The Rising Darkness! Shadow Riders: Red-Eyed Masked Villain!
The following days, the Chancellor was getting more and more uneasy, each night he felt those eyes staring at him and getting more and more sinister, before one night he snapped awake, panting in fright, and dripping with sweat before his private line began to ring, He sighed out in relief as he picked the phone up.
"This is Sheppard." He answered, "It better be important for calling me this—"
"I know they are waking up." A distorted voice on the other end spoke, causing the Chancellor to gasp out in fear, "My three Beasts have awakened, after their long slumber. I'll be needing the Seven Keys, since I know you don't have any Champions."
Sheppard continue to gasp out breathless before he calmed down, "Sorry, Sir." He replied to the voice, "But I do have champions to defend the Keys. Those Monsters won't be released."
"Do you have enough Champions?" the voice asked, "To rival my Seven Shadow Champions?"
Sheppard sighed out, before several students popped in his head, "I have Seven Spirit Champions, myself and I believe one of them has the strength to defeat all Seven of your Champions."
"Don't be cocky, Sheppard!" the voice roared, "They will fail like before!" after that the line cut off. Sheppard sighed out as he looked back to the volcano, "Who am I going to tell this dark news to?" he asked himself.
The next school day, during Study Hall, everyone was busy doing some class work, except for two students; Chazz and Draco. Chazz explained to the Red Students he waited for the construction of his "room" to be during the school hours, so no one would be disturbed during the night, which many of them thanked him and he was keeping in touch with the construction team. As for Draco, he was looking through a scroll he asked Kroluhaal to get and began to look through it, as he saw an image of the necklace he was giving from Imhotep, and began to read about it, before its history got his attention as it mentions the Millennium Items.
"Why are you looking through that roll of toilet—"
"Insult this scroll Chazz, and see what I can do with my bare hands." Draco growled, getting Chazz lean back in fear, and Ojama Yellow shivering on his shoulder.
"Oh, man. He can be scary can he, Boss?" Yellow asked Chazz.
"Yeah no kidding." He replied, "Why are you looking through that thing anyways?"
"I'm curious as well."
They both looked behind Draco as Alexis approached them and sat next to Draco, "What are you looking at?" she asked.
"Well, I asked Kroluhaal to get this scroll from their library to learn more about this Shadow Pendant." Draco Explained.
"Shadow Pendant?" Alexis asked, "Yeah, right here." Draco replied, pointed to the image, "And there is a lot more about it."
"Like what?" Chazz asked.
"Well, to start the Shadow Charms as they are called are like a weaker version of the Millennium Items." Draco said, "The scroll here says, when the Millennium Items were created and were removed from the Millennium Sarcophagus the Items leaked some of their magic and that's how the Shadow Charms were 'born'."
Chazz looked at Alexis as she looked at him, both of them intrigued by the history, "So what Item brought the Shadow Charm out?" Chazz asked.
"Well let's see." Draco replied, "It says the Shadow Charm Pendant is the child of the Millennium Puzzle, Shadow Charm Eyepatch is the Child of the Millennium Eye, Shadow Charm Gauntlet is the child of the Millennium Rod, Shadow Charm Mask is the child of the Millennium Key, Shadow Charm Choker and the Shadow Charm Circlet are the children of the Millennium Necklace, Shadow Charm Emerald Tablet is the child of the Millennium Scales, and the Shadow Charm Ring is the child of the Millennium Ring."
"So, do they act like the Millennium Items?" Alexis asked, "To begin a Shadow Game?"
"Hmm, it says they can, and more." Draco stated still reading the scroll, "It seems it can trap people in light orbs, sacrifice audience or viewers of the duel, protect others from each other, and even create dueling stages."
"So, why not try to find them and use them?" Chazz asked.
"Chazz, do you know how many people lost their souls from the Items only?" Draco asked, "If you don't restraint yourself, you'll lose your own mind from power drunkenness."
Alexis looked slightly worried as she looked at the half of the Pendant, "I know what you're thinking Alexis." Draco said, "And no it won't drive me to use it. I have my own Spirit Powers which counter balance the Shadow Charms."
"Spirit Power?" Chazz slightly asked, in a mocking tone, "What Spirit Powers?"
Draco and Alexis looked around to make sure no one was looking at them, once they knew they weren't being watch, Draco held up his right hand before it burst with White and Black Flames, making Chazz's mouth to drop and Ojama Yellow's eyes to bulge.
"I have this." Draco said, as he extinguished the flames off his hand, "You're the Dragon Prince?!" Yellow yelled on top of his lungs.
"The what?!" Chazz added, "You heard about me, Yellow?" Draco asked the Ojama.
"Only rumors!" Yellow exclaimed, "I have heard for years, that the Queen of dragons vanished for the Spirit World with her mate, but word was going around a few years ago, that they had a child and was proving to be a fit ruler over all dragon kind."
"Well, I don't know about that." Draco replied, "I'm just trying to get through school like anyone else."
The Academy speakers chimed off, Draco looked up as the chime ended, "Would the following Staff members and Students, please report to the Chancellor's Office? Dr. Vellian Crowler, Professor Lyman Banner, Mrs. Mai Wheeler, Alexis Rhodes, Bastion Misawa, Chazz Princeton, Draco Kaitos, Mana Ishtar, Syrus Truesdale and Zane Truesdale, report to the Chancellor's Office."
Draco, Alexis, and Chazz looked at each other before they all got up and began to walk to the Chancellor's Office, meeting up with the others and they walked into the Office, when the door closed Sheppard sighed out.
"Thank you all for coming."
"Are we in trouble in anyway?" Syrus asked, as he shook.
"Sy, if we were in trouble, then why would the Chancellor call in the teachers as well?" Draco asked.
"To set you at ease, young Syrus." Sheppard spoke up, "You are not in any form of trouble."
Syrus sighed out in relief and chuckled sheepishly, "So, Chancellor? Why are we here?" Draco asked.
Sheppard stood up and walked to the window, "I'm sure you noticed something sinister with the island's volcano?" he asked.
"Well, I have noticed it's been more active." Draco stated.
"Is it going to erupt?" Alexis asked, "No, it's far worse." Sheppard replied.
"What can be worse than that?" Chazz asked. Sheppard sighed out as he turned and face them, "Under this Academy are three cards. Three extremely powerful and dangerous cards." He said.
