Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Yu-Gi-Oh! GX: The Second Story ❯ The Closing Window of Opportunity ( Chapter 2 )

Chapter 2 - The Closing Window of Opportunity

Jordan grabbed his seat in the front row of the stadium, hanging over the railing for his friend's exam duel. “Go get him Artemis!” He cheered. The silent spectators gave him hard glares that made his spine shiver.

“Your girlfriend there hasn't a chance. Mokuba-senpai is as strong as Saphira-san,” one of them mocked, “I would give up my rarest card to hear if you passed after losing that miserably.”

“You just haven't seen what Artemis can do! She whipped every duelist in our school.” Jordan argued.

“Well your school and the Duel Academy are two VERY different levels.” He answered, “She doesn't even look like she's a good duelist, but you gotta hand it to her, she has the Poker face for it.”

“You shut up and see how well she can play in a duel.” Jordan swung back around towards the stadium, “Pull out all the stops Artemis!”

“Don't need to tell me twice,” Artemis mumbled and her Duel disk triggered into action, 4000 Life Points appeared on screen.

“I suppose I'll start things off first.” Mokuba said and drew his sixth card. A hand not looking the best but he had to duel at his hardest, and one card could mark a fairly quick end. “I place one monster in defense mode and end my turn.” He declared as a holo-projection of the card appeared just hovering over the floor.

“Only a card face-down? Well I guess that shouldn't be too much of a surprise. I know the basic rule, but I'm here to pass, no matter how many traps I fall into.” Artemis vowed, drawing her sixth card. “But I won't be falling into any traps that involve face-down monsters. I summon Sasuke Samurai in attack mode!” She declared as a small warrior with an unusually big orange head and blue ponytail came up to the field, unsheathing a laser beam of a sword.

“That is a smart move.” the girl in the stands commented. “Since Mokuba-senpai didn't have any traps on the field, the trick he can only play would be his face-down card.”

Ryo had other comment, “You're forgetting, Asuka. Sasuke Samurai's effectiveness only works on monsters with a flip effect. If she was dueling Saphira-chan, she would have rendered the Charmers useless. Mokuba-senpai doesn't have much in the flip effect category. It could mean it's a monster that has an ability when it's sent to the Graveyard, flip or not.”

“I'll give my Sasuke Samurai this! Fusion Sword Murasame Blade, it gives my Samurai an additional 800 attack points. It's my personal precaution in case Sasuke is dealt in battle next turn.” Artemis claimed as the sword Sasuke Samurai held began to merge as his hand. A malicious blade shot clear from Sasuke's fist and shined in the stadium lighting. “Sasuke Samurai, attack his face-down card with Murasame Strike!”

At Artemis' command, the tiny warrior darted clear across the field and slashed forward onto the facedown card. Faintly there was a brief image of a strange red-and-white dragon with a solid mask over its face.

“Oh this is perfect, you've fallen for a lethal trap, and one of my personal favorites. By destroying my Masked Dragon you've allowed me to summon another Dragon monster with 1500 attack points or less.” Mokuba declared with a card shooting into his hand at random from his deck. “And since you only had one monster to attack with, I can summon this Dragon, Armed Dragon LV3!” He slapped the selected card into place on his Duel Disk. A small dragon about the same size as Sasuke Samurai came into play in attack mode. Brown and orange scales, it was primed with both his boxing-glove-shaped fists ready to fight.

Armed Dragon LV3… Aw man I know this bout. My Sasuke Samurai doesn't have a chance next turn! Artemis panicked and reviewed her hand. “I'll place one card facedown and end my turn.” She finished with a card sitting right behind her Sasuke Samurai.

“Aw yeah, there's the best Dragon anyone can find nowadays.” Jordan's antagonist sneered.

“What's so great about it?” Jordan demanded. “That thing only has 1200 attack points!”

“Watch and learn, drop-out. Your girlfriend doesn't have a chance now. And before you go insulting me again, my name is Manjyome. Remember it.” He introduced before watching the second turn of the duel.

