Duel, Start!!!

[I can't believe this!]

On the podium seat, a boy with spiked black hair was brooding over the duel. He can't believe that- that Vellian Crowler, a duelist with strong monsters of Ancient Gear series, would face a no name examinee.

It kinda hurt his pride, as a duelist and as an elite, that Crowler would step down to examine number 77 by himself.

No, not only him, but the other student also can't believe it. But in their case is not as strong as him, it's much more like a curiosity and expectation.

He grits his teeth, his eyes become redder as he gazes at number 77.

"Huh?" But, he suddenly stops.

[That guy... have I met him somewhere?]

The black spiked haired kid name Chazz Princeton, held his chin trying to remember.

[...]

On the other side of the podium, Jaden, Syrus (The short light blue haired kid), and Misawa (The flushed back black hair boy) were watching the duel between Yuji and Crowler.

"Wuoh! It's here! It's here! I wonder what kind of deck he has" say Jaden excitedly.

"Do you know him eh-uh..."

"Jaden Yuki! That's my name" say Jaden, pointing at himself.

"Eh? Ah- I'm Syrus, Syrus Truesdale"

"Sy, huh? Nice to met cha!" reply Jaden.

On the top podium, a girl and a boy also watching the duel between Yuji and Crowler.

...

Back to the arena

""Duel"" shout Yuji and Crowler at the same time.

Crowler |LP 4000|

Yuji |LP 4000|

"Let me take the first turn! Draw!" Yuji draws a card from the deck.

"Hoo" say the boy on top podium a bit amazed, "The way he draws, kinda reminds you of unsheating a katana doesn't it?"

Say the blue haired boy.

"Hmm... I'm not sure" reply the dark blonde hair girl.

Yuji draws a card and put it together with the other on his hand.

[Hmm, this is good]

"I set Elemental HERO Woodsman in face-up defense position!"

The moment Yuji set up his monster, the tile floor below turned into a soil. A crack appears on the ground, and then-

"Nani?!!!"

Suddenly a loud shout was heard, miracle or not the sound filled the entire room, making other people looking at the three.

Jaden's eyes are sparkling, while Misawa let out a deep sigh, and Syrus panicked looking around and bowing his head multiple time.

The boy on the top of the podium looking at Syrus, the edge of his mouth slightly curved upward.

Tree roots begin to appear and coiled together, gradually forming the shape of a human and finally revealing a human which the right half of his limbs and face is made from woods.

Elemental HERO Woodsman, finally summoned!

Looking at Woodsman, Vellian Crowler let out a grinning smile.

[HERO deck, huh? Welp, let mei teaches you that Heroes are not as strong as they usually depicted]

Unlike Crowler who secretly sneering at Yuji and Woodsman, Jaden was very amazed and excited. The proof? Look at his eyes that sparkling with anticipation.

"To think that I met another HERO user. Guh, I really wants to have a duel with him!" say Jaden excited.

"Ca-calm down... Jaden" say Syrus who is still looking around.

Yuji grab two cards from his hand, "I set two cards on the back row, I end my turn"

"Kukuku, Good move Signore Kusanagi. But, this isn't enough to beat mei!"

Crowler draw a card, when he looks at the card he just draws he let out an insidious smile.

"Then ai activate the spell card Shield Crush!"

On the field appears a card with the image of a broken shield that successfully being penetrated.

"The effect of spell card Shield Crush, Target 1 defense position monster on the field, then destroy it"

From the card, appears a Golden Javelin. That same Golden Javelin lock on to E • Hero Woodsman, then the Javelin were launched penetrating Woodsman's chest.

"Kuhak!"

Before Woodsman completely disappear, he let out an anguish cry.

When his vision met Yuji's face, Woodsman force himself to smile.

E• HERO Woodsman: I'm okay master, please... win this for me.

A static effect appears all over Woodsman, He then blows up into pixelated light.

"Woodsman..." whisper Yuji, "It's okay, I- We're going to win this"

Crowler let out a chuckle, looking at Yuji he says "Signore Kusanagi, moi turn isn't over yet. Summon, The Trojan Horse in attack position.

The Trojan Horse effect is that this card can be treated as 2 tributes for advance summoning Earth monster"

Chazz and the blue haired boy on top of the podium, their eyes are wide opened when they see the monster.

[Don't tell me!]

[So, he used it...]

[[The Dark Age Deck!]]

