Hey all! Hope you all will have a happy Fourth of July. We're getting closer to the end here, but there's still some bumps in the road...but one big bump will be dealt with VERY soon!
As Sheppard looked over the computer, his mind was in overdrive. Zane hadn't been saved as he had hoped. It wasn't the Darkness that had taken over Zane. It was something else. Atticus' loss opened their eyes that what they were dealing was a Zane who had been broken by Aster and then remade by less then honest men. Sheppard felt a bead of sweat drop, gritting his teeth.
He was no closer to understanding the new prophesy or dealing the Society issue. He sighed, rubbing his eyes. A sudden beeping from his computer made him sit up. Looking at the results, his eyes widened.
He quickly got up, calling everyone involved with the tournament.
Thirty-two duelists remained.
EODGX
Everyone was assembled for the announcement. The staff and students stood on the path to the main building, once again separated. But unlike before, where it was the EoD that was smaller in number, and the SoL was larger, it was switched.
The SoL was significantly smaller then before, while the EoD was larger though not by much. Sheppared looked at the rank and file, frowning. He brought up his microphone, speaking.
"DUELISTS! BACK IN THE BEGINNING OF MARCH, I STARTED THE GENEX TOURNAMENT. IT HAS BEEN ONE MONTH SINCE THEN AND HUNDREDS OF THOUSAND OF DUELISTS HAVE FALLEN. BUT I PLEASED TO ANNOUCE THAT WE FINALLY HAVE THIRTY-TWO DUELISTS!"
Thirty-two. That meant the next stage of the tournament was about to begin. A holographic screen came on. On it was a bracket, divided into thirty-two lines. Next to it was a large screen. Sheppard picked up the paper he had gotten from his computer earlier.
"TO START, WE HAVE OUR VERY OWN JADEN YUKI!"
An image of Jaden appeared, many cheering. Syrus showed up afterwards. Following that was Bastion and Chazz. Rounding out the top five was Professor Sweet. Jasmine and Mindy came after the professor, many of the EoD cheering. Maurice came after them, smirking up a storm.
Sadly, that concluded those from the EoD.
The next group was up. Jessie, Jim, and Axel made the top three, making their classmates cheer. Adrian was number four, making his school cheer as well. Zane showed up, shocking everyone. David Rabb and Reggie Mackenzie made six and seven.
But it was the last duelist that shocked everyone to their core.
"FINALLY ROUNDING OUT THE SECOND GROUP IS LEGENDARY PRO DUELIST THE D!"
Everyone watched as the image of the famous man appeared.
The third and fourth group belonged to the SoL members.
Making up the third group was Sartorius, Serena, Aster, Alexis, Salome, Ronald, Claire Fin and finally, Bob Banter.
The final group was comprised of Ian, Jerome, Amelia, Lorenzo, Gelgo, Lucian Grimley, James Blood, and finally, Valerie Swan.
"GIVE A BIG HAND TO OUR THIRTY-TWO DUELISTS, EVERYONE!"
Everyone clapped for the four chosen groups, Jasmine and Mindy looking at one another. They both shared a nod. They needed to talk with Sheppard, ASAP.
EODGX
The second round of the tournament wouldn't start for another day. This was to give the staff time to set up cameras over the island for the students and pros out of the tournament to watch from either the dorms or the main arena. Sheppard was up in his office, working on who would duel who when he heard a knock at his door.
"Come in."
Mindy and Jasmine walked in, the chancellor blinking. Ending what he was working on, he clasped his hands.
"Jasmine, Mindy, what can I do for you two?"
"That depends on two things." Mindy stated, looking at her shoulder.
Sheppard saw several spirits then begin roaming around his office. One of them pointed at a bust of their founder. Jasmine went over and pulled a tiny bug off. She dropped it into the glass of water Sheppard had, the man looking livid. Two more joined it before the spirits all faded. Mindy sighed.
"Knew the SoL had bribed someone on the island to bug this place..."
"But that now brings us to the real matter. How much control you have over who duels who in this part of the tournament." Jasmine asked.
Sheppard blinked. Why did they want to know that? But he answered truthfully. He had a bit of control over who dueled who. Both girls looked at each and nodded, grim determination on their faces.
"Have Jaden duel Alexis...please!" The pair begged.
"Jaden may hide it well from the others, but this whole thing with the SoL and Alexis being in it has nearly made Jaden go back to what he was before!" Mindy sobbed.
"Aster's 'affections' haven't been helping either, Chancellor. Jaden is ready to blow...and he needs this...SHE needs this." Jasmine ground out.
Sheppard frowned. They weren't exaggerating. Jaden had been dueling rather aggressively against pro and student alike. So much so that he was using the Wicked Gods more and more. Thankfully, he wasn't gone yet as he didn't hurt any student or pro.
But how long would that last?
With a nod, Sheppard typed something into the computer.
"You convinced me girls. I've made it so they duel in the first part."
The two girls gave their thanks, leaving quickly. Sheppard looked again, frowning. Fudging the line up of the duels a bit would make things easier...but he needed a good reason to do that. He was sure Kaiba and Pegasus would understand with Jaden, but the others?