Mokuba made his draw. “Alright, on my Standby Phase I can do this. I offer my Armed Dragon LV3 in order to summon Armed Dragon LV5!” His first dragon disappeared, in its place was a bigger dragon, practically twice its original size and attack power. The bottom jaw shoved forward gave an intimidating appearance. Even Sasuke shuddered; looking to his sword and back to the dragon like he finally realized that he didn't have a chance. A quick eye-shift was made to Artemis before the turn truly began against the massive dragon armed with horns and drills in assorted but symmetrical places.

“Now to begin my turn, I'll used Armed Dragon's special ability. When I discard a monster card from my hand, I get to choose one monster to destroy with an attack power equal to or less of the monster discarded.” He made his quick lesson. “So I'll discard Red-Eyes Black Dragon from my hand, a 2400-attack-point monster, to automatically destroy Sasuke Samurai!” He slipped the card into his Duel Disk. Armed Dragon LV5 went into action; it raised a mighty fist over its head and slammed down to the ground.

Even if it was a hologram, Kaiba Corp.'s technology spurred a new type of device that allowed the duelist to feel what was going on. Artemis felt the earth jolt beneath her feet, even if was just the Duel Disk making the magnitude, as a fissure chased after Sasuke Samurai and gaped open under his small body, causing his plummet from the field.

The quake ended, but Artemis only had one card on the field. Still, Mokuba wasn't through, he still had a Battle Phase to perform. “Now Armed Dragon LV5, attack Artemis' Life Points directly with Firebolt Drill Shot!” He commanded; the Dragon let out a bellowing roar that shook Artemis to her core. She looked up and saw the spiraling fire attack coming straightforward.

“Go, Negate Attack! I knew something like this would happen since Armed Dragon LV3 came out so I'll kick this on now, reducing your attack to embers!” Artemis unleashed her trap. Inches from her face, the fire became ensnared in an invisible vortex that swallowed the attack.

“Well, I see I have a real fight on my hands now.” Mokuba huffed, disappointed that he couldn't skewer her Life Points. “I suppose I'll end my turn here.” At the signal of a turn's completion, Artemis drew her next card, hoping to occupy her desolate field, but with only two cards, it didn't appear easy.

Dangit, my deck fails me now, but I've kept myself to forty cards. I've been taught that. She thought, I've got nothing to attack the Armed Dragon with…however, Armed Dragon and only effectively destroy face-up monsters. Artemis pulled a single card from her hand. “I set one monster facedown and end my turn.”

“She's getting desperate. Once Armed Dragon LV5 attacks that card, it'll keep on moving up in strength until finally…” Manjyome watched with eyes glazed over with confidence.

“Struggling to spare yourself already, fine. My move!” Mokuba drew his next card. “Alright, first I summon Spirit Ryu to the field in attack mode!” At his declaration, a second dragon appeared along side Armed Dragon LV5. It had a green, serpentine body with blue wings so close to the top it's hard to decipher the head. Now I'll enter my Battle Phase since I wouldn't believe I have anything to worry about, Go Armed Dragon, attack her facedown card! Firebolt Drill Shot!” He announced.

The flame-thrower sprinted across the field uninterrupted and slammed into the card, burning up a small brown fiend with three eyes. Artemis couldn't help but smile at this. “You've just activated Sangan's special ability. When Sangan is sent to the Graveyard, I can draw one monster from my deck with 1500 attack points or less and add it to my hand.” She announced, “and the card added to my hand is Amazoness Swords Woman.”

“It's still my Battle Phase and it's Spirit Ryu's turn to attack. And I think I'll double Spirit Ryu's attack power by discarding my Cave Dragon from my hand.” Mokuba countered, after he slipped the card into the Graveyard slot, an aura brimmed around Spirit Ryu. “Now Spirit Ryu, attack her Life Points directly!” He commanded; the Spirit Ryu flawlessly slipped through Artemis' body, taking half her Life Points with it.

“Artemis!” Jordan called from the stands.

