Jaden was still trying to find his way back to the main campus when he stumbled onto a pile of magazines. "This has to be a good sign, right? I mean who leaves magazines in the middle of nowhere?" he asked him as he checked them and saw they were from before Zane lost to Aster.
"Man, Aster really did a number on Zane during that duel. Eh, I'm sure he's bounced back and has been winning all his duels since I left," he assured himself as he continued on. Meanwhile, Syrus was sitting in the Slifer Dorm reading the most recent issue of Duel Magazine, which revealed the truth of Zane's performance in the leagues.
"Rising Star Zane Truesdale continues losing streak, falling to the minor leagues. I hope you're doing okay, Zane," Syrus hoped while Hassleberry and Bastion watched from the door. "Man, I've never seen him so down," Hassleberry noted, and Bastion said he would be despressed if his brother hit rock bottom like Zane had.
"And if Zane were my brother, I'd change my name. But there's still hope for him. Salvation lies in the Society of Light. Care to join?" Chazz asked, but before Bastion and Hassleberry could refuse, Alexis walked up and smacked Chazz upside the head before she went in and took the magazine away from Syrus.
"Don't worry Sy. I'm sure Zane will bounce back. After all, if we don't believe in him, who will?" she asked, Bastion saying she was right. "Yeah. Besides, his opponent tonight is a joke, so he'll win for sure. If not, I guess his career really is over," Hassleberry jested. That night, the few spectators in the arena were mocking Zane as he was losing to his lowest ranked opponent yet. His opponent ordered his Magical Scientist to attack directly, the monster sending a barrage on sonic waves at Zane.
Zane: 0 LP
"Yet another loss for Zane Truesdale. I think it's safe to say that his career is officially over," Jean commented. Zane exited the arena with his head angled to the floor as the spectators jeered at him, telling him he should just quit already. He began walking through the halls to leave, remembering the conversation he had with his sponsor.
Flashback
"I'm sorry Zane, but I'm afraid my company can't afford to back a failure. I'm terminating your contract," the man informed, and Zane said he understood.
End Flashback
Zane wondered how this could be happening to him, and down the hall, someone said it was quite a duel he had just fought. Zane turned to face the person who spoke and saw a man wearing a black cloak and a top hat. "In fact, I heard it may have been your last one," the man said, and Zane asked who was saying that.
"Various members of the press, but hey, who reads the papers or watches TV these days?" the man asked sarcastically, and Zane told him that if knew what was good for him, he'd scram. "My apologies, allow me to start over. My name is Mr. Shroud, and I represent someone who wants to help you achieve greatness again," the man informed.
Zane asked who that was, and Shroud said his client wanted to remain anonymous before asking Zane if he was interested. Zane figured it couldn't hurt and asked Shroud what he had in mind. "Well for starters, we're gonna have to work our way from the bottom and build you back up. Tell me, have you ever heard of the underground dueling circuit?" Shroud asked, and Zane said he had heard about it.
An unofficial dueling circuit where duelists were thrown into a cage to fight like animals, declining Shroud's offer. "I know it has a bad reputation, but believe me, the underground circuit has its advantages. If you want to salvage your career, I suggest you reconsider. Zane realized that he had few alternatives and agreed.
The next night, Shroud led Zane to an old building, the two entering the basement of the building, numerous spectators in masks seated at tables around a large metal cage. "Attention spectators. Tonight's duel will be a steel cage match, no holds barred and no means of escape. First up, we have the undefeated cage match king with twenty straight victories, Mad Dog!" the announcer introduced as a large burly man covered in scars walked into the arena.
"And his opponent, former pro league star, Zane Truesdale," the announcer continued as Zane stepped up, thinking that the underground didn't seem as bad as he thought. Pairs of men entered the ring and strapped metal clamps to Zane and Mad Dog. "Don't mind those. They just make the duel a bit more electrifying. By the way, you can't leave the cage until one of you wins the duel," Shroud informed. "Let's get started, pro league loser. Just remember, down here no one cares who you are," Mad Dog taunted. The two activated their duel disks and started the show.
Mad Dog: 4000 LP
Zane: 4000 LP
"I'll go first. I summon Acid Slime in defense mode," Mad Dog declared.
Level 3/Water/Aqua
ATK 800/DEF 1000
He then placed a single face-down and ended his turn. "My move. I'll place one card face-down and activate Different Dimension Capsule, so I select one card in my deck and banish it, and then in two turns, I can add that card to my hand. Next, I special summon Cyber Dragon in attack mode!" Zane declared.
