Doomsday Duel

*Inside a dark cave at night...*

Seven shadowy figures were gathered together.

"Our enemies have been tested...our allies are in place...the hour is upon us!" A voice said, delightfully. "It's time to cover the world in shadow! Which among you will lead us to battle?" A dark voice asks.

"I will go master." A male voice said.

"Nightshroud. So be it. You will go first." The voice declared.

"I will not fail." Nightshroud boasted. "Academy's prize will be ours."

*Meanwhile at Duel Academy...*

Rain poured down as a big storm hit the island.

In his office, Chancellor Sheppard was looking out at the storm when he noticed a dark object flying across the sky.

"And so it begins. The fight. The war." Sheppard declared, frowning.

Landing at the base of a volcano, Nightshroud looks out at the island and a small light shines around his neck. The other half of the medallion Jaden obtained from Gravekeeper's Chief.

He wasn't aware Jaden's half glowed in response.

*The next morning...*

Banner was teaching them about Alchemy.

"Oh yeah, time to get up." Jaden stretched.

"For the next class?" Syrus assumed, looking away from his PDA.

"No for lunch. The one class I'm great at." Jaden pulled out and opened up his lunchbox.

"Just a moment Jaden." Banner said, looking up. "I'm afraid your lunch needs to wait. Chancellor Sheppard wants to see you."

"Huh?" Jaden was confused.

Chumley leaned forward behind Jaden.

"Jaden I'll watch your lunch for you especially if you have any grilled cheese." Chumley offered.

"Ha you wish." Jaden laughed slightly.

"Chancellor Sheppard?" Syrus asked, looking at his best friend. "Jaden, what did you do?"

"Maybe it's good news, like an award." Jaden guessed.

Chazz then got up from his seat.

"It's never good news when you head to Sheppard's office!" He mocked. "You are so busted!"

"Actually Chazz he wants see you too." Banner cut Chazz off. "As well as three others. Bastion, Ryan and Alexis."

Confused the 5 look at each other not sure what was going on.

"What does Chancellor Sheppard want to see us for?" Ryan asked.

"This doesn't sound good." Jaden stated.

The five were led down to Chancellor Sheppard's office.

"We're not gonna make a run for it. You don't have to escort us." Jaden said.

"Yes I do, besides he wants to see me as well." Banner nodded.

They reached Sheppard's office just as two others arrived. It was Crowler and Zane.

"Look at this compilation of students. Some of the best students in the school. Uh oh one of these is not like the others. Clearly someone here is a little bit lost." Crowler said.

"Jaden's not lost." Davis corrected him after walking down the hall with his siblings.

All eleven entered Chancellor Sheppard's office and stood there for several hours.

"3 Sacred what cards?!" Jaden said in shock.

"Beasts." Sheppard turned away from the window and looked at him. "And due to their colossal power, their immense might, they were hidden here."

"Just how powerful are these cards?" Ryan asked.

"End of the world powerful." Sheppard said.

"So where are these cards? Under someone's mattress or in a cookie jar?" Jaden asked.

"Would you mind letting the Chancellor finish." Davis advised.

"They're actually closer than you might think. Right below you. You see this academy was built to protect the sacred beast cards they were buried deep underground sealed safely away after all, should these cards see the light of day disaster would come our world would be no more." Sheppard declares.

"No more?" Bastion said not liking this.

"Sweet so where are these cards I say we take them out." Jaden suggests.

"Haven't you been listening?!" Crowler snaps.

"Yes the reason the 7 of you are here is to protect these cards from the wicked ones."

"The wicked ones?" Zane asked.

"Yes 7 duelists known as the Shadow Riders who covet these cards and I'm afraid one is already here. He arrived in the thick of last night's storm." Sheppard explains.

"So how do we protect these cards?" Alexis asks.

"By protecting the 7 spirit gates to get to the cards they must unlock them, and to get to the gates they need the keys and here they are. One for each of you to guard." Sheppard said placing a box in front of them.

"Wait if we have the keys won't that make us targets?" Bastion asks.