“So much for what your girlfriend can do. I knew someone like you or her couldn't make it, and your horrid defeat against Saphira-san is proof of that.” Manjyome prodded his insults. Just below them, Saphira re-entered the stadium, but with company. The atmosphere seemed to freeze when her escort became visible to anyone's eyes. He aged perfectly over the past years, and his uniform and more sense of hierarchy among the school than anyone else did. His blue eyes never dulled, he can still pierce the weak with one glare. Short, brown hair lay perfectly over his eyes. Almost anyone could say he had eternal youth, not one detail on his face went wrong over the past five years.

His uniform was the basis of the school's dress code. Everyone knew Kaiba once held Obelisk the Tormentor, during the Battle City tournament, thus became the dress code. Yugi had Slifer the Sky Dragon, which was evident since Kaiba detested Yugi from the beginning.

A black shirt began the layers. It covered his collarbone and neck to the blue uniform that was labeled with the Kaiba Corp emblem just below each shoulder on the sleeves, down to the black cuffs. The blue top layer was buttoned on the right side by three gold pins but a flap of fabric hung out, down to the silver belt that clamped his waist. This was evident that he meant nothing but business. And the uniform's color dived to black to end the top half under the belt. Very light-blue pants trailed to black polished shoes and a sheet of black trailed to his ankles behind him, all the black was trimmed with blue.

Everything seemed perfect to the escort; what threw off the look was a glistening silver band around his left ring finger, a solitary sapphire gemstone in between two small diamonds.

Mokuba turned around and paused the duel; everyone stood up onto their feet when the newcomer walked in with head held high and blue eyes scanning left to right across the stadium. Jordan was confused when the duel was stopped and the chatter ended; Artemis felt a sense of familiarity and stood in attention to the center of attention.

His eyes landed on Mokuba first, “Saphira has told me you're at your final duel. I'd like to see what this duelist is capable of and hopefully make up for the handful of sorry wannabes in the earlier hours.” He said.

Mokuba bowed in formality, “Yes, Seto.” He turned back to Artemis and gestured to resume the duel. “I've reached the End Phase of my turn. And since Armed Dragon LV5 destroyed a monster this turn, he becomes Armed Dragon LV7!” Mokuba declared while behind him, two girls dressed in yellow uniforms set up folding chairs for Kaiba and Saphira to sit and observe the duel. The students found it safe to sit back down and watch the duels as intently as Kaiba. The Dragon Artemis opposed once more reached the ultimate height yet, in blood red and deep brown scales, and the horns turned into blades jutting out from almost all points of the body that could advantage in battle.

Artemis couldn't help but show a little fright now. It's barely been three turns and Mokuba had one of the most powerful dragons in the game of Duel Monsters. She drew her next card, hoping for the best. “Well, making a good impression of things, I summon Amazoness Swords Woman in attack mode.” Artemis announced as she summoned a muscular female warrior dressed for constant battling even with brown wild hair over her blue headband. “I also give her Axe of Despair, increasing her attack points by 1000!” In one hand, the Amazoness Swords Woman held her sword, a jagged steel blade meant for tearing wounds widely. Her left hand just received a powerful axe with a black steel blade.

“Clever, she might still be in this unless Mokuba sacrifices his Life Points to get rid of her.” Saphira commented with some surprise. She pulled off her gloves and folded them neatly into a pocket on her skirt, around her own left ring finger, a silver band glittered with a stone-set foundation. One diamond made the center with seven smaller sapphire stones circling the gemstone centerpiece. “What do you think Seto-sama?” She asked him.

“It seems promising that Mokuba will win, but it looks like she's giving him a run for his deck.” Seto replied, “What is her name?”

In the heat of the Battle Phase, Artemis declared her attack. “Amazoness Swords Woman, attack Spirit Ryu with Double Blade Slash!” She directed her Amazoness. The Swords Woman charged and leapt high into the air, practically dive-bombing the dragon and shattering it into holographic shards. The pieces blew past Mokuba as his Life Points decreased to 2500. The Swords Woman took her position back to Artemis' end. “And I would believe that ends my turn.”

Mokuba winced while beginning his turn. Amazoness Swords Woman, I know that card. It redirects the damage she would have taken to my Life Points. But she would have been better off keeping it at 1500 attack points. No, I can't fall for another trick, but I don't have a powerful enough monster to discard and destroy the Swords Woman. “I'll set one monster in facedown Defense Mode and set one card facedown, ending my turn with no attack.” He announced, two cards lined up, one behind the other.

