YuGiOh! 5D's: The Ark Cradle Arc Rewrite

by GoldenUmi

The Ark Cradle arc from the anime in a way you have never seen it before. The story starts the same, but shifts completely in the second chapter. This story is the prequel to the "Beyond the Future" sequel I am also writing. Contains slight crossovers that will lead into my sequel, Beyond the Future, and other planned works. But these crossovers are not the main focus.

2. Facing Death

Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's: The Ark Cradle Rewrite

Chapter 2: "Facing Death"

"Yusei, you die when you come to the Ark Cradle. I have seen the future."

A long silence fell over Yusei and his friends as the weight of Sherry's words settled in. The only sound that could be heard was the sound of the wind dancing through the empty streets surrounding them. After a few moments, Aki broke the silence.

"Yusei's... going to die?"

Sherry nodded to her through the video screen on Yusei's D-Wheel.

"That will be Yusei's future, if he comes to the Ark Cradle. I met someone who has shown me this future."

"Yusei's gonna die?" Crow sounded irritated as he addressed the woman. "You're talking as if you're our enemy! Who the hell showed you such a vague future?!"

"Z-one," Sherry said in a flat tone.

"Z-one?" Yusei eyed his friend with questioning eyes.

"He's the master of the Ark Cradle. He's a man holding the power of God. Yusei, he's the man we met in the other dimension."

Yusei immediately thought back to a vision he, Sherry, and Bruno all shared at the Public Security Maintenance Bureau. It all happened too abruptly to make out the details, but Yusei distinctively recalled the fierce looking eyes that pierced his gaze on that day.

"He's... Z-one?"

"So he's the one controlling Yliaster?" Jack folded his arms as he pondered over his own question.

"All that Z-one is doing is righteous. If you try to save Neo Domino City, Yusei, you will die. And the world's future will be lead to destruction!"

Yusei ran toward his D-Wheel and gazed right into Sherry's eyes through his video screen.

"Sherry! Are you saying you're willing to destroy Neo Domino City?! If you do that, thousands...no, millions of lives will be lost in the process!"

"But by sacrificing that number, billions of lives will be saved instead. And Yusei, that includes your life as well."

"There's no way there can be happiness in a future obtained by sacrificing so many people! Destroying Neo Domino City is the wrong way to go!"

Sherry lowered her brow. "You'll be walking right into your death."

"I won't know that unless I try."

Mizoguchi stepped in front of Yusei so he could speak with Sherry. "My Lady! Where are you right now?!"

"I'm currently on the Ark Cradle."

"So you mean he's holding you hostage...?!"

"No. I am here of my own free will. Mizoguchi, I suggest you forget me." Sherry's dark tone sent a chill down Mizoguchi's spine.

"My Lady...!" The butler tried to hide his sorrow, but it was written all over his face.

"Yusei, if you do not refrain from entering the Ark Cradle, I will do everything in my power to take you out."

"What did you just say?!" Jack yelled at the woman while he shook his fists. "So you're our enemy now, is that it?!"

"I am..." The woman nodded solemnly to her former friends.

"But why, Sherry?!" Yusei met her intense eyes with his. "Don't you hate Yliaster?!"

"After seeing the future, I changed my mind. I'm different from all of you."

Leaving those words, Sherry faded from Yusei's video screen.

"My Lady!" Mizoguchi shouted at the top of his lungs, but to no avail.

"Sherry..." Yusei's voice quivered slightly as he stared at the blank screen.

BREAK

Up in the Ark Cradle, Z-one watched the scenery of Neo Domino City intently, appearing to be in deep thought. The video was noticeably upside down, as the Ark Cradle's perception of the city was in reverse. Z-one was removed from his thoughts when he heard Sherry's echoing footsteps. He cocked his metal head enough to look in Sherry's direction.

"You told Yusei everything, I presume?"

"Yes. But I'm certain he'll still be coming. He's not the type of man who would be scared of his own destiny."

"Then why bother telling him about his fated death?"

Sherry turned her gaze down to her feet as she continued. "It was simple courtesy toward my friend. It was also testimony of my parting with him." Pausing for a brief moment, Sherry lifted her head once more. Her expression was intense and frightening. "Because I'm going to kill him."

Z-one was about to say something when another pair of footsteps interrupted the two. Paradox entered the room, wearing a new outfit. He was dressed from head to toe in white and black, matching Sherry. He also wore a black cape with spikes on the shoulder area.

"I've heard enough, Z-one. It's obvious that Team 5D's will come here. If my calculations are correct, we have an hour at best before they find a way. Standing around here won't solve anything. I suggest we begin preparations immediately."

Z-one released a long sigh, momentarily closing his eyes. He opened them once more, looking more serious than he was a moment before. "Very well, Paradox. I'm listening."

BREAK

The streets of Neo Domino City were quickly filled to the maximum capacity by its citizens. Japanese people, including young children, walked on foot toward the city's exit.

Inside the Public Security Maintenance Bureau building, the members of Team 5D's stood in silence as they watched Yeager pace around the room impatiently. They were all dressed in different outfits. Yusei was wearing another blue jacket and grey underclothes. Aki wore red and white clothing, consisting of a dark red short skirt, long, black stockings, and a white blouse. Crow sported a dark brown vest over his orange T-shirt and his dark green pants. Rua and Ruka wore matching outfits that consisted of an opened hoodie jacket over an undershirt and baggy shorts. Rua's outfit had shades of blue while Ruka's had shades of pink and red. Bruno was wearing a white, blue, and yellow jacket over a pair of blue jeans. Jack had simply replaced his torn jacket with a new one that looked nearly identical. He also threw on a pair of raggedy jeans.

Yeager rubbed his hand over his chin as he pondered aloud.

"Whatever shall we do?! Even if we could crash into the Ark Cradle with a positive rotation, we do not know if it will be able to stop it. The only working Momentum we have right now is within the D-Wheels of Team 5D's and Team Ragnarok! And the Old Momentum rotating in reverse. I wonder if we could somehow use the energy from Old Momentum?"

"We can't use Momentum Minus Energy emitted from a reverse rotation!" Jack snapped. "Are you trying to start another Zero Reverse?!"

"If we could get up there somehow..." Yusei's voice trailed off in mid-sentence.

Crow shrugged, seeming a bit pessimistic. "All the helicopters and airplanes we've got rely on Momentum as the power source. We've got no way of flying up there."

"Even so, there must be a way we can get up there."

"What makes you think so, Yusei?" This was Jack asking.

"Sherry saw me go there in her vision of the future. That means I must get up there using a different method."

Bruno smiled and raised his index finger. "That's a positive way of looking at it."

"Right. Now we just need to find out what that method is."

A quivering voice cut in.

"I... think it would be better if we don't find out what the method is..."

Crow and Yusei dropped their conversation and turned to where Rua was speaking. He did not look at either of them, but instead looked at the floor as he spoke. Ruka looked notably depressed as well, sulking next to her brother. Aki was attempting to comfort them, as she had her hands on their shoulders.

"Because if he goes up there," Rua continued, "Yusei's gonna die, right?! We don't need to find a way to cause something like that!"

"Rua..." Yusei said, his voice expressing concern.

Rua left Aki and ran over to Yusei. Ruka immediately did the same.

"I don't want you to die, Yusei!"

"Me either!" Ruka mimicked her brother's actions.

