Yo! Zane gains some cards and...Sheppard discovers that he may have been wrong about certain things.
The night was charged with electric energy. Why? The latest duel on the Pro circuit. Tonight, Zane was facing off against a newcomer to the circuit. As the news covered the event, Syrus was looking at an online image of his older brother. He still wore the black overcoat, sporting the same smug grin on his face and crazed look in his eyes. Syrus sighed, placing his PDA to the side.
"What happened to you Zane..." Syrus muttered.
"Sy?"
The young teen looked up, seeing Chazz in his door. The black haired teen gestured to the commons area. Syrus nodded. It was about to start. The pair walked down, joining the rest. Chazz took a seat next to Bastion, Syrus taking a spot on the floor. Syrus' face grew stony when he saw his brother walking out, the demented smile on his face.
EODGX
The duel hadn't been long. Zane looked at his opponent's field with clear disdain in his face. Swordstalker, Vorse Raider, Grandora, Whiptail Crow, and finally, a Morinphen. How did this guy even get into the pros with monsters like those?!
On Zane's field, he had nothing...save for Future Fusion Spell he had just used. He used it to make Cyber End Dragon, but then revealed another spell. The spell's artwork in question was a massive explosion of some kind. Upon seeing it, his opponent's face became one of fear.
Overload Fusion.
Cyber End vanished and in its place was Overdragon, several heads roaring. In addition to Cyber End, Zane had banished sixteen machines from his grave.
Overdragon – ATK/? → 12,800
"BEGONE! OVERDRAGON! ATTACK ALL OF HIS MONSTERS! DON'T LET UP!"
The dragon obeyed, blasting at the five monsters one right after another. His opponent's scream of agony was a symphony to Zane's ears. The man closed his eyes, relishing the screams mixing with the explosions before finally ending. Zane laughed manically, walking away from the arena.
"OH THE HUMANITY! ZANE'S OPPONENT IS DOWN! ZANE'S OPPONENT IS DOWN! MEDICS! DOCTORS! ANYONE!" The announcer cried out, shocked at the brutality that had just happened.
Zane ignored it, joined by Shroud. The man was all smiles, the pair entering their limo. Zane looked out the window, scowling. The pros were not as challenging as before. All the opponents he had faced were...lackluster. They didn't have Aster's smugness or...Jaden's ruthlessness. He wanted more...NEEDED more.
He wanted to feel what he had felt in his graduation match against the King of the Ring, the master of the Wicked Gods and Sacred Beasts. The passion, the challenge, the fight. He wanted to experience that all again. He was dimly aware of Shroud, but he ignored the man. What did this fool know of what he needed?
"I'll set you up with another duel real soon, Zane." Shroud crooned, making the man scowl.
Another lackluster duel. Another feeble duelist. He was sick of those! He wanted to duel two people and two people only!
"Either you set me up with Aster or else you're gonna have a problem." Zane snapped, making Shroud scowl.
"Zane, you can't duel Aster. He's gone to ground, he's nowhere to be seen. Accordin' to his manager, he's recouping. And Jaden? He's still at Central."
"I don't care. Get me better duels then what you have been feeding me." Zane snarled.
Shroud's face became ugly. How dare this upstart! It was him that made who Zane was now! He who made Zane reborn! Shroud should have remembered the fate of Doctor Victor Frankenstein. When he played God and made the monster, his creation turned on the creator. Now it was happening again.
Zane ignored Shroud's indignant rants, seeing an envelope tucked into the back of the driver seat. Pulling it out, Zane opened it. Once the letter was taken out, his eyes widened before a cruel smirk crossed his face.
"-stand?! I made you who are now Zane! And I can put you right back!" Shroud was ranting.
Zane scowled, looking at the driver.
"Stop."
The simple command brought the car to a lurching stop. Shroud, who wasn't buckled in, smashed his face against the back of the passenger side seat. He heard a sharp crunch before feeling his nose explode in pain, feeling blood flowing. He was aware of Zane opening up the door on Shroud's side before kicking him right in the chest. Shroud went tumbling out onto the street.
"Consider your tenure as my manager...terminated." Zane snarled, slamming the door.
The car sped off. Shroud started screaming in rage, but Zane didn't hear him. Instead he pulled out his phone.
"Schedule a plane...I have a meeting to keep." Zane said, looking at the note.
EODGX
After two days of travel, Zane was climbing a snow capped mountain in mountain gear and skis. He looked through his goggles to see a well-kept building. Adorned on its top was Cyber End Dragon. He frowned, walking into the building. Discarding all of his gear, he placed his duel disk on. As he entered the main room, he heard a very familiar voice in front of him.
"I knew you would come."
Torches lit up, revealing who had spoken. Gone was the maroon jacket, but he now wore a crimson gi and black gi pants. Zane's face morphed into a scowl.
