It was finally winter break as most of the students left by boat to go home. The few that were already stayed at the island were already at their dorms or hanging out with each other, being nice and warm in the rooms. There was another person also staying around for the break, but he wasn't having the time of his life...
"Help! HELP!" Someone screamed, even though no one heard them.
The guy was running for his very life through the forest, like a monster was after him.
'I can't believe this is happening!' He thought, glancing over his shoulder as he kept running, 'I can't believe he came alive! He took my friends...' And then, out loud..."PLEASE! SOMEONE HELP ME!"
But as he ran, the sound of footsteps was made right behind him. 'Run as fast as you can mortal; you won't back out of our deal...'
At the Slifer dorm, Ash decided to hang out with Jaden, Syrus and Chumley at the Slifer dorm because he had nowhere else to go as a result of being from another universe. The normally loud Slifer dorms were now rather quiet as only a few Slifers occupied it now. Professor Banner was the only faculty member left to chaperone them, so the Obelisk Blue had to check in with him.
"And that also means more cafeteria food for us!" Chumley added his input.
Everyone was currently in the main eating hall of Slifer Red dorm. Professor Banner, Chumley and Pharaoh were sitting near a small barbecue grill cooking something.
Banner was cooking the contents on the grill, and talked to the koala duelist. "With that said, Chumley, I can't help but wonder why all we're eating are marshmallows..."
"Well we already ate all the grilled cheeses."
Banner raised an eyebrow to that comment. "We?"
Meanwhile, Pharaoh watched the marshmallows grow bigger until...
*POP POP!*
Pharaoh freaked out as the two large marshmallows exploded, sending bits of melted white goo at them.
*CRASH!*
A loud crashing sound made Ash move away from the door while everyone else stopped what they were doing and turned to the source.
Another student, an Obelisk Blue, had crashed through the door and now lay on bits of wood and glass, groaning in pain.
Jaden walked up to the guy next and asked, "You okay, bro? You look like you've seen a ghost!"
The boy picked his head up and looked at them with a terrified look in his eyes. "I...I have..."
"What do you mean?" Ash asked, confused.
"Jinzo!" The boy cried out, "The Duel Monster card!"
"Professor Banner, you might wanna call the school nurse..." Jaden told the tall man.
Banner walked up to them, and looked closely at the boy. "I know you...you're Torrey. You were in my Para-Dueling class."
The boy, Torrey, looked up at him and nodded, "That's right...," He reached over and grabbed Banner's legs and pleaded, "That lecture you gave about Duel Spirits being real...it's all true! We ended up bringing one to life..." He whimpered.
Banner knelt down and placed his hands on the boy's shoulders, "Calm down, Torrey, tell us what happened, from the very beginning."
"Yes, Professor..."
-Flashback-
'A while back, I told some of my friends about what you said and that under certain conditions, Duel Spirits can come to life.' Torrey narrated. 'Well...we started to try and make those conditions...even though the Academy forbids it. We did it a couple of times, but nothing happened...until yesterday.'
In the library, three Obelisk boys stood in front of a table, each one holding a set of candles while wearing robes. One was Torrey, another was a shorter boy, and the last one was a plump boy wearing glasses like Torrey. The smaller boy placed a board on the table and looked at his friends.
'Maybe it was because we used our bed sheets as robes, or that we used Doctor Crowler's bath candles, but anyway, this time something was different! You see, we all put our hands on a Ouija Board and said the incantation...'
"From vapor to flesh, wind to a roar, come Jinzo from the Land of Yore!" The three chanted in unison, their hands planted firmly of the seeing glass on the Ouija board. All of them stood there in silence, looking around to see if anything happened."
Everyone turned their heads to see a book falling from the second floor shelving, and immediately began to grow nervous. Then suddenly, they felt the glass move and they all looked down, as it began settling itself on different letters.
-End Flashback-
Torrey lowered his head. "The Ouija Board spelled out, 'Give me three, and I'll be free'. But we thought that he meant cards!"
Banner frowned, "Dear me... mere cards alone won't satisfy Jinzo's appetite. This is just awful!"
"What did Jinzo mean by, give me three and I'll be free?" Syrus asked.
"It was probably referring to people." Ash answered.
"People?!" Syrus shouted.
"The worst thing is that we had already agreed..." Torrey lowered his head again, "...before we even knew what he meant. Now my friends..."
