It was 8 am in the Yuki household, and Alexis was walking down the hall to get her son up. She walked up to his door and knocked. "Alex, are you awake?" she asked. "Yeah, just a second mom," a voice inside the room answered. A few seconds later, the door opened up, Alexis' son on the other side. "How did you sleep last night?" Alexis asked. "Fine, even though I was excited about today," Alex responded. "Are you nervous about the entrance exam?" Alexis questioned. "A little. What if I lose my duel and don't get it?" Alex inquired.

"I'm sure you'll win. You're a great duelist," his mom reassured. "Okay. I'll give it my all," Alex said. "That's more like it. Come on down and we'll have breakfast before we leave," Alexis responded. The two of them went down to the kitchen where Jaden was already there, fixing breakfast on the stove. "Hey kiddo. You ready for today?" he asked. "Yep. I'm gonna pass my test and get into Duel Academy," Alex responded. "I know you will," Jaden responded, brimming with pride for his son.

After everyone finished breakfast, Alex got dressed and grabbed his duel disk and his decks. He wasn't sure which one he was going to use at the entrance exam yet. "I'd use your Evil Hero deck," a voice said beside him. Alex looked to his side and saw his father's spirit companion Yubel floating next to him. "You don't mind if I don't use your deck Yubel?" Alex asked. "Not at all, besides, I know you'll win regardless of which deck you use," she assured. Yubel had been by Alex's side since he was born. When he turned 8, Jaden had given him her cards, which he used to build a deck specially made for her.

Alex got in the car with his mom and buckled his seat belt and a few minutes later, they arrived at Duel Academy. They got out of the car and walked to registration before Alexis began speaking to one of the women there. "Alexander Yuki signing in," she informed. The woman at registration looked over the list of applicants. "Let's see, Alexander Yuki. Ah, here it is. Go right in," she said as she directed them to the entrance. They walked into the arena together before Alexis wished him luck and walked off since she was one of the dueling proctors.

"Hi there!" a voice shouted. Alex turned around to see a girl with a red short sleeved shirt and a boy who he assumed was her brother who was wearing a blue short sleeved shirt. "Hi," Alex said somewhat timidly. "My name is Luna, and this is my brother Leo. What's your name?" the girl asked. "My name is Alexander Yuki, but you can call me Alex," he responded. "Wait, Yuki as in Jaden Yuki, the former pro duelist?" Leo asked. "Yeah, he's my dad," Alex answered. "That's so cool! It's nice to meet you," Leo said as he extended his hand to Alex, who accepted and shook his hand.

"It's nice to meet you both," Alex said, feeling more relaxed. "So your dad is really the Jaden Yuki?" Luna asked. "Yeah. And my mom teaches here. She's Alexis Yuki," Alex responded. "Oh cool! I've heard she's one of the best teachers here," Leo said. Yubel then appeared beside Alex before laughing for a moment. "Well, looks like you're going to be popular here," she teased, causing Alex's face to go bright red after hearing Yubel's statement. "Is that a duel spirit?" Luna asked as she pointed to Yubel. "Wait, you can see Yubel?" Alex asked, genuinely surprised. "Yep, I can see duel spirits," Luna confirmed.

"Cool, I've never met anyone other than my dad who can communicate with duel spirits," Alex said. Before they could continue, a voice blared over the speakers, "Alexander Yuki, report to duel field 4." "Guess it's my turn to duel," Alex said before heading down to the duel field, Leo and Luna wishing him luck as he went. He reached the duel field and saw his opponent, a man wearing a red suit and yellow glasses. "All right, let's begin," the man said. Alex put his deck into his duel disk before activating the auto-shuffle. "Mind if I ask your name?" Alex asked. "I'm Rudolph Heitmann, the Vice Principal of this school," his opponent informed.

"Shouldn't I be dueling one of the teachers?" Alex asked, wondering why he was dueling the Vice Principal. "Well, due to your exceptional score on the written exam, and given that your father is a former pro, we thought it would be best to give you more of a challenge," Heitmann explained. "Well, no matter who my opponent is, I always duel with everything," Alex responded. "Alright then," Heitmann said before they both shouted "Let's duel!"

Alex: 4000 LP

Heitmann: 4000 LP

"The first move is yours young man," Heitmann said. "Thanks. I draw," Alex said before he began to look over his hand, pulling out a card and placing it in his monster zone. "I play Evil HERO Voltage in defense mode," he declared as a cloaked figure with electricity coming from his hands appeared and kneeled in front of Alex.

