Chancellor Samejima stood in his office watching as another storm raged on outside. The only light present in the room was his computer monitor, and the occasional lighting flashes. He had been briefed by Banner the condition of the keykeeper's and was deeply concerned about it.

"Two of the eight gates have been unlocked".. He sighed and shook his head "This is not good".

A whirring sound made him look over his shoulder. On the monitor, a dark figure with words and tubes appeared.

"You disappoint me Samejima". The figure chuckled, "Your excellent Duelists have failed. Why don't you just give up and surrender the six remaining keys?"

"Its not over". Samejima turned back to his window. "And I know my students, they will never give up, no matter what the odds are. After all they came to this school to become champions".

"And they will end up being the victims". The figure taunted, "My Vampire is ready to feed again!".

The screen turned off by itself, leaving Samejima to himself.

A day has passed since Sho was sealed in a doll. It was 6 AM and Ryo who just got dressed in his uniform was in his room looking through his deck. He is deeply pissed off that two people who are dear to him Chronos and Sho are turned into doll, and now he is determined to save them and can't offered to lose.

I can't let Camula win, its not just my brother and Chronos-sensei but everyone lives is at stake, she has Illusion Gate and how am I going to counter that. He thought to himself and then slammed his fist in table out of frustration since he could't figure out how to counter her Illusion Gate because he knows she will use it to blackmail him.

Later in the evening at infirmary, Ryo was sitting on a chair next to Yusuke's bed, but currently his attention was on Judai who was still in bed as he watched the Slifer tossing around the bed in pain. Ryo knows that kid is too adamant to fight, but he is worried about his well-being and mask it with his stoic expression. He already lost Chronos and Sho, now he can't offered to lose Judai or any of his friends.

Before he could speak to Judai, Ryo noticed that the half medallion that Yusuke was wearing began to glow. and then he saw how his hand slowly began to move up, "Yusuke! Are you awake!. He gasped in shock, he then saw him slowly opening his eyes and then turned towards him.

Ryo looked as Yusuke groaned as he was waking up and was trying to force himself up. But Ryo managed to stop him and removed his oxygen mask for him since he figured Yusuke wants to tell him something.

"Ryo I have something to tell you". Yusuke said weakly as he regain conscious, causing the Kaiser to look at him both confused and worried.

"Huh"

Yusuke then stared at Judai's bed. "I can tell you're awake Judai," Yusuke said in a flat tone. The Slifer's brown eyes opened and he looked at the seaweed Duelist.

"What do you need?" Judai asked as he forced himself up.

"You need to know a few things about that vampire Camula. She has a shadow charm that gives her the power to turn everyone into dolls."

Judai nodded his head. "Her necklace right?".

Yusuke nodded. "You can beat her with another charm." He took the charm off from around his neck and tossed to Judai.

Judai looked shocked. He picked it up from where it landed on the bed. Looking from the other half of the shadow he himself wore, back to Yusuke's clouded purple eyes, he raised both brows in question.

Yusuke gave a sardonic smirk. "She has a card known as Illusion Gate she will try to use. It allows her to break the rules of the game, all she has to do is offer a soul. Use that charm and stop her from stealing a life from one of you. You don't necessarily have to be the one who duels, but you have to be there," Yusuke clarified.

"How will the charm stop her?" Judai questioned. He slid the charm around his neck.

"It will create a barrier around people near you. That is all I know. I hope that does something." Yusuku's words started slurring and he again fell unconscious.

Ryo again put the oxygen mask on him and pulled the blankets up.

Ryo turned his head and looked at Judai. The Slifer was looking to where Yusuke was unconscious again, although he did look like he was breathing much better. The Obelisk was glad Yusuke gave them a clue to defeat the vampire.

Meanwhile in the lake

Misawa and Asuka were standing next to the red carpet as they watched Chazz pulled and Chummley pushed a reluctant Banner, " Come on Professor Banner you have to duel that Vampire, after all you are a shadow games expert". Chazz scoffed.

Chummley nodd his head, "Yeah and you are our teacher so we are counting on you".

However Banner didn't share their opinion. " But I can't duel, who will take care of my cat? And Pharaoh has a specific diet.

Asuka looked at them with a smirk, "Don't worry we'll take care of it".

Misawa turned his head to get side and closed his eyes with a simle, "Yeah that's a piece of cake".