"They're both gone!" He answered. "At first, one of them disappeared, and then the other one vanished...now he's coming after me!"
"You sure they didn't just leave on break?" Jaden suggested.
Torrey shook his head. "No, I called their parents, but they had no idea where they were. Even I tried to get on the ferry to get away, but when I got to the docks, he was there, on the boat waiting for me!"
Jaden frowned. 'Well it seems the Slifer Dorm is safe...'
Suddenly, the lights went out and the whole room was dark. A loud scream and a cat screech were heard, followed by the rapid thumping of footsteps and kitchenware being knocked over.
At that time, Ash sensed something strange nearby.
"We're not alone."
Pikachu felt it as well as his trainer.
Ash had been using a computer to show more about this world.
"What do you think?" He asked the mouse.
"Pika." Pikachu nodded in understanding.
Everyone yelled and turned to the door, seeing a tall man in a black leather coat and hat standing just outside, holding an unconscious Torrey under his arm.
"Let Torrey go, Jinzo!" Jaden snapped.
"We have a deal!" Jinzo cackled before turning and running off into the woods.
"No you don't!" Jaden shouted as he ran after them.
"Jaden!" The rest of the gang ran after them.
After a short while of searching the forest, the group stopped running when they reached an area with a fenced off perimeter, a tall metal tower at each corner with wires and generators lining the fence. They found Jaden just outside it.
"Where are we...?" Syrus asked.
Banner looked around, "From the looks of things, this might be the central power station for the whole island..."
"Torrey!" Jaden shouted and started running up to him. "You're safe now, buddy!"
Seconds later, Jaden stopped running as a bright light ripped through the dark night. A cold, dark laugh echoed as electricity arced and jumped from the four towers, crackling around the area.
Everyone watched as Jinzo appeared out of nowhere, laughing as the energy flashed. His body wasn't covered with a coat and hat anymore; he looked his image on the Duel Monster card: a tall humanoid in a dark green suit and had some metal mask on his face. Only it looked like it was a holo-image that was low on power.
"None of you are safe!" The monster stated.
"What's going on?" Syrus turned to Banner, pointing to the shimmery creature, "Why does Jinzo look like that?"
Banner looked at Jinzo, and then looked at the towers which still sparked electricity, putting two and two together. "He's using the power of the supply station to keep himself in this world until he can get Torrey's soul. He's a crafty one..."
"Well, if you want a third soul Jinzo..." Jaden stepped forward. "Take me!"
Jinzo looked at Jaden for a bit. "You do seem to have more vitality than this pathetic human..." He glanced at Torrey's form, seeing how exhausted he was compared to the Slifer. "Very well, I'll take you up on your offer."
"On one condition: we duel!" Jaden stated. "If I win, you release Torrey and the other kids you took and if you win, you can have me."
"A duel?" Jinzo seemed to think for a few moments, "Alright. I should be sustained long enough by this electrical limbo for a match." He laughed as more white arcs appeared around them, cutting Jaden off from the rest of the group. "First I'll beat you, and then I'll consume you!"
"Like that'll ever happen..." Jaden remarked, holding up his duel disk and it whirred to life. "Get your game on, Jinzo!"
Jaden: 4000
Jinzo: 4000
Jinzo nodded as five large cards, serving as his opening hand, appeared behind him. "Let's..." He paused as a sixth card appeared in front of him. "First, I summon Malice Doll of Demise in Attack Mode!"
Everyone watched as a very creepy looking doll in overalls with a large axe appeared on the field. The doll's wide eyes were looking at Jaden with bloodlust. (1600/1700)
"Next, I'll play the Spell Card, Ectoplasmer!" Another card was revealed from behind Jinzo, and stood in front of him. "This fiendish spirit allows each player to sacrifice a monster on their field at the end of their turn. Then, half of the monster's Attack is dealt to the opponent as Direct Damage!"
A long, white worm-like spirit rose from the Doll, and flew right through Jaden's chest. The Slifer winced as his points went down.
Jaden: 3200
Jinzo: 4000
"Jaden's already falling behind and it's not even his first turn yet!" Syrus gasped.
"Alright spooky, my draw!" Jaden drew his card and looked at his hand. "This will have to do. I summon Elemental Hero Avian in Attack mode, and then I'll throw down four face downs..." The winged hero appeared, along with the four facedown cards behind it. (1000/1000)
"Next, I'll play a Continuous Spell Card of my own!" Jaden grinned as he inserted the last card in his hand. "Mirage of Nightmare! Now, when it's your turn, I get to draw four cards, but when it's my turn I'll have to discard four cards. But before all that, I'll have my Avian attack you! Windstorm Strike!"
