AN: Hey everyone, I have the next chapter of the story here. This one was an intense duel to write was a lot of cools plays and counters. The duel was a cool match of offence and defense. As well as finding ways around certain obstacles. It also sets up a lot of characters and backstories for future chapter. Overall, it was a fun duel to write. Hope you enjoy this chapter, leave a review with your comments and questions, and have a nice day.

See Datasheet Chapter for cover art details.

Chapter 9 – The Criminal Shadow Rider

Back in the infirmary, Alexis sat as she watched the three unconscious students. She looked down to see at her scroll, speaking in a three-way call with Yang and Weiss, "So, they were both being controlled?" She asked with the others nodding.

"Glynda was tricked, but they force her to continue the duel." Weiss clarified, "We managed to win, but we lost a key."

"Same on our end," Yang responded, "That means we have five keys left and four more Shadow Riders. We're heading back to discuss our next-"

Suddenly, each of their scrolls flashed. As they pulled up the map, each saw a new dot, "Another Shadow Rider!?" Weiss said before noticing the location, "And it's near the infirmary!"

"We're on our way back." Yang said over the scroll, "Keep Ruby and the others safe, don't let the Shadow Rider hurt them!" She said with Alexis nodding.

The three-way call ended as the nice Obelisk blue looked at the map, seeing the dot approaching the building. "No, they won't get back in time before…" Alexis said before standing up, "I have to duel the Shadow Rider on my own." She said with determination before looking to the unconscious students, "But, how am I supposed to do that and make sure they don't get attacked." She said before clenching her right fist, unable to think of an answer. Suddenly, she had an idea looking at Ruby, "I'm sorry, but this is the only option."

A few minutes later, Alexis walked out of the infirmary building. In looking across the road, the man in the bowler had emerged from the forest clearing, "Well, look who's eager to lose a key." The Criminal Shadow Rider said as Alexis remained scowling. He then took off his hat and bowed, "Allow me to introduce myself, my name is Roman Torchwick."

"You're a Shadow Rider," Alexis said as Roman smirked.

"Guilty as charged," The Criminal Shadow Rider responded, putting his hat back on, "Now, shall we get this over with?" He said as he readied a black and orange duel disk.

"Why?" Alexis asked as Roman had a look of confusion, "Why are you a Shadow Rider?" She said with him gritting his teeth in response, "Pyrrha, Glynda, my brother. All of them were tricked and possessed by that woman with black hair."

"You mean Cinder," Roman responded with a smirk, "Yeah, she's one mean Boss Lady." He said as his gaze focused on his opponent, "And it's not wise to disappoint her."

"You didn't answer my question," Alexis responded, "Why are you a-"

"Shut up!" Roman shouted back, breaking his composure, "I don't need to tell you why, I just need to beat you in this stupid game!" He said before reading his duel disk again, "Now, stop stalling and let's do this!"

Alexis sighed as took out her deck, "Fine." The nice Obelisk Blue said before rea with her duel disk, causing Roman to smirk.

"Duel!" Both said at the same time as the shadow game began.

Alexis: 4000 Life Points

Roman: 4000 Life Points

"You know, people say ladies first." Roman said before he drew, "But chivalry is dead." He said before looking at the card and grinning. "To start, I summon Ruffian Railcar." Suddenly, a red train cart emerged from the ground to his right, (1800 ATK / 1000 DEF). "Now, I activate its effect to inflict 500 points of damage to you." The Criminal Shadow Rider said as Alexis gritted her teeth. The train cart then steed towards her before ramming, sending the nice Obelisk Blue back a few feet before landing on her back.

Alexis: 4000 – 500 = 3500 Life Points

"Normally, the cost is that I don't get a battle phase." Roman commented as Alexis pushed herself up, "But since it's my first turn, I can't attack anyway." He said before smirking, "So, I'll end with that."

Alexis glared as she drew, "My turn," She said before analyzing her hand, then looked back to Roman, "I play Polymerization to fuse my Blade Skater and Etoile Cyber to make Cyber Blader!" In a vortex of red and purple emerged a figure skater with long blue hair and a red visor, (2100 ATK / 800 DEF). "Now, attack his railcar!" Alexis declared as her monster rushed for the train. With an axel kick of her right leg, she split the cart down the middle, causing the railcar to explode. Roman shielded himself from the shockwave as his life points fell.

