Hey everyone. Not much to say other then enjoy~!
All of the EoD was gathered in the Chancellor's office. Bunnie and Anthony walked in, alarming some. But when the boy proved that he was himself again, everyone relaxed. Sheppard was relieved that another had been saved from the SoL.
But that was what made this next news all the more alarming.
"We're all here, Mister Pegasus."
"Very well. Now, to give you an idea of what's going on, I need to explain the Chamber. I will not disclose its location, but I will tell you this. Its a place where we keep cards that were too dangerous to put out. One of these was replicas of the God Monsters."
The Egyptian God Monsters had returned with Atem back to the land of the dead. But Pegasus's workers had found many of Marik's replica cards. As a result, they had taken them to the Chamber to be studied and only studied. But now they had a massive problem.
The replica card of the Winged Dragon of Ra was now missing. The SoL, read Sartorius, had an agent in place and ready to take it. Pegasus had the agent that taken the card, but it was discovered they no longer had it. They had passed it off to another agent. One Pegasus knew well.
"His name is Franz. He was a former worker for me until he started making...questionable cards. Cards that would bind a Duel Spirit."
At hearing that, Jaden snarled. Cards that bound a duel spirit were nothing but an abomination in his mind. Pegasus seemed to agree.
"It's clear now that the agent at the Chamber and Franz are in cahoots with the SoL, which means if the rumors of Yugi-Boy's deck being stolen are even a smidge true..."
"Zhey are true..." Anthony spoke up, making everyone look at him.
Dmitri had stolen the deck to prove his worth to the 'popular' crowd at the time and was welcomed in. That had everyone groan. Dmitri just ruined his own dueling career with that move.
But that was when Bonnie realized what was going on now.
"That means that Sartorius is gonna gain the Winged Dragon replica..." Bonnie said, horror in her voice.
"Quite. The fact that Sartorius has only dueled once is clear. He's been waiting for that card."
Everyone nodded gravely. This had just gotten worse. First the superweapon, now this. They needed a break...and soon.
EODGX
Sartorius was giddy as was his sister. Franz knelt before the pair, holding out two cards. Sartorius took them both, almost reverently. He looked at them both, smirking.
"You have done very well, Franz. But I sense Pegasus has caught onto our little plan."
"Herr Pegasus will not stop the oncoming storm, my lord. He has lost the eye of all seeing and thus is as powerful as a first year student."
Sartorius shook his head. They were not to underestimate their enemies at all. The EoD was far more powerful then Sartorius had thought. No matter how many Pros and other students he had his members convert, the EoD got them back faster. It served as a nice distraction, but things were now bogging down. He looked up as Aster walked in.
"Master, we're approaching the second round. Thirty-two duelists." Aster replied with a bow.
"I see...when will it start?" Sartorius asked, pocketing the final pieces to his plans.
"Another week."
"That's too long! We need our lower ranked members to hand over their medals to my brother right now. We are close, SO CLOSE to the Super Weapon being in place!" Sarina declared.
Sartorius nodded. It was getting closer to the date of the Super Weapon's orbit. They needed that opportunity of the Quarter Finals to draw attention away from that.
"Tell everyone to turn over their medals to me...save for these students. Alexis, you Aster, Salome, Ian, Jerome, Amelia, David, and Reggie. Find others to keep theirs as well. This will give us the largest pool of people." Sartorius commanded.
The three nodded, hurrying off to let the people know. Here, the leader smirked.
Time was running out for the EoD.
Soon, all would know of the Light.
EODGX
After the meeting broke up, Sheppard pulled Atticus aside. The two began to talk about the biggest problem, least in their minds.
Zane.
The man was here at the tournament, like Sheppard had thought. However, he had yet to duel. He was keeping a low profile. What was worse was that Jaden was busy with the war with the SoL and couldn't help. So that left Atticus. The young man nodded.
"Don't worry, Chancellor. I'll duel Zane...and bring him back to his senses. Though...I may have to use Nightshroud's power to do it."
"Do what you need to do, Atticus...but I request that you take some people with you just in case."
Atticus nodded, knowing who he would chose.
EODGX
"I'm sorry, what?!" Chazz shouted, slamming his hands on the table. "You want to use Nightshroud's power against Zane!? Last time you were under that thing's control, you nearly cooked Jaden alive!"
Atticus had chosen his two. Bastion and Chazz. Right now, said black haired teen was freaking out. Bastion nodded, scowling.
"This power is not to be underestimated, Atticus. If it runs amok...we have no means to stop it." Bastion said, frowning.
"Wrong."
The three jumped at that voice, turning to see Professor Sweet standing in the door. He walked in, crossing his arms. He would be there to help things as well.