Jinzo growled as Avian's punch, literally, went right through him, leaving a hole in its wake.
Jaden: 3200
Jinzo: 3000
"I'm not done yet." Jaden grinned wider. "Now I'll use your own Ectoplasmer sacrifice effect against you. I'll sacrifice my Avian and deal you damage equal to half of his own Attack Points!"
Avian fell to his knees, but a spirit form of itself rose from the body and punched Jinzo in the chest, just like it's physical counterpart had done.
Jaden: 3200
Jinzo: 2500
"But those face down cards better do something, when that doll comes back!" Syrus added.
Jaden pumped his arm, "Yeah, we got ourselves a game now!"
Jinzo growled as another card appeared in front of him. "A game that you will soon lose; since Malice Doll of Demise was sent to the Graveyard thanks to an effect of a Spell Card, he automatically resurrects..."
The possessed doll, armed with his axe reappeared, with the same menacing look. (1600/1700)
"Speaking of Spells, mine now activates...Mirage of Nightmare!" Jaden drew his four new cards. "Next, I'll play one of my face downs, Emergency Provisions! As long as I give up a Magic or Trap Card, I can gain 1000 Life Points, so I'll have to toss Mirage of Nightmare to do it!"
Jaden: 4200
Jinzo: 2500
Chumley smiled. "Lishius! Not only did he get 1000 more points, he got rid of Mirage so he won't have to ditch his cards!"
Jinzo wasn't worried, as he was focusing on take away those points and more..."I summon Emissary of the Afterlife in Attack Mode..." A fiendish monster in a black cloak, wielding a scythe floated next to the doll. (1600/600)
"On second thought, maybe it would've been better to play some defense..." Chumley whimpered.
Jinzo pointed to Jaden, "Since you have no monsters out, I can attack you directly; Sickle Slasher!"
The Emissary raised its scythe into the air and it glowed, ready to strike.
"Not so fast!" Jaden cried as another card was revealed. "I play my Trap Card, A Hero Emerges! Now, you can pick a card from my hand, and if it's a monster, I can summon it out instantly. So go ahead and pick!"
Jinzo lifted a finger, that sparked the card he pointed to. "Far right!"
Jaden looked at the card and placed it on the field, "Nice pick...for me, anyway. Say hello to Elemental Hero Sparkman!" (1600/1400)
The familiar, electric Hero came from the sky, and did a kamikaze attack against the Emissary.
"Foolish mortal!" Jinzo snapped, "By sending Emissary to the Graveyard, his special effect is activated. Now, each of us can take a Level 3 monster from our decks and add them to our hands. I choose Thousand-Eyes Idol." A card image of the monster was sent to the machine's hand.
Jaden looked through his deck. "And, I choose good ol' Burstinatrix!"
"So be it, now to continue with my turn." Jinzo said, "Doll of Demise, attack with Cleaver Heaver!" He commanded.
The doll laughed darkly before throwing its axe at Jaden. The Slifer groaned in pain as it passed right through him.
Jaden: 2600
Jinzo: 2500
"And I end my turn, but don't forget the effect of Ectoplasmer..." Jinzo reminded as his doll vanished and its spirit wrapped itself around Jaden's body, damaging him.
Jaden: 1800
Jinzo: 2500
Jinzo laughed again. "Having this duel was a wonderful idea. It's much more fun, enjoying something...slowly tasting it instead of taking it all in at once."
"Jaden, your legs!" Chumley yelled out to his roommate.
The Slifer looked down to see that his legs were looking like Jinzo's body, shimmery and fading out. "What's happening?!"
"I'm cashing in on our duel, boy. You lost half your Life Points, so I'm taking half of your life force," Jinzo explained, "It feels so good!"
"I'm not gonna let you take me Jinzo...I'll duel to the end!" Jaden drew his card, "I summon Elemental Hero Clayman in Attack Mode!" The big, rock hero appeared in front of Jaden. (800/2000) "Next, I'll play from the field, Clay Wrap and equip it to my Clayman!"
Another face down card opened up, covering Clayman in a slimy wrap.
