Chapter 17: Doomsday Day
It was dark at night, with the full moon glowing in the sky, almost hidden behind the clouds. Somewhere, in a dark cave, seven misteryous figures were gathered close to each other. They were all listening to a voice that sounded like it belonged to an old man. "Our enemies have been tested. Our allies are in place. The hour is upon us. It's time to cover the world in shadow. Which of you will lead us to battle?"
"I'll be the first to go, master." A young man spoked up.
"Nightshroud... So be it." The voice approved.
"I will not fail." The young man said as he stood up and put a Duel Academy themed duel disk on his arm. He had long brown hair and was wearing a heavy black trench coat. He also wore a mysterious mask that resembled a dragon's face. "Academy island's prize will be ours."
Monday
Time 00:00
One night, rain poured down endlessly, thunder boomed, and lightning flashed above the Academy island. The Chancellor found himself standing in his office, the lights turned off. He stood at the window, staring outside, and observed the ongoing storm. He was troubled by something.
As Sheppard continued observing, another flash of lightning occurred. When that happened, he noticed something in the air. He spoted figure that soared through the sky. Said figure was flying on a wing shaped glider.
"And so it begins." Sheppard muttered to himself. "The fight... the war."
Nightshroud landed on the mountains, below the rim of the volcano. After that, he set his hang glider on fire finding no more use of such a thing. Around his neck was half of an ancient medallion which sudden started glowing, catching Nightshroud's attention. He laughed sinisterly, before speaking. "So, the wielder of the other half of the medallion is here. This will make my mission more fun."
Tuesday
Time 10:00
The storm was over, and it was now clear sky in the morning. The students has progressed with the usual routine. In other words... class. Since today was Professor Banner's class, Red Hat decided to go in class today with Blair sitting next to him as usual. And of course, Jaden sleeping through the class as usual. With a twist, he was wearing a paper mask with a smiley face, acting as his face. Red Hat and Blair giggled in amusement at their friend's stunt.
Jaden woke up and yawned, stretching his arms. "Time to get up."
"For the next class?" Syrus asked.
"Of course not..." Jaden replied as he picked up a lunch box. "For lunch!" He opened it and was ready to chow down. "Oh yeah, the one subject I can't get enough of."
"Just a moment there, Jaden!" Banner called out as Jaden stuffed his mouth with a piece of fried food. "I'm afraid your lunch will have to wait. It seems Chancellor Sheppard wants a word with you."
"Hm?" Jaden hummed with the piece of foodstill sticking out of his mouth.
Chumley leaned forward behind him. "Jaden, I'll watch your lunch for you. Especially if you have a side of grilled cheese in there."
"You wish." He replied.
"Chancellor Sheppard?" Syrus replied worriedly. "Aww, Jaden what'd you do?"
"Hmm..." Pausing for a moment to think, while he left the fried food fall from his mouth. "Maybe it's good, like an award."
"Hehe! No way!" The Slifers trio turned to Chazz rising from his seat, which was a couple rows higher and off the side. He was still wearing the same black jacket he had since from the School Duel. "It's never good news with Sheppard. You are so busted!"
"You're someone who likes to say big words, but when it comes to showing them you're not capable of it." Red Hat said from his seat.
"What?!" Chazz turned to him, angry at what Red Hat had said. "You little... Just wait until I get my hands on you!" Chazz said angrily.
"Actually, Chazz, he wants to see you too."
"He wha...?" He snapped his head to Banner, with a shocked expression.
"And three others." Banner said to three different direction of the class. "Bastion, Alexis, and you Red Hat."
"This doesn't sound good." Jaden said.
"Not good at all." Red Hat agreed, realizing something was wrong, before turning to Blair. "Blair, as soon as class ends and we go to Chancellor Sheppard, you go back to the dorm immediately."
"Okay, but try to be careful." Blair replied.
"Don't worry, I'm not alone after all." Red Hat said.
And so the group of students who were called headed towards the Chancellor's office. Banner was leading them.
"Uhh, we're not gonna make a run for it Professor Banner." Jaden said. "You don't have to escort us to Chancellor Sheppard's office."
"Yes I do. You see, he wants to see me as well."
They went unitl they reached the door to Chancellor's office. At the same time, two other people arrived at the same door. Those two were Zane and Dr. Crowler.
"Well well." Crowler spoke up delighted. "Look at this congregation of students. Some of the best duelist in the school, I see." He then glanced at a certain Slifer student and Red Hat. "Oh oh! which one of these is not like the other? Clearly some people here a little bit lost!"
"He is not. Chazz was invited." Jaden replied.
"He means you!" Chazz said angrily.
"And the same can be said of you, Crowler. It's not that you're a better duelist than any of us." Red Hat replied, frowning for the insult the teacher tried to throw at Jaden and him.
Crowler bit a handkerchief to calm himself. Jaden was laughing at this scene, while the others sweated a lot at the sight of this.
"Ha, ha, nice one Red Hat." Jaden said amusedly.
"Jaden, don't encourage him when he acts like this." Alexis said sighing.
"If all of you are done talking to each other, how about we come in and don't keep the Chancellor waiting any longer." Banner said, interrupting the discussion.
Once inside the office, Sheppard stood was behind his desk turn around and greeted all of them before starting to talk. "You are all here, very well."
Everyone gathered in front of Sheppard to hear why they had been called.
"Do you know the tale of the three legendary cards? They are known as the Three Sacred Beast." Sheppard started to explain, before of being interrupted.
"Three Sacred what cards?" Jaden asked.
"Beasts." Sheppard repeated. "And due to their immense power, their colossal might, they were hidden here."
"Sweet..." Jaden looked up at the ceiling in thought. "Like under someone's mattress, or in a cookie jar?" Red Hat chucled for what Jaden said.
"Hey, let him finish!" Chazz glared at him.
Sheppard smiled for the idea of hiding place Jaden was thinking. "They're not in a cookie jar. They're actually much closer than you'd think... Right below you."
The group gasped at those words.
"You see, this academy was built in part to protect the Sacred Beasts Cards. They're sealed behind the Seven Spirits Gates. Legend says if these cards ever see the light of day... Buildings will crumble. Light will fade. Souls will fall. Our world will be no more."
"Wow!" Alexis said after listening the story.
"No more?" Said Bastion shocked.
"I've never heard of these cards!" Zane said.
"Neither have I!" Crowler added.
Red Hat thought carefully about what the Chancellor had just told them with a stoic expression.
"Where are they? Let's take 'em out for a spin!" Jaden said still remaining cheerful.
"HAVEN'T YOU BEEN LISTENING?!" Crowler snapped at him.
"So this is why the seven of you are here." Sheppard continued. "To protects the three cards from the wicked ones."
"Wicked ones?" Zane asked.
"That's right. Seven duelists known as the Shadow Riders who covet these cards. And I'm afraid one of them is already here. He arrived in the thick of last night's storm."
"Naturally." Bastion said ironically.
"Okay, so how do we protects these cards?" Alexis asked.
"By protecting the seven Spirit Gates." Sheppard answered. "To get the cards, one must unlock them. And to unlock them, one must gain the seven keys for each gate. That is how we will protect those cards. By protecting the keys. And here they are." Chancellor Sheppard explained as he pulled out a small black box in front of him. Opening it and showing everyone the seven Spirit Keys be arranged together. "One for each of you to guard."
"Wait." Bastion interrupted. "So, we hold the keys? Won't that make us targets?"
Sheppard nodded with a sorrowful expression. "It's true. With these keys, the Shadow Riders will seek you out."
"Uhh, seek us out? You mean take us out." Chazz corrected him.
"Only... in a duel."
"A duel?" Bastion asked, surprised for what Sheppard said. And so were the rest of the group.
"That's right. Fortunately for our side, the keys can't simply be stolen. An ancient edict commands the keys must be won in a duel. And so, I've called on our school's seven best to take up this challenge and fight the good fight!" He cleared his throat as he glanced up, he turned to Crowler. "Well, six best really, but I needed seven, so, you know."
