Hi, all. Sorry, sorry, SO Sorry! I know I'm super late on a update. A little something came up...I injured my wrist. Now, before you all panic, I didn't break it, thank god for that. I was needed to carry up some gas canisters for work and those suckers are heavy! Like 100+ pounds. Had to carry up six of them and I over strained something in my wrist.

That's why I haven't been as active. Trying to type with a bum wrist...not too fun. I am now just on the mend but I still have to wear my wrist guard. That hinders a lot of my typing speed. I have not forgotten this, I'm just trying to prevent myself from making a bad situation even worse.

That said, it may be another month before I get another chapter out. I'm forewarning you all in case you don't get update. Now, that update done, on to the story. No review answers this time, sorry but thanks for them all the same.

The month of November passed rapidly for the School and with the coming month, a lot of changes coming. With Kaiba's visit and investigations, people had been in for a rude awakening. He did manage to discover the reasoning behind Slifer Red's construction was the School Board, which made him mad. Upon discovering the Board had been skimming funds for maintaining it, he lost it. He gave the board an ultimatum; either redirect the funds and make Slifer a somewhat respectable dorm like he had intended or they'd find new jobs.

Despite the long leash he had given them, they still worked for him under a contract that their lawyers couldn't wriggle them out of. So they agreed, but were upset that he would defend the 'dropout' dorm. Kaiba laughed, telling them to look at the student roster for this year. His work done with the Board, he contacted Sheppard and told the man to expect workers after the Christmas break.

On the island itself, Crowler had been lamenting his loss of his VC chair. Without it, the Blues lost a considerable amount of power to get away with stuff.

Funnily enough, it had been earned by Midori Hibiki. Being the school therapist, she didn't have a lot paperwork unlike the rest. She had instantly went on the attack, targeting the bullying that was going on by the Blues and Yellows. Granted, much of it had been curbed by Jaden teaching the Slifers, but they still did it behind their backs. This led to a massive school wide threat; any bullying would result in a demotion to a lower dorm. If you were already demoted twice or in the lowest rank dorm, that was it.

Naturally, that made the more rich students nervous. The Reds didn't taunt or jeer at the Blues and Yellows, they simply kept on studying for the next promotion exams in January. Many of the Reds were eager to get bumped up to Yellow.

Now, it was the week before Christmas and many students were heading home, Jaden Yuki being chief among them.

"Are you sure you shouldn't stay, Sensei?" Coda Yurmishi, a Slifer Red and user of Fire Attribute cards asked the King.

The golden eyed teen shook his head.

"I'm needed to give a full report to the parents on my progress and inform them that Kaiba is now aware of what's going on at his school. These kind of things I feel is best told in person and not over the phone." Jaden explained.

The two boarded the boat, Jaden noting a tall figure in a trench-coat and hat. Eyes narrowing, he mentally called for Yubel. Asking her if that was what he thought it was, Yubel nodded, her face grim. It was a duel spirit and not one of the more nicer ones. It had been summoned to the mortal realm. That made Jaden grit his teeth, but before he could confront the spirit, it vanished quickly. The boat then got underway, Jaden swearing.

"Damn it...I'll have to deal with it when I return." Jaden swore.

EODGX

In the forests, a boy with glasses and wearing a blue blazer charged through the forests, panting. He crashed through foliage after foliage, his blazer becoming ripped. Tripping on a root, he fell to the ground with a hard grunt. Hearing dark and sinister laughter, he quickly got up and took off once more.

"HELP! SOMEONE PLEASE HELP ME!" The boy screamed, but knew it was futile.

The island was empty; everyone had gone home for the holidays. He was all on his own...with him. Regret flooded the boy's mind. He couldn't believe it then and still couldn't believe it now. They had summoned him and now his best friends were gone...well, two of them at any rate. His panting increasing, the boy pressed on, the dark and sinister laughter echoing all around him.

"HELP ME PLEASE!"

