In an underground cavern, numerous shadowed figures were talking amongst themselves.
Boss: Our enemies have been tested, and our allies are in place. The hour is upon us. It's time to cover the world in shadow. Which of you will lead us to battle?
?: I will go first master.
Boss: Very well Nightshroud. Do not fail us.
Nightshroud: I will not fail. Academy Island's prize will be ours.
That night, a heavy storm fell upon Duel Academy, and Sheppard was staring out his office window when he saw a dark object descend onto the island.
Sheppard: And so it begins.
Nightshroud landed on the island and the glider he arrived on erupted in flames. Suddenly, the pendant around his neck began to glow. In the Slifer Dorm, Jaden's pendant he got from the Gravekeepers was also glowing, but he didn't notice it in his sleep. The next day, everyone was in Professor Banner's class, and Jaden had just woken up from his nap.
Jaden: Time to get up.
Syrus: For the next class?
Jaden: No, for lunch. The one subject I can't get enough of.
Banner: Just a moment Jaden. I'm afraid your lunch will have to wait. Chancellor Sheppard wants to see you.
Chumley: Hey Jaden, I'll watch your lunch for you. Especially if you have a side of grilled cheese in there.
Jaden: You wish.
Syrus: The Chancellor? Jaden, what did you do?
Jaden: Nice. So the Chancellor says he wants to see me, and you assume I did something wrong? It could be something good.
Chazz: Heh heh, no way. It's never a good thing with Sheppard. You are so busted.
Banner: Actually Chazz, he wants to see you as well.
Chazz: He what?
Banner: As well as Bastion, Alexis, Michael, and Lily.
Jaden: This doesn't sound good.
Banner escorted the six of them to Sheppard's office, where they met Crowler and Zane. They all walked inside and Sheppard explained why he called for them.
Jaden: Three sacred what cards?
Sheppard: The three Sacred Beasts, Jaden. Three cards that hold a great and terrible power. Due to their immense power, they were sealed away on this island, underneath our very feet. This academy was built in part to protect the Sacred Beast cards. Legend says if they ever see the light of day, terrible things will happen. It would be the end of the world.
Bastion: Unreal.
Michael: Why tell us this Chancellor? Do you think someone is after them?
Sheppard: I'm afraid so. Seven duelists known as the Shadow Riders. They covet the powers of these cards, and will stop at nothing to get them. And I'm afraid one of them is already here. They arrived in the thick of last night's storm.
Alexis: So how do we stop them?
Sheppard: The only way to get to the Sacred Beast cards is to unlock the 7 spirit gates.
Chazz: So what do we do? Stand guard at the gates 24/7?
Sheppard: That won't be necessary. The only way to open the gates are with these, the seven spirit keys.
He pulled out a black box before opening it, revealing 7 golden keys.
Michael: Chancellor, you're not suggesting we protect the keys, are you?
Sheppard: I am. It's true that if you hold these keys, the Shadow Riders will seek you out.
Chazz: You mean take us out.
Sheppard: Only in a duel. Fortunately for us, the keys cannot simply be stolen. They are useless to the Shadow Riders unless they are won in a duel. Which is why I have called you here, the academy's 7 best duelists. Of course, if any of you don't think you're up to it and want to back out, I understand. After all, the Shadow Riders play for keeps. So, who feels like saving the world?
Jaden: Count me in.
Michael: I won't back down. You can count me in Chancellor.
Lily: Same here.
Zane: I also accept.
Bastion: It would be my honor.
Alexis: Same for me.
Chazz: You'll obviously need the Chazz's help for this.
Jaden: Well, let's get started. I think that the best duelist should go first, so that would mean, well me.
Chazz: As if slacker, the Chazz is obviously the best duelist here.
Michael: If memory serves me Chazz, Jaden, Bastion, and myself have all beaten you in a duel.
Sheppard: You need to take this seriously. This isn't some tournament where you choose who goes first, this is a war. You could be challenged by the enemy at any time, so you must stay sharp, and watch out for each other.
That night, Jaden was in his dorm room telling Syrus and Chumley about what Sheppard told them.
Jaden: So that's pretty much the story guys. Pretty neat, huh? So now I just wait.
Michael: Jaden, you need to be serious about this. Don't forget what Chancellor Sheppard said.
Syrus: Um, why are you here Michael?
Michael: Because the last time I wasn't around, the three of you got teleported to another dimension and were almost buried alive. It's my job to protect Jaden, no matter what.
Jaden: Well, if you're gonna stand guard, I'm gonna hit the hay.
Syrus: What?! You can't just go to sleep right now. I mean what if a Shadow Rider shows up?
Michael: Then they'll have to go through me.
Jaden: See, it's all good Sy. Well, good night you guys.
Chumley: Well, at least he'll be well rested.
Meanwhile, Alexis was walking to the Red Dorm.
Alexis: I have to talk to Jaden. The Shadow Riders will go after who they think is the weakest duelist, and with Jaden being in the lowest ranked dorm, he'll be target number one.
Nightshroud followed the glow of his pendant and wound up outside the red dorm. Inside, Jaden, Chumley, and Syrus were all asleep, and Michael was going over his deck. Suddenly, a bright light began shining outside the window.
Ceruli: It's them!
Winged Kuriboh began trying to wake Jaden up.
Jaden: Woah Kuriboh, can you keep it down?
Michael: Jaden, get up!
Jaden: What is it?
He got up and noticed the light. Alexis saw the light and ran to the dorm. She just made it into Jaden's room when the light intensified, blinding everyone inside.