"Sheppard. So, you're trying to return me to who I was before. News flash, its not gonna happen. I'm here for the Cyber Style – Reversal deck."
"Well, I'm sorry then Zane. But you won't get it." Sheppard said, deploying his disk.
"Tch, fine."
Sheppard: 8000/Zane: 8000
"I'll start things off." Sheppard said, drawing his card.
Looking over his hand, the man nodded. He chose two cards and placed them facedown. Zane's eyebrow raised a little. Lackluster of a opening move. But that could mean Sheppard had things set up.
Zane drew his card and revealed it. Future Fusion. He sent his three Cyber Dragons to the grave, gaining his Cyber End Dragon. Due to Fusion's effect though, he couldn't attack with it this turn. Sheppard revealed one of his two facedowns.
"Cyber Shadow Gardna!"
(Cyber Shadow Gardna – Type/Trap/Continuous.
Activate only during your opponent's Main Phase. After activation, Special Summon this card; it is treated as an Effect Monster Card (Machine-Type/EARTH/Level 4/ATK/?/DEF/?). (This card is still treated as a Trap Card.) If this card is selected as an attack target, the ATK and DEF of this card become the ATK and DEF of the attacking monster. This card is Set in its Spell & Trap Card Zone during your opponent's End Phase.)
Shadow Gardna was a machine like monster with six knife-like wings, claws, and a blue visor. It looked at Cyber End before it began to reconfigure itself into a 'shadow' version of Cyber End.
"If you attack Gardna, it'll gain the same ATK and DEF of your monster." Sheppard said, a tad smug.
"Shame it won't work! I play De-Fusion, getting rid of my Cyber End and gaining my three Cyber Dragons!"
Sheppard's eyes went wide as his monster became a Cyber Dragon...a lone one. Smirking, Zane attacked. The first Cyber Dragon and its 'shadow' were blasted apart. Sheppard hastily activated his second facedown card.
"I activate Byroad Sacrifice!"
(Byroad Sacrifice – Type/Trap/Normal.
Activate only if a monster on your side of the field is destroyed by battle. Special Summon 1 monster from your hand.)
"From my hand, I play Cyber Orge in attack mode." Sheppard said, playing the monster.
(Cyber Orge – LV/*****, Attribute/EARTH, ATK/1900, DEF/1200, Type/Machine/Effect.
Discard 1 other "Cyber Ogre" from your hand. Negate 1 battle between this face-up card you control and an opponent's monster, and increase the ATK of the "Cyber Ogre" on the field by the ATK of the opponent's monster.)
Cyber Orge was a monster covered in steel with a single golden horn on its head. It loosed a roar, making Zane scowl. He ordered his second Cyber Dragon to attack. The attempt was thwarted when Sheppard used Orge's effect, discarding another Orge.
Orge – ATK/1900 + 2100 → 4000
Zane scowled, placing a card facedown. Sheppard drew, which was when Zane activated his trap.
Attack Reflector Unit. One of the Cyber Dragons changed into Cyber Barrier Dragon, Sheppard scowling. He played Monster Reincarnation, discarding a card, Return soul. He gained back his Cyber Orge, setting a card. Ending his turn, he turned to Zane.
"Zane...what you have become is not who you are meant to be! You were chosen for a higher calling!"
"I am aware...but to hell with it! I make my own path and will break anyone who gets in my way." Zane snarled, drawing his card.
Zane knew what Sheppard was talking about. The prophecy of the Cyber-Dojo. How one would come and make the Cyber Dojo great once more. Sheppard believed him to be that chosen one. Zane just shook his head. His destiny was his own, not Sheppard's.
Zane played Proto-Cyber Dragon, following it up with Photon Unit. Both Proto, now named Cyber Dragon, and the second Cyber Dragon vanished, Cyber Laser appearing. Zane then used its effect to take out Cyber Orge. Sheppard was wide open, making the man smirk.
That smirk fled when Sheppard revealed his facedown.
"Scrap Fusion!?"
"Yes! Now, I remove your three Cyber Dragons from play to summon out Cyber End dragon!"
(Scrap Fusion – Type/Spell/Quick-play.
Remove from play, from your opponent's Graveyard, Fusion Material Monsters listed on a Fusion Monster Card in either player's Fusion Deck, and Special Summon that monster to your side of the field.)
Zane grimaced, but didn't lose his cool when he saw his old monster on Sheppard's field. That was what Sheppard wanted. He simply set a card facedown, ending. Sheppard drew, revealing the card right away. It was Pot of Greed. Sheppard drew two cards, playing one right away.
"I summon Cyber Esper in attack mode."
(Cyber Esper – LV/****, Attribute/FIRE, ATK/1200, DEF/1800, Type/Machine/Effect.
While this card is in face-up Attack Position, you can look at every card your opponent draws.)
