"Ahem... As the individual in charge of Duel Academy's highest honors, it is only natural that I take the lead and charge ahead!"
Under the watchful, admiring gazes of the students around him, Professor Crowler suppressed his terror, speaking with a noticeable tremble in his voice.
"Furthermore, things like Shadow Duels..."
Crowler swallowed hard.
I don't believe in the existence of Shadow Duels. Shadow Duels simply cannot exist!
"Hey, are you alright? You look like you've been shaking non-stop," Chazz remarked, glancing at the quivering 'Pot of Greed' beside him with a slight frown.
"No, it's nothing! I'm simply shaking with excitement!" Professor Crowler straightened his posture and snapped back.
As they spoke, Camula glided across the surface of the lake, coming to a halt directly in front of Crowler.
Looking at the Professor's face, Camula fell silent for a moment.
"So, my opponent is actually you? How annoying..." Camula's gaze drifted toward Zane Truesdale, who stood behind Crowler. "I would much rather duel that boy instead... Do you all want to switch?"
"Er..." Crowler's foot slipped. His original fear was instantly replaced by indignation.
"I, Vellian Crowler, am more than enough to be your opponent!" He deployed the large Duel Disk mounted on his chest, his eyes burning with fighting spirit. "What are the rules of this duel!"
Camula produced a small doll and spoke. "The winner proceeds to the next path. The soul of the loser shall be sealed within this doll."
"What? Sealed inside a doll?" Panic flickered across the faces of the onlookers.
"How ridiculous. Who would believe such nonsense?" On the contrary, Crowler seemed quite relaxed now.
"Hmph. Whether it is nonsense or not, you will find out soon enough." Camula's lips curled back, revealing sharp fangs. "Are you ready?"
A Duel Disk extended from her slender left arm. The duel between Camula and Crowler was on the verge of erupting.
"DUEL!"
[Crowler: LP 4000]
[Camula: LP 4000]
It had begun. A Shadow Duel!
Watching the Professor and Camula, the students looked on with nervous tension. Is Professor Crowler really going to be okay?
"Kuri kuri..."
Elsewhere on the Duel Academy island, Jaden Yuki paused for a moment, listening to the voice of Winged Kuriboh in his ear.
"Is that so? Has the Shadow Duel already begun? Who is the combatant? Professor Crowler? So it's the same as before..."
Jaden looked toward the main Academy building. "If nothing unexpected happens... then the Professor..."
"Na-no-ne..."
Inside the Infirmary.
Chazz and the others stood around a small doll that bore Crowler's likeness, their expressions incredibly grim.
"He... he was actually turned into a doll?" Chazz's eyelid twitched as he looked at the Crowler Doll in his hand. "Shadow Duels... are actually this terrifying."
"A Shadow Duel. I have never been this close to such a legendary duel before," Bastion Misawa muttered, crossing his arms and looking at the Professor's doll with worry.
"A duel where souls and lives are put on the line... that is the nature of a Shadow Duel." Sitting by Atticus Rhodes's bedside, Alexis sighed, her eyes filled with sorrow. "I fear that among us, only Jaden understands these duels best. He has been silently fighting against these dark forces in places no one sees."
"That Jaden fellow... has he been dealing with things like this in secret?" Chazz squeezed the Crowler Doll tightly, gritting his teeth. "Damn it, I'm actually starting to think he has the air of a true hero."
"Na-no-ne!"
The Crowler Doll struggled under the squeeze but remained completely immobile, able only to glare furiously at Chazz.
"He didn't want to get too close to us because he didn't want us to come into contact with such horrific duels? I never expected Jaden Yuki to have such a considerate heart," Bastion mused, his internal perception of Jaden shifting a full hundred and eighty degrees.
"I thought he was just an aloof genius, but looking at it now, he truly is a respectable Duelist." Bastion clenched his fists, looking as though he were about to become a Jaden fanboy.
"That guy... if we want to keep up with his footsteps, these Shadow Duels are a hurdle we must cross. The reason he became so strong is likely because he's constantly engaging in these life-or-death duels," Chazz added. Despite his arrogant look, it was clear his opinion of Jaden had changed. Deep down, a sense of longing and admiration for Jaden was taking root.
"Inin any case, before Jaden returns, we shouldn't head out to battle recklessly, meow~ The teacher is very afraid of these Shadow Duels, meow."
Professor Banner, clutching Pharaoh the cat, was hiding in a corner of the health room, his voice trembling as he interrupted their thoughts.
"For a teacher to be this terrified, it's truly pathetic," Chazz growled, glaring at Banner. If not for the others being present, his short temper would have driven him to give the man a piece of his mind.
"Regardless, if the enemy appears again, let me handle it!" Chazz raised the Duel Disk on his left arm, his eyes blazing with resolve. "I, Chazz Princeton 'Thunder', must see for myself exactly how powerful these Shadow Duels are!"
"Big Brother, it doesn't matter if you experience that kind of duel or not. Staying alive is what's most important," Ojama Yellow appeared by Chazz's side, looking helplessly at his fired-up master. As a Duel Spirit, it knew exactly how terrifying Shadow Duels were. If possible, it never wanted to be part of one ever again.
"Huh? This aura..."
Suddenly, Ojama Yellow sensed a unique presence coming from outside the Academy. It drifted toward the window, passing through the glass. Looking into the sky, it saw a Seiyaryu carrying someone, flying toward the Obelisk Blue dormitory.
"A draA DRAGON! AAAAAAAHHH!" Ojama Yellow's hair stood on end. It dove back behind Chazz, clutching his arm and refusing to let go. "Big Brother! Outside! There's a dragon outside!"
"A dragon? Hey, are you still dreaming?" Chazz looked at Ojama Yellow with disdain.
"Big Brother, look outside!"
"Outside..." Unable to argue with the spirit, Chazz walked to the window and pulled back the curtain.
However, the world outside was calm and peaceful. There was no sign of any 'dragon.'
"Eh? It... it's gone?" Ojama Yellow rubbed its eyes, looking shell-shocked.
"You idiot, are you having hallucinations because you're so scared of the Shadow Duels?" Chazz barked, ignoring the spirit.
"Huh? But... but..." Ojama Yellow scratched its head, full of questions. How could it be? I definitely saw a pink dragon fly past just now. And... that pink dragon... it seemed to be a very cute girl...
🚨 Note: Consider supporting this story on Patreon.com/Flokixy to access 400+ advance chapters and 2 new chapters daily! (Full story bundles also available without a subscription).