The Fifth Shadow Rider

After the defeat of Don Zaloog, the 3 spirit keys that had been stolen were recovered and the key keepers returned to their school lives. However they were all now far more suspicious that another Shadow Rider could be hiding in plain sight.

Everyone was currently in professor Banner's history class learning the history of duel monsters. For once Jaden was actually awake for a lesson.

"You see children while the duel monsters card game was invented by Maximillion Pegasus he actually based the game off of something far more ancient." Banner said to the whole class.

"Many ancient cultures used to play a very similar game as duel monsters. However when they played they did so with real monsters and real magic." Banner continued.

"Based on what we've discovered we believe that some of the ancient cultures that played this dangerous game were the ancient Egyptians who played it five thousand years ago. The Romans who played it during the days of their empire and the British who played a similar game during the Wars of the Roses." Banner explained.

"Many believe that the Egyptians were the first to summon these monsters while others think that some may have done this even earlier. The most well-known user of this magic was the nameless pharaoh, a great king who ruled over Egypt. He was the one who sealed the dark magic away in order to protect the world." Banner continued.

"However while the nameless pharaoh was perhaps the greatest and most well-known user of this magic he was far from the only one. There were many great rulers who summoned these monsters including one known as Pharaoh Abidos the Third." Banner said.

"Abidos was a very young pharaoh who sadly died before his twentieth birthday. However despite his young age Abidos was known to have never lost a single duel in his life." Banner said.

Banner continued to talk about pharaoh Abidos and many other rulers of Egypt who were known to have summoned real monsters. Finally after an hour the bell rang and class ended.

"Wow, can you believe that? That Abidos guy never even lost once." Jaden said to Syrus and Chumley as the three left the classroom.

"Yeah, he must have been really good." Syrus said.

"I wish he was around now. Maybe he could give me some tips." Chumley said.

Far away from Duel Academy, the fifth Shadow Rider was having a meeting with Kagemaru.

"It seems that our first four duelists have failed." Kagemaru said.

"Clearly they lacked skill." The Shadow Rider said.

"And I assume that you can do better." Kagemaru said.

"Of course I can, I am the strongest duelist the world has ever known." The Shadow Rider said.

"You'd better be, because if you aren't then you and your servants will find yourselves going straight back to the afterlife." Kagemaru said.

"Do not worry, I shall defeat the key keepers and in exchange the Sacred Beasts shall fully restore me and my servants to life." The Shadow Rider said.

"Good, then leave once you are ready. We can't waste any more time." Kagemaru said. The Shadow Rider nodded and left the room.

Now outside the Shadow Rider approached a large boat that was decorated with gold.

"Are we ready to depart, my lord?" One of the servants asked.

"Yes set sail immediately, it is time for these key keepers to face a true duelist." The Shadow Rider said.

Alexis arrived at the infirmary to check on her brother. However he had still failed to wake up although Alexis wasn't surprised at this point.

Nurse Fontaine noticed Alexis coming in and she walked over to talk to her.

"I'm sorry, but he still hasn't woken up." Fontaine said.

"I know." Alexis sighed.

"Has there been any change at all?" Alexis asked as she sat down next to Atticus's bed. Fontaine shook her head.

"No, I just don't understand it. He seems completely healthy, but for some reason he just won't wake up." She said.

Alexis looked at her brother sadly. She knew that his duel against Ryan was a shadow game and she knew what happened to someone who lost a shadow game.

Alexis feared that the reason Atticus wouldn't wake up was that he wasn't in there anymore. She feared that his body was just an empty shell.

The sixth Shadow Rider approached Kagemaru.

"Why are you sending that child to defeat the key keepers? He is far too naive." The sixth Shadow Rider said.

"He may be young, but he has quite the reputation. If anyone can defeat the key keepers he can." Kagemaru said.

"I keep telling you that if you'll just send me then I'll destroy all of the key keepers and send them to the shadows." The Shadow Rider said. It was clear that he was unhappy that he hadn't been sent to Duel Academy yet.

"It's that attitude that got you into this situation in the first place." Kagemaru said.

"Don't lecture me old man, I was merely a pretender back in those days but now I have become one with the shadows." The Shadow Rider said.

"Yes, and if it wasn't for that shadow charm that you're wearing you would be dragged back into the Shadow Realm in an instant." Kagemaru said. The Shadow Rider showed fear at the mention of this.

"That is only a temporary problem, once the Sacred Beasts are are I will no longer have to worry about that." He said, although there was a slight quiver in his voice.

Kagemaru sighed in annoyance.

"Very well, if the boy fails then you can do whatever you want to the key keepers. As long as you get those keys I don't really care." He said.

The sixth Shadow Rider smiled at this.

'Soon I will have my revenge.' He thought.