{{Infobox/Yu-Gi-Oh!/Episodeepisode | series = Yu-Gi-Oh! GX | season = 4 | image name = Series168.jpg | image size en_name = | image caption = | english = | kanji ja_name = 卒業デュエル開始 ! ネオスVSホルスの黒炎竜 | romaji romaji_name = | japanese translated ja_trans_name = Opening of The Graduation DuelDuels Begin! Neos vs Versus Horus the Black Flame Dragon of Horus | episode number = 168 | japanese air date ja_air_date = January 4, 2008 | english air date en_air_date = | japanese opening ja_opening = [[Precious Time, Glory Days]] | japanese ending ja_ending = [[Endless Dream]] | featured card featured_card = Horus the Black Flame Dragon LV8| screenwriter = Shin Yoshida

'''"Opening of The Graduation DuelDuels Begin! Neos vs Versus Horus the Black Flame Dragon of Horus"''' is the one hundred and sixty-eighth episode of the ''[[Yu-Gi-Oh! GX]]'' anime. It first aired in Japan on January 4, 2008.

{{episode summary|[[Duel Academy]]'s Graduation Duels begins, and [[Jaden Yuki|Jaden]] [[Duel]]s a second-year student named [[Taigo Daigo Sorano]]. Meanwhile, [[Trueman]]'s attack begins in [[Domino City]], where he begins absorbing residents into the [[World of Darkness]].}}

In [[Domino City]], a small boy named [[Tsutomu]] cries, bemoaning the fact that he can't become stronger as a Duelist. His eyes briefly glow blue, and a strong wind comes through his window, blowing his cards onto the ground. He goes to pick them up and his "[[Gigobyte (anime)|Gigobyte]]" card turns black. [[Trueman]] appears before him and informs him that his grief, anger and pain has tainted the card. He recommends that Tsutomu accept the darkness in his heart - in this way, he'll become stronger. Trueman disappears, taking the form of the whirlwind of black cards again, and engulfs Tsutomu. His parents go to check on him, and Tsutomu tells them not to worry, but to follow him to the [[World of Darkness]].

When [[Jaden Yuki|Jaden]] returns to the [[Slifer Red]] dorm, he finds a group of students waiting for him. A second-year [[Obelisk Blue]] student named [[Taigo Daigo Sorano]] challenges him, stating he's always dreamed of Dueling Jaden and informs him that the large group of second-year Obleisk Blue and [[Ra Yellow]] students behind him also wish to Duel him. At the Obelisk Blue dorm, [[Alexis Rhodes|Alexis]], [[Syrus Truesdale|Syrus]] and [[Chazz Princeton|Chazz]] find themselves similarly popular targets, as students crowd around, wishing to Duel them. [[Atticus Rhodes|Atticus]] is also attempting to find an opponent, and is then cornered by what appears to be the entirety of the girl's dorm, save Alexis, who all wish to Duel him.

The Duel between Jaden and Sorano begins, and Sorano mentally thinks that he's studied Jaden's strategy and believes he has a counter that can defeat him. Sorano is playing a [[Horus Lockdown]] Deck, and Summoned "[[Horus the Black Flame Dragon LV8 (anime)|Horus the Black Flame Dragon LV8]]" by the end of his first turn. This card can negate the activation of [[Spell Card]]s, so Sorano believes that will prove to be the key victory, since much of Jaden's strategy revolves around "[[Polymerization (anime)|Polymerization]]". [[Axel Brodie|Axel]] is sitting a van in Domino City, several computer monitors around him detailing the residents of Domino. One by one, the names of the residents begin to vanish. He calls [[KaibaCorp]], but there is no answer, and it shows a list of employees on clipboard, which vanish one by vanish, leaving only [[Seto Kaiba]]'s name behind. The city appears completely empty save for Axel himself.

At the Duel, Jaden plays "[[E - Emergency Call (anime)|E - Emergency Call]]", which is negated by "[[Horus the Black Flame Dragon LV8|Horus]]", but Jaden reveals he knew that would happen, and uses the opportunity to [[Removed from playBanish|remove]] "[[E - Emergency Call]]" from play to [[Special Summon]] "[[Spell Striker (later anime)|Spell Striker]]". Sorano then seals the effect of [[Trap Card]]s with "[[Royal Decree (anime)|Royal Decree]]", and reduces Jaden to 1000 [[Life Points]]. He then activates "[[Sealer Formation]]" to add "Stop Defense" to his hand during his Draw Phase. He is happy and confident since on his next turn he'll finally defeat Jaden. Jaden however says that he has evolved his dueling since he first got to the academy. He then wins by using "[[Contact Out (anime)|Contact Out]]" to Special Summon "[[Elemental Hero Neos (anime)|Elemental Hero Neos]]" and "[[Neo-Spacian Flare Scarab (anime)|Neo-Spacian Flare Scarab]]" after destroying "[[Horus the Black Flame Dragon LV8|Horus]]" with "[[Elemental Hero Flare Neos (anime)|Elemental Hero Flare Neos]]" via Contact Fusion (which does not use any Spell or Trap cards). After his loss, Sorano wanders through the forest, wondering how his calculations failed him. Because of his anger, his Deck turns black, and Trueman appears before him. Sorano questions who he is, and he responds that he was awakened from the darkness of Sorano's heart. He changes his form, now looking identical to Sorano himself, and states he'll need to get rid of the original. He activates his [[Duel Disk]].