But then all of them heard a sound of an engine, "The cavalry is here", They hear Ryo's voice say, and they saw him driving a motorboat towards them, as the boat arrived at them he stepped out at the shallow parts.

"He looked at them with a determined look on his face, "We don't need Banner, after all I am the one who is dueling her, and most importantly we got Judai". All of them look shocked and then Judai rose up from underneath a blanket with a huge grin. "What's up guys? He asked as he looked at them.

Asuka looked at him worriedly, "Judai you need to rest".

Chazz nodded "Yeah your still hurt slacker."

Ryo explained to everyone why Judai is needed to witness his duel against Camula and how Yusuke regain conscious and entrust half of his pendant to Judai in order to stop Illusion Gate.

The others nodded to show they understood, they didn't like it, but they did understood what two of them were saying, weather Judai duels or not he should be their to stop her Illusion gate using his shadow charm, and so all of them began to walk across the red carpet to Camula's castle.

"Are you guys ready"? Ryo asked them in challenging tone and everyone nodd and then followed him to castle.

The teens all made their way to the castle and Chumley complained about the steps all the way up. If they weren't preparing for a harsh battle, the group may have found it funny. Finally Ryo had enough.

"Quiet, we're close," he snapped quietly.

Everyone went silent and came into a two layered room. Two rounded edges sticking out that looked made for dueling. Camula strutted out with a hand on her hip and a smirk.

"Looking for me?" The question was sarcastically rhetorical.

"That's right! We want Chronos-sensei and Sho back!" Judai yelled.

Misawa and Chazz moved forward to argue and threaten her. Ryo tood off to the side and met the vampire's eyes.

"I have no interest in children," she said pointing a sharp nail at Ryo. "Are you ready darling?"

"Let's do this," he responded quickly.

Everyone went up to the second level. Ryo and Camula were on the balcony sections. Both brought up their duel disks, and the fight for their souls began.

"Do not fret, darling," Camula said, slowly caressing Sho's doll, "Your brother has been in good spirits since last night." Camula chuckled before Ryo's glare, a smirk spreading across her face. "Still…you didn't come here for small talk, did you darling?" Her eyes narrowed. "You came here to duel me!"

"Wrong," Ryo replied, "I came here to destroy you." Camula gasped, turning away from the intense fury that radiated from Ryo's gaze, looking to the other students who had gathered…and feeling much the same. "These will be the terms of all Shadow Games you play with us from here on forth," Ryo continued, "If I win, you disappear forever and return all the lives you've collected. But if you win, then you get to add your opponent's soul to your growing collection and take my key, Agreed?"

Camula chuckled. "…is this what you've all agreed to, then?" she examined all the gathered students, seeing the same determination in all of their expressions, "Fine then, those will be the terms of our Shadow Games from now onwards." The shadow charm around her neck glowed alight, the dark fog of the Shadow Realm mixing in with the fog that hugged the ground.

Ryo 4000 LP

Camula 4000 LP

"Duel"

The LP Counters on Ryo and Camula's disks reset to 4000 as each drew five cards from the top of their deck.

"Oh, I do look forward to adding you to my doll collection darling" Camula mused, looking at her opening hand.

"Shut up and duel," Ryo shot back, Camula growling a little, her expression bearing more than a hint of insult.

Turn 1 Camula

"Fine then," Camula almost snarled, "Then I'll start us off with the Spell Card Cost Down!" Camula slid the card into her Duel Disk. "By discarding one card from my hand, I lower the levels of all monsters remaining there by two for the rest of my turn." She slide a copy of Vampire Sorcerer into her graveyard. "Now I can summon my Vampire Red Baron!" The armored, mounted vampire appeared, brandishing his ornate lance towards Ryo (ATK 2400).

"Next I'll set two cards face down and end my turn." Two face down cards appeared behind the Red Baron. "It's your move, darling " Camula chuckled.

Turn 2 Ryo

Ryo drew his next card. "First off, I'll start by activating Polymerization!" The Red-Blue Spiral of Fusion appeared above the field, "With this spell, I can fuse the three Cyber Dragons in my hand to create my ultimate monster; Cyber End Dragon!"