Roman: 4000 – 300 = 3700 Life Points

"Lucky shot," Roman said as Alexis ended her turn with a face down. He then drew a smirked at the results, but played another card form his hand first, "Time to test my luck. I summon Twin-Barrel Dragon!" The Criminal Shadow Rider declared as a blue bipedal machine appeared on his side of the field, its head like that of a blaster, (1700 ATK / 200 DEF). Suddenly, a set of two massive metal coins appeared over Roman's monster's head. On one said was an engraving of the gun-like head of the machine. On the reverse was the tail of the mechanical creature. "Both coins are flipped, and if they're both heads, you monster is destroyed."

"You're gambling on a success rate of twenty-five percent?" Alexis said as the two coins flipped. However, they each landed on the heads results.

"Heh, the odds don't matter." Roman said as his monster charged its head cannon, "So long as I still win in the end." He said before the Twin-Barrel Dragon fired its beam into Cyber Blader's chest. Alexis shielded herself from her monster's explosion. Roman grinned as he took the spell card he drew, "But just in case it failed, I had this as a backup. I play Limiter Removal!" He said as his monster's attack points doubled, (1700 + 1700 = 3400 ATK). "This won't finish you off, but it will leave you barely any life points left. Now, Twin-Barrel Dragon attacks her directly!" The Criminal Shadow Rider declared as his monster fired another laser shot. The beam heading straight for Alexis, causing an explosion on impact.

Roman, smirked. However, the smirk did not last as Alexis' life points remained unchanged. As the smoke cleared, she stood behind three small goats of different colored fur. (0 ATK / 0 DEF). Before he could ask how, he remembered the face down she played last turn, "Scapegoat lets me summon four tokens to my side of the field. Your monster destroyed one instead of taking my life points." She said before Roman watched his Twin-Barrel Dragon started to overheat, "And since you used Limiter Removal, your machines are destroyed at the end phase." Alexis said before Roman's monster exploded.

Alexis then drew her card, placing it in her hand as she played a different card first. "I play the Warrior Returning Alive to add Etoile Cyber back to my hand." She said as she took the card out of her graveyard, then summoned it. A red and light blue dressed ballerina entered the field with long brown hair, (1200 ATK / 1600 DEF). "Now, I attack you directly. And thanks to her effect, Etoile Cyber gains 500 attack points." She said as her monster dashed towards Roman kicking him in the chest with a graceful backspin, (1200 + 500 = 1700 ATK).

Roman: 3700 – 1700 = 2000 Life Points

(1700 - 500 = 1200 ATK). Roman recoiled in pain for a second before refocusing on Alexis, who ended her turn with a face-down card. He then drew his card before placing it in his hand, "Kids these days, they're getting too good at this game." He said as he looked at his hand for a strategy. Upon finding one, he looked back at Alexis' unbroken glare, "I'll show you not to underestimate me!" Roman said before playing a monster from his hand, "I summon Cannon Soldier in attack mode." He said as a purple robot with a green mounted cannon on its back, (1400 ATK / 1300 DEF). "Next I play Frontline Base, letting me special summon the union monster, Heavy Mech Support Platform." Suddenly, a mid-sized gray and red airship landed on Roman's side of the field, (500 ATK / 500 DEF). "Now, I play Machine Duplication, letting me special summon two more Heavy Mech Support Platforms from my deck." He said as then the number of airships on his side of the field tripled, "Now, will I could wipe your field. I'm more of a damaged first kind of duelist. So, I equip Cannon Soldier with all three union monsters!" he said as all the airship platforms attached to Roman's monster; one on each side of the legs and the third on its chest. The Cannon Soldier glowed with a blue aura as its attack grew, (1400 + 500 + 500 + 500 = 2900 ATK). "Now, attack!" Roman declared as the Cannon Soldier fired.

"I reveal my trap card, Spirit Barrier," Alexis said before her monster was destroyed. However, a yellow barrier shielded her from all damage, "So long as I have a monster on the field, I take no battle damage." Roman grit his teeth as he ended his turn.