Crowler didn't stop, he still continues his combo, "Then I activated another spell card Double Summon!"

"It's over, it's Professor Crowler victory" say Chazz.

Crowler held his head high, as he already expected the result of the duel.

"I didn't have to tell you the effect, right? Signore Kusanagi" say him.

Yuji only nod at Crowler's question.

"Come! Moi strongest knight, Ancient Gear Golem!!"

On the field ground appears a dark cloud, the dark cloud swirled, and from the center of it-

A rustic mechanical hand rise, then pound the floor.

Slowly but surely, the monster Ancient Gear Golem reveals itself from the dark cloud.

When it finished his summoning animation, the towering rustic robot gaze at Yuji.

His rustic eye then begin glowing fiery red, as it let out a bloodlust toward Yuji.

Yuji himself can't help but to swallow his saliva. Being near it, it is like he was forced to carry a huge rock on his back.

"Prepare yourself, Signore Kusanagi! Ancient Gear Golem, Ultimate Pound"

The Ancient Gear Golem start to pull his right arm,

Yuji narrowed his eyes, and start clicking the button on the Duel Disk, "Activate trap- huh?"

"Kukuku, Ancient Gear Golem effect! If this card attacks, your opponent cannot activate any Spell/Trap Cards*" shout Crowler.

"Woah, really? I- I mean what an interesting ability" reply Yuji.

"Thank you for the compliment Signore Kusanagi, but compliment can't help you right now"

The Ancient Gear launch his fist forward, the big fist of it make Yuji instinctively raised his hands to block it.

Alas, it was a futile effort.

"Gahk!"

The Ancient Gear Golem punch Yuji directly, even though it was a hologram, somehow Yuji were pushed back and fall to the ground roughly.

Yuji |LP 4000 >> 1000|

"Kuh... what a strong monster" say Yuji as he slowly gets up.

Looking at him, Crowler snorted. He thought that after Yuji saw and directly hit by Ancient Gear Golem he would surrender and run away.

[It seems moi must Defeat him thoroughly, no-nee]

"Ai set a card, moi tur-" before Crowler end his words, Yuji already disturb him.

"I activate spell card, Mystical Space Typhoon"

Mystical Space Typhoon, is a Quick-Play spell card with effect is to Target 1 Spell/Trap on the field; destroy that target.

A dark portal appears on the set card, then the set card were sucked to it as if the portal were a vacuum cleaner.

Crowler grits his teeth, looking at the disrespectful Yuji who just cut away his words before raising a hand.

"Moi turn is end" whisper Crowler.

...

"W-what a strong ability" say Syrus, bewildered.

"It's not only that, I heard that Ancient Gear Golem had another ability that can give you a piercing damage when in battle against a defense position monster" say Misawa, as he touches his chin.

Hearing Misawa explanation, Syrus couldn't help but shudder.

"Not only it can make the spell or trap useless, but also piercing damage? Isn't it an overkill?!"

Misawa narrowed his eyes, "Well there is also another way to defeat it, but... it depends on the duelist himself"

Listening to the two conversation, Jaden give his own opinion, "Call this feeling or whatever, but... that guy Yuji isn't going to lose"

Syrus looks at Jaden, doubtful "Can he? I didn't-"

"Don't worry! His Life Point hasn't reach 0 yet" say Jaden energetically.

"Um. He still had 1000 Life Points" nod Syrus.

"Is that so Number 1? Well, I truly wonder if he can beat it or no" say Misawa, as he folded his arms.

On the other side of the podium, Sakura were clasping his hands and look at Yuji with worried eyes.

[Yuji, Win!]

Meanwhile, on Yuji side, in front of him is a towering rustic robot with 3000 attack and defense.

More than the stats, it also had powerful abilities.

Sweats begin to forms on his back, this sweats is not because of fear alone, but also excitement!

[This- This is why I want to enroll in Duel Academy... not only I could play Duel Monster, but also polishing my skill further!

I wonder... if there is a strong opponent like... uh, what his name again? This guy?

Kuh... I can't stop the excitement!]

"What's the matter Signore Kusanagi? Are you going to forfeit?" ask Crowler with a smug face.

"Ah... sorry" Yuji finally snapped back, and begin to draw.

[If you trust your deck then the deck would respond to you, isn't that right... Mr. Yugi?!]

"I DRAW!"

His pupils expand, like he was intoxicated.

