Hey all. Sorry for taking so long. Like with the last chapter, this one was a pain to make the duel flow right. I mean come on, All titan did was rely on one monster. So I had to make some heavy adjustments to the duel. I hope you all are doing alright where protests are happening and keeping safe when violence erupts.
The days passed on the island, everyone now on high alert again. The Shadow Rider's return made everyone antsy. But that was not all that had happened. Earlier, Atticus Rhodes, Alexis's brother, suffered a relapse and was forced to be confined to his bed in the hospital once more. When said sister found out, she spent her entire day sitting at his side, only getting up for meals and restroom breaks. Her closest friends, the key keepers and her boyfriend all stopped in to check in on her, and in Jaden's case, stayed for an hour before Kaiba pulled him away for something. She looked down at the sleeping boy, sighing.
"Atticus...what I wouldn't give to have you restored both in body and soul. Jaden and the others have made it berable but still, seeing you here...like this. It still pains me."
Alexis thought back to the times when her older brother would teach her how to duel, always beating her, but then showing her what she did wrong. He told her that power wasn't everything in the game. She needed a reason to duel, a purpose. Then and only then would she become a great duelist. She smiled fondly on the memories, gasping when a flash of lightning came.
"Another storm...just like that night Jaden dueled." Alexis muttered, looking at her brother. "Get well soon, Atty."
"You miss him." A twisted and sinister voice spoke.
Alexis gasped in fright, looking around. She demanded to know who was there. The voice did not answer, but promised her that it would restore Atticus' memories, provided she dueled it.
"N-no! I refuse to duel you!" Alexis hissed out.
"Oh but my dear...you do not have a choice!"
The Obelisk Queen felt something invade her mind and then nothing. A black portal opened up and a large shadow appeared in it. Wrapping its arms around her, it began to retreat through the portal. At the very moment, Atticus snapped awake from the foul power. He sat up, reaching out.
"A-Alexis!" He weakly called out.
The portal closed, leaving the boy in the darkness.
EODGX
At the blue dorm, Jaden was resting after the intense few days. Suddenly, he heard Yubel and Winged Kuriboh talking. Sitting up, he looked at the two.
"Yubel, WK, what's going on?"
"Trouble, Judai. It's Asuka."
Jaden's eyes narrowed at that, getting out of the bed and getting dressed. One of the Ojamas flew in then.
"Ah, your majesty! Good, Lady Yubel and Sir Winged informed you?" Ojama Blue asked.
"Just that it was about Alexis."
Ojama Blue nodded, explaining that somehow she had just...disappeared. That made Jaden frown. Blue then said that Chazz was informing Jason and Kaiba to the entire thing. They were to meet at the Central school right away.
EODGX
Everyone met just outside the hospital wing, Jason and Kaiba already there. When the group joined, they stopped.
"Any sign of her?" Chazz demanded.
Both men shook their heads, earning groans.
"It's like she vanished."
"That's not Alexis' style at all. She'd warn someone, Mindy, Jasmine even. But to vanish on her own?" Jason said, crossing his arms. "Makes no sense."
Chazz headed for the hospital wing door, stating that maybe Atticus knew. Upon being opened, he let out a gasp. Charging in, the group saw that Atticus had fallen from his bed. Zane quickly helped him up, the rest kneeling down.
"Atticus, what happened?" Zane demanded.
"T-t-..."
"Give him time..." Jason whispered, seeing the frantic and panicked look.
"Titan!"
The name echoed in Jaden's head, his golden eyes widening. Jason and Kaiba's did as well. They both knew the name well. Chazz looked confused while Bastion grit his teeth.
"Who or what is Titan?" Chazz asked.
Bastion quickly explained, making Chazz yelp in surprise. He had heard of the event but passed it off as just gossip! Now the madman behind that fiasco was back! Jaden got up, scowling.
"Only one place they're at. The Abandoned Dorm."
EODGX
When Alexis awoke from whatever had put her under, she saw herself in a VERY familiar place. She shuddered, recalling the feeling of multiple hands groping her. The cries of her friends and Headmistress. Shaking off the bad memories, she glared at Titan for who else could it be?
