Chapter 39, Creature of the night.
Alexis visited Atticus and Robin in the infirmary every day, she always hoped that Atticus would be awake when she visited so she could question him on what had happened to him and why he did what he did, however Atticus hadn't woken up a single time since he had been brought to the infirmary and he showed no signs of waking any time soon, since Atticus was always asleep Alexis spent most of her visits talking to Robin.
Robin had been extremely surprised to find out that Nightshroud was in fact Alexis's brother, after learning this both Robin and Alexis had theorised on why Atticus had become Nightshroud.
Their theories included everything from brainwashing to possession to Atticus just going insane, Alexis hoped that the reason was something along the lines of brainwashing or possession, she didn't know what she would do if her brother had become Nightshroud willingly.
Robin had been in the infirmary for a whole week, however Nurse Fontaine said it would be another week before he could leave, during this time the other Key keepers had visited him at least once.
Chazz and Bastion had visited to find out more about the Shadow riders, although there was little that Robin could tell them, Jaden visited with the intention of cheering Robin up, but he only succeeded in annoying Robin to the point where Nurse Fontaine had to force Jaden to leave.
Zane had come to the infirmary once, although he had come to see Atticus not Robin, however when he saw that Atticus was unconscious he left the infirmary without saying a word and had not come back since.
Dr Crowler came to see Robin every day at the end of class, he said it was only so he could give him his homework, but the truth was that he was concerned about Robin and was simply too proud to admit it.
When no one was visiting him Robin had little to do in the infirmary other than to do his homework and read books, he was becoming so bored that he had even asked Crowler to bring him more work to do tomorrow.
That night a boat arrived at Duel academy carrying a coffin, the coffin opened revealing a woman inside, the woman stepped out of the coffin, "Ok Nightshroud why haven't you reported in for a weak" she thought as she stepped onto the island.
The next day, the final lessen of the day had just ended and everyone was leaving the classroom, Alexis headed towards the infirmary to visit Atticus and Robin, everyone else left to find something to do with the rest of their day.
Jaden, Syrus and Chumley was all walking back to the red dorm, Chumley seemed to be upset about something, "Hey Chum, what's wrong" asked Jaden, "It's nothing, I just need to be alone for a while" said Chumley as he walked away from the other two.
"What do you think is wrong with him" asked Jaden, "I don't know, maybe he's worried about those Shadow riders" said Syrus, Jaden had told Syrus and Chumley about the Shadow riders and the spirit key the very night he had received his key.
Chumley walked along the path that led to the lake, he had just received his latest test scores and saw that he had made little improvement, "Man if I don't start improving then maybe I really should just drop out" thought Chumley.
Chumley reached the lake and started to skip stones across the water in an attempt to take his mind off of his test scores, Chumley stayed at the lake for a few hours, but then as the sun began to set he noticed that there was an unusual amount of bats flying towards the lake.
"What are all these bats doing here" thought Chumley a little fearful of the bats, suddenly the water began to ripple as if the was something underneath it, then Chumley saw a woman emerged from the water and look straight at him.
Chumley screamed at the top of his lungs and ran away from the lake as fast as he could, Chumley didn't stop running and screaming until he reached the red dorm.
"Chumley what's wrong" asked Syrus concerned for his friend, "Witch, there's a witch in the lake" said a panicking Chumley, "Chumley calm down, witches aren't real" said Syrus, "But I saw her, she's at the lake right now" said Chumley trying to sound convincing.
"Hang on, do you think Chumley might have just run into the next Shadow rider" said Jaden who until now had been eating a bowl of noodles, "Yeah, I bet that's who she is" said Chumley although this did little to calm his nerves.
"Alright, now I can take on a Shadow rider myself" said Jaden as he stood up and almost ran towards the door only to be stopped by Syrus, "Jaden you can't just go and fight a Shadow rider, you could get hurt" said Syrus.
"Don't worry Sy, I can take her" said Jaden sounding extremely confident, "Jaden, Robin fought a Shadow rider and now he's in the infirmary" said Syrus, "So what do you think I should do, run away" said Jaden almost sounding offended at the thought.
"Jaden you need to call the others and let them know that there might be another Shadow rider here" said Syrus, "That's a great idea, that way the others can watch me when I beat her" said Jaden completely missing what Syrus meant.
In less than an hour all of the Key keepers, minus Robin, had gathered at the red dorm to discuss the potential Shadow rider, the others seemed to be confused when they saw that Syrus and Chumley was waiting with Jaden.
"Jaden why are Syrus and Chumley here, they can't hear any of this" whispered Alexis, "Don't worry, I already told them about the Shadow riders" said Jaden, the others seemed horrified at this.
