Jaden POV

I stared down at the duellist in front of me, wondering how I was going to play this out. According to the Aster I knew from my timeline, this guy had some serious tricks up his sleeve, as well as the fact that he would just come right at you with everything he's got.

I looked to my right, to see that Aster was standing right to the side, watching at who was going to make the first move. I desperately wanted to tell him that the D was the very guy who was responsible for his dads disappearance, but I knew he wasn't going to listen to me one bit. Aster never did back in my time.

I turned to look at the D again, after I drew my five cards to begin with. "You can go first. I'll go second."

"With pleasure," the D said, drawing his six cards. "To begin with, I'll summon out Des Feral Imp in defence mode."

(Des Feral Imp - 1600/1800)

"Then, I'll place one card face down to end my turn. Your move."

That made me frown slightly. Why would he instantly summon a Flip Effect monster on the very first turn. Normally, if it was played properly, Des Feral Imp would've allowed The D to select a card in his graveyard and place it back into his deck. That would mean that he would have a card ready to use later.

It's obvious that he's getting ready to summon Destiny HERO Plasma, Haou said as he appeared in his astral form next to me. Why else would he summon a monster like that on the first go?

"I was thinking the same thing," I murmured. "If thats the case, then it's already in his hand. Or maybe he's just setting the field up so he could be ready for it when he draws it. I've got to see if it's there or not."

I quickly looked at my hand. "And I think I've got a way of doing it, but I'm gonna need the help of your Evil HERO's in case it comes out."

You don't need to ask for my help when it comes to my monsters, Haou sternly told me. We're a team. And that deck represents the both of us. So do what you have to do.

I nodded at him, before looking back at my deck and drawing my next card. What I drew was exactly what I needed to prove to Aster that the D was lying to him.

"Aster, you better pay attention to this move," I told him without looking at him.

Aster clearly frowned at that statement. "And why should I?"

This time I looked at him, staring at him dead in the eye. "Because what I'm about to do is show you that The D is not the guy you thought he was. I'm gonna prove to you that he's a liar and that you should've stayed away from him all those years ago."

Aster was getting more and more confused by the second, but thanks to Yubel's power, I could sense that it was shock that Aster was feeling right now. Shock of how I knew his past, and why I wanted to prove something against The D.

"What are you trying to say to me?" he demanded.

I turned around to look directly at the D, picking out one of the cards in my hand. "Instead of explaining it all, why don't I let my cards do the talking for you? I place one card facedown, and then I summon out everyone's favourite Golden Boy - or should I say Elemental HERO Sparkman in attack mode!"

(Elemental HERO Sparkman - 1600/1400)

"Next up is my Mighty HERO spell card. Since I've got an Elemental HERO out on my field, I can target one spell or trap card on your field and one on mine, and send them packing all the way to the graveyard."

"What's the point in all that?" The D asked when his facedown shattered into pieces. "Why waste one of your cards for the sake of destroying mine?"

"Because my facedown is known as HERO Crisis," I explained, revealing the card I just sent to the graveyard. "Since this was destroyed by a spell or trap effect, I can search through my deck and add a HERO monster to my hand. So I'll choose my Elemental HERO Twin Slash to join my hand."

I picked another card out of my hand. "Next up is my Graceful Charity spell. So by drawing three cards from my deck, I can send two of them to the graveyard. So I'll draw these..." I drew my three cards. "...and then discard my Elemental HERO Twin Slash and my Elemental HERO Necroshade to the graveyard. And since I discarded my Twin Slash to the graveyard due to a card effect, it's special ability gets triggered: meaning I can summon him to the field in attack mode."

My HERO monster reappeared on the field in front of me, his blade coated arms slashing wildly at anything, bellowing loudly.

(Elemental HERO Twin Slash - 1600/1200)

"So you've got two monsters on your field," the D said. "Big deal. Their attack strength can't beat my Des Feral Imp's eighteen hundred defence points."

