Chapter 28: Doomsday Duel
Hey everyone I'm back with a new chapter. Sorry about the wait but I had to talk with a few friends to help me figure out the best way to handle this arc. And I'm happy to say I finally figured it out. I'm even happier to say this story now has over 900 followers and favorites! Thank you all so much for your support! I hope you like what I have planned. Please Review and Enjoy.
It was a dark and scary night as we find ourselves in a dark cave where 7 shadowy figures were gathered together.
"Our enemies have been tested, our allies are in place, the hour is upon us. It is time to cover the world in shadow. Which of you will be the first to lead us in this battle?" A dark voice asks.
"I will go Master." A male voice said.
"No I will. I have plenty of scores to settle." A female voice said.
"Nightshroud, Black Rose. So be it. You two will go first." The voice declares.
"I will not fail." Stepping into the light we see Nighshroud was dressed in black clothes with a purple mask on his face.
"Payback time." While Black Rose was a figure with a black cloak over a red outfit and a white mask covering her entire face. Both of them wore Academy duel disks.
"Academy's prize will be ours." Nightshroud declares.
Meanwhile at Duel Academy, it was pouring rain as a big storm hit the island.
In his office, Chancellor Sheppard was looking out at the storm when he noticed two figures arriving.
"So it begins. The fight. The war." Sheppard declares.
Landing at the base of a Volcano, Nightshroud looks out at the island and a small light shines around his neck. The other half of the Medallion that Jaden got from the Gravekeeper Chief.
Meanwhile near the forest, Black Rose walked to it. As lightning flashed we see something on her arm. The other half of the bangle that Takeru got in the Magician's trials.
As both items glowed the mysterious duelists couldn't help but wonder why.
Little did they know in their respective rooms both Jaden and Takeru's halves were glowing in response to them.
The next morning, we find ourselves in Prof. Banner's class.
"Oh yeah, time to get up." Jaden said waking up from his nap.
"For the next class?" Syrus assumes.
"No for lunch. The one class I'm great at." Jaden smiles taking out a bento box.
"Just a moment Jaden." Banner said looking up. "I'm afraid your lunch will have to wait. Chancellor Sheppard wants to see you."
"Huh?" Jaden said confused.
"Jaden I'll watch your lunch for you especially if you have any grilled cheese." Chumley said.
"Ha you wish." Jaden said with food in his mouth.
"Chancellor Shepard aw man what did you do?" Syrus asked.
"Maybe it's good, like an award?" Jaden guessed and instantly Chazz got up to laugh.
"No way its never good news with Sheppard you are so busted!" Chazz mocks.
"Actually Chazz he wants to see you too." Banner said shutting him up. "And three others. You Bastion, Takeru and Alexis."
Confused the 5 of them looked at each other having no idea what was happening.
"What's going on?" Takeru asks not liking this.
"This doesn't sound good." Jaden agrees.
Soon all of them were being led down the hall by Prof. Banner.
"We're not gonna make a run for it Professor you don't have to escort us." Jaden said.
"Yes I do, besides he wants to see me as well." Banner informs.
From the opposite hallway, we see Crowler and Zane joining them.
"Look at this complication of duelists some of the best in the school. Uh oh, which one of these is not like the other clearly someone here is a little bit lost." Crowler said.
"No he's not Chazz was invited here." Jaden said.
"Ha burn." Takeru said pointing at Chazz.
"He meant Jaden!" Chazz snapped annoyed.
"And yet you've lost to almost half the people here." Takeru reminds making Jaden laugh and even Alexis chuckled.
Soon they were all in Shepard's office and needless to say they were shocked.
"3 Sacred what cards?!" Jaden said in shock.
"Beasts and due to their immense power, their colossal might they were hidden here." Shepard said.
"How powerful are we talking?" Takeru asks.
"End of the World Powerful." Sheppard said.
"So where are these cards? Under someone's mattress or in a cookie jar?" Jaden asks.
"Let him finish." Chazz said.