"How dangerous?" Mai asked.
"We are talking about all life destroyed not just for our world but for the Spirit World as well." Sheppard replied.
"So, who sealed these so-called dangerous cards?" Zane asked, quite skeptical.
"If I had to guess." Draco butted in, "I think it is someone the Chancellor knows."
"You are more right, than you know it." Sheppard replied, "The one who called me, was the Chairman, Kagemaru."
Everyone in the room gasped out, except for Crowler as his mouth just dropped open, "He called me and said it was time for the Sacred Beasts to be released." Sheppard stated.
"Hold on!" Draco snapped, "He sealed them up, and now he's saying he wants them out?!"
"He does, but it won't be easy." Sheppard said, as he returned to his desk and typed on his computer and a projector screen came down and an image of seven yellow stone obelisks around a dried-out circle, "You see those pillars?" he asked them, everyone nods, "That's where the Sacred Beasts are sealed. Those pillars are Spirit Locks. They each need a key to open the Spirit Vault."
"And the keys are where?" Mai asked. Sheppard opened a drawer and pulled an old box out, placing it on top of his desk. Sheppard them opened the box, revealing what seemed to ancient jig-saw puzzle, the etching looked like three stone tables each one having a creature craved into them. Sheppard lifts a golden chain that lift one piece off and showed it to be a strange shape key.
"These are the Seven Spirit Keys." He said, "Kagemaru said his Seven Shadow Riders will come to take these Keys."
"That's why you called us?" Bastion asked, "You need seven of us to guard a Key?"
"That's correct." Sheppard replied, "The reason is, the one that does touch the Keys will be bind to them until they are defeated in a duel."
"So, we imprint on them?" Draco asked, getting everyone to look at him, "The hell did you just say?" Zane snapped, "I said imprint, dumbass." Draco snapped back, "Think for once, it's like when a reptile hatches, the first thing it sees, it believes it to be its mother. That's imprinting!"
"Alright you two, knock it off!" Mai snapped at the students.
"Draco is right, in a sense." Sheppard stated, "Whoever touches the keys. Some of their energy will coat the Key binding it to that person."
"So, the only way for the Shadow Riders to take it from us is in a duel?" Mana asked, to clear things up.
"Wait, like a Shadow Game?" Draco slightly gasped out, catching the eyes of Mai and Sheppard, "Isn't that dangerous? We can lose our mind, body, or soul!"
"I know everyone has heard of the Shadow Games of ancient Egypt," Sheppard stated, "but how is it you know of the dangers?"
Draco looked slightly shocked, as Sophitia appeared and sighed out, "That one is on you for spilling the beans, Young Lord." She said.
"I know the dangers, because the duel I had with that Titan fellow made it a Shadow Game." Draco explained, "but the truth is, I know about the dangers because I was taught about them by my parents."
"Sorry to say, Hun." Mai spoke up, "But you can count me out."
"And what is your reason, Mrs. Wheeler?" Crowler asked.
"I had experience with a Shadow Game once." Mai explained, "And to be honest once is enough."
"When did you have a Shadow Game?" Banner asked her.
"During the Battle City Finals." Mai replied, "Against Marik, he made it in a way that each monster you lost, you lose the memory of someone you know, and not just the memory; if they spoke out, you couldn't even see them."
"Well, I understand your reasoning, Mrs. Wheeler." Sheppard told her, "I only called you in, because I know of your dueling skills."
Everyone stood still, thinking about the whole thing. Syrus shivering like crazy, until an arm reached out and took hold of the Key that Sheppard was holding by the chain, giving a slight glow.
"Standing around thinking about, isn't going to stop these Shadow Riders." Draco stated, "If they want to destroy two worlds, then I'm going to stand in their way."
Sheppard looked shocked at Draco's words, before fingerless glove reached out and took a Key, giving off a glow as well. Draco gasped seeing the black fading to white metal band with a ruby and sapphire on top.
"If you think I'm going to let you do it alone," Alexis told him, "you are mistaken, I'm not going to sit in the back while you do all the work."
Draco's face changed to a pleasant smile, before a black sleeved arm took key, "Chazz? You as well?" Draco asked.
"The way I have been acting you and the others," he stated, "I can't help but feel this is a way to redeem myself."
Bastion then walked up, taking the fourth Key, "And with my thinking I could find out the weakness to the Riders' decks and formulate a deck to stop it." He said with a smile.
"Why did I think you were going to say that?" Draco asked, chuckling.
Mana then took one Key, as did Zane. The last Key sat in the box, as Syrus shivered, Sheppard looked at the young boy, "Syrus. I can tell you don't know what to do." He told Syrus.
"W-well it's j-just this is re-really big!" he stuttered.
"Well, I did call you up since your skills has improved over the year you have been here." Sheppard explained.
Draco then placed a hand on Syrus' shoulder, getting him to look up, "If you do pick the Key up Sy, there is no turning back." Draco told him, "but if you choose to not to pick it up, we won't think any less of you."
"Speak for yourself." Zane snapped, causing Draco to growl and glare at him, "The fuck is wrong with you?!" he demanded.
"This whole thing is shit." Zane spat out, "There are no cards that can destroy the world."
"Are you kidding me?!" Draco roared, "You do realize that almost happened when Pegasus made the God Cards! One of his staff finished a picture that had Obelisk the Tormentor's stone carving in his Dark Room before Obelisk appeared before him and his entire house was whipped off the face of the earth!"
"Didn't something happen to someone else similar to that?" Alexis asked.
"Yeah it did." Draco stated, "To someone working in a skyscraper on the top floor, looking at the craving of Slifer the Sky Dragon before he too appeared and crushed the top floor and ten floors below him!"
"Please." Zane mocked, "If all that happened, why didn't anything happen to Pegasus?"
"Because unlike the other two, the Winged Dragon of Ra gave Pegasus a vision of the future if he didn't return them to their tombs!" Draco snarled, "Honestly, you know that the God Cards have a selected chosen few who can control them!"
"I suppose the next thing you are going to say something stupid like, 'He was destined to release but not to control them.' Save that shit for someone who cares." Zane again mocked, as he began to leave the room.
"Just like how you're destined for second place?" Draco asked Zane, which made him stop dead in his tracks and glare over to him.
"The fuck did you say?!" Zane demanded.