I smirked, picking yet another card out of my hand. "Maybe this oughta change your mind. I activate my Advanced HERO Reinforcements: for every HERO I've got out on my field, I get to draw that many cards from my deck. And since I'm looking at two HERO's on my field, that means two cards from my deck."

I drew my two cards, and I just grinned even further when I noticed one of them. "Then, I activate Polymerization! With it, I combine my Elemental HERO Twin Slash and my Elemental HERO Sparkman to form the newest member of my team! From the bleak black pit, meet the fierce, fearless and ferocious Elemental HERO Escuridao!"

The newest Elemental HERO looked pretty awesome to look at since it looked very much like an Evil HERO, with nightmare black wings, a skeletal frame and massive claws that could rip anything to shreds.

(Elemental HERO Escuridao - 2500/2000)

"Whoa! It looks like Jaden is bringing his A-Game today!" the announcer shouted out as the crowd cheered. "A new HERO has come to town ladies and gentlemen, as Escuridao appears on the field!"

The D looked up at my newest HERO, nodding with what could be described as an impressed look. "Like the look on your HERO. It sure is vicious. However, you do know that even with a monster like that, you won't be able to get at my Life Points."

"I'm not even concerned at that point," I told him. "Because I've got you right where I want you."

"Huh?" The D frowned.

"I activate the second effect of the HERO Crisis trap card from my graveyard," I said, taking the trap card out of my graveyard. "Since I've summoned a Fusion monster this turn using the HERO I drew from my deck as material for it, by banishing this card from my graveyard I can guess the name of a card that's in your hand. And if I see that very card in your hand, then it gets shuffled back into your deck."

At that moment, I could see the look of alarm on The D's face. I could even see a sweat drop on his forehead when he took in what I stated to him. I smiled mentally - I had him cornered.

"So that's what this was all about," Aster said, putting the pieces together. "You wanted to see what he had in his hand from the start. But this is a very risky move: for all I know, you'll guess it wrong. So why did you want me to watch what you were gonna do?"

"Because I know that this guy has this particular card in his deck, and I know he's got it in his hand," I told Aster. "And I'm about to show you the truth."

I looked back at the D, who looked like he could kill me right now on the spot. "And the name of the card happens to be the name of a HERO monster - stolen from a card designer named Tobias Phoenix, on the night he vanished without a trace."

The crowd murmured at the news, probably wondering what I meant.

"And the name of the card that's in your hand, right now, is called...DESTINY HERO PLASMA!" I yelled out, my voice ringing out across the field.

A hushed silence filled the arena, as all eyes looked directly at The D. Aster looked at The D in alarm, hoping that what I said was not true. But I knew that I had The D trapped, and he knew as well that he had no choice but to do exactly what my trap card stated.

He growled, and his hair grew wild as a faint white aura enveloped him and his eyes glowed red. "You really are a troublesome brat, you know that? I don't know how you knew, but you are right."

He turned the middle right card in his hand over and showed me the card that I've forced him to show to the whole audience.

It was Destiny HERO Plasma for sure. A HERO with what looked like a dragons head on his right arm, and dragon scales covering his entire body, three massive claws extending from his back and curving over his head as electricity engulfed him.

The crowd gasped in horror, stunned looks on their faces as the card was revealed to them via the massive screen monitors above me and The D.

"Wow, what a shocking turn of events! Not only did Jaden make a correct guess by luck, but he's also proved The D's responsibility of Tobias Phoenix's disappearance ten years ago! This is turning out to be a duel of truth, and by the looks of things, The D does not look happy!" the announce frantically shouted in his microphone.
=========
Alexis POV

"Alright, he did it!" Syrus exclaimed with a happy punch in the air.

"He actually managed to pull it off," Chazz said with wide eyes and in amazement. "That slacker sure knows what he's doing."

"Let's see if he can keep it up," I said, watching the screen as Jaden made his next move.

"You may have been copped out, but this is still a duel and I intend to win it," Jaden said. "And since I've guessed the name of the monster in question correctly, you've got no choice but to send it back into your deck."

The D did so with reluctance, and a look of pure rage on his face as his probably best card was shuffled back into his deck.