Not so much.
With a heavy sigh, he left the rest of the duels alone. Instead, he turned back to the paperwork he had, mentally weeping.
It was gonna be a long night...
EODGX
Sartorius panted in his room. He looked a tad sickly and was barely able to stay upright. Serena helped him to his bed, confusion and fear on her face. What was going on with her brother?! Was it a ploy by the EoD?
"No...it is simply celestial events happening. Tonight is the night of the Super Lunar Eclipse...the power of the Light wanes as the power of Darkness grows..." Sartorius gasped out, laying back. "I just need rest, my dear...tell everyone I do not wish to be disturbed...and recall the patrols, I do not want them tainted by that light of the Blood moon."
Serena nodded, leaving the room. Sartorius closed his eyes and fell into a deep sleep.
EODGX
Sartorius snapped awake with a gasp. He shot up in bed, frantically looking around. Seeing he was in a room, he got off the bed and stood up.
This was not the Light controlled Sartorius. This was the REAL Sartorius. For years, he had been trapped in his own body, forced to watch everything through his own eyes. The parasite that had taken him over had him do so many terrible and cruel things. He felt around in his head, not feeling the Light. That meant the Lunar Eclipse was nearing its peak!
Without a second to lose, he hurried to the safe that held the SORA keys. Knowing the combo, he entered it in and saw the case. Opening it, he grabbed one key.
In another lifetime, he would have grabbed both, one to give to Aster, his old friend. Sadly, Aster was part of this madness. No, he only could give the one key to the group actively opposing his 'other half'. He hurried to the window, opening it.
He was bathed in a red glow, the Blood moon shining brightly. Seeing the tree, he climbed onto it, rushing down. Once his feet hit the ground, Sartorius was off and running.
I must get to Jaden...before my other half wakes up. Sartorius thought.
EODGX
Things at the Red Dorm were quiet. The Gen X crew were talking. Bonnie and Fiona had been knocked out by Zane and both had been upset by that. Maurice was hoping that he would duel either Sally or Ronald to get them back. The crew were helping him rework his deck some to counter anything Ronald would through at him.
They were not the only ones.
Jaden worked at his deck again. Yubel watched with a hurt expression on her face. Alexis had been away for so long, it was affecting Jaden mentally. Sure, he managed to keep it hidden, but parts of his old self were coming out. He was more aggressive, more angry, more...destructive. It was like watching him slowly sink back into the abyss.
Jasmine, Mindy, and Fonda were stalling it, but that was all it was. A stall. If Alexis wasn't rescued and soon...he'd snap. The pair were alerted to a commotion outside.
"The flying fuck are you doing here?" They heard Professor Sweet snarl.
"Please, I'm not who you think! I'm me, not my other half!"
The duo headed out, Jaden's eyes widening. There, standing before the professor, was Sartorius. Instantly, the boy was on guard. More and more students came out, looking at the confrontation going on. Yubel noticed something...odd.
"Judai...the man's aura..."
"Yeah...yeah, you're right, Yubel." Jaden said, pushing his way to the front.
"-ect us to believe that horseshit!?" Chazz thundered, glaring at Sartorius.
"Enough!"
The bellow made everyone turn to Jaden. The boy was glaring at them all. The duel aura of the man before them was NOT the same. Jaden turned to look at the man.
"This...is the real Sartorius, not the Light."
Sartorius nodded. He had been a simple fortune teller alongside his sister. Until six years ago. Jaden narrowed his eyes, around the time he started his pro career. The man before them had been approached by a stranger with an unknown card. The man wanted a reading on it.
"The instant my fingers touched that card, I...became different. Something was slowly but surely taking me over. I finally became a prisoner in my own body...unable to interact, to warn, to tell people...but I could watch it all. The Light...it amplified what little ESP I had into levels never seen before." Sartorius explained, hot tears now trailing down his face. "But the things I saw...it sickened me."
"So why are you here then?" Jason demanded, glaring.
Here, Sartorius extracted the single item from his coat. It was a velvet box. He handed it over to Jason who opened it. His eyes went wide before turning to Jaden. The professor showed him what lay inside.
"The SORA key?!" Chazz gasped, seeing it alongside Jaden.
"Yes...to atone for my sins. Hide the key or destroy it. Either way, without it, the Light cannot use the Satellite for its intended purpose." Sartorius said.
Jaden looked at the Key before looking at Professor Sweet.
"Get me Baxter. I need him to get me into the metal workshop."
Jason nodded. That was an idea he could get behind. Sartorius groaned, grabbing his head.
"Its stirring...I need to return to the Dorm." Sartorius said, looking up. "I know its not worth much...but I am truly sorry for everything and everyone who suffered during this entire fiasco."
With that, the man rushed away, everyone watching him leave. Chazz looked at Jaden.
"So...on a scale of mild to apocalyptic, how mad is the Light gonna be?"
"...apocalyptic."
Chazz groaned.
"I was afraid you'd say that..."
Now things are getting good! Yes, Jaden is plotting to destroy the key unlike in canon.