"That's why you are doing this." Draco stated, "You don't believe the world will end if the Shadow Riders win, all you heard was seven challenging duelists are their way here, and you plan on defeating more than me, to prove that you were 'always better' then me."
"I am better than you!" Zane snapped, "And this is just the proof I need to show you, Slacker! I'll start by defeating the first Shadow Rider!" Zane then left the room, not giving a second look. Syrus looked at the last Key and slowly reached for it, visibly sweating before light pink laced blue sleeve reached out and took the Key out, getting everyone to look in shock.
"Crowler?" Draco asked in shock, "You took the Key?!"
"I may not believe in what was said, but as a teacher, it is our responsibility to make sure all of our students are safe." He replied, "Syrus, when you first came to the Academy, I did see you as a waste of space here in the Academy. But, over the course of the year, I have seen you improve, not just in class, but with duels as well. That I no longer saw a frighten Slifer Slacker, but future Obelisk."
"And you just felt that Syrus shouldn't have to do this?" Draco asked, rising a brow.
"Well, it was clear that all this information has the boy terrified." Crowler replied.
"I was going to take the Key to prove to Zane I'm not a coward." Syrus stated, "That I am brave."
"You did that by showing up to this little secret meeting." Bastion stated, "Plus it was quite clear you didn't want to do."
"And like I said, it's not going to change how we think of you, little buddy." Draco told him and gave Syrus a buddy head rub.
"Alright, just keep those with you at all times and if you have duel, make sure you do not have them, they'll still react if you lose." Sheppard warned them. They all gave head nod, and left the room, going back to their business. Meanwhile, in an unknown location, eight shadowy figures sat around an ancient stone table with the Three Sacred Beast stone tablets carved into it.
"So, that fat bastard wasn't lying." A distorted voice spoke, "All Seven Spirit Keys are on the move."
"Well, it would seem he has picked weaklings to face us." A strong woman voice spoke up.
"He was being cocky." The Distorted voice stated, "saying he had one that could beat all of you."
"Ha! I highly doubt that." A man spoke up, "He thinks one puny human can take me and my gang out?"
"Or my vonderful creatures of ze night?" another woman spoke, speaking in an old-style classy kind of way.
"I will send each of you one at a time." The distorted voice hissed, "Which one will go first?!"
"I will." A younger male spoke, "I know those grounds better than anyone of you, plus I know how their ranks go. I can go after their weak Key Holders first."
"Very well, go then and don't fail."
The young man gave an evil smirk before he enveloped in darkness and vanished from the table, "I couldn't help but notice, we are down by three Riders." the strong woman spoke up.
"We are not." The distorted voice remarked, "We have one hidden among the Key Barrers, another is currently flowing through time to join us and the final one, is going through his transformation to use the powers of the Shadow Riders."
Back at the Academy, Draco looked at the Key, before tucking it under his shirt to keep it hidden, as did everyone in the group, the bell did ring off for the next class and Crowler surprised the group again, by letting them take a free period to ready themselves for the upcoming duels. Instead they took the time to think about how the enemy would strike.
"Alright so, how would they come after us?" Chazz asked.
"Well, if the leader of the Shadow Riders is the Chairman." Draco theorized, "Then he'll no doubt send his goons to attack those in Slifer Red."
"And what makes you say that?" Chazz remarked.
"Well, if Draco is right on what the Chancellor said," Bastion stated, "then he'll know the ranking system and will go after, Draco, Mana, or you Chazz."
"What?!" Chazz slightly yelled out, "Why are you placing me with—" Chazz stopped as he then looked at Mana and Draco. Mana was already shooting a very hatful glare, as Draco stared with a raised brow, giving a "Really?" message, "Oh right, I'm in Slifer. Sorry still keep forgetting about that."
"Ok, so if anything, the three of us need to be on guard." Draco told them, "You think until we are ready, we should just hang around each other?" Mana asked, "Because, I don't think they would be dumb enough to try and duel three on one."
"That is a good point," Draco stated, "However, I also don't think they'll attack us in broad daylight."
"Yeah, that would be a dumb move for them to make." Chazz remarked.
"In any case, we should still be careful." Alexis told them, "Who knows what dirty trick they will use to either get the key or force us in a duel."
They all agreed and spent the rest of the day doing their own thing. Hours passed, to the point even the after-school programs ended, and the students left the main building heading back to their dorm. Draco was among them, spending the time to learn the origin of the Spirit Keys, but couldn't find anything on them.
"I hope the Dragon Guards will have better luck, trying to find out where these came from than I did." He thought to himself, looking at the key as he held it in his hand.
"Draco!"
Draco lift his head as he heard his name being called out and looked behind him, seeing Mindy and Jasmine running up to him, "Hey you two." He replied with a smile, "I haven't seen you girls since we got back from winter break."
"Yeah, we were busy with our own thing." Mindy replied, "But we heard that you, Alexis, Mana, Bastion, and Syrus got called to the Chancellor's Office."
"You guys didn't get into trouble, did you?" Jasmine asked, "No we weren't in trouble." Draco replied, "The Chancellor just wanted to see us and a few others to see if we wanted to take part in a little assignment."
"Does it have to do with that broken necklace or that weird puzzle piece?" Mindy asked.
"It has to do with the puzzle piece." Draco replied, "As for the necklace, I found it at the ruins."
"The ruins near the center of the island?!" Mindy asked, "Students aren't allowed to go there without permission."
"You remember that bonus question on Professor Banner's quiz?" he asked them, getting a nod, "That was the prize, he took those who answered it to the ruins."
"Oh man, now I really wished we answered it correctly." Jasmine whined, "Who knows what we could have find."
"The professor said my find of this necklace, even half broke, was a lucky find." Draco stated.
Unknown to them, a figure watched from the distance and gave a sinister grin seeing the Key around Draco's neck, "Well, how lucky am I?" he asked himself, "A Key Bearer and two souls to increase my power." The figure's Shadow Charm began to glow as he began to chuckled evilly, however as his Charm began to glow, so did Draco's.
"Hey, Draco. Is that normal?" Mindy, seeing his Pendant glowing, Draco looked down seeing it as well, "First time I have seen it do that." Draco admitted, before they each gasped or yelled being enveloped by the light and vanished from the spot they stood. Over in the Blue Girl Dorm, Alexis suddenly felt a chill, as she stopped brushing out her hair and sighed out, getting the attention of some friends.