"It's true with these keys the Shadow Riders will seek you out." Sheppard nods.

"Seek us out, you mean to take us out." Chazz replied.

"Only…in a duel." Sheppard declares surprising them.

"A duel?" Bastion asks.

"It must be a condition associated with the keys. From what it sounds like, they can only be won in a duel." Ryan theorized.

"Exactly." Sheppard nodded. "That's why I've called on some of the school's best duelists to take up this challenge."

"He certainly doesn't mean me." Crowler whispered.

"Of course, if any of you feel like backing out I don't blame you after all these Shadow Riders play for keeps. So who feels like saving the world?" Sheppard asks opening the box and revealing 7 key pendants.

"Count me in." Jaden said taking one and putting it around his neck. "Check it out, it's my size."

"I'm not scared." Ryan took the second one.

"I too accept." Zane said taking one.

"It would be an honor." Bastion said.

"I don't want you boys to have all the fun." Alexis said taking one while Chazz grabs his own.

"Let's make the Shadow Riders regret picking a fight with us." Davis and Kaoru took the last two.

"Nice to know you're doing it for the right reasons kind of." Sheppard said.

"Now I say we have the best duelist go first." Jaden suggests. "So I guess that's me."

"The reality is Zane is the best." Davis replied. "Personally though it doesn't matter who duels first."

"There's no choice this isn't some tournament where you pick who goes first this is war you can be attacked at any moment. So my students be on guard." Sheppard warns.

When everyone left the office, Davis was lost in thought.

"What's up?" Kaoru asked her brother, concerned.

"I get the feeling Jaden is going to be the first that is challenged to a duel."

"If that's true..." Kaoru trailed off. "We need to head to the red dorm, now."

Nodding the two of them ran off to prepare.

That night at the Slifer Red Dorm, Jaden explained everything to Syrus and Chumley.

"And that's the story." Jaden finished.

"Aren't you scared?" Syrus asks.

"No joke creepy shadow guys coming after you so they can take over the world I mean that's intense." Chumley said.

"Not to mention exhausting." Jaden yawns. "Which is why I'm going to hit the hay."

Needless to say Jaden's approach to this was mind-boggling to his roommates.

Little did they know Nightshroud was already at the Slifer Red dorm.

Suddenly inside the room, a bright light flashed and suddenly Winged Kuriboh appeared.

Cooing the little guy tried to wake Jaden.

"Whoa Kuriboh can you keep it down." Jaden opens his eyes to see the light. "Whoa guys wake up Sy come on. Chum you gotta see this." He tries to wake up his friends but they are fast asleep. Confused Jaden looks to see his medallion was glowing.

Davis and Kaoru arrived to the red dorm just in time.

"I was afraid of this."

"What's going on?" Kaoru asked.

"The first duel!"

When the light dies down, the three of them found themselves in the volcano on a clear platform.

"Where were we transported?" Kaoru asked her brother.

"In one really weird dream." Jaden said.

Suddenly out of the lava a dragon made entirely of fire shot out surprising them.

"Or not." Crashing across from them Nightshround emerged.

"What's going on?!" Jaden asked

"You mean you don't know?" Nightshroud asks.

"Call me a slow learner." Jaden said.

"And you can call me Nightshroud." He declares.

"Nightshroud?" Jaden said surprised by that name.

"I'll be the one taking that key from around your neck."

"Wow you guys don't waste time." Jaden said as both of their medallions glowed.

"I didn't say, my friends. I mean your friends! Say hello to Syrus and Chumley!" Nightshroud declares.

"Jaden!"

"Help us!" Down below in a small sphere, Syrus and Chumley were trapped near the lava.

"No!" Jaden gasps.

"Look, just duel me and let them go!" Jaden yells

"I don't think so I need them to ensure a speedy match after all that protection orb they're in, well let's just say it wasn't built to last. Oh and I'm afraid there's more too." Nightshroud holds up a blank card. "For you see your soul is as well which will be sealed in this card when you lose of course if I lose my soul goes into the card but let's be honest me lose? Now then shall we?"