The same moment he draws the card, his eyes also see what's printed on it.

Then he looks again at the card he just draws.

[Finally... It's showtime!]

Yuji let out a chuckle, Crowler who saw him tilt his head wondering what is wrong with him, and then-

BADUMP!

Crowler's eyes met with Yuji's own. His breath become more rough, he can sen- no he's feeling an impending danger.

Like he was a rabbit, left alone with the tiger on his den.

"Si- Signore Kusana-"

"I activate Pot of Greed!" Yuji cut Crowler's words, and he begins to draw two cards.

"Then I activated the trap card Call of The Haunted! Comeback, Elemental HERO Woodsman"

The HERO that was destroyed before is comeback to the field.

When he is comeback, the Woodsman turned to Yuji and giving him a grinning smile.

"Heh" Yuji can't help and also grinning toward Woodsman.

"Then I activate the spell card... Polymerization! I fused both Woodsman on the field and Bubbleman from my hand"

The audience begin the uproar, can't help to be curious and excited, what kind of monster that he would summon to fights against Crowler's Ancient Gear Golem.

"Here he come! Here he come!" say Jaden excited.

"I... I know, please stop it" say Misawa, as Jaden shakes him back and forth.

"Yuji, you can do it!" Cheer Sakura.

A new card ejected from the Duel Disk, and Yuji put it on top of the Duel Disk's plate.

Snows start to fall on the examination room, making the audience more curious, but it was for a very short moment.

The next thing is the snows swirls together with the help of a cold breeze, and in just a second, a blizzard appears.

Even though it wasn't real, the audience can't help but instinctively hug themselves to keep their body warm.

On the other hand, Crowler also can't help but to sneezes.

"Come, a new HERO that wields the power of merciless winter and the coldest ice!"

The blizzard begin to raging more furiously, hampering the vision and also giving them the artificial stimulus that activates the instinctual behavior of the audience and also the opponent.

"Lend me your strength Elemental HERO Absolute Zero!!"

The blizzard suddenly gone, and on Yuji's field there's a HERO standing proudly with his white armor.

Crowler then open his eyes, and he blinks repeatedly. He stops hugging himself, and back standing proudly like a royalty.

He then saw Yuji's new monster.

Elemental HERO Absolute Zero (LV.8)

ATK 2500, DEF 2000.

He can't help but let out a sigh of relieved.

"It seems that after the show, your monster can't de-"

"I tribute summon Elemental HERO Absolute Zero!"

Crowler blinking again, he even wondered what he heard was right.

[Tribute... summon?]

The white armor of E • HERO Absolute Zero begin to blackened, and the Absolute Zero himself start to inflated like a balloon.

"Come, Great Maju Garzett!"

BTOOM!

Absolute Zero explode, from within him appears a scary demon with skeletal face with black horns, and also big pauldrons.

"Effect of Absolute Zero, when he leaves the field, destroy all the monster the opponent control. Arctic Purgatory!!"

"Na- NANI?!!!" Shout Crowler.

Suddenly, the Ancient Gear Golem was encased inside a crystal of ice.

"Non! My Ancient Gear!!" Shout Chronos, alas the ice break into multiple pieces along with Ancient Gear Golem.

"Not over yet!"

[Please... Signore]

"Effect of Great Maju Garzett, The Attack of this monster become twice the attack of the tributed monster"

Elemental HERO Absolute Zero, ATK 2500, DEF 2000.

Great Maju Gatzett, ATK 0 >> 5000.

The audience begin to hysteric, the opportunity to see a monster with 5000 ATK is so rare.

"No way... even Obelisk attack is only 4000"

"This guy manage to summon a monster with attack more than a god"

"No, no, isn't it already a god?"

Yuji smile hearing the words of the audience, he then says

"It's not a God... It's a Demon" say Yuji

"Di- diavolo..." mumbling Crowler.

Yuji then show a satisfied smile, "I'm going to end this duel.

Battle!!

Great Maju Garzett, direct attack!"

Great Maju Garzett begin to summon a magical crest in front of him.

"Dark Demon Destruction"

Then Great Maju Garzett launch a burst of blue energy from his fist. When it hit the magic crest, the energy condense and concentrated like a beam.

"Non! Non!" Shout Crowler, as he saw the impending blue light.

Crowler |LP 4000 >> 0|

The burst of energy hit Chronos, and end the duel.

"Alright, Good Game"