"Jaden what are you thinking, why did you tell them" asked Chazz, "Why not, their my friends aren't they" answered Jaden clearly seeing nothing wrong with what he had done, "Jaden can't you see that by telling them about the Shadow riders you could have put them in danger" said Alexis, "Don't worry about it, I'm sure they'll be fine" said Jaden.
"If we're done talking about Jaden's foolishness can we please talk about this possible Shadow rider" said Crowler, "Alright then, Chumley said that he saw one down by the lake" said Jaden.
Everyone turned to Chumley, "Is this true Mr Huffington" asked Crowler, "Well I'm not sure if it was a Shadow rider, but I did see a witch" said Chumley clearly nervous now that everyone was looking at him.
"That sounds like it could be a Shadow rider" said Zane as he walked towards the exit, "Wait where are you going" asked Syrus, "I'm going to deal with this Shadow rider" said Zane as he walked out the door.
"We can't just let him go alone can we" asked Syrus, "Of course not, everyone follow Zane" said Crowler.
Soon the entire group reached the lake, by now it was late at night and the moon was high in the sky, "So is this where you saw the witch Chumley" asked Jaden, "Yeah, she was right there" said Chumley pointing towards the lake, "Well I don't see anyone around here" said Jaden.
Suddenly the ground began to shake, the shaking was so intense that Syrus fell over, soon a large castle began to rise up out of the centre of the lake, the castle appeared to be medieval and it had a gothic look too it.
The doors of the castle opened and the same woman that Chumley had seen stepped out, she had pale white skin and long green hair, her eyes, lips and nails was blood red, she wore a dark red dress that showed a large amount of skin and around her neck was a golden choker.
"Good evening children, it is truly a pleasure to see such young faces out this late" said the woman, Chumley hid behind the others terrified of the woman, "Who are you" demanded Chazz, "What a rude young man, I am Camula" said the woman.
"Ok Camula, why are you here" asked Bastion, Camula studied the group and noticed the spirit keys that some of them had on the outside of their clothes, "My dears, I have come to claim the spirt keys around you delicate necks" she said.
"I knew it, she is a Shadow rider" said Jaden, "Yes and would one of you be so kind as to tell me where Nightshroud is, I would have thought he would have defeated all of you by now" said Camula.
"Nightshroud's already been beaten, he couldn't even win his first duel" said Chazz sounding a little smug, Camula seemed surprised "Nightshroud failed to defeat even one of you, well no matter I will redeem the Shadow riders" she said.
"Careful guys this witch might put a spell on you" said Chumley, "Witch, I am no witch" said Camula sounding very offended, suddenly Camula opened her mouth wide and revealed that she had sharp fangs, "I am a vampire" she said.
Most of the group stepped back clearly intimidated, "Now then which of you will be my first victim" said Camula, Camula looked at the entire group studying their every feature, finally her eyes landed on Zane.
"I will start with the tall handsome boy, he looks truly delicious" said Camula as she licked her lips, Zane was about to step forward to face Camula but was stopped by Dr Crowler, "No Zane, I will not permit you to duel this monster" said Crowler.
Crowler stepped in front of the group and held his hands out as if he was trying to protect them, "If you are going to duel anyone here, then it will be me" said Crowler looking straight at Camula.
Camula didn't seem amused by this in the slightest, "Step aside old man, you hardly look to be worth my time" she said, Crowler didn't move, "I am the adult here, and I will not allow you to lay a finger of these children" said Crowler trying to sound brave.
Camula sighed "Very well, I suppose I need all of the spirit keys anyway" she said, Camula snaped her fingers and a flock of bats flew out of her castle carrying a golden duel disk that slightly resembled bat wings, the bats flew to Camula and she took the duel disk and placed it on her arm.
Crowler activated his duel coat, "Hey teach are you sure about this" asked Jaden, "Do not question me Mr Yuki, I know what I'm doing" said Crowler as he stepped forward, "I hope you do, because I don't what to see anyone else get hurt" thought Alexis.
Crowler wouldn't admit it but he was in fact terrified of Camula, however as scared as he was he was more afraid of what she could do to the children if she got passed him.
The duel started, "I think it is only fitting to let the pray make the first move" said Camula, "How nice of you" said Crowler as he drew his first card.
"I summon Ancient gear frame in attack mode, now I'll use Frame's effect, it lets me discard one card to add Ancient gear golem to my hand" said Crowler as he discarded Ancient gear box to add Ancient gear golem to his hand, then he ended his turn.
Ancient gear frame ATK 1600 DEF 500 LV 4 EARTH machine.
Camula'a turn started "I summon Vampire lady in attack mode, and now I'll activate the continuous spell card Pyramid of wonders, this card will increase the ATK of all my zombie monsters by 200" she said.
Vampire lady ATK 1550 DEF 1550 LV 4 DARK zombie.
Vampire lady ATK 1500 + 200 = 1750.