Jaden: 4000

Nightshroud: 4000

"You wanna see game? How's this?" Nightshroud drew. "He's called Troop Dragon and I'll have him defend me and I place a face down." Appearing on the field was a small green dragon wearing armor.

Troop Dragon: 700/ 800

"Not bad." Jaden drew. "But how's he gonna stand against my dragon slayer Elemental Hero Wildheart!" Jaden said summoning his warrior hero with the big sword.

Wildheart: 1500/ 1600

"Wild Heart show him that big bad blade isn't just for show attack!" Leaping up into the air Wildheart slams his sword down on Troop Dragon destroying it.

"Oh right there was something I forgot to mention. When Troop Dragon is sent to the graveyard I can summon another one from my deck." Nightshroud said as another Troop Dragon appeared on the field.

"Hence the name Troop." Jaden said ending his turn.

"And I'm not done." Nightshroud drew. "I play my trap Call of the Haunted to bring back my other Troop Dragon." Using his face down the first Troop Dragon appeared.

"But wait there's more. I sacrifice both my dragons in order to summon…" Nightshroud starts.

"Oh boy." Jaden gulps.

"The Red Eyes Black Dragon!" Bursting out of the lava we see a large black dragon with Red eyes.

Red Eyes: 2400/ 2000

"Red Eyes?" Jaden gasps.

"Now Red Eyes Inferno Fire Blast!" Firing a red breath attack Red Eyes blasts Wildheart and the resulting pain sent Jaden skidding back.

Jaden: 3100

Nightshroud: 4000

"That hurt." Jaden winced.

"That's right and it's about to hurt more Key keeper cause the true pain is about to begin. Come on hurry up and make your move I've got a Doomsday to start." Nightshroud said,

"Jaden!" Syrus yells.

"Doomsday?! I'm too young!" Chumley panics.

"Sorry Nightshroud but the only Doomsday is coming to your monster!" Jaden said drawing to see he got Polymerization. "All right I play Polymerization to fuse Clayman and Burstinatirx to create Rampart Blaster!" Appearing on the field, Jaden's heavy artillery monster appeared.

Rampart Blaster: 2000/ 2500

"And even in defense mode she can still blast you for half her attack points now let him have it!" Jaden said as Rampart fired a barrage of missiles hitting Nightshroud.

Jaden: 3100

Nightshroud: 3000

Growling Nightshroud had a few bruise marks on his cloak. Needless to say, that attack made him angry.

"Okay maybe not so sweet for you." Jaden said.

"Enough!" Nightshroud drew and grinned. "You fool. That blaster doesn't change a thing but this card will. You see Jaden your Blaster can't protect you from my Red Eye's attack."

"Alright I'll bite why not?" Jaden asked.

"Because this time, his attack is an actual card!" Nightshroud said playing the Spell Inferno Fire Blast.

"Look out!" Syrus gasps.

"Not lishious!" Chumley said as Red Eyes blasts Jaden.

Jaden: 700

Nightshroud: 3000

"Nice card huh? It's just like my Red Eye's attack the only difference is it hits you directly." Nightshroud said.

"And even though it can't attack, I still have this. My Attachment Dragon." Nightshroud said summoning a small black dragon.

Attachment Dragon: 100/ 100

"Don't worry he's not the attacking type he's the attachment type show him Dragon." Nightshroud said as his dragon equipped itself to Rampart Blaster and forced it into attack mode.

"With my Rampart in attack mode I can't use her ability!" Jaden gasps.

"Which means no more direct attacks." Nightshroud smirks.

Down below, the orb holding Syrus and Chumley was beginning to fade away.

"Alright my draw!" Jaden drew. 'And from the rate that orb is going, it might be my last chance to save my friends and the world'

"Come on Jay!" Syrus cheers but when he learns on the edge he almost fell through.

"This thing is going gonzo!" Chumley calls out.

"Guys try to hang in there and stop leaning on the edge for crying out loud!" Takeru yells.

"You better get a move on fast. Doesn't sound like they have much time left." Nightshroud smirks.