"I don't take kindly to being kidnapped again, Titan." She snarled, readying her disk. "Last time, you had help...this time, you're all alone and I'm in the mood for some payback!"
"Indeed? Well, I hope you can back up those words, Miss. I am not the same Titan from before...now...I have the powers of the Shadow Realm at my beck and call!"
Alexis grimaced. If Titan had been enhanced, this was going to be difficult. Not impossible, but difficult especially if he changed up his deck from the last time. Both drew their opening hands and with a cry of 'duel', the match began.
Alexis: 8000/Titan: 8000
"I'll begin." Titan said, his blazer sliding a card out.
He added the card to his hand and then summoned out a monster.
"I summon Archfiend Servant in defense mode."
(Archfiend Servant – LV/***, Attribute/DARK, ATK/1500, DEF/1500, Type/Fiend/Effect.
When this card is destroyed as a result of battle, add 1 "Archifiend" from your deck to your hand.)
A small fiendish looking skeleton appeared, kneeling down and crossing its arms. Playing a facedown, Titan ended his turn. Alexis drew, looking at the new series she had gotten in the recent packs.
"I play Cyber Archangel Val in attack mode!"
(Cyber Archangel Val – LV/******, Attribute/LIGHT, ATK/2100, DEF/2000, Type/Warrior/Effect.
If you control no monsters and your opponent controls a monster, you can Spiecal Summon this card (from your hand). When this card attacks and destroys a defense position monster, inflict the difference as damage. When this card destroys a monster by battle, you can add 1 "Archangel" card from your deck to your hand.)
Val was a large angel with two wings, a energy sword and shield in hand. Alexis was about to attack, but then noticed Titan's facedown. She chose another card of hers, revealing it to be Mystical Space Typhoon. Titan growled, his facedown being destroyed. Alexis followed that up with summoning another Cyber Archangel called Gale.
(Cyber Archangel Gale - /****, Attribute/LIGHT, ATK/1900, DEF/1500, Type/Warrior/Flavor Text.
One of six Generals in the Celestial Army, Gale commands the forces of the Wind and Frost.)
Gale was a female angel, holding a single wing. She drew a sword that was coated in ice and a mini-tornado. Now that the card was gone, Alexis was free to strike.
"Val, attack his Servant!"
The mighty Archangel charged, easily slicing through the servant. Alexis told Titan that he would take the difference in damage between the attacking monster's attack points and his monster's defense points.
Titan: 7400
Titan added a card to his hand as did Alexis, stating both of their effects. Then she had Gale attack Titan directly. He countered that by discarding a Kuriboh card making her scowl. Placing two cards facedown, she ended her turn.
Titan began his own and drew. Seeing it was the one card he needed, he smirked.
"I start by playing my Ritual of the Matador, sending my Summoned Skull to the grave. Behold...my Archfiend Matador!"
A man wearing a large winged corpse of a fiend appeared, glaring at Alexis. She glared right back frowning. A monster with no attack points? It must have one powerful effect. Titan followed that up by playing Dark Arena.
"I know what the card does, it allows us to pick our attack targets." Alexis said, cutting off Titan.
The man nodded, summoning out another Fiend called Picador Fiend. Ending his turn, Alexis took over.
Around that time, the rest of the group came in, Atticus slung across Jaden's and Zane's shoulders. Alexis looked up to see her brother and gasped. The boy was looking right at her! He was awake! Fueled with new determination, Alexis drew. She looked at the card but frowned.
It was Polymerization and with her Reinforcements of the Army, she'd easily gain her Etolie. But the problem was Dark Arena. Titan had played the card for a reason and she had a feeling that the Matador Archfiend was key to it all. If that was the case, she needed to play this smart. She started by attacking with her Tutu, her target the Archfiend Matador.
Titan just smirked. A beam of rainbow colored light erupted from the chest of the Matador and destroyed Tutu. Alexis gasped, covering her face.
"Matador has a powerful effect. It's immortal, allows me to negate any battle damage I would take and then destroy the attacking monster. A foolish move by you!"
"Just testing out the waters. I play my Cyber Gymnast in defense."
Titan drew his card, adding it to his hand. He had his Picador attack Alexis directly. That made many wonder how that happened. Jaden shook his head, stating that it was Dark Arena. As long as it was in play, Picador could attack directly.
