It was the next day after Jaden left Duel Academy, and everyone was on a video chat with Michael. Alexis asked if Jaden was doing alright, and Michael told her Jaden was fine the last time he checked in. Syrus asked when Jaden would return, and Michael said that while he didn't know, Jaden would be in place tomorrow night.
Hassleberry asked what would happen when the boat reached its destination, and Michael said they would cross their fingers and hope for the best. "That's comforting," Chazz said sarcastically, and Michael admitted that he took a chance to send Jaden out. Bastion asked Michael if he wasn't sure it would work, and Michael said considering the circumstances, he had to take the chance.
"I'm sure it'll work. We just have to put our faith in Jaden," Lily said, and Bastion agreed, but said they need to be ready for their enemy to strike, whoever that was. "Actually, I have an idea who it is. Check this out," Michael said as he pulled out a picture of a man with long blue hair and an outfit similar to the Obelisk Blue uniform.
Hassleberry asked who the man was, and Michael said it was Sartorius Kumar, Aster's manager, and that he was almost certain he was connected. Chazz asked Michael how he reached that conclusion, and Michael said he believed Jaden was exposed to the Light of Destruction through Aster's deck, which means someone infused it with energy from the Light, something they could only do if they could directly access the deck.
Syrus said anyone could've done that, but Lily saw what Michael was getting at. "Maybe not Syrus. Aster's deck is important to him, so he wouldn't let anyone near it unless he trusted them completely. Someone like his manager," Lily deduced, and Michael nodded, adding that he was worried Sartorius would seize the opportunity of Jaden being gone to gain a following of supporters at the academy.
"Keep your eyes open, and if you see him, do not engage him," Michael advised. Hassleberry asked why they shouldn't duel him, and Michael said they don't know how skilled he is as a duelist, and that he could be even better than Aster. "Until we learn more about him, don't duel him," Michael warned.
Everyone agreed, and Michael told them they'd see him tonight, and to be watching Channel 7 at 6 pm before ending the call. Everyone wondered what Michael was talking about, but Lily remembered a conversation she'd had with Michael last week. "Now I remember. They're doing that new talk show with duelists from the pro league. Michael told me he was going on tonight," Lily informed.
Alexis wondered why Michael wanted them to watch, and Bastion said they'd have to watch and see. "I'm going out," Chazz said before leaving, sick of all the talk about Jaden. Meanwhile, in Sartorius' office, he was doing another tarot reading. "The Wheel of Fate is right side up. It seems Jaden is more powerful than I imagined. I foretold Aster's victory, however Jaden's response was quite unexpected, for after I infused Aster's deck with my energy, Jaden's soul should've been mine to claim," he thought to himself as he turned over the cards.
"However, all is not lost yet. Jaden's connection to his duel spirits has been broken. Jaden can wait, however I sense another being with a similar power, but a much weaker spirit," he said to himself as the pilot told him they were approaching Duel Academy. The plane landed at the dock and Sartorius met Crowler and Bonaparte there.
"Welcome to our humble academy. It's a pleasure to have you here," Crowler greeted, and Sartorius told them the pleasure was his. "As you gentlemen know, I represent several professional duelists, and I'm always on the hunt for fresh talent," Sartorius said, and Crowler read between the lines, assuming Sartorius wanted to take on one of the students as a new client, Sartorius confirming that was his intention.
Crowler offered to give the man a guided tour, and Bonaparte said he would be better off with a list of their top students, offering to make it himself. "That's very kind of you, but I won't be needing any assistance. I make a point to work alone. It's been a pleasure gentlemen, but I have work to do," Sartorius said before leaving them.
The day passed and it was 6 o'clock. Everyone joined in Chazz's room to watch the interview with Michael. "Good evening folks, I'm Jean Collins. Tonight, we're bringing you a new show called 'Behind the Duelist', where I talk to pro duelists about what they think of their experience in the league and their opinions on their fellow pros. Joining me tonight is one of the newest pros in the league, Michael Shadows," the interviewer said as Michael walked in wearing his academy uniform and sat in one of the chairs next to Jean's desk.
"It's a pleasure to meet you Mr. Collins," Michael greeted, and the man said to just call him Jean. "So Michael, is it true that just last year you were enrolled in the freshman class at Duel Academy?" Jean asked, Michael confirming it was true. Jean asked why Michael only went to Duel Academy for a single year before joining the pro league, and Michael said he had been investigating the Slifer Red Dorm.
