Yugioh GX Synchro Style/Chapter 1: The Next King of Games

It was a nice and sunny day for the people of Domino City as a young man with spiky brown hair walked down the street. He had several deck boxes strapped to his chest underneath a open gray jacket with a backwards facing red hat on his head. His name is Ryan Walker, a aspiring duelist seeking the King of Games title and a expert user of his Elemental Hero deck.
'Well, then. I got everything I need for the entrance exams.' The figure thought to himself. 'Now I just need to make sure I'm not late.' He took a white-rimmed monster card out of a deck box and held it up in front of his face.
"Let's do this Stardust Dragon." He said as he began to run directly for the Kaiba Dome located on the other side of town.
Then, he accidentally ran into a man with multi-colored hair walking up the street.
"Sorry about that." He apologized profusely to the stranger.
"You're a duelist aren't you?" The guy he bumped into asked.
"You could say that." He replied, readjusting his hat. "My goal is enroll in Duel Academy."
"I see." The stranger reached for a card in his deck box.
"Yeah." He then recognized the figure that he just ran into and his eyes widened. "Hey, you're-"
"Why don't you take this. Something tells me it belongs with you." He said, handing a card to Ryan.
"Uh, okay." Ryan replied, with some hesitation in his tone. Nevertheless he accepted the card from the stranger.
"Good luck." The stranger said.
"Hold on a second." Ryan turned around and saw him walking away. "Thanks for the card and I hope to make you proud." He bowed out of respect for the gift.
The stranger looked back at Ryan, smiled and gave him a thumbs up.
After the stranger left, Ryan raised the card he received. It was Winged Kuriboh. Then Ryan heard a strange cry and looked around to find the source. At the same time, a bright glow became visible on his left arm.
'What is going on?' He thought.
Ryan then pulled up a sleeve and noticed what time it was, courtesy of the watch on his hand.
"Well, that's just great." He said sarcastically. "Now I'm a few minutes late for registration." Ryan sprinted to the Kaiba Dome as fast as he could before signing in came to a end.
Meanwhile at the Kaiba Dome, registration for the entrance exams was drawing to a close. A man and two women started gathering up the papers that were on the desk.
"Well, ladies that's it." The man told the two women. "Mark any latecomers as no-shows."
"Wait!" Ryan shouted out from below the fence as he climbed it. "Sorry for being tardy. I had a slight "issue" on my way here. Am I too late to sign up for the exams."
"No actually, your timing couldn't be better." The man responded. "Truth be told, we were gathering the registration papers to put them away. Once you're finished signing up, head inside." He instructed.
Once Ryan was done filling out the paperwork, he walked inside and saw several other duels in progress. In order to enter Duel Academy, you have to face a proctor and if you win, you're a student. Lose, and you'll have to re-register next year.
"Once again, all academy applicants that passed their entrance exams, please head to registration. For those who failed, better luck next year." The announcer said as the entrance exams rage on. Watching the duels was a blonde-haired man with blond hair in a ponytail and purple lipstick as well as a long blue blazer.
The last duel was underway with the proctor having Gear Golem the Moving Fortress and Big Shield Gardna on his side of the field. On the applicant's field was Vorse Raider. The applicant was in the lead and it was almost his turn.
Applicant: 3200 LP
Proctor: 1900 LP
Gear Golem the Moving Fortress DEF 2200 Level 4.
Big Shield Gardna DEF 2600 Level 4.
Vorse Raider 1900 ATK Level 4.
"Alright, new guy, multiple choice!" The proctor said to a black-haired student in a white uniform. "You got two monsters staring you down; do you A: throw in the towel, B: beg for mercy, or C: run home to mama?"
"None of those sound appealing so I activate the trap Ring of Destruction."
"A trap?" The proctor asked, shocked.
"Exactly. With Ring of Destruction, I target a monster and destroy it then we both take damage equal to the destroyed monster's attack." The applicant explained as a bomb collar attached itself to Vorse Raider's neck and then exploded.
The applicant's life points were high enough for him to stay in the duel, but the proctor was another story entirely.
Applicant: 1300 LP
Proctor: 0 LP
"Clever move applicant, welcome to the academy." The proctor said.
"Thank you, oh wise proctor." The applicant said, bowing to the proctor.
Sitting high up in the stands were three boys. One had long spiky black hair and his underlings had brown and blue hair respectively.
"Wow, that guy was pretty good. Don't you think, Chazz?" The blue-haired boy asked.