"They're actually closer than you might think. Right below you. You see this academy was built to protect the sacred beast cards they were buried deep underground sealed safely away after all, should these cards see the light of day disaster would come our world would be no more." Sheppard declares.
Gulping Alexis reached out and took Takeru's hand who also had a nervous look on his face.
"No more?" Bastion said not liking this.
"Sweet so where are these cards I say we take them out." Jaden suggests.
"Haven't you been listening?!" Crowler snaps.
"Yes the reason the 8 of you are here is to protect these cards from the wicked ones."
"The wicked ones?" Zane asked
"Yes 8 duelists known as the Shadow riders who covet these cards and I'm afraid two of them is already here. They arrived in the thick of last night's storm." Sheppard explains.
'Oh god they sound like the people my dad used to roll with?' Takeru gulps.
"So how do we protect these cards?" Alexis asks.
"By protecting the 8 spirit gates to get to the cards they must unlock them, and to get to the gates they need the keys and here they are. One for each of you to guard." Shepard said placing a box in front of them.
"Wait if we have the keys won't that make us targets?" Bastion asks.
"It's true with these keys the Shadow riders will seek you out." Sheppard nods.
"Seek us out, you mean to take us out." Chazz replied.
"Only…in a duel." Sheppard declares surprising them.
"A duel?" Bastion asks.
"Sir are you being serious right now?" Takeru asks.
"Very. Fortunately, the keys can't be stolen so they must be won in a duel that's why I've called on our school's 8 best to take up this challenge." He then clears his throat. "Well 6 best really but I needed 8."
"He certainly doesn't mean me."Crowler whispered.
"Of course, if any of you feel like backing out I don't blame you after all these Shadow Riders play for keeps. So who feels like saving the world?" Sheppard asks opening the box and revealing 8 key pendants.
Pausing everyone looks at each other.
"Count me in." Jaden said taking one and putting it around his neck. "Check it out, it's my size."
"I'm in too." Takeru said taking the second one.
"I too accept." Zane said taking one.
"It would be an honor." Bastion said.
"I don't want you boys to have all the fun." Alexis said taking one while Chazz grabs his own.
"How could I refuse I mean our very world is at stake, our way of life, the future of the school and if I said no I wouldn't get this posh piece of jewelry." Crowler said taking one.
"Nice to know you're doing it for the right reasons kind of." Sheppard said.
"And that leaves the last one for me." Banner picks it up and Pharaoh swats at it.
"Now I say we have the best duelist go first." Jaden suggests. "So I guess that's me."
"You?! You couldn't beat a drum!" Crowler steps forward. "Obviously it should be me who duels first if not me then Zane should duel first. After all he did beat Jaden and Takeru. That's right I know all about your matches and I say little because I heard Zane crushed you both."
Growling both boys glared at him.
"Hmph forget them I should go first." Chazz smirks.
"There's no choice this isn't some tournament where you pick who goes first this is war you can be attacked at any moment. So my students be on guard." Sheppard warns.
As they walked out Alexis noticed Takeru was lost in thought.
"Takeru what's wrong?" Alexis asks.
"It's what Sheppard said Alexis. These guys pick their targets. That means they operate just like the Rare Hunters my dad used to be with." Takeru declares making her gasp in realization.
"You're right. Takeru you have to tell me right now. What were some of the tactics your dad used when he was a Rare Hunter." Alexis said.
"Well they always had a database on the duelists in Battle City. Before ones like my dad went after the big fish like Yugi and Kaiba they would go after Weak Duelists with good cards. Someone they thought they could get an easy win from." Takeru said.
Pausing both of their eyes widen in realization.
"Jaden!" Both gasped.
"Meet me at the Slifer dorm." Alexis said about to run.
"Alexis wait." Takeru said grabbing her arm and stopping her.
"Takeru?" Alexis asks confused.
"Before things get crazy I want you to know that even though you're fighting alongside me. I'm gonna do everything I can to make sure we win this. I don't want to lose you or anyone else I love." Takeru said.