"He certainly doesn't mean me." Crowler whispered to Jaden who pouted.
"He was definitely referring to you, Crowler." Red Hat thought dryly.
"Of course, if any of you don't think you're up to it, and feel like backing out, Iwon't blame you. Afterl all, these Shadow Riders play for keeps. So, who feels like saving the world?" Sheppard asked.
The others looked at each other hesitantly, worried about the great risk to their lives. Red Hat simply looked at the keys. Jaden excited, broke up the silence, he smiled and was the first of the group to take his Spirit Key. "Count me in!" He said, placing the key around his neck, near the half medallion. "Huh, how about that? It's my size!"
Zane smiled and followed suit. "I too accept."
Bastion nodded, grabbing the third Spirit Key. "It would be my honor."
"I don't want you boys have all the fun." Alexis said joiked as she grabbed her key along with Chazz.
"How could I refuse? I mean, our very world is at stake!" Crowler spoke up. "The way of life, the future of the school,and if I say no, I wouldn't get this very posh piece of jewelry!"
"Yes, well... good to know you're doing it for the right reasons... kind of." Sheppard commented.
Meanwhile, Red Hat remained still where he was, looking at the last Spirit Key. "So I should risk my life for people who hate me? Even if we saved the world I don't think any of them would ever say thank you. So why would I do it?" After a few seconds, thinking about it again. "What am I hinking? I can't be so selfish at a time like this. There's something much more important at stake here." Red Hat made up its mind and approached the last remaining Key. "I also accept, Chancellor Sheppard." He said taking the last Spirit Key.
"Well, I guess that's all of them." Banner said, as he turned to the Chancellor. "Since I'm not really needed, I would like to go and finish paperworks."
"Well, let's get started!" Jaden said. "I think the best duelist should go first. So that would mean... well, me."
"YOU?!" Crowler shouted, startling Jaden and caused him to fall over. "You couldn't beat a drum!" He turned to Sheppard. "Obviously, I should go first. If not I say, Zane. Afterl all, he did beat Jaden." He sneered at the Slifer. "Yes, that's right. I know all about that little match you had with Zane. And I say little because I heard you lost to him in no time at all. How pathetic."
"You're the pathetic one here, Crowler. As if you didn't lose your duel with Jaden in the entrance exams real quick." Red Hat thought as he heard Crowler's teasing of Jaden.
"Ah, forget them both. I'm clearly the best choice!" Chazz said confidently.
"There's no choice." Sheppard said. "This isn't some tournament where we choose who goes first. This is war! You could be attacked by the enemy at anytime and anyplace! So, my students, by on guard...!"
Soon everyone left the office. Red Hat was the last to leave, he turned to the Chancellor and saw his worried expression. Neither of them said a word. Then Red Hat broke the silence. "Chancellor Sheppard." Red Hat called him. "Everything will be fine, don't worry." He said confidently with a smile too before leaving the office.
Time 21:00
Later that night, Red Hat was in Jaden, Syrus and Chumley's room, for explaining them the situation before he talk with Blair about this. Red Hat was sitting silently checking his deck, while Jaden told the whole story to Syrus and Chumley.
"So that's pretty much the story, guys. Pretty sweet, huh?" Jaden finished. "So now we'll just wait."
"Aren't you scared?" Syrus asked.
"No joke." Chumley added. "Creepy shadow guys lookingto beat you so they can destroy the entire world? I mean, that's pretty intense."
Jaden nodded. "And not to mension exhausting." He said before yawning. "Which is why... I'm gonna hit the hay."
"What?! Wait a sec!" Syrus spoke up. "You can't just go to sleep right now! I mean, what if a Shadow Rider shows, Jaden?"
"Guys, I wouldn't worry too much." Red Hat spoke. "I mean, the Shadow Riders would still come looking for us anyway. They have to duel us if they want to get the seven Spirit Keys. Now that they come to us it's an inevitable thing."
"How can you be so calm about this?" Syrus asked.
"Because I'm sure if Jaden and I duel against them we will definitely win." Red Hat stated confidently. At a certain point he got up to leave his friends' room. "I'm going back to my room, there are some changes I want to make to the deck in case of a duel against a Shadow Rider." Red Hat said as he walked out of the room.
"Seriously, I don't understand how Red Hat can be so calm?" Syrus asked.
"He's worried in his own way too." Jaden said.
"It didn't seem like it to me. How can you say that?" Chumley asked.
"Trust me, he's worried too, he just doesn't want to show it." Jaden replied as he went back to sleep.
"Wait, you're going back to sleep?! What if a Shadow Rider actually comes here?!" Syrus asked worriedly.
Jaden shrugged and put his arms behind his head. "I'm sure they'll wake me up. I only hope... it's not before ten. Actually make that eleven, so I have the time to showering and stuff."
"Wow Jay! You sure seem chill." Syrus said.
"Hey, no wait! Maybe twelve. So I can have breakfast too." Jaden spoke up again.
"The fate of the world is in your hands. Maybe you can skip breakfast?" Syrus asked.
"Sy's right." Chumley agreed. "And I'd be happy to look after it for ya."
"Yeah. Sure, Chum." Jaden replied. "Okay, now that's settled."Jaden said as he turned and climbed into his bed. "I'm gonna settle myself between the sheets. I'll see you guys tormorrow..." He yawned and pulled the shetts on himslef. "... When I save the world."
Chumley stared at Jaden sleeping before turning to Syrus. "Well, at least he'll be well rested."
Meanwhile, while Red Hat was returning to his room, he was deep in thought about of the Shadow Riders, he stopped outside just before the door to his room. "Now we should all be on our guard. The Shadow Riders will attack us without hesitation to take our Spirit Keys. I am sure that I can beat them. Even Jaden and Zane would have no difficulty against them. Alexis and Bastion are also good duelists, even if I don't know how strong our opponents are, they should be able to win." At that moment Red Hat's thoughts drifted to something else. "Then why do I have this strange feeling?"
"You're worrying too much." Hiita said appearing out of nowhere along with Aussa. "You said it yourself, you're sure you can win against your opponents. So why worry?" She added in a bored tone.
"You have to try to stay calm. You have to think clearly otherwise you won't be able to beat the opponents you'll have to face." Aussa said trying to reason with him.
"I know that, and I understand that." Red Hat replied.
"Anyway, you're forgetting something." Aussa said which confused Red Hat. "It's not just you in this fight. There's Jaden and your other companions. And we'll also be there to give you a hand." Aussa added.
"Yeah! You can count on us too! As soon as we get in front of us these Shadow Riders, we'll turn them into meatballs!" Hiita said energetically.
Red Hat, hearing his two Duel Spirits encouraging him, put away his previous thoughts. "Thanks for the encouragement girls." He said smiling.
"Don't worry." Hiita said.
"Now go and rest. You need to be in forces." Aussa added before she and Hiita disappeared.
As Red Hat began walking back to his room, he noticed the door to his room slam shut. After this he entered the room and saw Blair who was still awake, but seemed to have a worried expression.
"Why does she have that expression?" Red Hat wondered. Then thinking back to earlier about the door that had slammed shut something came to mind. "Wait, don't tell me that she...?" He thought before turning to Blair. "You eavesdropped on the conversation earlier, right?"
"Well, here, you see..." Blair stammered in embarrassment, remaining silent for a while. "Yeah, I spied on you. I heard everything." Blair replied after few seconds.
Red Hat sighed at her response, but he wasn't mad at her.
"I heard everything. If these opponents you will face are as strong as you say it is and normal it started to worry me. You sure you'll be okay?" Blair asked.
"Don't worry, we'll be fine." Red Hat replied.
Blair, however, still had a sad expression. "It's just I just don't want you and Jaden to be in danger and get hurt."
