Alex: 5000 LP
Atticus: 1900 LP
Alex's field: Evil HERO Necro Commander, Meteor Black Dragon, 1 face-down.
Breaker: He still hasn't moved.
L.O.D.: After an attack like that, it wouldn't surprise me if he didn't get back up at all.
Yusei: Come on Atticus, you can do it!
Akiza: Alex is counting on you!
Atticus: They're right! Alex needs me, and no matter what he throws at me, I won't quit until I save him!
He got to his feet and walked back to the duel field.
Atticus: My turn, I draw.
Crusader: He's certainly tough.
Jinzo: Well, he is related to our lord.
Breaker: Are you saying he could possibly defeat our king?
Jinzo: He has certainly lasted longer than everyone our lord has faced so far, but I am confident he shall fall soon enough.
Atticus: Alex, I know it hurts, but I'm here for you, we all are. You don't have to go down this road! You can still do the right thing!
Alex: You're wrong. It's too late for me. I've already chosen my path, and there's no going back.
Atticus looked at him intently and saw tears falling to the ground.
Atticus: Alex.
Luna: Look at Alex.
They looked in his direction and saw what she was talking about.
Akiza: He's crying.
Yusei: He wants to stop, but he thinks he's too far gone to turn back.
Atticus: Alex, I can't begin to understand the depths of your sorrow, but I can bring you back, and help you move forward. I place two cards face-down and activate Card of Sanctity, so now we both draw until we have six cards in our hands.
Since both of their hands were empty, they both drew six cards each.
Atticus: I play one of my face-downs, the spell Back to Square One! By discarding one card, I can return one monster on the field to the top of its owner's deck, so Meteor Black Dragon returns to my extra deck. Now I play the spell Dragon's Mirror, so by banishing the monsters I need from my field or graveyard, I can summon a dragon type fusion monster, so I banish Red-Eyes and Meteor Dragon to bring back my Meteor Black Dragon!
Level 8/Fire/Dragon
ATK 3500/DEF 2000
Leo: All right, he's got his dragon back!
Atticus: Now I play my other face-down card, the spell Gap Power. Since you have more life points than me, half the difference between our life points is added onto Meteor Black Dragon's attack points this turn.
Meteor Black Dragon: 3500-5050 ATK
Atticus: Now attack with Dark Meteor Impact!
His dragon launched a meteor that struck Necro Commander and sent Alex flying.
Jinzo: My lord!
Alex got up and walked back to the duel field, his armor having absorbed most of the impact, but still leaving him in pain.
Atticus: I'd better end this duel quickly before Alex gets seriously hurt.
Alex: 1850 LP
Atticus: I place one card face-down and end my turn, which means my dragon's attack returns to normal.
Alex: I draw. I activate Dark Fusion. I fuse Voltage and Stone Guardian to summon Evil HERO Lightning Golem.
Level 6/Light/Fiend
ATK 2400/DEF 1500
Leo: Oh no, if he uses its effect, he can destroy Meteor Dragon and attack Atticus directly!
Alex: I activate Lightning Golem's effect. Destroy Meteor Black Dragon with Voltic Ball!
Lightning Golem launched a sphere of black electricity at Meteor Black Dragon.
Atticus: I play the trap card Metal Coat! When this card is played, it equips itself onto one of my monsters, keeping it from being destroyed by card effects.
A white aura glowed around his monster and Lightning Golem's attack bounced off him.
Luna: Alright, he saved his dragon!
Akiza: But then why doesn't Alex looked concerned?
True to her word, Alex's face wasn't showing the slightest bit of emotion.
Alex: I equip Lightning Golem with the spell Eternal Evil. This card can only be equipped to Evil HERO fusion monsters, and while equipped, Lightning Golem can't be destroyed by effects, and when he attacks, he gains attack equal to half the attack of his target until the end of the battle.
Leo: So if he attacks, he'll gain half of Meteor Dragon's attack?
Luna: Half of 3500 is 1750, added onto Lightning Golem's attack of 2400,
Akiza: Would equal 4150 points!
Alex: Lightning Golem, attack with Dark Lightning!
Atticus: I activate Metal Coat's other effect! By sending it to the graveyard, my monster won't be destroyed by this battle!
Alex: But you'll still take damage.
Atticus: 1250 LP
Alex: I activate the Fiend Cannon trap card. Since your dragon survived the battle, you take 500 points of damage.