Fresh tears began to pour out of the small boy's eyes. "Neo Domino City won't be saved by you doing tha-"

Rua was cut off by Jack, who grabbed him by his shirt and pulled him up to meet his eyes.

"Quit it with the useless complaints! I'll stop whatever that woman saw in the future! I won't let Yusei die!" Jack shook the child violently as he spoke, which only served to intensify his weeping.

"Jack!" Yusei called over to the man, wearing a look of concern.

Yeager darted over between the group. "J-J-Jack! Stop this at once! He's a child!"

Jack finally placed Rua on the ground. He then proceeded to scoff, folding his arms against his chest stubbornly.

Ruka moved toward her crying brother, looking on the verge of tears herself. Various emotions consumed the room as Yusei knelt before the child. He began to speak to him in a comforting voice.

"Rua, don't worry. Jack's right. I won't die."

Unable to contain them any longer, Ruka's tears emerged. She ran into Yusei's chest. Rua followed his sister. Yusei quietly placed his arms around the twins, whispering in their ears words of comfort.

"It'll be all right..."

Aki reached her limit as well, but she had no one to hold onto. She swallowed her tears and turned away painfully, shutting her eyes tight.

Silence befell everyone in the room. The only sounds that could be heard were Rua and Ruka, who continued to sob into Yusei's chest. This continued for many more minutes until their tears ran dry.

BREAK

The evacuation throughout Neo Domino City continued. Those who were fortunate enough to have transportation, such as Martha's group, were far ahead of the group. The children watched quietly as thousands walked on foot outside their bus. Among them, Carly stopped to look up at the Ark Cradle.

"Our city is..." Carly closed her eyes and began to pray. "Jack… Please be safe..."

Yusei now sat by himself in the lower level of the Pubic Security Maintenance Bureau. He left Rua and Ruka with the rest, asking for some time alone. He stared out the window at the ominous fortress floating above them.

Yusei's thoughts wandered, bringing him to the words of his deceased father. He met his father's wandering spirit in the other dimension when he traveled there with Sherry and Bruno. His father approached him to talk about the Ark Cradle when Yusei initially saw a vision of the destroyed future.

"Yusei, you have to stay away from that place! It's the Final Momentum leading to the destruction of mankind."

Yusei closed his eyes as his father's words echoed in his ears.

"Father, I've made up my mind," Yusei thought. "I won't let a disaster like the Zero Reverse happen in this city ever again. Even if it costs me my life..."

"Yusei…"

Yusei opened his eyes to see Harald, Brave, and Dragan standing in front of him. They were dressed in their Riding Suits, colorful outfits that had feathers sticking out of the shoulder areas. They had the initial 'R' painted on the left side of their chests.

"We need to speak with you."

"Team Ragnarok!"

"Starting right now," Harald continued, "we will use our own hands to build you a bridge to the Ark Cradle."

"What? You can do something like that?!"

Brave grinned, flashing Yusei a thumps-up. "Not alone, but we've got someone with the tool we need to do it."

As Brave spoke, another man stepped in. He had neatly trimmed, blue hair.

"You're from Team Black Baron." Yusei blinked, recalling the man they met earlier during the dinner party.

"Greetings, Yusei Fudo," the man started confidently. "I was unable to properly introduce myself earlier. My name is Siegfried Von Schroeder III."

"Schroeder? From the German gaming industry?"

"Yes, that is the one. I'm pleased that you know of me. My father, Siegfried Von Schroeder II, left behind the first Duel Monsters deck to focus on Norse Mythology. Ever since then, the archetype has evolved rapidly to what you see today. Though the cards held by my good friends of Team Ragnarok may indeed be more powerful, there is one card they do not own."

"What card is that?"

Sieg lifted a Magic Card from the top of his deck and showed it to Yusei. It had a picture of a rainbow in the image box. "This."

Yusei carefully read the Kanji written atop the card. "The Rainbow Bridge Bifrost?"

Harald nodded. "As it states in our Norse Mythology, the world of deities is connected to the world human beings dwell in by the Rainbow Bridge Bifrost."

"Though it's not the original," Sieg explained, "this is a card my father created himself before passing away. He left behind his legacy in the modern Duel Monsters world. I hold this before you with great pride."

"I see…"

Harald picked up where he left off. "The world the humans dwell in is known as Midgard in Norse mythology. And it is said that the God of Light, Heimdallur, stands guardian at the base of Bifrost. In present day, he is called the 'Candor of Light'."

"The Candor of Light...?" Yusei's eyes widened as he suddenly realized something. "You don't mean...! Are you talking about Old Momentum?!"

"I am. We will use the energy emitted by Old Momentum to manifest Bifrost."

"Using our D-Wheels and the power of the three Lords of Aesir," Dragan said, "we can turn the Minus Energy emitting from Old Momentum into a path."

"And this is the area you'll be riding over." Brave pulled a digital map from his pocket. He pressed a button that revealed a map in the form of a hologram. Yusei noted the area that was highlighted in red.

"That's…the Daedalus Bridge!"

BREAK

On the upper floor, Bruno was typing on his keyboard rapidly. His video phone suddenly vibrated, as an image of Yusei appeared on the icon. Bruno picked the phone up, pressed a button, and placed it against his ear.

"What's up?"

"I want you to do something for me. Without letting the others notice, come to the lower floor."

"Okay. Understood."

Bruno hung up his phone and quietly stood up. As he made his way to the door, Jack called over to him.

"Where are you going?"

Bruno stopped and hesitated for a moment. "Wha...? U-Uh, just gotta use the bathroom." Mustering a fake smile, he quickly exited the room through the swinging doors.

BREAK

Yusei, Siegfried, and Team Ragnarok relocated in a small storage shed in the back of the Public Security Maintenance Center building. Bruno was also with them, and he smiled as he watched Dragan carry a small generator over and set it on the ground.

"Using the power of the Old Momentum along with the power of the three Lords of Aesir is an impressive idea. I didn't think of it."

Harald stood next to Yusei. "Yusei, as someone who defeated a Yliaster in the W.R.G.P., you should be able to save this world. No matter what it takes, we will get you onto the Ark Cradle. That is our destiny."

Yusei chuckled lightly before offering a warm smile. "You sure love destiny."

"Hey! I found something useful!"

The men turned toward Brave, who was pushing a deserted ice cream cart in their direction.

"Good." Dragan used the cart to set the engine in.

Bruno got to work, tying the engine inside the cart with a rope. "There."

"Guess we'll manage with this," Brave said.

Bruno then used three more ropes to tie the cart to the end of the three D-Wheels being driven by Team Ragnarok. Bruno gave them a thumbs-up and grinned excitedly. "Okay. All set."

Yusei nodded and started his engine. "Let's set off."

Bruno stood on the end of the cart while Siegfried stood opposite to him, his back turned against Team Ragnarok. On Yusei's signal, Team Ragnarok started their D-Wheels and began to drag the cart, Bruno and Siegfried along with it, up the road. Yusei followed them on his D-Wheel.

Sieg spoke to Yusei, raising his voice so Yusei would hear him over the sound of the wind.

"Yusei, you should be aware that I haven't tested The Rainbow Bridge Bifrost out yet. Even I'm not sure what will happen if you attempt to do this."

"It doesn't matter. I have to try."

Siegfried smiled to himself. "I see. You are just the kind of man I thought you were." Sieg said this so Yusei couldn't hear. Bruno's sharp hearing allowed him to hear this comment, however, and he sulked. As if he knew something the others didn't, he stared up at the Ark Cradle with sad, yet resolved, eyes.

