The room was bathed in the warm orange glow of the setting sun, lending it an air of tranquility.

It was one of those rare afternoons where the rigorous dueling world of Duel Academy had graciously given me some peace.

Seated alone in my room, my mind inevitably roved back to that one event that had turned my life at the Academy on its head – my duel with Alexis Rhodes.

Days had passed since our intense clash, yet every moment, every word, every stare seemed etched in my memory.

We hadn't interacted much after the duel, keeping our relationship at a polite distance.

An occasional 'hello,' a passing nod - but nothing beyond.

Underneath this veneer of courtesy, our duel still held an icy presence, a silent testament to the tension that occasionally resurfaced between us.

Sure, we are cool, no pun intended, but we definitely aren't friends.

I guess we are just acquaintances.

Maybe a little less than that.

While looking up at the ceiling of my room, I began to recall the duel that had happened a few days ago.

Jaden's duel against that Obelisk Blue was pretty tight.

I never thought that he would use Transcendent Wings on a Winged Kuriboh to turn the duel.

It was an exciting duel, no doubt, but I can't but wonder why I was also bothered by it.

Specifically, the card that Obelisk Blue played.

Magical Mallet.

Having the ability to switch out your hand while also having the chance to play Magical Mallet again sounds a little... unfair.

There don't seem to be any disadvantages to playing Magical Mallet.

Weird, didn't Magical Mallet back then not have the ability to be recycled back into the deck?

I began examining my deck, checking to make sure that I hadn't gone senile.

Lots of cards have these strange extra effects that I had no idea existed...

Fusion Weapon, for example, is supposed to increase the stats of a level 6 or lower fusion monster by 1500.

But apparently, it also gives the card piercing battle damage too.

Since when?

Not to mention how weird Raregold Armor is when she played it...

As I flipped through my deck, Alexis's harsh words echoed in my mind.

The way she saw dueling - as a showcase of willpower and soul - was a direct attack on my own strategic approach.

"So, you think you can duel with 'your way'? Your way has gotten you on the back foot."

Her words were a punch I couldn't dodge.

And then there was Zane Truesdale - the revered 'Kaiser' of Duel Academy.

I only found out about him when I asked who he was after he left.

The two girls that hang around Rhodes were pissed that I apparently didn't know the Kaiser.

Jeez, am I supposed to know every famous person around here?

But to be fair, I am in a dueling academy, and I am dueling again.

His comment after our duel still echoed in my mind.

"You might not follow the traditional norms of dueling, but your style is unique. You managed to prove that there is no single right way to duel. Everyone has their own path."

Back then, I hadn't quite grasped his point.

But now, reflecting on my duel with Alexis, I started to see the depth in Zane's words.

Sighing, I leaned back on my chair.

My gaze was lost in the hues of the dying day.

The future was a whirlwind of duels and potential confrontations.

But I knew I wouldn't.

I couldn't shy away from them.

The crisp, cool sheets of paper, embellished with the distinctively vivid artwork of my dueling deck, flipped effortlessly between my fingers.

I stopped at a particular card - a simple but effective one that had always found its place in my dueling strategy.

Staring at the illustration, my thoughts wandered back to that intense duel against Alexis.

It wasn't just the words that resonated with me, but there was something else, something unexplainable. Some of the cards she used during our duel felt... familiar and yet so alien at the same time.

Cyber Ballet - a card that she tried to use in our duel.

The gracefulness of its lights, the power it packed in its moves - it was all so mesmerizing but also somewhat unsettling.

She really had some incredible firepower.

Attacking me directly despite my defenses...

Rhodes might as well be my opposite in dueling strategy.

I had never seen that card before, but the moment it took its place on the field, I knew something was very wrong.

The feeling was so intense that it was almost as if I was doing something I wasn't supposed to.

I had no idea such a field spell even existed in the first place.

But why do I care?

I haven't kept up with the game in so long that the plausible answer is that it's a new card.

Even then, there was another suspect.

And that was Raregold Armor.

The sheer power it granted Alexis's monster, making it the sole target for my attacks, felt oddly familiar.

Like a move I'd seen played out before in another time, another duel perhaps.

Yet, I couldn't put my finger on when or where.

But what bothers me the most is that Raregold armor has targeted destruction immunity from spells, such as Hammer Shot and Smashing Ground.

I know of Raregold Armor, but I didn't know it had an additional effect.

This sense of déjà vu lingered in my mind, forming a perplexing puzzle that I couldn't quite solve.

It was an anomaly wrapped in a veil of mystery, an unfamiliar feeling that was still strangely familiar yet different.

As the last streaks of sunlight dwindled away, I was left with a myriad of questions, lost in a maze of thoughts.

Perhaps there was more to dueling, to these cards, to Alexis's words, to Zane's wisdom than I could comprehend.

Maybe I was at the brink of something vast, something that transcended the simplicity of a duel and delved into the complex realms of the unexplored.

Despite all the doubts and uncertainties, a resolve stirred within me.

Whether it was about my way of dueling, the hidden depths of the cards, or the weirdness that was my déjà vu, I knew I was on the cusp of discovery.

I now know that dueling is a form of expressing yourself and that a duel can be a battle of ideals...

But is it worth spending your life over?

I mean, there are new cards being released every now and again.

That means the pro players are switching out cards as well to switch up their strategy.

They duel for a living, but do they live for their ideals?

Isn't there a saying that if you believe in your ideals, then you must be willing to betray them?

Does that apply here?

I sighed at how nihilistic my thoughts were starting to become.

This sucks.

There's nothing much I can do with the words those two have given me.

All I can do now is try to understand them as they live in my head rent-free.

But now, it started to gnaw at me.

Relationships with others, huh?

Was that what I was lacking?

Was that why I felt this... emptiness?

It was an odd feeling, almost like... loneliness.

For a guy who was fine being by himself, this was a strange revelation.

I looked at my desk, the stack of books, the unfinished homework.

And for the first time in a long while, I felt a pang of discontent.

Maybe... just maybe, I want more than this.

I wanted friends, connections, and a sense of belonging.

I let out a sigh, shook my head, and decided to take a break; the homework could wait.

My muddled thoughts, however, needed sorting out.

And so, I stepped out into the night, my duel disk on my bed and Zane's words echoing in my mind.

As I stepped outside, the cool evening air hit my face, pulling me out of the whirlwind of thoughts.

The Academy grounds were unusually quiet, a rare reprieve from the constant buzz of duels and chatter.

The sun was setting, casting a warm orange hue over the island, transforming it into a scenic masterpiece.

Despite everything, I couldn't deny that Duel Academy was a beautiful place.

I found myself walking along the well-treaded paths, my eyes drawn to the vibrant colors of the setting sun.

There was something profoundly calming about the whole scene – the gentle rustling of the trees, the soft chirping of the birds settling down for the night, and the soothing sound of waves lapping against the island's edges.

It was a welcome change from the high-energy duels and relentless studying.

Yet, even in the midst of this serene ambiance, my thoughts kept going back to one person – Rhodes.

Earlier in the day, I had noticed her looking gloomier than usual. Her usual vibrant aura seemed somewhat dulled, replaced by an air of melancholy.

Even her eyes, often so full of fire and determination, seemed distant, almost lost.

I had seen her exchange brief nods and smiles with others throughout the day, but something was different.

There was a frailty in her demeanor, a vulnerability that was foreign to the stoic duelist I knew her to be.

The sight to me was disconcerting, to say the least.

Rhodes was one of the more confident people I knew, both in terms of dueling and personality.

Seeing her so downcast... it didn't sit right with me.

Looking for some answers, I decided to approach Mindy.

She is close to Rhodes and would probably know if something was up.

