bopdog111: Bout time we get back to Zane after all that. That loss must've crushed him, and needed help.
Ulrich362: Definitely. Especially considering he didn't have friends like Jaden did and Jaden still went through a lot after his loss to Aster.
bopdog111: But can this fateful day be different since he met the Investigation Team?
Ulrich362: There's only one way to find out. Enjoy the chapter.
Disclaimer: We don't own Yu-Gi-Oh! GX or Persona but we own the OCs!
"Hey look here guys!" Yosuke cried to the Team, "Zane's back in the Circuit!"
"He is, that's awesome." Chie smiled.
They all head over to see Zane is back only... something isn't right.
(?: 3700)
(Zane: 0150)
"Well I hate to say it here folks. Zane Truesdale even since his match with Aster is dropping like a fly, and even the new guy is winning when Zane is a pro." the announcer said in a annoyed tone before mumbling, "Someone remind me why we have to film this wimp."
"Zane..." Syrus whispered in shock seeing that.
"Alright, Magical Scientist attack him directly!" Zane's opponent called.
The monster with 300 points struck Zane causing him to kneel.
Zane: 0000
Winner ?.
"How disappointing..." the announcer before asking, "Huh, what-Oh yeah! And Zane has fallen down yet again! If he gets another lose on his record he'll be kicked out of the Pro League!"
"No way, that can't be allowed!" Rise cried in shock.
"The hell is going on with him? He wasn't a pushover!" Kanji yelled.
"His loss against Aster must still be getting to him." Yu frowned.
"We should go to him!" Yukiko told them, "He needs his friends with him."
"I agree Yukiko-sempai but how would we get there? We need to stay in case the Shadows make another appearance." Naoto pointed out. "Not to mention none of us would qualify as professionals and as such wouldn't be allowed to see him regardless."
Syrus looked down. Rise frowned at that before pausing. "I have no idea if this would work but... come Kouzeon!"
At that her Persona appeared as they looked over. Rise looked to be focusing intensely before falling to her knees as Kouzeon vanished. "It's no good, I don't know him well enough to reach him from the far away."
Syrus hugged her, "D-Don't worry. I think, I can call Zane once he's free."
Rise hugged him back before pausing. "Wait a second. That might work."
"What is it?" Syrus asked.
"You're his brother... you might be able to reach him if I can't Syrus." Rise mentioned before taking his hands. "Kouzeon."
The Persona appeared as Syrus gasped feeling something different before closing his eyes.
"Ok Syrus... if we work together we might be able to reach him... your Persona isn't like mine but it should still work." Rise told him. "Just focus."
Syrus nodded as they focused for Zane.
Meanwhile...
Zane punched the wall in frustration. "What's wrong with me?"
"Boy, you are having trouble then what you were before."
Hearing that Zane turned to see who was talking only to suddenly gasp.
'Zane?'
It was a black cloaked man in a hat with a smirk.
'Syrus?' Zane thought in his mind.
'Zane, are you alright?' Syrus asked. 'Rise's helping me talk to you. Is there any way we can help?'
'You don't know what I'm going through.' Zane told him.
'I know... but I want to do something. Please Zane, talk to me... to us.' Syrus pleaded. 'We're all here for you.'
"You know, I can give you a chance to reclaim your former glory." the man offered to him with a smirk.
Hearing that Zane frowned.
'Zane... I'm begging you please. Let us help you, we'll do whatever we have to.' Syrus said desperately though his voice was fading.
"So what do you say?" the man asked him.
Zane didn't say anything before closing his eyes, 'Syrus, I want you to listen to me cause I need to tell you something I should've said long ago.'
'In all our times growing up, I knew you had a lot of potential, and I thought I was helping but from seeing you with Rise, I realized my mistake, and I am serious about joining me in the Pro Leagues. And I also think that one day you will be stronger, and more talented then me, and that we would have a great match, and be powerful duelists together helping others... So what I'm saying Syrus is... I'm sorry I was never the brother, I thought I was.' Zane told him.
'Zane...' Syrus whispered in shock before his voice faded completely.
"Big decision?" the man guessed on why he's quiet.
Zane turned to him. "What do you mean?"
"Oh I can give you back everything you lost. You just have to start at the bottom." the man answered to him, "I'm Mr. Shroud, and with my help you can reclaim everything."