BREAK

Aki was awoken from her deep state of thought by a light beep emitted from the computer in front of her. She looked up and noticed a red dot moving on the map. She leaned forward and began to type swiftly, zooming in on the location. As she did this, an image of Yusei appeared on the screen as he rode down the highway.

Aki gasped. "That's...Yusei!"

"Where's he headed?" Crow asked.

Jack began to tap the keyboard as well, switching the computer to tracking mode. The red dot began to move toward the area of the Daedalus Bridge.

"His destination's Satellite?"

Yusei received a call from Jack on his D-Wheel's video phone. He looked down to see Jack glaring at him through his screen.

"Yusei, where do you think you're going?"

Yusei's face appeared on the screen at the Public Security Maintenance Bureau.

"I'm about to create a path to the Ark Cradle on the Daedalus Bridge."

"What'd you say?! Why didn't you tell us about something so important?!"

"I'm sorry, everyone! I'm going to the Ark Cradle alone! All of you should get to safety immediately!"

Without waiting for their answer, Yusei hung up.

"Yusei!" Jack called out to an empty screen.

"That freakin' idiot!" Crow gritted his teeth.

Turning toward Crow, Jack said, "We're going after Yusei!"

On that cue, Team 5D's ran toward the room's exit. Crow noticed Mizoguchi stressing out, shaking his fist violently in the air.

"If only my D-Wheel would work...!"

Crow flashed the man a thumbs-up and offered him a reassuring smile. "Don't worry! I'll bring Sherry back safely for you, mark my words!"

"Then Crow, please take this card." The butler pulled a Magic Card from the inner pocket of his suit jacket. He tossed the card over to Crow, who caught it in midair.

"This card..."

"It's a keepsake given to my lady by her father. If you should meet with her, please give it back to her."

"Got it. I'll make sure I do." Crow nodded to Mizoguchi before he ran out of the room.

"We're counting on you, Team 5D's!" Yeager called after them.

Mizoguchi solemnly closed his eyes. "I wish you luck."

BREAK

Team Ragnarok arrived at their destination, the condemned building in Satellite that held within it Old Momentum. The three arrived at a spiral staircase that went farther than they could see from the starting position. Without hesitation, they drove right over the stairs, bumping and rocking the entire way down. Bruno screamed as they made their dangerous journey down the stairs, clinging to the side of the ice cream cart as if his life depended on it. Sieg, on the other hand, had little reaction. He simply closed his eyes, waiting for it to be over.

Team Ragnarok came to a skid on the hard cement floor of the building's basement. As Harald's D-Wheel landed abruptly, the ice cream cart crashed onto the ground and split into pieces. Bruno was sent hurdling onto the cool surface of the floor, and Sieg soon joined him.

The two pulled themselves up and stared right into the Old Momentum, a massive pillar that shined in the vibrant glow of Momentum energy.

"That's Old Momentum, huh?" Dragan observed the pillar curiously.

Brave looked around at the dusty room. "So that's the original that went berserk in Zero Reverse, right? It feels pretty eerie."

"Let's get everything ready!" Bruno began to gather up the materials that were sprawled across the floor.

At the same time, Yusei sat atop his D-Wheel in front of the Daedalus Bridge. It was only half complete, as Rex Goodwin was interrupted by Security while he attempted to build it. It was left unfinished as a symbol of the unification between Satellite and the city.

Yusei felt a warm sensation wash over him as he stared at the rusty bridge that stopped in midair over the ocean below.

"The Daedalus Bridge... In the past, the legendary hero of Satellite jumped off of it, betting on changing the future. Goodwin, I've chosen the same path as you! Please guide me, so I can save Neo Domino City!"

BREAK

"Okay! Everything's ready," Bruno informed Team Ragnarok.

"Bruno, you should get out of here," Harald said.

"Got it." Bruno exited the basement quickly and headed back up the seemingly endless stairs.

Harald then turned to face Sieg with a sincere expression. "I'm counting on you, my old friend."

Sieg smirked as he turned his back to the man. "Please. Don't make this sound like a farewell, Harald." Sieg tossed a black rose at Harald's feet.

"Please be careful, Sieg," Dragan nodded to the man.

"I will play my part in all of this, so you three worry about yours." With that, Siegfried mimicked Bruno's actions, running through the door to the staircase.

Brave chuckled as he looked at the rose lying on the floor. "He just can't be honest, huh?"

Dragan politely bowed to the closed door, closing his eyes and raising both of his closed hands. "Let us all meet in the next life!"

Harald stared at the door quietly for a moment before he turned to his comrades. "Let's go!"

On their leader's command, Team Ragnarok began to start up their D-Wheels. The Old Momentum began to stir and whir as it responded to the energy that now surged through it.

"The Vahallander's running at full power!" Dragan was referring to his own D-Wheel.

"Now we just need to wait for Sieg's cue!" Brave called to them. "Let's get this baby warmed up until then!"

As Sieg finally made it back up to ground level, he saw Bruno quietly staring up at the Ark Cradle.

"Bruno, was it? You should evacuate this city immediately. There's no need for you to get involved in what we're about to do."

"I understand. I wish you the best of luck."

Bruno nodded to the man before he ran behind the old building.

When Sieg saw Bruno had gone, he glared up at the menacing structure floating above his head. He cracked his knuckles and flashed it a wide grin. He placed his right hand above his Duel Monsters deck.

"Well, my goddesses, we've got work to do."

Sieg placed his deck into his Duel Disk. He then took his video phone out of his pocket and dialed a number.

"H-Hello?"

"Danny. Smith. Can you two hear me?"

"I can hear you just fine, Siegfried."

Sieg gasped when he heard the same voice from his phone as well as directly in front of him. He looked up and saw Danny, the leader of Team Black Baron, standing beside the second member, Smith.

"You can put the phone away," Smith said.

Sieg's eyes widened slightly in surprise. "You two…"

Danny looked away from his eyes. "We tried, but we just couldn't abandon a fellow teammate. You were about to ask us to do something, right? Let's hear what it is."

Sieg gave his teammates a warm smile. "I guess I didn't give you two enough credit."

BREAK

In front of the Daedalus Bridge, Yusei was busy looking over his deck one final time before he began his attack. After he was fully satisfied, he returned the deck to his Duel Disk. As he did, he was startled by the rumbling of D-Wheels headed his way. He cocked his head up and saw Jack, Crow, and Aki riding on their D-Wheels, headed his way. Rua was riding on the back of Crow's D-Wheel, and Ruka was tagging along with Aki. The twins had backpacks hanging off of their backs.

"I'm the one who admired the legendary hero!" Crow called over. "You should've told me you were going to ride the bridge!"

Yusei now wore a troubled expression. "Guys..."

"Sorry, but you're letting us go too," Jack said.

"Yusei!" the twins shouted simultaneously.

"Why are you all...here?"

"I know the back roads way better than you do," Crow replied, raising his thumb. "It was easy to race on over here to catch up with you!"

Aki flashed Yusei a friendly smile. "I'm glad we caught you in time."

Yusei hesitated momentarily before looking away from their gaze. "I'm going up there alone. There's no telling what danger awaits us up there!"

Jack frowned. "Yusei, I won't stop you from going. This is you we're talking about here. Trying to stop you is a waste of time. But the same applies to all of us! Try and stop us all you like, but we're going up to that thing! No way will we accept a future where you die!"