Light/Fiend/Level 4

ATK 1600/DEF 1400

"And next I use his special ability. When Voltage is summoned, I can show you an Evil HERO fusion monster in order to add one of the monsters needed to make it from my deck to my hand, but I can't use any of the special abilities of the monster I add to my hand using this effect this turn, so I'll show you my Evil HERO Inferno Wing in order to get my Evil HERO Sky Slash from my deck. With that, I end my turn," Alex declared. "Alright then, my turn. I draw. I play Ancient Gear Statue in attack mode," Heitman said as monster that looked like a miniature of Ancient Gear Golem appeared on his field.

Earth/Machine/Level 2

ATK 500/DEF 800

"And next I play the spell card Machine Duplication. This will let me summon my other copies of Ancient Gear Statue from my deck," Heitmann explained as two identical copies of his monster appeared on his field. "Why would he play three weak monsters? He must be up to something," Alex thought to himself as he readied himself for Heitmann's next move. "And next, I activate the effects of my Gear Statues. By releasing them, I can summon the three Ancient Gear Golems I have in my hand ignoring their summoning conditions," Heitmann explained. "Not good," Alex said as the small monsters disappeared and were replaced by three giant mechanical monsters.

Earth/Machine/Level 8

ATK 3000/DEF 3000

"Your father once took three of this monster on at once, let's see if you can. I'll have one of my Ancient Gear Golems attack your monster. Go Mechanized Melee!" Heitmann shouted as one of his golems reared its fist back before driving it into Voltage, smashing him in an instant.

Alex: 2400 LP

"I special summon Evil HERO Stone Guardian from my hand in defense mode!" Alex shouted as a monster made entirely out of rock and covered in vines appeared and kneeled in front of him.

Earth/Fiend/Level 4

ATK 800/DEF 2000

"Since you destroyed Voltage, I can summon this monster from my hand to protect me," he explained. "Not bad, but he's still no match for my Golems. Go, Golem #2, Mechanized Melee!" Heitmann shouted as the second golem attacked Alex's monster, but didn't manage to destroy it. "Why wasn't your monster destroyed?" Heitmann asked. "Stone Guardian can't be destroyed in battle once each turn," Alex explained. "That might be true, but due to my Golem's effect, you still take damage," his opponent responded.

Alex: 1400 LP

"And now Golem #3, finish off his monster! Mechanized Melee!" Heitmann shouted as his final golem slammed his fist into Stone Guardian, crushing the monster into gravel.

Alex: 400 LP

"Thanks for saving me Guardian," Alex said as he slipped Guardian's card into his graveyard. "Well, you managed to hang on, I give you praise for that. I place one card face-down and end my turn," Heitmann said, inwardly smirking to himself as he had set Magic Cylinder. "I draw," Alex said as he looked at the card he drew, smiling. "This is just the card I needed. But first, I summon Evil HERO Sky Slash in attack mode," he said as a winged man wielding two katanas appeared in front of him.

Wind/Fiend/Level 3

ATK 1000/DEF 1000

"You played some small fry monster against my golems?" Heitmann asked. "I think you're forgetting two words: special effect. Once per turn, Sky Slash can send a number of spells or traps on your field to the graveyard, up to the number of Evil HERO monsters I have, which means your face-down card is gone. Blow it away with Vacuum Slash!" Alex shouted as Sky Slash raised one of his katanas, slashing at the air and sending a gust of air towards Heitmann's face-down, blowing it off the field. "Not bad, but that monster still can't beat mine," Heitmann pointed out.

"Who said I was using this monster to battle them? I still have cards to play," Alex said as he pulled a card from his hand and placed it in the spell and trap zone. "I play the spell Dark Fusion. It works like Polymerization, but is only for Fiend Type monsters. With it, I'll fuse Sky Slash with the Evil HERO Flare Mage in my hand," Alex explained as a female magician wearing red armor and wielding a staff with a dragon at the top appeared on the field. She and Sky Slash flew up and joined together, becoming a female monster with a blue visor and giant green claws over her hands. "Say hello to my favorite monster: Evil HERO Inferno Wing," Alex said.

Fire/Fiend/Level 6

ATK 2100/ DEF 1200

Suddenly, Flare Mage appeared on the field and launched a fireball at Heitmann before disappearing again. "What was that?" he asked. "Flare Mage's special ability. When she's used as fusion material for an Evil HERO, you take damage equal to 100 times the fusion monster's level, so since Inferno Wing is level 6, you take 600 points of damage," Alex explained.

Heitmann: 3400 LP

"Doesn't make a difference. Your monster is hardly a match for mine," Heitmann boasted. "I didn't say I was done. I play the equip spell Megamorph on my Inferno Wing. With it, since I have less life points than you, Inferno Wing gets her original attack points doubled," Alex explained.

Inferno Wing: ATK 2100-4200

"This can't be!" Heitmann shouted in disbelief. "Now Inferno Wing, attack his Golem with Inferno Blast!" Alex shouted before Inferno Wing created a ball of blue fire in her hands. She then launched it at one of the golems, reducing it to a pile of melted scrap.