Atticus: 750 LP
Alex: I end my turn.
Atticus: I draw. Meteor Black Dragon, attack his Lightning Golem!
Leo: What, but his monster will just gain attack points again!
Yusei: That's where you're wrong Leo.
Leo: What do you mean?
Jack: The effect of Eternal Evil to increase attack points only activates when the equipped monster is attacking, not if it's the one being attacked.
Meteor Black Dragon launched his attack, destroying Lightning Golem and knocking Alex onto his back.
Alex: 750 LP
Leo: Alright, he destroyed Lightning Golem!
Alex: At this moment, the effect Eternal Evil activates. Since it was equipped to a monster when it was destroyed, I can add it back to my hand.
Atticus: Say what?!
Yusei: This is bad, if Atticus can't get rid of that card, he'll lose the duel.
Atticus looked at his hand and pulled out a card.
Atticus: I place one card face-down and end my turn.
Alex: My turn, I draw.
Atticus: And now I play the trap Mind Crush! Now I can declare one card name, and if you have a card of that name in your hand, you have to discard all copies of that card in your hand, and I choose Eternal Evil!
Luna: Alright, if it goes to the graveyard while it's not equipped, it can't come back!
Alex took the card and put it in his graveyard.
Alex: I activate the spell Dark Calling. I banish Malicious Edge and Necro Commander from my graveyard to summon Evil HERO Malicious Fiend.
Level 8/Fire/Fiend
ATK 3500/DEF 2100
Atticus: Its attack is the same as my monster's, so if it attacks, they'll both be destroyed.
Alex: I activate the continuous spell Kishido Spirit. With it in play, my monsters can't be destroyed in battle with monsters that have the same attack as them.
Luna: Oh no!
Alex: Malicious Fiend, attack!
Malicious Fiend dashed up to Meteor Black Dragon and slashed him across the chest, destroying him.
Alex: I end my turn.
Atticus: It's my turn. The only way I'll have a chance to win is to draw that card. Come on, for Alex's sake, please let me draw it! I draw!
He looked at the card he drew.
Atticus: It came Alex.
Alex just stood there, waiting to see what his uncle would do. Atticus placed the card he drew in his spell and trap zone.
Atticus: I play the equip spell Different Dimension Reincarnation. By discarding one card, I can special summon one of my banished monsters and equip it with this card, and I choose my Red-Eyes Black Dragon!
Leo: But Red-Eyes isn't a match for Alex's monster.
Atticus: Maybe this Red-Eyes isn't, but I have another one who is.
Alex: He couldn't possibly mean that card, could he?
Atticus: I never wanted to use this card again, but if it'll bring you back, then I'll play it, no matter what happens!
Alex: You don't mean?
Atticus: I do. I sacrifice Red-Eyes Black Dragon in order to summon the Red-Eyes Darkness Dragon!
Red-Eyes burst into flames before he dived into the ground. The ground then began to shake violently.
Akiza: What's going on?
Yusei: I think we're about to find out.
Suddenly, a fiery vortex appeared in front of Atticus, and when it died down, the evolved version of Red-Eyes stood before him.
Jack: I've never seen that card before.
Yusei: Me either. Where did Atticus get a card like that?
Atticus: From the very being that Alex merged his soul with. Years ago, I was under Nightshroud's control, and he made me use this dragon. I never wanted to use it again, but I knew I had to if I wanted to get the real Alex back.
Level 9/DARK/Dragon
ATK 2400/DEF 2000
Leo: But its attack points are the same as the other Red-Eyes, so why would he play it?
Atticus: Because due to his special ability, he gains 300 attack points for every dragon type monster in my graveyard. So with six dragons in my grave, he gains 1800 attack points.
Darkness Dragon: 2400-4200 ATK
Alex: Impossible!
Atticus: Now, attack with Inferno Dark Fire!
Red-Eyes Darkness Dragon launched a massive fireball that engulfed Malicious Fiend and bathed Alex in flames.
Alex: 50 LP
Alex stumbled for a moment before clutching his head.
Alex: Agh, my head. What's wrong with me?
Yusei: I think Alex is starting to snap out of it.
Alex: Wait, wasn't I just dueling someone? Uncle Atticus?
Atticus: Alex, you're back.
Nightshroud: I'm afraid I can't allow that.
