Chapter 48, The fifth Shadow rider.
After the defeat of Don Zaloog the remaining Key keeper recovered their Spirit keys and returned to their school lives, however they was all now far more suspicious that another Shadow rider could be hiding in plain sight.
Everyone was currently in Professor Banner's history class learning the history of Duel monsters, for once Jaden was actually awake for a lesson
"You see children while the Duel monsters card game was invented by Maximillion Pegasus he actually based the game off of something far more ancient" said Banner to the whole class.
"Many ancient cultures used to play a very similar game as Duel monster, however when they played they did so with real monsters and real magic" said Banner.
"Based on what we have discovered we believe that some of the ancient cultures that played this dangerous game was the ancient Egyptians who played it five thousand years ago, the Romans who played during the days of their empire, and the British who played a similar game during the Wars of the Roses" explained Banner.
"Many believe that the Egyptians was the first to summon these monsters while others think that some may have done this even earlier, the most well-known user of this magic was the Nameless pharaoh, a great king who ruled over Egypt, he was the one who sealed the dark magic away in order to protect the world" continued Banner.
"However while the Nameless pharaoh was perhaps the greatest and most well-known user of this magic he was for from the only one, there was many great rulers who summoned these monsters including one known as Pharaoh Abidos the third" said Banner.
"Abidos was a very young Pharaoh who sadly died before his twentieth birthday, however despite his young age Abidos was known to have never lost a single game in his life" said Banner.
Banner continued to talk about Pharaoh Abidos and many other rulers of Egypt who was known to have summoned real monsters, finally after an hour the bell rang and class ended.
"Wow, can you believe that, that Abidos guy never even lost once" said Jaden to Syrus and Chumley as the three left the classroom, "Yeah, he must have been really good" said Syrus, "I wish he was around now, maybe he could give me some tips" said Chumley.
Far away from Duel academy the fifth Shadow rider was having a meeting with Kagemaru, "It seems that our first four duellist have failed" said Kagemaru, "Clearly they lacked skill" said the Shadow rider.
"And I assume that you can do better" said Kagemaru, "Of course I can, I am the strongest duellist the world has ever known" said the Shadow rider.
"You'd better be, because if you aren't then you and your servants will find yourself going straight bad to the afterlife" said Kagemaru, "Do not worry, I shall defeat the Key keepers and in exchange the Sacred beasts shall fully restore me and my servants to life" said the Shadow rider.
"Good, then leave once you are ready, we can't waste any more time" said Kagemaru, the Shadow rider nodded and left the room.
Now outside the Shadow rider approached a large boat that was decorated with gold, "Are we ready to depart my lord" asked one of the servants, "Yes, set sail immediately, it is time for these Key keepers to face a true duellist" said the Shadow rider.
Alexis arrived at the infirmary to check on her brother, however he had still failed to wake up although this didn't surprise Alexis at this point.
Nurse Fontaine notice Alexis come in and she walked over to talk to her, "I'm sorry but he still hasn't woken up" said Fontaine, "I know" sighed Alexis.
"Has there been any change at all" asked Alexis as she sat down next to Atticus's bed, Fontaine shook her head "No, I just don't understand it, he seems completely healthy, but for some reason he just won't wake up" she said.
Alexis looked at her brother sadly, she knew that his duel against Robin had been a shadow game and she knew what happened to someone who lost a shadow game.
Alexis feared that the reason that Atticus wouldn't wake up was that he wasn't in there anymore, she feared that his body was just an empty shell.
The sixth Shadow rider approached Kagemaru, "Why are you sending that child to defeat the Key keepers, he is far too naïve" said the sixth Shadow rider, "He may be young, but he has quiet the reputation, if anyone can defeat the Key keepers he can" said Kagemaru.
"I keep telling you that if you'll just send me then I'll destroy all of the Key keepers and send them to the shadows" said the Shadow riders it was clear that he was unhappy that he hadn't been sent to Duel academy yet.
"It's that attitude that got you into this situation in the first place" said Kagemaru, "Don't lecture me old man, I was merely a pretender back in those days, but now I have become one with the shadows" said the Shadow rider.
"Yes, and if it wasn't for that Shadow charm that your wearing you would be dragged back into the Shadow realm in an instant" said Kagemaru, the Shadow rider showed fear at the mention of this "That is only a temporary problem, once the Sacred beasts are free I will no longer have to worry about that" he said although there was a slight quiver in his voice.
Kagemaru sighed in annoyance, "Very well, if the boy fails then you can do whatever you want to the Key keepers, as long as you get those keys I don't really care" he said.
The sixth Shadow rider smiled at this, "Soon I will have my revenge" he thought.