Red Hat walked over to Blair and placed his hand on top of his head and bent over his legs and stood at the same height as her, before speaking. "Blair, don't worry. If they come after us, it's bad for them. We'll take 'em down. Me and Jaden and everyone else know what we're doing, so don't worry." Red Hat said to Blair to try to calm her down."
"Okay. You convinced me." Blair replied.
"Okay. Now I better get to work to modify my deck." Red Hat said as he pulled some boxes out of his desk with some cards in them.
"I didn't imagine he had so many cards." Blair muttered under her voice.
Meanwhile, Red Hat was seeing the cards that could be useful to it. "If these Shadow Riders are as strong as Sheppard says, I'll have to use some of these cards." Red Hat thought before stopping with a card in his hand. "I don't expect the idea I would find myself using this card again." He thought as he looked at a card. That card seemed to awaken some memories in him. That card was part of his deck before, he used it in a combination that helped him win duels, but after some time he stopped using that strategy. But there was another reason he stopped using that card. He won that card in one of the tournaments he participated in when he was little, when his mother was still there before she abandoned him, in the end some of that anger towards her also ended up directed towards the card itself. Thinking about her made him angry. After a few seconds he came to his senses. "I have to stop thinking about her. I'm done with that part of my life." He thought as he added the card to his deck.
Blair had noticed that outburst on his part. "He seemed angry with that card for some reason. I wish I could understand you sometimes." She thought as she watched Red Hat work on his deck for a while before heading to bed.
Time 23:00
In the meanwhile, Alexis was walking along towards the Slifer Red dorm, and for a good reason...
"If what Chacellor Sheppard said was right and it's this Shadow Riders who decide who to duel, then odds are they'll go for who they think is weakest first." alexis thought. "And with that Slifer Red jacket that's Jaden. I've gotta warn him." After a few seconds another thought formed in his mind. "I should warn Red Hat too about this." She thought.
Unbeknownst to her, the masked individual was hiding in the forest near the Slifer Red Dorm and his eyes glowed red. "The first Key Keeper is already here. It will be much easier than I thought."
As Alexis was approaching to the dorm, a light begin to shine near to her, she covered her eyes. She was surrounded by that strange light. "Ahh! What's going on?!"
"The first duel is happening!" The voice who laughed answered. After that, the light suddenly blinded her when she was somehow teleported.
When the light died down, Alexis found herself on a platform made of light, hovering inside a volcano, rock walls on all sides and a pot of lava below.
"Where am I?" Alexis wondered.
A pillar of lava that took the shape of a serpentine dragon. "You are in my arena." The unknown voice spoke frome the lava dragon. It twisted in the air a few times before it crashed on the platform. The figure walked out from the blazing remains, laughing sinisterly.
"What's going on?!" Alexis demanded, with a serious look.
"You mean you don't know. I am Nightshroud, your opponent." Nightshroud said as he got closer.
"You're a Shadow Rider! You are here because you want the key right?" Alexis said.
Nightshroud chuckled. "That key isn't the only thing I want. But isn't necessary I talk to you about this. I want something else then just the key. Now you are alone, there is no place you can hide, and there is no one who will come to help you. As such is the nature of a Shadow Game, Key Kepeer."
"Shadow Game?" Alexis gasped. "Then I have no choice, but to beat you in a duel and I will be free from here." Alexis declared confidently.
"Me lose? No way! But if I were you I would wait, because there's more you should know." Nightshroud said laughing while he pulls a blank card. "For you see, also at stake, is your soul. Which will be sealed in this card when you lose. But instead of sealing you inside this card, I believe that I could use you to my advantage instead. When you'll lose the duel you'll become my servant and you help me to take the other keys from your friends!" Nightshroud said as he put away the blank card.
"Get out of your head that I'll be your puppet! Because I will win this duel!" Alexis said as she activated her duel disk with a determined look.
"We'll see about that. In the meantime, it'll be fun to play with you, Key Keeper." Nightshroud said as he also activated his duel disk.
DUEL
Nightshroud: 8000 LP
Alexis: 8000 LP
"I'll go first, Key Keeper. I draw!" Nightshroud draws.
Hand 6
"I set a monster facedown. I set a card facedown. I end my turn. It's your move, Key Keeper." Nightshroud ends his turn.
Hand 4
"It's my turn. I draw!" Alexis draws.
Hand 6
"I summon Command Knight in attack mode! (Atk: 1200 – Def: 1900) While she's on the field my warrior monsters gain 400 attack points. (Atk: 1200 – 1600 – Def: 1900) Battle, Command Knight attack his monster!" The female knight unsheathed her sword and struck the opposing monster which was Masked Dragon. (Atk: 1400 – Def: 1100)
"Masked Dragon's effect, when he's destroyed I special summon dragon-type monster with 1500 or less attack points. I special summon another Masked Dragon! (Atk: 1400 – Def: 1100)" Another Masked Dragon appeared on the field.
"I'll end my turn." Alexis ends her turn.
Hand 5
"My turn, I draw!" Nightshroud draws.
Hand 5
"I summon Mirage Dragon in attack mode! (Atk: 1600 – Def: 600) As long he's on the field you can't activate trap card during the battle. Now I activate the equip spell Flint! I'll equip it to Command Knight! Your monster can't attack or change battle position, and she lose 300 attack points. (Atk: 1600 – 1300 – Def: 1900)" A fiendish chain appeared and attached itself to Command Knight immobilizing her and making it impossible for her to move. "Masked Dragon attack Command Knight!" The dragon released a fire breath that hit the female knight, causing an explosion that sent Alexis skid across the platform.
Alexis: 8000 – 7900 LP
Alexis fell to her knees, panting, clutching her chest. "I felt that attack and it hurt..."
"And you will see that you will feel more pain, Key Keeper." Nightshroud warned her. "Before I forget, when the monster equipped with Flint is destroyed, I can select a monster on the field and equip it with this card. And since you have no monsters the target of this card is Masked Dragon. (Atk: 1400 – 1100 – Def: 1100)" The fiendish chain attached itself to Masked Dragon. "But I'm not done yet. Mirage Dragon attack her directly!" His dragon attacked Alexis by blasting her with a fire breath. Alexis screamed in pain.
Alexis: 7900 – 6300 LP
"I think I've done enough for now. I end my turn. Let's see what you can do, Key Keeper." Nightshroud ends his turn.
Hand 3
"If you think I give up so easily you are sadly mistaken." Alexis said as she stood up. "It's my turn. I draw!" Alexis draws.
Hand 6
"I play Pot of Greed to draw two cards. Now, I play Polymerization to fuse Etoile Cyber and Blade Skater to summon, Cyber Blader! (Atk: 2100 – Def: 800)" Her ace monster appeared on the field. "Effect of Cyber Blader. If you control two monsters, her attack points are doubled! (Atk: 2100 – 4200 – Def: 800) Cyber Blader attack his Mirage Dragon! Whirlwind Rage!" Cyber Blader spins around before kicking the dragon and destroying it.
Nightshroud: 8000 – 5400 LP
"Since you now only have one monster, Cyber Blader's attack points return to normal. I'll end my turn. (Atk: 4200 – 2100 – Def: 800)" Alexis ends her turn.
Hand 4
"It's my turn. I draw!" Nightshroud draws.
Hand 4
"I set one card facedown and end my turn." Nightshroud ends his turn.
Hand 3
"My turn. I draw!" Alexis draws.
Hand 5
"First of all, I play Mystical Space Typhoon to destroy your equip spell Flint." Powerful winds destroyed the spell card of Nightshroud. "I summon Command Knight in attack mode! (Atk: 1200 – Def: 1900) "Like before, while she remains on the field my warrior-type monsters gain 400 attack points. Additionally, you cannot attack her while I control another monster. (Atk: 2100 – 2500 – Def: 800) (Atk: 1200 – 1600 – Def: 1900) Command Knight attacks his dragon!" The female knight struck the dragon with her sword, destroying it.
