"Come on, defeat me! If you can beat me, these students behind me will become sacrifices for the Sacred Beasts!"
"Ohohohoho!"
Camula covered her mouth and let out a smug, triumphant laugh.
"..."
Zane Truesdale gritted his teeth in silence.
"By the effect of Illusion Gate! I Special Summon Cyber End Dragon to my side of the field!"
Camula spread her hands wide.
Light effects shimmered and flashed as a massive silhouette appeared on Camula's field. The silver, three headed Cyber Dragon glared down at Zane. Its oppressive, terrifying presence sent a cold shiver through the hearts of everyone present.
[Cyber End Dragon]
[Level: 10]
[Machine-Type]
[ATK: 4000 / DEF: 4000]
Zane slowly closed his eyes.
Although every monster on his field had been destroyed, his face-down card was Call of the Haunted. If he activated it to Special Summon Cyber Barrier Dragon from his Graveyard, he could use its effect to withstand this turn and slowly search for a counter-strategy.
But...
Hearing the desperate cries for help echoing in his ears, Zane lost his will to continue the duel.
"Kaiser..."
The others watched blankly as Zane collapsed to his knees under the blinding light radiating from Cyber End Dragon's maws. They watched as the light faded from his eyes, and his entire body transformed into a doll.
[Zane Truesdale: LP 4000 → 0]
"Hehehe, that makes the second one."
Camula picked up Zane's doll and snatched the Spirit Key necklace from around his neck.
"A scripted defeat, huh..."
Jaden Yuki couldn't help but feel a pang of emotion as he watched Zane lose. It seemed that destiny was still stumbling its way toward him regardless. In the end, was he the only one who could resolve the threat posed by Camula?
Still, that was fine.
"Let's continue the duel, Camula."
While everyone else remained silent, Jaden Yuki walked up the stairs and stood opposite Camula.
"Jaden..."
A strange look appeared on the faces of the onlookers.
"Continue?" Camula's brow furrowed slightly.
She didn't want to duel Jaden Yuki. She was well aware of his strength, so her plan had been to leave Duel Academy as soon as this duel ended to avoid any further complications.
But...
Looking at the boy whose eyes shimmered with a dark golden light, Camula felt an uncontrollable surge of pressure welling up from within. Are you kidding me? This feeling...
"What? Are you afraid?"
Jaden slowly raised his left arm, securing his Duel Disk.
"In this Shadow Duel, why don't we raise the stakes?"
"Higher stakes?" A drop of cold sweat trickled down Camula's forehead. She had no idea what Jaden was trying to do.
"Exactly."
"If I win this duel, you will return the two souls you have sealed, as well as the missing students."
"And if I lose..." Jaden paused for a moment before continuing. "My soul will be yours to do with as you wish. How about it?"
Camula's face showed sheer surprise at Jaden's words. Soon, her heart was flooded with joy, and a glint of intense excitement flickered in her eyes.
"Isn't this bet essentially the same as the ones before? Why does Camula look so excited?" Chazz was a bit puzzled. It was the same exchange of souls, so why...
"Because the value of Jaden's soul is completely different from that of an ordinary person, meow."
Professor Lyman Banner's voice suddenly rang out from behind the group.
"Professor Banner?" Everyone turned in surprise to see him standing there.
"You coward, weren't you hiding because you were scared?" Chazz glared at the professor with irritation, looking like he wanted to land a few punches on that squinty-eyed face.
"Well... anyway, since it's Jaden's turn to duel, I have full confidence in him..." Professor Banner laughed awkwardly.
"Professor Banner, did you just say Jaden's soul is different from ours?" Alexis Rhodes asked, her attention focused on the professor's claim.
"Yes. Jaden isn't an ordinary duelist... to Camula, the value of his soul likely far outweighs everything else," Professor Banner said, his eyes narrowed.
"If Jaden hadn't made this bet himself, then even if he lost a Shadow Duel, his own power is so great that he wouldn't be affected by the rules of the Shadow Game or Camula's power."
"Camula's power is simply too insignificant compared to Jaden's..."
"But if Jaden personally establishes this contract, then it is no longer Camula's power affecting the Shadow Duel, but Jaden's own power."
Jaden's own power?
In other words, Jaden had initiated this Shadow Duel himself?
Once they understood this, everyone turned their gaze toward Camula and Jaden Yuki. An invisible darkness had already begun to swirl around them. The oppressive weight of this darkness was ten, even a hundred times stronger than the Shadow Duel Camula had just fought against Zane!
"It seems I can no longer refuse this duel..."
A bead of sweat rolled down Camula's forehead. Though her heart was pounding, a sliver of excitement flashed in her eyes. The risk was high, but the potential reward was astronomical. If she could crush Jaden Yuki, his incredibly powerful soul would be hers.
Was it worth it?
Absolutely!
Camula didn't have the temperament of a gambler, but in the face of such a massive prize, she couldn't help but be tempted. And that tiny spark of desire was all it took for the Shadow Duel contract to take effect instantly.
Black mist shrouded the area. The atmosphere of the duel had been set.
"Let's begin. Shadow Duel!"
Jaden Yuki deployed his Duel Disk. Camula swallowed hard and followed suit, staring intently at Jaden.
[DUEL!]
[Jaden Yuki: LP 4000]
[Camula: LP 4000]
It had begun! Tension mounted in everyone's hearts.
[Shadow Duel detected.]
[Link Summoning LV.2 Activated!]
"Wh-What is this?!" Camula's eyes widened in shock as a dazzling light suddenly flashed from her own Duel Disk.
Above the Original Duel monster zones, two new Extra Monster Zones had suddenly appeared!
The four spectators were equally stunned.
Extra Monster Zones?
"Hey, what's going on? Are there supposed to be two extra monster zones in the rules of Duel Monsters?"
"And those positions shouldn't even exist on a Duel Disk..."
"How strange. I feel like Jaden has triggered some kind of incredible power..."
Professor Banner was the only one silently watching Jaden, a bead of sweat trickling down his own brow.
Could it be? Is this Jaden's evolution of the duel! Is this... a brand-new set of summoning rules? A completely new summoning method?
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