Artemis kept it going, pulling a card from the top of her deck. Her excitement was beginning to leak onto her face. “Forgive me Mokuba-senpai, but I summon this card, the Tactical Espionage Expert!” She declared and a shadowy figure dodged sight of human eyes once the card was placed on the field.

Kaiba couldn't help but raise a brow in surprise. This girl is clever, that card stops any and all trap cards if its Normal Summon isn't countered. He figured with his arms crossed over his chest.

“No surprises now! I play Mage Power and I'll equip it to my Amazoness Swords Woman, giving her another 1000 attack points.” Artemis cheered of her own accomplishment when Amazoness Swords Woman surpassed the Armed Dragon's power. She was surrounded by hooded mages, chanting an inaudible incantation and blessed the Swords Woman with new strength.

Mokuba desperately tried to trigger his facedown trap card but came to no avail. He looked to the field and saw a rogue agent hiding underneath the card that was strapped to the ground. The Espionage Expert snickered with a mission's complete. The students watching in the stands came to shock of the twist.

Artemis smiled widely and began her attack. “Go Amazoness Swords Woman, attack with Double Mage Blade, strike down the Armed Dragon!” She barked her orders. The Amazoness Swords Woman again took to the air and drove the magic-endowed sword clear down the Dragon's body. The Armed Dragon fell into two unequal halves before creating an explosion powerful enough to make Mokuba stagger back, and Saphira and Kaiba to shield their eyes from the impact.

Mokuba's Life Points slid by only 700, but he lost his best monster on the field. Leaving only one monster in defense mode in attempt to protect him and Artemis had one more monster to attack with. “Tactical Espionage Expert, attack his facedown card!” She commanded. The Expert cocked his gun and fired at the card from under the disabled trap card, revealing a chest that looked alive. It opened the lid and screeched loudly before toppling forward, unmoving for a moment, and vanished.

“By flipping my Dark Mimic LV1, I'm allowed to draw a free card.” Mokuba declared and pulled the top card from his deck outside his Draw Phase. “And I'll assume that ends your turn?” Artemis reviewed her short hand and nodded, gesturing Mokuba to begin his fifth turn of the game.

He drew his card and had a smile of hope. “I'll summon Lord of Dragons in attack mode,” he said, summoning a warlock armed with dragon bones, quickly did a black jeweled necklace appear around his neck and an axe similar to the Amazoness' came to his right hand. “And I'll give him Black Pendant and Axe of Despair as well, jumping his attack power to 2700!”

Artemis felt slightly nervous with the quick boost of power, she knew who was the Lord's target. “Lord of Dragons, attack the Tactical Espionage Expert.” Mokuba commanded. The Dragon Lord turned on a heel towards the trap card and raised his axe. He swung down through the trap card and a blood-curdling scream echoed through the stadium. The destruction of the Espionage Expert was discrete, but the bite out of Artemis' Life Points wasn't. Her points stopped at 600, a thread of life left in the game. Now that the Espionage Expert is gone, I can trigger my trap when the moment comes. Mokuba thought. “I end my turn now.” He declared, handing turn over to Artemis.

Saphira and Kaiba kept extremely close watch on the duel in progress, especially since the Armed Dragon was destroyed. In the stands, Manjyome fumed over the card's destruction. “How could an amateur like her bring down such a powerful creature?”

Jordan grinned from Artemis' success over the Dragon, but faded from her near-game-end experience. He took the opportunity to rub it in Manjyome's face. “I told you Artemis has it!”

“Can it, she just got lucky with the Tactical Espionage Expert!” Manjyome spat back. “This duel is not over!” After his verbal spitfire, Manjyome fell back on his chair with his arms crossed. A deadly glare fell onto Artemis, but it wasn't as powerful as the paralyzing aura Kaiba could lock on a person. More students were amazed than disappointed, but all of them knew summoning a monster that could stop traps were nothing but a cheap shot.