EODGX

The Slifer Red dorm was quiet, save for the four people in it. Syrus, Chumley, Professor Banner and finally Zane. Said boy was currently watching his younger brother leafing through his deck and card collection. The older boy had at first approached Jaden weeks ago, one week after the expulsion duel. Zane had intended to offer his congrats to the boy which he did do. Once the niceties were out of the way though, Jaden tore Zane a new one over his treatment of his younger brother.

Zane flinched hard, remember that day all too clearly.

EODGX

Zane walked up to the cloaked boy who was busy teaching to several younger students. When the group left, Zane walked up to the King and offered his hand. Said King looked at Zane, an eyebrow quirked. Zane explained that he was there to offer his congrats on the duel last week. Zane had been there, but didn't want to crowd the king like others seemed to be. Jaden took the boy's offered hand and shook it, thanking the third year.

The handshake done, Jaden's eyes soon became hostile.

"What in fucking hell is your game, Truesdale?" Jaden said, cold biting venom on his words.

"W-what?" Zane asked, stupefied.

"You heard me. Have you ever considered what kind of damage you've done to your younger brother?" Jaden snapped.

That made Zane's eyes narrow and cold mask to slip in. All it seemed to do was make Jaden even more hostile. Zane calmly explained that his brother was never meant to come here. That he wasn't worth much as a duelist. How he should just go home and forget being a duelist all together. With each word Zane said, Jaden grew more and more enraged, though his face didn't show it whatsoever.

"So you think your brother is a waste huh?" Jaden said, so chilling that Zane felt his own blood freeze.

Jaden said that whatever Zane was hoping to teach his younger brother, it backfired in the most spectacular ways. When he had first met Syrus, the boy was scared and nervous. After training him though and now meeting the older brother, Jaden now knew which one of the two had the greater potential...and it wasn't Zane. With that said, Jaden turned and walked away, a final parting shot striking hard.

"You have my respect as a duelist, Zane. But my respect for you as a Human Being? That is sorely lacking. Pray that we never duel...for you will lose more then just the match."

Zane knew a threat when he heard one...but this? This was no mere threat.

It was an oath.

EODGX

That led to Zane staying behind on his break; mostly to figure out how to earn Jaden's respect and to patch things up with his little brother. Neither were going well for him. Syrus met him with the same cold indifference he always gave to his little brother. That shocked him to the core to on the receiving end of such an attitude.

It also made him worried; had Jaden been right? Had his method to try and get Syrus to grow as a duelist backfire? After all, it was how he learned.

That's where you made your first mistake. A voice whispered in Zane's mind. You assumed Syrus was like you. He is not.

Zane shook his head, getting rid of the voice. He walked up to Syrus, sitting down.

"Syrus." Zane said, neutral.

"Zane." came the reply, the same neutral tone he had used.

"So...what are you doing?"

Syrus explained that he was adding in a few cards at Jaden's suggestion. A lot of his Roid monsters had powerful effects, but almost all of them had a few drawbacks to them. The new cards he added in should compensate for the drawbacks. Though without someone to test the deck out, he couldn't be sure. Zane was about to suggest that Syrus duel him, but was stopped by a weak cry of 'help'.

Standing up, he watched in shock as the door of the Slifer dorm caved in, a young boy with glasses falling to the ground, covered in various marks. Syrus and Banner were quickly over at his side, helping him up. Syrus seemed to recognize the boy.

"Tory!" Syrus exclaimed, lightly shaking the boy.

"You know him, Sy?" Chumley asked, kneeling down.

Syrus told everyone that Tory was a member of the Paranormal club which Syrus had joined recently. After hearing the tale that Jaden had given them during the Abandoned Dorm fiasco, he wanted to research duel spirits. Given that Para-dueling wasn't offered until later on in the year, Syrus was kinda stuck. Tory, being a second year though, could give him the basics to help him get ready. The little teen said that Tory with Hadrian Glasglow and Monk Gatcha were super excited these past few weeks, but for what, Syrus didn't know.

