Chapter Ten – The Shadow Deepens
Part One – Dark Times
The news that the Second Shadow- Rider had defeated Doctor Crowler – and claimed his Spirit- Key, spread just as quickly as the news of Jaden's victory had. And its effect was immediate: Everyone was on- edge. A few people only just managing to keep themselves from panicking…
With the exception of walking to and from their classes, and using the most direct routes even then, nobody was spending time outside.
As the day came to a close, the remaining key- keepers – again, with the exception of Jaden, gathered just inside the main- entrance of the main academy- building.
Tonight, Syrus, Zane's younger- brother, joined them… One had only to look at him to see that he didn't want to come, but he'd insisted on doing so once he'd heard that Zane intended to challenge Camula. (The news had spread like wildfire, resulting in a general mix of anticipation, and fear: Zane was widely believed to be the best duellist at Duel Academy; if he lost… Nobody even wanted to think about it.)
It was with some reluctance that the six of them set- out – retracing the same route that that they'd used both to and from the lake, the evening before…
This time, Camula did not come out to meet them: Instead, they walked around the lake, and up to a set of thick wooden doors. Zane, who was in the lead, was about to push them open when, with a creaking sound, the doors swung open on their own.
After a final moment of hesitation, they entered.
Naturally, the gates shut the moment the last of them had passed between them. This did not help to settle their feelings of unease.
Finally, they entered a large room – empty, save for the figure that stood at the far end… "Welcome, Key- Keepers," Camula's voice echoed down the length of the hall. "I have been expecting you."
Wordlessly, Zane took several steps forwards, activating his duel- disk as he went. Meanwhile, the others moved to one side, to watch.
Part Two – Zane V.S. Camula
"I like to lead," Camula said – drawing her first card, "I summon 'Vampire Lady' in defence- mode…" An image of a woman with fangs and bat- like wings appeared on the field in front of Camula… "And I'll also place one card face- down," Camula finished. Her face- down appeared in front of her, and her turn came to an end.
Zane drew his card, and added it to his hand, "Really? Shame… Because it won't be enough to protect you from what I have planned," He held- up his card for them all to see, adding, "'Power- Bond' lets me fuse machine- type monsters from my hand, and I've got the perfect three in mind: My 'Cyber- Dragons'!" As he spoke, three dragons materialized behind him… "Now unite – and form the almighty 'Cyber- End Dragon!" {4000 ATK.}
Camula smirked, "Well, I like your aggressiveness; but 'Power- Bond' has its risks: Are you sure you can handle it?"
There was a moment of silence, because Camula had a point: The owner of a monster summoned by 'Power- Bond' took damage to their Life- Points equal to the monster's original attack- points – and 'Cyber- End Dragon' had 4000 attack- points…
Somewhat to Camula's surprise, Zane chuckled, "Maybe you're forgetting 'Power- Bonds' second effect…" As he spoke, 'Cyber- End Dragon's' attack- points rose to 8000… "I don't think I'm going to have to worry about consequences after this: 'Cyber- End Dragon'; attack 'Vampire Lady': Super- Strident Blaze!" – The three heads of his dragon parted their jaws, and unleashed three beams of white- energy…
But Camula was ready for them, "Forgetting my face- down? I activate 'Red- Ghost Moon'! Now, by discarding one zombie- monster from my hand; your monster's attack- points are added directly to my life- points, and our little battle ends right now!"
Zane smirked again, "Wrong: Because I activate the spell- card 'Diffusion'; disassembling my 'Cyber- End Dragon', and leaving you with nothing more than the 4000 life- points you started with. Now, I'll place one card face- down, and end my turn."
Camula remained unfazed, however, "Well then: Allow me…" She drew her next card, and added it to her hand. "Now I sacrifice 'Vampire Lady', to summon 'Vampire Lord'. And next, I sacrifice him to summon… 'Vampire Genesis'!" A moment later, the monstrous creature that Camula had used against Doctor Crowler appeared; with all 3200 of its attack- points.
"Now…" Camula continued, "'Vampire- Genesis': Attack!"
His expression unchanging, Zane said, "As 'fun' as this is, I'm afraid I'm going to have to interrupt it… with my face- down card; the trap, 'Attack Reflector Unit': This card evolves one of my 'Cyber- Dragons' into 'Cyber- Barrier Dragon'!" Even as he spoke, one of his dragons began to glow: When the glow had faded, it had been replaced by the 'Cyber- Barrier Dragon' {800 ATK}.