He appeared in an ethereal form, manifesting himself behind Alex.
Alex: You used me. You can consider our deal officially over. I'm done helping you, and as soon as I figure out how, you and I are splitting for good.
Nightshroud: I'm afraid we've come too far for me to allow that, and since you're unwilling to cooperate further, and since I cannot separate myself from you, I shall take command of your body.
He turned into a cloud of black smoke and forced his way into Alex.
Atticus: Alex, fight him!
Alex: I'm trying! I can't stop him. I'm too weak from our duel.
Yusei: Come on Alex, you can do it!
Jack: Don't let him order you around!
Luna: Come back to us Alex!
Alex: I'm sorry.
A shockwave of darkness expelled from his body, knocking everyone down. When they got back up, Alex's eyes were glowing blue, showing Nightshroud was in control.
Atticus: You monster, give me back my nephew!
Nightshroud: You are in no position to make demands. It is my turn. I draw. I activate the spell Pot of Greed, which will allow me to draw 2 cards. Now I shall activate the spell Magical Stone Excavation. By discarding two cards from my hand, I shall add a spell from my grave to my hand. I select the Dark Calling spell card.
Luna: He's going to summon another fusion monster?
Nightshroud: I activate Dark Calling, and with it, I shall banish Malicious Fiend, Lightning Golem, and Spiritual Soldier from the graveyard in order to summon Evil HERO Supreme King.
He summoned a monster that was exactly the same as Alex when he wore his armor during the Fortune Cup.
Level 8/Dark/Fiend
ATK 3300/DEF 3000
Leo: But it has less attack than Darkness Dragon.
Nightshroud: I activate the effect of Evil HERO Necro Charmer in my grave. Once while this card is in my grave, I can Special Summon one level 5 or higher Evil HERO monster from my hand, so I summon Evil HERO Galactic Ruler.
Level 7/Light/Fiend
ATK 2500/DEF 2000
Yusei: What is he about to do?
Nightshroud: I now activate the effect of Evil HERO Supreme King. Once each turn, I can sacrifice another Evil HERO I control to summon a level 8 or lower Evil HERO fusion monster from my Extra Deck.
Atticus: What?
Nightshroud: I sacrifice Evil HERO Galactic Ruler. Appear, Evil HERO Neos.
Level 7/Dark/Fiend
ATK 2500/DEF 2000
Nightshroud: And due to his special ability, he gains 300 attack points for every Evil HERO monster in my grave. With 6 in my grave, he gains 1800 attack points.
Evil HERO Neos: 2500-4300 ATK
Nightshroud: Due to his effect, Evil HERO Supreme King cannot attack the turn his effect is activated.
Luna: Since Neos only has 100 more attack than Atticus' dragon, and Supreme King can't attack, Atticus will still have life points left.
Nightshroud: I activate the spell Burial from a Different Dimension, and with it I shall return Malicious Edge, Malicious Fiend, and Lightning Golem to my GY.
Leo: Wait, but if he does that, Noes will gain 900 more attack points!
Luna: Which means that he'll have enough attack points to finish Atticus!
Evil HERO Neos: 4300-5200 ATK
Atticus: No way. Alex, I failed you. I leave the rest to you Yusei.
Nightshroud: Neos, attack Red-Eyes Darkness Dragon.
But when he looked at Neos, he seemed to be resisting the order.
Nightshroud: Feeling defiant? If you ever want to see Alex again, you will follow my orders, now attack.
Neos looked at Atticus as if to say "I'm sorry" before he launched his attack at Red-Eyes Darkness Dragon, sending Atticus flying.
Atticus: 0 LP
Winner: Nightshroud
Luna: He lost.
Atticus: I'm sorry Alex, I tried.
Nightshroud: You have been defeated, and shall now enter my world.
Atticus dissolved into shadows and disappeared.
Nightshroud: I'd love to send the rest of you to my world, but unfortunately, this body requires rest.
Akiza: Now what do we do?
Yusei: I don't know.
They all turned around went back to the hospital to figure out a plan. Little did they know that they were being followed.
Hey everyone. Looks like Nightshroud pulled a Marik (Anyone who's seen Yugi's and Joey's Battle City duel should know what I mean). Now you've seen one of the cards Alex was talking about before. And just who is following Yusei and the gang? Stay tuned to find out. Have a great day and stay safe.