By this time, Tory came around. Seeing Syrus, he grabbed the boy's shoulders.

"Syrus! Oh thank god its you!" Tory proclaimed. "Where's Jaden?!"

"Jaden's not here, he went back to the mainland." Chumley said, confused.

When the boy's face fell, Zane took over.

"What's going on?"

"Yes, Tory, what has gotten into you?" Banner asked.

Tory explained to everyone that he had heard from Professor Banner about Duel Spirits at the start of the new term for him. He told them all that he and his friends became interested and that interest only grew when one of their devices to detect Spirits shorted out when the new students arrived. They wanted to find out what was going on. So for weeks, they tried to summon a spirit even though it was expressly forbidden...but with little success.

Zane got mad. There was a reason those kinds of rituals were forbidden. Tory continued on that just this week, they tried once more before they left for Break. Unlike the other times though, something answered back. He wasn't sure what it was that drew the spirit, the robes, candles from Doctor Crowler, or just the stars being in alignment.

"The Ouija board we used spelled out 'Give me three and I'll be free'. We thought he wanted cards..."

"He? Whose he?" Syrus asked.

"Jinzo..." Tory said, Banner gasping in fear.

"Oh dear me, no! No spirit will be satisfied by mere cards!" Banner exclaimed.

"What would he be sated with?" Zane asked calmly, but his heart dreading the answer.

"Souls." Tory said in a quiet voice.

Already, two of his friends were gone. Just...gone. No one had seen them. At first, Zane thought that they had just gone home, but Tory disproved that, having called their parents first. They hadn't seen their kids either. Syrus frowned.

"Then we have no choice...without Jaden here, we'll have to protect Tory." The small boy said.

Said blue smiled at the boy, but it soon was replaced by fear as the lights flickered. Chumley assured the boy that it was a normal thing. The dorm plunging into darkness made him rethink that statement. Banner told it that another fuse must have blown making Zane blanch. They still used fuses in the dorm?

Dark and sinister laughter echoed around them, a figure materializing and grabbing Tory who gave a shot. Syrus saw the figure and yelled.

"Let him go!" Syrus snarled.

"Sorry, but he and I have a contract!" The figure snarled back, taking off into the forest.

Before anyone could stop him, Syrus was running at full speed.

"Syrus!" Chumley, Zane, and Banner called after before giving chase.

EODGX

Two hours had past since the group had charged out after Jinzo and Tory. They searched the grounds several times over. Re-meeting near a clearing, the group all reported what they had found.

Nothing. Not one of them had seen the spirit of Jinzo at all. Chumley scowled, not liking that he had to run of all things. Hey, he may have grown as a duelist, but there was somethings he didn't like to do still. Running was one of them. He was worried about Tory, no mistaking that, but still, running?

Syrus saw a large shadow nearby and quickly rushed over, the others following. They saw several electrical transformers, many of them humming. Zane commented that it was the main power station for the island. Syrus looked around, amazed that such a small area powered so much. His wandering eyes landed on a body and gasped.

"Tory!" Syrus stated, starting to head over.

"Syrus wait!" Zane shouted, going to stop his younger brother only to be stopped short by a bolt of lightning.

More bolts surrounded the area where Syrus was at and a being arose, though it was grainy. Syrus scowled.

"Jinzo." Syrus said, nervous, but not afraid.

"I see that you have followed me here. A mistake." The spirit said, evil dripping off each word.

"Let Tory go! If a soul is what you want, then duel me for mine!" Syrus declared boldly.

Zane protested, but it was drowned out by Jinzo laughing in amusement. The spirit stated that Syrus' duel energy, while small, was incredibly feisty. The spirit agreed to the terms, stating the the power station would serve well for him to exist if only for a time. Syrus strapped on his duel disk, several cards appearing by Jinzo.

"DUEL!" was the cry.

Jinzo: 8000/Syrus: 8000

"Syrus, you're not ready for this! Just let me take your place!" Zane hissed, trying to get to his brother.