"That's why I took my key. I don't want to lose you either." Leaning in Alexis gives him a kiss on the lips. "Now let's go save our friends."
Nodding the two of them ran off to prepare.
That night at the Slifer Red Dorm, Jaden explained everything to Syrus and Chumley.
"And that's the story." Jaden finished.
"Aren't you scared?" Syrus asks.
"No joke creepy shadow guys coming after you so they can take over the world I mean that's intense." Chumley said.
"Not to mention exhausting." Jaden yawns. "Which is why I'm going to hit the hay."
Needless to say Jaden's approach to this was mind-boggling to his roommates.
As the moon was high in the air, Takeru and Alexis met up.
"With that Slifer Red Jacket on him, the Shadows Riders will totally go for Jaden first." Takeru said.
"Then we gotta warn him." Alexis said.
Little did they know Nightshroud was already at the Slifer Red dorm.
Suddenly inside the room, a bright light flashed and suddenly Winged Kuriboh appeared.
Cooing the little guy tried to wake Jaden.
"Whoa Kuriboh can you keep it down." Jaden opens his eyes to see the light. "Whoa guys wake up Sy come on. Chum you gotta see this." He tries to wake up his friends but they are fast asleep. Confused Jaden looks to see his medallion was glowing.
Outside the dorm, Takeru and Alexis saw the light.
"Oh no!" Takeru gasps as they ran in as fast as they could.
"What's happening?" Alexis asks.
"The first duel is happening!" Nightshroud declares as the light engulfs them.
When the light dies down, the three of them found themselves in the volcano on a clear platform.
"What in the?" Takeru said looking around.
"Where are we?" Alexis asked as Jaden crawls to the edge
"In one really weird dream." Jaden said.
Suddenly out of the lava a dragon made entirely of fire shot out surprising them.
"Or a really messed up nightmare." Takeru cringed.
"It's neither!" Crashing across from them Nightshround emerged.
"What's going on?!" Jaden asked
"You mean you don't know?" Nightshroud asks.
"Call me a slow learner." Jaden said.
"And you can call me Nightshroud." He declares.
"Nightshroud?" Jaden said surprised by that name.
"I'll be the one taking that key from around your neck."
"Wow you guys don't waste time." Jaden said as both of their medallions glowed.
"No way. He has the other half." Takeru gasps.
"Nice medallion Gravekeeper must be getting sloppy, but if you think you'll be able to beat me as easy as you beat him you have another thing coming. I'll get that key and I'll get it now and to be sure I brought friends." Night shroud said.
"You brought backup?" Takeru assumes nervously.
"I didn't say, my friends. I mean your friends! Say hello to Syrus and Chumley!" Nightshroud declares.
"Jaden!"
"Help us!" Down below in a small sphere, Syrus and Chumley were trapped near the lava.
"No!" Jaden gasps.
"Hold on!" Alexis gasps.
"We'll get you guys out of there!" Takeru gasps.
"Looks like they're in hot water or should I say hot molten lava but then again such is the nature of a Shadow Game keykeeper." Nightshroud said shocking Jaden and Takeru.
"Shadow game?" Both gulped not liking that.
"Look, just duel me and let them go!" Jaden yells
"I don't think so I need them to ensure a speedy match after all that protection orb they're in, well let's just say it wasn't built to last. Oh and I'm afraid there's more too." Nightshroud holds up a blank card. "For you see your soul is as well which will be sealed in this card when you lose of course if I lose my soul goes into the card but let's be honest me lose? Now then shall we?"
"Jaden don't do this." Takeru warns.
"You can't agree to this." Alexis agrees.
"Tell that to Syrus and Chumley they're about to be meatballs in a lava stew, they're my friends and I'm not gonna let that happen to them or us, besides it's not my first Shadow game I'm just hoping it doesn't hurt as bad as the others." Jaden said thinking about his last Shadow Duels. "Okay, pal you want a duel you got one."
"I gotta stop this." Takeru said.
"Don't." Appearing next to Takeru, Mahad's spirit floated next to him.