Jaden defeats a Ra Yellow student using "[[Elemental Hero Sparkman (anime)|Elemental Hero Sparkman]]" and then notices a flock of black birds over the forest. Trueman defeats Sorano, attacking directly with "[[Dark Archetype (anime)|Dark Archetype]]" to win. The black birds swoop down on him. Jaden has a vision as his eyes change to the bichromatic style of [[Yubel (character)|Yubel]], and he sees Sorano and other students engulfed in blackness and asking for help. His next Duel is supposed to start, but Jaden tells them all they'll have to continue tomorrow, and calls [[Tyranno Hassleberry]] to follow him. The two run off. They arrive where Sorano was defeated by Trueman, and find a pile of black-tainted cards. Jaden receives a call from Axel, who informs him of the strange going-ons in Domino City, and requests Jaden join him there. Jaden tells Hassleberry to locate Sorano, and runs off towards the docks. On his way, he calls Chancellor Sheppard, telling him it's an emergency, and he's borrowing one of the school's speedboats. Axel sees Tsutomu and attempts to question him on what's happening as he's the only resident Axel has located. Tsumotu runs, and leads him into a trap. He's surrounded by what appear to clones of Tsutomu, and they merge into their true form - Trueman.

==Featured Duel: Duels=====Jaden Yuki vs. Taigo Daigo Sorano===<u>'''Turn 1: Jaden'''</u><br>* Jaden draws "[[Normal SummonDandylion (later anime)|SummonsDandylion]] "and subsequently [[DandylionNormal Summon]]" s it (300/300) in [[Defense Position]].* He then [[Set]]s a card.<br/>

<u>'''Turn 2: Sorano'''</u><br>* Sorano draws. He then Normal Summons "[[Horus the Black Flame Dragon LV4 (anime)|Horus the Black Flame Dragon LV4]]" (1600/1000)in Attack Position.* Sorano then [[Activateactivate]]s "[[Level Up! (anime)|Level Up!]]", sending to send "Horus the Black Flame Dragon LV4" to the [[Graveyard]] to and [[Special Summon]] "[[Horus the Black Flame Dragon LV6]]" (2300/1600anime) in [[Attack Position]] while [[ignoring the summoning conditions]].* "|Horus the Black Flame Dragon LV6" attacks and destroys "[[Dandylion]]", which, when sent to the Graveyard, Special Summons two "[[Fluff Token]]s" (02300/0 each1600) in Defense Position and under Jaden's control.* [[SetAttack Position]]s a card.* During the while [[End Phase]], since it destroyed a monster in battle this turn, Sorano sends "Horus ignoring the Black Flame Dragon LV6" to the Graveyard to Special Summon "[[Horus the Black Flame Dragon LV8Summoning conditions]]" (3000/1800).<br/>

<u>'''Turn 3: "Horus the Black Flame Dragon LV6" attacks and destroys "Dandylion". The effect of "Dandylion" then activates, letting Jaden'''</u>* Summons Special Summon two "[[Cross PorterFluff Token (anime)|Fluff Tokens]]" (4000/4000 each) in Defense Position.* Activates "Sorano [[E - Emergency CallSet]]": This enables Jaden to add an "s a card. On Sorano's [[Elemental HERO|Elemental HeroEnd Phase]]" monster from his Deck to his hand.* Sorano uses , the second effect of "Horus the Black Flame Dragon LV8LV6": activates, letting Sorano send "E - Emergency CallHorus the Black Flame Dragon LV6" is [[negate]]d to the Graveyard and [[destroy]]ed.* [[Banish]]es "E - Emergency Call" from his Graveyard to Special Summon "[[Spell StrikerHorus the Black Flame Dragon LV8 (anime)|Horus the Black Flame Dragon LV8]]" (6003000/2001800) in Attack Position.* "Spell Striker" attacks Sorano [[Direct attack|directly]] due to its own effect (Sorano: 4000 → 3400).<br/>

