This chapter is rough. I probably should have put more effort into it, but I was rushing to try this. Future chapters will be better.
Security guards stomped through the mud. A report had come in earlier of vandalism occurring at the front entrance of the academy. "STOP!" One of them shouted to a group of cloaked figures; one stood on a ladder with a chisel while two more stood nearby.
One of the figures looked over at the security guards. He reached into his cloak and produced three blank cards, the same number of security guards. The cards emitted a bright light to the security guards who were trying to shield themselves from the light. When the light vanished, so did the guards. In the cards, the security guards were now visible. "We're done here." The cloaked figure on the ladder said. He jumped down and walked away with the others. On the entrance, they had carved what looked like an eye.
…
Jaden yawned stretching out in his bed. He looked at the clock. "I'm going to be late!" He quickly got dressed and ran outside. "What is that?" He paused and looked above his door. There was an eye carved above it; there was an eye above all of the doors in the Slifer Red dorm. "Oh yeah, I'm going to be late!" He started running towards the main building. I know those eyes haven't been there before. What's going on? Yubel?
I am unsure.
I guess we'll find out eventually. Jaden picked up speed running to class. He failed to recognize the eye carved above the entrance to the academy. He snuck into class while the lecture was still going on. He looked over to his friends. "Have you guys noticed the weird eyes?"
Syrus nodded his head. Chazz glared at him giving a small nod. "According to my research, it's Egyptian." Bastion pulled a book from his bag and flipped to the page.
"That's it." Jaden said seeing the familiar eye symbol.
"Chancellor Sheppard is having an assembly this evening about it." Aster chimed in.
"I heard it's mandatory." Hassleberry added. Jaden nodded his head understanding the seriousness of the issue.
"A few students and security guards have been disappearing over it." Alexis said pointing to a few empty seats in the room. "Hopefully Chancellor Sheppard has answers."
"If there's another dark force coming here, I'm going to crush it." Chazz growled snapping a pencil in his hands.
That evening…
All of the students sat in the main dueling arena. Chancellor Sheppard stood by the microphone constantly tugging at his collar while other students found their seats. A couple of students jumped when they felt Pharaoh brush up against their legs.
"Stupid cat." Crowler muttered under his breath.
"Everyone, settle down." Chancellor Sheppard said tapping the microphone. "Settle down." The students quieted themselves. "I'm sure that most of you have been noticing the eyes being carved on our buildings and the disappearances. I have an explanation." He took a step back.
The doors to the room swung open. Cloaked figures carrying trunks and crates walked into the room. One of them walked to the front of the room. The hood of his black cloak protected anyone from seeing his face. On his arm was a standard duel disk. He walked over to the chancellor and shook his hand. Once all of the crates had been placed on the stage, he walked over to the microphone. "Duel Academy, a wondrous place full of powerful duelists. Truly, it's an honor to be in the presence of you students."
"What do you want!?" A Ra Yellow boy asked.
"It's rude to interrupt me." He pulled a blank card from his cloak and held it up to the student. He vanished, and his image appeared on the card. "Anymore interruptions?" He asked looking at the students. They remained silent. "Anyone here have a knowledge of the dueling that took place in ancient Egypt? Someone, raise a hand." The crowd did not respond. "Luckily, there is someone here who does."
Pharaoh jumped from the stands and walked on to the stage rubbing up against the boy's leg. "What does he want with that old cat?" Crowler mumbled.
The boy scratched the cat under the chin eliciting a yawn from it. The spirit of Professor Banner emerged. "It is an honor, professor."
"And who might you be?" He asked hovering over him and then the crates.
"Someone who comes with gifts, gifts for everyone!" He shouted to the audience who burst into murmurs.
"I don't like this guy." Chazz said.
"Let's give him a chance." Aster said crossing his arms.
The boy opened one of the trunks. "I scoured parts of the world, the Shadow Realm, and several other dimensions to find these lost treasures." He reached inside producing a golden rod with a familiar eye on it. "Behold the dark power of the Millenium Rod!" He pointed it at Banner's spirit. Its shape started to expand. A body formed.
"Professor Banner!" Jaden shouted from the stands.
"It would seem so." He smiled admiring his body. Pharaoh jumped into his arms. "It's nice to not be inside you." He smiled.