"But Mahad." Takeru said.
"Jaden accepted the challenge and you must let him fight this one." Mahad said.
"But what if he loses?" Takeru asks.
"This is beyond your power now. But right now he needs our support." Mahad said.
"Alright." Not liking this Takeru stood down.
"Good luck Jaden." Syrus said
"Let us know if we can help." Chumley said
"Uh sure but don't worry the only help I need is in my deck. Alright, let's throw down! Get your game on!" Jaden declares.
Jaden: 4000
Nightshroud: 4000
"You wanna see game? How's this?" Nightshroud drew. "He's called Troop Dragon and I'll have him defend me and I place a face down." Appearing on the field was a small green dragon wearing armor.
Troop Dragon: 700/ 800
"Not bad." Jaden drew. "But how's he gonna stand against my dragon slayer Elemental Hero Wildheart!" Jaden said summoning his warrior hero with the big sword.
Wildheart: 1500/ 1600
"Wild Heart show him that big bad blade isn't just for show attack!" Leaping up into the air Wildheart slams his sword down on Troop Dragon destroying it.
"Oh right there was something I forgot to mention. When Troop Dragon is sent to the graveyard I can summon another one from my deck." Nightshroud said as another Troop Dragon appeared on the field.
"Hence the name Troop." Jaden said ending his turn.
"And I'm not done." Nightshroud drew. "I play my trap Call of the Haunted to bring back my other Troop Dragon." Using his face down the first Troop Dragon appeared.
"But wait there's more. I sacrifice both my dragons in order to summon…" Nightshroud starts.
"Summon what?" Alexis asks not liking this.
"Oh boy." Jaden gulps.
"The Red Eyes Black Dragon!" Bursting out of the lava we see a large black dragon with Red eyes.
Red Eyes: 2400/ 2000
"Red Eyes?" Jaden gasps.
"That card's rarity is up there with my Dark Magician." Takeru said shocked.
"Now Red Eyes Inferno Fire Blast!" Firing a red breath attack Red Eyes blasts Wildheart and the resulting pain sent Jaden skidding back.
Jaden: 3100
Nightshroud: 4000
"Jaden!" Alexis gasps.
"You okay?" Takeru asks.
"That hurt." Jaden winced.
"That's right and it's about to hurt more Key keeper cause the true pain is about to begin. Come on hurry up and make your move I've got a Doomsday to start" Nightshroud said,
"Jaden!" Syrus yells.
"Doomsday?! I'm too young!" Chumley panics.
"Come one" Alexis said
"You can do it." Takeru said both trying to be supportive.
"Sorry Nightshroud but the only Doomsday is coming to your monster!" Jaden said drawing to see he got Polymerization. "All right I play Polymerization to fuse Clayman and Burstinatirx to create Rampart Blaster!" Appearing on the field, Jaden's heavy artillery monster appeared.
Rampart Blaster: 2000/ 2500
"And even in defense mode she can still blast you for half her attack points now let him have it!" Jaden said as Rampart fired a barrage of missiles hitting Nightshroud.
Jaden: 3100
Nightshroud: 3000
"Yes." Alexis smiles.
"And just like that Jaden's taken the lead." Takeru smiles.
"And she's still in defense mode so to get to me you'll have to get through her. Pretty sweet huh?" Jaden asks.
Growling Nightshroud had a few bruise marks on his cloak. Needless to say, that attack made him angry.
"Okay maybe not so sweet for you." Jaden said.
"Enough!" Nightshroud drew and grinned. "You fool. That blaster doesn't change a thing but this card will. You see Jaden your Blaster can't protect you from my Red Eye's attack."
"Alright I'll bite why not?" Jaden asked.
"Because this time, his attack is an actual card!" Nightshroud said playing the Spell Inferno Fire Blast.
"A card?!" Alexis gasps.
"No way!" Takeru gasps.
"Look out!" Syrus gasps.
"Not lishious!" Chumley said as Red Eyes blasts Jaden.