Zane looked at him briefly before frowning. "Alright, I'm in."
Meanwhile...
"Zane!" Syrus cried before starting to cry as he clung to Rise.
"Syrus?" Yosuke asked surprised.
"I lost him... first Jaden... now Zane..." Syrus shuddered before continuing to cry.
"Why, what happened?" Teddie asked him.
Syrus weakly told them what Zane said just before they lost the connection.
"Man... This must be getting hard on Zane." Chie admitted worried.
Yu frowned at that before closing his eyes. "It's my turn."
"Yu?" Kanji asked.
"This is all happening because of Aster... maybe beating him will set things right." Yu told him. "Besides, we need to stop him from destroying the Shadows either way."
Meanwhile...
Shroud, and Zane down to a caged arena, "Get in the cage, and we will go from there."
"Excuse me?" Zane questioned.
"This is the first step for you to reclaim your glory. That's what you wanted isn't it?" Mr. Shroud asked him.
"If this is what you had in mind sorry but I'm not interested." Zane told him.
"But trust me. It's what you wanted. A sold-out arena, fans cheering for you, that's what you wanted in the arena isn't it?" Mr. Shroud asked him.
Zane flinched at that. "That... no it..."
"I promised you to give you back all that you lost. And it's in front of you right now." Mr. Shroud told him mentioning to the cage, "You have to start at the bottom."
Zane looked at the cage again before frowning. "Fine."
With that he stepped into the cage only he looked annoyed. Who was waiting was a big guy who looks ripped before some men put what look like metal rings on their arms, and neck.
"What are these?" Zane asked.
"Oh don't worry about those. They'll keep the duel interesting." Mr. Shroud told him outside the cage.
"Your my opponent here? Then I'll show you my dangerous side!" the opponent in a high pitch voice declared.
"And now let us begin the match between Zane Truesdale, and Mad Dog!" the announcer called.
Zane frowned at that before drawing his cards.
"DUEL!"
(Dueling Theme: I Get Wicked by TFK)
Zane: 4000
Mad Dog: 4000
Let the duel begin!
Mad Dog 1st Turn:
"I'll go first." Mad Dog said drawing his card. "I'll set one monster and play one card facedown. That's it."
Zane 1st Turn:
"Very well." Zane said drawing, "I start by placing 1 card down, and activating Different Dimension Capsule!"
Different Dimension Capsule
Normal Spell Card
Select 1 card from your Deck and remove it from play face-down. During your 2nd Standby Phase after activation, destroy this card and add the removed card to your hand.
"I take a card from my Deck, and banish it face-down. During my second standby phase, I can add the card I banished to my hand." Zane explained pocketing a card as the Capsule lowered to the ground.
Mad Dog just watched with a smirk.
"Then I summon this. Cyber Dragon!" Zane called as his metallic dragon appeared screeching.
Cyber Dragon
Light Type
Level 5
Machine
ATK: 2100
DEF: 1600
If only your opponent controls a monster, you can Special Summon this card (from your hand).
"Big mistake!" Mad Dog grinned. "I play my trap card Last Machine Acid Virus, by sacrificing a WATER monster like my facedown Acid Slime this destroys every Machine Monster you have."
Last Machine Acid Virus
Normal Trap Card
Tribute 1 WATER monster. Check all monsters on your opponent's side of the field, your opponent's hand, and all cards they draw (until the end of your opponent's 3rd turn after this card's activation) and destroy all Machine-Type monsters.
At that Cyber Dragon shattered.
"Your move." Zane said to him.
Zane: 4000
Mad Dog: 4000
Mad Dog 2nd Turn:
"My move, and I'll use Contingency Fee." Mad Dog grinned. "This lets you draw until you have six cards but in exchange I gain 1000 life points for each card."
Contingency Fee
Normal Spell Card
Your opponent must draw cards until they have 6 cards in their hand. Then, gain 1000 Life Points for each card they drew.
At that Zane drew three cards.
(Mad Dog: 7000)
"And due to Last Acid you can see what I drew right?" Zane asked showing his three cards to be a spell called Damage Polarizer, Card From a Different Dimension, and Battle Fusion, "Well bad luck for you cause there are no machines."
