifted in, warm and distant.
I pull out my uniform for tomorrow and a map of the school and plan out some spots to head to after classes before heading to sleep for the night.