Jaden: 700
Nightshroud: 3000
"Nice card huh? It's just like my Red Eye's attack the only difference is it hits you directly." Nightshroud said.
"Don't worry Jaden you're still safe. Since he used that kind of card his Red Eyes can't attack you this turn." Takeru calls out.
"He can't but that doesn't mean I can't play some other cards. Like my Attachment Dragon." Nightshroud said summoning a small black dragon.
Attachment Dragon: 100/ 100
"Don't worry he's not the attacking type he's the attachment type show him Dragon." Nightshroud said as his dragon equipped itself to Rampart Blaster and forced it into attack mode.
"With my Rampart in attack mode I can't use her ability!" Jaden gasps.
"Which means no more direct attacks." Nightshroud smirks.
"Oh no." Alexis said.
Down below, the orb holding Syrus and Chumley was beginning to fade away.
"Alright my draw!" Jaden drew. 'And from the rate that orb is going, it might be my last chance to save my friends and the world'
"Come on Jay!" Syrus cheers but when he learns on the edge he almost fell through.
"This thing is going gonzo!" Chumley calls out.
"Guys try to hang in there and stop leaning on the edge for crying out loud!" Takeru yells.
"You better get a move on fast. Doesn't sound like they have much time left." Nightshroud smirks.
"With pleasure. I play Pot of Greed which lets me draw two cards." Jaden drew. "Now I play Defusion which separates my monster back into Burstinatrix and Clayman. And with no monster, your attachment dragon is done for." Jaden said as his monsters appeared on his field and Attachment Dragon disappeared.
Burstinatrix: 1200/ 800
Clayman: 800/ 2000
"But I'm not done. I play Fusion Sage. This card allows me to add another Polymerization from my deck to my hand. And now I'll use it to fuse Clayman and Burstinatrix again." Jaden said.
"You think your Rampart is gonna save you?" Nightshroud asks.
"Who said I was summoning Rampart again? I got a new hero monster and this guy really knows how to bring the heat. Elemental Hero Nova Master!" Bursting out of the lava, we see a new hero with flame-colored armor.
Elemental Hero Nova Master: 2600/ 2100
"Now that's fighting Fire with Fire." Takeru smiles.
"And now I summon Elemental Hero Sparkman!" Jaden said summoning his water hero.
Sparkman: 1600/ 1400
"Now Nova Master show that Red eyes some real firepower!" Jaden said as Nova Master races across the field and slashes Red Eyes destroying in. "And when he destroys a monster in battle I get to draw a card." Jaden drew.
Jaden: 700
Nightshroud: 2800
"Now Sparkman attack Nightshroud directly!" Leaping in Sparkman zaps Nightshroud but he acted like he didn't even feel it.
Jaden: 700
Nightshroud: 1200
"Aw come on you're not gonna flinch? How about a wince? Or cringe?" Jaden asks.
"I leave that for my enemies." Nightshroud said.
"Well then it's time to play Mirage of Nightmares. Now when your standby phase comes I get to draw until I have 4 cards."
"Do whatever makes you happy." Nightshroud said.
"Good then I'll play 1 cards facedown. Your move." Jaden said.
"Fine by me." Nightshroud drew.
"Thanks for that. Because now thanks to Mirage I can draw too." Jaden said.
"Just as long as you send those cards to the grave on your turn." Nightshroud reminds.
"Won't have to. Thanks to Emergency Provisions." Jaden said revealing his facedown. "Now by sending Mirage to the grave I gain 1000 lifepoints."
Jaden: 1700
Nighshroud: 1200
"Nice one." Takeru said as he and Alexis high fived.
"Now Mirage's rule is no longer in effect." Alexis said.
"So you avoided one problem I still have a few left. I play Hammer Shot! This card destroys the monster with the highest attack points and that means its time for you Nova Master to go bye-bye!" Nightshroud said as a giant hammer appeared on the field.
"Holey moley!" Syrus said.
"I think that's what he plans on playing." Chumley gulps.