"Well I have another plan, I play Card Destruction." Mad Dog said quickly.
Card Destruction
Normal Spell Card
Both players discard as many cards as possible from their hands, then each player draws the same number of cards they discarded.
"Thanks to this we both discard our hands and draw the same number of cards."
Zane grunted as they discard their hands as Zane shows what he drawn now is Cyber Barrier Dragon, Power Bond, Cyber Laser Dragon, Cyber Kirin, Trap Booster, and Cyber Phoenix.
"Those four machines go to the graveyard." Mad Dog told Zane.
The four appeared shattering at that.
"Now I'll play Pot of Greed to draw two cards." Mad Dog continued.
Pot of Greed
Normal Spell Card
Draw 2 cards.
He drew the cards before smiling. "I summon Clone Slime and play two cards facedown to end my turn."
Clone Slime
Water Type
Level 2
Aqua
ATK: 0
DEF: 0
When this face-up card is selected as an attack target, you can send this card to the Graveyard to select 1 "Slime" monster in your Graveyard. Special Summon that monster in this card's same battle position, and switch the attack target to that monster.
Zane 2nd Turn:
Zane drew, "I activate Cyberized Fusion!"
Cybernized Fusion
Equip Spell Card
Send Fusion Material monsters from your Deck to your GY that are listed on one "Cyber Dragon" Fusion Monster in your Extra Deck then Special Summon that monster in Attack Position, and equip it with this card. (This Special Summon is treated as a Fusion Summon). The equipped monster cannot attack the turn it is Fusion Summoned also it cannot be destroyed by your opponent's card effects.
"I take two Cyber Dragons from my Deck, and send them to the graveyard to summon a Fusion Monster. And while Cybernized keeps it from attacking this turn it can't be destroyed by your effects." Zane said sending two cards.
"Sorry, but I activate the trap card Jammer Slime. By sending Draw Slime to the graveyard this negates your spell." Mad Dog stated.
Jammer Slime
Counter Trap Card
Discard 1 "Slime" monster. Negate the activation of an opponent's Spell/Trap Card, and destroy that card.
"Then since I discarded Draw Slime I can draw another card."
Zane grunted as his Equip Spell shattered as Mad Dog drew.
"Oh, don't feel too bad. I'm not that bad a guy and in fact I'll even do you a favor." Mad Dog smirked. "I play the trap card Despised Reality, this lets you either summon a level four or lower monster from your deck or deal me 1000 points of damage."
Despised Reality
Normal Trap Card
Activate only during your opponent's turn. This turn, your opponent can Special Summon 1 Level 4 or lower monster from their Deck. If they do, draw 2 cards. If not, you take 1000 damage during the End Phase.
Zane looked on at the Slime before saying, "Draw your two cards cause I summon Proto-Cyber Dragon!"
The incomplete monster appeared roaring.
Proto-Cyber Dragon
Light Type
Level 3
Machine
ATK: 1100
DEF: 600
This card's name becomes "Cyber Dragon" while on the field.
Mad Dog nodded drawing. "You're welcome for the monster."
"Well your gonna wish you didn't let me summon as you left your Slime in striking distance!" Zane called as Proto-Cyber Dragon charged an attack.
"Not quite, I activate Clone Slime's ability." Mad Dog countered. "I send him to the graveyard to replace him with Acid Slime from my graveyard."
Acid Slime
Water Type
Level 3
Aqua
ATK: 800
DEF: 1000
When this card is destroyed by battle and sent to the Graveyard, inflict 800 damage to your opponent.
Zane looked shocked as Proto-Cyber Dragon destroyed the Slime, "Well I'm not taking damage alone since that Slime's in attack mode from Clone Slime's ability!"
Suddenly the rings on them glowed as they gave out shocks causing them both to cry out.
(Zane: 3200)
(Mad Dog: 6700)
"Hold on! Shroud what was that about!?" Zane asked shocked about the shock.
Shroud smirked, "Didn't I warned you? It's to keep the duel interesting. You should know by now things don't come easy, and you have to pay the price to work your way to the top. And I gave you what I promised. A sold out arena, and fans cheering your name."
Zane grunted looking out to the audience outside the cage seeing them smirking, and are enjoying the match as he grunted before saying, "I did dealt damage at least so that attack was worth a little agony. It's your move Mad Dog though I should tell you this. Next turn is the end of the match."