Nightshroud: 5400 - 5200 LP
"Effect of Masked Dragon. When he's destroyed in battle I can get summon a dragon-type monster with 1500 or less attack points. So here's another Masked Dragon! (Atk: 1400 – Def: 1100)" Nightshroud explained as a third Masked Dragon appeared on the field.
"In that case I will attack your Masked Dragon with Cyber Blader! Whirlwind Rage! " Cyber Blader hit the dragon with a kick and destroyed it.
Nightshroud: 5200 – 4100 LP
"Masked Dragon's effect activates again. I'll summon Red-Eyes Black Chick! (Atk: 800 – Def: 500)" A small red egg emerged from the lava pit and rose up through the platform. And then, a bits of its shell cracked away, revealing a pair of glowing red eyes.
"That's all for me. I end my turn." Alexis ends her turn.
Hand 3
"It's my turn. I draw!" Nightshroud draws.
Hand 4
"I activate Pot of Greed to draw two cards. I activate Chick's effect. By sending Chick to the graveyard I'm allowed to special summon from my hand, his daddy. Red-Eyes Black Dragon! (Atk: 2400 – Def: 2000)" Another serpentine dragon shot out from the lava and flew around in the air. As it finally crashed on the platform, revealing the said black dragon.
"Your dragon is very strong but it can't beat Cyber Blader. And don't forget thanks to the effect of Command Knight, you can't attack her. So if you want to get me, you'll have to get through Cyber Blader first." Alexis pointed out.
"If I were you I wouldn't rely too much on your monsters." Nightshroud said smiling while holding a card in his hand. "I play the spell card, Inferno Fire Blast! This card deals damage to you equal to Red-Eyes' attack points but cannot attack this turn. Go Red-Eyes!" Red-Eyes Black Dragon fired a huge ball of flaming red energy, bypassing Cyber Blader and Command Knight and hitting Alexis directly, causing a huge explosion. Alexis was screaming in pain. Then she ended up falling to her knees.
Alexis: 6300 – 3900 LP
"I set a card facedown. With this I end my turn. Let's see how long you think you can hold out, Key Keeper." Nightshroud ended his turn.
Hand 2
"You haven't beaten me yet." Alexis said as she tried to get back on her feet. "It's my turn. I draw!" Alexis draws.
Hand 4
"Battle! Cyber Blader attacks Red-Eyes Black Dragon! Whirlwind Rage!" Cyber Blader rushed towards the dragon, to strike it.
"Don't think it will be so easy for you to get rid of my dragon." Nightshroud interrupted her. "I activate my facedown card. The quick - play spell Book of Moon! Now Cyber Blader change to facedown defense position!" Nightshroud explained.
"I set one card facedown, then change Command Knight to defense mode and end my turn." Alexis ends her turn.
Hand 3
"Alright, It's my turn. I draw!" Nightshroud draws.
Hand 3
"I activate my facedown card. The continuous trap, Dragon's Rage! With this my dragon-type monsters can inflict piercing battle damage when they attack a defense position monster. Red-Eyes Black Dragon, attacks her facedown monster! Inferno Fire Blast!" Red-Eyes Black Dragon launched his attack against Alexis' monster, who was Cyber Blader in defense position. (Atk: 2500 – Def: 800)
"I activate my facedown card. Dimension Wall! Now you take the battle damage instead of me!" Alexis explained as a mirror-like barrier was created in front of her.
"Ahahaha! Do you really think I'll let this happen!" Nightshroud said. "I activate my counter trap. Solemn Judgement! I pay half of my life points and negate the effect of your trap and destroy it!" A ray of holy light from the sky, negated Alexis' trap, shattering the barrier in front of her.
Nightshroud: 4100 – 2050 LP
"When you control one monster Cyber Blader cannot be destroyed by battle." Alexis explained.
"Your monster might survive but the same can't be said about your life points." The attack hitted Cyber Blader, and created a giant explosion, she wasn't destroyed by the attack but the flames of the attack reached Alexis and she take the damage.
Alexis: 3900 – 2300 LP
"I'll set a card facedown and end my turn." Nightshroud ends his turn.
Hand 2
"My turn. I draw!" Alexis draws.
Hand 4
"I'll change Cyber Blader and Command Knight to attack mode. I play Reinforcement of the Army. I add a level 4 or lower warrior monster to my hand. I choose another Command Knight, that I summon now in attack mode! (Atk: 1200 – 1600 – Def: 1900) And with her on the field, my warrior monsters gain another 400 attack points. (Atk: 2500 – 2900 – Def: 800) (Atk: 1600 – 2000 – Def: 1900) Cyber Blader, attack Red-Eyes Black Dragon! Whirlwind Rage!" Alexis' monster spins before kicking the dragon, destroying it.
Nightshroud: 2050 – 1550 LP
"Command Knight! Give to him the finishing blow!" The female knight drew her sword and rushed towards Nightshroud.
"I'm tired of playing! I play the trap card, Call of the Haunted! With this I can summon Red-Eyes Black Dragon from the graveyard! (Atk: 2400 – Def: 2000)" The black dragon had reappeared on the field, stopping Alexis' monster's attack.
"I'll set one card facedown and end my turn." Alexis ends her turn.
Hand 2
"If he tries to attack I can use the Mirror Force I set to defend myself, and then finish him off on my next turn." thought Alessio.
"My turn I draw!" Nightshroud draws.
Seeing the card he had drawn, Nightshroud couldn't help but laugh. "It seems the time has come to end this duel, Keeper of the Keys!" Nightshroud said making Alexis worry at his words. "You recognize this card, right? Inferno Fire Blast! With this I deal damage to you equal to Red-Eyes' attack points!"
"Oh no!" Alexis shouted worriedly.
"Red-Eyes Black Dragon, finish her! Inferno Fire Blast!" Red-Eyes launched a huge sphere of red flames at Alexis, hitting her directly and taking away the last life points she had left.
Alexis: 2300 – 0 LP
Alexis collapses on the platform. Nightshroud approached her, took her key, and it disappeared in a flash of light when he held it in his hand. "Haha. One down, six more to go." Nightshroud laughed, before turning to Alexis. "You weren't much of a challenge. If the other Key Keepers are so easy to defeat, it won't take long to get the other keys." Nightshroud said as his eyes glowed red. Alexis' body glowed with a black aura, before she stood up and opened her eyes which momentarily glowed red like Nightshroud's, then looked as if they was lifeless.
"What are your orders, Master Nightshroud?" Alexis asked.
"You must follow me to defeat the other six Key Keepers and take their keys." Nightshroud explained before he and Alexis disappeared from the platform and left the volcano.
Time 3:00
Nightshroud and Alexis were back in the forest near the Slifer Red dorm. Meanwhile, while everyone was sleeping, they didn't realize they were being watched.
While Red Hat and Blair were sleeping in their room, Aussa and Hiita suddenly appeared in their spirit forms.
"Red Hat, wake up!" Aussa called him loudly.
Hearing the voice calling him prompted Red Hat to get out of bed still half asleep as he rubbed his eyes to see his two Duel Spirits who looked worried for some reason. "What's up?" He asked.
"We sensed an evil presence around here that alarmed us." Aussa replied.
"It's likely the first Shadow Rider is nearby." Hiita added.
"What?!" Red Hat said shocked. "I need to warn Jaden right away!" He said running out of his room.
It was then that a bright light shining from the door of Jaden's room, this alarmed Red Hat more.
"Jaden!" Red Hat called out to him worriedly as he entered the room which was illuminated by the light.
In that moment Jaden's room was consumed by the bright light, the light suddenly blinded them when they were somehow teleported.
As the light died down, Jaden and Red Hat found themselves on a platform made of light, hovering inside a volcano, rock walls on all sides and a pit of lava below.
"What is going on?" Red Hat wondered before turning to Jaden. "Jaden, are you okay?"
"I'm fine. But I don't understand what's happening." Jaden replied.
