I'm getting back to 'Rise of the Sacred Beasts'! By the way, it's my birthday! So what better time to do this than now? ROLL IT!

It's night at Duel Academy and inside, all is quiet. We check in at the infirmary where a certain blonde Obelisk Blue is standing watch over her eccentric brother. The blonde in question is Alexis Rhodes and her brother is Atticus. No one has heard a word from Atticus since the battle with Camula. There's just 2 Shadow Riders left and 5 of the 14 Spirit Gates have been open. Alexis fondly remembers the days when she and Atticus would duel for hours on end. Atticus was the one who taught her that you needed a reason to be the best and that dueling is more than just power.

'You miss him, but there is a way to get him back...' a deep voice beckoned to Alexis through a dark portal. This startled Alexis. 'Come with me and I'll give back all his memories...if you can defeat me in a duel, that is, at the place we first met - THE ABANDONED DORM!'

Just then, a pair of arms emerged from the portal and grabbed Alexis.

"What's going on? Who was that?" Atticus asked, startled.

At the Slifer dorm, Jaden was awoken by not just his Winged Kuriboh, but a knock on the door from both Reggie and Clio, scaring Chumley.

"Jaden! Alexis has gone missing!" Reggie freaked.

"I'm rounding up the troops right now!" Jaden responded, texting in his friends.

Everyone met up at the Duel Academy infirmary. There was no trace of Alexis at all.

"It's not like her to up and vanish," Crowler noted.

"You know who might know where Alexis might have run off to?" Otto asked. "Her brother Atticus!"

"Good call, Rocket Boy!" Reggie responded.

"Why don't we go see Atticus?" Twister asked as the group rushed into the infirmary only to see that Atticus was on the floor. Otto quickly picked him up.

"Atticus...speak to me, bro!"

"What happened here, Atticus?" Keoni asked.

"It...it was him. Titan!" was all that Atticus had to say.

"Who in the name of Hawk is Titan?" Lars asked.

"A Shadow Rider...he took her to the Abandoned Dorm!" Atticus added.

"Well, what are we waiting for? We've got a friend to find!" Otto said as they rushed to the Abandoned Dorm.

At the Abandoned Dorm, a Shadow Duel is about to start. If Alexis wins, her brother gets his memories back. But if the Shadow Rider, Titan, wins, not only does he get Alexis's Spirit Gate Key, but he also gets her soul. Just then, voices are heard as the rest of the Key Keepers found their way to the Abandoned Dorm.

"HOLD IT RIGHT THERE!" Clio called out.

"You're not doing this alone! So count Clio and I in!" Reggie added as she and Clio activated their Duel Disks alongside Alexis.

"3 on 1 it is. Of course, it doesn't matter what the terms are - ALL 3 OF YOU ARE GOING DOWN!" Titan cackled.

"We'll see about that, Shadow Rider!" Reggie retorted.

"DUEL!"

Reggie: 8000

Clio: 8000

Alexis: 8000

Titan: 8000

A card popped out of Titan's deck and into his hand, signifying his draw for the turn. "READY YOURSELVES FOR THE SHADOWS! I summon PICADOR FIEND in Attack Mode!"

ATK: 1600

DEF: 1200

"I'll then lay 1 card face-down and end my turn."

Reggie then drew her first card of the duel. "That means I'm up! And I think I'll start with ARCANA FORCE III - THE EMPRESS!"

ATK: 1300

DEF: 1300

A holographic image of the card soon appeared above the monster.

"How its ability will work is up to you. If you stop the card right-side-up, I can Special Summon an Arcana Force monster from my hand whenever you summon a monster. If it lands upside-down, I have to send a card from my hand to the Grave when you summon a monster," Reggie explained as the card spun.

"STOP!" Titan called out. The card landed right-side-up.

"Good choice...for me, that is. Next, I'll play the Spell - DOUBLE SUMMON! This lets me conduct another summon this turn! I'll summon ARCANA FORCE IV - THE EMPEROR!"

ATK: 1400

DEF: 1400

Once again, a holographic image of the card appeared above the monster and it started spinning.

"This time, if it lands right-side-up, all Arcana Force monsters I control gain 500 points. If it lands upside-down, Arcana Force monsters I control lose that same amount."

"STOP!"

Once again, the card landed right-side-up.

"This just isn't your day, Shadow Rider. I'll play 2 cards face-down before ending my turn. Clio?"

Clio smiled and drew her card to start her turn. "MY TURN! And I'll begin with the Field Spell - HARPIE'S HUNTING GROUND! Now all my Harpies gain 200 points! Additionally, whenever a Harpie monster is summoned, I can clear the field of one of your Spells or Traps! Next, I summon CYBER HARPIE LADY!"

ATK: 1800 - 2000

DEF: 1300 - 1500

"Since I've summoned a Harpie Lady, Hunting Ground now activates, which means your down card has no choice but to go on an all-expenses paid vacation to the Card Graveyard!"

Titan's down card shatters, revealing a Des Counterblow.

"Now that the coast is clear, I can play HYSTERIC SIGN! This fetches Elegant Egotist to my hand! And I'll waste no time in playing it to summon another CYBER HARPIE LADY! This triggers Hunting Ground's effect, destroying Hysteric Sign! Cyber Harpies, ATTACK TITAN WITH VIRTUAL SLASH!"

Both Cyber Harpies flew in, slashing Titan and his Fiend, knocking him back.

Titan: 5600

"I'll throw these 2 cards face-down, ending my turn. During the End Phase, Hysteric Sign activates, fetching Harpie Channeler, Harpie Queen and Harpie's Pet Dragon to my hand! You're up, Alexis!"