<u>'''Turn 43: SoranoJaden'''</u><br>* Activates "[[Stop Defense]]", switching 1 of Jaden's draws "[[Fluff TokenCross Porter (anime)|Cross Porter]]" to Attack and subsequently Normal Summons it (400/400) in Defense Position.* He then activates "[[Horus the Black Flame Dragon LV8E - Emergency Call (anime)|E - Emergency Call]]" attacks the Attack Position to add an "[[Fluff TokenElemental HERO|Elemental Hero]]".* Jaden activates monster from his Deck to his face-down "[[Secret Mission]]"hand, which negates but Sorano activates the attack. Afterwards, he chooses its first effect to end of "Horus the [[Battle Phase]].* Activates the [[Continuous Trap Card|Continuous Trap]] Black Flame Dragon LV8"[[Royal Decree]]to negate and destroy ": The effects of all other [[Trap Cards]] are negated while it is [[faceE -up]] on the field, so "Secret MissionEmergency Call" is no longer in effect.* Jaden then removes from play "HorusE - Emergency Call" continues its attack, destroying the Attack Position "Fluff Tokenfrom his Graveyard in order to Special Summon " (Jaden: 4000 → 1000).* Activates the [[Continuous Spell CardStriker (later anime)|Continuous SpellStriker]] "[[Sealer Formation]](600/200) in Attack Position. "Spell Striker", which, instead of attacks [[draw a cardDirect attack|drawing a card]] during his [[Draw Phase]directly], would let him add a "[[Seal]]" card from his Graveyard due to his [[hand]]its own effect (Sorano 4000 → 3400).<br/>

<u>'''Turn 54: JadenSorano'''</u><br>* Activates Sorano draws "[[Cross PorterStop Defense (anime)|Stop Defense]]" and subsequently activates it to switch one of Jaden's" Fluff Token" to Attack Position. "Horus the Black Flame Dragon LV8" attacks the Attack Position "Fluff Token", but Jaden activates his face-down "[[Secret Mission]]", which will let him choose on either making Sorano attack one random monster on his side of the field or end the Battle Phase. Sorano, in response, activates his face-down "[[Royal Decree (anime)|Royal Decree]]", whose effect: By negates the effects of all other [[Trap Cards]] while it is [[sendface-up]]ing another monster he on the field. "Horus the Black Flame Dragon LV8" then destroys the Attack Position "Fluff Token" (Jaden 4000 → 1000).  Sorano then activates "[[controlSealer Formation]]". Now during each of Sorano's to the GraveyardDraw Phases, he can add a "[[Special SummonSeal]] " card from his Graveyard to his hand instead of conducting a normal draw. Sorano intends to add "Stop Defense" from his Graveyard to his hand and use it to help him win the Duel. <u>'''Turn 5: Jaden'''</u><br>Jaden draws "[[Neo-SpacianFlare Scarab (anime)|Neo-Spacian Flare Scarab]]" monster from his . Jaden's hand. contains "[[Spell StrikerElemental Hero Neos (anime)|Elemental Hero Neos]]" is targeted for the cost, while and "[[Contact Out (anime)|Contact Out]]". Jaden then activates the effect of "Cross Porter" to send "Spell Striker" to his Graveyard and Special Summon "Neo-Spacian Flare Scarab]]" (500/500) is targeted from his handin Attack Position.* Jaden then [[Tribute]]s his remaining "[[Fluff Token]]" and his "[[Cross Porter]]" in order to Tribute Summon "[[Elemental HERO Neos|Elemental Hero Neos]]" (2500/2000)in Attack Position. * Jaden then Contact Fuses "[[Elemental HERO Neos|Neos]]" and with "[[Neo-Spacian Flare Scarab|Flare Scarab]]" return to Jaden's Deck, allowing him in order to [[Special Summon]] "[[Elemental HERO Hero Flare Neos(anime)|Elemental Hero Flare Neos]]" (2500/2000) in Attack Position. * Due to the effect of "Flare Neos" , it gains 400 ATK for each [[Spell Card|Spell]] and [[Trap Card|Trap]] on the field, and there are currently 2 two ("Flare Neos": 2500 → 3300/2000).* "Flare Neos" attacks and destroys "Horus the Black Flame Dragon LV8" (Sorano: 3400 → 3100).* Activates Jaden then activates "[[Contact Out]]", returning to return "Flare Neos" to the [[Extra Deck|Fusion Deck]] to and Special Summon "[[Neo-Spacian Flare Scarab|Flare Scarab]]" (500/500) and "[[Elemental HERO Neos|Neos]]" (2500/2000) from his Deck to the field, both in Attack Position.* Due to the effect of "Flare Scarab" , it gains 400 ATK for each Spell and Trap on Sorano's side of the opponent's Spells and Traps field ("Flare Scarab": 500 → 1300/500)."Flare Scarab" and "Neos" attack directly (Sorano 3100 → 1800 → 0). * ===Jaden Yuki vs. Ra Yellow student===Duel already in progress. [[Jaden Yuki|Jaden]] controls "[[Neo-Spacian Flare ScarabElemental Hero Sparkman (anime)|Flare ScarabElemental Hero Sparkman]]" (1600/1400) in [[Attack Position]], while the student controls no cards and has 300 [[Life Points]]. <u>'''Jaden's turn'''</u><br>"Sparkman" attacks [[Direct attack|directly]] (Student 300 → 0). ===Trueman vs. Daigo Sorano===Duel already in progress. [[Trueman]] controls "[[Dark Archetype (anime)|Dark Archetype]]"(1400/400) in [[Elemental HERO NeosAttack Position]], while [[Daigo Sorano|NeosSorano]] controls no cards and has 400 [[Life Points]]. <u>'''Trueman's turn'''</u><br>" Dark Archetype" attacks [[Direct attack Sorano |directly ]] (Sorano: 3100 → 1800 400 → 0) . * Jaden wins.