"And now, let's see how well you and your monster can handle this! I activate the equip spell known as H-Heated Heart, which gives my Escuridao an extra five hundred attack points, and the ability to deal you damage even if your monster is in defence mode!"

(Elemental HERO Escuridao - 3000/2000)

"And that's not all - he gains an extra one hundred points for every Elemental HERO that's in my graveyard. I've got three of them in my graveyard, so that's an extra three hundred attack points added to my HERO!"

(Elemental HERO Escuridao - 3300/2000)

"Now let's throw down, shall we?" Jaden shouted, punching his right fist outwards towards the D, who backed away. "Escuridao, attack Des Feral Imp with Nigthmare Slash!"

Jaden's HERO sent a dark rippling wave of energy towards The D's monster, which collided with it in an explosion of dark matter that consumed the Imp and causing severe damage to the D's Life Points.

Jaden: 8000 LP
The D: 6500 LP

The D looked on, his clothes slightly dirty from the attack but he didn't seem bothered in the slightest. Apart from all that, he mostly just looked annoyed.

He brushed his shoulder. "Not bad kid, not bad. You're still going to lose though."

"We'll see about that," Jaden snapped. "I throw two cards facedown, and then activate my Elemental Aura spell card, which I'll equip to Escuridao. Then I end my turn with that, which means the effect of H-Heated Heart wears off."

(Elemental HERO Escuridao - 2800/2000)

"Jaden is in the lead for now, which is a good start," Yusei said with his arms crossed. "But why do I get the feeling that this duel is gonna be more brutal than I thought imaginable?"

"Maybe because it's a battle between the Light Of Destruction and the Gentle Darkness for the first time in a while," Atticus explained as best as he could. "I mean, I don't know a lot about it since it seemed so dangerous at the time, but I know it was because of Jaden that the Light Of Destruction lost."

"Well, whatever it is, it's about to get explosive," Chazz said, looking grim. "I just hope Jaden is up to the challenge, because he's gonna need a lot of luck against someone like the D. That guy has not lost a single battle before."

When I heard Chazz say that, I instantly looked back at the screen and started praying for Jaden, who looked ready for anything.

Please be safe, I prayed. You can do it.
==========
Jaden POV

"Alright then, my turn," the D snarled, drawing a card from his deck.

I knew something was up the moment he drew that card. Then I saw it: the card he drew was glowing white and was shining unlike anything I've seen before. The last time I saw that very light, it was against -

Oh no, I thought in dread.

The D looked at his hand, smiling deviously. "Jaden Yuki, you're a tough opponent. Probably more challenging than any other opponent I've faced before. But here I own this arena, and I will not allow some kid to beat me."

He held up his drawn card. "And I've got the card that will prove it to you. But first things first, I activate Pot Of Greed, allowing me to draw two additional times from my deck, bringing my hand total to six cards. Next, I activate the spell card known as the Fires Of Doomsday! This card allows me to special summon two Doomsday Tokens to my field in defence mode."

(Doomsday Token 2X - 0000/0000)

"These monsters can't be used for a tribute summon unless it's for a DARK attribute monster. But I'm not done in the slightest," The D said as he picked out another card from his hand. "Next I activate my Fiend Sanctuary spell, which allows me to summon a Metal Fiend Token to my field."

(Metal Fiend Token - 0000/0000)

"Three monsters..." I muttered.

This is bad. Very bad, Haou told me in my thoughts. Brace yourself Jaden!

"No kidding, Sherlock," I muttered back at him.

"And now, judging by the look in your eyes, you can guess what I'm about to summon," The D smirked, picking out his third card out of his hand. "I will summon a monster that needs three sacrifices. So I sacrifice my Doomsday Tokens and my Metal Fiend Token, to bring out this: the most powerful Destiny card!"

"Oh no, don't tell you've actually drawn it?!" Aster exclaimed in horror as he stood back from The D. "That's not possible."

"I summon the Unstoppable...DESTINY HERO PLASMA!" The D roared, slamming the card he was holding onto his duel disk.