Not to mention that she isn't as... brusque as Jasmine.

I found her chatting with some other Obelisk Blue students near the dorms.

Although it was getting dark, it still wasn't time for curfew just yet, so I was in the clear for now.

This might be one of those moments in which approaching a girl might be difficult...

But I have to try.

Maybe if I distract myself with my concerns, then maybe I can... get through this.

"Uh... Mindy, can I talk to you for a moment?" I asked, walking over to her as she chatted with her friend.

The chatters died down as they turned to me, surprise etched on their faces.

"Oh, Sora! Didn't expect to see you here. What's up?" Mindy chirped, her eyebrows shooting up in surprise. For a split second, she studied my face before breaking into a playful grin. "Wait, don't tell me you're here to ask me out? Especially at this time of day? How romantic!"

What?

I blinked, taken aback. Was she joking? Deciding to play along, I shrugged and let out a chuckle, "Not quite, Mindy."

She giggled and playfully nudged me, clearly amused, "I'm just messing with you, Sora. Anyway, what's on your mind?"

Do I laugh here?

"Err... yeah, heheh... right. Do you have a moment to talk?" I awkwardly muttered before getting down to brass tacks. "It's important, Mindy."

She traded looks with her friend before shrugging.

"Sure, I don't mind! Let's get going!"

With that, we walked to the shoreline near the girl's dorms and watched the sun begin to set.

The orange rays slowly turned into a deep shade of blue as the sun crested against the sea.

As sun began to fall deeper into the ocean, the remaining rays shimmered across it, like jewels of treasure.

The island's beautiful sunsets were one of the many highlights of my day, and there's a good chance that I would never get used to them.

For a moment, I had forgotten why I was here in the first place.

That's... beautiful.

Crap, got distracted.

"Uh... Um..." The soft-spoken girl began to sputter, reminding me why I even brought her out this way in the first place. "N-Nice weather we're having..."

Why is she behaving so weirdly?

...

Ahh, I get it.

This must be the sort of weather for girls to expect some sort of love confession!

I mean, the setting is romantic and all, but that's not what I am trying to aim for here!

"Yeah, it is pretty nice," I replied as I slowly turned to the nervous girl. "I won't keep you for long; I just want to ask about someone."

Said a nervous girl leering at me for a moment before giving me the chance to continue.

"It's about Alexis..." I began, hesitating slightly. "I noticed she's been looking a bit... I don't know, down, recently. Do you have any idea why?"

Mindy's face turned thoughtful for a moment, and then she looked downcast.

"I'm not sure, Sora. Alexis doesn't share much about her personal life. All I know is that she sometimes goes outside after curfew with a flower and comes back really late at night. Sometimes... she even cries in her room." She managed to say.

She... cries?

Whatever Rhodes is going through sounds like something serious...

I nodded, my gaze straying toward the horizon where the sun was setting.

The sky was ablaze with hues of orange and red, casting long shadows on the ground.

It was an oddly fitting backdrop for our conversation.

"Okay... Thanks, Mindy. I appreciate it," I told her, my mind already churning with thoughts.

Whatever was bothering Alexis, it was clear that she wasn't ready to share it with anyone.

But it didn't mean I couldn't try to help, even if in a small way.

Her words did little to assuage my concern, so I gave her a grateful nod and walked away, my perplexing worry for Alexis growing.

"Hey..." She called to which I turned around.

She looked like she was debating within herself, deciding on what to say before taking a deep breath.

"I think I'll follow Alexis. I don't think I can stand to see her like this. I'll find out what I know, and I'll tell you about it, okay? Maybe we can help her..."

I knew it took a lot of courage to say something like this, and I gave her a grateful smile.

"Yeah! That sounds like a great idea! I'll help you out if it means helping her out!"

But deep down, I wanted to stop her, as it might be dangerous to do such a thing.

Her eyes widened from energetic response back before giving me a smile back.

"Mhm! You can count on me!"

I gave her my goodbyes and went on my way.

But despite Mindy's assurances, I was still a little worried.

I had no idea what was bothering her, but I knew one thing for sure.

I couldn't just stand by and do nothing.

Maybe I do see her as a friend, right?

It would be nice to have more friends...

As I meandered back toward my dorm, a conversation from earlier in the day resurfaced in my mind.

The exchange had been brief, seemingly inconsequential, but it had nagged at me like a puzzle piece that just wouldn't fit.


"Hey, Rhodes, you doing alright?" I had asked, keeping my tone casual to not make it feel intrusive.

We were in the library, a place I often found solace in.

Rhodes was sitting alone, a rarity given her popularity and the usual entourage of friends that tended to follow her.

I wasn't her confidant or anything, just a guy noticing a fellow duelist seemed off.

Her gaze was unfocused, her eyes distant as she stared unseeing at the open book in front of her.

Alexis turned to look at me, her usually focused brown eyes slightly dimmed, almost like gold threatening to break open.

It was a subtle change, but to anyone that knew her even a little, it didn't go unnoticed.

Something was definitely off.

Her response, however, was curt, to the point of almost being dismissive.

"I'm fine, Sora. Just...a bit tired, is all," She replied without sparing another glance.

Her tone lacked its typical confident energy, and that, more than anything, told me something was off.

Sure, she was clearly dismissing me, a request for privacy masked as reassurance, but I wasn't entirely convinced.

The words she let out felt rehearsed, robotic, devoid of any real emotion.

And given our duel a couple of days ago, I know that this girl was anything but emotionless.

"Alright, if you say so."

I didn't push it, though.

We were acquaintances, not friends.

But still, I couldn't just ignore the obvious signs.

"Well, if you need to talk or... anything, you know I'm here, right?" I said, attempting to offer some sort of comfort.

However, she simply brushed it off.

"Thanks, but really, I'm okay," she answered, but her strained smile said otherwise.

Her words hung heavily in the air, the silence that followed uncomfortable, filled with unasked questions and unsaid reassurances.

The conversation ended there, her clear dismissal leaving no room for further probing.

But the uncertainty lingered, a nagging concern that refused to be silenced.

Alexis Rhodes was clearly not 'okay,' and despite her cold demeanor and our distant relationship, I couldn't just sit idly by.

But what was I supposed to do?

How could I help her?


These questions plagued my mind as I trudged back to my dorm room, the sunset casting long, contemplative shadows around me.

My mind was still awash with thoughts of Rhodes as I returned to my dorm.

Pushing the door open, I found my room the way I had left it: papers scattered across the desk, a half-drunk coffee cup sitting precariously on the edge, my deck of cards spread out in a disarrayed fan, an embodiment of my tumultuous thoughts.

I took a deep breath, pushing all my thoughts aside and focusing on the task at hand.

Homework, the routine task providing a sense of normalcy amidst the whirlwind of uncertainty.

I threw myself into solving equations, writing essays, poring over textbooks - anything to keep my mind from spiraling into unanswerable questions.

Hours passed in this manner, my focus unwavering, the world outside slowly darkening as night descended on the island.

My work was nearing completion; a sense of accomplishment replaced the earlier unease.

Just as I was about to place the cap back on my pen, a familiar series of rapid knocks sounded on my door, immediately followed by the door swinging open.

Jaden Yuki, his untamed hair as wild as his spirit, barreled into my room, the usual contagious energy around him causing an instant shift in the room's atmosphere.

"Sora, dude, you won't believe what Syrus and I heard!" Jaden exclaimed, his eyes shining with the thrill of a new adventure. "Come on, take a guess!"

Behind him, a slightly out-of-breath Syrus and a fellow Slifer Red I hadn't met before trailed in.

Jaden's interruption jolted me out of my quiet contemplation.