"The real trick...is keeping Syrus in the dark." Professor Sweet said, frowning.
Chazz and Bastion nodded, sharing looks. Syrus was frantic when he saw his brother destroying his opponents rather then dueling with honor. If he knew that Zane was on the island...
"Right...let's go." Chazz said, getting up.
EODGX
The four were walking through the forest, wondering what made Zane change. Jason frowned, putting in his own two cents. There was only one person responsible for Zane's change in personality.
"Shroud."
"I doubt a piece of cloth was responsible..." Chazz flippantly commented.
"No, Professor Sweet must mean Saruyama Shroud, the Ghost Duelist." Bastion mumbled.
Jason nodded. Saruyama was famous, read infamous, for being the founder and maker of the Underground Circuit. The duels down there were deadly, extremely deadly. He was the champion of it...until six years ago. That made the three boys look at him.
"Jaden?"
"Jaden. He destroyed his career, but not his operation. My best guess is that Saruyama talked to Zane, convinced him to duel in the underground." Professor Sweet said.
Atticus frowned. If that was true, then they weren't dealing with darkness darkness, but darkness of a different kind. Chazz hummed in thought. Zane had a new state of mind, no doubt due to him feeling that everyone abandoned him. Bastion grit his teeth.
"Shroud...if I ever run into him, I will not hold back."
"As you shouldn't. Maybe use that new deck you got." Jason said, stopping. "There he is."
Everyone stopped and looked. Zane was standing, duel disk strapped to his deck and waiting. He turned to see them. Frowning, he glared at Chazz, Bastion and Professor Sweet. Zane had changed quite a bit. His hair was messier, a darker shade of green-blue. His outfit was a black overcoat with white trimmings and sharp edges. The letter "R" was centered on his belt buckle, though why it was there was anyone's guess.
"Here to interfere?" Zane snarled, cold.
"Not against you, Zane. But against...well, see for yourself." Professor Sweet said, looking at Atticus.
Zane turned around, staring in shock. Atticus was dressed in his old Nightshroud outfit from last year. That shock soon turned to anticipation. He had wanted to see what Nightshroud could do...and if it was as powerful as Professor Sweet. Atticus put on the mask, the power of the darkness surging through him.
"I see...if Nightshroud goes ballistic, you three will stop him if I can't." Zane stated, smirking.
That was the gist of it. The pair deployed their duel disks, Nightshroud slotting his deck. Zane did the same thing, one word echoing between them.
"DUEL!"
Zane: 8000/Nightshroud (Atticus): 8000
Both drew their opening hands, Nightshroud starting things off with a draw. Looking over his hand, he nodded, choosing a card.
"I play The Black Stone of Legend!"
That threw Bastion and Chazz for a loop. Here, Professor Sweet explained. The Black Stone of Legend was similar but different to the White Stone of Legend card. Unlike White Stone, Black was not a tuner. But its effect made it far more superior to even Red Eyes B. Chick.
(The Black Stone of Legend – LV/*, Attribute/DARK, ATK/0, DEF/0, Type/Dragon/Effect.
You can Tribute this card; Special Summon 1 Level 7 or lower "Red-Eyes" monster from your Deck. If this card is in your GY: You can target 1 Level 7 or lower "Red-Eyes" monster in your GY; shuffle it into the Deck, and if you do, add this card to your hand. You can only use 1 "The Black Stone of Legend" effect per turn, and only once that turn.)
A tiny black stone appeared, Atticus then using its effect. From his deck came a Red-Eyes. He didn't stop there. He used the spell, Inferno Fire Blast. Zane scowled, the orb of black fire hitting him.
Zane: 6600
"Not through yet! I play Excavation of Magic Stones! I throw out my Red-Eyes B. Chick and Troop dragon, regaining Inferno!" Atticus announced. "I play said spell card again!"
Zane: 4200
"I'll throw this facedown and end my turn." Atticus stated.
Zane drew his card, looking over his hand. He had to admit, that was a powerful opening move. Atticus had gotten him nearly to half his life points. Still, he needed to make a statement. This one was perfect!
"I play my Cyberdark Horn in attack mode!"
Atticus blinked. Cyberdark? What were those cards?
He got his answer when a monster appeared. The monster was a large machine, four horns on its side. Six eyes glowed, a long whip-like tail behind it.
(Cyberdark Horn – LV/****, Attribute/DARK, ATK/800, DEF/800, Type/Machine/Effect.
When this card is Normal Summoned, select 1 Level 4 or lower Dragon-Type monster in the Graveyard and equip it to this card. This card gains ATK equal to the equipped card's ATK. This card inflicts piercing Battle Damage. If this card would be destroyed by battle, the equipped monster is destroyed instead.)
