Duel Academy, deep within the island's forest.
Jaden walked along the narrow path, gazing down at the flashing red beacon displayed on his communicator.
Although the entire academy was currently swept up in the lively festivities of the school festival, the threat of the Shadow Riders had not lessened in the slightest.
The final Shadow Rider, Banner, was still lurking somewhere in the dark.
Yet no matter what, his ultimate objective remained opening the Gate of the Seven Stars. As long as the keys to the gate stayed in Jaden's possession, Banner would never take his eyes off him.
Even so, Jaden wanted to seize the initiative and strike first.
In Banner's grasp lay the pinnacle of alchemy: Philosopher's Stone - Sabatiel.
Unlike its printed counterpart in the OCG, the anime version of Philosopher's Stone - Sabatiel in GX possessed the extraordinary power to transform into any card three consecutive times. On top of that, after its effect had been used thrice, it could multiply the attack power of a monster on the field based on the number of opposing monsters.
Such an overwhelming effect undeniably made it the single strongest card in early GX. Bar none.
As for the real-world OCG release of the Philosopher's Stone... its practical value had taken a massive hit.
Jaden was an incurable card collector at heart, so he naturally yearned to wrest this borderline-broken card from Banner's hands.
"Still, where on earth is Professor Banner hiding?"
Surveying the dense foliage around him, Jaden felt an overwhelming urge to complain.
In the original story, Banner's hiding spot was the Abandoned Dorm. Yet in this timeline, Jaden had already searched the Abandoned Dorm from top to bottom. Far from finding Banner, he hadn't uncovered even the faintest trace of alchemy.
Beep, beep, beep, beep.
Just as Jaden was pondering where else Banner could have gone, his communicator chimed.
He glanced at the caller ID; it was Alexis.
"Alexis? Why is she calling me this late...?"
He answered the call.
On the screen, Jaden was met with Alexis's faintly flushed face.
"Um, Jaden... do you have some time right now?"
Before Jaden could even answer, her face turned bright red, and she hurriedly blurted out, "Ah, ifif you're busy, never mind! It's nothing important!"
Jaden blinked. "?"
"IIf there's nothing else, I'll hang up first!"?
'Weren't you the one who called me in the first place?'
Watching Alexis fluster over whether to hang up, Jaden let out a soft sigh and spoke up. "Hold on. If you're asking whether there's something to discuss, I actually do have something."
"Come to the Duel Arena tonight at ten. There's something I need to talk about."
"The Duel Arena...? O-Okay."
Alexis blushed, nodding timidly before ending the call.
Standing alone in the dark, her face burned crimson.
"I... I'm such an idiot..."
"I had everything rehearsed in my head, so why did I get so flustered the moment I saw his face that I couldn't say a single word...?"
Ten o'clock.
The Duel Arena.
Alexis arrived early. Stepping into the arena, she immediately spotted Jaden standing upon the duel stage.
He was looking down at a few cards in his hand, his brows tightly furrowed as if lost in thought.
'Am I the only one here?'
Alexis glanced around. The arena was dead silent; in the entire vast hall, only the two of them were present.
Her earlier thoughts surged back into her mind.
She pressed her lips together and swallowed hard.
"Um, Jaden... what did you want to talk about?"
"Yeah. You still have that on you, right?" Jaden nodded and extended his hand. "The key to the Gate of the Seven Stars."
'I knew it. There's no way Jaden would call me here for anything else.'
Alexis could not help but smile wryly to herself.
She unclasped the key to the Gate of the Seven Stars from around her neck and placed it into his palm. "Why? Has the seventh Shadow Rider shown up?"
"No."
Taking the key she handed him, Jaden shook his head. "Not yet. But he will, very soon."
"...Um, Jaden, are you planning to face the seventh Shadow Rider all on your own?"
Seeing Jaden slip the key around his neck, Alexis could not stop herself from asking.
"Yeah. The duel with the seventh Shadow Rider has to be handled by me personally."
Jaden made no attempt to hide it.
He didn't mind sitting back and letting Chazz and the others handle the previous Shadow Riders. But Professor Banner... Banner was a target Jaden had to face with his own two hands.
Seeing his resolute, serious expression, Alexis blushed faintly and spoke in a soft, tentative voice:
"Jaden... if possible, you... you could try trusting me a bit more... trusting us."
Feeling his gaze turn toward her, a sudden surge of courage welled up inside Alexis.
She pressed her lips together, her eyes turning steadfast.
"I... in my heart, I've always admired you, Jaden..."
"Even though right now I'm only ever following behind you... I hope that one day, I'll be able to walk right beside you, shoulder to shoulder!"
"W-Would that be okay...?"
Her voice trailed off into a near-whisper.
She had poured every ounce of courage into expressing the feelings hidden deep in her heart. Yet a young woman's bashfulness kept her confined to the most veiled, indirect words.
Even so...
Noticing the subtle shift in Jaden's gaze, Alexis knew.
Jaden had understood the true meaning behind her words.
At that realization, her cheeks burned even hotter. Her heart raced like a drum, and she felt as if steam were about to rise from her head.
A flicker of surprise passed across Jaden's face, though he composed himself just as quickly.
'Has the timeline... moved forward?'
Jaden felt a twinge of helplessness.
Aloof though he might appear on the outside, he was no fool. He had sensed Alexis's feelings toward him from the very beginning.
However, he was not an ordinary human.
He was a Spirit User.
And even more than that, he was the Supreme King.
Certain promises could not be made lightly.
Yet looking at her now...
Jaden looked at the girl standing before him, her tension mounting with every passing second, and let out a deep sigh.
"If that day truly comes... I'd be more than glad to see it."
Turning his back, Jaden spoke in a calm, even voice.
"!"
Alexis's eyes went wide.
Staring at his back, an indescribable flutter surged through her chest in wave after wave.
He... he didn't turn her down.
Did he... just accept?
"Jaden..."
Alexis felt an urgent desire to say more.
Just then, Chazz, Bastion Misawa, and Zane Truesdale began walking in, one after another.
"Hey, Jaden! What did you drag us out here so late for?"
"Jaden, do you have news about Professor Banner?"
"Ah... Alexis is already here."
Seeing the group file into the hall, Alexis's words caught in her throat.
She brought a fist to her mouth and coughed softly to compose herself.
"Um... so you guys are all here too."
"Yeah. Jaden, what's this about? Why'd you call all of us over?"
Chazz nodded and turned his gaze toward Jaden.
Jaden turned around, his eyes having already returned to their usual cool detachment.
"Chazz, give me your key to the Gate of the Seven Stars."
"The key? What do you want that for...?"
Chazz knitted his brows, but he still took off the key and handed it over.
Looking at the three keys resting in Jaden's hands, Zane seemed to realize what was happening.
"Wait, Jaden. Are you planning to duel the final Shadow Rider alone?"
"Yeah, that's right." Jaden nodded, gazing at the keys in his grasp.
Now, every single key to the Gate of the Seven Stars was in his possession.
'Even if Professor Banner wants to keep hiding from me, he won't be able to anymore, will he?'
'Professor Banner.'
'Your opponent in this duel is meand it can only ever be me!'
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