His energy was as vibrant as ever despite my prior somber mood.

"Can it wait until tomorrow? I had a long day, and I was planning to head to bed." I countered, pointing at my bed.

Despite my cold behavior, it did nothing to turn him.

"But it's the perfect time to check it out! If we don't do this now, then we have to wait until tomorrow to get the right mood on!" He argued back with a stubborn glint in his eyes.

I sighed, putting my pen down and turning to face him, a resigned smile playing on my lips.

Check what out?

And what's wrong with waiting another day?

With that, the serene stillness of the night was broken, replaced with Jaden's boisterous plans for our impending 'adventure.'

"Fine, fine. What's up?" I relented, which seemed to amp the Hero duelist even more.

He plopped himself on my bed, to which I turned my chair to him.

"The abandoned dorm, dude! Check it; Professor Banner told us about it a while back, and it turns out it's some spooky stuff! Apparently, some students went missing there because they were using Millennium Items to do Shadow Games! Pretty neat, huh?"

The abandoned dorm?

That certainly sounded like a setting straight out of a horror movie.

But despite the B-movie setting, I felt a sudden chill creep up my spine.

If there was one thing I knew from my time at Duel Academy so far, it was that strange happenings were more commonplace than I'd ever imagined.

"Why is it abandoned? Why hasn't it been demolished or something?" The questions tumbled out before I could stop them, each one raising further alarms in my mind. "Won't we get into some deep trouble if we get too close?"

Jaden merely shrugged, his grin never wavering.

"Those are mysteries for us to find out, Sora! Come on, it'll be fun!"

I eyed Jaden warily.

His excitement was contagious, yes, but it also tended to drag us all into situations we'd rather avoid.

Exhibit A was just a few weeks ago when he decided to combat the afternoon heat as a spontaneous swimming trip.

It sounds normal, right?

The problem is that the place he had in mind was not the beach but the school's Olympic-sized swimming pool, which was off-limits during the winter due to the water being too cold and not properly maintained.

According to him, the thrill was 'part of the experience,' and getting a nasty cold was our body's way of saying thanks.

Exhibit B, during a curfew check, Jaden had the brilliant idea of staging a shadow puppet show on the wall using a flashlight, which nearly got us caught.

Apparently, he'd read that laughter helps one stay alert and awake.

Counterpoint, the heart palpitations from narrowly escaping the gaze of the patrolling campus security worked better.

Or the most recent Exhibit C, the time managed to convince us to have a midnight barbecue, involving sneaking into the kitchen, "borrowing" supplies, and setting up an impromptu grill in the Slifer Red dorms.

Unfortunately, we were caught red-handed due to the smoke alarm and spent the next day scrubbing dishes as punishment.

But to Jaden, it counted as a win because the food was delicious.

Yeah, hanging out with the Slifer Reds was never boring, and, despite the mishaps, I couldn't help but enjoy these unexpected adventures.

Just... I wish they didn't all include the potential to get in trouble or anything.

Maybe I should take a page out of Bastion's book and lock my doors...

At this point, however, my curiosity was getting the better of me.

The thought of an abandoned dorm intrigued me.

What was its story? Why was it abandoned?

Plus, exploring an eerie location under the cover of night was a classic adventure trope.

It was reckless, possibly even dangerous, but it was also the kind of adventure I'd always imagined living out in a book or a video game.

And even if I didn't want to go, there was a good chance that Jaden might drag me out anyway.

With a sigh, I gave in, resigning myself to the inevitable.

"Alright. I'm in."

Jaden's face lit up at my response.

"Awesome! This is going to be epic, you'll see."

Famous last words.

But as I looked at the eager faces of Jaden, Syrus, and the other Slifer Red student, I couldn't help but feel a flicker of anticipation myself.

Despite the warning bells going off in my head, I was getting drawn into this mystery.

In the end, maybe that's just the kind of person I was - always getting pulled into things I knew was probably not a good idea, always chasing after answers, always seeking something more.

Despite my initial hesitation, I found myself looking forward to our little night-time adventure.

Huh, I might be turning into a delinquent.

But my grades aren't suffering, so what does that mean?

Just as I was musing over the unexpected turn of events, the other Slifer Red student - the one I hadn't met before - stepped forward, extending a hand.

"Hey, I'm Chumley Huffington. Nice to meet you, Kazuyuki Sora," he said, offering me a friendly grin. "I heard a lot from you from Jaden."

I took his hand, returning his greeting.

"Nice to meet you too, Chumley. It's always nice to have another friend."

He gripped my hand, and I was in awe of the strength the man was holding.

Even under the dim lights of my room, Chumley was a rather distinctive figure.

Broad-shouldered and tall, his physique was more reminiscent of a professional bodybuilder than a high school duelist.

His hair, while not as eccentric as Jaden's or Syrus', was certainly unique.

It was styled in an unusual way that reminded me of... a koala's ears?

And the pink, rounded nose...

Actually, the more I looked at him, the more he reminded me of a koala.

"You got a strong grip there, dude." He remarked as we shook hands.

I grinned back at him.

"Yeah, right back at you," I replied.

An interesting first impression, to say the least.

Despite his rather intimidating size, there was a gentleness in his eyes that was immediately reassuring.

He seemed like a friendly, easy-going guy, someone who'd be easy to get along with.

"Alright! Are we all acquainted?! I packed your duel disk in Chumley's bag, so let's get going!"

I don't think we'll need that, but alright.

Wait, I wonder why Bastion's not coming along...

As we gathered our things and started heading out, a thought struck me. "Hey, Jaden, how come you didn't invite Bastion?" I asked, my curiosity piqued. Bastion was always around to hang out with us and seemed like the kind of person who'd be up for an adventure.

Jaden simply shrugged, his grin never fading.

"Well, I did go to his room first, but his door was locked, so I figured he was sleeping or studying, y'know? Didn't want to bother him," The Hero duelist explained, making it sound like the most reasonable thing in the world.

I paused for a moment, letting his words sink in.

Then, I couldn't help but burst out laughing.

"Wait, so you didn't want to bother Bastion, but I was fair game?"

Jaden blinked, surprised at my reaction.

Then, he shrugged again, a sheepish grin creeping onto his face.

"Well... yeah. Your door was open, so you were obviously awake, right?"

I shook my head and let out a happy sigh at this.

"Alright, yeah. I guess I was awake after all."

We made our way toward the abandoned dorm under the cloak of the night.

The world was bathed in an ethereal silver glow, with the moon hanging high in the sky, and the trees rustled softly in the breeze, whispering secrets only they knew.

Far off, the lapping of the waves against the shore echoed a calming rhythm.

It was peaceful, tranquil even, the ambiance of the night providing a serene soundtrack to our adventure.

Jaden was practically bouncing off the walls with excitement, his energy almost palpable.

Every once in a while, he'd point out something interesting in the landscape or recount a particularly exciting duel he had on these grounds.

His enthusiasm made the journey seem less like a trek toward a potential ghost hunt and more like an exciting field trip.

On the other hand, Syrus and Chumley seemed a little less enthusiastic.

Syrus was glancing around nervously, hugging his arms as if to ward off the chill of the night.

Chumley, despite his imposing size, seemed similarly affected, his usual easy-going expression replaced with a frown of unease.

They both jumped at every unexpected sound, their nervous energy standing in stark contrast to Jaden's nonchalance.

As for me, I was somewhere in the middle.

A part of me was apprehensive, feeling a chill that had nothing to do with the cool night air.

Yet, another part of me was excited, intrigued by the mystery that lay ahead.

The abandoned dorm... a symbol of forgotten stories and untold secrets, beckoned to me.

An echo from the past, waiting to be unearthed.