Yusei's eyes lit up at that comment.

"Yusei," Aki continued, "we'll change your future, no matter what it takes."

"That's right, Yusei!" Rua shouted from behind Crow. "I'm a member of the strongest team out there! You should rely on me a bit!"

Crow gave Yusei a reassuring grin. "Right! No matter what was happening in the past, we always fought together! That's what Team 5D's is all about!"

Ruka gripped Aki's arm, pulling her head out so she could look Yusei in the eyes. "That's right! We defeated the Dark Signers! I know we can do this!"

After a moment, Yusei gave in and returned their smiles. "I understand. So let's go! Let's save Neo Domino City with our own hands!"

"Yeah!" Rua and Ruka pumped their arms in the air triumphantly.

Yusei and his friends revved their engines and placed their feet on the gas pedals. Just as they were prepared for their mission, a sudden chilling voice shattered their confidence.

"Do you really think it will be that easy?"

The members of Team 5D's shared a collective gasp as they turned around in all directions to locate the owner of the voice. There was no such owner.

The air was then filled with a shrieking laugh. A child's voice followed immediately after it.

"Just look at how confident they are! This should be fun!"

The air in front of the Daedalus Bridge distorted and appeared to literally slice in half. The visible mark in the air stretched, revealing an open passageway. Three figures stepped out of the dimension hole, and they were faces far too familiar to Team 5D's.

To the left was the tallest of the three. He had spikey grey hair that defied gravity, rising above his head. He wore armor on his body that was black and white. His right eye was covered by a mask that had the infinity symbol carved into it. His left eye was red in color, and he had a red streak underneath it. His name was Placido.

In the middle stood a smaller child with long, red hair that flowed down his back. He wore black and white armor similar to Placido. Unlike Placido, his right eye was exposed, while he had the mask on his left eye. His right eye was green in color, and he had a metal plate carved into his forehead. His name was Lucciano.

The third man was much older in appearance. Most of his face was covered by his metal mask, except for his left eye that was yellow in color. His right eye was covered by his scraggly hair and beard, grey in color. His bulkier body was entirely mechanical in appearance, and he had the infinity symbol carved into his chest. Like the other two, his armor was black and white in color. His name was Jose.

Together, these three made up Aporia, the Guardian of Despair.

Yusei's face tightened when he saw his foes.

"Impossible…! Why are you three here?!"

"We defeated Aporia!" Jack swung his fist in protest. "How can you three be here?!"

"Hmph. You're denser than I thought you were," Placido said in response. His voice was cool and sarcastic.

Jack's eyes tensed up. "What?!"

"How do you suppose it was I returned after failing once? We stand here because of our master, Z-one."

"So you're Aporia?" Aki asked. "You split back into the three emperors?"

"That is not entirely true," said Jose. "We stand here as mere clones of our formal selves." Jose stopped himself and closed his eyes for a moment. "No, perhaps 'clone' is not the correct term."

Lucciano eyed the old man darkly. "No need to tell them that, Jose. I doubt they'd understand."

"Never mind all that," Placido cut in. "Our true body, Aporia, is currently on the Ark Cradle. We're here to ensure you never get there."

"So you're gonna challenge us?" Crow sounded arrogant and irritated. "Yusei just wiped the floor with your ass, you bastards! So which one of you's gonna fight first? Or are we gonna split up into groups?"

Jose stared daggers into the teen. "Sorry, but we no longer have the time to honor the ordinary Dueling codes."

"What's that supposed to mean?!" Jack was growing more heated by the minute.

Placido raised his right arm and activated his Duel Disk. "It means this."

Lucciano giggled as he copied Placido's movements. "We won't stop until you're all dead!"

"In the name of Z-one!" Jose raised his Duel Disk high into the air in front of the far distant Ark Cradle, as if to emphasize his point.

Crow clicked his tongue. "Three-on-one, is it? Despicable bastards!"

"I told you!" Jose began to raise his voice. "We don't have time for order! Feel free to come at us all at the same time! It won't make any difference!"

Accepting the challenge, Rua activated his own Duel Disk. "Let's go, Ruka!"

"Right!"

Ruka, Aki, Jack, Crow, and Yusei followed suit.

The pavement below their feet began to glow a bright white, as a giant infinity sign formed around them.

"That's the mark of Yliaster," Yusei said.

Crow scoffed. "Now all damage becomes real. You guys do the same shit every time."

Placido drew his starting hand. "I'll go first! My turn! Draw!"

[Placido's LP: 4000]

"I Summon Wise Core in Defense Mode! I then set three cards face-down, ending my turn."

A miniature grey egg-like object appeared by Placido's feet, along with two hologram face-down cards.

Lucciano cackled. "My turn! Draw!"

[Lucciano's LP: 4000]

"I set one card face-down! I then activate the Magic Card, Reload from my hand! I send the five cards in my hand back into my deck, shuffle, and draw five new cards!" Lucciano quickly drew his five cards, skimming over them in seconds before continuing his turn. "I set two more cards face-down! Then I Summon Sky Core in Defense Mode! Turn end!"

Another egg-like object manifested, but this one was a sky blue in color.

"My turn! Draw!" As Jose drew his card, a large gust of wind passed right over his body, slapping against Team 5D's.

[Jose's LP: 4000]

"I Summon Grand Core in Defense Mode!"

A third egg-shaped object popped up. This one was copper in appearance.

"I activate the Magic Card, Acid Rain, from my hand! This card destroys all face-up Machine Monsters on the field!"

Aki narrowed her eyes. "They're going for their Mechlord Emperors!"

Jose lifted the card above his head. The sky darkened, and a yellow rain began to fall on the field.

Rua felt a sharp pain on his neck and grasped it with his hand. "What the heck? What's this feeling?"

Ruka looked up and felt her eyes sting. "It's acid rain! They've brought the effect of the card to life!"

Yusei winced, but managed to keep one eye open. "Just endure it, everyone!"

The Three Emperors of Yliaster did not appear to be phased in the least. The three egg-shaped objects on their field slowly eroded away, and the acid rain subsided.

Placido smirked. "Nicely done, Jose. Now we can end this quickly." He inserted his card into the slot on his Duel Disk for his Graveyard pile, and then grabbed a couple of cards from his hand. "When Wise Core is destroyed and sent to the Graveyard, I can Special Summon from my hand, deck, or Graveyard Mechlord Emperor Wisel, Wisel Top, Wisel Attack, Wisel Guard, and Wisel Carrier in Attack Mode!"

Multiple machine parts appeared and joined together to form one giant robot. It was light grey in color, and had the form of a human being.

"When Sky Core is destroyed," Lucciano continued, "I can Special Summon Mechlord Emperor Skiel, Skiel Top, Skiel Attack, Skiel Guard, and Skiel Carrier in Attack Mode!"

A second machine creature was formed, this one light blue in color. It took on the shape of a large mechanical bird.

"And when Grand Core is destroyed," Jose finished, "I can Special Summon Mechlord Emperor Grannel, Grannel Top, Grannel Attack, Grannel Guard, and Grannel Carrier in Attack Mode!"

The third robot was copper-colored, and it took on the appearance of a beast.

"Damn…! All three at once!" Jack began to sweat.

"I set four cards face-down, ending my turn! "

[Mechlord Emperor Wisel's ATK: 2500 - 8700]

[Mechlord Emperor Skiel's ATK: 2200 - 8700]

[Mechlord Grannel's ATK: 4000]

"Holy shit!" Crow stared at the stats with wide eyes. "How the hell did they get so powerful already?!"