"The bottom-ranked dorm? Why that dump?" Jean asked, and Michael said it was because word had reached his father that despite the donations his company sends to the school, the Slifer Dorm was in terrible condition. "Duel Academy's former chief accountant, Dr. Maxwell, had been stealing the donation funds for the Slifer dorm and keeping the money for himself," Michael informed.
"Wowza. I guess going from undercover work to the pro leagues is pretty easy, isn't it?" Jean asked, and Michael said it wasn't as easy as he would think. "So I think the question on everyone's mind is, what's your opinion on Aster Phoenix?" Jean asked, and Michael said that while Aster is a skilled duelist, he had no respect for him as a person.
"I'm sure you remember the Duel Academy student he called out for copying his deck after defeating Zane Truesdale a few days ago?" Michael asked, and Jean asked why he was bringing that up. Michael said he knew the student, and they were no thief. Jaden was a friend of his, and was a Slifer Red in his second year.
Jean said he was surprised Jaden was a Slifer Red despite being in his second year, and Michael told him not to let Jaden's rank fool him. "He won the school duel between Duel Academy and North Academy last year, and he had to beat me to compete in it. Not to mention he managed to defeat Zane in the Grad Match last year as well," Michael informed, and when Jean asked Michael if he was serious, Michael said he was, and that, unlike Aster, he could accept a loss graciously.
"I'm sure you saw the tabloid news that Aster was enrolled in the freshman class of Duel Academy this year? Well, he left before classes started after losing to Jaden and his Elemental Hero deck, which Aster used as a base to create his. And if you find it hard to believe, I have footage from that duel and the School Duel that show Jaden using heroes, long before Aster announced his deck," Michael informed, Jean saying that sounded like something they'd all like to see.
A screen dropped down behind them and a projector turned on, showing footage from both the School Duel and Aster and Jaden's first duel, including Aster's loss to Jaden. "And Aster lost my respect when he reacted the way he did. Instead of acknowledging his loss and moving on, he attempted to drag an innocent student's name through the mud to save face, and then beat up on him with a deck of cards only he has access to," Michael derided.
Jean asked what kind of deck it was, and Michael said they were a kind of hero monsters called the Destiny Heroes. "They were never released to the public because their creator was assaulted and put into a coma before it could happen. Industrial Illusions allowed Aster to keep the cards as a way to remember his father, who created the Destiny Heroes," Michael informed.
"Speaking of unique cards, is it true that you also have a deck that was created by Pegasus, but never released to the public?" Jean asked, and Michael confirmed it, saying it was his Dark World deck. "I've avoided using it in the league because of how strong it is, but that's about to change. I have one more thing to say. Aster, if you're watching this, you've acted in a way shameful for a pro, so I challenge you to a duel this Friday. The loser has to leave the pro league for the rest of the season and has to forfeit their deck to the winner. Your heroes versus my Dark World deck. Face me, unless Aster Phoenix is really a chicken," Michael challenged.
"You heard it here first folks. Will Aster answer this challenge? And if so, what kind of duel will we be in for?" Jean asked before the program ended and everyone was in shock from what Michael said. Lily hoped Michael knew what he was doing, and Alexis said she was sure Michael did.
Syrus asked why he challenged Aster in the first place, and Hassleberry said he must have a reason. Bastion turned to the side and saw Chazz leaving, asking where he was going. "To get some air, what's it to you?" Chazz asked as he shut the door behind him and walked into the woods. He had been walking for a while when the Ojamas showed up.
Ojama Yellow asked him if he was alright, and Chazz told them to leave him alone. "Hey, you're just tense about what's going on," Green said, Ojama Black saying it was natural. Chazz told them to zip it, but he heard another voice saying they meant well. Chazz turned to the side and saw Sartorius standing a ways from him across a clearing.
"Duel spirits don't often communicate with the human world, but when they find someone they trust, they can become quite loyal. You have a gift Mr. Princeton," Sartorius complimented, but Chazz immediately recognized him and demanded he tell him what he did to Jaden. "Sorry, but I have no idea what you're talking about," Sartorius lied, but Chazz told him to drop the act, and that he knew he was connected to the Light of Destruction.
"Then how about this, we'll duel, and if you win, I'll tell you what you want to know," Sartorius offered, and Chazz agreed, but the ojamas said it seemed like a bad idea, and that Chazz wasn't wearing the ring Michael gave him, so he might join Sartorius if he lost. "Shut it! Besides, I won't lose to someone like him," Chazz assured before he activated his duel disk.