Alexis: 6400
The Queen of blue hissed, covering her face from the dust that was blown up. That hiss soon became a cry when she felt something squeeze her ass. Titan, hearing the cry, smirked.
"I see you have reacquainted yourself with some old friends of yours." Titan said, barely holding in his sinister chuckle.
Alexis looked over and saw a shadow...but it felt familiar. Eyes widening, she realized it was one of the twenty boys who had molested her, Jasmine, Mindy, and Miss Fontaine. Memories of that night came flooding back and her breathing quickened, eyes darting around in fear. Jaden caught the terrified expression and scowled at what Titan was doing.
"Alexis! Don't give into the fear! You are stronger then Titan even knows! Remember what and who you fight for!"
Hearing her boyfriend's words, she looked up at him. Seeing his golden eyes and her brother, she stood firm. Titan frowned, glaring at the group.
"This is a private matter." Titan snarled, calling upon the power of the Shadows.
A large wall of darkness rose up and consumed the two. The walls blocked the view of the two duelists from the rest. Jaden seethed but could do nothing.
In the dome of darkness, Titan had placed a card facedown and ended his turn. Alexis shrugged off her molester, drawing her card. She saw it was Pot of Greed and used it. She drew two cards, seeing one was the one she had needed.
"I play Polyemerization and fuse my Etolie Cyber with my Cyber Blader to make my Cyber Skater! Thanks to you having two monsters in play, her attack power is doubled.
Cyber Skater – ATK/2100 → 4200
"Shame my Dark Arena makes her useless."
Alexis grit her teeth, playing another card facedown. She ended her turn making Titan go. He grabbed a card from his blazer before playing a spell card.
"I play Fiendish Gambit."
(Fiendish Gambit – Type/Spell/Normal.
You can only play this if there is 1 Fiend-Type Monster in play. Double the attack of 1 Fiend-Type on the field. Destroy it at the End Phase of the turn.)
"I'll double the power of my Picador Fiend and then have him attack you directly!"
Picador Fiend – ATK/1600 → 3200
Alexis braced herself when the lance shot out its green beam. It washed over her and sapped away more of her strength.
Alexis: 3200
More shadows rose up, starting to poke and prod her breasts. She gasped, trying and failing to avoid them. Titan laughed, watching her squirm. He told her that everything she did was futile; her dueling, her life, even her ideals. They were worthless, just like her. She was nothing but a toy now. Alexis wilted under the attacks. Titan had some sliver of truth; every time she tried to get above, she was cut down. Her brother, she was helpless to help, Jaden...why did he continue to date her when he had Fonda, the most sought after woman in the school? Her friends...why did they stick by her when she had once been so strong and proud?
More and more shadows rose up, closing in on her. She felt the phantom hands and shivered. Was this all she was good for now? A plaything for perverted men?
"That's not you and you know it, Asuka!" Yubel snarled.
The sound of the Duel spirit made Alexis look up. Yubel spoke to her, saying that she had come a long way from what happened that night. Yes, she had doubts and fears, but that was normal. That was her being human. She had several loved ones who had helped her; Judai/Jaden, Junko/Jasmine, Momoe/Mindy, Emi/Fonda, Hibiki, Sheppard...the Study Group. She never gave up when they were around and right now, Jaden was right outside with her brother.
"The same brother that you fought long and hard to find and bring home...are you going to REALLY just lay down like a dog or are you gonna get up and FIGHT?!"
Alexis recalled who it was that got her into dueling; it wasn't Jaden, it wasn't her friends...it was her brother, Atticus. He had taught her all in the inner workings of the game, even help making the deck she used today. That memory stirred the fighting spirit within her. She got to her feet, shrugging off the pawing hands and glaring at Titan.
"I'm not giving up! You and your goons don't scare me! Nor are they allowed to touch me! Only one man has earned that right and neither of you are him!" Alexis declared, making the shadows slink back. "End your turn, Titan! This duel is on!"
Titan growled, wondering where the fight had come from. He played another spell card, Card of Sanctity and had the two of them get a new hand. Titan followed that up with Card Destruction. Throwing out their hands, they drew again. Alexis frowned; Titan was searching for something.
