Promotion Preparation [Syrusly]

"Yes! I did it!!"

Syrus shouted happily, he was jumping repeatedly like a monkey while trying to high five the sky.

The corners of Yuji's mouth bend upward, looking at the happy Syrus.

"It's seems that our work is done" sigh him with relieved feelings.

...

Yesterday at dinner time, Syrus asking is Jaden, Yuji, and Chumley to help him prepare for the promotion exams. Of course, the three agreed to help him.

For starter, Jaden and Syrus agree to have duel one against another to test Syrus' capabilities and abilities as a duelist.

But...

"Sy, why didn't you use Power Bond?" asked Jaden, after he saw the card in Sy's hand.

"Kuh..." Syrus grit his teeth, didn't know what to say.

On their duel with Jaden, in his first turn, Syrus, didn't bother to use his monster's effect Patroid to checking Jaden's back row set card if it's a trap or not.

Not only that, when Syrus had great advantages with the card like Power Bond and Limiter Removal, he didn't use it.

Rather, he used just normal spell Polymerization. With Power Bond, despite the backlash, if he can land a hit to Jaden's monster which is Sparkman which only had 1600 attack, he can win.

If he used Power Bond to fusion Steam Gyroid, his fusion monster attack would go double from 2200 attack to 4400 plus Limit Removal that he gains a whopping 8800 attack, enough to OTK Jaden.

But he didn't, and his duel is neither fun nor interesting.

Looking at the quiet Syrus, Jaden become worried and extend his hand to help him, "Sy?"

"Shut up!" but Syrus slap his hand, rejecting his, and snapped at Jaden.

"Sy..." whisper Jaden, disbelieved seeing his friend's behavior.

Syrus starts to realize what he just did, "Ah... Ah, Big Bro... I'm sorry..." apologized him.

"This is not like your usual self Sy" say Chumley, as he walks toward Syrus.

"Ah... um..."

"Spit it!" say Yuji, glaring at Syrus with fierce eyes.

BADUM! His heart beat, and a sudden chill entered his spine when he looks at his fierce eyes, he involuntarily gulped his saliva feeling afraid looking at Yuji's expression, "It's..."

"Don't worry! We'll listen" say Jaden smiling, as he patted Sy's back.

He looked at Jaden, then Chumley, and finally Yuji which he quickly averted his gaze, "Actually I-"

Syrus begins to tell his story, "When I was a kid, my brother teach me how to duel"

His start to remember. That time their parents weren't home, it was just him and his brother Zane. In a living room that can't be said luxurious nor disappointing.

Both of them were playing Duel Monster.

[Sy, you can use your Drillroid to destroy my monster] say a boy with dark blue hair.

[Eh? But Big Bro your monster had higher defense than my Drilloid's attack!] refute Syrus.

The dark blue haired boy smile, he's then start explaining, [Drillroid had the effect that say Before damage calculation, if this card attacks a Defense Position monster, Destroy that monster]

Syrus tilted his head, didn't understand. Luckily, Zane is a patient boy, [It's mean, no matter how high the defense, your Drillroid can destroy it. But only when facing defense position monster, okay?], say Zane, who then ruffled Syrus' hair, [Next time, read your monster's effect], smile him.

Jaden, Yuji, and Chumley still listening to his story, "The one who give me the card Power Bond is also him" tell Syrus.

He begins to remember another memory,

[Sy, come here]

His brother Zane called for him, [Yes?], and Syrus runs hastily toward him with a happy face.

Looking at his baby brother, the corners of his mouth bend upward, he then took out something from his pocket.

[Here]

[This is...] Syrus took the card he was given, and read the name of his new card, [Power... Bond?]

His brother Zane nod, [It's a powerful card. It allows you to fusion summon a machine type monster, and at the same time doubled their attack, but be careful th-] Zane still explaining to his baby brother.

But Syrus in question, had lost when he said double the attack. His eyes glittering looking at his new card.

[Syrus!]

[Yes?!] Syrus were surprised hearing his brother, [Do you listen what I say before?] ask him. Syrus nod with happy smile [Um], His brother look at him with distrust gaze, [Really?], but he let it go and didn't explain it again.

"You see, when I was little, I'm always get bullied. I was short and didn't have any remarkable physic, plus I'm also a slow thinker, unlike my brother.

That time after acquiring Power Bond, I was thinking that as long I had this card, I can finally defeat the one who bullied me" tell him.