Esper was a silver and gray machine, carried by four metal wings. It landed next to Sheppard. Sheppard ordered an attack with Esper, the target being Barrier. Due to its effect, Barrier stopped the attack. Sheppard used Cyber End to take out Cyber Laser.
Zane: 6800
"I'll place this card facedown." Sheppard said, ending his turn.
Zane drew, revealing his hand due to Esper's effect. Playing his own copy of Pot of Greed, he drew two more cards. His eyes widened when he saw that one of them was Burial From a Different Dimension. Checking his hand over, he saw that he had That Grass looks Greener. Knowing Sheppard, the man was only playing with a forty card deck...meaning he should be in the low thirties to high twenties in the number of cards department.
Another check showed Overload Fusion...doing some quick math, Zane smirked.
Sheppard was sure that Zane would use the Creature Swap card he had seen in Zane's hand. He truly believed in the bond of Cyber Dragon and Zane. Shame he didn't count on how far in the darkness Zane truly was.
"I play...That Grass Looks Greener!" Zane announced.
"W-what?!" Sheppard said in shock.
Zane discarded his deck until it matched with Sheppard's. A pit began to form in the former teacher slash chancellor's stomach. What was Zane planning?!
Sheppard got his answer when Burial was revealed.
(Burial From a Different Dimension – Type/Spell/Quick-Play
Select 3 removed from play monsters. Add them to your GY.)
"No..." Sheppard said, horrified.
He had been so sure in Zane's bond with Cyber Dragon! But the boy was simply ignoring it! Zane returned his Cyber Dragon's to his Grave. Playing Overload Fusion, he banished the three and seventeen other machines from the grave. Chimaratech Overdragon appeared with a roar, Sheppard falling to his knees.
"Zane...you..."
"I told you before...all that matters now...is victory!"
Overdragon – ATK/? → 16,000
"Overdragon...end this and reveal the Cyber Art-Reversal!"
Overdragon roared, all of its heads unleashing an attack at Cyber End Dragon. Sheppard cried out, a wave of white washing over him. There was silence in that white void...before it all came rushing back in a massive explosion. Sheppard went flying from where he was standing, crashing through a wall. Nearby, a tapestry showing the Cyber Dragons was ripped away, revealing a deck.
Sheppard: 8000 → 0
Zane scoffed, walking up to the deck of cards and grasped it. Instantly, power flowed through him, several duel spirits rising up.
"Who are you?"
"He is not the one...but he will do."
"He will lead us to the One."
Zane ignored their chatter, walking away. As he did, Sheppard stumbled out, one of his eyes closed and bleeding hard from a gash on the forehead. The man panted heavily, staring at Zane.
"Z-Zane, wait."
"If you're telling me to put the cards back, forget it old man." Zane snarled.
Sheppard shook his head, pulling something out and tossing it at Zane's feet. The item was a medal, silver in color with a red ribbon on its back. Stamped on the front was the letters 'GX'. On the back of it showed the globe. Confused, Zane picked up the medal.
"What is this for?"
"That is why I had to leave my position at the School. I have been arranging a tournament between the old generation and the new. I call it the GeneX tournament."
Zane scoffed, ready to discard the medal. But the next words from Sheppard's mouth made him pause and deep down feel a twinge of panicked fear.
"There's more. The threat Jaden told you and the rest of the key keepers last year has made its way to the island...Syrus is in danger."
Zane snapped his head up, looking at the man. Wordlessly, Sheppard nodded. The threat had come in the form of a cult calling itself the Society of Light. Midori had told him all about it with their call. They had taken over most of the school, but Jaden managed to rally everyone to lead a resistance. That had Zane feel some relief.
Only for that relief to be short lived.
"There's even more bad news. The SoL may have Yugi Muto's deck."
Zane's face lit up, not only with fear, but giddiness. The chance to duel the King of Games' deck. It was a dream of every duelist. Looking at the Cyber Art-Reversal cards, Zane chuckled.
"How perfect. This will be a chance to test out my new cards. Fine, I'll be in your little tournament."
Sheppard nodded, watching Zane leave. For a few moments, he could see the old Zane in there. Whatever had happened to the man had left its scars on him. He could only hope that Jaden and the rest could snap him out of it. After Zane left, Sheppard turned around, looking at the hidden room he had landed in. In the center was a stone, colored blue. On it was ancient writing. Walking up to it, Sheppard looked at it, reading it.
It was another part of the prophecy but most of it was just telling of a false Chosen being found and trained in the Cyber Style and how the True Chosen would be overlooked. But an event will come that will reveal the True Chosen.
'And the False Chosen will fall to the lust of Victory. For him to be saved, the True Chosen must master the Technological magic...'
"What do you mean...?" Sheppard asked loudly.
One thing was certain...his school was in peril again. He needed to get there.
Looks like the old Zane is still in there somewhere. But...can it really be brought back out? Next up, the GenX tourny is announced but it won't start right off the bat. A certain prince won't make his appearance until his country's satellite is up.