Despite the ominous destination, the journey felt like an adventure, one that was strangely comforting under the night sky.

And as I walked alongside my newfound companions, I couldn't help but feel a sense of camaraderie.

After all, it isn't every day that you get to venture into the unknown with your friends.

And as we walked on, the looming shadow of the abandoned dorm grew closer, its silent silhouette a stark reminder of the unknown waiting to be explored.

As we ventured deeper into the trail leading to the abandoned dorm, a gnawing sense of unease began to crawl up my spine.

I couldn't put my finger on why, but something about this whole situation felt off.

Like we were walking headfirst into something we weren't prepared for.

Are we walking toward a trap?

I shook off the feeling, pushing it to the back of my mind.

It was probably just my nerves going ballistic.

After all, we were going to an abandoned dorm in the middle of the night; it was natural to feel a bit apprehensive.

Yet, the sense of foreboding persisted.

Like an itch you can't scratch, an unshakeable feeling that something bad was about to happen.

The chattering around me grew dim, my friends' voices becoming a mere murmur against the steady rhythm of my heart.

It was like I was in a bubble, my surroundings blurred and distant.

The only thing that seemed to exist was the feeling of dread settling heavily in my chest.

I instinctively reached up to my left chest, pressing my hand against it.

A dull, familiar ache began to pulse beneath my fingertips, an old reminder of a past I had left behind.

The dull throb echoed an old pain, a scar from a time long forgotten.

Ugh, not now...!

Come on; I can't let this happen now!

My legs began to lose their strength as we continued to walk forward.

"Whoa, there!" I heard Chumley shout as I felt his hand on my shoulder as if to keep me steady. "Hey, you OK?"

With a couple of deep breaths, I was able to recover my breathing.

"Y-Yeah, just a little winded, is all," I replied as I let out an exhausted breath. "Thanks for the assist."

He patted my shoulder, to which Syrus examined.

"Sora, if you aren't feeling well, we can go back. It's pretty late, after all." He said with worry.

Jaden turned around and saw my condition, which made him drop his enthusiastic vibe in an instant.

"Yeah, man. It's no pressure. If your body can't keep up, you might as well let it rest, right?"

My hand dropped back to my side, the ache slowly fading away, leaving a lingering sense of discomfort.

I shook my head at this.

"No, it's just... I lost my footing, is all." I managed to say. "But it's fine now. We can keep going."

The three Slifer Reds traded looks before turning to me.

"Alright, man. Just don't push yourself, OK? Yo, Chumley, you mind watching him?" Jaden requested, to which the gentle giant nodded.

With that, we continued our hike to the abandoned dorm.

Even though I had the chance to, I didn't share my concerns with the others.

It wouldn't help anyone to voice my baseless fears.

So I swallowed the words down, pushing my apprehension aside.

For now, I had to focus on the task at hand, keeping my unease to myself.

But as we neared our destination, the feeling of impending doom only grew stronger.

It hung over us like a dark cloud, a silent harbinger of the unseen dangers that lay ahead.

The abandoned dorm loomed ahead, its dark silhouette a stark contrast against the moonlit sky.

And as we walked towards it, I couldn't help but wonder if we were stepping into more than just an abandoned building.

As we continued our trek, I couldn't shake off the dull ache in my chest, an unsettling reminder of an old wound.

A part of my past I'd rather keep buried.

Yet, something about this place, about this situation, seemed to dredge up old memories.

Memories that were better left forgotten.

But for now, all I could do was put one foot in front of the other, moving steadily toward the unknown.

As we approached the decaying structure of the abandoned dorm, the eerie stillness of the night seemed to become more pronounced.

The air was heavy with a silence that was broken only by the sporadic whispers of the wind and the occasional rustle of leaves.

In the corner of my eye, I saw a single rose near the front of a statue.

Wait that has to be...

I walked over to the rose and saw the plaque on the statue.

"Be at peace, wherever you are."

...

This has to be Rhode's rose, and it looks like she is paying respect to someone.

Maybe towards the missing students in this dorm?

"Yo, Sora! You coming?!" I heard Jaden shout as he pushed through the metal gate.

"Yeah, coming!"

I jogged toward them and helped them push open the creaky wooden door.

As we stepped inside, the decaying interior came into view.

Dust-coated furniture, faded rugs, peeling wallpapers - it was as though we had stepped into a snapshot of the past, frozen in time.

What caught our attention, however, were the walls covered in intricate ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics.

Even under the dust and wear, the intricate details of the carvings were unmistakable.

The group was in awe, each trying to decipher the ancient symbols carved onto the stone walls.

I watched as they spread out, their flashlight beams dancing across the hieroglyphics, illuminating images of what looked like the Millennium Items.

The air was filled with excited chatter as they attempted to decipher the ancient script.

However, my attention was elsewhere; as I stood by the dusty window, my eyes were drawn to the scene outside.

A figure was moving in the shadows, just on the edge of the forest line.

What the...

This figure was moving with a purpose, disappearing into a hidden cave just outside the dorm.

Without even realizing it, I moved around to have a closer look at where that figure was going.

There's someone else here besides us...

But who?

My heart pounded in my chest as I watched the figure disappear, an unsettling feeling creeping up my spine.

I didn't know who that was or what they were doing here at this hour.

But something about that figure, about their purposeful stride, didn't sit right with me.

I quickly turned back to the others, my mind whirring with possibilities.

Should I tell them about the figure I just saw?

Or would it be safer to keep quiet for now?

I didn't know, and the uncertainty of the situation didn't make the decision any easier.

My eyes flicked back to the window, staring into the dark where the figure had disappeared.

An uneasy feeling settled in my gut, making me more alert than ever.

Whoever that was, I had a feeling we were about to find out soon enough.

And something told me it wasn't going to be good.

Or maybe...

I'm just seeing things.

I was about to fall back there, and so my mind must be playing tricks on me.

The last thing we need is to be on edge about something that might just be nothing.

We have an 'adventure' to continue, after all.

As we continued our exploration of the derelict dorm, our flashlight beams cutting through the dust-filled air, one of us stumbled upon a dusty, half-torn group picture lying on a rickety, old wooden table.

It was faded with age, but the faces were still recognizable.

Among the group of smiling teens, two stood out.

One was a guy with smooth brown hair, his arm slung around a slightly taller, stern-looking teen with silver hair.

The guy with the smooth hair was grinning widely, eyes crinkled in delight.

The other guy, the one with the dark blue hair, bore a resemblance to a person we knew quite well - Zane Truesdale, the 'Kaiser.'

The guy with smooth hair also bore an uncanny resemblance to Alexis.

From the shape of their eyes to the curve of their smiles, the similarities were unmistakable.

His hair was wilder, his demeanor more carefree, but it was like looking at a male version of Alexis.

The group fell silent, each processing this unexpected discovery.

The similarities between Alexis and the unknown guy in the picture couldn't be coincidental.

"Hey, do you think that guy could be Alexis's brother or something?" Chumley finally broke the silence, voicing the question that was hanging heavily in the air.

"Dude, now that you mention it, he does look a lot like her," Jaden chimed in, squinting at the picture.

"But why would a picture of him be here, in this abandoned dorm?" Syrus added, his face creased with worry. "If only Zane was here..."

The room fell into silence again as we grappled with the mystery before us.

This was turning out to be more than just an 'adventure.'

It felt like we had stumbled upon a piece of Duel Academy's untold past.

And somehow, Alexis seemed to be a part of it.

One thing was clear, though - we were in way over our heads.

As the group fell silent, lost in the midst of this discovery, I found my mind wandering back to Alexis's gloomy expression.

The similarities between the guy in the photo and Alexis weren't just coincidental - they were unmistakable.