Artemis began the turn that could clear the duel. It could if the draw wasn't Obnoxious Celtic Guard. And if that trap trigger upon summons she'd be wide open for an attack, and she was faced with a serious problem. If I destroy the Lord of D. I'll be really hanging on a limb in Life Points… But it was Mokuba-senpai's mistake not to attack my Swords Woman even if it meant taking 300 points of damage. “I'll set one monster in defense mode, and my Amazoness Swords Woman attacks your Lord of Dragons! Double Mage Blade!” Artemis made quick action, and everyone's mouths hung open; some even dropped from muscle support so fast it'd hit the floor if detached.

Amazoness Swords Woman launched herself at full speed and struck the opposing warlock with both sword and axe. Lord of Dragons was destroyed, and another 800 points were chopped from Mokuba's overall.

“Is that girl insane?” Saphira questioned, “Doesn't she know what happens when Black Pendant is sent to the Graveyard?”

“She does, I can tell.” Kaiba answered, his blue eyes locked on to Artemis. “The game of Duel Monsters is all about taking risks. Those who can't swallow the negative anticipation will face the consequences. However, precaution can be applied when required.” Saphira understood it, and eyes back on the Life Point counter on Artemis' Duel Disk now reading a mere 100 Life Points remaining.

“That…ends my turn.” Artemis said, with the look of fatigue but the spirit of an unbroken horse.

Mokuba saw her determination of taking a risk and drew his card. He had nothing to compare to the Amazoness Swords Woman, and even with 1000 left he couldn't take another surprise. “I'll set one monster facedown and end my turn.” Mokuba played it quickly.

Artemis began her turn. “I have to make it count. I'll play this: Swords of Revealing Light! Reveal to me what you're hiding!” She declared as lights began to spark around Mokuba.

Now triggering the trap became successful. “You've activated Magic Jammer! I discard my Flute of Summoning Dragon to negate your Swords of Revealing Light!” A circle appeared around Mokuba on the ground and a purple vapor seeped from the ground up, making the lights fizzle out.

When the smoke cleared, Artemis was snickering. Mokuba knew he did something wrong. “You fell for my bluff, Mokuba-senpai. I played Swords so I could get rid of your trap. I knew it had to be a trap to negate Spells since it wasn't triggered when I attacked you on various occasions.” She boasted.

Saphira took very close interest. “Making one of the most powerful Spell cards bait for a trap. This one is very clever…” She murmured. Her partner just let out a “hrmph” in comment.

“Now to end it. I'll flip summon my Obnoxious Celtic Guardian.” Artemis prepared for the finale with a male elf warrior with pelts of armor and a polished silver blade for the sword. “I'll attack your facedown card with Obnoxious Celtic Guardian!” She sped up her turn with confidence. Her warrior charged and sliced the card in two, another Masked Dragon. “Crud…” She cursed under-breath.

“You remember him, right, it lets me summon another Dragon to take his place. So here's another Masked Dragon.” Mokuba said, summoning the third Masked Dragon to the field in attack mode. His eyes had a mix of regret from the struggle, and honor to have the Academy accommodate another successful duelist.

That's all he had left? But still, even if he pulled a solid 1500 attack points, he would have lost anyway. Artemis thought before closing the seal and ending the duel. “Amazoness Swords Woman, attack the Masked Dragon and end this duel now!” She declared. The Swords Woman struck once more and sent the last of Mokuba's Life Points to zero.

Instead of a cheer, the stadium was silent. Some watched with awe, others in disappointment, the glares coming from the duelists who think they're better than the first-year entries. Saphira's eyes were full of interest, “She's not too bad, I think I'll keep an eye on her…” She murmured.

Kaiba had other thoughts. “She got lucky, that's the only way she could beat Mokuba.” The silent minutes seemed like hours before the other duels resumed.

Artemis approached Mokuba and bowed in gratitude of the duel. “How you placed should be posted shortly, we're wrapping up the duel exams now.” Mokuba said. Artemis nodded and made her way to the stands nearby Jordan, passing by Saphira and Kaiba.