"Lyman Banner, I ask you to be these students guide to the Shadow Games I am bringing to the island. In good faith, I present you with the Millennium Key." He reached into the trunk and held key to him. He knelt before him.
"I accept your request. That is, if I am worthy." He took the key and put it around his neck. It glowed briefly before resting on his chest.
"Perfect fit." He smiled putting the rod back in the trunk. "These items are here for all of you. Their powers are limitless, and they will decide their owner. They will float above the academy waiting for a worthy owner to claim them. The Egyptian God Cards as well as the Sacred Beast Cards are also up for grabs. That's right, as of now, the academy will now be employing the ante rule." He snapped his fingers and the trunk glowed before the other Millennium Items vanished.
"And what if we say no!?" Jaden shouted standing up.
"I'll turn you into a card." He smiled. "But Jaden, you're not going to back down. I found something very special for you in my dark travels." He snapped his fingers. One of his goons handed him a crowbar. "This was an interesting piece." He pried open a crate revealing an armor stand.
"Where did you get that?" Jaden winced staring at the armor worn by the Supreme King.
"I told you. I searched long and hard for these things. And, Raviel, Lord of Phantasms has been calling out to him. Uria and Hamon called out to me. It's a shame to break up a set, but I don't mess with the fate of an item. I only help it find its rightful place."
"How do the items choose us?" Chazz asked standing up.
"In a duel. They will also grant you their powers and the ability to initiate a Shadow Game. To celebrate this wondrous event, we're going to have a duel right now. No strings attached. In fact, I'm going to give a prize to whoever gets up here and duels me, win or lose." He snapped his fingers and his goons cleared the stage of the rest of the trunks and crates.
"I challenge you." Chazz walked on to the stage. In the background, his followers chanted for him to "Chazz it up!" He smiled powering on his duel disk. "As you can see, I have the home court advantage." They both drew their cards and the duel started with 4000 life points each.
"If you don't mind, I'll go first." The boy drew his card and looked at his hand. "Five cards facedown. Your move."
"Don't let him psyche you out, Chazz!" Jaden called out.
"I got this." Chazz smiled drawing his card. "I play A Foolish Burial and send Armed Dragon LV 10 from my deck to the graveyard. Next, I'm playing Level Modulation. You draw two cards, and I'm summoning my dragon from the graveyard."
"Two cards, generous." He drew his cards.
"I end my turn."
He drew his card. "Pass."
"You're going to be an easy win." Chazz drew his card. "I play the magic card, Heavy Storm. Say goodbye to your facedowns!"
"Yeah, Chazz!" The students cheered.
"How about you say goodbye to your monster? I activate Judgement of Anubis. I discard one card from my hand and I negate the activation and destroy it. I also destroy one of your monsters and deal you damage equal to its attack."
Chazz winced watching his life points fall to 1000. "I set one card facedown and end my turn."
"My move." He drew his card. "Can you believe that I'm going to attack you without playing a card this turn?"
"What!?" Chazz's fist tightened.
"I activate the trap, Embodiment of Apophis. This card is summoned as a monster to my field with 1600 attack. This duel is over." A smiled was visible under his hood as Chazz's life points fell to zero.
"I lost, in two turns." Chazz fell on to his knees.
"As I promised, a prize." He tossed some cards at Chazz. "Classes and what not resume as normal. My guards will roam the campus keeping order. Feel free to have a duel with them. Beating them has promise for good cards. If the item wielders manage to collect the rest of the souls on the island, I'll duel one of you and then we can put everything back to normal. Goodbye." He vanished while the goons walked off.
"Professor!" Jaden ran over to Banner and gave him a hug. "It's good to have you back."
"I missed you too, Jaden. I suppose I'll be reassuming my position as head of Slifer Red. I'll also be assuming the role as a guide to the Shadow Games. Come along. I'm going to need help cleaning up my room." He smiled while Jaden and the others groaned.
Chazz stood up and stormed off angrily. "He made a fool out of me."
"Professor Banner, can you tell us about the Millennium Items?" Syrus asked catching up.
"All in good time. I'll put on a pot of tea while we clean." Alexis and the others sighed following their old professor back to the Slifer Red dorm.
The Supreme King, it's such a dark power. This guy is trying to mess with me.
It's fine, Jaden. No one is forcing you to use it.
I know. I just feel like he might try something.
We'll take him down, together.