"Something wrong, Alexis?" Sophitia asked, "You look like as if a ghost just went through you." Suraasven added.
"I…I don't know." She replied, "I just feel like something bad happened to someone I know."
The Royal Guard and the Wind Princess looked at each other before looking back at Alexis, "What does your gut tell you?" Sophitia asked.
Alexis thought for a moment, "I think someone is about to be in a very dangerous duel." She told them, before Drake suddenly appeared causing Alexis to scream slightly and cover herself as she was only in her bra and panties.
"Drake!" Sophitia growled standing between them, "You dare just pop up in a girl's room?!"
"Lord Draco just vanished!" he growled back, "The Sage wants all of us on alert to find him!"
Alexis' eyes slightly widen, "Y-you don't think it's the first Shadow Rider, do you?!" The three Guards looked at each other, now worried.
"If you were someone of darkness, where would you take someone to duel in secret." Suraasven asked.
"Not that Abandon Dorm, it's too obvious." Drake stated.
They all thought for a good few minutes before Alexis gasped out and looked out of her dorm window looking at the volcano. Meanwhile, Draco groaned softly as he sat up rubbing and shaking his head, "Well, that was trippy." He stated.
He stood up and looked around, being unfamiliar with his surrounding, "Ok, where the hell am I?"
"Draco!"
Again, Draco looked over and gasped out, seeing Jasmine and Mindy being held in a light sphere over a pool of lava, "What the hell?!" Draco yelled out, and began to run towards them.
"Draco, stop!" Mindy yelled out, as Draco looked down, seeing he was over the same pool of lava and was about to step off, before yelling out and swaying his body to make him fall on a platform, before panting out and noticing the platform was the same light as the orb Mindy and Jasmine were in.
"I was wondering when you were going to get up." A voice spoke up, Draco growled out looking over to the other side of the platform seeing a dark coat, dark pants and shoe figure, and a black mask with red eyes, but what really caught Draco's attention was the figure was wearing the other half of the Shadow Charm Pendant.
"Where the hell did you get that?!" Draco snarled out, "That's the other half of the Shadow Charm Pendant, I heard only one other had it."
"I've always had this." The figure said left the half up, "If someone had it before me, then that means I sent him to the Shadow Realm."
Draco narrowed his eyes, "Alright, I know what you want." He told the figure pulling the key out, "You want this don't you?!"
"And the other half of my Pendant." The figure spoke, waving his left arm out, disbanding the darkness around him, revealing a duel disk, nearly looking like a Red-Eyes Dragon as Draco growled and turned his duel disk on, "Let it be known, that your trip to the Shadow Realm was done by Night Shroud, the Lord and Master of Red-Eyes Black Dragon!"
Jasmine and Mindy looked on from their sphere, "What is he talking about? Shadow Realm?" Jasmine asked.
"And Shadow Charm?" Mindy added.
"You? Lord of and Master of Red-Eyes Black Dragon?" Draco mocked, "You're nothing but a false lord." That insult made Night Shroud grit his teeth and growled out as Mindy and Jasmine looked on in confusion.
"What did you just call me?!" Night Shroud hissed.
"I called you a 'False Lord', dumbass!" Draco hissed back, "My Father's title is 'Lord of the Red-Eyed Dragon'! Meaning he is the Lord of all Red-Eyes Dragons, Black, Darkness, Metal—it doesn't matter! If they are of Red-Eyes descendent they obey his will and mine!"
"And why would my servants obey you?!" Night Shroud asked, "Because I am Draco Kaitos, Prince of Dragons!" Draco roared in response and erupted with a swirl of his Flame surrounding and dancing off of his entire body.
"What the hell is that?!" Mindy gasped out, seeing Draco's flame.
"And did Draco call himself a prince?!" Jasmine added, which in turn made Draco look over to them, slightly confused, until he realized what he just did.
"Oh, fuck." He muttered, dropping out of his dueling stance, "It's a long story." He told them.
"Enough nonsense!" Night Shroud declared, "it's time for me to regain my Shadow Charm and send three souls to the Shadow Realm!"
"The only soul going there is yours!" Draco roared.
"DUEL!"
Draco Kaitos LP:4000
Night Shroud LP:4000
"I'll start the duel off!" Night Shroud yelled out, drawing his first card and giving a smirk, "Well, seems I'll be taking the lead at the very first turn."
Draco raises a brow, before Night Shroud added the card to his hand and picked another, "I summon Red-Eyes B. Chick, in attack mode!" (Yes, I'm aware the name of that card was changed to Black Dragon's Chick, but damn it, it's been that way for years, in the anime, and all of the Red-eyes support cards to this day still say "Except 'Red-Eyes B. Chick'.")
Appearing on Night Shroud's field was pure red egg, before it began to shake and crack and a small newborn Red-Eyes popped out of the egg, and roared out, puffing a small flame as it did.
Red-Eyes B. Chick
DARK Attribute Level 1
Dragon/Effect
ATK/800 : DEF/500
"Did you just, play a newborn in Attack Mode?" Draco asked, "Oh, but they grow up so fast. Wouldn't you say?!" Night Shroud asked mockingly, "I activate my Chick's Special Ability, by tributing it I can Special Summon Red-Eyes Black Dragon from my hand!"
The newborn suddenly began to rapidly grow, getting larger as Draco followed its growth, becoming a fully grown Red-Eyes Black Dragon, as it lets out its signature roar.
Red-Eyes B. Dragon
DARK Attribute Level 7
Dragon/Normal
ATK/2400 : DEF/2000
"So, how are you going to take the lead on the very first turn?" Draco asked Night Shroud, who then chuckled as he picked up the he just added to his hand, "I activate my Spell, Inferno Fire Blast! You'll take damage equal to my Red-Eyes Black Dragon!" he yelled out.
The fully grown dragon began to charge an attack, forming a large fireball in its mouth, "Oh, and by the way, the lower your Life Points drop, the closer they get to be submerged in the Shadow Lava." Night Shroud told Draco.
"Shadow Lava?" Draco asked, "Wait, you mean?!"
"That's right if you lose, they die with you!"
The dragon blast at Draco, being consumed by the attack, Mindy and Jasmine then screamed in fear as the sphere they were trapped in began to lower closer to the lava.