Zane: 3200
Mad Dog: 6700
Mad Dog 3rd Turn:
Mad Dog frowned before drawing his card. "I activate Slime Base, this lets me summon Multiple Slime from my hand."
An orange slime mass appeared.
Slime Base
Normal Spell Card
Special Summon 1 "Slime" monster from your hand.
Multiple Slime
Water Type
Level 6
Aqua
ATK: 1500
DEF: 2000
When this card is destroyed by battle and sent to the Graveyard, Special Summon 3 "Slime Tokens" (Aqua-Type/WATER/Level 1/ATK 500/DEF 500) in Attack Position.
"Then I think I'll summon Revival Jam in attack mode."
A blue Slime creature appeared ready.
Revival Jam
Water Type
Level 4
Aqua
ATK: 1500
DEF: 500
When this card is destroyed by battle and sent to the Graveyard: You can pay 1000 Life Points; Special Summon it in face-up Defense Position during your next turn's Standby Phase.
"Multiple Slim attacks your Proto-Cyber Dragon and Revival Jam attacks you directly!"
Multiple attacked Proto Dragon destroying it as Revival Jam tackled Zane as the rings shocked Zane as he cried out. (Zane: 1300)
"I set two cards and end my turn." Mad Dog smirked. "Looks like you're finished."
Zane 3rd Turn:
Zane breathed as Shroud questioned, "Now you see why respecting opponents is pointless? Your philosophy is flawed, and what you should care is winning. Let go of the past, and look to the future. Your friends have left you so you should not care."
While Shroud was talking Zane was giving in to his anger but froze when he mentioned of his friends. He thinks back on everything last year, and had also thought a lot on Syrus. And Syrus with Rise's help called him worried about his recent loss it made him think.
A few seconds later Zane started laughing.
"What's so funny?" Mad Dog questioned.
"I thank you, and Shroud, Mad Dog." Zane said to him, "You both had reminded me of what I should be focusing on before my loss against Aster."
"What?" Shroud asked confused.
"My friends left me? Then you don't know MY friends that I made." Zane told them, "If they truly not care then they wouldn't talked to me after my loss against that duelist back there. And besides I'm not perfect, and maybe even call myself a loser... But that's because I lost my way. But you, and Shroud helped me regain it."
"Is that the raving of a loser?" Mad Dog questioned.
"Who knows?" Zane asked shrugging with a smile closing his eyes, "But it means that now the old Zane is gone. But a new one is born here..."
He snapped his eyes open declaring, "Now known as SOUL KAISER!"
(Cue Theme: Awakening)
"I had waited for a long time."
Zane at that gasped holding his head as time froze as it holds his head in agony.
"You had swore to give your life what you believed in have you not? If so let's form a boundful contract. Your name has been tainted on already so why clean it when you can use it to move forward for what lies ahead? The other you decides it thus. I am thou, thou art I. Come... Your rebirth is straight ahead!"
At that time unfroze as Zane breathed heavily with sweat rolling down his face before raising up, "Soul Kaiser's birth has began. Now ready yourself for his might! First Dimension Capsule adds the card, I tossed!"
He took the card.
"Then I activate Power Bond!" Zane called.
Power Bond
Normal Spell Card
Fusion Summon 1 Machine Fusion Monster from your Extra Deck, using monsters from your hand or field as Fusion Material, and it gains ATK equal to its original ATK. During the End Phase of the turn this card is activated, you take damage equal to the amount of ATK gained from this effect at the time of the Summon.
"What's going on?" Shroud questioned. "This is all wrong."
"So now I fuse monsters to summon a Fusion Monster with double it's points." Zane stated, "But that's okay cause I can activate Cybernetic Fusion Support!"
Cybernetic Fusion Support
Quick-Play Spell Card
Pay half your LP; once, if you Fusion Summon a Machine Fusion Monster this turn, you can banish monsters from your hand, field, and/or GY as the Fusion Materials. You can only activate 1 "Cybernetic Fusion Support" per turn.
"By trading half my points, I don't need monsters to summon this monster!" Zane called. (Zane: 0650) "Welcome, Cyber End Dragon!"
His ace appeared roaring.