He was stopped by Chumley and Banner, both of who were glaring at Zane.

"Let Syrus do this, Zane. What good is all this training from Jaden if he can't use it?" Banner asked.

Zane shrugged them off, shouting at them that Syrus was not the same duelist that Jaden was. He lacked the edge that Jaden and himself had, a ruthless edge. He wasn't even suppose to come to DA. Hearing those words made Jinzo laugh in glee.

"It seems your brother doesn't think too highly of you, little boy." Jinzo said, 'drawing' a card.

He revealed the monster, Malice Doll of Demise and played it in attack mode. The spirit followed that up with Ectoplasmer, a spell that dealt half a tribute monster's attack points as damage during each end phase. He then placed a card facedown and ended, sacrificing Malice to take away some of Syrus' LP.

Jinzo: 8000/Syrus: 7200

"Syrus!" Zane shouted, hysterical.

The boy simply shrugged it off and glared at Zane. Wordlessly, he drew.

"Alright, I'm going to prove to both you and my idiot of a big brother that I do belong here! I first play Patroid in attack mode!"

(Patroid – LV/****, Attribute/EARTH, ATK/1200, DEF/1200, Type/Machine/Effect. Once per turn, during your Main Phase, you can look at 1 face-down card your opponent controls, then return it to its original position.)

A police car with cartoonish eyes appeared, its siren blazing. Syrus explained that Patroid's effect allowed him to view the facedown Jinzo had. The card flipped up to reveal a Mirror Force. Syrus used a Bait Doll Spell to destroy it, the Bait Doll card going back to Syrus' deck. Keeping up the momentum, Syrus played Polymerization, fusing Gyroid and Steamroid together. A massive steam locomotive dropped down, blowing its whistle. Jinzo took a step back, suddenly feeling like he had bit off more then he could chew.

"Steam Gyroid, Patroid, attack! Knock down his life points!" Syrus said.

The whirring blades of Steam Gyroid made several sharp wind gusts strike at the spirit, making him growl as his counter dropped. Following up the Steam's attack, Patroid soon followed, twin gatling guns appearing on its arms and firing several bullets at Jinzo who howled with rage.

Jinzo: 5800 → 4600/Syrus: 7200

"No way..." Zane breathed out in shock.

"Indeed, Syrus has managed to make Jinzo nearly lose half of his life points." Banner said, holding his cat. "He's come a long way since he arrived at the academy. So nervous and jumpy...but a few sessions with Jaden and look at him now."

"I'm not done yet, spook! I play De-Fusion, returning my Steam Gyroid back to my Extra deck and then summoning my Gyroid and my Steamroid back to the field. Since its still my battle phase, I'll have my two monsters attack you directly!"

The two monsters reappeared after Steam Gyroid vanished in a sea of sparkles. The tiny helicopter and Steam engine both glared at Jinzo who gasped. Gyroid charged forward, striking a piece of its landing gear between Jinzo's chest and stomach.

Jinzo: 3600/Syrus: 7200

Steamroid themn bum rushed the monster spirit, crashing into the spirit and making Jinzo's life points drop even more.

Jinzo: 1800/Syrus: 7200

"I-i-i-impossible!" Jinzo roared.

"Not when you got a good teacher like Jaden Yuki, the Supreme King of the Ring." Syrus said, placing two cards facedown and ending.

Gyroid vanished and the spirit attacked Jinzo making the monster roar out in agony.

Jinzo: 1300/Syrus: 7200

Jinzo drew, another card showing up. Malice Doll returned, cackling. Jinzo then summoned Emissary of the Afterlife, a large clothed skeleton with a scythe. Syrus frowned, knowing what was coming next. Jinzo ordered Malice to attack Patroid. The demented doll threw its cleaver at the police car who cried out as it exploded. Syrus then activated one of his two facedowns.

Jinzo: 1300/Syrus: 6800

"You triggered Supercharge. When a Roid monster is attacked, I draw two cards." Syrus explained, drawing.