At that moment, a pillar of lava rose up taking the shape of a dragon, which crashed into the platform. Soon a sinister figure appeared. "Two Key Keepers. Today must be my lucky day." The figure said while was getting near to them. "You two will be my opponents."
"Who are you?" Red Hat asked.
"You can call me Nightshroud. I'll be the one taking that keys, you both have around your necks." Nightshroud said.
"Wow, you guys don't waste much time, don't ya?" Jaden asked.
And then, the half medallion around Nightshroud's neck started to glow. He then noticed Jaden's half was also glowing, which Red Hat also noticed. "Nice medallion. The 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 those keys and I'll get them now. Oh, and just to make sure that, I brought friends."
"What's that mean?" Jaden asked. He and Red Hat were confused at his words. The two then startled by two serpentine dragons that appeared around them, the two covered their faces.
"Here, say hello to Syrus and Chumley!"
"Oh no!" Jaden gasped as he spotted both of them.
"Jaden!" Syrus called out.
"Help us!" Chumley also called out.
Jaden and Red Hat looked in the direction the voices were coming from and saw both of them trapped inside a blue orb of light held on a claw-shaped rock above the lava. Both Syrus and Chumley were still wearing their pajamas.
"No!" Jaden exclaimed.
"Hold on you two, we'll get you out of there!" Red Hat called out.
"Looks like they're in hot water. Or maybe I should say hot molten lava." Nightshroud joked. "But then, such is the nature of a shadow game, Key Keeper."
"Shadow Game?" Jaden gasped. "Listen, just duel me, but let them go!"
"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 that it's not exactly built to last." Nightshroud explained. "But why stop with just you. I'll duel you both. After all, the more the merrier. And I can take two keys to make it faster." He added.
"You're too cocky to think you can beat us alone." Red Hat pointed out.
"And who said I'm alone?" Nightshroud snapped his fingers, and Alexis had appeared at his side with her eyes that were lifeless.
"Alexis! What did you do to her?" Jaden shouted, gritting his teeth.
"You see I dueled her before and she lost pathetically to me. Rather than seal her soul, I chose to make her my servant. So I can challenge you both to a tag duel." Nightshroud said as Alexis got into position with the duel disk.
"Okay, this is too much! You take my friends and turn Alexis into your servant! You and I are dueling right now!" Jaden said angrily preparing his duel disk.
"Very good. But we don't want Red Hat to feel left out, so I also brought here someone he knows well." Nightshroud snapped his fingers and another orb had appeared with Blar trapped inside it.
"Red Hat!" Blair called out.
"No Blair!" Red Hat shouted worriedly as he saw her trapped.
Blair tried to get out of the orb trying to hit her with his fist but to no avail. "Get me out of here!" Blair shouted in fear.
"Get her out of there! Now!" Red Hat shouted at Nightshroud.
"I don't think you're in a position to dictate rules. And then with another of your friends here I'm sure you'll be more than willing to duel with me." Nightshroud replied.
"I will not forgive you for taking Blair and putting him in danger! I will make you pay dearly for this!" Red Hat shouted angrily as he got into position with his duel disk.
Nightshrod looked amused. "Hahaha. I knew how much it means to you, and seeing your expression of pure anger only makes the situation funnier for me, as well as bringing you here to get your key too." Nightshroud teased him as he readied his duel disk. All four activated their duel disks.
DUEL
Jaden & Red Hat: 8000 LP
Nightshroud & Alexis: 8000 LP
"I'll go first, Key Keepers. I draw!" Nightshroud draws.
Hand 6
"I summon Masked Dragon in attack mode! (Atk: 1400 – Def: 1100) With this I end my turn." Nightshroud ends his turn.
Hand 5
"Alright, It's my move. I draw!" Jaden draws.
Hand 6
"I summon Elemental HERO Wildheart in attack mode! (Atk: 1500 – Def: 1600) Wildheart Attacks his Masked Dragon! Wild Slash!" Wildheart rushed at Masked Dragon, striking him with his sword, destroying him."
Nightshroud & Alexis: 8000 – 7900 LP
"You know, there's something I forgot to mention. When Masked Dragon is destroyed by battle, I can special summon from my deck a dragon monster with 1500 or less attack points. I summon another Masked Dragon! (Atk: 1400 – Def: 1100)" Another Masked Dragon appeared on the field.
"I throw down a facedown card and end my turn." Jaden ends his turn.
Hand 4
"It's my turn. I draw!" Alexis draws.
Hand 6
"I summon Command Knight in attack mode! (Atk: 1200 – Def: 1900) Command Knight give to all of my warrior-type monsters 400 attack points. (Atk: 1200 – 1600 – Def: 1900) I play the Equip-Spell, Black Pendant! I equip it to Masked Dragon giving him 500 attack points! (Atk: 1400 – 1900 – Def: 1100) Command Knight attack Wildheart!" The female knight rushed against Wildheart and slashed him, destroying him.
Jaden & Red Hat: 8000 – 7900 LP
Jaden winced a little at the pain he received from the attack. "This is truly a Shadow Game. The pain I felt is real. But I can't give up, we have to save our friends. Besides, this isn't our first Shadow Game." Jaden thought thinking back to the Shadow Games with Jinzo and Gravekeeper's Chief. Jaden turned his attention back to the duel. "Hold on a moment, I activate a trap! Hero Signal! Since you destroyed my monster in battle, I can special summon a level 4 or below Elemental HERO. Say hello to Elemental HERO Clayman! (Atk: 800 – Def: 2000)" Clayman had appeared on the field.
"Since I can't continue attacking I end my turn." Alexis ends her turn.
Hand 4
"Now it's my turn. I draw!" Red Hat draws.
Hand 6
"I play the spell card Graceful Charity! I draw three cards then discard two. (Discards Zaborg the Thunder Monarch and Tsukuyomi) I summon Breaker the Magical Warrior in attack mode! (Atk: 1600 – 1900 – Def: 1000) Now his effect, when he's summoned he gets a spell counter to boost his attack points by 300. I'll use the spell counter to destroy your Black Pendant! (Atk: 1900 – 1600 – Def: 1000)" The Spellcaster warrior's sword glowed with a blue light and he fired a slash of energy destroying the spell card. (Atk: 1900 – 1400 – Def: 1100)
"Black Pendant effect activates! When this card is sent from the field to the graveyard, you take 500 points of damage!" Red Hat was covered in a purple aura.
Jaden & Red Hat: 7900 – 7400 LP
"I banish Zaborg and Tsukuyomi, to special summon Chaos Sorcerer! (Atk: 2300 – Def: 2000)" Purple flames appeared on the field, as soon as they dissipated the Chaos Sorcerer had appeared on the field. "I play the spell, Smashing Ground! With this I destroy your Command Knight!" A giant fist fell from the sky and hit the female knight. "Breaker, attack Masked Dragon!" The spellcaster warrior attacked the dragon, destroying it.
Nightshroud & Alexis: 7900 – 7700 LP
"Now Chaos Sorcerer, launch a direct attack!" The chaos sorcerer generated a ball of purple flame in his hands which he launched at Alexis.
Nightshroud & Alexis: 7700 – 5400 LP
"I'll end my turn." Red Hat ends his turn.
Hand 3
"It's my turn now. I draw!" Nightshroud draws.
Hand 6
"I play Pot of Greed to draw two cards. I summon Red Eyes Black Chick! (Atk: 800 – Def: 500) Now I use Chick's ability! By sending him to the graveyard, I'm allowed to special summon from my hand, his daddy. Red-Eyes Black Dragon! (Atk: 2400 – Def: 2000)" A serpentine dragon rise from the lava and flew around in the air. The dragon roared as it passed in front of Syrus and Chumley's orb, surprising them enough to fall over. The serpentine dragon passed Blair's orb causing her to duck down covering herself. Finally, it crashed into the platform.
Jaden gasped seeing the appeared dragon.
