Ep 26. Mirror, Mirror Part I

Jaden and friends are back at Duel Academy for another semester of intense card battling, but things quickly take a turn when a strange new phenomenon starts affecting the students. One by one, they begin to disappear, replaced by identical copies of themselves. Jaden is quickly caught up in the chaos, and he soon finds himself face-to-face with his own doppleganger. The two engage in a tense duel, each using the same deck and strategies, but Jaden quickly realizes that his mirror self is no ordinary opponent – it seems to know every move he's going to make before he even makes it.

As the day goes on, more and more students vanish and are replaced by their identical copies. Some seem to embrace their newfound power, becoming more ruthless and aggressive than ever before, while others are terrified of what their mirror selves might do next. Jaden and his friends quickly realize that they need to get to the bottom of this mystery before it's too late, and they begin to investigate the source of the strange phenomenon.

Their search leads them deep into the heart of Duel Academy, where they discover a hidden chamber filled with ancient artifacts and strange machines. At the center of the room lies a massive mirror that seems to pulse with a strange, otherworldly energy. Jaden and his friends quickly realize that this mirror is the source of the problem – it's somehow creating copies of anyone who looks into it, and these copies are slowly taking over the school.

But before they can shut the mirror down, Jaden and the others are confronted by a shadowy figure in a cloak, who reveals himself to be the mastermind behind the whole plot. He explains that he's been working on a powerful new card that he believes will revolutionize the world of Duel Monsters, but he needs test subjects to perfect it. That's where the mirror comes in – anyone who looks into it becomes the perfect test subject, allowing him to gather the data he needs to finish his card.

Jaden and his friends are disgusted by this revelation, and they vow to put a stop to the mastermind's plans. But they soon realize that it won't be easy – the mirror has turned the entire school against them, and they're vastly outnumbered. Jaden falls back on his instincts as a duelist, and he challenges the mastermind to a high-stakes duel for the fate of the school.

The two engage in a fierce back-and-forth, each using every trick in their arsenal. The mastermind seems to have the upper hand for much of the duel, but Jaden refuses to give up. Just when it seems like all hope is lost, he draws the card he's been waiting for – a powerful new monster that he's been working on for months.

The card allows him to turn the tables on the mastermind, and he ultimately emerges victorious. With the mirror shut down and the mastermind defeated, Jaden and his friends breathe a sigh of relief. But they know that this is just the beginning – there will always be new threats to Duel Academy, and they'll need to be ready for whatever comes their way.