"...and I'll just keep on going with Polymerization. I'll fuse Clayman with my Burstinatrix in my hand to create the Elemental Hero Rampart Blaster in Attack Mode!" The feminine fusion monster appeared, readying the missile launcher. (2000/2500)
"Here's the sweet part. Since Clayman was used in the Fusion, both he and Clay Wrap are sent to the Graveyard and that activates it's ability. The ability to destroy a Spell Card on your side of the field!" Jaden pointed to the one that mattered, "I choose the Ectoplasmer card!" The mentioned card exploded on impact.
"Now it's time to let Blaster do what he does best. Attack with Rampart Barrage!" Jaden ordered.
Jinzo didn't even flinch as multiple missiles shot from Rampart Blaster and struck the machine head on, knocking a very large chunk of points off his meter.
Jaden: 1800
Jinzo: 500
The spectators cheered.
"You should be lucky you didn't have a body to feel that one...I end my turn with a face down." Jaden said.
"My draw." Jinzo raised his arm and another card appeared in front of him. "Hehe...and I couldn't have asked for a better one. With this card, my resurrection is all the more closer!"
"What card?!" Jaden demanded.
Jinzo chuckled. "First, I'll activate Malice Doll's effect again and have him come back from the Graveyard, but only to sacrifice him in order to conjure..." the spirit laughed as his newest card turned around and revealed itself to the others, "JINZO!"
The field came to life all the electricity from the nearby power stations gathered into the air, and then struck the card point blank. The card disappeared and a large figure rose, crackling with dark pink energy before the light disappeared and its place, was the spirit itself: Jinzo, not even a hologram, he was actually real! (2400/1500)
"Aw c'mon! You can't just draw yourself!" Jaden protested.
"I just did!" Jinzo shot back. "Now I can attack you personally, or rather your Rampart Blaster for now...Cyber Energy Shock!" He launched an orb of crackling power straight at the Fusion monster, blowing it to pieces on contact.
Jaden: 1400
Jinzo: 500
"You're next..." Jinzo said, ending his turn.
"My move!" Jaden drew his card, "I summon Wroughtweiler in Defense Mode!" He declared as the metal dog jumped in front of him, crouched in defense. (800/1200) "And there's a reason why he's called Man's Best Friend..."
Chumley nodded. "If Wroughtweiler is destroyed, Jaden can get an Elemental Hero and Polymerization back from the Graveyard."
"It's still a risky move, I hope he knows what he's doing..." Syrus murmured.
"Are you ready for more pain, mortal?" Jinzo inquired as another card appeared in front of him, "I summon Spirit Caller!" Jaden grit his teeth as an elderly looking person in robes appeared. (1000/1000)
'Here it comes...' Jaden thought as he got ready for the upcoming attacks.
"Next, I'll attack your Wroughtweiler with Cyber Energy Shock!" Jinzo fired another shot.
Jaden looked away as his loyal cyber-dog was destroyed, then grinned, "Oopsie...now I get Clayman and Polymerization back from my Graveyard!" He held up the two cards to show him.
"It doesn't matter...you have no monsters on the field to use them with." Jinzo taunted. "Spirit Caller, attack with Breath from Beyond!"
The elderly figure's face changed into a horrid one as it let out a high-pitched screech that passed right through Jaden, making more of his own body turn shimmery and transparent.
Jaden: 400
Jinzo: 500
"Finally, I'll equip myself with the Spell Card, Amplifier!" Jinzo paused as a large, metal helmet appeared on his head, feeding him energy. "This card allows me to ignore my Special Ability. So I bet you can guess what this face down is..." He cackled as the said card appeared in front of him. "Your demise is near..."
"I don't think so!" Jaden drew his next card, "I'm playing the magic from Pot of Greed!" He drew two more cards, "I summon Elemental Hero Bubbleman!" The blue armored Hero came to his side. (800/1200) "Next, I'll give him more power by equipping him with Bubble Blaster! This raises his Attack Points by 800!" A large, blue water cannon with a glass target shield appeared in Bubbleman's hands. (1600/1200) "Now, attack with Bombarded Bubble Barrage!"
Bubbleman took a knee and shot a huge bubble from the cannon at the Spirit Caller. The bubble burst as soon as it connected, wiping Spirit Caller from the field.
Jinzo chuckled. "Well done...but I activated my Trap Card, Spirit Barrier!" Jinzo raised his arm to reveal his face down card, "This keeps me from taking damage as long as there's a monster on my field, and in case you've forgotten, it's me!"