|normal monsters =<u>Normal Monsters</u>* [[Gigobyte (anime)|Gigobyte]]<u>Effect Monsters</u>|effect monsters =* [[Dandylion (later anime)|Dandylion]]* ''[[Eria the Water Charmer (anime)|Eria the Water Charmer]]''* ''[[Mother Grizzly (anime)|Mother Grizzly]]''* ''[[Unshaven Angler (anime)|Unshaven Angler]]''

* ''[[Big Wave Small Wave (anime)|Big Wave Small Wave]]''* ''[[Salvage (anime)|Salvage]]''

* [[DNA Surgery (anime)|DNA Surgery]]* ''[[Spiritual Water Art - Aoi (anime)|Spiritual Water Art - Aoi]]''

|normal monsters =<u>Normal Monsters</u>* [[Dark Magician (anime)|Dark Magician]]<u>Effect Monsters</u>|effect monsters =* [[Archfiend Beast of Gilfer (anime)|Beast of Gilfer]]* [[Catapult Turtle (later anime)|Catapult Turtle]]* [[Dark Magician Girl (anime)|Dark Magician Girl]]* [[Kuriboh (anime)|Kuriboh]]* [[Valkyrion the Magna Warrior (anime)|Valkyrion the Magna Warrior]]<u>Ritual Monsters</u>|ritual monsters =* [[Magician of Black Chaos (anime)|Magician of Black Chaos]]

* [[Diffusion Wave-Motion (anime)|Diffusion Wave-Motion]]* [[Lightforce Sword (anime)|Lightforce Sword]]* [[Polymerization (anime)|Polymerization]]* [[Swords of Revealing Light (anime)|Swords of Revealing Light]]* [[Thousand Knives (anime)|Thousand Knives]]

* [[Magic Cylinder (later anime)|Magic Cylinder]]* [[Mirror Force (later anime)|Mirror Force]]* [[Mystical Refpanel (anime)|Mystical Refpanel]]

|normal monsters =<u>Normal Monsters</u>* [[Elemental Hero Neos (anime)|Elemental Hero Neos]]* [[Elemental Hero Sparkman (anime)|Elemental Hero Sparkman]]<u>Effect Monsters</u>|effect monsters =* ''[[Cross Porter (anime)|Cross Porter]]''* [[Dandylion (later anime)|Dandylion]]* [[Neo-Spacian Flare Scarab (anime)|Neo-Spacian Flare Scarab]]* [[Spell Striker (later anime)|Spell Striker]]<u>Fusion Monsters</u>|fusion monsters =* [[Elemental Hero Flare Neos (anime)|Elemental Hero Flare Neos]]

* [[Contact Out (anime)|Contact Out]]* [[E - Emergency Call (anime)|E - Emergency Call]]

<br />{{Decklist|Taigo Daigo Sorano|effect monsters =<u>Effect Monsters</u>* ''[[Horus the Black Flame Dragon LV4 (anime)|Horus the Black Flame Dragon LV4]]''* ''[[Horus the Black Flame Dragon LV6 (anime)|Horus the Black Flame Dragon LV6]]''* ''[[Horus the Black Flame Dragon LV8 (anime)|Horus the Black Flame Dragon LV8]]''

* [[Level Up! (anime)|Level Up!]]

* [[Stop Defense (anime)|Stop Defense]]

* [[Royal Decree (anime)|Royal Decree]]

|effect monsters =<u>Effect Monsters</u>* [[Dark Archetype (anime)|Dark Archetype]]

The names of [[Trueman's victims]] include many characters from the [[Yu-Gi-Oh! (first series anime)|first ]] or [[Yu-Gi-Oh! (second series anime)|second]]''Yu-Gi-Oh'' anime series, including [[Miho Nosaka]], [[Tetsu Trudge|Tetsu Ushio]] and [[Koji "the Spider" Nagumo|Koji Nagumo]] and [[Tetsu Trudge|Tetsu Ushio]].