And the fact that we'd found the picture here, in an abandoned dormitory no less...

Could it be that this dormitory was the reason behind Alexis's sullen mood?

Had her brother been a student here?

The realization hit me like a truck.

If the guy in the picture was indeed Alexis's brother, then it could explain her sad demeanor.

The rose, the mood, the statue...

It all makes sense now!

This could be the very place her brother vanished!

The thought was chilling, and suddenly the excitement of the 'adventure' was replaced with an uneasy dread.

"Guys...," I started, my voice barely above a whisper. The others turned their attention to me, their eyes curious. "I think we should be careful here. This isn't just an abandoned dormitory. This... this place has history, a history that is probably better left undisturbed."

My statement was met with confused glances, but there was an understanding in their eyes.

A grim understanding that maybe, just maybe, we had stumbled upon a piece of Duel Academy's past that was shrouded in mystery... and pain.

I explained to them what I had noticed so far.

"I think... Alexis' brother may have been one of the students that went missing. I heard from Mindy that she goes out late at night with a rose and comes back on the verge of tears. I saw that same rose on the statue near the dorm... She was paying her respects to her brother."

Each response in the room was poignant, painting a vivid image of our collective shock and sympathy.

Jaden, who'd been full of energy just moments ago, was now visibly pensive.

"That's a major downer, dude," he muttered, rubbing the back of his neck. "Alexis has always been kinda distant, but she's been looking way more out of it lately. If her brother really did disappear here, then I can't even imagine what she's going through."

His voice was uncharacteristically soft, the weight of our discovery subduing his usually vibrant spirit.

Syrus was next to speak up, his voice barely a whisper.

"So, you're saying... her brother might have disappeared from this very dorm? That's... that's heavy, Sora." His eyes were wide with shock, the implications of our discovery rendering him speechless.

He looked down, lost in his own thoughts; I could see the gears turning in his head as he grappled with this new information.

Chumley, who had remained quiet for the most part, finally broke his silence.

"That's pretty messed up, guys," he said, his voice shaking slightly. "I mean, losing a brother, and in such a way... It's just hard even to imagine."

His gaze fell on the old group picture, a mix of sympathy and fear clouding his features. "Geez, it's just...really heavy."

Feeling the mood of the room, I sighed.

"I think we've overstayed our welcome," I said quietly. "This isn't just an abandoned dormitory; it's a monument to a personal tragedy, a silent testament to the fate of a former student... It's not right for us to barge in here, disrupting this place. We should leave out of respect."

There was a moment of silence before everyone nodded in agreement. We had come here seeking an adventure, but what we had found was a grim reminder of a tragic past.

A past that, to someone very much present in our lives, was a heartbreaking reality.

But before we could make our exit, a chilling, shrill scream echoed through the cavernous dormitory, stopping us all in our tracks.

The scream was filled with terror, a sound so haunting it seemed to freeze the very blood in our veins.

The carefree adventure was quickly taking a turn into the realm of the horrifying, and I had a sinking feeling that things were about to get a lot worse.

As we raced towards the source of the scream, our hearts pounded in unison with each echoing footfall, dread filling the pit of our stomachs.

The once-alluring mystery of the dorm now seemed threatening and ominous, but there was no turning back.

The scream had sliced through the still air like a dagger, and we had to find its source.

Our frantic footsteps led us deeper into the building, past rotting furniture and fading murals, and finally to a wall that seemed oddly out of place.

Closer inspection revealed it to be a cleverly concealed door hidden behind a dilapidated bookshelf.

"Chumley!" I called as I grabbed one side of the bookshelf.

He followed suit, and we shoved it aside to reveal a dark passage leading into the bowels of the dorm.

With no other choice, we ventured forward, drawn towards the unknown like moths to a flame.

The passage led to an enormous cavern, the likes of which I had never seen before.

An unnerving chill permeated the air, turning our breath into faint, white wisps.

The room was lit by an ethereal, bluish light emanating from ancient symbols etched onto the stone walls.

The symbols were reminiscent of Egyptian hieroglyphics but had a much darker, ominous feel to them.

In the center of the cavern was a massive stone altar engraved with a circle of intricate symbols.

As our eyes adjusted to the dim light, we saw something that made our blood run cold.

There, on the far end of this cavern, was a hollow coffin.

And lying within them were Alexis and Mindy.

Both of them appeared to be unconscious, their faces pale against the dim light.

Mindy's here...

She's here because of me...

As much as I wanted to berate myself, there were other pressing matters at hand.

Looming over them was a man we'd never seen before.

He was tall, with a muscular build, and wore a coat similar to an undertaker.

His silver iron mask gleamed under the blue light as he raised a strange-looking pyramid item on his side.

It was an eerie sight to behold, almost as if we'd stumbled upon a scene from some forgotten era.

The realization hit me like a ton of bricks.

This was the figure I had seen from the window earlier.

So my mind wasn't playing tricks on me!

Damn it!

But what was he doing here?

And why were Alexis and Mindy unconscious in those coffins?

Something isn't right here...

Before we could ponder any further, Titan's voice boomed through the cavern, his cruel laughter echoing off the stone walls.

"Ah, more guests! Welcome to my humble abode," Titan boomed, a sinister grin spreading across his face. He glanced over at us, his eyes glinting in the dim light, a glimmer of amusement playing across his features. "I am Titan, the shadow duelist! I do hope you like what I've done with the place."

Jaden stepped forward; his fist clenched tightly at his side.

"So you're the one who's responsible for the disappearance! Let them go, Titan!" he demanded, his voice echoing through the cavern.

The sheer conviction in his voice was palpable, a stark contrast to the cold indifference displayed by Titan.

Titan simply threw his head back and laughed, the sound bouncing off the walls of the cavern, chilling us to the bone.

"And why would I do that, boy? I hold all the cards here. No pun intended."

His statement hung in the air, a harsh reminder of our desperate situation.

Titan had the upper hand, and he knew it.

Syrus, who had remained silent until now, finally found his voice.

"And what about the other girl? What are you going to do with her?" His voice was shaky, but there was a spark of defiance in his eyes.

Titan turned his gaze to Syrus, his smirk widening as he pointed his thumb at the girl behind him.

"Oh, her? She will be sacrificed to the Shadow Realm, of course." His words sent a chill down our spines.

We had no idea if this guy was the real deal or not, so the thought of such a possibility was terrifying.

My gaze rested on the unconscious girls behind the man, and I felt a surge of energy rushing me.

If only I were stronger, then none of this would have happened!

If I had the courage to help Rhodes and the will to stop Mindy, then this...

Before anyone could respond, I found myself stepping forward.

"I'll duel you, Titan," I stated, my voice steady despite the nerves that were threatening to consume me.

Titan raised an eyebrow, seeming taken aback by my challenge.

But then, he threw his head back and laughed again, a sound that echoed eerily in the cavernous room.

"Very well, kid. So you want to duel me? Then let's make this interesting, shall we?" His voice was laced with amusement and a hint of challenge. "Two against one. You and the so-called 'Slacker' against me. My contractor had mentioned that Slifer Reds are a joke... Now! The winner gets the girls. The losers... will forfeit their souls!"

A silence fell over the cavern, broken only by the steady drip of water from somewhere above us.

"Sora, here!" Chumley called as he tossed my duel disk over to me.

I caught the disk and equipped the disk.

"Thanks," I muttered as I gave him a thumbs up.

Jaden and I exchanged a glance before nodding, ready to face whatever Titan was planning.

The duel was on.

"But before we begin, let's negotiate the rules. I will go first and have 8000 Life Points, while you two share 4000 and share the field. None of us can attack in the first turn. Is that clear?"

