Chapter 12: significance

As Jaden's group made it deeper and closer to the Rhodes men's location the shadows around them began to moove unnaturally as though it was stalking them, even worse one of the shadows resembled their old friend Chazz Princeton or what looked like him as he stepped outside in a rigid manner.

' stop struggling, obey Nightsroud or you won't live to regret it…..'

Chazz spat back.

" shut up, you think I didn't face tougher opponents than you?…. You're nothing but a cheap Halloween mask…"

With that said cheap mask pulled Chazz back into the shadows as the rest of the group being followed didn't notice or rather focussed on making through the deadly booby traps until they reunited with the whole group. As relief settled within the group Jaden took notice to the helmet in the center of the room as he asked.

" I'm guessing something kept you from taking it away?"

At that Henry Rhodes the second confirmed.

" it will turn to dust in anyone's hands other than its rightful owner."

By the time the sentence was finished Jaden was stand face to face with the helmet as he mentally contacted Yubel.

' I'll need your opinion on something.'

Yubel nodded as she said.

' you doubt the ease of which you found that what has been sought after.'

Not wanting to sound too confused by the wording Jaden simply replied with.

" yeah pretty much…."

Yubel reassured him.

' no matter what happens I shall protect you as I promised to protect my prince.'

Feeling reassured Jaden decided to take a gamble as his hands made contact with the helmet, this time without disintegrating as the teen removed it from its pedestal.

Looking around cautiously Jaden simply stated.

" so far so good… nothing seems out of place….."

As soon as he said that the helmet came to life as it changed colors from dusty gray to black with gold accents. Jaden at that took it as a sign thatit was intended for him as he began staring at the pointed face plate adorned by a purple jewel imbedded to it as thought he was in a trance before he instinctively attempted to wear it as Alexis stopped him.

" are you sure this is actually a good idea?"

Jaden replied honestly.

" don't know, I only know that helmets are supposed to be worn and that we still have to find a way and save Atti."

With that said and done Alexis relented.

" just be careful."

Jaden simply replied.

" when am I not careful?"

Realizing what he was doing Alexis gave a dry laugh.

" should I give you a list or are you okay just with the highlights?"

Jaden smiled back at her as he was halfway into wearing the helmet in question.

" I'll be more careful than usual."

Finally wearing the helmet Jaden was about to comment that it didn't feel too awful as a sharp pain ran through him causing him to almost scream uncontrollably. With that said and done Alexis was about to intervene before she herself was interrupted by the following statement.

" interrupt the helmet's work and he may never return "

Said statement came from none other than Henry Rhodes senior as Alexis asked instead.

" then what are we supposed to do?, let this helmet hurt him?"

At that Henry Rhodes senior pondered about the answer he was going to give.

" we'll just have to put faith in his strength."

Speaking of strength, from within Jaden's mind the hero duelist in question was pulled into his own mind with such a force that it felt like bungee jumping times a hundred, only difference there was no safety cord in sight. Eventually almost every fall has a bottom, luckily in this case there was, as he unluckily hit that floor face first.

" you'd think hanging around superheroes would've help me stick the landing…"

Before he could adjust to his own surroundings a voice boomed at his direction.

' if you're my descendant then I am not impressed.'

As Jaden scouted the area to see where the voice came from within an area that looked like a very low lit hall of mirrors a figure wearing the helmet of shadows stepped forward as he lifted the face mask.

" so I'm guessing you're the original owner?"

The figure looking exactly like Jaden only with cold and piercing golden eyes smirked cruelly.

' well at least I am pleased you are not stupid.'

Jaden ignored the comment at first before replying.

" if you want to pick a fight all you have to do is ask."

The figure scoffed.

' what makes you think you'll survive?'

Jaden threw an insult of his own back at his doppelganger.

" I defeated the former supreme king, defeating his little brat is more than easy."

The 'king' only replied with.

' do not abuse my generosity.'

Jaden did not heed that warning.

" I wouldn't call being pulled into my own brain and falling on my face as generous so would you cut to the chase already, what do you want?"

Said dark reflection scoffed as he remained quiet at first before answering bluntly.

