"Jiang He, let's go on an adventure to that abandoned dorm deep in the woods tonight! It'll definitely be fun!" Jaden Yuki said excitedly.
"That abandoned dorm deep in Duel Academy?" Hearing this, Jiang He raised an eyebrow and opened his eyes, looking over in surprise.
Wasn't that the dormitory where Alexis Rhodes's brother disappeared? The one with a heavy connection to Shadow Games?
These three really aren't afraid of death...
"Professor Banner mentioned it. He said such a dormitory exists."
Seeing Jiang He's expression, Syrus Truesdale assumed Jiang He didn't know what the dorm was and immediately began to explain the details.
"Today, because of all the noise from the construction crew building your house, Jaden, Chumley, and I were all hiding in the Slifer Red cafeteria. We were passing the time by playing a game where we drew Duel Monsters cards and told a scary story with a level corresponding to the monster's Level."
"Professor Banner happened to come by and drew a Level 12 monster. Then, he told us this terrifying rumor."
"Supposedly, deep within Duel Academy, there is an abandoned dormitory. There are scary legends there about Shadow Gamesit's a dorm that eats people!"
Looking at Syrus, whose legs were practically knocking together as he spoke, Jiang He fell into a brief silence.
Was this the legendary "scared to death but still wants to play"?
"So, Jaden and the rest of us plan to head there tonight to verify if the legends about the Shadow Games are actually true," Chumley Huffington added.
"Jiang He, come exploring with us! That dorm is bound to be interesting!" Jaden suggested again, his curiosity piqued. "Anyway, Shadow Games are probably just distant legends."
"Even in the stories, you need something like the Millennium Items that the Duel King, Mr. Yugi Muto, used to have to even start a Shadow Game."
"Even if the rumors are true, surely no one owns those things anymore."
"You've actually learned how to analyze things outside of dueling..." Jiang He remarked, unable to resist a jab at Jaden.
Unfortunately, that analysis was completely wrong.
From what he knew, one didn't need something as powerful as a Millennium Item to start a Shadow Game. Certain special dark artifacts or even the power of Duel Spirits could easily trigger one.
"Since you've all said so much, it seems I have to go," Jiang He said, shrugging as he agreed.
He happened to be interested in the situation at the abandoned dorm himself. More importantly, if a Shadow Game really did occur, Jiang He felt it would be for the best. He could finally test out the guardian power of the Mark of the Dragon - Head he had just redeemed from the system last night! He wanted to experience exactly what a Shadow Game was like.
"Kuri kuri."
At that moment, the brown, furry Sphere Kuriboh on his shoulder let out a soft cry. It pointed a small hand toward the distant stairwell as a warning. It seemed to have sensed something.
"That feeling of a golden mop-top... are you referring to Professor Crowler?" Jiang He glanced toward the stairs and immediately guessed who the little guy was talking about.
"Hmm? Is someone over there?" Jaden noticed Sphere Kuriboh pointing at the stairs as if it were telling Jiang He something. He looked over curiously as well.
However, by the time Jaden, Syrus, and Chumley walked over to check, there wasn't a soul in sight.
Elsewhere, inside the dim forest of Duel Academy.
A figure with a golden mop-top was talking to himself, looking as if he were gleefully waiting to meet a contact.
"Dropout Boy and Jaden are planning to go to the abandoned dorm tonight. What wonderful news, hee-hee-hee." Crowler smirked, a "mischievous" look on his face.
"With this, their movements are confirmed. I might even be able to defeat Jaden Yuki while I'm at it. Now, I just need to wait for that legendary duelist to arrive for our meeting."
Snap.
Just then, the sound of footsteps echoed from the woods to his side. Crowler spun around immediately.
Soon, he saw a tall, burly man enveloped in a wide black trench coat. The man wore a black bat-like half-mask and a black hat, and he carried a black briefcase in his hand.
"Oh, so you're the one who calls himself a Shadow Duelist."
"That is correct. I am the legendary Shadow Duelist, the Duelist Hunter, Titan," the man in the black coat replied coldly.
"Let's discuss the price. My commission fee is not cheap. Whatever happens to the client during the process is of no concern to me; I will simply complete the job with cold efficiency."
As he spoke, a mysterious white mist began to spread around him. In an instant, a thick fog blanketed the ground of the dim forest clearing.
"Is it really going to be alright? You must ensure that the camera and the photos in Dropout Boy's hands are destroyed." Crowler looked at the mist spreading around his feet and suddenly felt a strange sense of doubt.
For some reason, he felt like this mist looked remarkably like the vapors produced by dry ice...
"Of course. I am a professional, a Duelist Hunter. I never show my back to anyone," Titan stated coldly, his demeanor calm and composed.
To test this, Crowler quickly darted to the side, trying to catch a glimpse of the man's back. However, the moment Crowler moved, Titan spun with equal speed, remaining face-to-face with him.
Crowler tried three more times, but the result was the same.
"Leave everything to me. You only need to come and collect the results once the duel is over."
The man in the black coat clearly had no intention of wasting more time with the eccentric professor. Like a ghost in the fog, he glided backward and vanished into the mist. Only his voice lingered in the air.
"I really couldn't see his back at all... As expected of a professional!" Professor Crowler nodded, filled with a sense of security.
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