"Draw all the cards you like, my Afterlife will send your Steamroid to the grave. A shame you forgot about its effect making it lose five hundred points when attacked! Go!"

The reaper knockoff charged forward with a ghostly wail, Steamroid's steam losing its heat.

Steamroid – ATK/1800 - 500 → 1300

"Not so fast, Jinzo! I reveal my other facedown trap card! Reverse Trap!"

(Reverse Trap – Type/Trap/Normal.

Until the End Phase, all effects that add or subtract ATK or DEF are reversed. (Additions now subtract, and subtractions now add, instead. Multiplications and divisions, including halving/doubling, are not affected.)

"But then that means!" Chumley exclaimed.

"Steamroid gains five hundred instead and takes out your Afterlife!" Syrus said, smirking.

Steamroid – ATK/1300 → 1800 + 500 → 2300

With a blast of smoke from its stack, the Afterlife monster was blasted into the graveyard and Jinzo lost even more Life points.

Jinzo: 600/Syrus: 7200

Jinzo added a card to his hand through Afterlife's effect, but he was very scared. His field was nearly clear of monsters or it soon would be with Ectoplasmer's effect. Looking at his hand, he came to a conclusion. He needed to summon himself!

"I play Double Summon. This spell allows me to summon a second time this turn and I'll sacrifice my Malice Doll to play...JINZO!"

That made everyone's eyes go wide. The card materialized onto the field, the monster cackling.

"Finally! I'm here among the living. I use my Emergency provisions to get rid of my Ectoplasmer and regain a thousand points."

Jinzo: 1600/Syrus: 7200

"This is bad. With Jinzo on the field, none of Syrus' traps will work." Chumley said.

"Don't count him out yet Chumley. Jinzo is in the same boat. He must not have Amplifier yet." Banner said, watching the duel intently.

Jinzo ended his turn, Syrus drawing. Looking at the card he drew, Syrus smirked.

"You may have prevented me from using my traps, but I can still play spells. One spell in particular! Vechiroid Connection Zone!"

(Vechiroid Connection Zone – Type/Spell/Normal.

Fusion Summon 1 "Vehicroid" Fusion Monster from your Extra Deck, using monsters from your hand or field as Fusion Materials, and if you do, it cannot be destroyed by card effects, and its effects cannot be negated.)

"Not Power Bond?" Zane said to himself in shock.

"I fuse my Steamroid, Drillroid, Steathroid and finally Submarineroid! To fusion summon...Super Vechiroid – Power Fortress!"

(Super Vechiroid – Power Fortress – LV/*********, Attribute/EARTH, ATK/3900, DEF/3000, Type/Fusion/Machine/Effect.

"Steamroid" + "Submarineroid" + "Drillroid" + "Stealthroid"

Once per turn, you increase this card's ATK by 500 times the number of 'Roid' Monsters in your card graveyard. This card cannot attack directly if you use this effect. Each time this Monster destroys a monster, Special Summon 1 'POWroid Token' (LV/*, Attribute/EARTH, ATK/500, DEF/500, Type/Machine) in Attack Mode. This card cannot be targeted for an attack so long as 1 'POWroid Token' is on the field.)

The four monsters took to the skies, each one changing; Drillroid became a pair of legs with spikes, Submarineroid became a pair of arms, Steamroid a head. Stealth roid changed and combined with the extra parts floating around to become a torso. Each part combined into another, Banner smiling, Chumley laughing and Zane staring and wide eyed at the sight of the massive stared at Jinzo who was now very afraid.

"Whatever deal you had with Torey...it's done right here and now! I activate Power Fortress' effect! He gains five hundred attack points multiplied by the number of Roid monsters in my grave. I have Patroid, Gyroid, Steamroid, Drillroid, Submarineroid, and Stealthroid! That's six monsters!"

Power Fortress – ATK/3900 → 6900

"N-no! And with myself on the field, my own traps are useless!"

"That's right! Power, end this duel! Mecha Rampage!"