Alexis drew, playing the card instantly. "I play Pot of Greed to draw two cards." After slightly refilling her hand, she played another spell, "I activate Mystical Space Typhoon to destroy one of the equipped union monsters." She said before a strong gust of wind blew off the Heavy Mech Support Platform offer Cannon Soldier's chest, exploding in the wind, (2900 - 500 = 2400 ATK). "Next, I summon Cyber Petit Angel in defense mode." The nice Obelisk blue said before a pink ball of a mechanical Angel appeared in a blocking stance, (300 ATK / 200 DEF). "Thanks to its effect, I can add Machine Angel Ritual from my deck to my hand." she said before searching the deck for the mentioned card, "That ends my turn." She said before placing her deck back.

"This girl thinks she can stall until she can make a comeback." Roman thought as he smirked, looking towards the infirmary, "Little does she know, those two keys behind her are unguarded." He said before snickering causing Alexis to scowl.

Meanwhile.

In the infirmary room, a window was open in a jar for fresh air. The window faced a nearby tree with a long outreaching branch. Suddenly, a young woman in a black attire scaled the tree. She ran across the branch before landing on the window sile without making a sound. Slowly, she opened the window before jumping into the room like a cat. As she stood up, she sighed upon seeing the two Slifer reds and her former ally, "Atticus, I'm sorry you had to get involved with this." The Black Shadow Rider said in a sincere voice. She turned to focus on Jaden, "This is the one who beat you? A first-year Slifer Red?" She said as she walked over to the spunky Slifer Red, placing her hands over on his chest, "Granted, if they trusted him with a key, he must-" She said before realizing something, checking his pockets as well and not finding it, "What? Where's the key?" She said before looking over to Ruby, checking her pockets and chest, "She doesn't have it either!" She said as she looked over the hooded Slifer Red, "But, this is the girl that dueled Cin-" The Black Shadow Rider said, now realizing she rose her voice too high.

Ruby's eyes started to flinch before opening. She then noticed the Black Shadow Rider with her hands near her chest, who looked at the girl at a loss for words, "Uh, hi?" Ruby said as her face slightly changed to red, "I'm Ruby, why are you-"

Suddenly, The Black Shadow Rider's eyes focused, "Where is the key?" She said with Ruby having a look of fear, now realizing who this girl was. The Black Shadow Rider then had a realizing, "Wait, that other girl must have hidden then." She said before looking over the nearby medical cart, running towards it before tearing the thing apart.

In the cacophony of noise, Jaden opened his eyes as he yawned. However, in feeling his chest, he realized it, "Huh, my key is gone!" He said as Ruby checked her chest as well.

"Mine too!" Ruby said before she and Jaden looked over to The Black Shadow Rider taking the cart apart, "Hey did you-" She said with the Black Shadow Rider almost hissing at them with a feline glare. Both the Slifer Reds were taken back in a second by fear before noticing someone else getting up.

They looked over to see Atticus, he rubbed his head for a second before noticing the Black Shadow Rider, "Blake!?" He said with The Black Shadow Rider being a loss for words again, "What are you-" Suddenly, Blake towards the window. However, Atticus jumped out of the bed as they blocked her path. She gritted her teeth before turning around and bolting out the door, "Wait!" He said before running after her. Ruby and Jaden, despite not knowing what just happened, followed the two.

Back at the duel, Roman drew a card. "I hope you liked Twin-Barrel Dragon. Because I have his upgrade right here." The Criminal Shadow Rider declared, "I unequip one of the Heavy Mech Support Platforms to tribute it for Blowback Dragon!" He said as the right platform uninstalled form the Cannon Soldier, then vanished in a flash. (2400 - 500 = 1900 ATK). Appearing in its place was a red and steel blue metal dragon with a gun for a head, one now larger than its predecessor, (2300 ATK / 1200 DEF). "And like before, it's time to see how lucky you are." He said as three coins appeared over the monster head, "So long as at least two are heads, I get to get rid of that stupid barrier." Roman declared as the coins were flipped. Reading from left to right, the results were: Heads, Tails, and Heads. The Blowback Dragon's head loaded before showing at the Spirit Barrier. A crimson shot was fired, shattering Alexis' shield. "Now, I'll destroy your monster and another token." Roman declared before Blowback Dragon and Cannon Soldier shot at the designated cards.