"With pleasure. I play Pot of Greed which lets me draw two cards." Jaden drew. "Now I play Defusion which separates my monster back into Burstinatrix and Clayman. And with no monster, your attachment dragon is done for." Jaden said as his monsters appeared on his field and Attachment Dragon disappeared.

Burstinatrix: 1200/800

Clayman: 800/2000

"But I'm not done. I play Fusion Sage. This card allows me to add another Polymerization from my deck to my hand. And now I'll use it to fuse Clayman and Burstinatrix again." Jaden said.

"You think your Rampart is gonna save you?" Nightshroud asks.

"I don't plan on summoning Rampart. Say hello to Elemental Hero Gaia."

Elemental Hero Gaia: 2200/2600

"And now I summon Elemental Hero Sparkman!" Jaden said summoning his water hero.

Sparkman: 1600/1400

"Next I use Gaia's ability. I halve the attack of your Red-Eyes and Gaia gains it."

Jaden: 700

Nightshroud: 2200

"Now Sparkman attack Nightshroud directly!" Leaping in Sparkman zaps Nightshroud but he acted like he didn't even feel it.

Jaden: 700

Nightshroud: 600

"Aw come on you're not gonna flinch? How about a wince? Or cringe?" Jaden asks.

"I leave that for my enemies." Nightshroud said.

"Well then it's time to play Mirage of Nightmares. Now when your standby phase comes I get to draw until I have 4 cards."

"Do whatever makes you happy." Nightshroud said.

"Good then I'll play 1 card face down. Your move." Jaden said.

"Fine by me." Nightshroud drew.

"Thanks for that. Because now thanks to Mirage I can draw too." Jaden said.

"Just as long as you send those cards to the grave on your turn." Nightshroud reminds.

"Won't have to. Thanks to Emergency Provisions." Jaden said revealing his face down. "Now by sending Mirage to the grave I gain 1000 life points."

Jaden: 1700

Nighshroud: 1200

"So you avoided one problem I still have a few left. I play Hammer Shot! This card destroys the monster with the highest attack points and that means it's time for your Gaia to go bye-bye!" Nightshroud said as a giant hammer appeared on the field.

"Holey moley!" Syrus said.

"I think that's what he plans on playing." Chumley gulps.

As the giant hammer came down Gaia was crushed.

"And I'm not done yet. Because now that he's gone I can summon my Alexandrite Dragon." Appearing at his side of the field was a mighty dragon that glowed bright with scales made of jewels.

Alexandrite Dragon: 2000/100

"Now attack! Crush his Sparkman!" Nightshroud said as Alexandrite Dragon blasts Sparkman away.

Jaden: 1300

Nightshroud: 1200

"I can't let it end here." Jaden cringed.

"You don't have to. My dragons will." Nightshroud smirks.

"Chum I just want you to know that if we don't make it through this you've been a great friend and I love you." Syrus said.

"Guys! Hurry! Sy's getting all mushy!" Chum said.

Jaden drew. "I summon Elemental Hero Bubbleman!"

Bubbleman 800/1200

"And since he's on the field alone I can draw two more cards." Jaden drew. "And now I play Silent Doom to bring back the monster you just destroyed. Come on back Sparkman." Appearing next to Bubbleman, Sparkman appeared in defense mode. "And now I play the field spell Fusion Gate!"

"Now I fuse Bubbleman, Sparkman and the Avian in my hand in order to summon Elemental Hero Tempest!" As a storm gathered over them Jaden's winged monster appeared.

Elemental Hero Tempest: 2800/2800

"Tempest attack Alexandrite Dragon with Glider Strike!" Flying in Tempest blew up his dragon causing Nightshroud to cringe in pain.

Jaden: 1300

Nightshroud: 400

"There's that cringe I was looking for." Jaden said.

"That was no cringe. I had something in my eye is all. It was a twitch you hear me? A twitch!" Nightshroud glares.

"Call it what you want but right I'm winning this Shadow Duel. And this card will help me do just that." Jaden declares setting a face down.