Three serpentine, mechanical dragons appeared in front of Ryo before being pulled up into the spiral. Moments later, a brilliant light erupted from the spiral and from it emerged a large mechanical beast with three heads and a bulky, legless body, two mechanical wings extending from its back (ATK 4000). "Battle! Cyber End Dragon attacks Vampire Red Baron!" All three heads charged energy within their mechanical maws…

…while Camula chuckled. "Darling your anger seems to have gotten the better of you," Camula softly taunted, "I activate the Trap Magic Cylinder!" One of Camula's face down cards flipped up as a pair of cylinders appeared in the air in front of her. "When you declare an attack, I can target the attacking monster to negate the attack…and inflict as much damage to you as your monster has attack points!"

"So with 4000 attack points…" Misawa began.

"…that'll wipe out Kaiser," Chazz concluded, furrowing his brow, "An amateur trap and a worse mistake." Asuka looked at Judai …finding him grinning.

"…That would've been a nasty trap to unleash at a critical moment," Ryo replied, "Which is why I wanted to bait it out before activating this; De-Fusion!" Ryo slid his card into his deck. "With this, I can send a Fusion Monster on the field back to the Extra Deck and summon it's components if they're in my graveyard…so Cyber End Dragon departs and I get back my three Cyber Dragons!" A glow engulfed Cyber End Dragon as it's form shrunk and split into three separate Cyber Dragons (ATK 2100). "And since Cyber End Dragon isn't on the field anymore, your trap has no target and therefore fizzles out." The cylinders in front of Camula turned to dust that fell to the ground.

"You like making use of your opponent's strength and turning it against them and there aren't many cards out there better at that then Magic Cylinder." Camula furrowed her brow in frustration.

"Still, your Red Baron is just a bit too much for my Cyber Dragons to handle so I'll set this and end my turn." A set card appeared behind the line of three Cyber Dragons.

Turn 3 Camula

Camula frowned. "Alright then, I draw!" She slid the next card from her deck, "I activate my set card, Vampire Awakening!" Camula's other set card flipped up. "With this card, I can summon any Vampire I want from my deck to the field…but it get destroyed at the end of the turn. So I choose…Vampire Familiar!"

A thin, lithe, bat-shaped shadow with small curved horns and glowing red maw appeared in front of Camula (ATK 500).

"And when he's Special Summoned to the field I can pay 500 life points to add another Vampire Monster from my deck to my hand!" Camula groaned as a red aura briefly engulfed her, her LP slipping to 3500, the aura then being drawn into the Vampire Familiar's mouth.

Once this was done, a card slid out of her deck and into her hand. "Now I'll activate the effect of my Vampire Red Baron! I can pay another 1000 life points and then target a Vampire monster on my field as well as one of your monsters." Camula winced, another red aura surrounding her before being pulled away, this time into the Red Baron's lance, her LP dropping to 2500.

"Once this is done, the control our monsters switch. I pick my Vampire Familiar…and the centre Cyber Dragon!" A red glow surrounded both the designated monsters.

But to this, Ryo smirked. "You're still trying to coast by on other people's power," Ryo noted, "Honestly, it's pathetic." Camula growled.

"I activate my trap card Attack Reflector Unit!" Ryo's set card flipped. "With this card, I can tribute a Cyber Dragon on my field to summon Cyber Barrier Dragon from my deck…so I'll tribute the central of my Dragons." A bright glow surrounded the Dragon that Camula had wanted to claim as additional metal plating appeared on it, such that it looked to have gained a frill of sorts, before it roared at her (ATK 800).

"And now that the Dragon you targeted is gone, you get nothing from your Red Baron's effect besides more damage." Ryo narrowed his gaze. "Sorry, but tonight is the night you go down for good."

A gentle wind blew through the open window to the castle.

Camula snarled a little as she studied the three robotic dragons in front of her. Two of them were Cyber Dragons with 2100 attack points but the third was the Cyber Barrier Dragon that, though only possessing 800 attack points, could negate the first attack she launched in a turn. She looked at her hand, though, and smiled.

" Oh, poor, sweet darling" Camula mused, "You've gone and gotten yourself deluded into thinking you can defeat me." She smirked. "That's exactly what Chronos and your brother thought too!"

Ryo thinked about Sho. He may, ultimately, have lost his Shadow Duel but Ryo couldn't help but be proud of the fact that not only did he stand his ground but he fought a good duel to boot. "I'm going to win, Camula," Ryo rebutted, "Because I have something more important than me to fight for."