"It's simple," Placido said. "Wisel and Skiel gain the Attack Power of all Mechlord Emperors on the field."

"In other words," Lucciano continued, "you can't hope to defeat us as a team!"

Yusei impatiently looked up toward the Ark Cradle, clenching his fists. "We don't have the time to waste here…!"

"If you want to go to the Ark Cradle so badly, do it after you defeat us!" Jose's voice bellowed into the still air.

Yusei and his friends took a step back as the three Mechlord Emperors loomed over them, seeming to back them into a corner.

"Now make your-"

Jose was cut off in midsentence when a black dog-like creature appeared out of nowhere, slashing the Mechlord Emperors. The force of the impact sent the machines flying back behind the three Yliaster Emperors.

Jose's exposed eye widened. "What?!"

Lucciano spun around in every direction. "Who was that?! Show yourself!"

Team 5D's remained silent as their jaws dropped from surprise.

"Did someone mention a Duel? Count me in!"

Kyosuke Kiryu rode a bike he stole from a junkyard in Satellite. He jumped off the bike, letting it slide right into Placido. Placido growled and smashed the bike into pieces with his bare hands.

"Who the hell are you?!"

Kiryu grinned in response. "I'm your worst nightmare!"

[Kiryu's LP: 4000]

[Infernity Beast: LV3/1600/1200]

"Kiryu!" Yusei called over to his friend.

"You damn fool!" Jack yelled over. "You should have evacuated with the others!"

Kiryu did not turn to face them. "That wouldn't satisfy me in the least! Team 5D's, get ready to go! I'll handle these guys!"

"It's too dangerous! Don't do it!" Yusei cried desperately.

"Shut up! I told you to get ready to leave!" Kiryu pulled three cards from his hand and inserted them on top of his Duel Disk. "I set three cards face-down and end my turn!"

Jose scoffed. "Fool! Do you really think you can defeat us alone?!"

"When did I ever say I was alone?!"

Lucciano gave him a confused look. "Huh?" The boy saw a shadow above his head, and turned his gaze upward to see Bomber riding his bike right over him.

"My turn! Draw!"

Bomber drew a card in midair as he let his bike fall right on top of Lucciano. The boy rolled his eyes and used a laser shield attached to his back to slice the bike in half.

"You guys think you're so clever, don't you?!"

"Bomber!" Crow yelled.

The muscular man made a perfect landing, not turning to answer Crow.

[Bomber's LP: 4000]

"I Summon Spell Reactor・RE in Attack Mode!"

A mechanical beast in the form of a maroon dragon appeared in front of him.

[Spell Reactor・RE: LV3/1200/900]

"I set three cards face-down and end my turn!"

Placido snarled when he saw several other people walking up behind Bomber. Upon further inspection, Placido recognized them as Andre, Breo, Jean, and Taro. He had, after all, watched the entire W.R.G.P. tournament, so he knew all the competitors.

"Don't forget about us!" Andre flashed Yusei a thumbs-up.

"Team Unicorn! Team Taiyou!"

"Team 5D's, you don't need to worry about a thing," Jean said, winking. "We've got your back."

Breo laughed. "Let's go, guys!"

"Dammit!" Lucciano moaned. "These cockroaches keep coming out!"

Placido grinned. "If they're cockroaches, we just need to crush them. That's all there is to it."

Andre drew his starting cards. "My turn! Draw!"

[Andre's LP: 4000]

"I discard Nimble Momonga from my hand so I can Special Summon the Tuner Monster, Egotistical Ape, in Attack Mode!"

A tiny chimp appeared on the field. When the chimp saw the Mechlord Emperors hovering over it, it got scared and released a powerful aura. The aura took the shape of an ape, and was purple in color.

[Egotistical Ape: LV5/1200/1200]

"When Special Summoned this way, Egotistical Ape can change its level by the level of the discarded Beast-Type Monster! Nimble Momonga is a Level Two, so Egotistical Ape's level drops by two!"

[Egotistical Ape: LV5 - LV3]

"Then I Normal Summon Playful Possum in Attack Mode! "

A rat-like creature scurried across the field, hissing.

[Playful Possum: LV2/800/600]

Andre turned to look at Breo and Jean. They nodded to him, giving him their approval.

"I'm Tuning my now Level Three Egotistical Ape with my Level Two Playful Possum!"

[3+2=5]

"Galloping in the heavens like thunder, crisscrossing them like a mighty gate. Appear forth from the world of myth and legend! Synchro Summon! Neigh, Thunder Unicorn!"

A blue horse with a yellow main and a horn on the top of its head galloped in front of Andre.

[Thunder Unicorn: LV5/2200/1800]

Placido smirked. "Hmph, to think they plan to use Synchro Monsters against our Mechlord Emperors."

"Sorry, but our decks are based around Synchro Summoning. I'm not about to stop my strategy just because you've got your cheap tricks! We fight with all we've got until we can't fight anymore! Even if we lose our Synchro Monsters next turn!"

"Such impudence," Jose mumbled.

"And from my hand, the Magic Card, Purgatory of Nothingness! When I have three or less cards in my hand, I can draw one card from my deck. I then discard my entire hand at the turn's End Phase." Andre drew his card, adding it to his hand. "I set two cards face-down and end my turn!"

A tiny black hole appeared behind Andre, sucking the remaining card in his hand up into it.

"My turn! Draw!" Breo drew his card and began looking at his hand.

[Breo's LP: 4000]

"I activate the Magic Card, Chosen One!"

A spin top in the shape of a demon appeared in the center of the field.

"I select one Monster Card and two Magic or Trap Cards from my hand and place them face-down on the field. You have to then randomly choose one of those cards. If you guess the card correctly, the Monster is Special Summoned, ignoring Summoning conditions. If it's a Magic or a Trap, all three cards go to the Graveyard."

Three holographic cards appeared on each three sides of the spin table.

Jose lowered his brow. "Now you rely on luck? Very well. I choose the middle card."

"Bingo! I Special Summon Mine Mole in Defense Mode! The other two cards go to my Graveyard."

A small mole with a flower on its nose appeared. It was holding a pick axe and wearing a construction hat.

[Mine Mole: LV3/1000/1200]

"Taking so much risk for such a weak Monster?" Placido snorted.

"Then I Normal Summon the Tuner Monster, Bicorn Re'em, in Attack Mode!"

An orange-furred sabertooth tiger with two horns on its head came onto the field.

[Bicorn Re'em: LV4/800/1600]

"I'm Tuning the Level Four Bicorn Re'em with the Level Three Mine Mole!"

[4+3=7]

"Galloping in the heavens like thunder, tearing apart the sea of clouds! These hooves will rip across the surface of the Earth! Synchro Summon! Roar, Voltic Bicorn!"

A cloud of thunder subsided, revealing a black and yellow unicorn with a green main. It had lightning as its main.

[Voltic Bicorn: LV7/2500/2000]

"When Mine Mole is used as Synchro Material, I can draw one card from my deck." Breo leaned forward and pulled a card off the top of his deck. "Then, when Bicorn Re'em is used as Synchro Material, my opponent sends the top two cards of their decks to the Graveyard! This is a Battle Royale, so I get to choose who does it! You three, discard two cards from your deck!" Breo pointed to the emperors.

Lucciano looked unpleased. "Stalling for time, eh? So predictable." He discarded the top two cards of his deck.