' I want nothing from you personally, I will however take your body eventually and finish the task I was trained for. '

Jaden at that began laughing as he spat back.

" if you think I won't fight you for it think again…."

The 'king' simply smirked.

' you'll try to fight back only for me to defeat you while you'll only tire your body making it manageable for me to take it over, you see I am your darker side, I know what you will think before you do.'

With that said and done Jaden could only think to himself the following.

' so he thinks he knows me?, let's put that to the test….'

Jaden managed to steady himself as he approached one of the mirrors in his head as he punched it with all of his might for a few more times before breaking it, out of the many shards that fell Jaden managed to catch a piece before raising it to his neck.

" release me or we both lose what we have."

At that the supreme king showed a care free and relaxed attitude mixed in with a cruel smirk as he simply said.

' go ahead, you are not courageous enough to go through it.'

At that Jaden cursed his luck as he thought to himself.

' come on you're smart enough to get yourself out of anything…. So think…'

At this point and time Jaden dropped the shard as he addressed the supreme king directly.

" would the king allow me to make a request of him?"

The king in question gestured him to continue as Jaden did.

" join forces with me, help me defeat those bad guys and when it's all over feel free to continue hurting me, maybe even take it over if you feel like it."

Surprised a bit by Jaden's his darker counterpart asked skeptically.

' for a moment let us say I'll trust you, what keeps you from locking me away deep within your mind never to be seen again?'

Jaden replied honestly.

" if you can't trust yourself then who can you actually trust?"

Amused said king continued his line of questioning.

' and what's to stop me from taking over your body and fulfill the task I was entrusted long ago?'

Jaden smirked.

" first, you don't know your way around and more Importantly, you don't know any of my friends."

At that the darker version smirked back.

' actually I do, I know what you know and that includes the people who you chose to befriend with.'

Jaden at that flicked his thumb and index finger in the classic motion of 'I almost got him' as the king concluded the conversation as follows.

' I must commend you on your bravery and attempts at cunning, with that said and done, very well I shall lend you my power and keep a close eye on you, if you disappoint me I will take over in a moment's notice, if you impress me enough you will face me in a challenge of my choosing.'

Jaden gave his darker half a relaxed smile.

" sounds like a deal."

Without a second to lose the darker reflection disappeared as Jaden all of a sudden was yanked back with force as though he was a marionette being handled violently, speaking of violence.

Back with the group back in the underground chamber.

The group waited as patiently as they could while Jaden writhed in pain as Alexis made sure he was sitting down against the wall opposite her. After a few moments Jaden slowly opened his eyes to shock but mostly confuse his friends.

" is there something on my face?"

Alexis nodded a no as she said.

" I think you should look for yourself."

Following her advice Jaden searched the room for a reflective surface settling for a small reflection from one of the ornaments on the mural he was leaning against. Taking a good look he noticed right away that his right side featured his regular brown colored eye while on the left a cold golden eye was staring right back at him.

" oh…"

Weirded out Alexis voiced the sentiment of all the people present.

" sorry but we need a little more than just an oh."

At that Jaden gave a friendly smile as he recapped that little exchange he had with the Supreme king of gentle darkness, listening intently Adrian was the first one to speak up.

" so basically instead of fighting your darker self you recruited him to your ranks, is that what you're telling us?"

Jaden replied as follows.

" pretty much."

At that the usually stoic Axel noted.

" a wise choice considering the choices you had, though that leaves us with one unanswered question, what do we do with the helmet?"

Jaden or rather his darker half replied with.

" protect both the head piece and its wearer."

Without a second to spare Jaden's darker took control saying.

' someone or rather something is dangerously close by.'

As it would happen that particular someone was the shadow form of one Chazz Princeton, at least in body, at his soul it was a constant fight between him and the possessed mask given to him by Nightshroud as the original was barely in control saying.

" got to admit slacker, you don't look too good…."

Jaden at that took over for a bit as he replied.

" I can say the same about you, so was it worth it?"

Chazz weakly smiled.

" no…. It appears Nightshroud didn't trust me one bit…"

At this point Jaden's darker half spoke.

