Recaps

Jiang He defeated Kite Tenjo by forcing Marshmallon into Attack Position, absorbing it with Cyber Dragon Infinity, and delivering a direct attack. After the Shadow Duel ended, six No. series Xyz Monster Darkness Cards flew from Kite Tenjo to Jiang He.

• Jiang He revived Cyber Dragon Core, Tributed it, and summoned Gafu the God of War.
• Jiang He used Gafu’s effect to change Kite Tenjo’s Marshmallon to Attack Position.
• Jiang He absorbed Marshmallon with Cyber Dragon Infinity and restored its Attack to 2,900.
• Jiang He’s Cyber Dragon Infinity attacked directly, reducing Kite Tenjo’s remaining 900 LP to zero.
• Orbital 7 called out to Kite Tenjo as he fell, and the nearby duelists reacted to the apparent betrayal.
• Six No. series Xyz Monster Darkness Cards flew from Kite Tenjo to Jiang He after the Shadow Duel ended.

After winning six Number Xyz Monster Darkness Cards from Kite Tenjo, Jiang He let Kite escape and later explained that the cards held the souls of their former owners. The group suspected Kite’s connection to the Ra Yellow students’ comas, but learned that someone else had taken the cards and souls of Dimitri, Koyama, and the others.

• Jiang He complained that Kite Tenjo had lost only six of his Number Xyz Monster Darkness Cards, while Yuma Tsukumo and Astral marveled at the haul.
• Kite Tenjo called Orbital 7, who carried him away, and threatened to reclaim the six cards; Jiang He let him leave, expecting another chance to take his cards.
• After shopping at Aunt Dorothy’s card shop, Alexis Rhodes suspected the Number Hunter was Kite Tenjo, one of the students recommended by Mr. Heartland.
• At the Slifer Red dorm, Bastion Misawa questioned how Kite could have caused the Ra Yellow students’ severe injuries, and Jiang He explained that Kite’s suit could let him take opponents’ souls along with their cards.
• Jiang He revealed that the six cards held six duelists’ souls, but not those of Dimitri, Koyama, or the other injured Ra Yellow students, indicating someone else had taken theirs.

Jiang He promised Yuma Tsukumo a Number Xyz Monster Darkness Card for dueling him, claiming the matches would help Yuma grow. After defeating Yuma with an Exodia one-turn-kill deck, Jiang He gave Astral a Number card, while Yuma remained grateful and determined to improve.

• Jack Atlas and Chazz Princeton argued over who should confront Kite Tenjo's companions, until Jiang He pointed out that none of them had Number Xyz Monsters to wager.
• Jiang He told Yuma Tsukumo he would give him one of his six Number Xyz Monster Darkness Cards for each duel, presenting the offer as special training.
• Jiang He began Yuma's training with an old Exodia the Forbidden One one-turn-kill deck as the others watched.
• Jiang He defeated Yuma in a single turn, earning Emotion Points, then gave one Number Darkness Card to Astral.
• Yuma thanked Jiang He and vowed to learn from the loss, while Syrus Truesdale and the others watched uneasily.

Jiang He repeatedly put Yuma Tsukumo through brutal duels with different decks, recovering the Number cards while earning Emotion Points. After Yuma was carried away, Jiang He sensed Nistro and Dextra spying on him but let them leave, and he noticed signs of new power developing between Yuma and Astral.

• Jiang He switched to a Timelord Deck and defeated Yuma, whose prepared traps became dead draws.
• Jiang He returned a Number card to Yuma and Astral, encouraging them to keep training; after five duels, Yuma agreed to one last match for the remaining card.
• Ishizu and Sphere Kuriboh warned Jiang He about Nistro and Dextra watching from the woods, but he chose not to confront them.
• Nistro and Dextra suspected they had been discovered and retreated to their Obelisk Blue dorm, worrying that Duel Academy had become dangerous for them.
• Jiang He continued training Yuma until he was carried back to his room, then remarked that young people could not handle much and sensed new power forming between Yuma and Astral.
• That evening, Jiang He relaxed in the cabin's indoor hot spring while Camula scrubbed his back.

Jiang He used his newly acquired Rank-Up Evolution skill on Camula’s vampire spirits, discovering that the power came from the King of the Netherworld’s Mark. One attempt succeeded and strengthened her clan members, but another failed and cost him 6,000 Emotion Points, leaving him wary of the skill’s price.

