Alex still couldn't believe he was going to participate in the Fortune Cup. If he won, it could help set him on the path to becoming a pro duelist like his dad. When he told Leo and Luna about it, they congratulated him and wished him the best of luck for the tournament. He was currently talking with Leo over a video chat.
"Hey Alex, Dexter said that he thinks the Black Rose is going to appear at the street duels, wanna join us?" Leo asked. "Sure, I'll be right up and we can leave together," Alex said before he hung up and headed downstairs. "Hey mom, I'm going to hang out with Leo and Luna," he shouted.
"Okay, just don't stay out too late," she shouted back. Alex met up with Leo and went to the street duels. On the way, they met up with Dexter, who said he'd remade his deck to beat the Black Rose. When they got there, Alex spotted Yusei with some other people and called out to him.
"Hey Yusei!" he shouted as he walked over to him. "Alex?" Yusei asked as he turned to the direction Alex shouted from. "You know this kid Yusei?" a man with spiked blue hair asked. "Yeah, he and I dueled the other day and he won," Yusei admitted. "No way, this kid beat you in a duel?" a brown haired man standing beside Yusei asked.
"Alex, this is Tanner, Yanagi, and Blister," Yusei said as he introduced his friends. "It's nice to meet you all," Alex said. "So how did this grade school squirt beat ya?" Tanner asked, unsure how Alex could've won. "Hey! I'll have you know my father is Jaden Yuki!" Alex said before he realized what he just said.
"What? You mean your father is the same man who defeated the Sacred Beasts and the Light of Destruction?" Yanagi asked. "Uh, yeah. I usually don't bring it up, but I just blurted it out to defend myself," Alex said. "Ok, now I see how this kid beat you," Tanner admitted, seeing he may have underestimated Alex.
"He did more than beat me, I couldn't even damage him," Yusei admitted. "What? He beat you without taking any damage?" Blister asked, astonished Yusei lost without dealing any damage at all. "Yep. I have no doubt Alex is gonna be as big a pro as his dad was," Yusei praised as he turned to Alex.
"Thanks Yusei. Oh, I almost forgot to tell you, I got an invitation to the Fortune Cup," Alex informed. "You got an invite too?" Yusei asked, surprised Alex got invited. "Wait, you were also invited?" Alex asked back. "Yeah, but if I don't enter my friends are gonna be in trouble," Yusei informed.
Alex felt sorry for Yusei, but he then sensed a powerful spirit coming from Yusei's deck. "Yusei, did you get Stardust Dragon back?" Alex asked, unsure what else would be the cause. "How did you know?" Yusei asked, shocked Alex figured it out without Yusei telling him anything.
"I can sense him in your deck," Alex informed. "Wait, what do you mean you can sense it? And how do you know about Stardust Dragon?" Tanner asked, becoming more curious by the minute. "I can see and talk to duel spirits," Alex said nonchalantly. "Well, you're just full of surprises aren't you kid?" Blister asked, taking it surprisingly well.
"More than you know," Alex responded, hoping he wouldn't have to say anything else. Suddenly, Yusei fell to one knee and clutched his arm. "What's wrong Yusei?" Alex asked as he went to Yusei's side. "It's my arm, it's hurting just like when the Crimson Dragon first appeared," Yusei groaned.
Just then, black vines rose up from the ground and lashed out at the surrounding buildings. Alex pulled out his duel disk and grabbed a card before placing it in his monster zone. His eyes glowed golden as Yubel appeared as a real being and used her vines to protect them.
"No way, did Alex just bring that card to life?" Dexter asked in surprise. Alex knew he'd have questions to answer later. For now, he followed the black vines back to their source, which turned out to be an enormous dragon. Yusei pulled up his sleeve to reveal a glowing mark.
"That's no tattoo," Tanner marveled. "You're right Tanner, that's the mark of the Crimson Dragon," Yanagi said, recognizing Yusei's signer mark. Then, a cloaked figure appeared in front of the dragon, and Alex and Yusei ran in the figure's direction. "Hey, are you the Black Rose?" Alex asked.
"So what if I am?" the cloaked figure asked in a distinctly feminine voice before she looked at Yusei and saw his Signer Mark. "You have a mark as well!" she said in anger. "As well? She must be a signer," Yusei said before he began to walk towards her, but she pulled out a card and used it, disappearing in a flash of light.
"She's gone," Alex said before he turned back to his friends, and he could tell they had questions. "How did you make that monster come to life? Are you like the Black Rose?" Dexter asked. "Well, I guess I do owe you all an explanation, but you can't tell anyone what I'm about to tell you," Alex said, hoping he could trust everyone.
They all agreed to keep it to themselves and allowed Alex to explain. "The truth is, I inherited these powers from my dad. They let me see and talk to duel spirits, and I can use it to make duel monsters become real. I used to not be able to control it very well, and actually wound up hurting people, but my dad trained me to use it properly," Alex admitted.
"I see, but why is it so important to keep it a secret?" Tanner asked. "Because there may be people who would want to use the power for themselves. My dad said I could be in danger if anyone found out I had inherited it from him," Alex said. "I see. Well, you have our word to keep it a secret," Blister promised.
Alex was thankful that they were all accepting of him and not fearful like he had been worried they would be. The week passed and the day of the Fortune Cup arrived. Alex's parents drove him there, wanting to watch him duel. "I know you can do it," Alexis encouraged, wishing she could do more to help him.
"Thanks mom," Alex responded. "Go get 'em son," Jaden said as he gave Alex a thumbs up. Jaden and Alexis left him to head for the stands while Alex headed to the waiting room where he joined up with Yusei. "Hey Alex, you ready for this?" Yusei asked. "You bet I am," Alex responded.