"This monster is one of the more powerful monsters. Not on par with the Sacred Beasts or the Wicked Gods, but deadly enough. I take from your grave your Red-Eyes Chick and equip it to my Edge."
The tiny dragon was dragged out, landing in the claws of the much larger beast. Wires slithered out and latched onto the baby, the tiny thing screeching in pain.
Horn – ATK/800 → 1600
"Next I play Megamorph! This doubles the original attack of my monster, making it equal to that Black Dragon of yours."
Horn – ATK/1600 → 2400
"Now, attack his Dragon!"
That caught everyone off guard. Why do that?! Atticus realized it must have a powerful effect that activates if it destroys his monster. So he used his facedown.
"Go, Negate attack! This stops your attack cold. Sorry, but whatever effect your Edge has won't be used now."
Zane shrugged, ending his turn with a facedown. Atticus drew, looking at his card. He revealed it, being a spell.
"Spellbook inside the Pot!"
(Spellbook inside the Pot – Type/Spell/Normal.
Both players draw three cards.)
Three cards glowed on their decks and the pair picked them up. Atticus smirked, seeing the three. He sacrificed Red-Eyes Black Dragon to summon out his Darkness Dragon. Thanks to the three in the grave, it's power grew.
Darkness – ATK/2400 + 900 → 3300
"I'm not done yet! I declare an attack on your Horn!"
Darkness dragon roared, a orb of black molten fire lashing out. It struck Horn, but there was only the cry of Red-Eyes B Chick. Atticus scowled, despite his dragon getting stronger.
Zane: 3100
"I'll play Super Rejuvenation. Now, depending on how many Dragon-Types I sacrificed, I draw one card. I end my turn at that." Atticus said, drawing.
Zane wordlessly drew his card and looked over his hand. He switched his Horn into defense mode and then revealed a monster.
"I play the monster, Cyberdark Edge!"
(Cyberdark Edge – LV/****, Attribute/DARK, ATK/800, DEF/800, Type/Machine/Effect.
When this card is Normal Summoned, select 1 Level 4 or lower Dragon-Type monster in the Graveyard and equip it to this card. This card gains ATK equal to the equipped card's ATK. This card can attack your opponent directly. If it attacks using this effect, the Battle Damage it inflicts to your opponent is halved. If this card would be destroyed by battle, the equipped monster is destroyed instead.)
Edge was a blue beast with six claws in the shape of wings, two large gems near the shoulders. A long tail with barbs coiled back, its face was a single blue orb, glowing brightly. Atticus scowled, seeing his Chick taken again.
Edge – ATK/800 → 1600
"Now, I attack you directly! But due to my Edge's effect, you only take half the damage!"
The monster launched several barbs at Atticus, the man shouting as he was struck.
Atticus: 7200
"Next, I play one card facedown and end my turn."
Atticus grimaced, feeling Nightshroud clawing at his head. The dark spirit was taunting him, but Atticus fought back. He drew his card, seeing out of the corner of his eye Jaden coming up.
The king had Syrus with him, the pair watching the duel. Professor Sweet explained what was going on. Syrus watched, glaring at his older brother. Atticus revealed the card he had drawn.
"I play the spell card, Dragon Heart!"
(Dragon Heart – Type/Spell/Normal.
Send 3 Dragon-Type monsters from your Deck to the Graveyard to select 1 Dragon-Type monster you control. It gains 1000 ATK until the End Phase. You cannot Normal Summon or Set this turn.)
"I give up my ability to summon this turn, but I can send three dragons to the grave. Not only does this power up Darkness-"
Here, Darkness Dragon roared, a black aura rising up.
Darkness – ATK/3300 → 4200
"But he also gains an additional thousand!"
Darkness – ATK/4200 → 5200
"Alright! Those points will sink Zane's!" Chazz cried out, fist bumping.
"Don't be so sure." Jaden said, glaring at Zane.
That made everyone but the professor to look at him. Jason nodded, still watching the duel.
"Jaden's right. This isn't the Zane we know from last year. That one was respectful to not only his opponent's, but to the decks. This Zane has no such compulsions." Professor Sweet stated.
"So...he'll disrespect his deck."
Atticus shouted out for Darkness to attack Edge, the dragon roaring. The orb was larger and hurtling at Edge. The blast struck, Chick blowing up. But Zane was not bested.
"I reveal my facedown trap! Power Wall!"
(Power Wall – Type/Trap/Normal.
Activate only when you take battle damage from a monster. Send any number of cards from your Deck to the Graveyard, and the damage is reduced by 100 points for each one.)