As Alexis' side of the field was showed in an explosion, she also heard footsteps running out the building behind her. She turned around to see Blake running out of the building followed by the nice Obelisk Blue's brother, "Atticus!" She said as the Black Shadow Rider passed her, the two then locked eyes before Alexis' mind went back to that day. As she waved goodbye to her brother heading off to Duel Academy. She looked to see him standing next to Zane, but there were two she did not know as well. One was a Slifer Red male with red spiked hair, his arms crossed as he scowled. In the middle of the group was a Ra Yellow, a young woman with black hair and a matching large bow in her head. Upon seeing the Black Shadow Rider, she knew the two were the same person.

Blake then turned away before running to the side of Roman, who looked to her with a smirk, "Well, hello Cat." He said with her trying to catch her breath, "Did you get the keys?"

"No," Blake said before looking to Ruby and Jaden exiting the building, "They don't have them?"

"What!?" Roman responded, "How, those two are ones that dueled Cinder and that guy before!" He said as he pointed to Atticus.

Jaden caught his breath before looking to Alexis, "Wait, you aren't dueling a Shadow Rider?" He said in a slight panic, but Alexis remained focused on the duel, "Are you insane!?"

"He's right, these duels are too dangerous." Ruby added on, "You shouldn't be doing this and-"

Alexis cut her off, "And what! Let the two of you get even more hurt in another duel against one of the Shadow Riders?" She shouted with the two Slifer Red's speechless. Alexis then turned to them with sorrow in her eyes, "You two aren't the only ones who want to protect people." She said before returning to the duel, determination in her eyes, "And right now, I'm the one protecting those I care about." She said before reaching behind her back, pulling out three sets of keys, "I'm the one who took their keys, knowing somebody would try to steal them while I was preoccupied with this duel." She said with Roman gritting his teeth. However, Alexis focused her anger on Blake, "But I didn't think the culprit would be a friend of my brother."

"Blake!" Atticus called out to the Black Shadow Rider, but she refused to look at him. Suddenly, a shiver ran down her spine as she and Roman turn around.

A new next of watchers were observing the duel, "Well, this is an interesting development." Emerging from the shadows of the tree was a feminine voice, one that caused Ruby's heart to pulsate with pain. The flaming orange glow of the eye was seen before the Fall Shadow Rider walked out, "We seem to have a duel for three keys instead of one."

Blake then looked over to see the Bladed Shadow Rider standing next to Cinder, "Well Darling, your plan may have backfired." He said with her sweating, "But, this can still work out in our favor." He said as he looked to Roman. However, he then looked over to Atticus, "Oh, if it isn't the weakling. The one of us who lost first."

"Adam," Atticus said as he clenched his fists. Alexis looked back in slight shock, never seeing her brother that angry before, "You-" However, he looked over to see Blake walking over to the other two Shadow Riders, standing in between them, "Blake…" Atticus said as he loosened his grip, a look of sorrow in his eyes.

Cinder then looked to the Criminal Shadow Rider, "Roman, make sure not to squander this opportunity." She said before smirking, "I would hate to have to call that girl finish what you could not."

"You leave her out of this!" Roman responded in anger before returning to the duel, "I have this match in the bag. This girl can't beat me!" He said as Alexis drew her card, "She has no way to bring out a monster strong enough to beat my Blowback Dragon."

"Oh Roman," Cinder said in with the shaking of her head, "How simple-minded can one man be." She said before looking to Alexis, "There is always more than one way to bring out a stronger monster."

"I activate the Machine Angel Ritual." Alexis said as Roman gasped, looking at her remaining two cards in hand, "Now I tribute Cyber Angel Idaten to ritual summon Cyber Angel Benten." Out of an altar of flames, a woman with long black hair emerged. She wore a light blue and red spandex suit, wielding a sickle in her right hand and a fan in her left, (1800 ATK / 1500 DEF). "And since Idaten was used a ritual tribute, she gives Benten 1000 more attacks points." She said before the specter of a red armored skater appeared behind Benten. As the specter faded away, the red aura radiated from Alexis' monster, (1800 + 1000 = 2800 ATK).