Draco's LP:4000-1600
"Now he'll be on his knees, questioning why the fire was real, and begin to beg me to end him!" Night Shroud thought as the smoke began to be wisp away from the wind blowing, he then gasped out, seeing Draco still standing, his eyes glowing as he glares at Night Shroud. Draco's left shoulder had a small flame burning his blazer before he reached up and put the flame out and then brushed off the soot.
"Really?!" Draco snarled out, "First off, you thought that would get me down on the ground?! My father hit me with much stronger attacks during my duel training!"
"What?!" Night Shroud yelled, "How?!"
"He used the Spell, Red-Eyes Fusion!" Draco replied, "He would summon his strongest Red-Eyes Fusion Monster that has 3500 Attack Points and blast me with Inferno Fire Blast!"
"Impossible!" Night Shroud, "That Spell only works for Red-Eyes Black Dragon!"
"The monster summoned by Red-Eyes Fusion has its name treated as Red-Eyes Black Dragon!" Draco roared back, "I've been hit by that 3500 Inferno Fire Blast, for years, your attack is nothing but friendly bro punch to me!"
Night Shroud growls, before laying one card down, "Alright, that's all!" he hissed.
Meanwhile on the path leading up to the volcano, Alexis panted out as she ran up with three Spirits following her.
"Are you sure he's up in that thing?" Drake asked her.
"It's the only place, I can think of for a Shadow Rider to duel someone without interruption!" she panted out.
"I think she's right." Suraasven spoke up, "If you were a Duelist wanting to destroy the world where would you take someone standing in your way?"
"I just hope we are not too late." Sophitia said, "If they are dueling and the Young Lord summons any of us, we'll just appear next to him, leave Alexis out here by herself."
They continued up the path, while Draco drew his first card, looking through his hand, thinking about what to play. Mindy and Jasmine held each other, understandable with their first time in a Shadow Duel.
"This is too freaky." Mindy whimpered out.
"I know, that guy in the mask says we'll die if Draco loses?" Jasmine stated, "This guy is crazy if he's thinking about killing people."
They then heard a questioning grunt or growl, they both gasps and looked up, seeing a small dragon, tilting its head at them. It then looked at Draco then at Night Shroud, letting out a small growl at the mask wearing man before the little dragon started to claw and bite at the Sphere the girls were in, while growling and grunting out.
"What is this thing doing?!" Jasmine asked.
"I don't know, but I think it's trying to get us out." Mindy replied.
The sphere began to crack, which Night Shroud looked over and growled softly, "You think you are so smart?!" He snarled as his right hand was engulfed with dark energy and blasted a stream at towards the sphere. Draco looked over seeing Sogaal trying to break the sphere open and the dark stream heading towards them. Draco raised his right arm, clutching his fist before a pillar of his Flame enveloped the dark energy, the sudden flames made the girls scream, but Sogaal ignored them and the flames and continued to break at the sphere.
"What the?!" Night Shroud growled, looking at Draco, "You made the finally mistake threating my friends, bastard!" Draco snarled back.
Mindy and Jasmine panted out, before a shattering of glass was heard, they looked up seeing the little dragon's head in with them as it let out a happy chirp, before growling out, making the hole bigger. Once she did, Sogaal hopped off and stood on the rocky path that was nowhere near the lava, and chirped out for the girls to follow her. Mindy was first, carefully climbing out and using the edge of the sphere to kick herself off and land on the path. Jasmine shakingly got out of the sphere and got herself in the position to jump, but as she did her foot slipped from under her, letting a startled scream seeing the blackness of the Shadow Lava, before shutting her eyes.
"J-Jasmine." Mindy stuttered out, getting her friend to open her eyes and realizes she didn't fall into the lava, and heard wings behind her. Looking back, she saw a green dragon holding with some sweat on her forehead.
"Well that was close one, wouldn't you say?" the Dragon asked her, before flying over to the path and placed her down, they heard other movement before two more dragons appeared, followed by Alexis, who looked shocked seeing them.
"Jasmine?! Mindy?! What are you two doing here?!" Alexis asked them.
"Us?! What about you?! And-and those things?!" Mindy asked back.
"How about a little respect for those that saved your lives?" Suraasven snapped, feeling insulted.
"Alright, if everything is out of the way!" Draco called out, "I'll start by summoning Suraasven, the Wind Dragon Princess in Attack Mode!"
"Oh, well as you humans would say, 'Time to duel!'." She said, before taking flight back to the platform, blasting some wind into Night Shroud, making him growl out.
Suraasven, the Wind Dragon Princess
WIND Attribute Level 4
Dragon/Effect
ATK/1500 : DEF/1200
"You really think that will help you?" Night Shroud mocked out.
"Oh, yeah laugh it up." Suraasven snapped, "The last guy who mocked me, got his ass kicked!"
"Because when she is summoned, she gets her sword! Blade of Piecing Wind!" Draco added, before his deck ejected one card. He pulled it out, as his duel disk reshuffled his deck and then he slid the card in the spell and trap section, then a maelstrom of wind blasted at the field before a unique sword appeared. Suraasven took hold of the sword and swung it gracefully and struck a pose.
Suraasven ATK/1500-2300
"And before you start to taunt me again." Draco told Night Shroud, "I'm not done, I now Special Summon Sophitia, the Royal Dragon Guard!"
The other Guard that was standing with Alexis, dashed out and leaped on the platform, next to Suraasven, wielding her Halberd-style battle axe.
Sophitia, the Royal Dragon Guard
FIRE Attribute Level 7
Dragon/Effect
ATK/2400 : DEF/1900
"And now I equip to my Royal Guard, Dragon Shield!" Draco yelled out, sliding the second spell down. Revealing a strange armor like metal, almost looking like a dragon before the metal parts separated and latched on to Sophitia, covering her back, shoulders and her lower arms, the Shield spread down her tail, and the final touch, she received a helmet, before the Shield begin to give a shimmering blue glow.
"Hmm, so what?" Night Shroud spoke up, "There seems to be no stat changes, which makes that spell useless."
"Sophitia! Attack Red-Eyes B. Dragon! Royal Crushing Strike!" Draco suddenly ordered; the Royal Guard roared out charging towards the Black Dragon much to everyone's surprised.
"What's the point?!" Night Shroud roared, "Sure I'll be defenseless, nut you will lose a strong monster as well!"