"Jaden's doing well so far." Davis said.

"But he needs to keep focused." Kaoru said. "This is where the real battle starts."

"Life points don't matter. It's the cards you have that matter." Nightshroud drew. "And this card is gonna make sure I win. I summon Red Eyes Black Chick!"

Appearing on the field was a small black dragon still in his egg.

Red Eyes Black Chick: 800/500

"That's your big card?" Jaden asks.

"When his special ability I will. By sending my chick to the grave I can summon from my hand his daddy. The full grown Red Eyes!" Nightshroud said sacrificing the baby dragon for the adult dragon.

Red Eyes: 2400/2000

"But then again maybe I was wrong. Because some can always get bigger. By sacrificing Red Eyes Black Dragon I can summon the Red Eyes Darkness Dragon!"

From the lava Red Eyes changed to a darker more powerful version of itself.

Red Eyes Darkness Dragon: 2400/2000

"And for every dragon in my graveyard my Red Eyes gains 300 attack points!" Nightshroud said as the fiery spirits of every dragon in his grave fueled his dragon.

Red Eyes Darkness Dragon: 4500/2000

"It's over! Your friends, your spirit key, and your soul! With my dragon's attack, they're all mine! Go Inferno Darkfire!" Nightshroud declares as his dragon unleashed a dark breath attack.

"I don't think so! Go Negate Attack!" Jaden said as a barrier appeared around Tempest stopping the attack.

"What?" Nightshroud gasps.

"Oh yeah. And the best part is you can't attack me anymore this turn." Jaden grins making Nightshroud growl annoyed.

Meanwhile at the lighthouse by the docks, Zane was in his usual spot when suddenly his key began to react.

"The key. It's trying to warn me." Zane said turning to the volcano. "A Shadow Rider. One's close."

In the Ra Yellow dorm, Bastion was in his room typing when his key began to shake just like Zane's.

"The Spirit Key? It's shaking?" Bastion said surprised.

In the Slifer Red Dorm, Chazz was annoyed as Ojama Yellow was dancing above him while he tried to sleep.

"Stop dancing!" Chazz orders.

"Sorry boss just trying to keep rhythm with that spirit key." Ojama Yellow said.

Sitting up Chazz swats him away. "Actually what is that trembling?

Feeling his key he felt the trembling and couldn't help but wonder what it meant.

"Is there a Shadow Game in progress." Ryan said to himself.

In his office, Sheppard was holding his head in fear.

'What were you thinking Sheppard? Getting students involved in a battle with such stakes? But then what other choice did you have?' Sheppard looked up breaking out of his thought. "If they get those 3 Sacred Beasts. We'll all be destroyed."

Back in the volcano, the duel with Jaden and Nightshroud was getting intense.

"Alright my draw." Jaden drew. "I play Wroughtweiler in defense mode."

Wroughtweiler: 800/1200

"And I'll switch Tempest to defense mode. And I'll call it a turn." Jaden said.

"You know what I call it? A waste of time. And speaking of time is something your friends don't have much left." Nightshroud said showing the lava was getting closer.

"Don't listen to him Jay. Just concentrate on the duel." Syrus said.

"And not that we're about to be deep fried." Chumley gulps.

"What to do? What to do?" Nighthrough mocks.

"How about you make your move?" Jaden glares.

"Best idea I've heard all night." Nightshroud said drawing. "I summon Spear Dragon in attack mode." Appearing next to his Red Eyes a small blue dragon with a sharp beak appeared.

Spear Dragon: 1900/ 0000

"Now attack his Wroughtweiler! Cyclone blast!" Flying in Spear Dragon strikes down Wroughtweiler destroying it.

"Good thing he doesn't roll over so easily because when he's destroyed I get add an Elemental hero and Polymerization from my grave to my hand." Jaden said before feeling the pain from Spear Dragon's attack.

Jaden: 600

Nightshroud: 400

"Don't get ahead of yourself. When Spear Dragon attacks a monster in defense mode the difference comes out of your lifepoints. However, it does go into defense mode after attacking." Nightshroud said as his dragon took a knee. "And don't think I forgot about your Tempest's ability. I activate Mystical Space Typhoon to destroy your Fusion Gate!"