Camula closed her eyes. "Do you think you're the only one fighting for someone else?" she questioned, "You probably noticed this but there aren't that many Vampires around these days.

"And why is that?" He asked

She opened her eyes. "Because my people were exterminated by Humans! For years, I hid among the humans until I came to this place and found a place where I could work to rebuild my people." She looked back to the Abandoned Dorm, her thoughts turning to a mysterious man. "I even met someone who understood me and even loved me despite what I am and what I planned to do. And now I'm fighting to bring him back too and create a world where Vampires reign supreme!"

Judai gasped while others feel sympathy for her, She might have committed horrendous deed by turning Chronos and Sho into doll but she is still the sole survivor of her race and its not hard to feel bad for her,

Ryo, however, remained totally stoic. His gaze returned to Camula, his expression unchanging.

Camula snarled. "Think what you wish while you can".

Camula stood up awith her hair in disarray and her eyes glowed even brighter. "Darling you are forcing me to reveal my ugly side, just like your brother" she hissed out.

She looked straight from the screen of a horror movie. Long pointed tongue, fang elongated and her hair swirling around her. She smiled demonically at Ryo and he took an involuntary step back.

"Now then darling. I play Illusion Gate." A giant door appeared behind her. The doors opened to reveal a rainbow inside and suddenly destroys all monsters in your field. Ryo looked shocked.

"And then I can summon any of them to my side of the field. All it will cost me is a soul and I am willing to take your friends as hostage.

She looked over to the group and cackled. Bringing her hands up like a little school her and touched her necklace and black mist began to swarm around everyone. Ryo felt his heart stop, he hoped Yusuke was right and the shadow charm canceled it out.

"But this is just too hard of a choice. I think I will take all of their souls as payment."

Everyone was coughing and holding their throats. Ryo tood by helplessly and grit his teeth. Finally something happened. A gold light came from Judai's chest and forced the shadows away. They all looked relieved and smiled at one another.

Judai slid from Chumley's back and used Asuka to help steady him. Smirking he opened his jacket and showed that the two halves had become whole once more. Ryo smiled in relief and Camula stared stupefied.

"Thanks Yusuke couldn't have done it without you," Ryo thought.

"Where did you get that? That belongs to Nightshroud !" she screeched at Judai

"It pays to have friends Camula," Judai shot back.

"Never mind. Illusion Gate, open your doors and accept my soul as a sacrifice. Now then I summon Cyber End Dragon"

The ace in Ryo's deck appeared and roared at its original master. But before Camula could order the attack, Ryo had a trick up his sleeve.

"Not so fast. I play my Trap card Call of the Haunted. Now I can summon Barrier Dragon from my graveyard to the field".

"Perfect". Judai smiled

"Now Camula can't attack since Barrier Dragon will negate Cyber End Dragon attack!". Misawa smiled.

"Well I am waiting". Ryo told Camula

Camula frowned. "Fine I end my turn".

They all looked at the 'King' of Duel Academy. He stood with his arms crossed over his chest and a hard set to his eyes and face. His teal hair and back of his jacket swayed with the wind. He looked actually slightly menacing with that pose.

Turn 4 Ryo

"My turn draw". Ryo called drawing, "And now I banish all the Light Machines in my graveyard or filed".

"What" Camula cried.

"Wait this move". Banner whispered.

"And by doing so I can summon this card! Ryo said as he filped the card to show her.

"Come forth Cyber Eltanin! Ryo called as what rose was a metallic dragon head with Cyber Dragon part of it.

"This can't be". Camula cried before Cyber End Dragon vanished "No".

"Whenever Eltanin is summoned all other monsters on the field are sent to the graveyard". Ryo explained.

"Then the duel is over". Chazz smiled.

"How can it be Eltanin has no points!". Camula pointed out.

"Not much longer, It gains 500 attack and defense points for each monster banished by its ability!".

Cyber Eltanin (ATK 0 + (500 *5) = 2500)

"Are you ready?" Ryo asked, Camula slowly nodding.

"Now Eltanin finish her! Cyber Mayhem!" Ryo called as Eltanin fired its attacks at Camula as she watched in horrar.