As the giant hammer came down Nova Master was crushed.
"And I'm not done yet. Because now that he's gone I can summon my Alexandrite Dragon." Appearing at his side of the field was a mighty dragon that glowed bright with scales made of jewels.
Alexandrite Dragon: 2000/ 100
"Now attack! Crush his Sparkman!" Nightshroud said as Alexandrite Dragon blasts Sparkman away.
Jaden: 1300
Nightshroud: 1200
"I can't let it end here." Jaden cringed.
"You don't have to. My dragons will." Nightshroud smirks.
"Chum I just want you to know that if we don't make it through this you've been a great friend and I love you." Syrus said.
"Guys! Hurry! Sy's getting all mushy!" Chum said.
"Jaden that orb is fading fast." Takeru said.
"Not as fast as his monster is about to." Jaden drew. "I summon Elemental Hero Bubbleman!"
Bubbleman 800/ 1200
"And since he's on the field alone I can draw two more cards." Jaden drew. "And now I play Silent Doom to bring back the monster you just destroyed. Come on back Sparkman." Appearing next to Bubbleman, Sparkman appeared in defense mode. "And now I play the field spell Fusion Gate!"
"Something big is coming." Alexis said as all of them held their breath.
"Now I fuse Bubbleman, Sparkman and the Avian in my hand in order to summon Elemental Hero Tempest!" As a storm gathered over them Jaden's winged monster appeared.
Elemental Hero Tempest: 2800/ 2800
"And now Jaden has the best card." Takeru said.
"Let him have it." Alexis said.
"With pleasure! Tempest attack Alexandrite Dragon with Glider Strike!" Flying in Tempest blew up his dragon causing Nightshroud to cringe in pain.
Jaden: 1300
Nightshroud: 400
"There's that cringe I was looking for." Jaden said.
"That was no cringe. I had something in my eye is all. It was a twitch you hear me? A twitch!" Nightshroud glares.
"Call it what you want but right I'm winning this Shadow Duel. And this card will help me do just that." Jaden declares setting a facedown.
"Lifepoints down matter. It's the cards you have that matter." Nightshroud drew. "And this card is gonna make sure I win. I summon Red Eyes Black Chick!"
Appearing on the field was a small black dragon still in his egg.
Red Eyes Black Chick: 800/ 500
"That's your big card?" Jaden asks.
"When his special ability I will. By sending my chick to the grave I can summon from my hand his daddy. The full grown Red Eyes!" Nightshroud said sacrificing the baby dragon for the adult dragon.
Red Eyes: 2400/ 200
"But then again maybe I was wrong. Because some can always get bigger. By sacrificing Red Eyes Black Dragon I can summon the Red Eyes Darkness Dragon!"
From the lava Red Eyes changed to a darker more powerful version of itself.
Red Eyes Darkness Dragon: 2400/ 2000
"And for every dragon in my graveyard my Red Eyes gains 300 attack points!" Nightshroud said as the fiery spirits of every dragon in his grave fueled his dragon.
Red Eyes Darkness Dragon: 4500/ 2000
"4500?! He can't withstand that." Alexis gasps.
"Come on Jaden you gotta figure a way out of this." Takeru said worried.
"It's over! Your friends, your spirit key, and your soul! With my dragon's attack, they're all mine! Go Inferno Darkfire!" Nightshroud declares as his dragon unleashed a dark breath attack.
"I don't think so! Go Negate Attack!" Jaden said as a barrier appeared around Tempest stopping the attack.
"What?" Nightshroud gasps.
"Oh yeah. And the best part is you can't attack me anymore this turn." Jaden grins making Nightshroud growl annoyed.
Meanwhile at the lighthouse by the docks, Zane was in his usual spot when suddenly his key began to react.
"The key. It's trying to warn me." Zane said turning to the volcano. "A Shadow Rider. One's close."
In the Ra Yellow dorm, Bastion was in his room typing when his key began to shake just like Zane's.
"The Spirit Key? It's shaking?" Bastion said surprised.