In front of him, a pool of what looked like black blood appeared and started swirling out of control like some sort of hurricane. Then, next thing I knew, something shot right out of it and spread it wings. When the liquid was removed from its body, the form of Destiny HERO Plasma appeared and looked right at me with a harsh and crazed glare.

(Destiny HERO Plasma - 1900/600)

"This is not how I thought this duel was gonna go," I muttered. "First I managed to send Plasma back into The D's deck, but then The D just brings it back out. It's like the Light Of Destruction isn't backing down one bit, and it drew the card that The D needed."

That's how it operates, Haou said next to me again. It will use all of its power to ensure its victory. It will go to any length in order to achieve it.

"And now, I activate Plasma's ability: once per turn, it can negate a monsters ability and absorb it completely," The D said with a finality tone in his voice.

Several tendrils of dark red power came out of Plasma's wings, and shot towards Escuridao. However, I smirk.

"I don't think so," I said in a song song voice.

The tendrils hit a barrier that surrounded Escuridao, and the tendrils evaporated into nothing but dark red smoke.

"What in the world?!" The D exclaimed in shock. "Why didn't Plasma's effect absorb your monster?!"

I pointed my thumb towards my Elemental Aura spell card. "Because thanks to Elemental Aura, my Elemental HERO Escuridao remains unaffected by any effects that might try to destroy, remove or take control of it. If you want to defeat my Escuridao, then you've got to come up with another way to defeat him."

"Hmm, that's true but now that my Plasma's ability has been negated this turn," The D sneered cruelly, picking one card from his hand again, "I can activate this spell card: Destiny Flame! When used on a Destiny HERO monster like Plasma, I can give him an extra one thousand attack points, making him stronger than your Escuridao!"

(Destiny HERO Plasma - 2900/600)

"Oh great," I muttered in annoyance.

"Destiny HERO Plasma, attack Elemental HERO Escuridao! Vengeful Rain!" The D roared.

Plasma spread it's wings and sent a shockwave of red lightning towards my Escuridao, instantly frying and destroying it since it had higher attack points than my monster.

Jaden: 7900 LP
The D: 6500 LP

"I activate the second effect of my Elemental Aura spell card!" I shouted out. "When this card along with the HERO that it was equipped to is sent to the graveyard, I get to add a different HERO monster from my deck to my hand. So I'll add my Evil HERO Infernal Gainer to my hand."

"Good, but I'm not done in the slightest," The D continued. "Not even one bit. Thanks to my Destiny Flame spell card, you take damage equal to the original attack points of the monster that my Destiny HERO Plasma just destroyed! This might sting a little!"

"Aw, no way!" I exclaimed as Plasma opened its wings yet again, and sent a bolt of lightning towards me. It engulfed me in a fiery inferno, making my insides feel like mush as I let out a pained cry of agony, slumping to my knees and hands as the electricity got too much for me.

Jaden: 5400 LP
The D: 6500 LP

I shakily flung my right arm outwards. "You triggered my trap card: Reign Of The Mighty! For every thousand points of effect damage I take this turn, I get to add a HERO monster from my deck. Since I took over two thousand points of effect damage due to your Destiny Flame spell card, I get to add these two HERO's to my hand: my Elemental HERO Neos and my Evil HERO Malicious Edge!"

That caught Asters attention completely. "You've got two different kinds of HERO's? How is that possible?"

"That doesn't matter, since this is all gonna be over in the next round," I told him seriously, just as I felt my aura starting to act up again.

"I like to see you try kid," The D snarled with a smug look, just as his white aura started to show.

For a while, it seemed like our aura's were just clashing with one another: white against red, The Light against The Darkness. Neither side seemed to be backing down, but I knew that I needed to win this duel. I could feel it in my gut, and it is something that I knew was going to help me win this duel.

"I now activate the last card in my hand: my trusty D-Force spell card," The D said, activating the annoying spell that Aster had so much trouble with when he faced it. "With this card out, I can target my Destiny HERO Plasma and it remains unaffected by any effects that you might throw it's way, as long as D-Force remains on the top of my deck of course."