"You're just a phantom to me, Jinzo and this card..." Jaden took a card from his hand, "...will prove it! I play the Spell card, Fairy of the Spring! With it, I can take on Equip Spell card from my Graveyard and add it to my hand. I choose my Clay Wrap!"
"Isn't that the card that can destroy a Spell or Trap when it's sent to the Graveyard?" Claudio asked, looking at his other friends.
Chumley nodded. "It could come in handy."
"I'll end my turn with a face down." Jaden inserted a card into a slot.
Jinzo laughed. "You're pathetic...almost as pathetic as I'm going to make your Bubbleman look!" He launched another energy blast directly at the Hero, but all it did was knock the blaster from the Hero's hands. (800/1200)
Jaden grinned. "Sorry, didn't I tell you? When Bubbleman is equipped with Bubble Blaster, when he's attacked, Bubble Blaster takes the hit and he stays on the field!"
The spirit seethed as he set a card on the field beside him. "That buys you one turn...that's it!"
"That's all I need..." Jaden drew his card and looked at it, smiling.
'Winged Kuriboh!' Jaden watched as his spirit monster appear beside his head cooing. 'I'm with you there, pal...that is one ugly dude.'
He wasn't the only one who could see Kuriboh...
"A spirit?" Jinzo looked on.
"He's a friend first and a spirit second!" Jaden said defensively. "Which is probably why he doesn't need to snack on human souls to chill out in the Land of the Living! Now back to work...I bring out the Hero Clayman to the field again and I'll equip him with Clay Wrap, just like before!" Like last time, the slimy wrap covered Clayman before disappearing from sight. "That's not all! Next, I'm gonna bust out Polymerization and fuse Bubbleman with Clayman to create the Elemental Hero Mudball Man!"
The big and round Hero appeared, ready to battle. (1900/3000)
Jaden smiled. "Now, since Clay Wrap was sent to the Graveyard, I get to use its effect to destroy one Spell or Trap card on the field, so I choose that Amplifier of yours!"
"NO!" Jinzo roared as the helmet blew apart and as he reverted to his transparent form, flickering in and out of the living world.
"Now Jinzo's destroyed because Amplifier was knocked off the monster!" Melody cheered.
"NO! I WILL NOT LET IT END LIKE THIS! I REFUSE!" Jinzo shrieked before disappearing from sight.
Jaden looked around. "Where'd he go?"
"Guys..." Everyone looked at Syrus, pointing to Torrey. Everyone followed his finger to see Torrey standing up, his eyes glowing red.
"Torrey, are you okay?!" Jaden asked.
"I'm...not Torrey." The Obelisk looked at them all, speaking with two voices; his and... "I'm Jinzo, and I bring myself back with my Call of the Haunted card..." He declared, looking down at the face down on the field.
"No you don't!" Jaden pushed a button on his disk, "I activate the Trap Card, Solemn Judgment! It may take half of my Life Points to use it, but that's okay, because it takes that Trap Card you were about to play and destroys it!"
Jaden: 200
Jinzo: 500
"Nooo!" Jinzo moaned as the card was destroyed before it activated.
"Now, Mudball Man, finish him with Fire Shock Wave!"
The Hero jumped into the air and let loose a red beam filled with dozens of rings that rained down upon the possessed Obelisk. As it made contact, a bright light appeared and engulfed the whole area, causing everyone else to blackout.
Jaden: 200, Winner
Jinzo: 0
The next time Jaden opened his eyes, he was still in the power plant area but it was morning.
"Did we miss breakfast?" Chumley asked, sitting up while the others awoke.
Jaden couldn't help but chuckle a bit before looking back where Torrey was before he blacked out. Torrey was there, but now, so were the missing two Obelisk Blue students.
"Thank goodness they're back." Banner sighed in relief as they walked up to the sleeping students.
Syrus looked at Jaden. "You think they'll remember anything?"
Jaden hummed and looked at the trio, 'Probably better if they forgot. I won't though...Duel Spirits are real, but they're dangerous too.'
"You know, I could go for some grilled marshmallow sandwiches." Chumley said.
"We haven't run out yet?" Syrus asked.
"I'm not running anywhere!" Chumley shouted. Everyone laughed at that statement, except Jaden.
"How was that funny?" He asked. Everyone groaned.
"I'm going to head back to my dorm." Ash walked off with Pikachu in tow.