"A Red-Eyes deck? I wasn't expecting this one at all." Red Hat commented upon seeing the dragon.
"The surprises aren't over yet. I play the spell card Inferno Fire Blast! You now take damage equal to Red-Eyes' attack points!" The dragon launched a red ball of flame that bypassed the opposing monsters on the field and hit Red Hat directly.
Jaden & Red Hat: 7400 – 5000 LP
"Argh!" Red Hat shouted as the explosion caused him to skid across the platform.
"I play the spell card Lightning Vortex! I discard one card to destroy all of your face-up monsters." Black clouds formed above the field, from which a shower of lightning fell, eliminating all of Jaden and Red Hat's monsters. "Now I play the spell Monster Reborn! I special summon Mirage Dragon I discarded now. (Atk: 1600 – Def: 600) Now Mirage Dragon, attack him directly!" The dragon raised its head and fired a multicolored blast of light at Red Hat.
Jaden & Red Hat: 5000 – 3400 LP
The attack created an explosion that knocked Red Hat to the ground, as he tried to get up with his hand on his sore chest.
"Red Hat!" Jaden called worried about his friend.
"Oh no, Red Hat!" Blair called out worriedly, seeing her state from all the damage from the attacks she received.
Red Hat tried to get back on his feet, despite the pain he felt.
"Hahaha. Come on, get back on your feet, so I can have some more fun." Nightshroud teased him.
"If you think this is enough to beat me, then you're wrong!" Red Hat responded as he got back to his feet.
"Hm. Let's see how long you can last then? I'll set a card facedown and end my turn." Nightshroud ends his turn.
Hand 0
"Alright my turn. I draw!" Jaden draws.
Hand 5
"I play the spell Graceful Charity. I draw three cards then discard two. Then I activate The Warrior Returning alive! Wildheart in my graveyard return in my hand." The card in question come out of the duel disk's graveyard slot. "I activate, Polymerization. I fuse Wildheart and Bladedge in my hand, to create, Elemental HERO Wildedge! (Atk: 2600 – Def: 2300) Now Wildedge, attack Red-Eyes Black Dragon! Scimitar Slash!" Jaden's monster rushed towards the opposing dragon, hitting it with his sword, destroying it.
Nightshroud & Alexis: 5400 – 5200 LP
"And thanks to its effect, Wildedge can attack all your monsters. So Wildedge is ready to charge again, but this time against Mirage Dragon!" The Elemental HERO struck the second dragon with his sword, causing an explosion, that forced their opponents to cover their eyes.
Nightshroud & Alexis: 5200 – 4200 LP
"Now I activate the continuous spell, Mirage of Nightmare. I'll throw down a facedown card and end my turn." Jaden ends his turn.
Hand 0
"It's my turn. I draw!" Alexis draws.
Hand 5
"Hold on a moment!" Jaden interrupted her. "Thanks to Mirage of Nightmare, I can draw until I have four cards in my hand." Then, Jaden draws four cards.
"I activate Pot of Greed to draw two cards. Now I play Reinforcement of the Army! I can add a level 4 or lower warrior-type monster from my deck. I choose, Blade Skater! I play, Polymerization to fuse Etoile Cyber and Blade Skater to fusion summon Cyber Blader! (Atk: 2100 – Def: 800)" Her ace monster appeared on the field. "I activate the quick-play spell, Book of Moon! I choose your Wildedge and change him to facedown defense position. Now I play, Nobleman of Crossout, I destroy your facedown monster and banish it!" A blond man in knight's armor had appeared on the field, who struck Jaden's monster with his sword. "Now Cyber Blader, attack Jaden directly! Whirlwind Rage!"
"Before the attack occurs, I play my facedown card. The quick-play spell, Emergency Provisions! I send Mirage of Nightmare to the graveyard and gain 1000 life points." A green aura appeared around Jaden.
Jaden & Red Hat: 3400 – 4400 LP
"But that doesn't stop Cyber Blader's attack!" Alexis pointed. At that point Cyber Blader spins before kicking Jaden in his chest.
Jaden & Red Hat: 4400 – 2300 LP
"I set one card facedown. I end my turn." Alexis ends her turn.
Hand 0
"Now it's my turn. I draw!" Red Hat draws.
Hand 4
"There's not much I can do now. I can only defend myself for now." Red Hat thought as he looked at the cards in his hand. "I set a monster facedown and set two cards facedown. I end my turn." Red Hat ends his turn.
Hand 1
"Don't tell me you've already given up? Well, that makes the things easy for me. I draw!" Nightshroud draws.
Hand 1
"I activate my facedown card. Call of the Haunted! I special summon from my graveyard, Command Knight! (Atk: 1200 – 1600 – Def: 1900)"
"I activate my trap card! Bottomless Trap Hole!" Red Hat interrupted him. "When you summon a monster with 1500 or more attack points, that monster is destroyed and then banished." A hole open up beneath the female knight, from which she was dragged by a hand that grabbed her and dragged her into the hole before it closed.
"Don't think this is enough to stop me. I activate my facedown card. My second, Call of the Haunted! I summon from the graveyard Red-Eyes Black Dragon! (Atk: 2400 – Def: 2000)" Nightshroud's Red-Eyes Black Dragon had appeared on his side of the field again.
"Your dragon don't scare us at all!" Jaden said.
"I would wait to say it. Because now, Key Keepers, my dragon will become even more terrifying. I sacrifice Red-Eyes Black Dragon to bring out his evolved form!" The dragon dove through the platform and disappeared into the lava pit. "Red-Eyes Darkness Dragon! (Atk: 2400 – Def: 2000)" The lava beggan to bubble and shake violently as another lava dragon emerged from it and flew up in the air. Also, the lava was flowing near both orbs.
Jaden and the others were startled by its appearance, while Red Hat was still observing Nightshroud and his monster.
"Now, for every dragon in my graveyard, Red-Eyes Darkness Dragon gains 300 additional attack points. With four dragons, he will get 1200 attack points! (Atk: 2400 – 3600 – Def: 2000)"
"Now Cyber Blader will attack your monster!" Nightshroud ordered Alexis' monster to attack. Cyber Blader twirls around before kicking the Red Hat monster with his skates.
"You are now completely defenseless." Nightshroud scoffed them.
"I wouldn't be so sure. You see, the monster you destroyed was my Dandylion. And when he is send to the graveyard I get two fluff tokens in defense position on the field. (Atk: 0 – Def: 0)" Red Hat said.
"Tch, In this case, Red-Eyes Darkness Dragon attack his fluff token! Go, Inferno Dark Fire!" The powerfull dragon was surrounded by a dark aura as it opened its maw and let loose a stream of darkened flames and destroyed one of the fluff tokens.
The attack, although it did not damage Jaden and Red Hat's Life Points, caused a large explosion. The Slifer duo tried to resist the blow. Jaden managed to remain standing, but the flames of the attack reached Red Hat, and he ended up on the ground trying to get up despite the pain.
"Red Hat!" Jaden and Blair called Red Hat worried about him.
"I think I've tortured you enough, Key Keeper. So, I end my turn." Nightshroud ends his turn.
Hand 0
"It's my turn. I draw!" Jaden draws.
Hand 5
"I have to do something immediately. Red Hat is exhausted from the last attack, he won't be able to resist for long, as if that wasn't enough we have to hurry up and save our friends, the orbs in which they're locked up won't resist any longer." Jaden thought. "I activate the spell Pot of Greed that allows me to draw two more cards. I set a monster facedown. I'll throw down a facedown card and end my turn." Jaden ends his turn.
Hand 4
"Very good, it's time to end this. It's my turn. I draw!" Alexis draws.
Hand 1
"I play another spell Pot of Greed and draw two cards. I summon Command Knight in attack mode! (Atk: 1200 – Def: 1900) And as you will remember thanks to her on the field, all my warrior monsters receive 400 extra attack points. (Atk: 2100 – 2500 – Def: 800) (Atk: 1200 – 1600 – Def: 1900) Now Battle!" Alexis said, but Jaden interrupted her.