Ryo: 4000 winner

Camula: 0

Camula's lifepoints hit zero, and she slumped down. Her hair fell over her face and everyone stood shock still. Ryo clicked his duel disk closed and stared at her. He was going to demand answers. Before any of them Illusion Gate appeared behind her once again. Terrified, she looked at it.

A large ghost hand game out and wrapped around her throat. She choked and the hand yanked back, pulling her body as well. No one could move or speak, it was a terrible sight to witness.

After her body disappeared, Sho's doll fell to the balcony.

"Ryo its Sho's doll." Asuka cried.

then as they watched, the doll soon dissapeared and was replaced by real Sho.

"Sho", Ryo said as he, Asuka, Misawa, and Chummley ran towards Sho.

Chazz noticed a glow coming from his pocket and Chronos came back in his full form. The two proceeded to argue and Chazz tried pushing the older man off of his side. Judai watched with sweatdrop.

Suddenly, the whole castle started to rumble. Everyone looked up and noticed the chandelier shaking before it crashed to the floor.

"Ryo! The castle is falling apart! We need to get out of here!" Asuka yelled.

Ryo whirled around and took off down the staircase and jumped the last three. Chumley had Judai back on his back, Misawa was bridal carrying a unconscious Sho and everyone else was behind Ryo sprinted ahead and reached the door that was closing down on them. It seemed like Camula was trying to take them down with her.

Reaching the door, he braced himself against it to force it open. The others picked up the pace to reach the door. Ryo was straining to keep it open and prayed that they hurried up.

Finally everyone made it out and he jumped from the archway. As he made his way down the red carpet over the lake he saw everyone made it out. Bending at the waist and resting his hands on his knees he caught his breath.

Overhead the constant clouds of the past couple days started to dissipate. Everyone looked up and saw the sun shining down on their faces. Ryo straightened to his full height, and closed his eyes.

He did it. He was able to save both his brother and Chronos.

The gang stood on the other side of the lake as they watched the castle crumbled to the ground.

"At last the nightmare is finally over". Asuka said with a smile.

Misawa gently gave Sho to Ryo and the older one gently bridal carried him like Misawa did early and the Ra genuis then handed Judai Camula's shadow charm necklace, "This is the only thing Camula left behind"

"Now that two Shadow Rider's are defeated, we have only 6 more left." Judai said as he looked towards the sun after Chummley put him down since he feel he can now walk on his own without his help.

After that the gang decide to take Sho to infirmary so that he can rest

Meanwhile in the infirmary

Ayukawa noticed the change in the light looked out the window while Yusuke who has just woken up and no longer wearing a oxygen mask, and is still laying in the bed hooked with IV drip smiled.

"Looks like Ryo and Judai did it". He said weakly

Booted footsteps echoed through the now vacant halls of the Abandoned Dorm as the tall, muscled red-skinned woman made her way to the bedroom where Nightshroud's host Yusuke had occupied before disappearing last year. Her eyes occasionally gazed out of the window. She ran the fingers of her gauntleted left hand along the glass as her eyes darted from each male of the group to the next. As soon as the clearing was empty, however, she quickened her pace before stepping into the bedroom, the room a singular exception to the otherwise dim lighting as a large mirror fixed onto the wall opposite the queen-sized bed showed an inferno of blue flames within, a silhouette of a coated man with glowing red eyes visible amongst them.

The woman's eyes fixed first on the silhouette and then on a nearby black trunk adored with golden trimming. "Well, it seems like Camula failed after all," the woman noted, crouching down in front of the trunk and opening it; she noticed two of the contained Shadow Charms were missing compared to the last time she saw it, "…they've defeated two Shadow Riders already?"

The flames in the mirror intensified for a moment. "…Indeed," the figure within the mirror replied, "It seems I'll have to handle this myself…"

The muscular woman chuckled, closing the trunk. "Now hold on a minute there, Tragedio" she interjected, "There's no need to use a catapult to squash an ant hill." She place her right hand just above her massive buxom. "Let me handle things from here on out. And if I fail…then you can step in."

Tragedio thought for a moment, before nodding in agreement. "Very well, Tania," he replied, "Show them what a REAL Shadow Rider is made of."

Tania smiled, licking her lips. "But of course…"

Notes

I hope you all enjoy this chapter and Ryo finally defeats Camula.