Alexis: What's happening?
Nightshroud: The first duel is happening.
When the light faded, Jaden, Alexis, and Michael were standing on an energy platform in the volcano on the island.
Alexis: Where are we?
Michael: Looks like we're inside the volcano.
A column of lava shot up, morphing into the head of a dragon.
Jaden: If this is a dream, I'm ready to wake up now.
Nightshroud: This isn't a dream, key keeper.
The dragon landed on the energy platform and Nightshroud walked out of the flames unharmed.
Michael: Nice entrance. I take it you're the Shadow Rider Chancellor Sheppard told us about?
Nightshroud: Indeed. My name is Nightshroud. And I've been searching for you.
Michael: Yeah? Well, bring it on.
Nightshroud: You misunderstand, I wasn't looking for you, I was looking for him.
Jaden: Why me?
Nightshroud: Because I want to see the strength of the only other to pass the Gravekeeper Chief's trial.
Michael: If you want to duel Jaden, you'll have to go through me first.
Nightshroud: Get in line pal, unless you don't care what happens to your friends, that is.
Jaden: What have you done with Syrus and Chumley?!
Syrus: Jaden!
Chumley: Help us!
They looked down and saw Syrus and Chumley suspended in an energy sphere over the lava.
Jaden: Guys!
Alexis: Hold on!
Nightshroud: That orb won't last all night. If you want to save them, you'll duel me right here, right now.
Jaden: Fine. If I win, we all go free.
Nightshroud: Fine, because you won't win. And when you lose, your soul will be trapped in this card. The same will happen to me if I lose, but like I said, you'll be the one losing this Shadow Game.
Alexis: You can't agree to this Jaden.
Jaden: I don't have a choice. Okay pal, you want a duel? You got it!
Syrus: Jaden, just be careful.
Jaden: Alright Nightshroud, let's throw down! Get your game on!
Jaden: 4000 LP
Nightshroud: 4000 LP
Nightshroud: You wanna see game? How this?! I summon Troop Dragon in defense mode.
Level 2/Wind/Dragon
ATK 700/DEF 800
Nightshroud: I place one card face-down and end my turn.
Jaden: Not bad. But let's see how he stacks up against my Elemental Hero Wildheart.
Level 4/Earth/Warrior
ATK 1500/DEF 1600
Jaden: Now, attack his monster with Wild Slash!
Nightshroud: I activate Troop Dragon's special ability, along with my trap card Time Machine. Not only does the Troop Dragon you destroyed get to come back, but I also get to summon another one straight from my deck.
Jaden: Oh man, I guess that backfired on me. I end my turn.
Nightshroud: My move. And I sacrifice my two Troop Dragons to summon-
Alexis: Summon what?
Jaden: Oh boy.
Nightshroud: The Red-Eyes Black Dragon!
Level 7/Dark/Dragon
ATK 2400/DEF 2000
Nightshroud: Now Red-Eyes, attack Wildheart with Inferno Fire Blast!
Red-Eyes launched a fireball at Wildheart, destroying him and pushing Jaden back.
Alexis: Jaden!
Michael: You okay?
Jaden: I've been better.
Jaden: 3100 LP
Nightshroud: It's your move Jaden. If you have the strength to make it, that is.
Jaden: You better believe I do. I draw! Alright, I play Polymerization, and I'll use it to fuse the Elemental Heroes Burstinatrix and Clayman in my hand to summon Elemental Hero Rampart Blaster in defense mode!
Level 6/Earth/Warrior
ATK 2000/DEF 2500
Jaden: And due to her special ability, she can attack you directly if she's in defense mode, as long as she only uses half her attack points for the fight. So attack Nightshroud with Rampart Barrage!
Rampart Blaster fired a cluster of missiles from her arm at the ground at Nightshroud's feet, forcing him to cover his face.
Alexis: Good shot Jaden.
Nightshroud: 3000 LP
Jaden: Yeah, and since she's still in defense mode, Red-Eyes can't even leave a scratch on her. Pretty sweet, don't ya think? It's your move.
Nightshroud: I draw! That blaster doesn't change a thing, but this card will. It'll change your life points, and not in a good way. You see Jaden, your Blaster can't protect you from Red-Eyes' attack.
Jaden: Alright I'll bite, why not?
Atticus: Because this time his attack is an actual card. I play the spell Inferno Fire Blast!
Michael: Get down!
He tackled Alexis and Jaden to the ground as Red-Eyes launched a fireball that struck the ground behind them.
Nightshroud: Nice card huh? It deals you damage equal to my Red-Eyes' original attack points, just so long as Red-Eyes doesn't attack this turn.
Jaden: 700 LP
Jaden: Thanks for the save Michael.
Alexis: Yeah, another few seconds and we would've been knocked right off.
Nightshroud: And I'm not through yet. Next, I summon Attachment Dragon in attack mode.
Level 1/Wind/Dragon
ATK & DEF 100
Nightshroud: When this card is summoned, it attaches itself to one of your monsters, allowing me to change its battle mode once every turn, which means your Rampart Blaster will be directly in Red-Eyes' line of fire on my next turn.
Chumley: Not good.
He and Syrus leaned against the wall of the orb, only to tear two large holes in it.
Michael: Guys, sit still!
Syrus: Can do.
Jaden: Hang tight guys! I promise to get you out as soon as I can!
Alexis: I hope you're right Jaden, because if you don't, it's going to get a lot hotter for Syrus and Chumley.