"That's where you are wrong." Draco said, as the two dragons clash, Sophitia taking the Inferno Fire Blast as she swung her Halberd separating the Black Dragon's head before it was destroyed, however once the smoked of their battle cleared, Sophitia was still on the field.
"What the?!" Night Shroud snarled.
"How is Draco's monster still on the field?" Mindy asked, "The rules state that monsters with the same Attack Points, they both go to the grave!"
"That's the best part of Dragon Shield." Draco replied, "The dragon equipped with it, can't be destroyed by battle or by card ability. The down side, She doesn't deal any battle damage."
The girls smiled at the smart play Draco had made, giving him the edge of the duel, before Alexis heard a happy chirp, she looked around before hearing the chirp again and then looked down seeing Sogaal smiling at her.
"Sogaal?" Alexis gasped.
"Huh?" Jasmine asked, before looking at the little dragon, happily smiling at Alexis, "Alexis, you know this little dragon?"
Mindy looks back, just as Sogaal jumps on to Alexis' shoulder and just smiles, "In a way, I do." She replies, "It's kind of a long story."
"Alright, time to put you down to my Life Point Level, Night Shroud!" Draco roared, Suraasven, Attack him directly! Razor Typhoon Slash!"
"With pleasure." She replied, taking flight into the air as a gale of wind began to surround her blade, swinging it as the gale became a raging typhoon, blasting it at Night Shroud as it engulfed him.
"Alright! Draco closed the gap between them!" Mindy cheered, "He can still win this!"
Night Shroud's LP:4000-5700
"Huh?" Draco slightly gasped, "Hey, hold on! How the hell did your Life Points go up?!"
Everyone gasped out, as Night Shroud chuckled to himself, as the dust settled, revealing the trap he laid out; Nutrient Z!
"Damn it!" Draco snarled, "That's how he increased his Life Points. That trap only works if he was going to take 2000 or more damage, doubling his Life Points to 8000 then he took the damage, making it 5700."
"Oh, man." Alexis muttered, "I never seen that trap use so effectively before."
"I lay one card down, ending my turn." Draco announced, Night Shroud grinned at the end of Draco's turn, "Well, time to step it up a notch." He said, "I activate Card of Sanctity! Now you draw your three cards, while I get a nearly a brand-new hand."
Draco growls, drawing three cards as the Shadow Rider draws four, "Ah, perfect." He stated, "I now use the Spell, Dragon Rebirth!"
"And just what the hell does that do?" Draco asked, "Quite simple, I can discard any number of Monster cards from my hand," Night Shroud explained, "And in return, I can Special Summon a Dragon Monster whose level equals the amount I sent!"
"Hold on, why would he use that card, if has monsters to summon?" Alexis asked.
"If I had to guess," Drack stated, "He has more than one Red-Eyes in his deck."
"So, he's using it to bring it out?!" Mindy asked.
"I'll send my Masked Dragon; a Level 3 and my Spear Dragon; a Level 4 to the grave." Night Shroud announced sending the two dragons to the grave.
"Figures you'll have more than one in your deck." Draco hissed, "What kind of Lord and Master of the Red-Eyes Dragon, only has one of his servants in his deck?" Night Shroud remarked as his second Dragon appears.
"But unfortunate for you, I win!" he hissed, before the eyes of his mask began to glow a sinister red and red marking began to appear from it and moving along his body, as did the same for the Red-Eyes he had on the field.
"Wh-what's going on?!" Jasmine asked out, seeing both the duelist and the dragon suddenly gets marks, Sogaal whimpered out as she lowers her head on Alexis' shoulder.
"Guys, whatever is happening isn't good." She stated, "Is it because of how that little dragon is acting?" Mindy asked.
"And it should be frightened!" Night Shroud hissed out, with a second voice, "For now I summon the one who gave me the power to rule over all Red-Eyes, including itself! I sacrifice my Red-Eyes Black Dragon to summon my ultimate servant! Arise Red-Eyes Darkness Dragon!"
The Black Dragon suddenly shattered, like as if it was a cocoon before two wings with similar markings shot out of the smoke from where the Black Dragon stood baring an octahedron on the main wing spread and fully emerged, with its own glowing red eyes, before roaring out.
Red-Eyes Darkness Dragon
DARK Attribute Level 9
Dragon/Effect
ATK/2400 : DEF/2000
"And now the best part!" Night Shroud snarled, "My dragon gains 300 extra Attack for each dragon in my Graveyard!"
ATK/2400-3900
"Well, that figures." Draco muttered.
"What?" the girls asked.
"The Red-Eyes have always wanted more power, and they would do anything to get it." Draco explained, "Even to trick others into thinking they have the power."
"So, are you saying it's not Night Shroud you are dueling?" Mindy asked.
"Nope." Draco replied looking up at the Darkness Dragon, "It's him."
"Did you not hear a single word I said?!" the Multi-voiced Night Shroud snarled, "I am the Lord and Master of the Red-Eyes!"
"Well then, why not attack?" Draco taunted, "If you are in control, then attack me."
"You'll like for me to attack you, don't you?" Night Shroud replied, "So that you can trigger that trap card?"
"Then you are just proving my point that you are being controlled." Draco stated, clearly pissing Night Shroud off, "Red-Eyes Darkness Dragon! Silence that fool! Darkness Inferno!"
The Darkness Dragon roared out as dark flames began to fill its mouth, "Destroy that damn Princess!" the dragon blasts out a stream of pure darkness fire towards Suraasven, before Draco began to chuckle.
"I don't think so." He said, "I activate Draining Shield!"
The one trap he had set, activated and absorbed the stream of dark fire, "I should thank you, because now we are back to square one." Draco mocked.
Draco's LP:1600-5500
"Anything else, Night Shroud or is that it?"
"That's all I have planned!" he hissed back, Draco smirked drawing his next card, looking through his hand, "I'll activate Pot of Greed!" Draco called out, drawing two cards, "Ok I'm playing it big here."
"What do you think Draco means by that?" Jasmine asked, looking at Alexis.
"If I know him, he might be trying to summon a strong card with a Special Ability." Alexis replied.
"But how will he do that?" Mindy asked, I mean the strongest he has is that Legendary Hero one, and it's 400 points weaker to that Dragon."