I frowned at that. On the top of his deck? "But that means you won't be able to draw anymore cards from your deck."

"That doesn't matter. As long as Plasma remains unaffected by any effects that you might pull off, then I'm good to go," The D snapped. "You won't beat the ultimate Destiny card, Jaden Yuki. Not as long as the Light Of Destruction is on my side."

The white aura around him intensified dramatically, as he leaned his head back like he was taking in the sunlight when in truth he seemed to be more stronger with the light on his side. "The Light flows through me. It gives me the strength and the power to keep going. I can feel, and it feels incredible. Too incredible!"

"Oh yeah? Is that a fact, D?" I asked him, my right fist clenched tightly as...something welled up inside me. I could primal feelings inside of me. I never felt this way since...since my duel with Atticus. That immediately got me freaked, but I continued speaking. "Well, news flash for you pal: I'm not gonna let you win this duel. Not now, not ever! As long I'm still duelling, that's all that matters to me! And no one, I repeat no one is gonna stop me from doing that."

That made me stop. What was that? My voice just changed slightly, like it was more metallic and more monotone. Just like Haou...but not quite. Then, I noticed my shaking right hand and saw the shadows rippling off of it.

My eyes widened. Oh no. Not now! This can't be happening right now! I barely controlled it last time, so what happens if it goes berserk whilst fighting one of the Light Of Destruction's hosts?!

This is bad, Haou said next to me, reading my thoughts and worries. It's like it's responding to the Light's presence. Jaden, you've got to calm down. It feeds off your emotions and it will take over you if they get too extreme.

"You think I don't know that already?" I snapped at him. "I know I've gotta calm down, but I can't help it. It's right at the back of my head, and it's literally pounding it's way through. I've gotta wrap this duel up as fast as I can."

I drew my next card, looking at it. "I activate my Card Of Sanctity spell card, meaning both players have to draw cards from their decks until they have six cards in their hands. And that means you have no choice but to draw D-Force from the top of your deck."

The D didn't even bother as he drew his six cards. When I drew my cards, I looked back at them. Nodding at what I drew, and pretty much ready to end the duel.

"Now I activate my Fusion Sage spell, letting me add a Polymerization from deck to my hand," I said, adding the fusion card to my hand. "Next up, I activate this card - one that belongs to my friend: Dark Fusion!"

The moment I activated the card, it was like a blow to my head. My heart literally beat out of rhythm and I grabbed my head as it began to hurt like never before.

"With Dark Fusion, I combine my Evil HERO Malicious Edge and my Evil HERO Infernal Gainer to Fusion Summon Evil HERO Paradox Knight!"

A HERO with a masked knight helmet appeared, his black hair standing out against his pale grey skin as he swung his massive two handed sword in wide arcs.

(Evil HERO Paradox Knight - 2400/1800)

"Paradox Knights ability activates, allowing me to...send the top...ahhh, the top card of my...deck to the graveyard. With that, I can banish one spell card from your hand for...three turns. However, for each turn that goes by, Paradox Knights gains an extra six hundred attack points," I explained, trying desperately to calm down as the dark feelings inside of me continued to build up. "And the card I'm choosing is none other than your D-Force spell card!"

"No! I can't survive that long without my D-Force protecting Plasma!" The D actually panicked.

"Tough break!" I snapped, my voice turning metallic as I lost control of myself, my eyes turning yellow as I did.

(Evil HERO Paradox Knight - 3000/1800)

"And the best thing is this next card I'm about to play: the spell card known as Dark HERO Presence! Since I've got an Evil HERO on my field, I get to draw cards from my deck equal to the amount of HERO monsters I've got in my graveyard, and if one of them happens to be a spell card then I get to keep them. However, if I don't then they most go to the graveyard."