 

After a half-hour, a large cubic hologram projected over the stadium where the duelists have taken their seats. Kaiba, Saphira, and Mokuba have made their way to an observation deck while the final duel was conducted and a P.A. system was activated, the tone silenced the large room.

“This is Seto Kaiba speaking, president of Kaiba Corp and Super Attendant of Duel Academy.” He introduced to the audience, “As you are all well-aware, the Duel Academy searches and trains duelists with potential and the skills needed to be the best of the best. Another goal of the Academy is to find excellent gaming designers. Because of the mass quantity of entries today, some of you that thought you just barely passed probably would not have made it at all. Your scores have been placed compared to your dueling performance and your level will appear on the hologram projection screens. Those names and picture identities framed in blue will report to Chronos for your Obelisk Blue admission. Those in yellow will report to Hikari for Ra Yellow. And those in red will report to Daitokuji for Slifer Red. Those names who has not appeared, better luck next year.” He directed and the names appeared like bullets amongst the screens. The screens began to spin slowly, almost 10 names and pictures per screen and the examinees piled on top one another's shoulders to see their names, among the lists, only five names were framed in blue, fifteen names in yellow, and twenty names appeared in red frames.

“Jordan Sabre, Jordan Sabre…” He muttered under-breath. Artemis was just as anxious to see her name; she predicted that coming so close to a game's loss may have dropped her points. “There! I'm going to Red! What about you Artemis?” He wondered. Artemis just spotted her name, bordered in yellow under the name “Daichi Misawa.”

“I'm going to Ra Yellow.” Artemis answered while looking at the second- and third-year students wearing their uniforms proudly, one of her detested subjects of clothes were the strict uniform code: mini-skirts. “I better go talk to Saphira-san about the uniforms.” She muttered, loud enough for Jordan to hear.

“Why? I've never seen your legs before. They might look cute.” His smiled coiled just as fast as Artemis' fingers rolling into a fist. “Don't hurt me!” He raised both arms over his head to feebly protect himself. After a moment's glare, Artemis made her way to her assigned administrator in the yellow blazer. Jordan shrugged and directed himself towards Daitokuji, not a teacher he expected. He had long black hair tied in a ponytail with wild bangs. Square-framed glasses sat perfectly on his nose and expanded his limited sight of squinting eyes. In his arms was a relatively large tan cat with darker stripes down his back. What set him off was the constant smile.

“Well, Jordan Sabre, I presume?” He said kindly, “You're the last one of attendance to the Slifer Red dorm.” Jordan blended into the crowd quickly, bumping from one shoulder to another, soon bumping into someone's head. He had a turquoise mop of hair over his rounded glasses and wide gray eyes. “You will receive your school uniforms shortly after boarding the plane.” Soon the group of 20 students marched out of the stadium.

“Sorry man,” Jordan apologized to the shoulder-height student after he watched Artemis get absorbed by her assigned group.

“Nah, it's ok, I'm used to it…” He replied, “by the way, my name's Sho Marufuji. I saw your duel, I'm surprised you made it after you lost to the Academy's First Lady.” His attire was simple, a dark colored jacket with a shirt that almost matched his hair.

“I suppose Artemis was right, should have kept to a deck of 40.” Jordan sighed. “I was playing a 50 card deck.” He stared at his deck in his hand.

“Artemis? You mean the girl that dueled Mokuba-senpai?” Sho jumped. “I thought she was nuts with the stunts she's pulled? And you know her?” Jordan nodded. A student in front of them turned on a heel, with a more tamable brown cut of hair and eyes to match. He was wearing a black jacket with a red shirt underneath. They just exited out into the sun that sat in its four o'clock position.

“Jordan, huh? Nice deck.” He chuckled, “And you were lucky to go up against Saphira-chan and pass even with a rather humiliating defeat, you must have had passed your written exam easy. If she was my opponent I probably wouldn't have made it today. My name's Judai Yuki.”

“Nice to meet you Sho, Judai.” Jordan greeted. By now it was Judai's turn to climb up the stairs to a plane's entrance, Sho and Jordan quickly followed and picked their seats amongst the three of them. Jordan looked around and saw there was a mix. “I might see Artemis here…” He murmured.

