It was the middle of the night, and a small boat was floating toward Duel Academy, and inside was a coffin. The lid slowly opened, and a woman rose out of it, smiling and revealing a set of large fangs.
Jaden: Ah!
He set bolt upright in his infirmary bed, nearly scaring Syrus out of his seat.
Syrus: Calm down Jaden. You're in the infirmary.
Jaden: Sorry. I had this crazy dream where I saw a woman arriving at Duel Academy by boat.
Fontaine: You must be feeling better if you're dreaming about girls.
Jaden: How is Nightshrou- I mean Alexis' brother?
Fontaine: I'm afraid he hasn't woken up yet. But he is in stable condition.
On the water, the woman from Jaden's dream rose from her coffin and unleashed a swarm of bats on the island.
Woman: Go my minions, and find me my prey so that we may succeed where Nightshroud has failed.
The next day, word about her was spreading through the academy like wildfire.
Chazz: A vampire?
Sheppard: There may be something more to these rumors after all.
Crowler: Oh please, it's a practical joke.
Bastion: It was no joke that put Jaden in the hospital.
Zane: Do you think she's a Shadow Rider?
Sheppard: Perhaps. Regardless, be on the lookout for anything strange.
Everyone else left, except for Crowler, who stayed behind to talk with Sheppard.
Crowler: Chancellor Sheppard, if I may, do think it's wise to leave the spirit keys with the students after what happened to Jaden? I mean what if one of them gets seriously hurt? They're only children.
Sheppard: I understand your concerns Crowler, but those seven are the best chance we have for defeating the Shadow Riders.
Crowler: But sir,
Sheppard: My decision is final.
Crowler: Yes sir.
He turned around to leave and noticed Chazz dropped his spirit key. He began to hatch a plan, slipping the key into his pocket. Meanwhile, most everyone else was looking over their decks, unaware they were being spied on by Camula's bats. In the infirmary, Alexis and Michael were watching over Atticus and Jaden.
Alexis: How's Jaden?
Michael: Hasn't said anything since last night. How's Atticus?
Alexis: Pretty much the same. But he'll get better. He's a fighter, you know?
Michael: Yeah. You take after him that way.
Alexis: Thanks Michael. I just hope everyone is ready, because it sounds like the next Shadow Rider is already here.
Meanwhile, one of the vampire's bats returned to her.
Vampire: My precious, what did you bring to me?
The bats eyes glowed red, and the vampire could see everything it had seen. It showed her the spirit key holders, stopping at Zane at her request.
Vampire: He will be my first.
In Sheppard's office, Chazz, Zane, Michael, Lily, and Bastion had met with him.
Michael: We have good news Chancellor. It seems that the vampire isn't on the main campus.
Just then, Chumley burst through the door.
Chumley: The vampire, she's at the lake!
The all the rushed to the lake, but little did they know that Crowler had beaten them there, hearing that she had been seen in that area. He arrived and called out to her.
Vampire: And who might you be?
Crowler: I am your challenger. I am Dr. Vellian Crowler, and I shall not allow you to harm my students while I am around.
Vampire: I don't have time for this. My only concern is for those who have spirit keys.
Crowler: Lucky for you, I happen to be holding one.
He held up Chazz's key that he dropped earlier.
Vampire: Very well. I am Camula, vampire mistress of the Shadow Riders. Before we begin, I should mention your penance for losing. Should you lose, I not only gain your key, but your soul will be trapped inside this doll.
Crowler: Fine.
Both: Let's duel!
Crowler: 4000 LP
Camula: 4000 LP
Chazz: Crowler!
Everyone ran up and saw Crowler about to duel.
Lily: Professor, you can't duel her! She's a Shadow Rider!
Crowler: Stand back. This is my duel.
Bastion: But you don't even have a spirit key!
Crowler: Wrong. I have one right here.
Chazz: Wait, that's my key!
Michael: You lost your key?! How could you make such a bone-headed mistake?!
Zane: Let's put off yelling at Chazz to a better time.
Camula: If you're done with the melodrama, I will take the first move. I summon Zombie Werewolf in attack mode.
Level 4/Dark/Zombie
ATK & DEF 1200
Camula: Next, I shall place one card face-down and end my turn.
Crowler: You can't fool me Camula. That monster of yours is just bait so I'll attack and let you spring your trap. However, it won't work.
Michael: Wait, did he say Camula? I can swear I've heard that name before, but where?
Camula: Too afraid to attack?
Crowler: I never said I was afraid to attack, just that your trap won't work. First, I play the continuous spell Ancient Gear Castle. While this card is in play, all Ancient Gear monsters on my field gain 300 attack points, which is very good for me because now I shall summon Ancient Gear Soldier in attack mode.