A fog rolled in and a table appeared in front of Sartorius, the man shuffling his deck and placing it on top calmly. Chazz asked him where his duel disk was, and Sartorius assured him he didn't need one before they both started the duel.
Sartorius: 4000 LP
Chazz: 4000 LP
Chazz drew his hand while Sartorius laid the top five cards of his deck face-down on the table without looking at them. "You know it helps when you look at your cards, right?" Chazz asked, and Sartorius assured him he didn't need to, as like Chazz, he also had a gift. "Whatever. I'll go first, and I summon V-Tiger Jet in attack mode," Chazz declared.
Level 4/Light/Machine
ATK 1600/DEF 1800
"And now I play the continuous spell Frontline Base, which means once each turn I can special summon a level 4 or lower union monster from my hand, like my W Wing Catapult."
Level 4/Light/Machine
ATK 1300/DEF 1500
"And now I banish them both to summon VW Tiger Catapult!"
Level 6/Light/Machine
ATK 2000/DEF 2100
"Next I'll place two cards face-down and end my turn," he finished. "Most impressive. My turn. And I play my Vision spell card," Sartorius said as he flipped over one of his cards, revealing that it was in fact his Vision spell. "He got it without even looking?" Chazz asked in shock, and Sartorius just laughed.
"Didn't I tell you? Much like you, I possess a gift. Now that Vision has been activated, I draw one card and reveal it. This next card represents you Chazz: Arcana Force XII - The Hangman," Sartorius said as he revealed the top card of his deck, revealing the very card he just named. "You're cheating! There's no way you could've known that card was on top of your deck!" Chazz shouted.
"No Chazz, I'm predicting. I have the power to see events before they occur. And in this card I see your destiny. You hold a great deal of anger inside, don't you Chazz?" Sartorius asked, but Chazz said it didn't take magic powers to see that before refuting Sartorius' claim, saying he was a cheat, nothing more.
"Call me what you will, but you will see the truth soon enough. Now you must shuffle my deck, and I suggest you shuffle well, for if I play the card I just showed you during this duel, you will lose 1000 life points," Sartorius informed. "Let me ask you something, do you always act this calm? Because you're starting to creep me out. You should try getting angry once in a while," Chazz said as he walked across the duel field and began shuffling Sartorius' deck.
"It'll take more than card tricks and a creepy voice to beat me," Chazz assured as he shuffled the man's deck. "I know exactly what it will take. That's the point I've been trying to make. All your actions are predetermined. In other words, all your moves have already been decided, and I know them all. Not a bad talent, is it?" Sartorius asked.
Chazz finished shuffling Sartorius' deck and put it back on the table without saying anything. "Still skeptical are we? Don't worry, I'll make a believer out of you soon enough. Then you'll see the light. Sooner or later everyone does. I play the spell Suit of Sword X," Sartorius declared as an image of the card he activated appeared above him, beginning to rotate.
"The card will continue to rotate until you say stop. If it lands right-side up, all your monsters will be destroyed, but if it lands upside down, all my monsters will be destroyed, so say the word," Sartorius encouraged, and when Chazz said stop, it landed right-side up. "Oh come on," Chazz lamented as swords rained down and pierced his monster, destroying it. "And now I summon Knight of Pentacles in defense mode," Sartorius continued.
Level 3/Earth/Warrior
ATK 1000/DEF 1000
The monster appeared and an image of its card appeared above it before beginning to spin. "Once again, you are to choose when it stops. If it lands right side up, Knight of Pentacles cannot be destroyed by battle, but if it lands upside down, it cannot attack and will be destroyed as soon as it is attacked," Sartorius informed, and when Chazz shouted for it to stop, it landed right-side up again.
"It seems fate has abandoned you, Mr. Princeton. I end my turn," Sartorius concluded. "I draw! And I play the spell Graceful Charity, so now I can draw three cards as long as I discard two. And I predict I'm gonna kick your butt, 'cause I play the trap Level Modulation, so you draw two cards and I summon Armed Dragon LV 7 from my graveyard," Chazz informed.
Level 7/Wind/Dragon
ATK 2800/DEF 1000
"And now I sacrifice him to summon the mighty Armed Dragon LV 10!"
Level 10/Wind/Dragon
ATK 3000/DEF 2000
"Now I play the trap Ojama Trio, which will summon three Ojama Tokens to your field in defense mode."
Level 2/Light/Beast
ATK 0/DEF 1000
"These are the monster spirits connected to his soul," Sartorius thought to himself, and the ojamas shouted for Chazz to get them away from Sartorius. "You won't have to be there for long. I activate Armed Dragon LV 10's special ability! By sending a card in my hand to the graveyard, all your monsters are destroyed, including your Knight of Pentacles. Armed Dragon, destroy them all with Sonic Roar!" Chazz ordered.