We gave him a wordless nod, to which he chuckled darkly.

"Very well! Let the Shadow Game commence!"

Shadow Games?

The fabled forbidden duel that makes every life point a lifeline...

Taking a drop will be painful too.

Our duel disks were activated, and the field was now visible to us.

My heart began pounding with adrenaline from the fear and excitement.

"Duel!" We shouted as we drew five cards.

(Kazuyuki-Jaden 4000/Titan 8000)

As the words left our mouths, a palpable change filled the cavern.

It was as if the very air had begun to hum with energy, the tangible anticipation of the duel to come casting a unique aura over us all.

Titan, going first, drew his card from the apparatus on his chest, his smile widening as he glanced at it.

"I activate the spell card, 'Pandemonium!'" He declared, slapping the card onto his duel disk's tray.

The disk responded instantly, the card's hologram illuminating the cavern with an ominous red light.

"That card's effect allows him to play Archfiend monsters without any costs, Jaden. Watch yourself." I noted, to which he nodded.

This was a card that perfectly suited his dark, twisted strategies so far.

"Listen to the boy! He is correct, and it will bring you closer to your doom! I summon Archfiend General (2100/800) in attack mode!" He continued, a grotesque monster materializing onto the field.

The beast stood tall, its crimson armor glistening under the cavern's dim lighting; it bared its sharp fangs, letting out a monstrous roar that echoed around us.

A high-stat monster right off the bat...

"And I will set one card face-down. It's your turn, boys," Titan finished, his grin never wavering.

As he ended his turn, the holographic image of his monster loomed over us, its menacing aura making my heart pound in my chest.

Jaden and I exchanged a look, both understanding the seriousness of the situation. We had to win this duel, not just for us but for Alexis and Mindy too.

Without a word, Jaden held out his hand to me, "Sora, mind if I take the first turn?"

I nodded, "Go ahead, Jaden."

With a determined nod, Jaden drew his card, his eyes narrowing as he studied it.

"Alright, Titan. Get ready because you're about to get schooled!" he declared, his voice echoing in the cavern, carrying a note of defiance that reverberated around us.

"I summon Elemental Hero Clayman (800/2000) in defense mode!" Jaden declared, placing a card on his duel disk.

An image of a bulky golem figure appeared on the field.

Clayman was not the strongest of monsters, but in defense mode, it could withstand an attack or two.

Jaden didn't stop there.

"But I'm not done yet!" He set one card face down before concluding, "I place one card face-down and end my turn!"

He stepped back, a determined look in his eyes as he passed the turn to me.

The stage was set, Clayman standing ready on the field, with a set card waiting to be sprung as a surprise on our adversary.

The newly placed card glowed ominously, its face hidden from both me and Titan.

Whatever it was, Jaden seemed confident it would turn the tide in our favor when the time was right.

"Alright, my turn!" I declared, drawing my card with a swift movement.

My eyes scanned the card, my mind racing to formulate a strategy to get rid of Archfiend General.

"I'll summon Ninja Grandmaster Sasuke (1800/1000) in Attack Position!" With a flourish, I placed my card on the duel disk, and my monster materialized on the field in a flash of light.

Ninja Grandmaster Sasuke appeared; he was in a confident battle stance as he brandished his daggers, ready for battle.

But even with Sasuke on the field, I couldn't shake off the unease.

Archfiend General still posed a considerable threat, and the field spell... well, it was something I had to deal with sooner or later.

If only I had a card that could remove it...

Gritting my teeth, I continued my turn.

"I'm also setting a card face-down," I announced, sliding the card into the slot on my duel disk.

The card appeared on the field, concealed in a vertical hologram.

Its contents were a mystery to everyone but me.

"Alright, that's it for me. Your move, Titan," I said, ending my turn. Titan only responded with an amused smirk.

For a moment, I could only hope that my face-down card and Sasuke would be enough to hold him off on his next turn. I could feel my pulse quicken at the prospect of what he might pull next.

Titan drew his card, his wicked smile never wavering. He looked at the card he just drew and chuckled, "Oh, this is just perfect."

The air around us seemed to thicken with anticipation.

"I sacrifice Archfiend General to summon Skull Archfiend of Lightning (2500/1200)!" Titan announced, swapping out his cards on his duel disk.

In a dark swirl of light, Archfiend General disappeared from the field, only to be replaced by a larger, more intimidating figure. Skull Archfiend of Lightning loomed on the field; its appearance was strikingly similar to the iconic monster, Summoned Skull, except this one was cloaked in crackling, dark energy.

Wait a second...

"Huh, that looks awfully similar to Summoned Skull, doesn't it?" I couldn't help but remark, squinting at the hulking figure on the field.

Jaden chuckled at the resemblance.

"Yeah! It even has the same Attack and Defense points as the original too!" He chimed along.

Titan's smirk faltered as he turned to look at me, his eyes flashing with irritation.

"What did you just say? This is NOT Summoned Skull! This is Skull Archfiend of Lightning! They're completely different!" He shouted.

His outburst startled me a bit, but I couldn't help but feel amused at his reaction.

For such a menacing figure, he sure was touchy about his monsters.

Ignoring the somewhat humorous altercation, Titan then pointed a finger at Jaden's Clayman.

"Now, Skull Archfiend of Lightning, attack Clayman!"

But Jaden was ready. "Heh! I don't think so! I activate Clay Charge!" He called out, flipping up the face-down card.

Jaden's set card was now revealed, a Trap Card that triggered when Clayman was selected as an attack target.

"Since my Clayman is being attacked, your monster gets destroyed, and you take 800 points of damage!" Jaden continued, his voice echoing around us.

I could almost see the cogs turning in Titan's head as he processed what just happened.

"How quaint! But since your trap card targets my Archfiend, I get to roll a die!" He retorted, snapping his fingers to reveal a circle with the numbers 1-6. "If it lands on 1,3, or 6, your trap is negated and destroyed! Now let's see if luck favors your side!"

Damn! He has a 50/50 chance to stop Jaden's trap!

Titan snapped again to start the wheel, flames sparking on each number as it rotated to each number.

We held our breath as flames began to slow down on what number it was going to land on.

And it landed on a 3.

"Hahaha! Yes! Your futile charge is no more!"

Clayman's assault lost its steam and was struck by the Archfiend's lightning, effectively halting its charge.

Another burst of lightning erupted from the monster, striking down Clayman, the impact rocking the cavern and causing Clayman to disintegrate into nothingness.

Luckily, we didn't lose any life points since Clayman was in defense mode.

Now's our chance!

"Jaden!" I interjected, "Activate my set card!"

Caught off guard, Jaden looked at me in surprise, but seeing the confidence in my eyes, he nodded and activated my set card, which was revealed to be Fires of Doomsday.

The card's activation materialized two tokens on our side of the field, giving us a fighting chance.

"Fires of Doomsday?" Titan questioned, his eyes narrowing at the newly formed tokens. "Interesting..."

The tension in the cave was palpable as Jaden reached out and drew a card from his deck.

An almost imperceptible smirk graced his lips as he took a glance at the card.

His eyes flickered up to meet Titan's, a glint of confidence shining within them.

"Alright, Titan," Jaden declared, holding up a spell card. "I activate Hero's Return! This card lets me special summon one Level 4 or lower Warrior-type monster from my graveyard. And I choose Elemental Hero Clayman!"

As he called out the name of his monster, Clayman reemerged onto the field, standing tall and steadfast in defense position.

"But I'm not done yet!" Jaden continued, his smirk growing into a grin. "Now, I'll use Polymerization!"

He held up another card, and a new surge of energy swept across the field as he announced his next move.