Level 5/Light/Machine
ATK 2100/DEF 1600
"So that's your famous Cyber Dragon?" Mad Dog asked. Zane contemplated whether or not he should attack, knowing that Acid Slime deals 800 damage to the opponent when it's destroyed in battle. "Feeling scared? You should be. I play the trap Last Machine Acid Virus! By sacrificing my water attribute Acid Slime, this trap activates, destroying all machine type monsters on your field, in your hand, and that you draw for the next three turns, so Cyber Dragon is destroyed," Mad Dog explained before Cyber Dragon turned to rust before it exploded.
"One more thing, you take 500 points of damage for every card destroyed by this effect," Mad Dog informed as the clamps on Zane flashed for a moment before they delivered a powerful electric shock to his body.
Zane: 3500 LP
Zane asked what happened, and Shroud explained that in an underground duel, every time a player loses life points, the electrodes give an electric shock before asking Zane if he thought it made the duel more interesting. "This is twisted Shroud, and I won't be a part of it. Let me out of here now!" Zane demanded.
"Really Zane? After all, isn't this what you wanted? A sold-out arena and people watching you in excitement. Besides, where else can you duel right now? If you can't make it here, then you can't really make it anywhere, can you? So I suggest you fight for all you're worth," Shroud advised, and Zane ended his turn.
"I draw. First, I play the spell Contingency Fee. You have to draw until you have six cards in your hand, but then I gain 1000 life points for every card you draw. Since you're only holding three, draw three more," Mad Dog explained.
Mad Dog: 7000 LP
Mad Dog pointed that since the effect of Acid Virus trap was still in play, Zane had to show him every card he drew, but when Zane showed him the cards he had drawn, there were no monster cards among them. "Pity. Let's try again. I activate Card Destruction, so we both discard our entire hands and draw equal to the numbers of cards we discarded, so I draw three, and you draw six," Mad Dog said.
Zane drew his cards and revealed them, showing his Cyber Kirin, Cyber Phoenix, Cyber Barrier Dragon, and Cyber Laser Dragon. "The effect of Acid Virus activates, destroying your monsters and dealing you 2000 points of damage!" Mad Dog shouted as Zane's monsters turned to rust before exploding.
Zane: 1500 LP
"Next, I activate Pot of Greed, allowing me to draw two more cards. And now I summon Clone Slime in defense mode."
Level 2/Water/Aqua
ATK 0/DEF 0
Mad Dog then placed two cards face-down and ended his turn. Zane started his turn, realizing that at this point, Acid Virus only destroys the cards he draws. "I play Future Fusion! I send my two Cyber Dragons from my deck to my graveyard, which means I can fuse them to summon Cyber Twin Dragon," Zane explained, but Mad Dog revealed one of his face-downs.
"I play the counter trap Jammer Slime. By sending a slime monster from my hand to the graveyard, I can negate and destroy your spell card, so you aren't summoning anything," Mad Dog taunted as a ball of slime launched from his trap, destroying Future Fusion. "And since the card I discarded was Draw Slime, I can draw a card from my deck," he explained.
Zane groaned in anger, and Mad Dog just chuckled. "If you want to summon a monster so badly, I guess I can give you a hand. I play the trap Despised Reality. Now you can choose whether or not you want to summon a level four or lower monster from your deck. If you do, I can draw two cards, but if you don't, I lose 1000 life points at the end of this turn," Mad Dog explained. Zane was sure he could win if he summoned Cyber End Dragon, so he opted to summon his Proto-Cyber Dragon.
Level 3/Light/Machine
ATK 1100/DEF 600
"As long as this card is face-up on my field, its name is treated as Cyber Dragon," Zane explained, and Mad Dog pointed out that since Zane summoned a monster, he could draw two cards. Zane ordered Proto-Cyber to attack Clone Slime, but Mad Dog activated Clone Slime's effect, explaining that when it's attack, it can swap itself with a slime monster in his graveyard and make it the new attack target, exchanging his monster for Acid Slime. Proto-Cyber Dragon launched a beam of energy at Acid Slime, causing the monster to burst, splashing Zane and burning part of his uniform.
Zane: 700 LP
Zane ended his turn and Mad Dog drew before activating his Slime Base spell, explaining that he could special summon a slime monster from his hand, such as his Multiple Slime.
Level 6/Water/Aqua
ATK 1500/DEF 2000
Mad Dog his monster to attack, and Multiple Slime fired a ball of slime that covered Proto-Cyber before destroying it.
Zane: 300 LP
Mad Dog then set two face-downs and ended his turn. "This is it Zane. Nowhere to go from here but up," Shroud encouraged, but Zane said he wanted out before demanding Shroud open the cage. "The only way out is to win Zane. I believe I made that clear," Shroud reminded, but Zane said he couldn't win. "If I draw a machine monster, I lose. But if I don't draw a monster, his Multiple Slime can attack me directly and finish me. I've just been trying to duel the way I always have, but-" Zane began to say, but Shroud said that maybe it was time for Zane to change the way he duels.