"RIGHT! Here goes!" Alexis said, drawing her card. "I call CYBER TUTU to the field! And this so-called 'dollie' is about to play havoc with your Life Points! CYBER TUTU, ATTACK HIM DIRECTLY!"

Cyber Tutu spun around the duel ring and kicked Titan in the face, knocking him on one knee.

Titan: 4600

"So far, Alexis's will to win for her brother has proven stronger than Titan's Shadow Creatures..." Zane assessed.

"Not only that, but she's got my sister and my girlfriend dueling alongside her! SHOW THAT SHADOW RIDER WHAT GIRL POWER CAN DO!" Otto cheered.

"I'll be sure to shut down your girl power!" Titan growled as he took his next card. "I play MONSTER REBORN, reviving my Picador Fiend! Now, Picador Fiend, ATTACK CYBER TUTU!"

Picador Fiend launched a beam from its dragon skeleton hand, intending to hit Cyber Tutu, but...

"SORRY! GO, DOBLE PASSE!"

Alexis had hidden her favorite Trap! Now she takes the attack!

Alexis: 6400

"Why'd I do it? Because now you take a direct hit from...CYBER HARPIE!"

"NO!"

Once again, Cyber Harpie flew in and slashed Titan, knocking him back.

Titan: 2600

This didn't faze Titan at all. He just stood there chuckling. "You think you've beaten me, but you haven't. I have you right where I want you now! I play RITUAL OF THE MATADOR! Now by sacrificing the Level 6 Summoned Skull in my hand, I can play this...MATADOR FIEND!"

ATK: 0

DEF: 0

"It doesn't have any Attack or Defense Points!" Clio pointed out.

"What's this guy scheming?" Reggie asked.

"You'll find out soon enough! Of course, it may be difficult for you once I play this...DARK ARENA!"

Harpie's Hunting Ground was destroyed and in its place was a dark, cave-like field. "I'll lay 2 cards face-down and that'll be all for me. Your move..."

Reggie got a fierce look in her eye as she drew her card. "It's time I turn the lights back on! I play my face-down card! FIENDISH CHAIN! This will tie up your Matador Fiend and cancel out his special abilities! Next, I play the CARD OF SANCTITY! This makes us draw until we're all holding 6 cards!"

Once Card of Sanctity was resolved, Reggie put the rest of her plan into action. "I'll play another Double Summon! So now I'll summon ARCANA FORCE VII - THE CHARIOT! Now for its ability! If it lands right-side-up, I get to take control of a monster that The Chariot destroys, but if it lands upside-down, you get my monster."

"STOP!"

Right-side-up again!

"Never go to Vegas, Titan. Now I'll sacrifice both my Empress and my Emperor to summon this...ARCANA FORCE XV - THE FIEND!"

ATK: 2500

DEF: 2500

"If it lands right-side-up, I can select and destroy one monster on your field when my Fiend attacks, then you take 500 points of damage. If it lands upside-down, my Fiend will destroy all monsters on the field when it attacks."

"STOP!"

How lucky can Reggie get? It landed right-side-up again!

"Bad luck, Titan. Now, my Fiend...ATTACK! Since I've called an attack, Arcana Force XV's effect activates, destroying your Matador Fiend and you take 500 points of damage!"

Matador Fiend shattered, signifying its destruction.

Titan: 2100

"Since the only monster you have left is your Picador Fiend, I'll attack it! GO!"

Reggie's monster launched a beam from its tail destroying Picador Fiend once more.

Titan: 1200

Titan shook off the attack and chuckled. "Thank you...you've activated my LIFE EQUALIZER! Since the difference in our Life Points is 5000 or more, our Life Points become even at 3000!" (Yes, this has been errata'd from the actual card)

Reggie: 3000

Clio: 3000

Alexis: 3000

Titan: 3000

Reggie growled. She was so close to finishing Titan off. "That ends my turn."

"And starts mine!" Clio added, drawing her card. "I sacrifice both my Cyber Harpies to summon...HARPIE'S PET DRAGON!"

ATK: 2000

DEF: 2500

"ATTACK TITAN DIRECTLY WITH FEARSOME FIRE BLAST!"

On cue, Clio's dragon launched a fire stream at Titan, burning him.

Titan: 1000

"Alexis, why don't you finish this off?"

Alexis drew her card. "With pleasure, Clio! I play POLYMERIZATION to fuse Etoile Cyber and Blade Skater to summon...CYBER BLADER!"

ATK: 2100

DEF: 800

"Cyber Blader, END THIS DUEL WITH SKATE BLADE SLASH!"

On command, Cyber Blader rushed in to attack Titan. However...

"I play MAGIC CYLINDER! This sends Cyber Blader's attack right back at you!"

Alexis: 900

Reggie just smiled. "Bad move, Titan. I activate...the Spell - DOUBLE OR NOTHING! This card not only doubles Cyber Blader's Attack Points but also allows it to attack again this round!"

"OH NO!"

"I'm afraid so! Cyber Blader, let's try this again! END HIM!"

This time, the attack makes the mark, knocking Titan to the ground and causing the shadows to take him down.

Titan: 0

Morning has come and with Titan defeated, Atticus is back to normal. But still, so many unanswered questions. Atticus finally tells the story of how he became Nightshroud. Him and a few friends were lured to the Abandoned Dorm for a duel test, but instead found trouble in the form of Shadow Fiends. Atticus couldn't escape. He was kept in the Shadow Realm for months and brainwashed into becoming a Shadow Rider. The person who called him in for the duel test...was BANNER!

"So...Banner's the last Shadow Rider?" Twister asked surprisingly.

Oh boy...bombshell alert! Is Banner the last Shadow Rider? Find out next time, duelists!