It was the next morning after Alex's duel, and Yubel had just told everyone what she observed from Alex last night. "So Alex is doing this out of sadness from losing his parents?" Yusei asked. "Indeed. I was able to look inside Alex's heart and mind while he was asleep, and the only thing I could see was sorrow. He's doing this because he doesn't want anyone else to feel like he does right now," Yubel affirmed.

"I can't imagine how Alex must feel after seeing that happen to his parents right in front of him, especially at such a young age," Yusei said. "And fusing with Nightshroud didn't help his mental state either," Yubel added. "What are you talking about?" Jack asked. "It seems that fusing with Nightshroud warped Alex's mind, similar to what happened to me when I was exposed to the Light of Destruction years ago," Yubel responded.

"So how do we get the real Alex back?" Akiza asked. "I think I can help with that," a voice said from the entrance to the room. The group turned to face the man who spoke, and Yubel was surprised to see who it was. "Atticus?" she asked. Lo and behold, the man standing in the doorway was none other than Alexis' brother.

"Long time no see Yubel," he said. "Who is this guy?" Jack asked. "This is Atticus Rhodes, the former pro duelist and Alex's uncle," Yubel introduced. "I saw the news report where Alex made his announcement and rushed to New Domino City. I saw his duel with your friend yesterday. I'm sorry," Atticus consoled.

"So what did you mean when you said you could help?" Yusei asked. "Right now Alex thinks he's alone, and there's no one left who cares about him. We need to show him that he's wrong," Atticus answered. "And that's why you're here?" Luna asked. "Yes. As it stands, I'm Alex's only remaining family. If I can beat him in a duel, I should be able to bring him back to his old self, and then all the people who have been sent to the World of Darkness should return," Atticus informed.

"Are you sure you can beat him?" Leo asked. "If there's a chance I can get my nephew back, I'm going to take it," Atticus answered firmly. Suddenly, a group of people burst into the hospital, and they looked fairly beaten up. "What happened to you all?" Yusei asked.

"We were just attacked by Nightshroud's army. A bunch of the citizens joined together to form a resistance and made a base in the stadium, but his army attacked and rounded up most of our members. They then had to duel against Nightshroud one by one. They all lost and disappeared. We barely managed to escape," one of them answered.

"That's horrible," Yusei responded. "And it gets worse. As we were escaping, we heard one of the soldiers say they were going to attack the hospital tomorrow," one of the others informed. "What? Why would they attack here?" Jack asked. "They must have found out we were here," Akiza offered.

"So what do we do?" Leo asked. "We go on the offensive. I'm going to duel him, today," Atticus declared. "That's crazy, you don't stand a chance against him. He's in a league all his own. I've never seen a duelist so skilled. The most terrifying thing about him isn't even his skills, it's his lack of emotions. It's like facing down a machine. He's cold, heartless, and unfeeling," one of the duelists said.

Atticus couldn't believe they had just described his nephew. "Alex, I promise I'm going to bring you back, no matter what it takes," he promised himself. "I'm going," he said as he began to leave, but stopped when he felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned to see who was trying to stop him, and saw Yusei, but Yusei didn't look like he was trying to stop him.

"Not without us you're not," Yusei said, and the others all agreed. "Then let's go," Atticus said before they all left. They headed to Alex's castle and arrived just as his army was returning. They spotted Alex and his generals at the back of the army, with Alex having summoned the duel spirit Breaker the Magical Warrior to replace Vampire Lord after his defeat. Once the army had entered the castle, Atticus called out to Alex.

"Alex!" Atticus shouted. "I know that voice, Atticus?" Alex thought before he looked behind him and saw that it was in fact his uncle. "Alex, I heard what happened to your parents. I know you must feel like you're alone, but you're not! I'm right here! We can fix everything. Return everyone you've sent to Nightshroud's world and we can face the Dark Signers and get your parents back!" Atticus shouted.

"No, I can't do that. I will fulfill my goal. I will give everyone on Earth the peace that is the world Nightshroud and I created. I will defeat the Dark Signers, and I will get my parents back, and then they too will become a part of that world," Alex vowed. "Alex, you're not thinking clearly. Merging with Nightshroud has warped your mind! You have to snap out of it!" Atticus yelled.

"You're wrong. For the first time in my life, I can see everything clearly. This world is corrupt, unfair, and unjust. It is beyond saving, so I will bring everyone to a better world, my world. I will show everyone on Earth a better existence. One free of misery and strife. A world where everyone shares in a collective feeling of joy and happiness. If you really want to help me, then join me. Help me bring everyone on Earth to a better place," Alex offered.

"No Alex. You may think you're doing what's best for everyone, but you're wrong. I'll defeat you, and I'll bring you back from the dark place you've entered," Atticus resolved. "If you want to face me in a duel, so be it. Once I win, I'll send you to my world, and you'll see that it is the best possible fate for everyone," Alex responded as he activated his duel disk.