I started drawing cards from my deck. "Right now, there is a total of six HERO's chilling back in my graveyard, so I get to draw six cards from my deck." I searched right through my drawn cards. "Fortunately for me, I've drawn a spell card, and it's just the one that I need. I activate Dark Calling, which allows me to banish Elemental HERO Clayman from my hand and Elemental HERO Sparkman from my graveyard to Fusion Summon this: my Evil HERO Lightning Golem!"

The dark version of my Elemental HERO Thunder Giant appeared on the field, static electricity coming off its entire body as it roared at the skies above.

(Evil HERO Lightning Golem - 2400/1500)

"My Lightning Golem activates it's ability: once per turn, it can destroy any monster on the field, and I choose Destiny HERO Plasma!"

"Oh NO!" The D cried out as Plasma exploded into nothing but red dust, as it got zapped by a black orb of electricity, courtesy of Haou's Lightning Golem.

"And the best part is, my Lightning Golem can still attack this turn! So brace yourself for a double attack! Lightning Golem, light up his world! Voltic Volley Assault!"

Lightning Golem shot another blast of lightning towards The D, shocking the pro duellist badly as he cried out.

Jaden: 5400 LP
The D: 4100 LP

"Paradox Knight, it's your turn! Slice and dice The D with every ounce of strength you've got! Apocalyptic Strike!" Jaden yelled again.

Paradox Knight shot right forward and slashed his sword in a downward arc, catching The D in the chest and sending him flying backwards. The D landed on his back harshly, making him groan loudly.

Jaden: 5400 LP
The D: 1100 LP

I breathed heavily, feeling the dark energy flowing all around me getting stronger. I clenched my eyes shut, trying to calm it down as best as I could. It barely worked, but the aura around me vanished. I sighed in relief when that happened.

"I place three cards facedown and then end my turn," I said, my voice returning to normal as I placed three cards into my spell and trap card zones.

Okay, so I couldn't beat him this turn, I thought to myself. But if I can be able to finish him off next turn, then maybe my inner darkness should calm down. Because at this rate, if it doesn't, then everyone is in serious danger.
==========
Alexis POV

"Wait, did you guys just see that or was I just imagining things?" I asked in a worried tone, looking up at the screen as Jaden calmed down from his crazed mini episode.

"No, you didn't imagine it," Atticus said, also worried by what he saw. "Jaden completely lost his cool for a second. I could see the dark aura coming off of him. It's like he and Haou couldn't even control themselves."

"I thought something didn't seem right," Chazz said, observing the monsters on Jaden's field. "I mean, in all the time we've seen him duel, he has not once used Haou's Evil HERO's. Maybe Haou is the only one who can use them, and maybe they don't like it when Jaden uses them?"

"That could be a good reason why," I said, thinking back to the first time I've seen the Evil HERO's in action, how much actual damaged they caused to Chazz. "I mean, those monsters are more real than anything I've seen before. Plus, they are pretty vicious too when it comes down to it."

"It must've had a negative effect on Jaden when he played them," Yusei said, looking through the duel info on Jaden's cards. "It's like Jaden was more in tune with his Elemental HERO's that they formed a bond with him. The Evil HERO's...from what I've heard about them, they're some of the toughest monsters I've seen so far."

"I don't know," Syria said, all of a sudden rubbing his head like he had a headache. "My future selves memory is a little hazy, but from what I can remember from them, the Evil HERO's didn't respond kindly to those that aren't the Supreme King. They must be doing something to Jaden, because he's acting much more colder than before in his duel with Atticus."

He looked at me grimly. "I know you don't want to hear this Alexis, but I've got to ask: what are we going to do if he loses complete control? Because we've seen what Jaden's inner darkness self can do, and I we need to figure out a way to calm him down when that version of himself comes out."

I thought for a second, thinking back to when Jaden went nuts the first time in his duel against Atticus, his eyes literally going yellow and gold as he screamed bloody murder, his whole body radiating pure darkness. It made me shiver involuntarily, but I shook it off.

"If he loses control, then we'll help him as best we can," I told them all. "But let's not jump the gun here. This is Jaden we're talking about. He'll try to keep himself calm as long as possible, so let's not lose hope on him. I know he can do this. I just know it."