"I fuse my Elemental Hero Burstinatrix in my hand with the Clayman on my field! Come forth, Elemental Hero Rampart Blaster (2000/2500)!"

With a blinding flash of light, Burstinatrix and Clayman merged together.

When the light faded, a new hero stood on their side of the field, her imposing figure radiating a powerful aura.

"Yeah! Way to go, Jaden!" Syrus cheered, the stalemate now finally swinging in our favor.

Even though Rampart Blaster was in the Defense position, thanks to its special ability, it could still attack directly, albeit for half its Attack points.

"W-What?! I was told that a slacker like you would not have such powerful cards!" Titan shouted in disbelief.

Without missing a beat, Jaden ordered the attack, and Rampart Blaster sent a wave of energy straight at Titan, reducing his life points by 1000.

(Kazuyuki-Jaden 4000/Titan 7000)

"Ngh...!" He grunted as his life points went down. "What an annoying attack! You'll pay for that boy!"

Said boy turned to me with a mischievous smirk.

"Your move, Sora," Jaden declared, turning to me.

Wait, didn't he just get attacked?

Instead of showing that he took any meaningful damage, he was simply staring at me, waiting patiently for me to draw my next card.

"Hey, come, you didn't take actual damage? I thought Shadow Games were to the death?"

For a split second, he was a little confused as to what I meant before gaining his composure.

"Err... Right! But I am immune to the effects of the Shadow Games because I have participated in so many!" He defended, his voice shaking as if he needed to improvise on the spot.

I can only leer at the man.

"Right..."

I nodded and drew a card.

Ooh, nice!

In my hand, I held a high-level monster card - Tri-Horned Dragon.

"Alright, Titan," I announced, my voice echoing through the cavernous space. "I sacrifice my two tokens from Fires of Doomsday to summon Tri-Horned Dragon (2850/2350)!"

As I slapped the card onto my Duel Disk, a surge of energy erupted from it, coalescing into the formidable figure of the Tri-Horned Dragon.

Its formidable form, boasting a fearsome 2850 attack points, rose above the field, ready to follow my command.

The momentum was on our side. Now, it was up to us to maintain it and turn this duel in our favor.

With Tri-Horned Dragon on the field, I felt a renewed sense of confidence.

Titan's smirk had been wiped off his face, replaced by a grimace of apprehension.

"N-No! Another powerful monster?!"

Feeling a surge of adrenaline, I directed my dragon to attack,

"Alright, Tri-Horned Dragon! Attack Skull Archfiend of Lightning with Triple Horn Attack!"

But as my dragon lunged, ready to unleash its devastating attack, Titan raised a card in response.

"Not so fast!" He scowled, a glint in his eyes as he reveled in the anticipation, "I activate my trap card - Negate Attack!"

As the words left his lips, a shining barrier sprung up around Skull Archfiend of Lightning, protecting it from my dragon's attack.

"Your attack is negated, and the battle phase ends!" Titan growled, seemingly exhausted at stopping my attack in its tracks.

Letting out an annoyed sigh, I conceded. "Fine, your move."

My dragon's attack had been thwarted, but I wasn't going to let it deter me.

The duel was far from over, and I still had cards to play.

Reaching into my hand, I placed a card facedown on the field.

"I set one card facedown, and with that, I end my turn." I declared, readying myself for what was to come next.

Titan drew his card and didn't look too pleased with the card he drew.

"Urgh... I summon Desrook Archfiend (1100/1800) in Defense mode!"

As Titan played his card, his usually confident facade faltered, a flicker of unease passing over his face.

Nevertheless, he shook off his worry, his confident smile returning, though it seemed slightly strained now.

"No matter," he said, placing a card on his disk, "I summon Desrook Archfiend in defense position!"

A shadowy figure materialized on his side of the field, a grotesque creature with a monstrous grin. It was an unsettling sight, but I reminded myself to focus.

"And now," he continued, placing another card on his disk, "I set two cards face down..."

He glanced at his captives, a troubled look in his eyes. It was clear that he was beginning to feel the pressure of dueling two opponents.

"Listen, kids, let's strike a deal," he offered his voice surprisingly calm, "If one of you forfeits now, I will let one of the girls go. How does that sound?"

But Jaden and I exchanged a glance, our decision already made.

"We're not leaving without both of them," Jaden retorted, his tone leaving no room for negotiation.

"And we're definitely not leaving without our souls," I added, my gaze firmly fixed on Titan. "Besides, this is a Shadow Game, right?"

Titan's face twisted in a scowl as we refused his offer.

It was as if he couldn't believe that we'd rejected his 'generosity.'

"Oh, you kids," he hissed, his voice echoing ominously in the cavern, "You really know how to push my buttons."

With a swift motion, he pointed to Skull Archfiend of Lightning.

"Archfiend! Attack Ninja Grandmaster Sasuke! Make them regret playing a Shadow Game!"

His command filled the cavern, the Archfiend charging its mighty weapon in response.

However, just as it was about to strike, I activated my set card.

"Not so fast, Titan!" I called, "I activate my trap card - Mirror Force!"

The ground under Skull Archfiend erupted with a bright light, and in an instant, the mighty creature was engulfed in a surge of energy.

Titan watched in horror as his powerful monster was obliterated, leaving him only with Desrook Archfiend in defense position.

However, his surprise turned to relief as Desrook remained untouched by Mirror Force.

Since my trap card didn't target, only his attacking monster was destroyed.

"Looks like your Archfiend met a force it couldn't handle," I smirked, feeling the tide of the duel starting to turn in our favor.

It's been a while since I taunted anyone like this.

But to this jerk?

I think he deserves it.

And with that, we'd put Titan in a corner, leaving him with just a single defense-position monster.

"You...! I swear it, once I am done with your friend, I will make you pay! Make your move..." He demanded as he set yet another card.

It was now Jaden's turn.

Jaden drew his card, his eyes shining with determination. "Time to end this!" he declared, pulling out a card from his hand. "I summon Elemental Hero Sparkman (1600/1400) in attack mode!"

In a burst of light, the familiar figure of Sparkman appeared on the field, his energy crackling.

Jaden didn't stop there, though. He swiftly activated a spell card, "Hey, Sora! Recognize this?! I activate H - Heated Heart! This gives Sparkman an extra 500 attack points and the ability to inflict piercing damage!"

Sparkman's electric energy surged even brighter, his power visibly amplified.

"Oh yeah! This should be enough to end the duel, Jaden!" I cheered. "Give it to him!"

In a decisive move, Jaden switched Rampart Blaster to attack mode as well.

"You got that right! Now, Sparkman! Attack Desrook Archfiend! Sparking Electric Beam!"

With a swift motion, Sparkman launched an electrifying attack on Desrook, its powerful strike easily piercing through its defense, hitting Titan in the process.

"Ugh! Noooo!"

(Kazuyuki-Jaden 4000/Titan 6700)

"Yeah! Now Rampart Blaster, launch your salvo at him! Direct attack!"

And then Rampart Blaster followed suit, blowing its load on him, its attack sending shockwaves through the cave.

(Kazuyuki-Jaden 4000/Titan 4700)

As Jaden's monsters struck, the cavern around us started to shake, the very ground under our feet vibrating with an alarming intensity.

"Ninja Grandmaster Sasuke! Attack him directly with Shadow Sword Strike!"

The ninja sliced past Titan at blinding speed, cutting his life points down.

(Kazuyuki-Jaden 4000/Titan 2900)

As his life points fell, the walls around him started to fall apart, with pebbles now falling near Titan's general location.

"Last but not least! We have Tri-Horned Dragon! Go attack with-!"