As a powerful gust of wind blew in Jaden's Fusion Gate was destroyed.

"And with that gone my Darkness Dragon has a clear shot to take out your Tempest! Go Inferno Darkfire!" Breathing dark flames, Red Eyes destroys Tempest and releasing a powerful shock wave that made Jaden drop down to his knees.

"It's your move. If you have any strength left to make it." Nightshroud said.

"You're dealing with us now!" Davis snapped.

"Says who?" Nightshroud asks.

"Me and this." Davis held his spirit key. "That's right I possess one as well."

"This is between the two of us Nightshroud. Release Syrus and Chumley." He demanded.

"You can take him on…another time." Jaden said slowly getting up. "Especially…because I'm about to win." He grins.

Hearing this both his friends and his enemy were surprised by that.

Appearing on the field was the same warrior from round 1.

"And now I play Wild Half. First it cuts your Monster's attack points in half and then it summons a token with the same attack points." Jaden said as a copy of the Red Eyes Darkness Dragon appeared.

Red Eyes Darkness Dragon x 2: 3300

"Why stop there. Go Polymerization! By fusing Wildheart with the Elemental Hero Bladege in my hand I can summon Elemental Hero Wildedge!" Jaden said as a powerful warrior with pieces of Bladedge's armor and a sharp jagged sword appeared.

Elemental Hero Wildedge: 2600/ 2300

"And the reason he's so wild is because he can attack all the monsters you have on the field." Jaden explains.

"Big deal. He's still weaker than my dragons." Nightshroud smirks.

"Not for long. Not after I play this. I activate Skyscraper!" Jaden said playing his city field spell.

"It will raise Wildedge's attack to 3600."

"He's gonna win!" Syrus cheers.

"Impossible!" Nightshroud gasps.

"Wildedge destroy all his Dragons with Scimitar Slash!" Jaden said as Wildedge drew his sword and leaps in destroying all the dragons with one slash.

Jaden: 600

Nightshroud: 0000

"And that's game!" Jaden declares.

"NOO!" Nightshroud screams in agony as flames engulf him.

"Sy…Chumley." Jaden said weakly before flames engulfed all of them too.

Appearing on the side of the volcano, Davis, Kaoru, Syrus and Chumley slowly woke up.

"We're alive." Syrus said.

Looking around they noticed Jaden and Nightshroud passed out nearby.

"Jaden!" Getting up they all ran to him.

"Is he okay? He's not waking up?" Syrus asks.

"He's tired. I would be too after a duel like that."

"No way. I'm tired and I didn't even do anything." Chumley said.

"Hey!" Alexis, Zane and Ryan ran up the hill.

"We saw the light show from our dorms. What happened?" He asked.

"One of the Shadow Riders challenged Jaden to a duel." Syrus said.

"He won. It was lishous." Chumley declared.

"So is that him?" Zane asks looking. "The Shadow Rider?"

Ryan then walked over to Nightshroud and picked the card up on the ground. Looking down, he thought his face was familiar and turned on his PDA.

"This isn't possible." Ryan whispered.

"Hey Alexis." He called out. "You really need to see this."

Confused Alexis slowly walked up and Nightshroud slowly opened his eyes.

"Alexis?" He said weakly making her gasp.

Slowly walking towards them, Zane saw Alexis hugging him close.

"What's going on?" Zane asked.

"I was told he went missing last year." Ryan replied.

"Alexis what's going on?" Zane asks.

"It's him Zane. It's him. I don't understand it either but it's him. I thought I lost him but he's back. He's finally back." Alexis said tearing up. "It's my brother."

Gasping Zane got a good look at his face and it was him.

"Atticus?" Zane said in disbelief.

As the sun began to rise, the others made their way over.

"If this is how it is after you win a duel imagine what it's like after you lose one." Zane said. "The sun may be coming up soon but night will fall and when it does we need to be ready."