In the Slifer Red Dorm, Chazz was annoyed as Ojama Yellow was dancing above him while he tried to sleep.
"Stop dancing!" Chazz orders.
"Sorry boss just trying to keep rhythm with that spirit key." Ojama Yellow said.
Sitting up Chazz swats him away. "Actually what is that trembling?
Feeling his key he felt the trembling and couldn't help but wonder what it meant.
In the Obelisk Dorm, we see Crowler fast asleep not even bothered by the key at all.
Finally at the base of the volcano, Banner was looking out at it with worry.
In his office, Sheppard was holding his head in fear.
'What were you thinking Sheppard? Getting students involved in a battle with such stakes? But then what other choice did you have?' Sheppard looked up breaking out of his thought. "If they get those 3 Sacred Beasts. We'll all be destroyed."
Back in the volcano, the duel with Jaden and Nightshroud was getting intense.
"Alright my draw." Jaden drew. "I play Wroughtweiler in defense mode."
Wroughtweiler: 800/ 1200
"And I'll switch Tempest to defense mode. And I'll call it a turn." Jaden said.
"You know what I call it? A waste of time. And speaking of time is something your friends don't have much left." Nightshroud said showing the lava was getting closer.
"Don't listen to him Jay. Just concentrate on the duel." Syrus said.
"And not that we're about to be deep fried." Chumley gulps.
"Jaden you gotta hurry." Alexis said.
"Don't. He's got enough problems." Takeru said knowing this is a lot for him.
"What to do? What to do?" Nighthrough mocks.
"How about you make your move?" Jaden glares.
"Best idea I've heard all night." Nightshroud said drawing. "I summon Spear Dragon in attack mode." Appearing next to his Red Eyes a small blue dragon with a sharp beak appeared.
Spear Dragon: 1900/ 0000
"Now attack his Wroughtweiler! Cyclone blast!" Flying in Spear Dragon strikes down Wroughtweiler destroying it.
"Good thing he doesn't roll over so easily because when he's destroyed I get add an Elemental hero and Polymerization from my grave to my hand." Jaden said before feeling the pain from Spear Dragon's attack.
Jaden: 600
Nightshroud: 400
"Don't get ahead of yourself. When Spear Dragon attacks a monster in defense mode the difference comes out of your lifepoints. However, it does go into defense mode after attacking." Nightshroud said as his dragon took a knee. "And don't think I forgot about your Tempest's ability. I activate Mystical Space Typhoon to destroy your Fusion Gate!"
As a powerful gust of wind blew in Jaden's Fusion Gate was destroyed.
"And with that gone my Darkness Dragon has a clear shot to take out your Tempest! Go Inferno Darkfire!" Breathing dark flames, Red Eyes destroys Tempest and releasing a powerful shockwave that made Takeru and Alexis cringe while Jaden drops down to his knees.
"Alexis are you okay?" Takeru cringed.
"I'm not the one you should be asking that." Alexis said.
"It's your move. If you have any strength left to make it." Nightshroud said.
"Enough! This duel is over!" Alexis snaps.
"Says who?" Nightshroud asks.
"Says me and this." Alexis said showing her spirit key. "I have one too. Let my friends go and you can duel for it and you can have my soul either way."
"Alexis no! You can't." Takeru said getting Nightshroud's attention.
"Alexis? I…I know you." He said softly.
"Takeru you and Jaden always are doing this for us. It's time I stepped up." Alexis said.
"Then you can do it…another time." Jaden said slowly getting up. "Especially…because I'm about to win." He grins.
Hearing this both his friends and his enemy were surprised by that.
"Jaden tell you me right now you have the cards to win." Takeru said.
"I do and I'll prove it to you! It's time to get my game on!" Jaden drew. "First I summon Wildheart!"
Appearing on the field was the same warrior from round 1.
"And now I play Wild Half. First it cuts your Monster's attack points in half and then it summons a token with the same attack points." Jaden said as a copy of the Red Eyes Darkness Dragon appeared.