Titan, looking genuinely worried for the first time, shouted, "S-Stop! Stop! If you continue attacking like this, you'll bring the Shadow Realm crashing down on us all! Call off your attacks now!"

Jaden halted, his eyes wide, now realizing what was going on around him.

The fear in Titan's voice was real, the severity of the situation sinking in.

Though the prospect of the collapsing Shadow Realm was daunting, we knew we had no choice but to trust in our duel and in each other.

But if what Titan said was true, continuing the duel might be riskier than we'd thought.

"Alright... I'll set one card and end my turn," Jaden reluctantly declared, his gaze shifting between the trembling cave and our opponent.

As the tremors subsided, an uneasy silence fell upon us.

Our focus was on Titan, who was holding his chest and taking rapid, shallow breaths.

"W-Wait! Please, give me a moment!" He begged as he started panting. "This job is not worth it!

As the tremors died down, Titan was panting heavily, his usual smug demeanor replaced with fear and desperation. "You win! You win! This job... it's not worth it!"

He raised his hands in a surrendering gesture, his voice echoing through the cavern. "We... we aren't in a Shadow Game! Your friends... the girls, they're fine. Just knocked out, that's all."

His confession left us stunned.

This wasn't a Shadow Game?

Then all the danger, the threats...

So it was all a load of crap?!

"Let me go, and you can have them. They're still in that coffin over there," he continued, nodding towards the coffin where Mindy and Alexis were.

Jaden and I traded glances before nodding, deciding to walk up to the coffin.

As a show of good faith, he backed away, allowing us to approach the coffin.

We quickly moved to retrieve the girls, our relief palpable as we found them unconscious but unharmed.

Once we had safely moved them away from the coffin, we motioned Syrus and Chumley over.

I handed Mindy over to Chumley while Jaden, and I held up Alexis.

They...

They didn't deserve this.

We turned back to Titan.

"Now, let me go," he pleaded again. "That's all I ask!"

But despite his pleas, we knew we couldn't let him just walk away after everything he'd done.

His deception, his threats...

He had to be held accountable.

"You still need to pay for your crimes," Jaden stated, taking the words out of all of us. "There are some things we can't just forget."

Seeing the determined expressions on our faces, Titan let out a frustrated groan.

"Ah, screw this! I'm outta here!" he exclaimed, pulling something out of his pocket.

With a swift throw, he tossed a smoke bomb at his feet, causing a thick cloud of smoke to fill the cavern.

As we coughed and tried to clear the smoke, the runes around the room suddenly lit up, casting an eerie glow.

Before we knew what was happening, we felt a strange pulling sensation, as if the ground was being yanked out from under our feet.

What the hell?!

How is this happening?!

Our surroundings started to swirl, the winds now roaring at our ears.

Then, suddenly everything went dark.

The next moment, we found ourselves transported to an unfamiliar location, the scenery around us drastically different from the cave we'd just been in.

We were in complete and utter darkness, but I was still able to see clearly.

In this strange location, I saw Titan sprawled out on the floor(?) with Jaden and Alexis not so far off.

The coated mercenary rose to his feet and shook his head, perplexed as to what had happened.

We found ourselves enveloped in a void of darkness, a chilling silence that was only broken by the harsh, uneven breaths of the terrified Titan.

Underneath the oppressive quietude, the low hum of whispers filled the air, growing louder with each passing second.

"Where the hell are we?!" Titan's voice was shrill, panicked, as he stumbled to his feet.

He reached out, his hands shaking as they found my jacket, pulling me towards him. "HEY! ANSWER ME! What the hell is happening? Where are we?!"

His once intimidating demeanor was gone, replaced by pure, undiluted fear.

His eyes darted around the darkness, wild desperation taking over his features despite his mask.

I tried to respond, to offer him some form of reassurance or to further provoke him, but my words were cut off as the whispers suddenly stopped.

A moment of silence filled the dark void before a single, ominous voice echoed around us.

Its tone was filled with icy solemnity, each word carrying an omniscient edge that sent shivers down my spine.

"Welcome... to the Shadow Realm. We prefer the subconscious mind to communicate. However, this pocket of reality can suffice... for now."

The words seemed to resonate through the darkness, their echo lingering in the air as a cold reminder of our current predicament.

My body immediately froze up as I realized where that voice came from.

...

No...

No!

It's that voice from my dream!

"We must... applaud you for coming here. Our answer... is nearing its completion."

Every syllable drips with an ancient wisdom and an unsettling familiarity.

The shadows around us begin to manifest, piling up and drawing closer to us.

Titan fell onto his knees, discarding his hat, disk, and mask, seeking one last chance at forgiveness.

"Let me go! Please! I don't want to do this job anymore!" He begged the voice as the shadows were finally in striking distance. "Take my belongings! My cards! Anything! Just let me go! PLEASE! I will swear my life to you!"

But before anyone can react, Titan is overwhelmed by the encroaching shadows.

They creep and crawl over him like ravenous predators, threatening to swallow him whole.

Yet, just as the darkness is about to consume Titan, a force unseen intervenes.

"Very well."

With a swift, decisive movement, something merely erases Titan's presence from the Shadow Realm.

All that remains is his duel disk, discarded and devoid of its owner.

An unsettling quiet follows the echoes of Titan's terrified screams still hanging in the air.

The shadows, now fully aware of the Entity's presence, turn hostile.

They swirl and eddy around me, casting him in a chilling light.

The shadows hiss and whisper, their collective voices a harsh cacophony that grates against the silence of the realm.

"A power... long forgotten..." they mutter, their formless voices tinged with a combination of fear and hatred. "Power... so empty...!"

They seem to recognize this... Entity – and they fear it.

"Our reunion will have to wait..." The Entity voiced, somehow sounding pleased yet disappointed. "We will... await our next meeting."

As if responding to the tumultuous fear and loathing seething within them, the shadows begin to merge.

They twist and swirl, coalescing into a physical manifestation of their collective fear and hatred.

They take on the form of a dark figure, its body composed entirely of shifting shadows.

With a snap, it picks up Titan's discarded duel disk, the device morphing into an obsidian version of its former self before being entirely consumed by it.

"CONTINUE THIS DUEL..." The shadows demanded its voice monotone but sharp, the field reactivating, surging with dark energy. "YOUR INFLUENCE HAS NO MERIT HERE."

I was scared beyond relief, my mind numbed by what just had happened.

Even though I wanted to turn tail and run, I couldn't muster the will to do so.

No...

I can't run away now.

My gaze turned to the fatigued Jaden and unconscious Alexis.

Besides, there's no way that I will be able to live down if I do run.

In fact, I don't think I can run from this place anyway.

"Jaden... you up?" I asked as I looked squarely at the shadow in front of us before looking back at him.

He seemed to be interested in something on the side of his shoulder before turning to me.

"Yeah! I don't know what's going on... but I won't give up on a duel! Let's end this!"

(Kazuyuki-Jaden 4000/NULL 2900)


AN: And that's a wrap for this chapter. I planned on making this chapter a little longer, but unfortunately, I caught an awful cold and not the other virus, fortunately. It also doesn't help this month's temperatures are absolutely brutal. Oh well.

Thanks for the reviews, guys. I got two neat suggestions that I look forward to incorporating into my story.

To Anthony Glider, I will take your suggestions into consideration. They look very promising, and I may need to tweak them in order to fit them into my narrative. As for Sora's relationship with the Light and Dark, I hope the ending of the chapter gives you a faint hint of where I want to take things.

To Valkoor, I looked into the card you had written up. I may include a custom card like that, but perhaps a little watered down to fit the GX meta. Thanks for taking the time to comment.

Please, don't be afraid to leave a comment. I will be glad to reply to you.

See you guys in the next one.