"Yeah, what do you think Chazz?" His brown-haired friend added.
"He's a punk." Chazz scoffed. "We attended Duel Prep school for the last three years. We're more than ready for Duel Academy. These kids don't know they're getting themselves into, but they'll find out the hard way, the Chazz Princeton way."
In the tunnel, Ryan overheard what Chazz just said and wasn't too happy. 'Well, I know one person to steer clear of when I finally get to the Academy.'
He made it to the other side of the arena, just in time to witness the end of the duel.
"Wow, he crushed it." Ryan said.
"Yeah, his name is Bastion Misawa. It's said that he got the highest written exam score out of all new applicants." The blue-haired boy said.
"As for myself, I scored rather high." Ryan boasted.
"I barely passed. My name is Syrus, by the way." Syrus introduced himself, looking down to the ground. "I kind of have this thing concerning test anxiety. I have no idea how I won my duel."
"Don't feel so discouraged, pal. You won and that's all that matters." Ryan responded, trying to cheer him up.
"Thanks." Syrus replied, having cheered up a little.
"I'll be in as well once my duel ends."
"Wait, you're telling me you haven't dueled yet?" Syrus asked, shocked.
"Just got here." Ryan shrugged his shoulders. "You make it sound like there's a problem."
"Yeah. Bastion's duel was supposed to be the last one." Syrus said.
"It's no problem." Ryan brushed the short boy's concerns off. "I know exactly what to do."
Meanwhile the proctors were discussing how the duels went and the applicants that were going to enroll in the Academy.
"Looks like we got a pretty good crop this year." One proctor said.
"Yes, indeed." Another proctor replied. The feminine looking man was closing his book and was just about to leave when another proctor approached him.
"I'm sorry to interrupt, but another applicant just arrived to take his exam Mr. Crowler." The proctor said.
"Did you just call me Mister?" Crowler asked in a offended tone.
"Oh, sorry, I'm new here Mrs.-" The proctor tried to reply before Crowler continued.
"I have a PHD in dueling, I have earned the title Dr., thank you." Crowler said. "Now tell this applicant he'll have to come back next year." The other proctors began to protest.
"Come on, Dr. Crowler. We have time for another duel." One proctor said.
"Yes, let's give him a chance." Another added.
"He wasn't even that late." The final proctor finished.
"LATE IS RUDE!" Crowler gave a frustrated response, startling his colleagues. "I have no time for slackers." He then heard something ring. "Hello. Who is this?"
"It's Sheppard." The voice on the other end said.
"Ah, Chancellor Sheppard." Crowler replied slightly nervous, not wanting to sound rude with his boss.
"Just calling to make sure everything is going smoothly, Crowler. Wouldn't want a repeat of last year." Sheppard said from his office at Duel Academy, shocking Crowler. "When you cut a third of our student applicants for a stupid reason. What was it? Calling you Mr. or Mrs. Whatever. Just make sure everyone gets a fair shot."
"Absolutely." Crowler replied hanging up his phone. "Furry chinned wind-bag." Crowler sneered. 'Doesn't he realize that there are enough talent-less flunkies at this academy. But he's the boss, if he wants me to give him a duel, fine.' He thought.
"Pardon me, gentlemen, I'll be right back." Crowler said, getting up to leave before the proctors stopped him.
"But who will the applicant's dueling proctor be, and what exam deck will be used?" The proctor asked as he held up a box of Duel Monster decks. Crowler scoffed.
"Let me worry about that." Crowler said as he began to leave, confusing the other proctors.
Back with Ryan and Syrus, Bastion returned to his seat as he walked up to the black-haired teen.
"Well done, Bastion." Ryan remarked.
"Thank you." Bastion replied.
"From what I've seen, you're probably the second-best duelist here." Ryan commented, causing Bastion to look at him in confusion.
"Ryan Walker, exam field 4." The announcer said.
"Well, that's me." He calmly made his way down to the arena.
"Hey wait." Bastion called out, causing him to stop in his tracks. "If I'm second best, then who's first?"
"I guess that would be me." Ryan answered casually, before walking towards the arena.
"He's really confident." Syrus said. "I wonder if he's as good as he thinks he is."
"He'll need to be, that's his opponent." Bastion said as he and Syrus looked down and saw Dr. Crowler on the floor. Dr. Crowler didn't use a standard duel disk, instead he was adorned with a Duel Vest.
