Hey, what is up everyone! I figured since today is my 28th birthday, I'd upload the start of the Seven Shadow Riders arc. Now, for some Review Answers.
Chaos Chap64 - So glad you liked DIMA and I'm extremely happy you're loving the remake. There's gonna be a lot of filler from now until the end though, mostly addressing issues that were found in canon.
Hellsink Bathhall - Is that the new effect for Necrovalley, because I was using the Pre-Errata effect. The wording of the Pre-Errata is very different from the new effect.
DZ2 - No, the Seal arc is over and done with. The Tomb though is what I was foreshadowing about for the Sequel.
Guest - You'll have to wait and see. As for the harem, sorry, no one else is being added, Yubel, Jasmine, Mindy, Alexis, and Fonda are it.
With those out of the way, read on!
A single candle was lit in an unknown location in a dark, damp cave. Around the flickering light were seven figures, all staring at an eighth. They all varied from size and shape, some of the shadows also distinguishing between male and female. The cave they were in echoed with the eighth's voice.
"Our targets have been tested, our allies assembled. It is now time to bring this world into shadows and darkness just as foretold. Who shall be the first one? Who will invoke the ancient rites? Who will lead us into battle?" The voice asked, sounding tired.
No shadow spoke, each one looking at one another, speaking in hushed tones. One stood up, looking at the eighth.
"I will go, master."
The eighth shadow nodded.
"Very well Nightshroud. Go and bring us victory."
The shadow stepped near the candle, revealing him to be a boy of eighteen. He had brown hair that passed his shoulders. His outfit was a long black duster and on his face was a black mask with a single red gem in the forehead's center. Around his neck was a amulet piece. He smirked, showing off his duel disk.
"Do not worry, master. Duel Academy Centrals prize will soon be ours."
EODGX
A massive storm had overtaken the island in the nighttime. Many of the students were safely in their dorms, either asleep or up to study. But in the main building, Chancellor Sheppard was looking out the window. He was frowning.
There was something out there on the fringes of his duel senses. Whoever it was had an impressive duel aura, but it was twisted and dark. He kept his eyes on the sky, watching.
A flash of lightning and he saw it. A large pair of bat wings gliding through the air. He quickly turned to his phone, pushing a button on it. A few tense minutes went by, before his screen came on, revealing Seto Kaiba.
"Sheppard. What's the problem?" Kaiba asked.
"Sir, you wanted to be informed if and when they came...well...one of them is here."
Seto Kaiba's eyes widened in shock before narrowing in anger.
"Alright, assemble the ones you've selected. I'll be there in the morning. The storm is too risky to get through."
Sheppard nodded in understanding, stating that he'd get the group assembled. Hanging up, he looked out to the storm again, sighing.
"And so it begins...the war."
With that ominous message, Sheppard sat down, worrying what the morning would bring.
EODGX
Jaden was at his desk in the Blue Dorm, finishing out his homework and compiling another letter. His Duel Spirits all lounged around, taking in their native tongues. Suddenly, Jaden stopped in his writing, feeling something brush his mind. He got up, looking around. The rest all quieted down and did the same.
Jaden had seen his part of the amulet start to glow, no doubt an clear indicator that its twin was nearby. That could only mean one thing. The one that had defeated the Chief was here on the island. But there was something else he sensed.
He had sensed them stir. The Gods of the Twilight Realm, the Sacred Beast cards.
"Everyone...prepare for battles unlike the rest." Jaden said, his spirits nodding.
They'd be ready to aide their king.
EODGX
The next day broke clear and sunny. Everyone could sense something in the air though. It was a powerful sense of unease. But despite the current atmosphere, everyone went on with their day. Crowler, in his vain glory, tried to get the Slifers to trip up again, only for it to fail yet again. Even Chazz was disgusted at how his former head acted.
"Damn it Crowler, you're giving us duelists a bad name! In case you forgot, I'm a Slifer Red now." Chazz snarled.