"Excellent! I play my own copy of Polymerization! I'll use it to fuse my Picador Fiend with my Ultimate Obedient Fiend! Arise...Archfiend Baron Terror!"
(Archfiend Baron Terror – LV/**********, Attribute/DARK, ATK/4000, DEF/4000. Type/Fiend/Fusion/Effect.
1 "Archfiend" monster + 1 Level 8 or higher Fiend-Type Monster
Must be Fusion Summoned. Once per turn, you can select 1 "Archfiend" Monster in your GY. Special Summon it to the Field in Attack mode. It cannot attack and loses 1000 ATK. When there are 2 or more "Archfiends" in play, this card gains the following effect:
Decrease the ATK of all monsters (excluding DARK and/or "Archfiend" monsters) by 1500.)
The monster was a tall being, dressed in dapper clothing but holding a wicked looking sword. Titan laughed, stating that thanks to his Picador Fiend being gone, Fiendish Gambit destroying it was obsolete. He placed a card facedown and then used his Baron Terror's effect. He brought back from his Graveyard his Summoned Skull monster. Alexis smirked at that, but that smirk quickly died when he summoned another monster. Without the third monster, Cyber Skater's effect was no longer in play. Titan then played Tribute to the Doomed, destroying her Skater.
"I'll end my turn at that. Soon you will be lost to the shadows and in the mists of lust."
"You wish!" Alexis snarled.
But as she looked down at her deck, she hesitated. Could she do it? Skater was one of her more powerful and versatile monsters. None of the others could come close and then there was the Baron's effect.
It's hopeless... Alexis thought in despair.
"Alexis!"
Hearing her name, she looked up and to the wall of darkness. Beyond the veil, Jaden and Atticus were standing.
"Don't give in! We're here for you! You fight for what you love! I taught you to duel with a purpose! Well, you got it Sis! You have a purpose and that's to make your older bro-bro proud!" Atticus shouted into the darkness.
"Titan is nothing but words! He has no power to back up his claims! You can win this! He only fights for himself, but you...you fought for your brother and still are! But now...can you fight for me? Fight for the school, Fight for the world? Show Titan that no matter how deep the darkness gets, a single grain of light can illuminate it!"
The rest of the group all took up the call. Each one told Alexis that she could do it, she was the strongest person they knew. Kaiba nodded, stating that she had overcome great odds to be here, even greater odds to prove that she could duel with the best. Jason stated that he never knew someone with such passion for dueling and love for her friends.
Bastion and Chazz stated that they were glad to know her, for she helped them when they struggled in the study group. Zane said he would have never lightened up if he had never met her.
Alexis's eyes went wide at the heartfelt words. Brimming with tears, she gave a watery smile.
"Everyone...thank you."
The top of her deck began to glow then. Now determined to win, she readied her disk.
"Come on Titan...let's DANCE! I DRAW!"
The single glowing card became brighter and its glow blinded Titan. When the glow died down, Alexis looked at the card and gasped.
"N-no way...how?" She whispered in shock.
Shaking it off, she grabbed the card. It didn't matter to her, what mattered was that she play it! She had the requirements anyways thanks to Titan. She held the single card aloft.
"It all ends here, Titan! I play...Cyber Princess Asuka!"
The reaction she got was one of shocked disbelief from Jaden, Yubel, and Titan. Jaden and Yubel wondered how the past life of Alexis was here in card form while Titan demanded to know where she got that card.
(Cyber Princess Asuka – LV/*******, Attribute/LIGHT, ATK/2800, DEF/2000, Type/Warrior/Effect.
Cannot be Normal Summoned/Set. Can only be Special Summoned if "Cyber Tutu", "Cyber Prima", and "Cyber Skater" are in the GY. This card gains the following effects based on how many monsters your opponent controls (If multiple, all effects are applied).
1+: This card cannot be destroyed by card effects.
2+: The Original ATK of this card is doubled until the End Phase.
3+: Once per turn, Draw 1 card.
4+: This card can attack Twice during each Battle Phase.
5: Negate the effects of all cards in play. (Excluding this one.)