' so Chazz, at last we formally meet, that was foolish of you to think you could manipulate Nightshroud.'

With this the mask side of Chazz spoke.

' don't blame him, master Nightshroud was simply smarter than the boy.'

The king began laughing as he stated.

' Nightshroud is a lot of things, smart however is not one of them.'

With that statement hitting a nerve said mask of darkness said while keeping itself in check.

' oh really?!… and what would you call the incarnation of darkness…..'

The supreme king laughed as he answered coldly.

' nothing but a mere parasite with delusions of grandeur.'

That snapped the demonic mask in question as it lunged towards the king as said ruler dodged with ease before grabbing the mask and Chazz's head as he used his own set of powers before forcibly removing said demonic mask as said creature returned to its card form with its captive panting with exhaustion.

' I'm tempted in destroying this foolish slave, however, what would you do with him my reincarnated better half?'

Jaden at that replied.

" let him live, besides I'm sure Yubel would love to have him as a playmate."

The king smirked while replying.

' you are a bit too soft but you are no fool, Yubel?!'

Yubel materialized in spirit form bowing to her sovereign.

' I am at your service my king.'

Allowing himself a small moment where he softened his gaze the king made the following request as he handed her the mask trapped in the card.

' guard this pitiful creature, make sure he's useful to us.'

Yubel took the card before disappearing as Jaden asked.

" should I even ask?"

Smirking the king replied.

' that would be unwise.'

With that said and done both the king and Jaden focused on Chazz Princeton trying to balance himself up.

' are you fit enough to fight?'

Chazz answered weakly.

" depends… on who's asking….."

The king answered bluntly.

' the owner of this helmet.'

Chazz, now finding more strength stood up as he cleaned himself up the best he could as he declared.

" nobody makes a fool of Chazz and gets away with it."

The supreme king in return just smirked before urging the rest to get out of the ruins in question before Nightshroud could ever get the chance to trap them there for good, speaking of which.

Within Nightshroud's lair.

The mysterious masked teen with green hair materialized next to Nightshroud as he reported.

' the hero duelist managed to find the helmet, we also lost the mask that controlled Princeton.'

Nightshroud stated with a smirk.

' I know, the supreme king has partially awakened.'

the mysterious figure in turn mused to himself.

' who shall we send to the slaughter next?'

Nightshroud concluded the conversation as follows.

' I already sent the next, however, go there and make sure he does the job properly.'

With that the mysterious figure vanished into thin air while Nightshroud regained his strength further.

Outside of Matera.

The man formerly knows as Ryuga was observing the city waiting for Jaden and his friends to arrive as a familiar mysterious figure was forming from behind him.

' do you remember what your orders are?'

Ryuga only answered briefly with his anger and malice barely masked.

' I do.'

At that the mysterious figure smirked.

' though pointless due try and entertain me.'

With that Ryuga disappeared into the shadows without saying a word. Speaking of no words, the group focused on making it out alive from the ruins as they managed to find their way back early in the morning as Jaden spoke up first.

" so we found the helmet, now what?"

Henry Rhodes senior was the one to speak up.

" first of all we need a good shut eye, only after that we concentrate on securing the helmet itself."

Without any warning whatsoever an undetermined energy blast was launched at the group as the supreme king ordered for the rest to take cover as he used his powers to not only block said attack but also deflect it.

' is anyone hurt?!'

Alexis replied first.

" no, maybe a bit shaken, what was it anyway?"

The supreme king answered confidently.

'a declaration of war, a shadow war.'

With that said and done the king informed Jaden as well.

' keep alert at all costs.'

jaden at that asked innocently.

" I guess that's one of Nightshroud's guys?"

At that a new voice spoke out.

' not just one, we are enforcers in service of him, you may call us Agent Shadow.'

At that Adrian and Jim walked up to Jaden with their duel discs at the ready.

" evening the odds guys?"

Adrian replied with a cocky smirk.

" you didn't think we'll let you have all the fun now did you?"

