Professor Crowler walked in the front, Jaden followed right behind him, Alexis stood in the middle, and Youmi stayed at the back. The four of them advanced through the old dorm in this formation.
"Is it really okay to leave things to Professor Crowler? He's already lost to me twice… could it be that I'm just too strong? Haha O(∩_∩)O~"
Professor Crowler slipped, nearly falling face-first to the ground.
"T-That was… because I didn't use my full strength! A teacher can't go all-out against a student, y'know? That's all it is Desu!"
Jaden nodded, seemingly convinced by Professor Crowler's words: "Still, even though they're all dorms, this place is way too different from Slifer Red. Should we clean up a bit? Why is everything covered in dust?"
"It's probably because it's been abandoned for a long time, right? Anyway, let's not do anything unnecessary for now. I heard something about a Shadow Game being played here? If there's still some lingering dark force, that'd be bad."
Youmi shone the flashlight onto a wall, where a photo with the words "Atticus Rhodes" was posted. "Oh… looks like this is Atticus Rhodes's photo. He and you… aren't totally unlike each other, Alexis~"
Hearing news about her brother, Alexis jogged over to the photo and examined it: "It really is my brother's picture. Then… does that mean he really went missing at this school because of a Shadow Game?"
"S-Shadow Game? Don't believe in that kind of urban legend. This is the world of science—ahem."
Perhaps he was frightened, as Professor Crowler coughed twice. "If someone really shows up claiming to use Shadow Games, I'll take responsibility and defeat them, then hand them over to the police."
Jaden spoke thoughtfully: "So if the guy isn't a duelist but like, a boxer or something, then you're out of luck, Professor?"
Alexis, who had been seriously investigating clues about Atticus, burst out laughing at Jaden's line: "Pfft! Jaden, has anyone ever told you you're pretty sharp-tongued?"
While the others chatted cheerfully, Youmi saw something unusual with his own eyes.
Jaden could also see Duel Spirits, but at this time, he didn't pay much attention to that gift.
As for Youmi, being something close to a Duel Spirit himself, the beings in his vision were far more numerous than those Jaden could see.
"There seems to be some dark force here… leftover from a ritual, or something else?" Just as he thought that, a red figure flickered before his eyes and vanished into the hallway. "Who's there?"
No one answered, but having sensed the direction the figure fled, Youmi immediately chased after it.
Before arriving in the GX timeline, Youmi had made a pact with Ten Thousand Dragon, pursuing a certain elusive duelist—the one who appeared as early as the Noah arc and defeated both Gansley of the Deepsea Warrior and Leichter of Jinzo; According to Ten Thousand Dragon, that duelist had gained the ability to travel freely through worlds and time, and was acting according to some self-devised plan.
If Youmi's enhanced dynamic vision wasn't mistaken, that person had also taken the form of a Duel Spirit—and Youmi was all too familiar with that card.
"H-Hey, Youmi! Where are you going?!"
Seeing Youmi suddenly shout, "Who's there?" and then run off, Professor Crowler hurried after him. Jaden and Alexis also followed, but just as they reached the corridor passage, a barrier formed of countless rhombus patterns blocked their path.
At the same time, a youth wearing a dark brown hooded cloak—only a few strands of red hair visible—appeared behind the three.
"Who are you?!" Almost instantly, Jaden sensed the presence behind them. He turned with guarded eyes. "Are you the one causing trouble in this dorm and making students disappear?"
Professor Crowler and Alexis also realized the red-haired boy's presence and immediately turned around.
"Who are you?! Why did you suddenly appear in the old dorm?"
"Are you related to my brother's disappearance?!"
The boy ignored their questions. Instead, he used the rhombus-shaped barrier to seal the dorm entrance as well. With his right hand emerging from beneath the cloak, he rubbed his thumb and forefinger together, producing a card.
"Being bombarded with questions the moment I show up is seriously annoying. Besides, I don't recall being obligated to answer anything, do I?"
Two red lights shone from beneath the hood—apparently his eyes. At the same time, a crimson glow poured into the card, materializing something from within. "Anyway, as a greeting gift, I'll let him entertain you all~"
A burst of crimson light flashed, and from it appeared a Fallen Angel clad in black attire, purple hair, black wings, and surrounded by a red halo—"Darklord Ixchel".
"Take good care of our guests. As for me, I have more important matters to attend to."
After giving these instructions to Darklord Ixchel, a rhombus-shaped portal opened behind him.
"Hey, wait! At least tell us your name! I'm Jaden Yuki!"
Just as the red-haired boy was about to leave, Jaden took a step forward. Even though the rhombus barrier pressed against his throat to stop him, he still asked his question.
"When the time comes, I'll give my name myself. For now, just know that we are duelists from the netherworld."
Casting Jaden a brief glance, the red-haired youth stepped through the portal and left the old dorm.
"Alright then, since the boss gave me instructions, let's wrap this up quick~ Which of you is going first?"
Darklord Ixchel materialized a Duel Disk and sneered at the group. "Personally, I'm more interested in this jellyfish-looking kid here, but hey—anyone who wants to be a sacrifice in this Shadow Game is welcome~"
Jaden was just about to accept the challenge, but someone blocked him: "Then let me—"
Professor Crowler pulled Jaden back and stepped forward.
He placed onto his Duel Disk a deck different from the one he had used before: "Allow me to handle this. A teacher cannot stand by and watch students fall into danger. This time I'll fight with 100% of my power. I absolutely won't let any of you come to harm, y'know!
"Alexis, Jaden—call Youmi and the other faculty. Tell them an intruder has appeared in the old dorm."
Darklord Ixchel sighed in disappointment, producing a Deck and inserting it into the Duel Disk: "Well, my first opponent is some old guy? Whatever, I'll just harvest you and get this over with."
"DUEL!"
"DUEL, y'know!"
...
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