"No way!" Roman said in a panic as Alexis declared her move.

"Now Benten, destroy Blowback Dragon!" Alexis said as her monster tossed its sickle into the machine's gun-head. The blade pierced the armor before causing the beast to explode. Roman was slightly taken back in the shockwave of destruction.

Roman: 2000 – 500 = 1500 Life Points

"Also, since Benten destroyed a monster, you take damage equal to its original defense points." She said as Roman looked to see the sickle coming for him. It passed through his body like a hologram, but the pain of the weapon passing through his chest was real. He fell to one knee as he barely had any life points left.

Roman: 1500 – 1200 = 300 Life Points

Alexis then lowered her duel disk, "If you give up now, it can spare you the pain." She said as Roman started to stand up, "I don't want to hurt you, but I can't let you hurt my friends either."

"Hehehe, you're a foolish girl." Roman said before drawing, "I can't give up when I'm on the side that will win." He said with Alexis having a look of confusion, "Of these Shadow Riders I'm the one who understands this game the least." The Criminal Shadow Rider said before pointing back to Cinder, Blake, and Adam. "But those three are insane and will do anything to win. I'm a betting man, I bet they are going to be the last ones standing in this little war."

Cinder smirked, "The flattery is appreciated, but don't think this will overwrite your punishment if you lose."

"I don't plan on losing or giving up," Roman said as he looked at the card, smirking, "I plan on surviving this duel! I play Smashing Ground to destroy your Benten." He said before playing a card of an arm crashing into the earth.

"I use Machine Angel Ritual's effect from the graveyard." Alexis responded, "by banishing it, I can protect Benten from destruction." She said as Roman's card went to the graveyard, but he still smiled.

"You're not getting away that easily. I unique the last Heavy Mech Support Platform from Cannon Soldier." He said as the machine uninstalled for the third time, (1900 - 500 = 1400 ATK). "Now, I'll tribute both to summon Barrel Dragon!" as the two machines vanished, a third gun-head monster appeared. This time, much larger than the last two. As well as have guns for arms, the head was also in the shape of a revolver, (2600 ATK / 2200 DEF).

"He summoned a weaker monster?" Jaden said before seeing a look of worry on Alexis' face.

"Look!" Ruby pointed out as three coins appeared over Barrel Dragon's head.

"Now, like with Blowback, if two or three of the results are heads." He said before pointing at Benten, "Then your monster is destroyed."

"And if you fail the results, you lose next turn." Alexis responded, "Benten will destroy your monster and inflict enough damage to end this duel."

"I guess we'll just see who lady luck favors this time," Roman said as the first coin flipped. He smiled as it landed on heads. However, he grimaced as the second one was tails. In looking at the third one flip, a line of sweat ran down his face. Alexis gritted her teeth as the coin landed but gasped at the second heads. "And looks like she favors me," Roman said before Barrel Dragon head fired a round into Benten's chest, exploding on contact. "Now, destroy another one of those stupid goat tokens." He ordered his monster before the hammer of the revolver pulled back. The shot disintegrated the token, leaving only one more token on her field, "I think that will do for now."

"I draw," Alexis said, but grimaced at the results, seeing a monster she could not summon, "I end my turn."

"My move," Roman said as he drew, "Now, I can activate Barrel Dragons effect again." He said before the coins flipped. The results were Tails, Heads, Tails. Roman shrugged, "Well, I can still blow up the token the old fashion way." He said before the Barrel Dragon attacked, destroying the last Scapegoat Token Alexis had. Roman set the card he drew and ended his turn.

Alexis drew, this time a card she could play, but not the one she needed, "I active Stray Lambs, giving me two lamb tokens on my field in defense mode." She said before a white and pinkish lambs softly slept on her side of the field. (0 ATK / 0 DEF). "I can't summon anything else this turn, so that's it for me."

"You think you can stall with those two lamb chops?" Roman said as he drew, then activating Barrel Dragon's effect. However, all the coins were tails side up. "Okay, let's try this. I activate Call of the Haunted to revive Blowback Dragon. Then I active his effect on one of those tokens." He said as red gunned machine reappears. As well as the coins over its head. However, the results were two tails and the last one being heads.