"And when 'Cyber- Barrier Dragon is in attack- mode – once per turn, his ability allows him to negate the attack of your monster!" A wall of green energy appeared in- front of Zane's dragon, stopping 'Vampire Genesis's' attack cold. Glowering, Camula ended her turn.
Zane drew, then, "I play 'Pot of Greed' – so I draw two more cards…" He added them to his hand, and continued, "Next, I activate the spell, 'Photon Generator Unit'… Now, by sacrificing my two remaining 'Cyber- Dragons', I get to summon my ' Cyber- Laser Dragon!'" The two dragons Zane had named vanished, and were replaced – seconds later, by the 'Cyber- Laser Dragon' {2400 ATK}.
"And, thanks to 'Cyber- Laser Dragon's' ability, once per turn, he can destroy a monster whose attack- points are equal to – or greater than, his own!" A moment later, the image of 'Vampire Genesis' was blasted off of the field.
Then, with Camula's field finally empty, Zane ordered both of his monsters to launch direct- attacks…
{LIFEPOINTS: Camula: 800V.S.Zane: 4000}
Camula staggered, and her face changed – and not for the better. "Darling; you've just forced me to show my ugly side… I activate 'Illusion- Gate'!" Behind her, a massive set of intricately- engraved doors rose out of the floor…
A worried murmur arose from the sidelines: This card was new to all of them, and they all got the feeling that – whatever it did, it would be bad- news…
Camula's laugh only confirmed this, "First, this card destroys all monsters on your field…" She paused then – as Zane's monsters writhed for a moment, then shattered… "Next, it allows me to summon any monster that you've used during this entire duel! And – even though you diffused, this list includes your 'Cyber- End Dragon'!"
Zane stiffened, "Impossible: No card's powerful enough to let you make a move like that… There must be some kind of catch!"
Camula's smile was far from friendly, "True, but it's a tiny one: After using 'Illusion- Gate' – and if I should still happen to lose this duel, I must sacrifice a soul to the Sacred Beasts."
Chazz spoke- up, then, "Well, good: That's what you get for taking Crowler's!"
Camula's smile merely widened, "Beg your pardon, but I said 'a soul' – not 'my soul': It's all the same to the Sacred Beasts… Now, which one should it be…?" As she spoke, Camula turned to examine the other four Key- Keepers… and Syrus – All of whom immediately tensed…
Several moments passed in silence, then Camula spoke a single word… A name: "Syrus." Before anyone else could move, the 'Gate' behind Camula glowed, and an aura of energy lifted Syrus into the air – until he hovered next to the gate. A moment later, Zane's 'Cyber- End Dragon' appeared on Camula's side of the field…
Zane's eyes widened in shock, and the balance- of- power seemed to shift even further in Camula's favour…
"So… which will it be? Win the duel – and sacrifice your brothers' soul, or stand- down; and lose your own soul, and your Spirit- Key? Choose now: 'Cyber- End Dragon' – Attack!"
The dragon unleashed its attack, as ordered, and all eyes turned to Zane… and his final face- down card… But Zane made no move to activate it.
A moment later, the attack hit – and Zane's Life- Points fell to zero.
He fell to the ground, and – a moment later, Camula appeared… standing over him. As she had with Doctor Crowler, she bent over Zane – to remove the cord with Zane's Spirit- Key from around his neck… Then she produced another doll – identical to the one that had absorbed Doctor Crowler's soul… This time – once the glow had faded, the doll in Camula's hand had assumed Zane's likeness…
There was nothing they could do to help Zane, so the remaining Key- Keepers did the only thing they could: They ran for the entrance – half- dragging a stunned Syrus with them…
Part Three – An Uninvited Visitor
The following morning, there was a general announcement for all students and staff to gather in the Academy Gymnasium – the only structure big enough to hold the entire student- and- staff population of Academy Island…
The initial surge of curiosity was replaced by dismay and near- panic when they saw the four Key- Keepers – and realizing that none of them was Zane…
Chancellor Sheppard had finally managed to quiet the crowd, when the sky – visible through the high- windows, seemed to grow dark: A massive bank of dark, heavy clouds was drifting across the sky…
Then one of the larger windows shattered – and a gust of wind blew in… but it was no ordinary wind: It formed a column, inside of which an all- too- familiar figure materialized.
"Children," Camula said – when she spotted the five Key- Keepers, standing together. "I am ready for another victim."
Then another voice spoke from the opposite side of the room, "Funny: I was just thinking the exact same thing."
Heads turned… There, standing in the far entrance to the gymnasium – eyes flashing gold for only the briefest of moments, stood Jaden.
To be continued…