His dragon let out a powerful roar that sent shockwaves through the air at Sartorius' monsters, destroying them all. "Something I forgot to mention, when Ojama Tokens are destroyed, you take 300 points of damage for each of them, meaning you take 900 points of damage," Chazz informed.
Sartorius: 3100 LP
"Now Armed Dragon, attack him directly with Static Orb Thrust!" he ordered as Armed Dragon LV 10 created a ball of energy in his hand before launching it at Sartorius, taking away almost all of his life points.
Sartorius: 100 LP
"I end my turn. So, are you ready to talk now?" Chazz asked. "You haven't defeated me yet. Let's see what destiny has in store for you. I play the spell Selection of Fate. Now you must choose a card in my hand at random, and if you select a monster card, I can summon that monster directly to my field," Sartorius informed.
Chazz began walking across the field, but Ojama Yellow appeared, warning him he had a bad feeling about what was about to happen. Chazz waved him off, saying he could handle it before approaching Sartorius' table, choosing the center-most card. Sartorius held it up, revealing Arcana Force XII - The Hangman.
"You've gotta be kidding me!" Chazz exclaimed. "Didn't I tell you Chazz, this Hangman card represents you. You see, it wasn't a card trick after all, it was destiny. Fate intended you to choose it, and fate intended you to pay the price," Sartorius said as the monster appeared.
Level 6/Light/Fairy
ATK 2200/DEF 2200
"Since the card revealed by Vision was played, you lose 1000 life points."
Chazz: 3000 LP
"Now it's time to tempt the hands of fate once again. The card will spin until you say stop, and if it lands right side up, my monster will be destroyed, and I will suffer its attack points as damage. However, should it land upside down, your dragon will be destroyed, and you will suffer its attack points as damage. Go ahead, the future is in your hands now, or so you think," Sartorius said.
"I have a 50/50 chance. If it lands right side up, I win, but if it lands in reverse, I lose," Chazz thought before he shouted for the card to stop, only for his heart to sink when it landed in reverse. A bright light glowed underneath his monster and it was destroyed.
"You see, it was all in the cards. Thanks to them, I now know what you fear the most: Failure. You see, the cards tell me there's a rival you've been trying to defeat, however you have been unable to do so. The Hangman represents turmoil. On the outside, you're quite confident, but on the inside, you lack faith in yourself. You think perhaps your rival is too strong," Sartorius said.
"Give me a break. I mean who's stronger than me?" Chazz asked, but then his thoughts drifted to Jaden. "Grr, you're messing with my head!" Chazz shouted. "It's difficult to hear the truth, isn't it? But trust me, my friend, when you open your eyes to the light, your fears shall become a thing of the past. Accept your destiny Chazz, the Society of Light awaits you. You must embrace the Hangman in order to conquer it. Join me and stand by my side. Together you and I will walk into the light," Sartorius offered.
"But, Jaden's my friend," Chazz said, but his will was slowly crumbling. "You've come so close, you can't turn back now. Finish what you've begun. Don't you want to be strong? To conquer your greatest fears, to conquer Jaden? It's all within your grasp," Sartorius coaxed, but Chazz said he wasn't sure.
"You are sure, but the two sides of your soul are struggling for control. Each of us has two faces, one that's dark, and one that can see the light. Embrace the light within, you're so close," Sartorius encouraged, and Chazz finally caved. "Alright, help me! Show me the light!" Chazz pleaded, and Sartorius agreed before limbs shot out from the trees and grabbed Chazz's legs before lifting him in the air and turning him upside down.
Chazz: 0 LP
Winner: Sartorius
The ojamas tried to help Chazz, but Sartorius turned towards them, a bright light shining from his eyes that caused them to disappear. Later on, Sartorius was performing a tarot reading in his office, pleased with having turned Chazz to his side. "The soul of the hangman is now mine. However, the one I truly want eludes me," he said to himself, but as he shuffled his deck, a card fell out of it and landed on the ground.
"The Wheel of Fate is in reverse. The tide is turning," he said, wondering what it meant. The next morning, Chazz had returned to the Slifer dorm, but he was sporting a new white blazer. Syrus asked him what was with the new outfit, but Chazz told him it was more than just a new outfit. "I finally woke up, and I've seen the light, The Society of Light. It holds all the answers. Hahahahahahaha!" Chazz shouted.