Cyber End Dragon
Light Type
Level 10
Machine/Fusion
ATK: 4000
DEF: 2800
"Cyber Dragon" + "Cyber Dragon" + "Cyber Dragon"
A Fusion Summon of this card can only be done with the above Fusion Materials. If this card attacks a Defense Position monster, inflict piercing battle damage.
Cyber End Dragon: (ATK: 4000 x 2 = 8000)
"That monster won't help you, I play Slime Ball!" Mad Dog called. "This destroys your monster and I can it's attack points as life points."
Slime Ball
Normal Trap Card
Activate only when a monster is Special Summoned. Destroy that monster, and gain Life Points equal to that monster's ATK.
Cyber End Dragon shattered at that.
(Mad Dog: 14700)
Zane grinned, "That won't be enough. I activate Call of the Haunted!"
Call of the Haunted
Continuous Trap Card
Activate this card by targeting 1 monster in your GY; Special Summon that target in Attack Position. When this card leaves the field, destroy that monster. When that monster is destroyed, destroy this card.
"With it I can summon a monster from the graveyard." Zane said, "Come forth Proto-Cyber Dragon!"
Suddenly a shockwave happened as they looked seeing Proto appeared only a transparent Cyber Dragon appeared above him.
(Cue Theme: Will Power)
"And don't stare too long. Proto Cyber Dragon counts as Cyber Dragon." Zane grinned, "That lets me use this! Overload Fusion!"
Overload Fusion
Normal Spell Card
Fusion Summon 1 DARK Machine Fusion Monster from your Extra Deck, by banishing Fusion Materials listed on it from your field or GY.
"Overload Fusion?" Mad Dog questioned.
"With it, I banish monsters from my field, or graveyard to summon a Dark Machine Fusion monster." Zane explained, "I banish Proto-Cyber Dragon with all the machines in my graveyard! Say welcome to Chimeratech Overdragon!"
At that Overdragon appeared roaring with 6 heads.
Chimeratech Overdragon
Dark Type
Level 9
Machine/Fusion
ATK: ?
DEF: ?
"Cyber Dragon" + 1+ Machine monsters
Must be Fusion Summoned. If this card is Fusion Summoned: Send all other cards you control to the GY. The original ATK/DEF of this card each become equal to the number of Fusion Materials used for its Fusion Summon x 800. Each turn, this card can attack your opponent's monsters a number of times equal to the number of Fusion Materials used for its Fusion Summon.
"And as a cherry on top it gains 800 points for every monster used it in's summoning." Zane told him, "I used 6 monsters. So that means it's attack points becomes 4800!"
Chimeratech Overdragon: (ATK: ? + (800 * 6) = 4800)
"4800!" Shroud cried in shock.
"Battle! Overdragon attacks Multiple Slime!" Zane called as Overdragon fired a blast.
The monster shattered.
(Mad Dog: 11400)
"When Multiple Slime is destroyed I can summon three Slime Monster Tokens." Mad Dog said quickly.
Slime Monster Token
Water Type
Level 1
Aqua/Token
ATK: 500
DEF: 500
Special Summoned with the effect of "Jam Breeding Machine".
"Summon more monsters cause you already lost." Zane grinned, "I told before this is the last turn of the match, and I meant it. For every monster used to summon it gains 1 attack on monsters! So that means with 6 monsters fused Overdragon can attack 6 times on monsters every round!"
Mad Dog's eyes widened in horror.
"So now thanks for reminding me of what I lost!" Zane called as Overdragon fired more attacks. The tokens and Revival Jam shattered as Mad Dog was zapped crying out in agony. The last attack was too much as they see part of the caged was destroyed.
Zane: 0650
Mad Dog: 0000
Zane wins the duel!
Zane stared before turning to walk off.
"H-Hey wait-"
"Thank you again, Shroud." Zane told him not turning around before stopped, "If it haven't been for you I wouldn't have regained my reason for dueling, or unlocked my inner potential. But kiss your career, and this Underground Arena Dueling goodbye cause the authorities will be here in two minutes. Last I check Underground Arena matches are illegal aren't they?"
With that said he walked off as Shroud shouted, "YOU WILL REGRET THIS YOU KID!"
The next day...