At that very moment the ones calling themselves agent Shadow began attacking the group sending waves after waves of actual duel monsters as Jaden, Adrian and Jim began trying holding them off the best they could, at some point in time Alexis and even Echo joined the fight as Henry Rhodes the second stated.

" whatever you do don't lose focus I'm more than capable of protecting dad."

At that Henry Rhodes senior smirked.

" I remember saving you a few times myself junior."

The fighting raged on with said " agents" in question dropping left and right as the group eventually began feeling the stress of prolonged shadow duels, fortunately enough Chazz recovered some of his strength to join the fight as he declared.

" go on get out of here, I'll buy you enough time to escape."

The supreme king in turn grimaced.

' I appreciate the thought behind such sacrifice but with all due respect a small child could defeat you in a shadow duel in your current condition.'

Chazz smirked.

" you think I don't know that?, as much as it will pain me to say this but if you or Jaden fall into enemy's hand than it's game over, if I fall here nothing will happen."

The king in turn shut down that way of thinking, effectively ending the conversation with.

' you matter to Jaden you know, and if you matter to him than you matter to me…'

With that the rest of the group escaped as the two continued on fighting as the supreme king declared with a roar.

' a true king never retreats when he can still fight and he will never abandon his soldiers on the battlefield.'

With that the duo landed a few more strikes against the enemy as said "agents" suddenly stopped with Chazz asking.

" tell me that they're not doing what I think they're doing."

Before the king could answer that question another voice, a new one, answered for him.

' actually it was exactly what you feared.'

At that Both Jaden and the supreme king smirked while the latter allowed the former the reigns on this one.

" don't I know you from some place?, you look familiar…"

The voice now identifying as a masked Mr. Ryuga replied with.

' if you expect me to lose my cool than forget it Slifer.'

Jaden pushed further.

" lose your cool?, I didn't know you had any cool to begin with."

Chazz at that genuinely asked.

" so what's the play here besides trying to piss him off?"

Jaden and to that extent the supreme king replied.

" no play I just do that because I feel like it, besides he can't win without cheating and I bet that didn't change."

With that Ryuga tried to keep it together while Chazz noticed his temper slightly flaring up as he joined in the " fun".

" Slacker, Supreme king….. leave this guy to me, he's too far beneath you to bother so allow me to duel him instead."

With that Jaden left to make sure his friends are okay while Ryuga calmly and sinisterly stating.

' this town shall be your grave Princeton'

With that Ryuga sent a couple of agents Shadows after Jaden as Chazz smirked while his opponent demanded.

' what's so funny to you?'

Chazz drove the knife into the man's ego.

" you're ugly face for starters."

With the verbal dueling starting to heat up Jaden made his way to Echo's car as the group fended off the group of "agents" trying to stop them from fleeing. As the shadow duels dragged on eventually the Supreme king asked Jaden the following.

' do you think you have enough strength to physically fight?'

Jaden's only response was.

" honestly I'm not much of a fighter but we have no options left at this point"

The king nodded in acknowledgement as he assured his other half.

' I'll lend you my fighting spirit if need be.'

With that said and done Jaden Yuki charged at the agent's shadows who haven't had the chance to engage in a shadow duel as he tackled and punched them while still on the ground as he urged his friends to escape when Alexis offered resistance instead.

" we aren't going to leave you behind while you take an entire army alone and that's final!"

Jaden replied as follows.

" trust me I know I'm not an actual superhero but in all honesty I'm the only one left who can put up a fight against these guys, besides I got to make sure Chazz doesn't get left behind too."

Alexis relented after admitting he had a point as she said.

" don't do anything too stupid."

Jaden joked while knocking down a too eager shadow "agent".

" you do know this is me we're talking about right?"

Alexis insisted while delivering a surprise punch to an "agent" who tried and take a stunned Jaden by complete surprise.

" I mean it."

Jaden dropped the jokes by this point.

" and make you cry?, never."

With that said and done Jaden was left only with the Supreme king on the battlefield as the latter remarked.

' you do realize that you've made a promise to come back for her.'

Jaden only nodded as both fought on as the hero duelist asked.

" any brilliant ideas on how to mow them down quicker?"

the king replied confidently as he took over while addressing the army of "agents" Shadow.