"All right, test time!" Dr. Crowler said with his Duel Vest on.
"So son, your name?" He asked.
"Ryan Walker, sir." Ryan introduced himself politely to Dr. Crowler.
This didn't go unnoticed as someone in the stands commented.
"Wow, so polite." A girl with sandy blonde hair in a white and blue blazer was impressed by how polite Ryan was.
"Well Ryan, I am Dr. Vellian Crowler. Department Chair of Techniques at Duel Academy." Crowler said as he introduced himself.
"Really?" Ryan raised a eyebrow. "You don't look like it to be honest."
"Now that he mentions it..." The boy with glasses stated.
"This guy has some lip, huh Chazz?" The brown-haired boy asked. Chazz didn't respond, he simply glared at Ryan as the duel was about to start.
"Duel Vest on!" Crowler said as he activated the Duel Vest and his hand was ejected.
"That's pretty nice." Ryan said, admiring the device. "How would I obtain something like that?"
"Oh, a lot of hard work and extremely high marks." Crowler replied.
'Of course, you have to get into Duel Academy first and I intend to make sure that doesn't happen.' Crowler thought with confidence, believing he'll win this duel easily.
"Go time." Ryan said in a calm manner.
"Let's duel!" Both had five cards in their hand and 4000 life points.
Ryan: 4000
Crowler: 4000
"I'll go first." Ryan drew his first card and scanned through his hand before placing a monster card on his Duel Disk. "I summon Elemental Hero Avian in attack mode." He summons a man in a green costume with white wings and brown talons and claws.
Elemental Hero Avian: 1000 ATK. Level 3.
"Then I place one card face down to end my turn." Ryan's turn ended with a card in his spell/trap zone. "How's that."
"Yes, very good." Crowler said sarcastically as a card was ejected from his duel vest as his turn began.
'After all, since I'm using my own personal deck instead of a test one, I'll be calling all the shots. I'll fail this miserable little brat and send him home in no time.' Crowler thought as he looked at the cards in his hand with a confident smirk.
"All right, for my first move, I'll start nice and easy. I activate Confiscation." Crowler said as he activated his Spell Card.
"Alright, what are you going to discard?" Ryan questioned back as his hand was revealed.
"Oh yes, I remember these from back when I was a naive rookie. Now which one shall I banish? Monster Reborn to the graveyard." Crowler said as he selected the card that would be sent to the graveyard. The hologram of the card Crowler chose shattered to pieces while Ryan inserted the actual card into the graveyard.
Dr. Crowler LP 3000
"Next, I'll lay two cards face down on the field." Crowler said as he placed two cards face down before activating another Spell from his hand. "Last but not least, I activate Heavy Storm. This destroys every other spell and trap card on the field."
"You mean, it would." Ryan shot back. "If I didn't have this. Starlight Road! When a effect that destroys two or more cards on the field activates, I can negate and destroy it then I get to special summon this." Heavy Storm shattered and then Ryan placed a white-bordered monster on his duel disk.
Emerging from a pillar of light was a white dragon with long white wings as it floated down to the arena and let out a loud roar. Everyone else present had never encountered a monster like this before.
Stardust Dragon 2500 ATK. Level 8.
"What is that?!" Crowler shouted in shock.
"Meet the Synchro Monster Stardust Dragon." Ryan explained. "Part of a sub-category of monsters that was released not that long ago."
"So be it." Crowler regained his composure and played another spell card from his hand. "I activate Magical Stone Excavation. By discarding two cards from my hand, I get to return Heavy Storm to my hand."
"Let's try this again." Crowler once again used Heavy Storm. A strong wind blew on the field, destroying Crowler's two face downs. They turned out to be Statue of the Wicked.
'Even though Stardust Dragon could have negated Heavy Storm, since it wasn't summoned correctly I can't special summon it during the End Phase.' Ryan thought to himself.
Then, two Egyptian serpent-like monsters appeared on Crowler's side of the field. The crowd gasped in shock with this move.
Statue of the Wicked token X2: 1000 ATK. Level 4.
"Uh, could someone tell me what just happened?" Syrus asked.
"Those traps Dr. Crowler set were Statue of the Wicked. When it's destroyed by a effect two fiend tokens are special summoned. That's why Heavy Storm was used."
Meanwhile with Chazz and his cronies.
"A card that strong couldn't be in one of the test decks. Crowler must be using his own." The blue-haired student said.