"Looks like your luck ran out," Adam commented. However, he looked to Blake, who remained focused on the duel.

"No matter, I can keep going until I win." Roman said as smirked at the card he drew, "You may remember playing this card in your first turn." He said with Alexis gasping, "I use Polymerization to fuse Barrel Dragon and Blowback Dragon." The Criminal Shadow Rider said as the two-monster morphed together, "To summon Gatling Dragon!" he announced as a massive machine rolled up behind him. Both the head and arms were formed from six-barrel gatling guns. The monster mechanical roar echoed through the land, (2600 ATK / 1200 DEF). "This is upgrade still has the coins." Roman said as they appeared over his monster's head, "But this time, I get to destroy a monster for every heads result."

"What!?" Alexis said as the coins flipped. While the first result was tails, the last two were heads. She gasped as the monster arm Gatling guns decimated the two stray lamb tokens, leaving her field wide open.

"Now, attack her directly," Roman ordered as the machine roared. The Gatling Dragon's head reeved before unleashing a volley of highspeed rounds.

Alexis eyes widened as she saw the bullets coming, "AAAAAAAA!" She screamed in pain as the volley encompassed her entire body.

"ALEXIS!" Ruby, Jaden, and Atticus all screamed at the same time. They ran over to find her on her knees, her eyes slightly devoid of light.

Alexis: 3500 – 2600 = 900 Life Points

"Hahahaha!" Roman laughed, "Not so tough when you don't have tokens to hide behind."

"Impressive Roman," Cinder complimented, causing him to turn back to her, "But the duel is not over yet."

"Next turn, you can finish her off," Adam added on, while Blake reminded silent.

"Don't worry, I know," Roman said before looking back to the duel. Slowly, Alexis started to stand up, her body still battered from the barrage of bullets, "Now, who's the one who should be giving up."

"Alexis," Ruby spoke, "Maybe you should-"

However, Alexis cut her off again, "I already told you," She said before looking back to the hooded Slifer Red, the light slightly returning, "I'm going to protect my friends."

Ruby was at a loss for word, but Jaden spoke to the nice Obelisk Blue, "Then, we'll be right here to cheer you on." He said with a smile, "Just make sure you win, okay?" Alexis smiled as he helped her full stand up, then let her go to finish the duel. Jaden focused on her as Ruby and Atticus looked to him in slight anger, "Remember, she's one of the toughest duelists around this Academy." The spunky Slifer Red said before looking to Roman, "No way is she gonna lose to some mobster in a goofy hat."

"Hey!" Roman said in resentment as Alexis drew. However, he noticed her eyes slightly widen at the results. "Huh, what could she have drawn that made her react like that." He said as noticed her field was empty and one other card was in her hand, "She can't ritual summon without tributes."

"Unless," Cinder said with a smirk.

"Unless what?" Roman called back as Alexis played the card.

"I activate Machine Angel Absolute Ritual!" Alexis said as she played the spell.

"Absolute!?" Roman responded, "What's the difference?"

"This one lets me use materials from my graveyard." She said as Roman's eyes widened, "So, I send back to my deck the level six Benten and level two Cyber Petit Angel." Said before revealing the last card in her hand, "To summon Cyber Angel Dakini!" She said as a four-armed warrior lady appeared on her said of the field. She wielded two swords and a staff in her hands. Her skin was blue as she wore orangish armor, (2700 ATK / 2400 DEF). "And since she was ritual summoned, you must send one of your monsters to the graveyard."

"WHAT?" Roman responded. Since he had only one monster, his Gatling Dragon vanished. He backed up in fear as Dakini glared down at him.

"Now, attack him directly!" Alexis ordered as Dakini charged with a war cry. The ritual monster plunged her staff into Roman's chest, knocking him flying back, sending his hat off his head. As he landed on the ground near the trees, his life points hit zero.

Roman: 300 – 2700 = 0 Life Points

As the duel ended, Alexis nearly passed out as she fell forward. Thankfully, Ruby ran over to help her from hitting the ground, "Thank you." Alexis said with the strength she had left as Ruby smiled.