• Jiang He checked his system panel and found he had nearly 100,000 Emotion Points, much of the recent increase coming from duels with Yuma Tsukumo and Kite Tenjo.
• Jiang He asked Camula to provide two vampire spirits so he could test Rank-Up Evolution, and she reluctantly handed over her cards.
• Jiang He used the King of the Netherworld’s Mark to combine two Level 5 vampire guards into Vampire’s Red The Reaper, while one spirit emerged as the evolved monster Shadow Vampire.
• Camula stopped Jiang He from trying the skill on her aunt, Vampire Grace, so he chose a Level 6 guard and materialized Vampire’s Curse instead.
• Jiang He failed to evolve the replacement pair and lost 6,000 Emotion Points, realizing the skill’s low exchange cost came with a risk of costly failure.

Jiang He investigated a mysterious attack on a Duel Academy student and found Camula confronting the cloaked duelist responsible. The Shadow Duel had just begun, leaving Jiang He and the others watching to see what Camula would do.

• Jiang He tested Rank-Up Evolution and succeeded in evolving both vampires, learning that a failed attempt had no effect.
• Sphere Kuriboh and the Ojama Trio sensed a sinister presence that could seize Duel Monsters Spirits, so Jiang He headed toward the woods to investigate.
• Jiang He found an unconscious Obelisk Blue student, and Jaden Yuki, Chazz Princeton, Yuma Tsukumo, Astral, Alexis Rhodes, Akiza Izinski, Professor Crowler, and Vice Chancellor Bonaparte arrived.
• Jiang He suggested that the attacker had sent the infirmary a message to lure rescuers to the scene.
• An explosion drew everyone deeper into the woods, where they found Camula in a Shadow Duel with a cloaked woman who had a Moonlit Papillon on her field.

Camula used Vampire Empire to boost Vampire Lady and destroy Dextra’s Moonlit Papillon, but Dextra’s monster effect summoned Butterspy Protection from her Deck. Camula set two cards and ended her turn, leaving Dextra with a new monster on the field.

• Camula summoned Vampire Lady and activated the Field Spell Vampire Empire, transforming the clearing into a gloomy vampire landscape.
• Camula explained that Vampire Empire boosted Vampire Lady’s ATK by 500 when it attacked, then used it to destroy Dextra’s Moonlit Papillon.
• Dextra activated Moonlit Papillon’s effect after its destruction and Special Summoned Butterspy Protection from her Deck.
• Camula set two cards and ended her turn.

Dextra used Rain Forest to replace Camula’s field, raise her Life Points to 8000, and summon an Xyz monster. Her Photon monsters helped the spectators connect her group to Kite, and Camula ended Dextra’s attack with a Trap.

• Dextra activated Rain Forest, changing the field and raising her Life Points to 8000.
• Dextra summoned Swallowtail Butterspy, then overlaid it with Butterspy Protection to Xyz Summon Photon Papilloperative.
• Tori noticed Photon Papilloperative resembled Kite’s Photon monsters, and the spectators grew more certain that the cloaked man was Kite Tenjo.
• Dextra ordered Photon Papilloperative to attack Camula’s Vampire Lady.
• Camula activated Suspicious Red Moon, discarding a Zombie monster to restore Life Points equal to the attacker’s Attack and end the Battle Phase.

Dextra built a layered lockdown that forced Camula’s monsters into attacks, destroyed them, and drained her Life Points, while Camula searched for a way through. Dextra ended her turn confident that Camula was trapped, but Jiang He believed Camula’s newly acquired power could counter the strategy.

• Camula activated [Suspicious Red Moon], discarded a Vampire monster, and raised her Life Points to 6100 by blocking Dextra’s attack.
• Dextra activated [Butterfly Allure] and [Butterspy Gate], setting up a trap that destroyed Camula’s Attack Position monsters whether they attacked or not.
• Dextra paid 2000 LP to activate [Cocoon of Ultra Evolution], adding 1500 damage whenever a monster was destroyed, while [Rain Forest] threatened further damage if Camula failed to summon a monster.
• Syrus suggested Camula could summon monsters in Defense Position, but Alexis and Jack pointed out that Dextra’s effects could still destroy them.
• Dextra activated her set Continuous Trap [Final Attack Orders], forcing all face-up monsters into Attack Position, then ended her turn.
• Jiang He recognized that Dextra’s lockdown seemed complete but remained confident that Camula’s new power could counter it.

Camula used the newly empowered Shadow Vampire to summon Vampire Lord and Xyz Summon Crimson Knight Vampire Bram. As Dextra claimed her lockdown would destroy any monster, Camula prepared to reveal another effect of Shadow Vampire.