"Then this is over, no applicant can beat the deck of a expert like Dr. Crowler." The brown-haired student added.
"Yeah, it's impossible. Don't you think, Chazz?" The boy with glasses asked.
"Yeah, what do you think, Chazz?"
"I think I'm going to enjoy watching Crowler mop the floor with our mouthy little friend down there." Chazz said with a arrogant smirk. "I only wish he treated all the other second-rate duelists who applied to the academy the same way."
Standing above them was the girl that was impressed with Ryan. With her was a older student wearing a white version of the Obelisk Blue uniform.
"What an elitist snob, bullying some amateur with his very best cards." The girl said.
"You're too soft, Alexis." The older boy said standing next to her. "I just hope we get to see that legendary rare card Crowler has stashed in that deck of his."
Returning to the duel, Crowler was continuing his turn confidently.
"Ready for your next lesson?" Crowler asked arrogantly. All Ryan did was raise a eyebrow. "Only if you are."
"Yes, well I'm quite a excellent teacher, thank you." Crowler said before continuing his turn. "And now I sacrifice my two Wicked Tokens to summon Ancient Gear Golem." He said as he sacrificed the tokens to summon a large metal giant. Many in the audience gasp after seeing the monster, it was huge and very rare in the world of Duel Monsters.
Ancient Gear Golem: 3000 ATK. Level 8.
"There it is. The legendary rare card!" Alexis said in awe.
"And we're about to find out why it's so legendary." Her companion said.
"Now, now, I hope you're not too scared of my legendary Ancient Gear Golem." Crowler said sarcastically, thinking Ryan was frightened with the sight of Ancient Gear Golem.
"What?" He asked casually. "What reason would I have to be scared of it."
"He's either brave or nuts." Syrus said, shocked by his bravado.
"He's staring down that legendary monster like he doesn't have a care in the world." The dark blue-haired boy said. "I guess youth and inexperience have their benefits after all."
"Give it a rest Zane, at least he has some backbone." Alexis said as they watch the duel.
"There won't be much to show of it after this." Zane said.
Crowler then laughed before unleashing his monster's attack. "Golem, attack. Mechanized Melee!"
Ancient Gear Golem reeled in it's arm and struck Avian with a strong punch, destroying it.
"Ryan's monster didn't stand a chance. It's attack was too low. This doesn't look good." Syrus said.
"It wouldn't have changed a thing, if Ancient Gear Golem attacks a monster in defense position, the difference between it's attack and the opposing monster's defense is deducted is dealt to the opponent as damage."
Ryan: LP 2000
Crowler laughed. "Don't feel bad, this is the top dueling school in the country. Some people just aren't cut out for-" He bragged until he saw Ryan just stare back at him.
"What are you bragging about?" Ryan questioned Dr. Crowler.
'Can't he take a hint? He will not be allowed to pass this exam or make a mockery of my deck.' Crowler thought in spite, frustrated that he was winning with his strongest monster and his opponent didn't seem to be afraid.
Before Ryan drew his next card, he heard a familiar sound.
'Hmm.' He thought. When he drew the card, it turned out to be Winged Kuriboh. 'Perfect, you're just what I needed.' The image of the card then suddenly winked at him. "I summon Winged Kuriboh in defense mode." He summoned the monster before setting another card in his spell/trap zone. "And my turn ends with a set card. What do you think?"
Winged Kuriboh: 200 DEF. Level 1.
Crowler laughed. "No, not bad, but you must understand that I am a master tactician. A Kuriboh to me is rather pedestrian. Even one with wings, it's defense points are no match for Ancient Gear Golem." Crowler said mockingly. "It's a textbook mistake, don't feel too bad. Now let's proceed."
Crowler then drew his next card from his deck and began his turn. "With the legendary Ancient Gear Golem, attack that Kuriboh with Mechanized Melee."
Just like before, Ancient Gear Golem reeled it's arm back and struck Winged Kuriboh with it's fist. However, unlike last time, Ryan's life points didn't change, confusing Crowler.
"Check your gear, your life points haven't changed." Crowler said.
"So much for you being a master tactician." Ryan scoffed. "It seems you're in need of a lesson yourself. When Winged Kuriboh is destroyed, I take no damage for the remainder of the turn."
"What do you know, a technique the good doctor didn't know." Alexis said.
"No one can be expected to know every technique Alexis, especially one as obscure as that one." Zane said.
"Well, he sure did." Alexis said, with a smile on her face.