"I summon Rovit, the Dragon Guard Scout, in Attack Mode!" Draco announced, summoning one white dragon with a prosthetic arm, stretching out and grinning at the opponent.
Rovit, the Dragon Guard Scout
LIGHT Attribute Level 4
Dragon/Effect
ATK/1900 : DEF/1400
"About time I get to fight something!" Rovit shouted.
"Nice try, Rovit." Draco said, "I know you're still on probation."
"What?! Then why the hell did you summon me?!"
"To use your Special Ability." Draco announced and picked the top card off his deck and smiled as his eyes flashed, becoming slits, "I now Summon Zooruvhun, the Legendary Dragon Guard Hero!"
The summoning ruin circles appeared and shot the beam of light down to the field, as the Armored Dragon appeared and stood up and looked at the opponent, huffing out.
Zooruvhun, the Legendary Dragon Guard Hero
LIGHT Attribute Level 11
Dragon/Effect
ATK/3500 : DEF/2900
"What? How the hell did you summon a Level 11 Monster without sacrifice!?" Night Shroud snarled.
"That is the Scout's Ability, if my top card is a Monster, I can summon it." Draco told him, "But I'm not done, I now Special Summon Kinbok, Captain of the Dragon Guard!" The next Guard appeared holding up his Claymore, glaring at the Darkness Dragon.
Kinbok, Captain of the Dragon Guard
LIGHT Attribute Level 7
Dragon/Effect
ATK/2400 : DEF/2200
Suraasven ATK/2300-2800
Sophitia ATK/2400-2900
Rovit ATK/1900-2400
Zooruvhun ATK/3500-4000
"And the final card I'll activate is this Equip Spell, Blade of the Divine Dragon!" Draco roared out, he slammed the card under Zooruvhun as a beam of light shot in front of the Legendary Hero as the blade appeared was just as large as Kinbok's claymore, having a carving of an eight winged dragon at the hand guard circling a light blue gem, and encircled by gold extending to be a second guard around the hands, the blade was a dull silver with the middle being gold wit ha red metal going through the center with three light blue gems along the center. It embedded into the ground before Zooruvhun took hold of it and wield the blade with ease.
Zooruvhun ATK/4000-4800 : DEF/2900-3700
"This duel is over, Night Shroud." Draco growled, "Zooruvhun, attack! Divine Slash!"
Zooruvhun huffed out before spreading his wings and took flight as his new sword began to glow with golden light. He then narrowed his eyes before swinging his large blade, slicing the Darkness Dragon in half, then the two halves got enveloped in light and dissolved into nothing, causing Night Shroud to hiss out.
Night Shroud's LP:5700-4800
"Now, it's time for you to pay, Night Shroud!" Draco snarled, "Kinbok, attack!"
The Captain lunged forward rearing his claymore back, before Night Shroud began to laugh, "You fool." He said, "My spell Activates in the grave, Dragon Rebirth!"
"What?! How?!" Draco asked, "When you destroyed my Darkness Dragon." He replied, "I remove my spell card from the game and my Dragon is reborn, and the best part? You can't stop the attack you just ordered!"
The spell ejected from Night Shroud's Graveyard, before his Darkness Dragon returned to the field roared out in pure rage, "Now my servant, destroy that weak creature that dares calls himself a dragon!"
The Red-Eyes roared again, before blasting a stream of pure dark fire that engulfed Kinbok, before he evaporated before their eyes.
Draco's LP:5500-4000
Suraasven ATK/2800-2300
Sophitia ATK/2900-2400
Rovit ATK/2400-1900
Zooruvhun ATK/4800-4300
"Damn it! He destroyed Kinbok, and he did more damage to me!" Draco thought, "Worst of all, Rovit's in Attack Mode, and I don't have anything to stop the bastard."
"Hey, does this seem familiar to any of you guys?" Mindy asked.
"What do you mean?" Alexis asked.
"Well, it's just this seems an awful like how Bastion and Draco dueled." Mindy replied.
"Hey you're right." Jasmine stated, "They are outsmarting each other with each turn."
"However, the stakes are much higher." Alexis pointed out, "The loser is sent to the Shadow Realm."
"Now then." Night Shroud spoke, drawing his card, "Attack that white eyesore!"
"What did you call me, asshole?!" Rovit snarled.
"Alright, I'll simplify it since your kind are nothing but dumbasses." Night Shroud replied, "Devour that Half-breed!"
The Red-Eyes Darkness Dragon blasted another stream of dark fire, destroying the Scout as he grunts and growls out before he vanished from the field.
Draco's LP:4000-3000
"Now we are at where we should be." Night Shroud snarled, "You shall stay below me, as I prove I am the true Lord of the Red-Eyes!"
Draco growled softly, "You still don't get it, do you?" he asked, "You were never a Master of them."
"Said what you want." Night Shroud snarled, "I set this down and end my turn."
"You want me to say what I want?" Draco asked, placing his hand on his top card, "Alright. I'm ending this duel right now!" He roared drawing his card, he then burst into a pillar of his White and Black Flames, causing Mindy and Jasmine to slightly scream, Night Shroud looking surprised, and the Darkness Dragon actually looking scared. A white tail emerged from the pillar, followed by to white wings with black joints, shoulders, chest, wrists, sides of the head, and on the side of the thighs to the knees, the rest of the body was white, revealing that Draco had transformed.
"Wh-what the hell?!" Night Shroud gasped.
"I activate, the Equip Spell, Unleash Hidden Potential!" Draco roared, slamming the card down, right as Zooruvhun erupted with golden aura, "This card gives my Dragon Guard 100 extra Attack Points times his level, and Zooruvhun is a Level 11 Monster!"
Zooruvhun ATK/4300-5400
"You think that's enough to end this duel?!"
"I know it is. Zooruvhun, attack! Divine Legendary Slash!"
Once more the Legendary Hero took flight, before he somersaulted, swinging the Divine Blade, sending a vertical energy wave, slicing the Dragon in half, before it split and was consumed by a sphere of light and the sphere shrunk and disappeared taking the dragon with it.
Night Shroud LP:4800-3300
"Now, Suraasven, attack! Razor Typhoon Slash!" The Wind Princess flew out as her blade had wind swirling around her blade, glaring at the opponent.
"You never learn!" Night Shroud snarled evilly, "I activate my Trap, Red-Eyes Spirit to revive my Darkness Dragon once more!"