• Camula Tributed Vampire Lady to Tribute Summon Shadow Vampire, whose appearance surprised the duelists watching.
• Camula activated Shadow Vampire's effect to Special Summon Vampire Lord from her Deck.
• Camula overlaid the two Level 5 vampires to Xyz Summon Crimson Knight Vampire Bram, shocking the spectators.
• Jiang He noted that Vampire Lord had once again become a tool for Camula's stronger summon.
• Dextra said her life-point-draining lockdown would destroy Bram, but Camula began explaining another effect of Shadow Vampire.

Camula used Shadow Vampire’s attack restriction to evade Dextra’s Butterfly Allure lockdown, but Dextra countered by turning Crimson Knight Vampire Bram face-down and weakening it with her monsters’ effects. The duel continued with Bram reduced to 900 attack, leaving Camula in trouble.

• Camula set a card and ended her turn, forcing Dextra to pay 2,000 LP to maintain Cocoon of Ultra Evolution.
• Dextra used Pot of Greed to draw two cards, then summoned a second Butterspy Protection.
• Dextra activated Book of Moon to turn Camula’s Crimson Knight Vampire Bram face-down, removing its Xyz Materials.
• Dextra used Photon Papilloperative to flip Bram back into Attack Position and reduce its attack by 600.
• Dextra activated Butterspy Protection’s effect to reduce Bram’s attack and defense by another 1,000, leaving it with 900 attack.

Camula and Dextra traded attacks in a Shadow Duel, with Dextra using her Continuous Spells to damage both herself and Camula. Camula survived the assault and declared that she would not yield to Dextra.

• Dextra destroyed Camula’s [Crimson Knight Vampire Bram] with [Photon Papilloperative], then used [Cocoon of Ultra Evolution] to reduce Camula’s Life Points to 3400.
• Camula activated [Blood Sucker] to Special Summon [Vampire Familiar], then paid 500 LP to add [Vampire Desire] to her hand.
• Dextra attacked [Vampire Familiar] with [Butterspy Protection], destroying both monsters in battle.
• Dextra triggered [Cocoon of Ultra Evolution] again, reducing Camula’s Life Points to 1400 and her own to 2500.
• Camula told Dextra that she would not yield, claiming she had seen far more darkness.

Camula revived her vampire Xyz Monster, stole Dextra’s monster from the graveyard, and used it with a Vampire Lady to summon Dhampir Vampire Sheridan. Dextra believed her lockdown still prevented Camula from dealing damage, leaving Sheridan’s effect poised to challenge her confidence.

• Camula revived Crimson Knight Vampire Bram from her graveyard during the Standby Phase.
• Camula activated Monster Reborn and Special Summoned Dextra’s Butterspy Protection from Dextra’s graveyard.
• Camula summoned a second Vampire Lady and used Vampire Desire to raise the first Vampire Lady’s Level to 6.
• Camula Xyz Summoned Dhampir Vampire Sheridan using Vampire Lady and Butterspy Protection as Level 6 materials.
• Dextra insisted her life point depletion lockdown would prevent Camula from dealing damage, and Camula raised her hand.

Camula destroyed Dextra’s defenses and won their Shadow Duel, exposing Dextra as one of Heartland’s recommended students behind the attacks. Jiang He expected Dextra’s companions to respond, and that evening he spotted a redheaded intruder trying to pick the lock of his cabin.

• Camula used [Dhampir Vampire Sheridan] to destroy Dextra’s [Butterspy Gate], then attacked and defeated her with [Dhampir Vampire Sheridan] and [Crimson Knight Vampire Bram].
• Dextra was revealed beneath her torn cloak and turned into a doll, while Professor Crowler and Vice Chancellor Bonaparte recognized her as one of Mr. Heartland’s recommended students.
• Jiang He found a Darkness Card among Dextra’s fallen cards and concluded that her companions, Nistro and Kite Tenjo, had kept the other cards.
• That evening, Jiang He sensed someone outside his cabin and saw a burly figure in a black cloak trying to pick the lock.

Nistro confronted Jiang He to retrieve Dextra and recover the Number Darkness Cards, then challenged him to a Shadow Duel. The duel began with Nistro taking the first turn and setting four cards, leaving Jiang He and the gathered onlookers surprised.