"Now Vampire lady attack his obsolete robot" ordered Camula, Vampire lady destroyed Ancient gear frame, "And when Vampire lady inflicts battle damage you must send one type of card of my choosing from your deck to the graveyard," explained Camula.
Crowler LP 4000 – 150 = 3850.
"And I choose trap card" said Camula, Crowler frowned as he sent Quaking mirror force to the graveyard, "Now I end my turn" said Camula.
"It's not over yet" said Crowler as he drew his card, "I activate Ancient gear castle, now all of my Ancient gear monsters gain 300 ATK points, and every time one of us normal summons or set a monster Ancient gear castle gains a counter" explained Crowler.
"Now I summon Ancient gear wyvern, and when this card is summoned I can add an Ancient gear card from my deck too my hand" said Crowler as he added Ancient gear workshop to his hand, because Crowler summoned a monster Ancient gear castle gained a counter.
Ancient gear wyvern ATK 1700 DEF 1200 LV 4 EARTH machine.
Ancient gear wyvern ATK 1700 + 300 = 2000.
"Now Wyvern attack her Vampire lady" said Crowler, Ancient gear wyvern attacked, "I don't think so, I activate the second effect of Pyramid of wonders, by sending Pyramid of wonders to the graveyard Vampire lady is saved from destruction" said Camula.
Crowler's attack hit, but thanks to the effect of Pyramid of wonders Vampire lady was not destroyed.
Camula LP 4000 – 250 = 3750.
Vampier lady ATK 1750 – 200 = 1550.
With nothing else to do Crowler ended his turn.
"I tribute Vampire lady to summon Vampire dragon in attack mode, now my blood sucking friend attack" said Camula, Ancient gear wyvern was destroyed by Vampire dragon, because Camula summoned a monster Ancient gear castle gain another counter.
Vampire dragon ATK 2400 DEF 0 LV 5 DARK zombie
Crowler LP 3850 – 400 = 3450.
"You are pathetic, I don't know why you was chosen to be a key keeper" said Camula, "I'll have you know that I have a PhD in duelling" growled Crowler as he started his turn.
"I use the effect of Ancient gear castle, now that it has two counters on it I can sent it to the graveyard as two tributes for a monster, now I summon Ancient gear golem" said Crowler.
Ancient gear golem ATK 3000 DEF 3000 LV 8 EARTH machine.
"Ancient gear golem destroy that repulsive dragon" ordered Crowler, Ancient gear golem destroyed Vampire dragon, "You irritating sack of blood" said Camula as Crowler ended his turn, since Vampire dragon was destroyed it's effect activated allowing Camula to add a level 4 or lower monster from her deck to her hand.
Camula LP 3750 – 600 = 3150.
Camula drew her card and smiled showing off her fangs, "This battle is over" she said.
"I activate the continuous spell card Call of the mummy, with this card I can once per turn special summon a zombie monster from my hand if I control no monsters, and I think I'll chose Vampire red baron, next I'll normal summon Vampire familiar in attack mode" said Camula.
Vampire red baron ATK 2400 DEF 1000 LV 6 DARK zombie.
Vampire familiar ATK 500 DEF 0 LV 1 DARK zombie.
"Now I will use the effect of Vampire red baron, by paying 1000 LP I can switch control of one of my monsters with one of yours" said Camula, Vampire familiar moved to Crowler's side of the field and Ancient gear golem moved to Camula's.
Camula LP 3150 – 1000 = 2150.
Crowler's face turned to one of horror as he realised that he had lost.
Crowler turned to the other key keepers, "Children you must defeat these Shadow riders and save the world, and please protect each other, because I can no longer do that" he said, "That was a nice speech, such a shame it will be your last" said Camula.
"Vampire red baron attack Vampire familiar" said Camula, Vampire familiar was destroyed, "Now Ancient gear golem attack him directly" she said, Ancient gear golem attacked.
Crowler LP 3450 – 1900 = 1550.
Crowler LP 1550 – 3000 = 0.
Crowler fell to his knees as his LP hit 0, "You wasn't even a worthy opponent" said Camula as her golden choker glowed with a dark power, Crowler disappeared in a cloud of smoke that then moved towards Camula's hand.
The smoke disappeared leaving behind a small doll that resembles Dr Crowler, Camula turned the doll over in her hand and her face turned to disappointment, "He's not even worth keeping" she said as she throw the doll over her shoulder.
Camula began to walk back towards her castle, "Hey, where do you think you going, I'm taking you down right now" said Jaden, "Don't worry, I'll defeat another one of you tomorrow night" said Camula as she entered her castle and the doors shut behind her.
With nothing else to do the group began the leave the lake so that they could prepare for tomorrow night, right before he left Chazz picked up the doll of Dr Crowler and carefully placed it in his pocket.