Power Fortress roared, charging forward with its fists flying, the hands coated in vibrant energy. Jinzo took each blow, screaming in pain and agony before he blew up.

Jinzo: 0/Syrus: 7200

The electrical energy around them became a massive ball of light that was rapidly expanding. Everyone covered their faces as the light consumed them. When the light cleared, everyone saw that the sun was shining and birds were singing. Zane looked around in shock.

"How?" Zane asked.

"Either we went through a temporary time warp or the darkness was a result of Jinzo's summoning. Defeating him closed the gate from the realm he escaped from." Banner explained.

Syrus pointed out the three members of the Para-dueling club, all three of them snoring away. Chumley asked if they would remember anything. Syrus shook his head.

"Might not. And even if they do, we'll just tell them it was a nightmare that they once told us." Syrus explained, his duel disk shutting down.

"Agreed. After all, their spirits must be weary." Banner said, laughing.

Everyone groaned at the poor joke.

"Oh come on, that was a good one..."

EODGX

Mainland – Unknown location

Jaden rode an elevator up to a penthouse location, his eyes closed. He was mentally reviewing all that he knew so far and summarizing it to give to the parents. The elevator came to a stop and he opened his eyes. The doors opened to reveal a long table, several people seated at it. Many of them were talking in hushed tones. The boy walked in, clearing his throat. The hushed talking stopped and the people all turned to him.

"Mister Yuki." They all said as one.

"Everyone." Jaden said. "I have a latest report on my job."

Jaden told the assembled that his investigation of the missing students had yielded much, but for every question answered, another two took its place. The dorm was once called the Millennium dorm, a place to study the ancient form and origin of the Duel Monsters card game. That had many of the assembled ask what that meant.

"Maximilian Pegasus discovered ancient stone tablets that had many images depicted on it." Jaden explained, a holographic image of a stone tablet showing up with several pieces of Exodia on it.

That made many nod their heads, recalling how the game started years ago.

Jaden explained that this was the evil of men's hearts trapped by mystic means. The dorm was made to either create or re-create items of similar power. The problem was that for magic like this, it required a cost. For the Ancients five thousand years ago, it was a village soaked in evil. The magic used took the bodies of the students.

"They were trying to remake the Millennium Items, most famous was the Puzzle worn around Yugi Muto's neck during his career." Jaden said, the image becoming the King of Games.

"Is there any way to get them back?" A father asked, doubt in his voice, but didn't deny that there was something else at work.

"At this current time? No. Until I find out the EXACT conditions the ritual was used, I am sad to say that your children are still lost."

This led to many mutterings, mostly in anger. They blamed Kaiba but Jaden quickly put a stop to that.

"HOWEVER!"

Everyone of them looked up to see a recording of the meeting. They were stunned that Kaiba had no idea of the shady dorm or that someone had deliberately not told him. Jaden told them that Kaiba was now keeping an even closer eye on the school and has given him special access to the missing students files. He couldn't access them prior to the meeting due to outside circumstances, namely due to time. The clearance didn't come until the day before the break.

"Mister Yuki, you have given us quite an update. I thank you for all this information." A female voice came.

Jaden thanked them and turned to go. He needed to go see a certain card maker about the support cards for the three on the island...and to see how the next part of the Wicked series was going.

Okay, lots of stuff happening here! I wanted Syrus to come out on his own as a duelist, but since the Paradox bros duel didn't happen, I figured, why not make him the star for Jinzo? Now, I am currently finishing up the next chapter, but as a rule for myself, I always get a headstart on the chapter after that. With my wrist the way it is, this will take time. I know this is a great work, and believe me, I've seen every review and hear your joy in each part. I try not to let outside things control my writing, but sadly, shit happens.

All I ask from you, my dear readers, is patient. If you don't get an update for a month, assume that I got injured again. If you don't hear from me for two years...assume I'm dead. I hope to live a long and fruitful life though! Next chapter has the three girls meet with Jaden over their shared past.

Please read and review.