Cyber Princess Asuka looked exactly like Alexis, only she was wearing a gown that was silver and held a blade in her hand. She glared at Titan, raising her arm. The Baron took away her power, but it was still stronger.
Alexis explained that thanks to him using Card Destruction last round, Tutu and Prima were both in the grave when he destroyed his Skater. That was the only way she could be summoned when Tutu, Prima, and Skater were in the grave. Titan grimaced before stating that she was weaker.
"Not exactly. You see, Asuka gains effects based on how many monsters you have. Since you have four right at the moment, her original attack power is doubled until my end phase."
CP Asuka – ATK/2800 x 2 → 5600 – 1500 → 4100
"I'll also use her third effect. This allows me to draw a single card." Alexis said, drawing.
Seeing the card, she frowned. It was the Shallow Coffin. Similar to the Shallow Grave, only it allowed her to summon the monster in face-up attack then face-down defense. But it would allow Titan to do the same.
"Oh come on, modern me." A voice said in her head.
Gasping, Alexis looked up to see her past self looking back at her with an impish smile.
"That is EXACTLY what we need. Read my fifth effect."
Alexis checked it. Her eyes went wide only to narrow in glee. This WAS what she needed! She revealed the spell card to Titan.
(The Shallow Coffin – Type/Spell/Normal.
Each player targets 1 monster in their own GY; each player Special Summons the target from their GY in face-up Attack Position.)
Alexis chose her Cyber Prima and summoned it. Titan chose his Picador Fiend, summoning it as well. Smirking, Alexis sprang her trap. She ordered Asuka to launch an attack on Matador Fiend. Hearing that, Titan just began to laugh.
"I don't even need to use my Dark Arena! You have sent your Ace monster to her doom."
All Alexis did was smile. The Fiend got ready to rebuff the attack, but it noticed something. There was a crack in its armor. Asuka smirked, driving her blade into the crack and out through the back of Matador Fiend. Titan's eyes went wide behind his mask. What happened?! His monster couldn't be destroyed! There was a arrow of light and Titan gasped, clutching his side.
Titan: 1800
"W-WHAT?! HOW?!"
"That's easy, Titan. My Cyber Princess Asuka has FIVE effects and one allows her to negate all card effects in play other then herself. Since your Baron's effect was temporarily negated, she gained back that fifteen hundred."
Titan scowled, clenching his fist. Wait...five effects?! Alexis saw the look of dawning horror and nodded. She said that another effect of hers was to attack twice during the battle phase.
"Attack his Picador Fiend!"
The monster nodded, charging at him. Titan moved to activate his facedown, only to freeze. The Trap was only good if Matador Archfiend was in play and it no longer was! Same with his other trap. He was helpless to stop the attack that struck Picador.
Titan: 0
"You lose Titan. You tried to drag me down...to make me doubt myself. But you failed. Go back to the darkness whence you came."
Alexis watched as several gray globs of goo rose up from the stones, surrounding Titan. The man panicked, calling out to be saved. Sadly, no one moved to aid him. He was consumed by them, leaving only behind his mask. Alexis picked it up and walked to the group. Without a word, they all left.
EODGX
Once the group was outside, they saw that the sun was just started to rise. A few feet away, Alexis and Atticus were standing, both not believing that the other was there. Finally, Alexis broke down and hugged her brother, tears freely falling.
"I thought..."
"I know, Lex...I know. Thank you so much for never giving up."
The two pulled away, but kept in arms length.
"There's so much to ask though..."
Atticus nodded, frowning hard. He and several other students were called to the Millennium Dorm, the dorm behind them. They had thought it was just a duel test, but when they got to the basement, they were ambushed by the same things that attacked Titan. Many of them put up a fight but...they were soon taken. He was the last one. For what felt like months he was their prisoner until Nightshourd happened.
"Then...came that duel. Never thought the Supreme King of the Ring would be here."
Jaden explained that several parents had hired him to investigate and right now, he was the only clue. Here, Atticus frowned.
"I can't be that much help since the time I was in the Shadows is a blur. But...I can tell you who summoned us to the dorm."
The group got tense and asked who. One name shattered the still air and the thoughts of the gathered.
"Professor Lyman Banner."
Now things are getting hairy. Hoep you all enjoyed!