Crowler looked like he was slapped, seething but unable to snap at Chazz. Suddenly, there was a ringing from the man's PDA. Picking it up, he answered it. He made some noises, nodding before gasping. He said his good-bye and looked at the students.
"Will Misters Princeton, Miss Rhodes and Yuki please come with me to the Chancellor's office?"
The three stood up, looking at each other. Jaden knew exactly what it was. The three were escorted through the halls, Chazz wondering if his little outburst got him in trouble. Alexis pointed out that if that was the case, why were she and Jaden called?
The boy had no answer for that. They were soon met with Professor Jason, Bastion, and Zane. The three said their hellos and entered in. Sheppard looked up from his conversation with Seto Kaiba, smiling sadly.
"Thank you all for coming. Now, Professor Crowler, please return to your lesson."
Crowler nodded stiffly, walking back, the door closing behind him. Jason looked at the assembled and Seto Kaiba.
"Alright, what's going on here, John? It must be big for our founder to be here." The young professor said, crossing his arms.
Kaiba nodded, launching into an explanation of why the school was really made for. Over ten years ago, Pegasus had discovered an unknown tomb with the help of a former aide of his. Inside the tomb were three tablets made of stone in writing never before seen. They excavated the tablets, Pegasus creating cards of them. After the cards were made, terrible things began to happen. The aide that was with him? He had come down with an illness and died, but Pegasus had remained unharmed. The people who worked on the card began to go insane, tearing at their flesh, stating that they were unworthy. A few of his more greedy workers tried to use the cards for their own gain.
"Only they were ripped apart by something...unnatural." Kaiba said, looking a little green.
Sheppard took over, telling them that they were called the Sacred Beast cards. The three were in the same class as the Egyptian Gods monster cards and the Wicked God monster cards. That made all save one gasp.
"There's more to it then just that, everyone." Jaden said, crossing his arms.
He told the tale of the Supreme King, a warrior of a bygone age when the Spirit world and the Real world once had means to travel between them. The Beasts were both guardians of the Spirit Realm and of the King, much like the Wicked Gods. They maintained the various webways that the spirits used to come to Earth. But then the War with the Light Of Ruin happened and the Seal of Orichalcos arrived on Earth, an ancient tool of the Light. The Webways were destroyed to prevent a two-prong war, but the Beasts left behind stone tablets to have a way back when the war was over. Sadly, the only one who could use the ruined webways died of heartbreak and after sealing the Light away for a time.
"The Supreme King?" Bastion asked.
Jaden nodded. They only obeyed the King and no one else.
"Anyone who tried to use their power...well, you saw the results. In the wrong hands, these cards have the power to tear this world asunder." Jaden said.
Sheppard looked a tad surprised, but Seto Kaiba didn't. He nodded, saying that the legend had some truth to it. Fearing what would happen if someone strong enough but not the King got a hold of the cards, Pegasus contacted him when Central was undergoing work. He had listened to what had happened and agreed to hide the cards here under the school.
"Thanks to Yugi's and Marik's knowledge of Egyptian seals, we crafted a means to lock away the cards until the right owner came. But it seems that someone Pegasus was afraid of also knows of the cards location."
Jason got it right away and scowled.
"Not to question you, Mister Kaiba, but other then myself, Zane, and Jaden, the rest are still just kids. They've come a long way, but this? This is big." Jason said, crossing his arms.
John nodded, but said that there was no time to find the King of Games to aide them. Kaiba nodded in agreement, stating that Yugi had gone to ground just a few months ago. His last message to everyone was to make themselves scarce from an avatar of Light, whatever that meant. Alarm crossed Jaden's face as did Yubel upon hearing that. That was not a good sign. They filed it away in the back of their heads, listening to Kaiba as he brought out a case.
"Inside this case contains the seven spirit keys with the Seals written on them. Yugi did mention another way to revive the Beasts, but..." Kaiba hesitated, blushing a bit. "I don't recall what it was. I...was distracted."
Jaden groaned, rolling his eyes.
"Hot date huh?"