The Dragon returned and snarled out, as Suraasven gasped out, thinking she was now destroyed.
"Not this time, Night Shroud!" Draco snarled, grabbing the second card from his hand, "I activate the Quick-Play Spell, Dragon Guard Skill: Flaming Claw Strike! This card lets my strongest Dragon Guard destroy all of your Monsters that are weaker than him! I'm making sure that Dragon stays in the Grave this time!"
"WHAT?!" Night Shroud yelled, as Zooruvhun's left arm was engulfed with flames, as he then swung his arm, slashing at the Darkness Dragon and destroying it again, allowing the Wind Dragoness to swing her blade at Night Shroud, making him grunt out as the typhoon slashed away at his Life Points.
Night Shroud's LP:3300-1000
"Heh-heh, now you have nothing to harm me." He chuckled, "End your turn!"
"I said I'm ending this duel." Draco growled back, grabbing the last card in his hand, "I'm using Mystical Space Typhoon on Dragon Shield, allowing Sophitia to wipe the rest of your Life Points!"
The armor like shield on Sophitia shattered as she glared at Night Shroud, "End him! Royal Crushing Slash!"
The Royal Guard spun her weapon over her head as she charges out towards Night Shroud, and brought the large halberd down, slashing across his chest as he yelled out in defeat.
Night Shroud's LP:1000-0
"Night Shroud!" Draco snarled, as his right arm was engulfed with his flames as Night Shroud gasped out, looking at Draco, "For your crimes of plotting the destruction of two worlds, trying to usurp my Father's throne, but worst of all, threating the lives of my friends; I, Draco Kaitos, Prince of Dragons, hereby banish you, to the SHADOW REALM!" Draco roared out, pushing his right arm forward and blasting a vortex of his swirling flames towards Night Shroud, as he yells out in pure anguish before his screams died out, as did the vortex. The blast from Draco, pushed him out of his Duel Monster form, leaving him panting out.
The platform that they stood on began to vanish, Zooruvhun dashed out and grabbed the motionless Night Shroud as Sophitia grabbed Draco, both took flight and landed on the pathway as the platform vanished and the black lava returned to normal lava.
"Hey, how are those Monsters still here?" Jasmine asked, "The duel is over."
The Guards looked over themselves, seeing themselves still solid, "Hey she's right." Suraasven pointed out, "How is that possible?"
Zooruvhun looked over at Draco as he stood up, but still panted out, before huffing a grunt out and pointed the Blade of the Divine Dragon at Draco.
"You think it was from all that Spirit Energy, the Young Lord shot out?" Sophitia asked.
"Hmm." Zooruvhun grunted out, nodding his head.
The two Obelisks looked over at Alexis, who still seemed unfazed by all of this, "Alexis, how are you not freaking out about his?!" they asked her.
"Oh, she's been knowing about us." Suraasven chimed happily, followed by Sogaal letting out a small cute happy roar, hoping off of Alexis' shoulder.
"WHAT?!" they gasped out.
"Yeah." Alexis admitted, "I have for months."
"Since when did it all start?!" Mindy asked.
"And why didn't you tell us?!" Jasmine added.
"Because I asked her not to." Draco panted out, "The Dragon Guards and my title as Dragon Prince were a family secret. Alexis learned on Duel Spirit Day."
The two looked at him and Alexis, "It's not like I wanted to keep it a secret." Alexis told them, "But like you girls, I was shocked as well."
"Yeah it is quite a shock." Mindy admitted, "I mean if I learn that my boyfriend had a family secret and said no one was supposed to find out."
"Yeah, I can understand that." Jasmine added, "We don't hold it against you, Lex."
"Well, guess that means we don't have to be hiding from them anymore." Suraasven chimed, "Can't wait to tell Kulaas and Mindokah."
"Suraasven." Draco said, "Tonight is not the right time to—" he stopped mid-sentence before he groaned softly, falling forward, which Suraasven caught him and grunted out as she fell to the ground, sitting on her tail, "Damn it." She whined, "I'm sitting on my tail wrong."
"Zooruvhun, give me a hand here." Sophitia said, before looking back at the Legendary Hero looking over Night Shroud, and noticed Zooruvhun was holding the half of the Shadow Charm Night Shroud had. She gasped lightly as he then impaled the blade into the ground and took out a piece of paper, looking it over before he turned Night Shroud over to get a better look at him and let out a startled grunt.
"Legendary Hero? What is it?" Sophitia asked him, before walking over to him, "What the hell is wrong with you?"
Zooruvhun grunted out, having the Royal Guard look at Night Shroud before she gasped out as well.
"Hey, what's wrong with you two?" Alexis asked them.
"A-Alexis." Sophitia gasped out and looked at her, "We-we have a match."
Alexis gasped softly and slowly walked towards them, Zooruvhun grunted taking hold of the sword, causing Sophitia to get in a defensive stance, before relaxing at the sight of Syrus and most of the Key Barrers, with the Chancellor in tow.
"Ha-ah! I-I always hated running up this damn volcano." Sheppard panted out.
"Ch-Chancellor, I-I don't understand wh-why you dragged us as well." Crowler gasped out.
"Y-you heard him, Dr. Crowler." Bastion panted softly, "He was told the first Shadow Rider was defeated and Draco needed help."
"Syrus, right?" Sophitia asked, Syrus looked up and yelled out falling back, "How is it you all knew where to find us?"
"Find you?!" Syrus gasped, "We were just told Draco was up here!"
"Over here!" Suraasven whined, "And please hurry, I'm starting to lost the feeling in my tail!"
Bastion patted Chazz on the shoulder as they quickly went over and got an arm over their shoulders, lifting Draco up. Mana looked around and spotted Alexis on her knees holding the Shadow Rider, she walked up to her looking confused.
"Alexis?" Mana asked, before hearing Alexis softly crying, "Alexis? What's wrong?" She then noticed the paper on the ground, picking it up and turning it over, seeing an image of Atticus Rhodes, gasping lightly herself.
"He-he's back." Alexis softly cried out, Dr-Draco said he was helping me to find him and he-he did."
"Ms. Rhodes?" Crowler asked walking up to Alexis as did Mindy and Jasmine, "What's wrong?"
"It's my brother. He's back!" she cried out as her tears stream down as she held her unconscious brother, Atticus Rhodes.