"Wait a minute, Alexis! I activate a trap card! Threatening Roar! Now for this turn you can't attack! And I'll chain it with the facedown card that Red Hat leaved on the field. The trap, Raigeki Break! I discard one card from my hand and destroy Cyber Blader!" A storm of lightning erupted from the trap card and was launched at Alexis' monster.
"Don't count on it too much, Jaden!" Alexis said. "I activate the quick-play spell, De-Fusion! Cyber Blader return in my extra-deck, and Etoile Cyber and Blade Skater return in its place! (Atk: 1200 – 1600 – Def: 1600) (Atk: 1400 – 1800 – Def: 1500)" Alexis' ace monster split into the two monsters that formed her that appeared on the field.
"You may have avoided the trap card, but you can't attack this turn." Jaden reminded her.
Alexis frowned. "I end my turn." She ended her turn.
Hand 0
Jaden ended up kneeling on his leg out of exhaustion.
Nightshroud laughed at the state of his opponents. "What's going on Key Keepers? You two can't get up anymore?" Why don't you give up, you're just delaying the inevitable."
Meanwhile, away from the shadow duel, Zane was standing next to the lighthouse by himself, gazing out at the sea. He then felt a light shaking on his chest. He reached down and grabbed the cause of the shaking, his spirit key. His eyes moved toward the volcano behind the academy. "Hm, There's something amiss. A Shadow Rider. I don't understand why, but I have a bad feeling about it. This key's is telling me…one is close but something is strange."
At the Ra dorm, Bastion was in his room, typing on his computer, until he felt his spirit key go off. "The spirit gate key! It's shaking!"
At the Slifer dorm, Chazz was trying to sleep, but was bothered by Ojama Yellow who were dancing in front of his face. "Stop dancing!"
"Sorry Boss. Just trying to keep rhythm with that spirit key."
Chazz sat up, making the yellow spirit fly off. "Actually, what is that trembling?" He grabbed his key, feeling it's vibration.
At the Obelisk dorm, on the other hand, Crowler wasn't disturbed by his key. He was still sleeping peacefully in his room, in his large bed, with a sleep mask and a nightcap.
Sheppard was sitting in his office, and was worried about the decision he made. "What were you thinking, Sheppard? Getting your students involved in a battle with such stakes? But then, what other choice did you have? After all, if those Shadow Riders get hold of those three Sacred Beast cards..." He lifted his head from his desk, a solemn look on his face. "They'll be destroyed no matter what. We all will."
Back at the vulcano, Jaden and Red Hat were trying to get up.
"I repeat, it is better for you two to give up. After all, I said it from the beginning, that my defeat could not happen. And in the state you are in, I don't think you will be able to continue the duel." Nightshroud scoffed them as he began to laugh.
"Master Nightshroud is right. He and I make a very strong team together, and our victory is certain." Alexis added.
Meanwhile, Syrus, Chumley and Blair could watch the duel unfold inside the orbs they were locked in, scared of what their friends' situation was like, as the lava rose higher and higher.
"Please, Jaden! You have to get up!" Syrus shouted in a state of fear.
"Guys, Help us!" Chumley shouted.
Blair was shaking, she was on the verge of crying from the fear she felt. "I have fear! Jaden, Red Hat! Please help me!" She cried out.
At that point Jaden was able to get back to his feet, while Red Hat was still trying.
"If you think I'm standing by while my friends are in danger, you are sorely mistaken." Jaden said.
"Well, it seems you still have the energy. But the same can't be said about your partner." Nightshroud replied pointing to Red Hat.
"Red Hat?" Jaden turned to Red Hat who was trying to get up.
"Apparently he can't continue. And the situation for your friends isn't the best either." Nightshroud said indicating that the lava was still rising towards the orbs. Red Hat raised his head, looking at the orbs where Blair was locked. He saw that she was on her knees scared, crying. "It's a real shame, I would have liked to have fun with him again in front of your friends, but it seems I'll have to do without it. But maybe I could have fun with 'him' instead of you." Nightshroud said pointing at Blair starting to laugh.
Hearing those words, Red Hat felt nothing but the anger within him rise as he glared at Nightshroud.
"Red Hat?" Jaden saw his partner getting himself together with his head down.
"I will protect Blair... I will save her no matter what." Red Hat muttered while no one heard him. "Nightshroud, I'll make you pay for this!" Red Hat said turning to Nightshroud with a look full of anger as a black and white aura began to exit his body.
"Hahaha, yes, that's what I wanted to see, your expression of anger. Come on, let out all your anger, because this will be your downfall that will lead to your destruction." Nightshroud replied amusedly mocked Red Hat.
"You're wrong, Nightshroud! The destroyed one... will be you!" Red Hat shouted as the black and white aura came out more from his body.
"But what is that?" Nightshroud wondered in confusion.
"Red Hat, what's happening to you?" Jaden wondered about his friend's condition. When suddenly something came back to him. "Wait a minute. The same thing happened when we had the duel with the Gravekeeper's Chief."
At that moment Aussa and Hiita also appeared in the form of spirits.
"It's not good at all." Aussa said worriedly.
"Yeah, you can say that." Hiita replied.
"His power is out of control, and even greater than last time." Aussa said.
"So what should we do?" Hiita asked.
"We really can't do anything now. We can only wait for him to recover and come to his senses after this duel." Aussa explained before giving a worried look to Red Hat.
Hiita noticed her friend's concern, and approached her. "Hey, don't worry. He's a tough guy, I'm sure he'll come to his senses in no time."
"Yes, you're right." Aussa replied before turning back to Red Hat. "Please don't let the darkness within you take control." She said to herself hurriedly before she and Hiita disappeared.
"IT'S MY TURN! I DRAW!" Red Hat draws with a great rage.
Hand 2
"I set one card facedown. Then, I switch the facedown monster in attack mode. Morphing Jar! (Atk: 700 – Def: 600) Morphing Jar flip effect acitvates. When its flipped we both discards all the cards we have in hand, then we draw five cards." Red Hat discards the last card in his hand, while Alexis discards nothing, since she has no cards left in her hands, then they both draw five new cards. "I activate my facedown card. Pot of Greed and draw two cards. I tribute Morphing Jar and the last fluff token to summon Dark Magician of Chaos in attack mode! (Atk: 2800 – Def: 2600)" The chaos spellcaster had appeared on the field. "When he is summoned I get a spell card from my graveyard. I choose Pot of Greed, that I'll activate again to draw two other cards." Red Hat draws two cards.
"With the moves you're making, you won't be able to beat us." Alexis said.
Red Hat ignored her comment. "I banish Magical Merchant and Breaker the Magical Warrior, to special summon Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning! (Atk: 3000 – Def: 2500)" The chaos warrior appeared on the field.
"I admit it's impressive that you have such a strong monster, but even with him you can't hope to beat me." Nightshroud mocked him.
"I'm not done yet! I banish Elemental HERO Sparkman and Chaos Sorcerer from the graveyard, to special summon this card!" Sparkman was ejected from the graveyard slot of the duel disk of Jaden's, while Chaos Sorcerer was ejected by Red Hat duel disk, both of them puts the card in their pocket. At that moment black clouds formed above in the sky, lightning fell on the field. "Mighty dragon from the hells, destroy everything in your path, bring chaos to this world and lead me to victory! I summon you, Chaos Emperor Dragon - Envoy of the End! (Atk: 3000 – Def: 2500)" A purple bolt of lightning fell from the sky and hit the field, creating a large curtain of smoke. From the smoke, the silhouette of a large dragon could be seen, with large wings, a tail that snaked, and glowing red eyes. When the smoke disappeared, everyone could see the great chaos dragon on the field, and it let out a loud, mighty roar.
Jaden and Alexis were taken aback at the sight of the dragon.