Heitmann: 2200

"I still have life points!" Heitmann shouted. "Not for long. Due to Inferno Wing's effect, when she destroys your monster in battle, you take damage equal to the destroyed monster's original attack or defense points, whichever is higher, meaning you take another 3000 points of damage. Go, Inferno Wave!" Alex yelled. Inferno Wing created a wave of blue flames that washed over Heitmann, leaving his outfit somewhat burnt.

Heitmann: 0 LP

Winner: Alex

"Well done young man. You have a bright future here," Heitmann praised. "Thanks. It was a fun duel," Alex said as he began walking back to the stands. "He did it, he won!" Leo shouted up in the seats. "That was cool, but I've never seen those Evil Hero cards before," Luna said as she wondered where Alex got them from. "They're what you might consider family cards," Yubel said as she appeared next to Luna. "What do you mean?" she asked as she turned to the spirit. "The Evil Heroes were monsters that served Jaden in his past life. They acknowledge Alex as their master because he's Jaden's son and because he inherited the Gentle Darkness from his father," Yubel explained.

"Alex has the power of the Gentle Darkness?" Luna asked. She had heard tales of the power from her duel spirits, but never put much stock into the stories they told her. "That is correct. The Evil Heroes became his the day his power manifested for the first time, and he's used them ever since," Yubel responded. "Well, I didn't think he could get any more impressive." Luna said. "But you cannot tell anyone. There might be people who would wish to take his power for themselves, so it is important that this stays between us," Yubel warned. "Okay, but if it's so important it's kept a secret, why tell me?" Luna asked, wondering why Yubel was being so trusting of her.

"I have spoken to your spirit friends, and I know you can be trusted," Yubel answered. "She's right Luna," another voice said. Luna turned to the side and saw her spirit companion Regulus standing beside her. "We've spoken for a while, and talked about both you and Alex," he informed. "You haven't been talking about anything embarrassing have you?" Luna asked. "Of course not. Okay, maybe one or two stories each," Regulus admitted. "Regulus!" Luna complained as she blushed a little. "If it makes you feel any better, I shared a few of Alex's more embarrassing moments," Yubel consoled.

Meanwhile, in an unknown location, two cloaked figures were sitting at a solitary table in a room lit only by the candles placed on the table. "And you're certain the boy has inherited the power from his father, Devack?" one of them asked. "Yes. The boy successfully wielded the Evil Heroes, which means he has inherited the power of the Gentle Darkness, Roman," the other man answered. "Well, things have gotten more interesting. Keep the boy under surveillance, but make sure neither he nor his spirits discover he's being watched. If we can get our hands on the boy, we'll have access to not only the power of the Earthbound Immortals, but the power of darkness itself. We will be unstoppable!" Roman declared.

Back at Duel Academy, Alex had gotten back to the stands and found his mother, eager to share the news. "I did it mom, I got in!" he shouted. "I know, I'm so proud of you. Wait till your father hears, he'll be so happy," Alexis responded, overflowing with joy. Just then, Leo and Luna walked up to the two of them. "Way to go Alex, you rocked that duel!" Leo exclaimed. "Thanks. Mom, this is Leo and Luna, my new friends," Alex said, introducing the twins. "It's nice to meet you both," Alexis said with a smile. Alex and his mom returned home and gave his father the good news.

"I knew you could do it bud," Jaden said as he bent down and ruffled his son's hair. "Dad!" Alex griped as he tried to fix his hair back. "How about we go out and get some ice cream to celebrate?" Alexis asked. "That sounds great," Alex agreed. "Alright then. Jaden, go and get Jayla and we'll meet you in the car," Alexis said. "Sure. I'll be right there," Jaden responded as he went to get the baby. As he was walking down the hall, Yubel appeared beside him. "He really is just like you Jaden," she commented. "He definitely takes after Alexis in academics though, thank goodness for that," Jaden responded.

"That is true. Jaden, there's something more important I need to speak to you about," Yubel said, her tone telling Jaden it was important. "What is it, Yubel?" he asked. "At the entrance exam, I thought I sensed someone watching Alex, and it didn't feel like they were friendly," she answered. "Do you think someone might be watching him to see if they can use his power?" Jaden asked. "I'm not sure. When I looked around to find who was watching him, they vanished," the spirit informed. "I see. Have you told Alex?" Jaden asked, to which Yubel answered that she hadn't.

"Let's keep this to ourselves for now. I don't want to make him paranoid or scared in the event this is nothing. Keep a close eye on him, but make sure you're discreet about it, okay?" Jaden asked. "I understand. You should hurry before they wonder what's taking you so long," Yubel advised. Jaden went to Jayla's room, gently picking her up before making his way out to the car, hoping that what Yubel sensed would amount to nothing.