"I throw out most of my deck and reduce the damage I take to a mere six hundred points!" Zane snarled, grabbing thirty cards and throwing them from the disk.
The cards fluttered to the ground, shocking Atticus. For everyone else, The move had them scowling. Zane never treated his cards and deck with such disrespect!
Zane: 2500
Atticus opened his mouth, but what came out was a scream. The aura from Darkness Dragon converged on him, taking him over. Atticus's voice changed, becoming harsher.
"Well, well, well, guess Atticus couldn't cut it. Guess its up to me. So, I play Dragon's Gunfire. Thanks to this spell, I destroy that pesky Edge of yours. That's all for now. Time to see what you can do with just three cards left." Nightshroud said, chuckling.
"About time you took over. I wanted to duel you to really see if you really were all that." Zane said, drawing his card. "And now! Its time to end this! I reveal my second facedown, Call of the Haunted! I bring back my Edge."
Then Zane revealed a familiar spell card.
"Power bond!" Syrus shouted, Zane nodding.
"That's right, Power Bond. I use it to fuse my Cyberdarks Horn, Edge and Keel. Meet your doom Nightshroud!"
The three monsters all roared, electricity erupting around them. They vanished into a vortex and what came out was a mashup of all three monsters as one larger monster. It gave out its screech, making everyone grab their ears.
"Meet my Cyberdark Dragon!"
(Cyberdark Dragon – LV/********, Attribute/DARK, ATK/1000, DEF/1000, Type/Machine/Fusion/Effect.
"Cyberdark Edge" + "Cyberdark Horn" + "Cyberdark Keel"
This monster cannot be Special Summoned except by Fusion Summon. When this monster is Special Summoned, equip 1 Dragon-Type monster from either player's Graveyard to this card. This card gains ATK equal to the equipped card's ATK, and an additional 100 ATK for every card in your Graveyard. If this card would be destroyed by battle, the equipped monster is destroyed instead.)
"Of course, thanks to my Power Bond, its attack doubles."
Cyberdark – ATK/1000 x 2 → 2000
A glow came from Nightshroud's deck and the Black Dragon appeared, screeching. Cyberdark Dragon's claws clamped down on the dragon, cables puncturing its scales and hide.
Cyberdark – ATK/2000 → 4400
"But there's more." Zane purred, making many shiver in fear. "My Dragon gains an extra one hundred points for every card in my grave."
Everyone's eyes went wide at that. There were thirty-seven cards now in the grave!
Cyberdark – ATK/4400 → 8100
"Even with all those points, Zane won't win." Chazz pointed out.
"Quite, but don't forget this is Zane. He has one final card to play." Bastion growled, watching the duel.
Bastion was right. Zane declared an attack on Darkness Dragon, revealing his final card. Syrus eyes went wide.
Limiter Removal.
This doubled Cyberdark's already considerable power. Nightshroud stared, terrified at the beast and its master. Cyberdark Dragon grew even more, purple fire escaping its maw.
Cyberdark – ATK/8100 → 16,200
Darkness Dragon howled in agony, consumed by the fires. Nightshroud added to the howls with his own, returning to the card that had trapped him since last year.
On the astral plane, Atticus floated, shocked. He had done it. Zane had defeated Nightshroud! He turned to look at his friend...only to be blasted away. Atticus came back, just in time to hear his counter hit Zero.
Atticus: 7200 → 0
Zane marched over and took off the medal, adding it to his already impressive collection.
"Zane...why..."
"I am not possessed by the Darkness. I merely sought it out to obtain the power I needed...for nothing but victory." Zane said, walking away.
Chazz, Bastion, and Professor Sweet ran by to check on Atticus. Zane met Jaden's eyes, the king's eyes blank. Zane smirked, knowing how to dig into the king.
"Seems Alexis wised up and left you for a better man."
Jaden's jaw tightened, Zane walking by with a dark laugh.
"Truesdale..."
The cold tone made Zane stop dead. He looked back and grunted in fear. One of Jaden's eyes was black with the golden orb glowing brightly. The Duel Aura that had been immense before...it now was a universe before the man.
"My respect has been misplaced in you. The Zane I fought in the exams...was far, far more worthy of it. You aren't even worth the dirt on my shoes." Jaden snarled. "Farewell, Truesdale."
Jaden walked away, heading for the others. Zane stared for several moments, wanting to look like he needed to say something. But couldn't. Scowling, he brought his eyes forward. Once more, he stopped. Syrus stared at him, scowling.
Nothing was said. But the look in his eyes said it all. Come the Finals...they would duel.
Zane, for once...wasn't looking forward to it.
Looks like Zane is still as ruthless as ever. But now he's lost Jaden's respect and has to duel Syrus soon.