Level 4/Earth/Machine
ATK 1300-1600/DEF 1300
Crowler: And now it's time to give your werewolf his shots. Go, Rapid Fire Flurry!
Camula: 3600 LP
Zane: I guess Crowler is more of a cat person.
Crowler: How was that?
Camula: You may have avoided one trap, but you've walked straight into another. When Zombie Werewolf is destroyed in battle, its effect allows me to summon another from my deck with an additional 500 attack points.
Zombie Werewolf: 1200-1700 ATK
Chazz: And he teaches us?
Crowler: I'll place one card face-down and end my turn.
Camula: Very well then, I draw. And I summon Vampire Bat in attack mode.
Level 3/Dark/Zombie
ATK 800/DEF 1200
Crowler: Cute. You could pass for a storefront Halloween decoration you know.
Camula: Very funny. But let's see you laugh at this. While Vampire Bat is on my field, all my zombie monsters gain 200 attack points.
Bat: 800-1000 ATK
Werewolf: 1700-1900 ATK
Camula: Now Zombie Werewolf, attack that Gear Soldier with Howling Slash!
Her werewolf rushed at Crowler's monster, sinking its fangs into it, destroying it.
Crowler: 3700 LP
Camula: Now Vampire Bat, attack him directly with Swarming Scourge!
Her monster split into an entire swarm of bats and attacked Crowler.
Crowler: Endure it Crowler. You have to keep the students safe.
Crowler: 2700 LP
In the infirmary, Syrus, Alexis, and Chumley were watching Crowler's duel on Syrus' pda.
Syrus: Oh man, Crowler is taking a beating.
Alexis: At this rate, he's going to lose the duel, the key, and his soul. What do we do?
Camula: Quite painful, isn't it? Listen dear, you don't have to endure this. Step down and I'll duel the blue haired one in your place.
Chazz: Hear that Zane, sounds like you're her type.
Bastion: Or her blood type.
Camula: So how about it? Give me your student and I'll let you go free.
Crowler: As tempting as your offer is, I don't think so. As long as I'm still standing, I won't let you harm them. If you want to get to my students, you'll have to go through me first!
Chazz: But you can barely stand up.
Crowler: Don't worry. I still have life points, as well as a few tricks up my sleeve. Like this, the trap Damage Condenser! Now I can summon a monster from my deck whose attack points are less than or equal to the total amount of battle damage I've taken this turn, so I summon another Ancient Gear Soldier in attack mode!
Camula: I end my turn.
Crowler: Very well, I draw! And now I sacrifice my Soldier to summon my four-legged friend, the Ancient Gear Beast!
Level 6/Earth/Machine
ATK 2000-2300/DEF 2000
Crowler: Now Ancient Gear Beast, it's time to show that Zombie Werewolf who's top dog!
Chazz: But if you attack she'll just summon another one!
Michael: Wrong. Ancient Gear Beast holds an ability that cancels the abilities of monsters it destroys in battle.
Crowler: Precisely. Now my beast, attack with Ancient Fang!
Ancient Gear Beast bit down on Zombie Werewolf, destroying him.
Camula: 3200 LP
Crowler: I'll end my turn there.
Camula: Nice move, but it pales in comparison to this one. I activate the field spell Infernalvania!
Crowler: Not that card!
Camula: So you know of my card's special ability.
Chazz: What's the big deal?
Lily: The big deal is, by discarding a zombie monster, she can destroy every monster on the field.
Chazz: Just like that? Surely it has some kind of drawback.
Bastion: If I remember correctly, the turn its effect is played, you can't summon a monster.
Camula: Except I won't need to summon a monster to inflict damage. You see my Vampire Bat holds another ability. If it would be destroyed, I am allowed to send another copy from my deck to the graveyard to prevent its destruction. I send Vampire Lord from my hand to the graveyard to activate the effect of Infernalvania. Next, I shall send a Vampire Bat from my deck to the graveyard to keep the one on my field from being destroyed.
Bastion: Now Crowler is wide open!
Camula: Now, attack the good professor! Swarming Scourge!
Crowler: Not again!
Zane: He needs our help.
Crowler: No! Stay back! This is my duel. You must protect your keys.
The bats retreated and Crowler collapsed onto the ground.
Crowler: 1700 LP
Zane: Crowler, we can't just stand here and do nothing!
Camula: I agree. Please step in darling, because clearly your teacher can't save himself.
Jaden: Wrong!
Everyone: Jaden?
They turned and saw Jaden getting a ride from Chumley up to them.
Jaden: I know Dr. Crowler can win this duel.
Crowler: That voice, Jaden?