Zane said he always respected his opponent, and Shroud asked Zane where that had gotten him before saying his career was practically finished and that he was alone. "Do it Zane. Show him and the world what you can really do," Shroud encouraged, and Mad Dog told him to just get on with it.
"Fine. I draw! Since it's my second standby phase, the card I banished with my Different Dimension Capsule returns to my hand. Next, I play Cybernetic Fusion Support. By paying half my life points, I can banish materials from my hand, field, or graveyard to fusion summon this turn," Zane explained.
Zane: 150 LP
"And now I activate Power Bond. I banish the three Cyber Dragons in my grave to summon Cyber End Dragon!"
Level 10/Light/Machine
ATK 4000/DEF 2800
"Due to Power Bond's effect, its attack doubles."
Cyber End: 4000-8000 ATK
"Of course, at the end of this turn, I'll take damage equal to Cyber End's original attack points. But I won't have to worry about that, because I'm finishing you now!" Zane assured, but Mad Dog revealed his Slime Ball trap, explaining that with it, he could destroy Cyber End Dragon and add its attack points to his life points.
Mad Dog: 15000 LP
"No. I won't lose! No matter what it takes, I will win! I play the continuous trap Call of the Haunted! With it, I summon Proto-Cyber Dragon from my graveyard in attack mode. Now, I play the spell Overload Fusion! This card lets me summon a machine type fusion monster by banishing materials from my field or graveyard, and I choose my Chimeratech Overdragon!" Zane exclaimed, much to Mad Dog's shock.
"To summon this monster, I need Cyber Dragon and at least one other machine type monster. I banish Proto-Cyber from my field and every monster in my graveyard to summon Chimeratech Overdragon!"
Level 9/Dark/Machine
ATK ?/DEF ?
"The attack and defense of this monster are equal to the number of its fusion materials I used to summon it times 800, and I used six monsters as material," Zane informed as six mechanical dragon heads came out of the core of his monster.
Overdragon: ?-4800 ATK
"Chimeratech Overdragon, destroy Multiple Slime! Evolution Result Burst!" Zane ordered before Chimeratech fired an energy blast from one of its mouths, ripping through Multiple Slime.
Mad Dog: 11700 LP
Mad Dog explained that when Multiple Slime is destroyed in battle, it leaves behind three slime tokens in attack mode.
Level 1/Water/Aqua
ATK 500/DEF 500
"And now I activate my face-down Trap Trip, which will return Last Machine Acid Virus to my hand," Mad Dog informed. "I'll admit that card's given me some trouble this duel, which is why I won't be letting you activate it again. You see, Overdragon can attack a number of times each turn up to the number of monsters I fused to summon it, meaning it can attack five more times! Go, Quintuple Evolution Result Burst!" Zane shouted as five of Overdragon's heads charged energy in their mouths before firing it on Mad Dog, rendering him unconscious and tearing the cage wall behind him wide open.
Mad Dog: 0 LP
Winner: Zane
"It's done. Zane has been reborn," Shroud exclaimed to himself. One of the spectators, someone wearing a black mask that covered their entire face, clapped their hands and walked towards the cage, congratulating Zane on his duel. Zane assumed the person was his anonymous benefactor, and the person confirmed they were, although Zane knew them as someone else before taking off their mask.
"Michael? Is that really you?" Zane asked, and sure enough, the man he was looking at was his former classmate. Zane asked why Michael did this, and he told Zane that the Light had arrived, and they needed all the help they could get. "You had lost your way after losing to Aster, and when I heard that the Society of Light had set their sights on you, I knew I had to get to you first. And as for why the duel, respecting our opponents isn't something we can afford to do. We have to hit them with everything we've got. For now, return to the pro leagues. I'll contact you when we're ready for the next stage," Michael informed as he tossed Zane a business card, explaining his parent's company would sponsor him for now.
The next day, Zane had returned to the pros and was tearing up the league. "And it's a flawless victory for Zane Truesdale! I'm telling you folks; this pro is dueling like a man possessed! Could the secret to his success be his edgy new wardrobe? All I know is Zane Truesdale is back on top!" Jean exclaimed.
In Chazz's dorm room, everyone had been watching the duel and were surprised by Zane's ferocity. "I know my brother, and he would never duel like that. Whoever he is, he's not Zane," Syrus thought to himself, worried about Zane.
So yeah, when I was writing this chapter, I decided pretty immediately I would use the original version of Mad Dog's character and not the dub version. Sorry if you were expecting it, but I could not stand to write that ridiculous persona.