Placido did so in silence.

"Buying time won't save you or Team 5D's," Jose said as he discarded as well.

Breo let the comment slip past him. "I set two cards face-down and end my turn."

Jean turned to Yusei and gave him a wink. He regained his focus and drew his cards. "My turn! Draw!"

[Jean's LP: 4000]

"I Summon Trident Warrior in Attack Mode!"

A man wielding a three-pronged staff, known as a trident, marched onto the field. He was wearing shades of blue and blue-green.

[Trident Warrior: LV4/1800/1200]

"When this card is successfully Summoned,I can Special Summon a Level Three or lower Monster from my hand to the field! Special Summon! Delta Fly!"

A larger-than-normal dragonfly flew around Jean on the field.

[Delta Fly: LV3/1500/900]

"I activate Delta Fly's Monster Effect!Once per turn, I raise the level of a Monster on the field excluding itself by one!Now Trident Warrior's level becomes five!"

[Trident Warrior: LV 4 - LV5]

"I'm Tuning my now Level Five Trident Warrior with my Level Three Delta Fly!"

[5+3=8]

"Galloping in the heavens like thunder, going through the pitch black sky,this lightning will strike the Earth and incinerate it!Synchro Summon!Shine, Lightning Tricorn!"

A unicorn wearing shiny golden armor appeared. It had pink wings attached to its back. It released a long neigh when it saw its unicorn friends on the field.

[Lightning Tricorn: LV8/2800/2000]

"I set three cards face-down, ending my turn!"

Jean turned over to Taro, who was standing the farthest to the left.

"Show them what you've got, Team Taiyou leader!"

Taro nodded respectfully before drawing his starting hand. "My turn! Draw!"

[Taro's LP: 4000]

Taro closed his eyes, letting his current surroundings fade away from him. He thought back to his conversation with Jinbei and Yoshizo before he parted with them.

"Don't be crazy, Taro!" Jinbei had said. "Of course we're coming with you!"

"We're friends with Team 5D's too, you know!" Yoshizo continued.

"No, I want you two to evacuate," Taro recalled himself saying. "Listen, I'm the only one who has Sleeping Giant Thud. To be honest, I don't think I stand much of a chance even with Thud, so what can you two expect to do with your decks?"

"…"

"Besides, someone has to go back home and tell the village this great story. And you guys have to be the ones to do it."

Jinbei sighed, placing a hand on his shoulder. "I understand. We'll do as you want. Just make sure you come back to us, leader."

Yoshizo began to tear up. "Promise!"

Taro left the two with a smile. "Of course."

In the present, Taro came back to his senses. He grabbed a hard from his hand and slapped it onto his Duel Disk. "I Summon Holding-Hands Majin in Defense Mode!"

A goofy-looking monkey creature with batty-like wings appeared in front of Taro, grunting and groaning.

[Holding-Hands Majin: LV4/1000/1600]

"I activate a Magic Card from my hand! One for One! This card lets me send a Monster Card from my hand to my Graveyard in order to add a Level One Monster from my deck into my hand. I discard Bat to add the Level One Key Mace from my deck into my hand, and I then Summon her in Defense Mode."

A petite fairy flew onto the field. She wore a blue elf outfit with a pointy hat. She was no larger than Taro's hand.

[Key Mace: LV1/400/300]

"Jin, Yoshi, I'm going to honor the name Taiyou in this Duel! The effect of Holding-Hands Majin increases its Defense Power by the total Defense Power of all other Defense Mode Monsters on my field."

[Holding-Hands Magin's DEF: 1600 - 1900]

"Then I activate the Magic Card, Enchanting Fitting Room, from my hand! First I pay 800 Life Points!

[Taro's LP: 4000 - 3200]

"Then I draw four cards from my deck and Special Summon all Level Three or lower Normal Monsters." Taro viewed the cards in his hand and smiled. "It's a good thing I have way too many weak Normal Monsters in my deck. I Special Summon Kageningen, Different Dimension Trainer, and Plant of the Demon World, all in Defense Mode!"

[Kageningen: LV2/800/600]

[Different Dimension Trainer: LV1/100/2000]

[Plant of the Demon World: LV1/400/300]

[Holding-Hands Magin's DEF: 1900 - 4800]

"The fourth card I drew is then shuffled back into my deck."

The three emperors looked unimpressed as they watched Taro shuffle the card back into his deck and insert it back into his older model Duel Disk.

"I set three cards face-down. Turn end."

Ruka looked to her teammates worriedly. "Will they be all right?"

Bomber turned to look toward her. "Don't you worry about us! Just focus on departing!"

Kiryu looked toward Satellite. "Hurry it up, Team Ragnarok…!"

"I suppose that would be my cue then."

Everyone present turned their attention to Siegfried, who was approaching on foot from behind Team 5D's. He wore a confident expression, flipping his hair back with his free hand.

"Ah! It's that weirdo from the dinner!" Rua pointed toward the man.

"I'll ignore your insult, young one," said Sieg, un-phased. "Now is not the time. I've come here to help Team Ragnarok make a path for you."

"Can you really do it?" Yusei turned to face the man, looking right into his eyes.

Sieg returned his gaze, offering him a reassuring smile. "Of course. The only way to open the gates of Asgard is through Dueling. Allow me to be your final opponent, Team New World!" Sieg raised his left arm and proceeded to activate the Duel Disk. After using his Duel Disk's automatic shuffler to shuffle his deck, he drew his starting hand. As he did this, he took his new position in front of Team 5D's, beside Kiryu on the far left of their line. "It's my turn! Draw!"

[Sieg's LP: 4000]

"Yliaster, I will show a scene far too beautiful for you!" Sieg raised a black rose to his mouth, kissing it.

Jose stared at the man with a blank expression. "Oh? Amusing."

"I activate the Magic Card, Angel's Charity! This card lets me draw three cards from my deck. I then discard two cards from my hand."

As Sieg did so, the three emperors watched him, seeming uninterested.

"I will then activate the Magic Card, Pot of Greed, which allows me to draw two additional cards." A small smirk appeared on Sieg's face when he viewed the cards he just drew. "Here it is. I activate the Magic Card, Walkuren Ritt!"

The group watched as a tornado of rose petals manifested on the field, blowing past all of them in the process. Sieg's hair blew upward as he slammed the card down on his Duel Disk. "Witness the dance of a thousand roses, villain scum! Show yourself, my Valkyries! The female knights of Norse Mythology created by my father decades ago! Walkuren Ritt allows me to Special Summon as many Valkyrie Monsters from my hand as possible. Valkyrie Dritte! Valkyrie Erste! Valkyrie Zwei! Attack Mode!"

Three female knights riding horses emerged from the rose petals. They were dressed in ancient clothing and a crystal-coated armor. The three women had the hair colors red, blue, and purple respectively.

[Valkyrie Dritte: LV4/1000/1600]

[Valkyrie Erste: LV6/1600/1800]

[Valkyrie Zwei: LV5/1600/1600]

Aki's eyes lit up as she admired the three knights. "They're so beautiful…"

Sieg cocked his head to look at Aki. "Team 5D's, keep your eyes glued on the Daedalus Bridge!" Aki immediately turned back around.

Smiling, Sieg turned back toward his adversaries. "I activate the Magic Card, Final Light! I pay 1000 of my Life Points to Special Summon one Light-Attribute Monster from my Graveyard! The Monster I select is the Valkyrie Brunnhilde I discarded earlier!"