All that did was make Kaiba blush even more. Jason stepped up, taking one of the keys.
"Hey, I'll do whatever I can to protect the school and its kids. Sides, I need to dust off my old deck anyways. Hellfire is itching to be used again."
Emboldened by their Professor, the rest joined. Jaden, Zane, Bastion, Alexis, Chazz each took a key. Bastion seemed to be doing some math and gasped.
"There are only six of us; myself, Jaden, Zane, Alexis, Chazz, and Professor Jason. Who will guard the seventh key?"
Here, Kaiba smirked.
"Easy. Me." The man said, taking the last key.
Jason and Jaden nodded in approval, stating that if they lost all but one key, Kaiba could hold his ground. But that wasn't going to happen. They weren't pushovers. Sheppard told them that the only way for the locks to be unlocked was to win the keys in duels. By having the keys, they were targets. Kaiba nodded, stating that their enemies had knock-off Millennium items, but that didn't mean they were no less dangerous.
"Be on your guard." Kaiba warned. "The first of our enemy's duelists named the Shadow Riders arrived last night in the storm."
Everyone nodded at that. Sheppard dismissed the students and professor, looking at Kaiba.
"Are you sure this is the right course?"
Kaiba shook his head.
"No, it isn't right to put those kids in harm's way, but we don't have any other choice. Both Wheelers, Yugi, Devlin, and other allies Yugi made have gone to ground to avoid this Agent, whoever they are."
Sheppard nodded. He didn't like it, but for the good of the world, it was a needed evil.
EODGX
The night came to the island. Jaden was currently checking over his decks, frowning hard. Yubel appeared next to him, frowning.
"Judai, Yugi's warning."
"I know. The Light of Destruction. It can only be it. No doubt Yugi wants his family and friends out of sight so that it doesn't corrupt them. If it gets any one of his or God forbid, Kaiba..."
Yubel nodded gravely. It would be the war all over again, but this time the Light would win. Kaiba couldn't go off and hide like Yugi could. He had a company to run after all. He put the finishing touches on his deck, sighing.
"This won't be easy...but I have to use my Evil Heroes even more now. Sorry everyone, but with so much riding, I cannot afford a slip up. The rest of your decks are good, but I feel we're being watched."
The rest of the spirits all nodded, understanding what Jaden was saying. The Evil Heroes deck was the only deck that could adapt to any and all situations. Theirs was too rigid and inflexible, leaving them open to an exploit if the Shadow Riders found it. Once again, his amulet began to glow. Jaden looked down, then outside his window. He felt the duel aura and then saw the lights.
"Here we go..." Jaden said, grabbing his Evil Heroes and disk.
EODGX
Jaden looked around when the light faded, seeing himself on a energy platform. The King looked around, taking in his surroundings. One thing he noticed was that it was hot, VERY hot. He looked down, sneering.
"Molten Lava...Kaiba, you dumbass, this Volcano is fucking active!" Jaden snarled.
Cruel laughter erupted all around him and several geysers erupted all around him. Jaden turned around to see a shadow in one of the geysers, stepping out. He wore a mask and black clothing, the second part of the amulet around his neck. The figure saw the second part and smirked.
"So you beat the Chief. Old fool must be slipping to let you have that amulet. Name's Nightshroud." Nightshroud cackled.
"Jaden Yuki." Jaden said, raising his duel disk. "I know why you're here...for my key to the Beasts and for my soul. Sorry, but I intend to keep both."
The disk came online, Nightshroud's doing the same.
"LET'S DUEL!"
Nightshroud: 8000/Jaden: 8000
"I'll start off if you don't mind. I play my Troop Dragon in defense mode, following that up with Dragon's gunfire, dealing you eight hundred points of damage."
The tiny dragon that had appeared shot off a small fireball, crashing into the King. He hissed in annoyance, watching his life points fall.
Night: 8000/Jaden: 7200
"First blood is mine and I'll end my turn with a facedown."
Jaden drew his card. Adding it to his hand, he chose another.