Red Eyes Darkness Dragon x 2: 3300
"Even so, now he has 2 monsters with over 3000 points." Alexis said.
"True but I have something stronger! Go Polymerization! By fusing Wildheart with the Elemental Hero Bladege in my hand I can summon Elemental Hero Wildedge!" Jaden said as a powerful warrior with pieces of Bladedge's armor and a sharp jagged sword appeared.
Elemental Hero Wildedge: 2600/ 2300
"And the reason he's so wild is because he can attack all the monsters you have on the field." Jaden explains.
"Big deal. He's still weaker than my dragons." Nightshroud smirks.
"Not for long. Not after I play this. I activate Skyscraper!" Jaden said playing his city field spell.
"With that Wildedge's power goes up to 3600." Alexis starts.
"And 2 weak dragons and his lifepoints at only 400." Takeru adds.
"He's gonna win!" Syrus cheers.
"Impossible!" Nightshroud gasps.
"Wildedge destroy all his Dragons with Scimitar Slash!" Jaden said as Wildedge drew his sword and leaps in destroying all the dragons with one slash.
Jaden: 600
Nightshroud: 0000
"And that's game!" Jaden declares.
"NOO!" Nightshroud screams in agony as flames engulf him.
"Sy…Chumley." Jaden said weakly before flames engulfed all of them too.
Appearing on the side of the volcano, Takeru, Alexis, Syrus and Chumley slowly woke up.
"We're alive." Syrus said.
"Jaden did it." Alexis said.
"Wait where is Jaden?" Takeru asks.
Looking around they noticed Jaden and Nightshroud passed out nearby.
"Jaden!" Getting up they all ran to him.
"Is he okay? He's not waking up?" Syrus asks as Alexis checked his pulse.
"He's fine Syrus. He's just tried and can you blame him?" Alexis said.
"No way. I'm tired and I didn't even do anything." Chumley said.
"He's okay. Which is more than I can say for Nightshroud." Takeru said walking over to him and sees a card by him.
Picking it up, Takeru saw on the image Nightshroud's mask was chained up on it. "At least that's one problem figured out."
As he looked down at him, Takeru got a good look at his face and instantly his eyes widen.
"Alexis get over here now." He said in a shocked tone.
Confused Alexis slowly walked up and Nightshroud slowly opened his eyes.
"Alexis?" He said weakly making her gasp.
"It can't be." Alexis said.
Nearby Chazz, Bastion and Zane ran up the hill.
"Jaden we're coming!" Bastion said.
"What happened?" Chazz asks.
"One of the Shadow Riders challenged Jaden to a duel." Syrus said.
"So? What happened?" Chazz asks.
"He won. It was lishous." Chumley declared.
"So is that him?" Zane asks looking. "The Shadow Rider?"
Slowly walking towards them, Zane saw Alexis hugging him close.
"Takeru what's going on?" Zane asks.
"I don't know how this happened Zane. It's insane and I honestly can't believe it." Takeru said.
"Believe what? Alexis what's going on?" Zane asks.
"It's him Zane. It's him. I don't understand it either but it's him. I thought I lost him but he's back. He's finally back." Alexis said tearing up. "It's my brother."
Gasping Zane got a good look at his face and it was him. The same face Takeru saw in the photo he grabbed at the Abandoned dorm,
"Atticus?" Zane said in disbelief.
As the sun began to rise, the others made their way over.
"I think it has something to do with this card. It had some kind of darkness over him, but now it's gone." Takeru said showing them.
"If this is how it is after you win a duel imagine what it's like after you lose one." Zane said. "The sun may be coming up soon but night will fall and when it does we need to be ready."
Little did they know at the base of the volcano near the forest, Black Rose was watching them.
"Well looks like Nightshroud couldn't do it. No matter. Now it's my turn." Eyeing the Key-Keepers Black Rose's eyes zeroed in on the bangle around Takeru's arm. "And now I just who to start with."
They may have taken one Shadow Rider down, but they still had 7 more to deal with.