[Sieg's LP: 4000 - 3000]

A transparent curtain appeared in front of Sieg. It slowly rose above his head, up toward the distant Daedalus Bridge standing in the background. The curtain opened, revealing a portal of white light. Another female knight came out of the portal. She was different from the other three, as she wore a sapphire blue armor and rode a black-haired horse.

[Valkyrie Brunnhilde: LV7/1800/200]

"Final Light also allows my opponents to Special Summon one Monster from their Graveyard with 2000 Attack Power or less to the field in face-up Attack Mode. This is a Battle Royale, so all of you are treated as my opponents. That means all of you can Special Summon from your Graveyard."

Jose narrowed his eyes. "Hmph, I pass."

Lucciano threw his hands up in annoyance. "Boring! I pass too."

Placido closed his eyes nonchalantly. "I have nothing."

"I have no Monsters in my Graveyard," Kiryu said.

Bomber shook his head. "Neither do I."

Andre also passed, not being able to Special Summon his Egotistical Ape from the Graveyard.

"Then allow me to oblige!" Breo cut in. "I Special Summon Bicorn Re'em from my Graveyard in Attack Mode!"

[Bicorn Re'em: LV4/800/1600]

As did Jean. "I Special Summon Trident Warrior from my Graveyard in Attack Mode!"

[Trident Warrior: LV4/1800/1200]

"I pass," Taro said.

"Very good," Sieg continued. "Now I activate the effect of my Valkyrie Zwei! Once per turn, she can destroy one Monster on my opponent's side of the field! The Monster I target is Mechlord Emperor Skiel!"

Lucciano's eyes twitched in irritation. "Scum like you destroying my Mechlord Emperor?! Get real! Trap Card, activate! Convert Ghost! When a card effect targets a Mechlord Emperor Monster on my field, I can Banish a Monster from my Graveyard to negate it! I Banish Sky Core from my Graveyard! Absorb the attack!"

The sky blue egg-shaped object jumped out of Lucciano's Graveyard. As Zwei fired a beam of light from her sword, Sky Core absorbed it and exploded.

Sieg had no reaction to the counter.

"Sorry! Try again next time!" Lucciano stuck out his tongue as he teased Sieg.

As Lucciano continued his taunt, Sieg's mouth formed into a grin. "I succeeded."

"Huh?"

Sieg raised his head from glancing down at his watch as he lifted the microphone on his headset to his lips. "Harald, it's time to begin."

BREAK

Harald smiled as he heard his friend. "Excellent job, Siegfried. You bought us enough time." Harald turned to his peers, his left eye lighting up as he did so. "It's time! Let's go, everyone!"

"Yeah!" Dragan and Brave, who were now wearing helmets along with Harald, spoke in unison. Their left eyes also lit up.

Dragan lifted a card from his deck as he charged his D-Wheel at full power. "When the door to Asgard opens, the Ancient War God will raise up his magical hammer! The very Earth itself will shake as he appears from a roar of thunder! Descend, Thor, Lord of the Aesir!"

Brave nodded to Dragan as he watched the Thor card light up. "A fickle god is born in Asgard! Laugh at the world while you show them absolute power! Descend, Loki, Lord of the Aesir!"

Harald gripped his third card tightly before raising it up above his head. "O mighty king, he who rules over the Heavens circling the Northern Stars! The time has now come to show your mighty self! He who reigns over the world ordained by the Gods! The highest of all beings! Supreme Ruler! Odin, Father of the Aesir!"

The Daedalus Bridge began to light up in multiple shades. Three enormous figures rose above the shrine of the Old Momentum. The first was Thor, a square-faced being with broad shoulders and thick armor. The second, Loki, was a green-skinned being with a shady expression. He wore colorful robes and a thick, black beard. The third was an older man with a long, white beard wearing gold and red robes. His missing left eye was replaced by an artifact. The giants loomed high above Neo Domino City, staring down at the Yliaster Emperors.

"The three Lords of Aesir!" Yusei stared up at the titans with a smile on his face.

"The time has come, Team 5D's!" Without looking toward them, Sieg addressed them with his arms outstretched. "We will build you a path to the Ark Cradle! The second you see the holy light, drive with every ounce of strength you have!"

Jose's exposed eye went bloodshot as he realized what they were trying to do. "It's useless! None of you will take a single step off this ground!"

Sieg pulled his black rose from his pocket and twirled it around in his fingers. "The Norse Gods say differently! You now stand before supremacy, fools! I will teach you the manners these gods demand! Magic Card, activate! The Rainbow Bridge!"

Back in front of the Old Momentum, Sieg's D-Wheel began to glow with a vibrant light. "Momentum is the power controlled by humanity! We will use everything we've got to utilize it!"

At Daedalus, Sieg tossed his rose into the air and spread his arms up toward the sky. "Appear before us! That which connects us to the world of the Gods! Bifrost!"

As Sieg's card activated, the three Lords of Aesir raised their arms above Old Momentum. A ball of light appeared in between the three giants, quickly extending into the form of a rainbow. The skies lit up with an aurora that spread throughout the entire Neo Domino City. The rainbow formed a solid bridge of light energy that extended from the unfinished Daedalus Bridge all the way to the base of the Ark Cradle, wrapping around the structure multiple times.

Aki looked impressed by what she saw. "A path connected to the Daedalus Bridge!"

Yusei looked up at the rainbow bridge with awe. "So that's the Rainbow Bridge Bifrost that connects us to the world of the Gods. You did it, Team Ragnarok!"

Siegfried stood beneath his bridge with a look of pride on his face. "As long as the Rainbow Bridge Bifrost remains face-up on my field, all Valkyrie Monsters gain 500 Attack Points!"

[Valkyrie Dritte's ATK: 1000 - 1500]

[Valkyrie Erste's ATK: 1600 - 2100]

[Valkyrie Zwei's ATK: 1600 - 2100]

[Valkyrie Brunnhilde's ATK: 1800 - 2300]

Inside the Old Momentum, Team Ragnarok grunted and groaned as yellow sparks coursed up from their D-Wheels into their bodies.

"Endure it, you two!" Harald managed through short breaths. Brave and Dragan could not muster up the strength to reply. They did, however, maintain a straight face despite their pain.

Yusei roared his engine and placed his hands on his handles. He turned his head to face his friends one last time. "Be careful, everyone!"

Kiryu grinned and flashed him a thumbs-up. "Go, Team 5D's! Yusei!"

With that, Yusei sped up the Daedalus Bridge, his friends shortly behind him. Within a matter of seconds, they crossed over the edge of the Daedalus Bridge into the solid rainbow bridge underneath their D-Wheels.

BREAK

In the Public Security Maintenance Bureau, Yeager spotted Team 5D's riding up Bifrost.

"Oh! That's...!"

Mizoguchi's face tensed up as the scene played before him. "Yusei... You finally found a way, I see...! A path onto the Ark Cradle! I'm entrusting my lady to you!"

"And I'm entrusting Domino City to you!" Yeager called out to the screen.

At the edge of the Daedalus Bridge, Jean chuckled as he watched his friends ride through the sky. "So there they go."

Taro smiled and quietly whispered, "Good luck, guys…"

"Don't think you'll make it!" Jose roared at the top of his lungs. "I told you before that we're not following the rules this time! Go, Grannel!"

Placido and Lucciano joined in.

"Wisel!"