"I summon the Evil Hero Talon in attack mode!"
The twisted version of Avian rose up, roaring in delight. Jaden smirked, pointing at the Troop Dragon. The King told Nightshroud that he knew of Troop's effect and had a means to get around it. He revealed a spell card, an H with a fire around it.
"H-Heated Heart! This spell not only increases Talon's power, but allows him the ability to deal pierce damage too!"
Nightshroud grunted in shock at that. Talon became enveloped by a blazing aura, roaring in delight.
Evil Hero Talon – ATK/1500 → 2000
Jaden ordered Talon to attack, the monster all too happy to oblige. He charged the defenseless dragon, easily ripping it to shreds. Nightshroud roared in pain, the power of Heated striking at him.
Nightshroud: 6800/Jaden: 7200
Talon – ATK/2000 → 1500
A second dragon appeared in attack mode, but Nightshroud was panting hard. The flawless comeback of the boy before him had made him think this was no rookie duelist. He watched as the golden eyed teen placed three cards facedown, ending his turn. Nightshroud began his, drawing. He then activated Call of the Haunted, bringing back his one troop dragon.
"But they're not sticking around, I tribute both of my dragons. Arise, Red-Eyes Black Dragon!"
The lava below erupted, a massive black dragon appearing. It roared in fury, Talon glaring back up at it. Jaden grimaced, seeing the famous dragon thanks to Joey Wheeler. Nightshroud laughed, holding up a single card.
"I have no doubt you have some nasty traps waiting for me, but I have a means to attack you without waging a battle! I play Inferno Fire Blast! This spell inflicts damage to you equal to my Red Eyes attack!"
A ball of red fire erupted from the Dragon's mouth, soaring past Talon and striking Jaden. The boy roared in rage, feeling his life points plummet.
Nightshroud: 6800/Jaden: 4800
Nightshroud laughed in glee, seeing the boy barely standing.
"Another hit like that and you're done, Keykeeper! I'll play one card facedown and end."
EODGX
At the docks, Zane and Alexis were standing. They had discussed deck ideas to help them combat the Shadow Riders. Zane had suggested some new Cyber Angel cards that had come out and Alexis had heard rumblings of a new Cyber Dragon series in the latest packs. Alexis suddenly felt a sharp pain in her chest, grabbing it and gasping. Zane heard her and looked over in alarm.
"Alexis?" He asked, watching the girl steady herself.
"J-Jaden...somehow...he's in trouble." Alexis muttered.
Zane then noticed that his key was shivering, turning to the belching volcano.
EODGX
Professor Jason was currently looking over his old deck from his pro days. He picked up a single card, smiling in affection. The smile turned to a frown, looking down at his spirit key.
"Oh no...someone is dueling." He said, gathering up the rest of his deck and hurrying out. He saw Bastion running out of the nearby computer lab, his face of shock.
"Your key-?" The Genius began to which Jason nodded.
"Yeah. Come on!"
EODGX
In the Slifer Dorms, Chazz was trying to get some sleep, only to see Ojama Yellow in front of his face. Annoyed, he demanded to know what the spirit was doing. Yellow replied that he was trying to dance in tune with the Key. That made Chazz suddenly sit up, looking down in shock.
"How'd I not notice that?" The newly made Slifer asked.
He got up and quickly got dressed. Whatever was going on, it was big.
EODGX
Jaden panted, drawing his card. He looked at the drawn card and smirked.
"I play, Dark Fusion! I merge my Spark and Clayman together! Hero of Lightning and Hero of Earth, merge together for power unbound! I fusion summon Evil Hero Lightning Golem!"
The twisted hero arrived, snarling. Nightshroud glared, seeing that both monsters were equal in attack power and pointed this out. Jaden shook his head.
"Never estimate my Evil Heroes, Nightshroud. Golem here can destroy a monster, no matter the attack points!"
To prove his king's point, Lightning unleashed an orb of black lightning, making the Red-Eyes monster scream in agony, turning into dust. Nightshroud gasped, knowing that he was now wide open.
