Predictions and Observations:
Doomsday Duel II

It’s so funny; my mind is like a coiled spring whenever I watch a new episode. The second it ends the full impact of it hits me and I can’t talk sense for about five minutes for bouncing off the walls.

To begin with, we discovered that the keys sense each other’s being in jeopardy, or maybe when another keykeeper is in danger or something. Zane said that his key was telling him that a Shadow Rider was near.

The general term used has been “spirit keys” or “spirit gate keys”, and therefore that will be my terminology from now on, just a heads-up.

I was wrong about the keykeepers; they’re working together better than I thought. When Jaden, Alexis, Syrus, and Chumley returned from the duel, Zane, Bastion, and even Chazz were there to help.

I can’t believe that I was actually right about Nightshroud’s identity! So what happened? How did Atticus end up like that? Last I heard, he disappeared at the Abandoned Dorm. So did he become a Shadow Rider of his own free will (and then realize he was wrong) or was he controlled or possessed by that mask, or… I dunno. I suppose they’ll find out when he wakes up! But it’s clear that he’s had quite an adventure: remember, he has the other half of the medallion! And what connection does that forge between Jaden and Atticus, as well? And it seems apparent that dragons, Red-Eyes in particular, were Nightshroud’s signature monsters, but are they Atticus’?

Zane seems to have known Atticus, but not very well or he would have recognized him. It also seems apparent that Atticus has changed a lot in appearance from when he was seen last.

I’m worried that Alexis might be very emotionally vulnerable right now, what with Atticus finally being back. She was crying; that’s, I believe, the first time we’ve seen Alexis cry. I think that the other keykeepers should take special care to keep the Shadow Riders off Alexis for the time being, should one show, and give her time to get to know her brother again.

I guess after watching most shadow games, I expected a higher level of endurance on Jaden’s part, but thinking realistically, most of the shadow-gamers from the original were either experienced with shadow magic, had amazing mental endurance and strength, or both. To run down other times when people fainted or passed out during a duel, Yugi fainted in Match of the Millennium due to being over-strained because his monsters were powered by his own strength rather than by holographic projectors or anything else; Bakura fainted in The Evil Spirit Revealed following being directly attacked by Slifer; Odion fainted following being struck by lightning for playing a false Winged Dragon of Ra; Joey fainted when he, too, was struck by lightning for trying to assist Odion; Yami fainted when he intercepted a direct blast from the Winged Dragon of Ra that was aimed for Mai and Joey; Joey, as is widely known, passed out during his semifinal duel with Marik shortly after being hit with a blast from the Winged Dragon of Ra (note to self: this is most interesting, put this way- there’s a connection!); no other faintings during SHADOW GAMES occurred, though that doesn’t include Orichalcos duels! Anyway, I think it all adds up: Shadow games, being duels of magical as well as mental power, sap a duelist’s energy to play and more so when they take damage, because the damage is basically real.

Leave it to Crowler to sleep through the crisis. Why Sheppard ever chose him as keykeeper…

Speaking of which, I think that Sheppard’s feelings and misgivings in this episode are very understandable and let us know that he really does care.

Banner doesn’t seem to wear his key around his neck like the other keykeepers; it was wound around his hand both times we’ve seen it.

I see the other keykeepers were engaged in their usual nighttime activities: Zane was once again hanging out on the pier (wonder why he spends so much time there?); Bastion was working at his computer (probably trying to calculate out an unbeatable strategy to slam the Shadow Riders with…).

So the duel was in Duel Academy’s volcano? This says a few things: one, we know what it’s like in there, and I’m surprised they built a school right at the base of such a seemingly active volcano; if it were to erupt, oops, adios to the world’s next generation of duelists. This also shows that they never left campus. Once again, I ask, what kind of a shadow game *is* this?!?! What defines a shadow game if not that it’s played at least partially in the Shadow Realm? Come on! I don’t get it!

Alexis was willing to give up her soul (not even put it on the line, give it up!) for Jaden, Syrus, and Chumley. I just can’t resist saying some mixture of “awww” and “Rock ON!!!!!!” I think it’s safe to say that Jaden and Alexis *like* each other, because Jaden had practically passed out, but he found the strength to stand back up when she was about to put herself in danger.

Zane says they’ll have to be ready; I wonder if they’ll really prepare for it or just be on their guard? It’s true, though, that they must be ready, because like Zane said, even the winner is still out cold.

What was the twitch comment about? “Nightshroud” seems to have been a bit insecure…

Think that’s it; tomorrow’s post is on Field of Screams I! Who will duel next? What’s Atticus really like? Will Jaden get to skip class on account of dueling for his soul and the fate of the world all night?! Less than 24 hours from now, we will know! -Clio