"I guess it'll take more than just words to bring you back. Fine, I'll duel you, and I'll get the real you back!" Atticus promised as he activated his own duel disk. They squared up to duel and both shouted "Game on!"

Alex: 4000 LP

Atticus: 4000 LP

"I'll go first. And I play Black Dragon's Chick in attack mode," Atticus declared as he summoned a monster that looked like an infant version of Red-Eyes Black Dragon.

Level 1/Dark/Dragon

ATK 800/DEF 500

"And now I activate his special ability, so by sending him to my graveyard, I can summon Red-Eyes Black Dragon from my hand," he continued as he summoned his ace monster.

Level 7/Dark/Dragon

ATK 2400/DEF 2000

"Alex, you really think there's no other path for you, don't you? I'll show you that you can still do the right thing," Atticus thought to himself as he placed a card from his hand in his spell and trap zone.

"From my hand I play the Inferno Fire Blast spell card! With it, you take damage equal to Red-Eyes' original attack points, for a total of 2400 points of damage," he explained. Red-Eyes launched a fireball at Alex that exploded on contact. When the smoke cleared, Alex seemed to be fine, and there was a monster on his field.

Level 3/Dark/Spellcaster

ATK 600/DEF 1200

Alex: 4000 LP

"What? Why didn't his life points drop? And where did that monster come from?" Jack asked. "When the blast hit, I activated the effect of Damage Mage in my hand, which summoned her to my field and allowed me to regain the life points I lost," Alex explained.

"I end my turn," Atticus declared, realizing quickly he needed to step up his game if he was going to win. "I draw. And I sacrifice Damage Mage to summon Evil HERO Malicious Edge in attack mode," Alex said.

Level 7/Earth/Fiend

ATK 2600/DEF 1800

"Attack Red-Eyes with Needle Burst," he ordered as Malicious Edge fired his claws at Red-Eyes, tearing through the monster with ease.

Atticus: 3800 LP

"I end my turn," Alex concluded. "I draw. I play Swing of Memories to bring back my Red-Eyes," Atticus declared as Red-Eyes returned to the field. "But it can't beat Alex's Malicious Edge," Leo pointed out. "Which is why I'm doing this. I play the spell card Polymerization to fuse Red-Eyes with the Meteor Dragon in my hand to summon Meteor Black Dragon!" Atticus shouted.

Level 8/Fire/Dragon

ATK 3500/DEF 2000

"That's the same monster Alex played against Trudge," Yusei recalled. "Who do you think he got it from? Now attack with Dark Meteor Impact!" Atticus ordered as his monster charged a purple fireball in his mouth before launching it at Malicious Edge, destroying him.

Alex: 3100 LP

"Next I play Graceful Charity, so I draw 3 cards and discard 2. Now I activate Super Rejuvenation, so at the end of this turn, I draw a number of cards equal to the total number of dragon type monsters that I tributed or discarded this turn. I end my turn, and due to my spell's effect, since I discarded 2 dragons this turn, I draw 2 cards," Atticus declared.

"I draw. And I activate Dark Fusion. I fuse Evil HERO Spiritual Soldier and Evil HERO Necro Charmer in order to summon Evil HERO Necro Commander in attack mode," Alex declared.

Level 6/Dark/Fiend

ATK 1900/DEF 1800

"And now his special ability activates. When he's summoned, he can send one of your monsters to the graveyard, and then he can revive a monster from either of our graves onto my field, but it can neither use its effects nor attack directly this turn," he explained. "Say what?" Atticus asked.

"Send Meteor Black Dragon to the grave," Alex ordered as a black portal opened up underneath Meteor Black Dragon before hands made of shadows grabbed him and pulled him into the vortex as it closed. "And now I'll use my monster's effect to make your dragon my servant," he continued as the same vortex appeared on Alex's field and Meteor Black Dragon rose up out of it.

"He turned Atticus' monster against him!" Akiza shouted. "Now Necro Commander attacks you directly. Infernal Scythe Slash," Alex ordered as Necro Commander slashed his scythe towards Atticus, sending a crescent shaped blast of black energy flying at him, knocking him onto his back.

Atticus: 1900 LP

"And now I play the quick-play spell Sebek's Blessing. Now I gain life points equal to the damage my monster just inflicted," Alex explained.

Alex: 5000 LP

"No way, Alex's life points are more than twice as much as Atticus' now!" Luna exclaimed. "If Atticus can't turn this around on his next turn, he'll lose," Jack pointed out. "I set one card face-down and end my turn," Alex concluded. Atticus was still lying on his back, trying to get back on his feet.

"This duel is over, there's no way he can defeat the king," Dark Crusader commented. "Indeed. No duelist can defeat our lord," Jinzo agreed. "For our sake, I hope they're wrong about Atticus," Yusei thought to himself.

To be continued...