"Talon, you're up first!"
Talon rushed forward, striking at the Rider. Nightshroud roared in pain, clutching his arm where Talon raked his claws over him.
Nightshroud: 5300
"Golem, you're up next!"
The twisted hero roared, slamming his fist into the Rider, lightning arcing all over his body. Golem kept it to a light tingle, but it still left its mark on Nightshroud.
Nightshroud: 2900/Jaden 4800
"T-that's all for now." Jaden panted, the heat starting to sap at his concentration.
Nightshroud panted as well, but from all the attacks he had endured. He drew, looking at the card. He smirked, revealing his facedown.
"Behold, Red-Eyes Spirit! Now I return my Red-Eyes Black Dragon!"
The ferocious dragon returned, roaring. Jaden grunted, not wanting to get hit again by that spell. Nightshroud seemed to read his thoughts, the masked teen laughing.
"Don't worry, I don't have another Inferno Fire Blast. But what I do have is just as deadly! I tribute my Red-Eyes and bring forth...RED EYES DARKNESS DRAGON!"
The lava below exploded, a massive fiery form rising. Jaden watched as the black dragon rose, screeching a war cry. The King glared, daring Nightshroud. The Rider explained that for each and every Dragon in the grave, Darkness gained two hundred additional points.
Darkness Dragon – ATK/2400 + 900 (3 Dragons) → 3300
"Next up, I play Dragon Shrine."
(Dragon Shrine – Type/Spell/Normal.
Send 1 Dragon monster from your Deck to the GY, then, if that monster in your GY is a Dragon Normal Monster, you can send 1 more Dragon monster from your Deck to the GY. You can only activate 1 "Dragon Shrine" per turn.)
Nightshroud explained that this spell allowed him to discard a dragon monster from his deck to the grave. He revealed Meteor Dragon, placing it in his grave slot. Then since it was a normal monster, he could discard again. He revealed Attachment Dragon, sending it to the grave. The Darkness Dragon grew ever stronger.
Darkness Dragon – ATK/3300 + 600 (2 Dragons)3900
"Now, your golem is the more serious threat, so my Darkness Dragon attacks!"
The metal and jeweled dragon roared, taking aim at Lightning. Jaden was not going to wait around. He pressed a button, activating two of his facedowns.
"I play Mask Change and DNA Transplant! First up is DNA which allows me to change the attributes of our monsters. I pick sturdy Earth!"
Nightshroud merely raised an eyebrow at that.
"What good was that move for?"
Jaden explained that his Mask Corruption spell allowed him to fusion summon without fusion materials. He was sending Evil Hero Golem to the grave and playing-
"Wicked Hero Sloth in Defense mode!"
The massive monster appeared, yawning. Nightshroud snarled, turning to look at Talon.
"While I can't get at your Golem now, I'll take out your feathered friend there!"
The fire tore through the field, barreling down on Talon. But Jaden wasn't done yet.
"I reveal my final facedown, Rising Energy! By discarding a card, I can increase Talon's attack power by fifteen hundred!"
Jaden discarded a card from his hand, a massive aura springing up around Talon.
Talon – ATK/1500 → 3000
"Yes, he's still destroyed, but I reduce the damage I would have taken." Jaden said, watching as his Evil hero be consumed in fire and shadow.
Jaden: 3900
Nightshroud gritted his teeth, watching the boy sway some. He ended his turn, mocking Jaden.
"I have to admit, you're putting up a good fight, but its all for nothing. My dragon gets stronger with each dragon and your lone monster has no attack points, making it useless."
Jaden merely glared, drawing his card. A glow came from his grave and he smirked. He explained that he had discarded Evil Hero Shadowlurk and now its ability was coming into play.
"I can summon one Evil Hero monster from my deck no matter its level. Sadly, I can only use this effect once per duel and Shadowlurk is banished afterwards. But now, I summoned Evil Hero Malicious Edge in attack mode!"