' I must admit, in terms of sheer numbers you have me completely and utterly beaten…'

He got no arguments from the enemy as he continued.

' though it makes me wonder, who amongst you is worthy of claiming the glory of defeating me on the field of combat!?.'

After the question was posed some of the "agents" surrounding Jaden and the king have turned against each other, destroying most of them, those that survived however merged into a single being as the hero user admitted.

" got to hand it to him, that's cool."

The supreme king in turn warned Jaden.

' don't let your guard down.'

The new and improved "agent" Shadow remarked.

' who said I will let you keep your guard up.'

Jaden couldn't help but smirk at what the Supreme king accomplished as he asked.

" are you ready to throw down? Cause I'm willing and able….."

With that a duel shortly after began as Jaden said to his darker half.

" thanks for the assist I owe you one….."

The Supreme king's only answer was.

' just make sure you defeat him.'

An intense duel was about to start between Jaden and " agent" shadow as the latter prepped his duel disk while the Supreme king spoke privately to the hero duelist.

' have you noticed what is unique about your opponent?'

Jaden answered quietly.

" he likes using his opponent's cards so how do we stop him?"

The Supreme king paused for a moment before replying.

' I have an idea but it will require complete trust in me.'

Jaden smirked.

" you got it on one condition."

Returning the gesture the king said.

' name it.'

Jaden delivered the punchline.

" make sure it isn't too banged up when you return it to me."

The supreme king mimicked his new ally.

' no promises.'

With that the Supreme king took over completely as he manifested his very own duel disc and deck as he challeneged head on with said duel wasgetting on its way. With the duel getting intensified with each turn and turn passing eventually the duel concluded on the tenth round with the disappearance of "agent" shadow as the victo panrted and breathed raggedly before collapsing face first into the ground as the Supreme king tried to will himself up for the next thirty minutes until a familiar and friendly presence tried to pick him up.

' be gentle, this vessel bruises easily'

Alexis at that helped the Supreme king by extending her hand to him.

" listen, I had a hunch you and Jaden both would need backup."

The Supreme king smiled kindly.

" thank you my lady."

Feeling flattered by his manners Alexis playfully rolled her eyes as they began to move forward as the king returned control to Jaden who groaned.

" I'm gonna feel that in the morning…."

Alexis retorted.

" I bet."

Before they could say anything else a new batch of "agent" shadows rose from the ground to attack them both as Jaden and Alexis said in unison.

" ma these guys don't let up….."

Deciding to ease up his pain Alexis took the lead defeating about half of the enemy's forces while jaden barely managed to duel which caused them to get delaid with helping Chazz, speaking of said duelist….

Chazz was neck deep in duels as Ryuga resorted to both play dirty and play with his prey by sending some more " agents" to soften him just enough. As the spectator witnessed the event unfolding. As the shadow games got underway Jaden exclaimed.

" don't worry buddy…. We're here for you…."

Chazz rolled his eyes thinking to himself.

' this will probably cost me about two weeks of recovery…'

Chazz was probably right about that when Ryuga finally decided to step in as he activated a card first, a powerful field spell that trapped the two of them together.

' just to set the stage for the king's eventual fall.'

Chazz smirked.

" that vessel you're occupying has lost to him already before and he will do it again, that is if you're strong enough to take me on without cheating."

Ryuga's reply was.

' be careful of what you say boy…. It maybe your last…'

To his surprise Chazz began laughing.

"you better come up with something else, I've heard worst from my brothers…"

While Jaden and Alexis eventually managed to claw out of the clutches of said " agents" both of them searched desperately for a way to counteract the field spell since none of their traps and spells seemed to be effective against it while Chazz was tossed around in the mean time like a ragdoll.

"…. are you finished?… this is pathetic even for you…"

Ryuga gave him a malicious smile as he delivered a hard kick to Chazz stomach.

' does that answer your question loser?'

Chazz strangely smiled.

" coming from you that's a compliment…"

Confused by the comment Ryuga asked.

' come again?!'

Chazz at that replied.