In a playground, the young Syrus were dueling a black haired child name Gorisuke. On Syrus' field is Steamroid and Gyroid, in contrast to him Gorisuke had Gearfried the Iron Knight and one set card.

It was his turn, and he drew the card Power Bond. Intoxicated, [Shishishi, I wonder what Gorilla's face looks like when crying], sneer him as he bad-mouthing his opponent Gorisuke.

"At that time, as long I had Power Bond and can create Steam Gyroid it'll be a piece of cake to defeat him"

Just when Syrus want to use Power Bond, his brother Zane Truesdale come, he stops the duel between the two of them and give Gorisuke a rare card.

[Why?!]

That time Syrus didn't know why his brother stopping him, he even felt irritated when his brother show up and stopping him from victory.

[You don't deserve that card. Until you're competent enough to be called a *duelist*, you are banned using Power Bond]

Syrus, hearing his brother's words confused, as he can read his mind, Zane then take the card Gorisuke set.

[Take a good look at the set card]

Syrus' eyes wide open, [Spellbinding Circle...]

Spell Binding Circle's effect: Select 1 monster your opponent controls. It cannot attack or change its battle position. When that monster is destroyed, destroy this card.

Zane continues, [If you use Power Bond, not only you can't attack, but you'll also get the backslash from Power Bond]

Hearing him, Syrus kneeling ashamed. Tears starts coming from his eyes.

[You don't deserve to use that card yet. Until you've mature enough to be called a *Duelist* you can't use this card]

...

Syrus closed his eyes, as he finished relapsing his memories.

"Ah... that's right... how can I didn't notice it. Big Brother always said to respect my opponent, but here I am, dueling rashly and looking down on the" tell him weakly.

"Finally you understand"

Hearing the sudden words, "Who?!" the four of them become alert and surprised. But as they realized who is it, they finally relieved.

"Big Brother?! Huh? Alexis here too!" Syrus surprised seeing his brother, and Alexis.

As he remembers, his brother is an Obelisk Blue student, and The Slifer Dorm is on the exact opposite and also far from The Obelisk Dorm.

The same also applied to Alexis.

"Wh- what are you two doing here?!" asked Ayrus.

Zane answered him, "Just taking a stroll" told him.

"At this hour?! Together?!" asked him, bewildered

"Is there any problem?"

"N- no... nothing"

Syrus then thinking a boy and a girl taking stroll at this hour and far from their dorm, it can be mean one thing, "Don't tell me Big Brother and Alexis is-"

Before he finished the words, Akexis shakes her head and deny it, "It's not like that! Y- you see me and Zane is... oh! We just saw your duel, it was fantastic" smiles her, as she wanted to redirect the topic.

Syrus laugh wryly, even he can see Alexis is trying to divert the topic.

"Sy!" then his brother calling, "W-what is it?" asked Syrus, flustered.

"... nothing, it's just that I'm glad to see you grow"

"Big Bro... I-"

Zane look at his younger brother, his mouth open and close repeatedly, like something stuck in his throat, "What is it?"

"I'm going to get stronger and... and- I- I'm going to challenge you!! So Big Brother just you wait! Soon enough I'm going to master Power Bond, a- and I'll send you a proper challenge!" Shout him, looking at Zabe with fiery eyes.

"I know, and I'll be waiting" told him.

Zane then turned back, he didn't bother to talk any further. Seeing Zane walks away, Alexis bow her head and say goodbye to everyone.

PATS!

Someone's pat his shoulders, he looked at the peoples who beside him, it was Jaden and Yuji.

"Isn't that great? Your older brother complimenting you for your growth" say Yuji, seeing at the two figures walk away.

While Jaden say, "So that's your real Big Bri? He certainly looks strong, Kuhh... I should ask him for a duel"

"Big Bro... um, big brother is strong, very strong! Even if it's you Big Bro, I believe that you can't beat him. Besides, I'm the one who will duel him first, so please wait at queue" said Syrus.

"Hee... is that so? It's okay, that made it more interesting! Right, Yuji?"

Yuji nod, "Yeah!"

[Kaiser, the top and strongest student of Duel Academy... is he perhaps stronger than that Crazy B*tch? Kuh... I should ask for duel just now] Think Yuji, regretting it.

.....

On their way back,

"Syrus, he's getting stronger" smiled Zabe.

Alexis who walks beside him also nod, "Yeah, he's changed"

Zane nod at her word, then he suddenly stopped. Alexis tilted her head, confused of why he's stopping.

He stood up there, then lifts his head toward the illuminating pale moon.

"This year is going to be interesting"