On the other side of the field, Roman grimace in pain as he could not stand up. He looked over to see Cinder glaring down at him, her arms crossed, "You disappoint me, Roman." She said before moving her right hand to a snapping position, "We do not need you anymore." The Fall Shadow Rider said before snapping her finger.

Suddenly, a black glyph appeared on the ground under Roman. The Criminal Shadow Rider looked to see multiple gray blobs forming with the face of monsters. "AAAAAAAAHHH!" Roman screamed as the monster jumped on his body enveloping him in their mass. Ruby and the others were paralyzed in fear at the sight. "H-Help me! Help me, please! AAAAAAHHHHH!" He pleaded as he reached out his hand, but Cinder walked away.

"Let's go, we'll finish this another day." Cinder said to Adam and Blake, who nodded as they walked into the woods. However, the Black Shadow Rider looked back at the group in remorse before vanishing into the darkness.

"AAAAAHHHHH!" Roman screamed as the monsters started to reach his head, "AAAAAAAHHHH, HELP ME, NEO-" He pleaded just before the monsters enveloped his mouth and face. After assuming his whole body, the glob of monster shrunk before vanishing, leaving nothing behind.

The students had a look of horror in their eyes, unable to forget what they had witnessed. However, they looked to Alexis, who's eyes were trembling for another reason, "Neo?" She said as look down in dread, "Is that who he meant before?" She said before tears started to form in her eyes, "Oh no, what have I done?" She said as Atticus hugged her little sister.

Jaden and Ruby looked to each other, realizing how much more dangerous these duels just got. The spunky Slifer Red then walked over to the bowler had. As he picked it up, he noticed Yang, Weiss and the others running towards him in the distance. He turned back to Ruby, who was focused on the last spot Cinder was. The hooded Slifer Red's were filled with determination as she clenched her fists.

Meanwhile.

Back in the cave, the three remaining Shadow Riders gathered, "We still need five more keys." Adam said as Cinder smiled, "They are proving much harder to get than you thought."

"Yes, but it is making the whole process a lot more…entertaining." Cinder responded. "And like the game, it doesn't matter if you have fewer life points than your opponent. It only matters that their life points hit zero first." She said before crossing her arms, "Now, we need to decide on who should lead our next move."

"I'll go," Blake offered, "I failed in taking the two keys." The Black Shadow Rider said with a focused gaze, "I will not fail this time."

"Hm, very well." Cinder said with a smirk, "I look forward to your results." She said with Blake nodding. Adam grinning as the Black Shadow Rider wandered further into the cave, preparing for her coming duels.

AN: There you go, Roman gets to duel in this series. I had a hard time thinking about what deck he would use, until I realized something. He is always fight with/on machines in every moment he is in action; paladins, train, and even the airship. With that, there are surprising a lot of monster that work with him in that aesthetic. I also really like the gun dragon monsters and feel they fit his battle mentality. There were a lot of monsters I put in his deck but could not use them all in this duel. Conversely, Alexis almost used every monster she played in the series with me even having to use a couple of cards her ARC-V counterpart had, (Which I maintain still counts for her character here, since she played the exact same archetype). She pulled out win as Roman goes to the Shadow Realm, leaving only his hat behind. Now, Blake is up to duel. Next chapter will see her backstory partly explained, as well as at least one and half duels shown. That is all for now, thanks for reading, and hope to see you in the next chapter.

Now, to answer some questions I could not respond to. As this chapter showed, Jaden is not the only GX character to pull out a win. I want to give everyone a little moment to shine in this series at some point, but that does mean other characters have to lose a duel in the process. As far as where Crowler is, I would agree he is visiting his mother in Italy, it's important to do that. As for why Weiss used Blizzard Princess in the last turn, it was a card I wanted her to use in the series here. It gives her some combo use with the Eria and is a non-fusion alternative boss monster to her deck like Bladedge for Jaden. I also like the card and play it myself in my Duel Links deck, which is just spellcaster beatdown with it, familiar possessed cards, and Dark Magician Girl. Also, the card basically and ice version of Ruby Rose whenever I look at it, so it made sense to add it into this series. If you have more question, feel free to ask and I will either answer them write away with a PM or respond in the next chapter.