"And Zane has reclaimed his glory! I don't know why but now he's back on top!" the announcer cried as the Team sees Zane won several matches, and reclaimed his glory.
Syrus smiled while tearing up seeing that. "Zane..."
Ring Ring Ring.
"Huh?" Chie asked as Yukiko answered.
"Hello?" Yukiko asked.
"Yukiko?" Zane's voice asked her.
"Oh Zane." Yukiko smiled. "One second."
She turned over.
"Syrus, I think it's for you."
Before she can he said, "No Yukiko don't hand Syrus the phone."
"Huh?" Yukiko asked in surprise. "Why not?"
"Would it really be a surprise visit if he knows who is coming?" Zane asked with a grin.
Yukiko's eyes widened. "No, I guess it wouldn't be."
"Tell everyone to meet at the Dock. Cause for now on I'll be doing what I should do." Zane said to her before hanging up.
Yukiko nodded hanging up.
"Who was that Yuki-chan?" Teddie asked her.
"A friend is stopping by and asked if we could head to the Dock." Yukiko answered.
"A friend? Maybe it's Jaden." Kanji said as they left the dorm calling the others along the way.
They soon arrived at the Dock waiting before a boat was pulling in, and who was on board walked off as everyone gasped seeing who it is. Syrus just stared in shock. "Zane?"
It was Zane with a grin as he said, "Hey Syrus it's been a while. You worked into Ra Yellow I see, well congratulations."
Syrus swallowed with tears building. "Yeah... I did Zane."
"Go ahead Syrus. I'm staying at the Academy now gonna be the brother I was suppose to be years ago." Zane said spreading his arms to Syrus.
Syrus looked stunned before hugging him with tears.
Zane hugged him back as everyone watched this reunion with smiles as Dr. Crowler smiled, "Great! Our top student is back ready to continue on with his legacy!"
"You mean Pro Graduate. Their's always room for students returning." Yuzu smiled turning to Zane, "Welcome back Zane."
"It's good to be back. And is there any room in the Investigation Dorm?" Zane asked.
"Yeah, we just need someone to move out." Yosuke said.
"I don't think it'll be needed since we just need to build a new room." Zane said to them with a smile, "Even if a new guest has this - Come, Cyber Dragon!"
At that in blue flames appears Cyber Dragon roaring it's metallic screech behind Zane.
"Zane has a Persona?" Yosuke asked in shock.
"It's how I founded back my way. Syrus, and Rise in fact saved me from falling to darkness, and change for the worst." Zane admitted, "Thanks you two for calling me."
Syrus looked stunned. "I thought... I thought I lost you. After Jaden I..."
"Jaden? Did something happened to him?" Zane asked hearing that.
"He dueled Aster using a weird deck... and his Persona was destroyed." Yu answered quietly. "He nearly died, and he's left Duel Academy Zane."
"Persona? When did Jaden unlock a Persona?" Zane asked shocked.
"We don't know, but Aster destroyed it and nearly killed him." Yosuke said while Rise gently embraced Syrus. "For now though... Yu's planning on trying to take him down."
Zane grunted before turning to Yu, "Yu, if you do that their's no going back. Aster will kill you if your careless."
"Yeah, I know." Yu nodded before closing his eyes. "Then again, it's not the first time my life was put at risk."
"Then at least take this." Zane said handing him a card.
It was Cyber Dragon.
"I doubt it can help you much but as it's a Persona it can assist your Deck." Zane explained.
Yu looked at it before closing his eyes. "Right. I'm sure it'll come in handy."
At that time froze again.
Thou art I... And I am thou... Thou hast established a new bond... It will aid thee on a new journey... Thou shalt be blessed when using cards of the Emperor Arcana.
Social Link: Zane Truesdale
Arcana: Emperor
Rank: 1
Yu smiled at that.
Ulrich362: Well... thanks to Syrus and Rise Zane not only got his old self back but also awoke to his own Persona. Good thing they tried that.
bopdog111: And a new Social Link is formed. That's three with Alexis, Jaden, and Zane.
Ulrich362: True, so what's up next Bopdog?
bopdog111: The Homecoming Match which shows Jaden now has new powers.
Ulrich362: Yu vs Aster you mean, and sounds good. See you in the next chapter.
bopdog111: Be sure to review!