• Ishizu, the Gravekeeper Assailant, attacked Nistro outside Jiang He's cabin, but his Darkness Card blocked her dagger and drove her back.
• Jiang He revealed that Dextra had been sealed inside a doll after losing a Shadow Duel, and Nistro offered five stolen Number Darkness Cards as his stake in a duel.
• Jiang He demanded that Nistro also be sealed if he lost, and Nistro accepted, confident that he had prepared his deck to counter Jiang He.
• Jaden Yuki, Chazz Princeton, and Yuma Tsukumo arrived as Jiang He and Nistro began their Shadow Duel with 4000 Life Points each.
• Nistro took the first turn, summoned Blade Bounzer, set four cards, and ended his turn.

Jiang He faced Nistro’s prepared counters, which negated his card-drawing effect and destroyed the monster he summoned. Nistro believed his remaining set cards could seal Jiang He’s back-row plays, leaving Jiang He under pressure as his turn continued.

• Jiang He activated Graceful Charity, but Nistro revealed Null and Void and sent the three drawn cards to the graveyard.
• Jiang He summoned Lifeless Leaffish in Defense Position and targeted it with its effect to summon another Fish monster from his Deck.
• Nistro activated Trap Hole and destroyed Lifeless Leaffish before it could use its effect.
• Nistro taunted Jiang He and revealed that his two remaining set cards were Cursed Seal of the Forbidden Spell, prepared to block Jiang He’s Spell and Trap Cards.

Jiang He revived Right-Hand Shark and Left-Hand Shark from his Graveyard, then used them to Xyz Summon Number 59: Crooked Cook during his Shadow Duel with Nistro. The unexpected Number stunned the spectators and left Astral suspecting Jiang He had created it himself.

• Jiang He Special Summoned Right-Hand Shark from his Graveyard using its effect.
• Jiang He Special Summoned Left-Hand Shark and raised its Level to four.
• Jiang He overlaid both Level 4 sharks to Xyz Summon Number 59: Crooked Cook.
• Yuma and the others were shocked to see Jiang He summon another Number, while Astral sensed it did not originate from his own power.
• Astral and the others suspected Jiang He had created Number 59 himself.

Jiang He summoned Number 59: Crooked Cook in Defense Position and ended his turn without setting any cards, leaving Nistro baffled and irritated. Nistro drew cards with Graceful Charity and Card of Compensation, then revived Phantom Bounzer and Tribute Summoned Hammer Bounzer, leaving two Level 6 monsters on his field.

• Jiang He Special Summoned two monsters from his Graveyard, Xyz Summoned Number 59: Crooked Cook in Defense Position, and ended his turn without setting cards.
• Nistro drew a card, complained about Jiang He's unusual strategy, and began his turn.
• Nistro activated Graceful Charity, drew three cards, and discarded Card of Compensation and Phantom Bounzer.
• Nistro activated Card of Compensation's effect to draw two cards and then used Monster Reborn to Special Summon Phantom Bounzer from his Graveyard.
• Nistro Tributed Blade Bounzer to Tribute Summon Hammer Bounzer, leaving two Level 6 monsters on his field.

Nistro summoned Photon Strike Bounzer and tried to counter Jiang He’s Number 59: Crooked Cook, but Raigeki failed to destroy the chef because it was unaffected by other card effects while Jiang He controlled no other cards. Nistro ended his turn after setting his last card, frustrated that Crooked Cook seemed difficult to remove.

• Nistro overlaid Hammer Bounzer and Phantom Bounzer to Xyz Summon Photon Strike Bounzer.
• Nistro explained that Photon Strike Bounzer could negate an opponent’s monster effect and inflict 1,000 damage, while Jiang He stayed unconcerned.
• Nistro activated Raigeki to destroy Jiang He’s monsters, but Number 59: Crooked Cook remained unharmed.
• Jiang He revealed that Crooked Cook was unaffected by other card effects while it was his only card on the field.
• Nistro set his final card and ended his turn, frustrated by Crooked Cook’s defenses.

Jiang He ended his turn without playing a card, relying on Number 59: Crooked Cook to defend him. Nistro summoned Number 30: Acid Golem of Destruction and attacked, but Crooked Cook blocked the blow and knocked it back, leaving Nistro stunned.

• Jiang He drew a card and immediately ended his turn without setting or summoning anything.
• Nistro drew cards with Pot of Greed, summoned Charging Captain, and used its effect to summon a second copy.
• Nistro overlaid the two Charging Captains to Xyz Summon Number 30: Acid Golem of Destruction.
• Nistro ordered Acid Golem of Destruction to attack Number 59: Crooked Cook.
• Crooked Cook blocked the attack with its iron pan and knocked Acid Golem away, and Nistro demanded to know why his Number monster could not destroy it.