Mokuba stood in front of the plane's single carriage to address the passengers. “We have now departed for the Kaiba Corp. Duel Academy. Please remain seated forward at all time, there will be a repeated announcement to turn off your cell phones and other electronics upon landing.” He instructed, “We will arrive in one hour's tops. Enjoy and welcome to the Duel Academy.”

Artemis didn't take any time. Aside from what deck she brought and a bag of a binder with CD's and additional cards she brought her sketchpad. She unzipped her carry-on for her personal CD player and plugged the headphones into each ear, and her sketchpad rested on her right leg after she rested the ankle on her left kneecap, almost like a desk, with a masterpiece in the works. “Kimi ni todoke Northern Lights.” She hummed softly to the lyrics.

It didn't take long before one of the supervisors looked over her shoulder while making his scan down the aisle. The audience didn't make Artemis budge, until a white shirt and yellow skirt landed on her sketchpad. “You almost forgot your uniform.” A deep accent growled, “Are you always this forgetful when you zone out?” He asked while reaching for the metal loops coiling around the top of her sketchpad.

Her right hand batted his hand away sharply, the hand holding the pencil still in the works after setting the uniform on top of her luggage. “Please don't bother me, it's hardly been ten minutes and I'd like to get my project done.” She said plainly. A guy that was in her group was in the seat next to her. He looked shocked at Artemis after she slapped the administrator's hand.

“Don't you know who he is? That's Chronos DeMediz, one of the supervisors of Obelisk Blue.” He hissed lowly in a warning whisper. Artemis didn't seem to move-she just kept working on her drawing in graphite and colored pencil. Her only audible voice however sounded like the info of a Duel Monsters card.

“Pisces - The Tri of Water Guardians.” She said in a soft whisper, concentration still thick on her work. “Spellcaster Class, Water Attribute, Level 8, 3200 Attack Points, 2500 Defense Points. Pay half your Life Points to Special Summon 1 Monster from either your or your opponent's Graveyard in face-up Attack Position or Defense Position. This effect can only be used once in the current duel.” Chronos didn't seem to mind at all what Artemis had mention and continued to scope out everyone on the plane.

“Impressive, you have a full understanding between abilities and cost.” The boy next to her complimented in a light English accent. “I don't believe we've been introduced. My name is Daichi Misawa.” Artemis stopped her drawing to look up to Daichi.

“You were the first name in the Ra Yellow list? My name is Artemis Minh.” She said, shaking her right hand with his. “I took admiration of your duel.”

“As to yours but I never quite caught your strategy there as a deck. To what deck do you run?” Daichi asked, beginning chitchat amongst the two of them. Artemis seemed satisfied of a work's completed so far and tucked her sketchpad away. Undistracted, she felt the cold glare from Chronos.

 

Upon receiving his red blazer, Jordan shifted through his deck, rearranging and removing cards that caused his downfall against Saphira. Judai and Sho watched over his shoulders as he dropped several of his cards already. “What deck is aimed on that? Spellcaster?” Judai asked.

“Yeah, I was hoping to pull a Dark Paladin.” Jordan sighed. “I know I should have thinned out my deck but I couldn't tell what to take out, everything seemed in placed.”

“If you want suggestion, boy, take out the Silent Magician LV4 and LV8.” A sharp voice just cleared Jordan's ear as he turned to see Saphira. Her eyes didn't quite produce a glare to paralyze, but her piercing voice made up for it. It was as if an arrow shot through Jordan.

“B-but why my Silent Magicians? They could…” Jordan trailed off, seeing Saphira was more than dead serious.

“If your aim is the Dark Paladin, the Silent Magician will do you nothing…neither will the Injection Fairy Lily.” Saphira said coldly before moving up through the aisle into the first-class cabin. The three boys watched Saphira walk by. She spared a glance to the few females that have made it pass the entry exams, including Artemis.

There was a ping of the P.A. system and Mokuba's voice came to air. “This is Mokuba Kaiba speaking. We're making our descent for Duel Academy now, please put your seats in an upright position and buckle seatbelts. We will land at Duel Academy in five minutes.”