Jaden: I know Crowler can win because we've dueled, so believe me when I say he can throw down! I know he'll find a way to beat you! So get up Dr. Crowler, and get your game on!
Crowler, albeit shakily, got to his feet.
Crowler: I am not giving up!
Camula: Oh, are you still here?
Crowler: You had better believe it. And I'm here to stay. You see although it makes me slightly ill to admit it, Jaden is right. I can beat you, I can throw down, and I can get my game on! Blech, I suddenly feel the need to rinse my mouth out.
Jaden: Come on, it's not that bad teach.
Bastion: Perhaps, but I'm afraid his situation is.
Zane: Bastion is right. If Crowler is going to win, he's going to have to mount quite the comeback.
Crowler: My turn, I draw! Perfect. I summon Ancient Gear Golem in attack mode!
Level 8/Earth/Machine
ATK & DEF 3000
Chazz: Check it, Crowler's summoned his best monster!
Syrus: But how? Since it's a level 8 monster, Crowler would've had to sacrifice two monsters to bring that out, so how did he play it?
Michael: It's thanks to his Ancient Gear Castle. It can be sacrificed to summon an Ancient Gear monster as long as the number of monsters you need to sacrifice is less than or equal to the number of monsters that you've summoned since activating it.
Crowler: Now Ancient Gear Golem, attack Vampire Bat with Mechanized Melee!
His golem brought his fist down on Vampire Bat, smashing it into the ground.
Camula: How foolish. I send another Vampire Bat from my deck to the graveyard to prevent its destruction.
Crowler: Maybe, but you still take the damage.
Camula: 1200 LP
Camula: Maybe so, but by discarding a zombie on my next turn, Infernalvania will destroy your Golem.
Crowler: I think not. I activate Heavy Storm! This will destroy all spells and traps on the field, which means your Infernalvania is gone!
Alexis: Alright! And with Ancient Gear Golem's piercing damage, even if Camula switches her Vampire Bat to defense mode on her next turn, Crowler will win!
Camula: If your professor has a next turn. I play the trap Zombie Bed!
Crowler: How?! I just destroyed it!
Camula: Which is exactly what I wanted! Zombie Bed can only be activated when it's destroyed, and because you did, I can summon a level 4 or lower zombie from my graveyard, so rise, Zombie Werewolf!
Werewolf
ATK 1200-1400
Chazz: What are the chances Camula would have a trap like that set?
Camula: Just good luck for me I suppose.
Michael: And bad luck for Crowler.
Crowler: Even with that Werewolf of yours back, you can't defeat my Golem. I end my turn.
Camula: We'll see about that key keeper. I draw! And first, I shall activate Book of Life! This card allows me to banish a monster from your graveyard so that I may summon a zombie monster from mine. I banish your Ancient Gear Beast in order to revive my Vampire Lord!
Level 5/Dark/Zombie
ATK 2000-2200/DEF 1500
Camula: Now I shall banish my Vampire Lord to summon Vampire Genesis!
Level 8/Dark/Zombie
ATK 3000-3200/DEF 2100
Bastion: He can't survive this turn!
Crowler: My students, no matter what happens to me, always remember this.
Syrus: What the-
Crowler: It's true I may have been hard on you at times, but that is because I believe in each of you and your potential as duelists. And it's because of that belief that I know that you will defeat the Shadow Riders. Stay strong, and stand together! Now Camula, give me your best shot!
Camula: My best shot? If you insist. Vampire Genesis, attack Ancient Gear Golem with Crimson Storm!
Crowler: 1500 LP
Camula: Now, Vampire Bat and Zombie Werwolf, end this duel!
Crowler: 0 LP
Winner: Camula
Jaden: Dr. Crowler!
Crowler: I know you all can win against Camula.
He collapsed to the ground and passed out. Camula walked over and picked up his spirit key, but scowled when she inspected it.
Camula: This key is a fake!
Michael: Crowler must've made a fake key based off Chazz's key in case he lost.
Camula: I may not have a spirit key, but I shall still take his soul.
She pulled out the doll from earlier and it absorbed Crowler's soul, changing into a lookalike of him, the real Crowler disappearing.
Syrus: She sealed his soul into a doll?!
Camula: Dolls are pretty, this is decidedly not. It's garbage now.
She tossed the doll to the ground.
Jaden: That's it!
Zane put his arm in front of Jaden before he could challenge her.
Jaden: But Zane.
Camula: Now I shall bid you farewell.
The fog lifted and revealed a castle on the other side of the lake.
Bastion: We'll find you!
Chazz: And duel you!
Camula: Children, that's precisely what I'm hoping for.
She faded into the mist, laughing as she retreated to her castle.
To be continued...