"What?! It can't be real?! How is it possible that you own this dragon?!" Nightshroud asked in shock.
"I promised myself in the past that I would never use this dragon again." Red Hat said as he looked at Chaos Emperor Dragon before turning his angry gaze to Nightshroud. "But for what you did, I'm willing to break that promise to make you pay!" Red Hat shouted with venom in his words. "I activate the effect of Chaos Emperor Dragon! I pay 1000 life points, all the cards we have on the field and we have in our hand are sends to the graveyard, and you take 300 points of damage for each card sent to the graveyard by this effect! You have five cards on the field and five in your hand. While I have three cards on the field and six in your hand. That's nineteen cards in total, but Dark Magician of Chaos is banished when it leaves the field. So you take 5400 points of damage!" Red Hat explained.
"WHAT?!" Nightshroud shouted.
"Destroy everything, Chaos Emperor Dragon! Get rid of Nightshroud! ETERNAL CHAOS FLAME!" The chaos dragon launched a powerful flame from its mouth, that destroyed all the monsters on both of their sides of the fields and also destroyed all the cards they had in their hands, the flames then directed towards Nightshroud, taking away all his remaining life points.
Nightshroud & Alexis: 4200 – 0 LP
Nightshroud grabbed his head and screamed as he was engulfed in a ring of fire. When Nightshroud fell over, so did Jaden and Red Hat. " Sy... Chumley...! " Jaden muttered before he collapsed.
"Jaden... Blair...!" Red Hat muttered while he was trying to approach to them before he collapsed too then both were engulfed in flames as well. And then, everything went black.
Times 5:00
When everything was clear again, they were outside the base of the volcano.
"What the?!" Chumley exclaimed when he looked around.
"We're alive! We're alive!" Syrus stated before he and Chumley saw Alexis was starting to wake up.
"What... what happened?" Alexis asked. When she tried to get up due to the pain she fell to her knees. "Ow! It hurts all over."
"Don't you remember the duel?" Syrus asked.
"The... duel?" Alexis then remembered what had happened. "Now I remember everything. I lost to a shadow rider, Nightshroud! After the duel he brainwashed me after that and then... he made me duel against... Jaden and Red Hat."
"Thank goodness everything went well. They defeated that shadow rider, and they saved us, that's what matters." Chumley said.
"But where are they?" Alexis asked as she looked around before finding Jaden unconscious and battered. The three of them rushed over to him.
"Jaden! Jaden!" Syrus called him.
"Wake up! Please!" Chumley begged.
"He's not moving. Come on, Jay." Cyrus try to wake him.
"Sy, he's fine!" Alexis assured, checking his pulse. "Tired maybe, but who could blame him. But he's fine."
Away from them she spotted Blair and Red Hat, with him trying to get back on his feet despite the injuries he had. Needless to say, he collapsed on his legs from the effort. "Stubborn as usual. But I can't say anything about that, after all he's reduced himself to that state dueling against the shadow rider." Alexis thought.
Meanwhile, Red Hat was still trying to get back on its feet. "Red Hat you have to stop! With those wounds you can't stand up, you have to go to the infirmary immediately!" Blair exclaimed worried for him as she tried to make him stay still.
"Two scratches like these certainly won't stop me." Red Hat replied. "Also, I wanted to apologize for putting you in danger during the duel, and for seeing me lose control." He added.
"Are you kidding? You and Jaden saved me. You saved us all, you have nothing to apologize for. But now, please, you need to go to the infirmary to have your wounds treated." Blair pleaded.
"Okay, I'll try to leave and get my injuries checked out, but you need to go back to the dorm right away." Red Hat replied.
"Why?"
"There are too many people here, if you stay you risk having your true identity discovered." Red Hat explained. Blair was hesitant to leave her partner in that condition, but eventually she understood what he meant, she went back to the dorm without anyone noticing.
"Jaden! Red Hat! Hold on! We're coming!" Bastion called out, as he, Chazz and Zane rushed towards the base of the volcano.
"What happened?!" Chazz asked.
"One of the Shadow Riders challenged Jaden and Red Hat to a duel." Syrus explained.
"So, what happened? Did they win?" Chazz asked.
"They sure did, Chazz." Chumley replied. "It was a tough duel, especially for Red Hat, he was the one who came out worst with the most injuries."
Bastion noticed Red Hat who was injured trying to stand. "Red Hat! You're hurt, wait, you need help!" Bastion said placing Red Hat's arm around his shoulders to help him stand.
"Thank you, Bastion." Red Hat thanked him, as the two of them both approached the rest of the group.
Zane then approached Alexis noticing that she was also injured and also noticed that she no longer had her Spirit key. "Alexis, what happened? Where is your Spirit Key?" Zane asked.
"I lost my key, Zane. Nightshroud challenged me to a duel and I lost. To make matters it worse, after defeating me he brainwashed me and used me to duel Jaden and Red Hat to get their Spirit Keys." Alexis explained with a defeated tone in her voice.
Zane put his hand on Alexis' shoulder. "Alexis, it's not your fault. None of us could have known what we were fighting, it could have happened to any of us." Zane said. After he and Alexis approached the Shadow Rider who had collapsed on the ground. "So is that him? The Shadow Rider?" Zane asked. At that moment the Shadow Rider began to stir, opened one eye and looked them straight in the eyes.
"A-Alexis... Z-Zane..."
Alexis gasped. "It can't be!" She said as she was shaking. She falled near the Shadow Rider and started to crying and hugging him. "It's him, Zane! It's him!" Alexis said with tears streaming down her cheecks. "I-I don't understand how, but... it's him! I-I thought I lost him but he's back! He's finally back! Look at his face, Zane! He's my brother!"
Zane widened his eyes in shock as he got a look on the shadow rider's face. "Atticus?"
The entire group gathered among them, Alexis explained. "It wasn't him before, but that card took away whatever darkness washolding him. He's back now!" It was then the sun began to rise.
"And if this is how it is after you win a duel, just think what it's like when you lose." Zane said. "The sun may be coming up now, but night will fall again soon, and when it does, we must be ready."
Red Hat's expression was serious at that moment. "By now it's clear that if you lose in the shadow game, the Shadow Riders will brainwash you, so it means that we might end up fighting against our own friends. Even if the next Shadow Riders are stronger it doesn't matter. I will defeat all of them." Red Hat thought as he looked at his Spirit Key around his neck. "Now I have something to protect, and people to protect too." He repeated in his head thinking about Jaden, Blair and the rest of the group. Before his mind went back to the duel when he lost control. "And then I have to figure out what happened to me before, I seemed to have completely lost control of myself. Maybe... maybe I should ask Aussa and Hiita." Red Hat wondered, who in the end also fainted like Jaden due to too much effort and his injuries.
Here is the new chapter. Jaden and Red Hat's first duel against the first of the Shadow Riders, Nightshroud. As I said in the last chapter, in the Shadow Riders arc in this story, they will have the same partners they had in Tag Force 1. That's why instead of losing her soul like the series said, Alexis was brainwashed. Moving on, as you may have noticed Red Hat had Chaos Emperor Dragon. I had waited patiently to get to this chapter because I had thought for some time that it would be the right time to show that he had that card. Going further I'll see if I can insert the yata-lock with his chaos deck in the future duels. As you may have seen, Red Hat used that power again that he had used previously in the tag duel he had with Jaden against the Gravekeeper's Chief, when he saw Blair in danger. When Nightshroud kidnapped Syrus and Chumley in the series to force Jaden to duel him, I thought of doing the same with Blair to further highlight the bond that she and Red Hat have. That's why Red Hat went on a rampage, and manifested that power against Nightshroud. Red Hat will find something about the power it possesses in the next chapter, and you will also find out what its name is. That's all for this chapter. If you have any suggestions or want to tell me what you think let me know in the comments below. See you next time.
Let's move on to the comments.
LoliSupremeKing: Thanks for pointing out the mistake I made in the last chapter.