" you really don't get it do you?!…. you're the loser here… you can't win without resorting to cheating."

Furious Ryuga wanted nothing more than to smash Chazz's head into the ground however he stopped as a thought came to his head, giving yet another devastating kick to the raven haired teen the older man stated.

' get up, you're more than ready for our duel….'

Struggling to get up and nursing bruised and possibly broken ribs Chazz staggered to his feet saying the following.

" bite me."

By this point Ryuga has summoned a few new monsters curtesy of Nightshroud.

' not only will I make an example out of you I'll murder you in front of your friends.'

Chazz struggled to speak this time but he managed to make himself clear.

" talk is cheap."

With that said and done the duel went underway as both Ryuga and Chazz went toe to toe for at the very least five turns in a standstill with none of them losing any life points, however much to Ryuga's anger and rage his opponent lost consciousness as he slumped forward with the older man's barrier falling as he deactivated his duel disc. As soon as he was abled Jaden ran to assist his friend as Alexis decided to confront Ryuga.

' what do you want?!'

Alexis said without a hint of fear.

" to challenge you to a duel."

Ryuga replied with disinterest.

' I have no interest in you, in fact you were never or will ever be an interesting duelist to bother with.'

With that said and done Ryuga tried to pass around her as he fixated on Jaden as she made sure he's be facing her again for the second time.

" you're not going anywhere!."

In a condescending tone Ryuga asked.

' and who are you to give me orders?'

Alexis's response sparked his interest.

" someone who holds teaching to her heart and someone who doesn't appreciate jerks like you giving it a bad name."

Ryuga smirked.

' go ahead, teach me a lesson if you dare.'

Jaden and the Supreme king by this point managed to carry Chazz away from danger as he shot an encouraging silent smirk at her giving her the go ahead while Ryuga scoffed.

' am I gonna have to wait while your boyfriend gives you permission to fight?'

A quiet mood fell on everyone as Alexis didn't respond at all to Ryuga's taunts, a few good minutes passed that way until the older man snapped impatiently.

' say something…. Say something damn it!…..'

Alexis didn't obliged one bit as Ryuga spat out angrily.

' fine be that way!….'

With that Ryuga touched the centerpiece of his mask which caused more "agent" shadows to rise from the ground up as Jaden muttered.

" not these guys again…."

at this point in time Jaden made sure that Chazz was relatively out of harms way as he prepared to fight these "agents" again only for cavalry to arrive a few minutes later.

" tell me you didn't stay behind."

Adrian replied first.

" the professors are fine, we just couldn't live with ourselves running with our tails between our legs."

Axel and Jim agreed with the sentiment, each in their own unique manner as Jaden addressed the former.

" thanks, Chazz needs a doctor, can you help him while I hold these guys off?"

Axel replied.

" consider it done."

Axel true to his word produced a medical kit from his person as he treated Chazz's visible injuries the best he could as he addressed Jim.

" think you could carry him back to the car?"

Jim answered as follows.

" sure thing just as I turn Shirley loose."

with that an unusually aggressive Shirley was let loose on the " agents" in question as Jaden/the Supreme king asked Adrian.

" what kind of cards are you dueling with?"

Adrian replied without hesitation.

" cloud types mostly, why?"

The Supreme king took over for a sec saying.

' because we'll need all the help we can get.'

Adrian smirked.

" will storm clouds will suffice your majesty?"

The king smirked back at the older teen.

' it is better than nothing.'

In the meantime Ryuga was busy trying and playing mind games with his latest victim but to his irritation he wasn't getting through to her, in fact he was about to try and taunt her again as she finally spoke up.

" shut up and duel."

As the two readied their duel discs and decks Nightshroud decided to watch the events from a far as he chuckled to himself while thinking.

' well this is quite a surprise…. Still should be a favorable outcome for me nonetheless…'

At this precise moment the duel discs roared into life as both Ryuga and Alexis shouted at the same time.

" duel!"

Author's note: since by this point I've reached the second half mark of the story I would like to thank those who followed and favored this story and to encourage to leave a review telling me if I need to improve or not and more importantly how.

Next time: Should you choose to accept this.