The spiked monster rose up, bowing to Jaden. Nightshroud laughed, pointing out its attack power was too weak. Jaden merely smirked. He played an equip spell card, Sinister Knives.
(Sinister Knives – Type/Spell/Equip. This card can only be equipped to a Fiend-Type monster. The equipped monster gains 500 ATK. If the equipped monster would attack a defense position monster, inflict damage equal to the difference between the attacking monster's ATK and the defending monsters DEF.)
Malicious Edge – ATK/2600 → 3100
Jaden explained that Edge had the ability to deal pierce so the second effect of Sinister Knives was moot. All this did was make Nightshroud laugh even more.
"That's still too weak for you! Face it, Keykeeper, you lost!"
"No, you are the one that lost. Wicked Hero Sloth! Attack his Darkness Dragon!"
Nightshroud looked at the boy like he had grown a second head, only to cry out in shock as Sloth moved a hand up into the air and brought it slamming down on Darkness Dragon. The dragon went flying into the wall, crashing into it and leaving behind an imprint, its eyes bugged out like a cartoon's before it exploded.
Nightshroud: 2800
"W-what?!" Nightshroud gasped out. "How did you destroy my Dragon!? Your sloth was in defense mode!"
"Unless it had an ability that allowed it to attack while in defense mode, Rider. And now, you're wide open. Malicious Edge! Attack him directly!"
Nightshroud realized too little, too late he was completely open and unable to stop the attack. The monster charged forward, delivering one hell of a haymaker to the stomach. Given the nature of the game, Edge made sure it was just his fist and not his spikes that struck. Nightshroud coughed and gagged, landing on his knees, holding his punched stomach.
Nightshroud: 0/Jaden: 3900
Jaden fell to the ground, the heat finally sapping what little strength he had left. The last thing he saw before blacking out was a ring of fire around both him and Nightshroud.
EODGX
The chosen keepers all gathered at the volcano, looking around. Kaiba had joined them after he got a message from Chazz about the keys shaking. Worried that one of theirs had been attacked, he joined in the search. Bastion spotted a bright light and pointed it out. They all raced toward it, Alexis speeding up when she saw the still body of Jaden.
"JADEN!" She cried out.
She reached him and knelt down, noting that he had several scratches and minor burns on his skin. She quickly grabbed his arm and pressed two fingers. The rest joined her, Kaiba looking grim.
"Is he-?" Chazz asked, afraid of the answer.
"No, no, he's fine...pulse is strong. He's just passed out." Alexis said, relief flooding through her. "But he is extremely warm. Not sick, but like he just got out of a furnace."
Kaiba looked up at the volcano, frowning.
"Or a lava pool." He said, making them all look up.
Zane noticed the other body, believed it to be the shadow rider and hurried over, kneeling down. He spied a card, picked it up and pocketed it. Returning his attention the rider, Zane turned the body over, rousing the body for a brief moment.
"Z-z-zane..." The figure said, passing out again.
Zane gave out a startled gasp. He knew this boy! Zane quickly picked him up and brought him over to the rest.
"Mister Kaiba!" Zane called out. "It's Atticus Rhodes, one of the missing students!"
That made both Alexis and Kaiba snap their heads up. Worried over Jaden now turned to worry over her brother, now crying openly. The rest watched, the sun now rising. Chazz looked down at Jaden as Bastion and Professor Jason picked the slumbering boy up.
"If this is what happens when you win a shadow game..." Chazz muttered.
"Then what happens if you lose?" Professor Jason finished, holding Jaden.
No one had an answer, but they did know one thing. The light may be here now, but the shadows would soon return.
Wowza! Talk about intense! As you all seen, I've replaced Crowler with Kaiba and Banner with Professor Sweet. Furthermore, I'm not gonna have Jaden be the ONLY one that carries everyone. The others WILL actually protect their keys in a duel, with some exceptions later on.
So Atticus has been found...but more trouble is ahead, both from the Shadow Riders and others. What does this mean? It means Central is about to get a whole lot crazier! Leave a review!