Ryan then placed Winged Kuriboh into the graveyard. "Fine fine, your lame little monster saved you there." Crowler mocked.
"You really shouldn't call him names, fyi." Ryan responded back.
"Oh, yes, I forget how attached you new recruits get to your monsters. I'm sorry." Crowler mocked.
"You're about to be. Because destroying Winged Kuriboh caused this to activate. The Hero Signal trap card." Ryan revealed his face-down card. "This allows me to special summon a level 4 or lower Hero from my deck, come forth Burstinatrix."
His face-down opened and showed a light in the sky shaped like the letter H. Ryan took his deck out and looked through it before placing a monster card on his duel disk.
Elemental Hero Burstinatrix: 1200 ATK. Level 3.
"And now, it's my turn." Ryan drew the Skyscraper field spell and looked at the cards left in his hand. "I'll pay you back Winged Kuriboh. To begin, I'll return Avian to my hand with this, The Warrior Returning Alive."
Avian was ejected from the graveyard and Ryan placed it back in his hand. "And now I'm bringing him to the field."
Elemental Hero Avian: 1000 ATK. Level 3.
"Oh, okay, another amateurish mistake." Crowler mocked.
"My move isn't over yet." Ryan replied. "It's true both Avian and Burstinatrix are weaker than Ancient Gear Golem, but I can create a stronger monster using this. Polymerization, now Avian and Burstinatrix fuse together to call forth the Elemental Hero Flame Wingman! Let's see what Ancient Gear Golem is made of." A green-skinned man with a dragon head for a arm and a feathered wing on the right side of his back appeared on his side of the field.
Elemental Hero Flame Wingman: 2100 ATK. Level 6.
"Well?" Ryan asked, wondering what Dr. Crowler thought.
"I think you're doing rather well for a amateur." Crowler said sarcastically. "But next time try playing a monster that has more attack points than what is already out."
"What does he mean?" Syrus asked.
"He means that Wingman's attack points are no match for his Golem's 3000." Bastion said. "Shame too, because when Wingman destroys a monster, it's attack points are dealt to the opponent as damage."
"Wait, you mean they're deducted right out of his life points?" Syrus asked before sighing. "That would have been a great way for him to turn things around."
Meanwhile back at the duel, Ryan was about to begin his turn and Crowler already assumed he won before the duel actually ended.
"All right, young scholar, I don't mean to rush you but I am a busy man. Are you done yet." Crowler asked, growing tired of this applicant's persistence.
Instead of replying to the question, Ryan opened the field spell zone on his duel disk and placed Skyscraper in it.
After his field spell activated, several large buildings appeared around him and Crowler. Soon the entire field completely changed to the middle of a city. Flame Wingman was perched on top of a building.
"Alright Flame Wingman, attack Ancient Gear Golem." Flame Wingman flew down towards Ancient Gear Golem.
"Fine with me, bring him on. This silly little Skyscraper field spell hasn't lowered my Golem's attack points." Crowler said arrogantly.
"Allow me to explain Skyscraper's effect to you. When a Hero battles a stronger monster, it gains 1000 attack points during the damage step only."
"Wait! Time out!" Crowler said in shock.
"Skydive Scorcher!"
Elemental Hero Flame Wingman: 3100 ATK.
Flame Wingman ignited it's body and crashed into Ancient Gear Golem, resulting in a huge explosion following the collision and defeating it.
Dr. Crowler: 2900 LP
"It can't be, he was my very best card." Crowler said.
"And now Flame Wingman's special ability activates, you take 3000 points of damage." Ryan explained.
"No way." Crowler said in disbelief. When he looked up, he saw that his Golem was about to fall apart on him. He tried to get away but the pieces of Ancient Gear Golem collapsed right on top of him and he lost the last of his life points.
Dr. Crowler 0 LP.
The duel was over and Ryan was the winner to the shock of the other students as Stardust Dragon let out a loud cry.
"Impossible, there's no way this delinquent could defeat me." Dr. Crowler said as he narrowed his eyes.
Up in the seats, Chazz and his friends were shocked by what they just witnessed. Dr. Crowler and his legendary monster were defeated by someone who wasn't in the academy yet.
"It must be dumb luck." Chazz said with widened eyes, shocked by what he saw and refusing to believe it. "No way Crowler could lose to some flunky."
"That kid's got a future here, wow." Alexis said with a smile.
Zane walked away without a word.