Jiang He used Number 59: Crooked Cook’s battle immunity and card-effect immunity to leave Nistro unable to attack, then repeatedly drew and ended his turns. Nistro activated Respect Play to reveal Jiang He’s hand, exposing several strange monster cards and confirming his suspicions.

• Jiang He explained that Right-Hand Shark had given Number 59: Crooked Cook protection from battle destruction, leaving Nistro unable to overcome it.
• Nistro ended his turn, and Jiang He drew a card before immediately ending his own turn, frustrating the onlookers and Nistro.
• Nistro suspected Jiang He was using a particular deck, drew a card, and set another card before ending his turn.
• Jiang He drew again, and Nistro activated the continuous trap Respect Play to force both players to reveal their hands.
• Respect Play revealed Jiang He’s seven-card hand, including Sphere Kuriboh and three strange orange limb-part monsters, leaving Nistro stunned.

Jiang He used [Number 59: Crooked Cook] and hand-activated defenses to withstand Nistro’s attempts to counter him, while drawing closer to assembling Exodia the Forbidden One. The chapter ended with Jiang He revealing the fourth piece, leaving Nistro to face the imminent threat of Exodia.

• Nistro drew [Brain Control], but it could not affect Jiang He’s [Number 59: Crooked Cook].
• Nistro activated [Ring of Destruction] to destroy his own [Number 30: Acid Golem of Destruction], dealing 3,000 damage to himself and attempting to damage Jiang He.
• Jiang He discarded [Winged Kuriboh] from his hand to prevent all effect damage to himself that turn.
• Jiang He drew a card on his turn, and [Respect Play] revealed the fourth Exodia piece, [Right Arm of the Forbidden One].

Jiang He drew the final Exodia the Forbidden One piece and defeated Nistro in a Shadow Duel, sealing him and claiming his cards. Afterward, Alexis Rhodes warned that Mr. Heartland might make another move, and the group prepared for the threat posed by Kite Tenjo.

• Nistro revealed a second Null and Void Trap Card, hoping to stop Jiang He from using draw effects.
• Jiang He drew the final Exodia the Forbidden One piece with a normal draw and summoned Exodia.
• Exodia blasted Nistro, reducing his Life Points to zero and knocking him unconscious.
• Jiang He sealed Nistro and collected several Xyz Monster Cards as the others celebrated his victory.
• Alexis Rhodes noted that two of Mr. Heartland's subordinates had become hostages and wondered what Kite Tenjo would do next.
• Jack Atlas warned that Mr. Heartland was likely to act again because his forces had advanced technology and the ability to seize souls.

Jiang He bought the Dark Great Evil God Mark · Millennium Necklace Mark and considered the refreshed toxic deck options in the System Shop. He left the chapter weighing an Ultimate Falcon deck whose strategy weakened opposing monsters and drained Life Points.

• Jiang He decided to wait and see what Mr. Heartland and his opponents did before taking action.
• The next morning, Jiang He noticed Kite Tenjo was absent from the Xyz theory lesson and checked his System panel, finding he had 88,000 Emotion Points.
• Jiang He exchanged 5,000 points for the Dark Great Evil God Mark · Millennium Necklace Mark, briefly drawing Astral’s attention.
• Jiang He passed over the Shark Deck and examined the Ultimate Falcon Deck and Runick Deck as toxic strategy options.

Jiang He redeemed the Ultimate Falcon Deck and Runick Deck before learning that a second faction was hunting Number Xyz Monster Darkness Cards in Heartland City. When Mr. Heartland invited Duel Academy’s elites to the WDC tournament, Jiang He agreed to enter and investigate.

• Jiang He redeemed the Ultimate Falcon Deck and Runick Deck, intending to use them against Mr. Heartland’s next move.
• Professor Crowler and Vice Chancellor Bonaparte summoned Jiang He, Jaden Yuki, Yusei Fudo, and the others to Chancellor Sheppard’s office to discuss Heartland City.
• Chancellor Sheppard explained that someone from an unknown faction had attacked Industrial Illusions employees and taken their souls using Number Xyz Monster Darkness Cards.
• Jiang He recognized the hidden faction as the one led by Vetrix, who opposed Mr. Heartland and his ally.
• Chancellor Sheppard revealed that Mr. Heartland had invited Duel Academy’s elites to compete in the WDC tournament, and the group considered joining to help the students whose souls had been taken.
• Jiang He accepted the invitation, saying he would participate for the students’ safety.