"Skiel!"

As the three machine emperors rose into the air, they were knocked backwards by multiple attacks from every Monster opposing them on the field.

Kiryu laughed, standing his ground firmly. "And don't think we're playing fair and square here either!"

"Our friends are currently a little busy!" Andre's tone was sarcastic. "We'd like for you to leave them be for a bit."

Placido bit his lip and growled. "Puny insects…!"

Sieg lowered his eyes and pressed a button on his headset before speaking into it again.

"Danny! Smith! Are you two ready to play your role?"

"Not really, but let's get it over with!"

Sieg smirked. "Excellent." He lifted his head to face the three emperors. "It's show time."

Lucciano raised an eyebrow. "What the heck're you talking about?"

"Didn't you notice? I only had four cards in my starting hand. Where do you suppose the other card is?" As he spoke, Sieg waved his empty hand around to emphasize his point.

Jose scoffed. "Just what are you trying to-"

Without saying a word, Sieg took his video phone from his pocket and waved it in front of Jose. The old man's eyes widened as he saw Team Black Baron on the screen holding a card in their hand.

Placido lowered his brow angrily. "What's the meaning of that?"

Sieg made a mocking gesture with his hand as he laughed. "Just to be clear, I never intended to play fair with you villains from the start. My first hand was rigged, you see." Sieg raised his left index finger. "My teammates hold the final piece to the puzzle! Allow me to show you the finalization of my father's legacy! A card I created with my own two hands! The Magic Card, Prose Edda!"

Breo raised an eyebrow curiously. "What's that card? I've never even heard of it."

"Upon this card's activation, I halve my Life Points!"

[Sieg's LP: 3000 - 1500]

Lucciano giggled in response. "Did the bastard choose suicide? Not that I blame him."

Jose, however, had a darker outlook. "No…"

"By halving my Life Points," Sieg continued, "I can Special Summon from my Extra Deck as many Goddess Synchro Monsters as my Monster Zones permit. I Special Summon my three goddesses!"

"The bastard really has gone mad!" Lucciano began to sound more serious. "Trying to play three Monsters when he's only got one open space!"

Sieg showed a twisted expression in return. "But I never once said I was playing them on my field. I merely told you what was written on the card!"

Placido took a step forward. "What?"

"My goal is much higher!" Sieg pointed up to the Ark Cradle floating above, and Team 5D's riding in the background.

"Hmph! Do you really think you'll be able to do that?!"

"Great goddesses of the Aesir, show them your radiant beauty that transcends all reason! Open the doors to Valhalla with a flourishing finale! Special Summon! Skuld, Goddess of the Aesir! Urd, Goddess of the Aesir! Verdandi, Goddess of the Aesir!"

"Lowly human! Learn your place!"

As Placido flung his arm forward, Wisel began to charge toward him. The attack was blocked by the other Monsters on the field.

A vein appeared above Placido's right eye. "Disgusting ants!"

As Team 5D's continued riding above the waters of the city, Rua screamed bloody murder as he hugged Crow's back tightly. He had noticeable tears in his eyes.

"We're going at full speed!" Jack called out, ignoring Rua.

Rua buried his head into Crow's jacket. "Crow, safely! Drive safely!"

Three robbed females dashed past them suddenly, startling them. The ladies were roughly twice the size of a normal human being.

[Skuld, Goddess of the Aesir: LV9/2800/3400]

[Urd, Goddess of the Aesir: LV9/2800/3400]

[Verdandi, Goddess of the Aesir: LV9/2800/34]

Crow looked up and tried to talk over Rua, still screaming at the top of his lungs behind him. "What was that?!"

"Forget it!" Jack cocked his head enough to look at him. "Just keep moving ahead!"

The three goddesses flew to the bottom of the Ark Cradle, splitting up and positioning themselves on each side of the structure. They extended their arms and began chanting in an unknown language. As they did, a magical white ring manifested around the Ark Cradle, holding it firmly in place.

Aki and Ruka raised their arms above their eyes to block out the intense light. "Those Monsters! They're trying to stop the Ark Cradle from falling!" said Aki.

Back on the ground, Jose was indifferent. "That's a waste of energy. Do you really think your puny Monsters can hold up our fortress?"

Sieg winced as he felt a sudden jolt enter his body. Through clenched teeth, he managed, "Even if it only saves a few extra lives, it's well worth trying!"

"Don't get cocky just because Yusei Fudo defeated us!" Placido began to scream at the top of his lungs. "You're not even Signers! Don't think you're anywhere near a match for us! I'll clean all you trash up quickly and stop Yusei Fudo and his friends before they reach the Ark Cradle! My turn! Draw!"

[Placido's LP: 4000]

"Trap Card, Wise A3! I send Wisel Attack to the Graveyard in order to Special Summon Wisel Attack 3 from my hand!"

One of Wisel's Arms vanished and was replaced by a much sturdier looking arm with a cannon attached to it.

[Wisel Attack 3: LV3/1600/0]

"Once per turn, Wisel can absorb the opponent's Synchro Monster! Wisel, absorb Lightning Tricorn! Synchro Absorption!"

Unable to do anything, Jean lowered his eyes. "Damn…"

[Mechlord Emperor Wisel's ATK: 8700 - 11500]

[Mechlord Emperor Skiel's ATK: 8700 - 11500]

"I'll take you out one by one! Machine Emperor Wisel, attack Trident Warrior! Stainless Steel Slash!"

[11500 VS 1800]

Jean braced himself for the impact.

"Trap Card, open! Dimension Trap!"

A large hole in the sky swallowed up the impact from Wisel's incoming arm. Placido looked over toward Andre with wide eys. "What?!"

"I Banish my own Thunder Unicorn in order to select one Trap Card from my Graveyard and add its effect to Dimension Trap! I choose Threatening Roar! This forbids you from declaring an attack this turn!"

Placido covered his ears as a sharp howl was emitted from Andre's Graveyard.

"Trap Card, open!" A card flipped up on Lucciano's field. "Trap Stun! This negates all Trap Cards on the field for the remainder of the turn!"

"I'll stop it!" Breo interrupted. "I chain my Quick-Play Magic Card, Double Cyclone! I destroy my own set Barrier Wave and your Trap Stun! My Magic Card chains before your Trap has a chance to negate it! This stops Placido's attack, like Andre originally planned!"

Two tornadoes formed that destroyed the cards in question. Lucciano threw his hands up, obviously defeated. "Aw, shit!"

"I'll then activate my final Trap Card, Chain Whirlwind! When a card on my field is destroyed, I can destroy an additional two Magic or Trap Cards on the field. I'll destroy the Convert Ghost you reset on your field and your other set card!"

Breo's efforts were shot down by Jose. "Such foolishness! I activate my Trap Card, Infinity Wall! This card negates all card effects that would destroy our cards during this turn. As a result, your Chain Whirlwind is rendered useless!"

Breo silently gritted his teeth as he watched his card shatter before his eyes.

Placido scoffed and looked down at his Duel Disk. "Hmph. I set one card face-down. Turn end!"

Placido turned up and saw Team 5D's were about halfway up to the Ark Cradle. "Damn you, Team 5D's…"

"My turn! Draw!"

[Lucciano's LP: 4000]

"Mechlord Emperor Skiel, Synchro Absorption! Absorb Voltic Bicorn! Consider this payback for destroying my card!"

Breo cursed as his unicorn was stolen from him. "Shit…"

[Mechlord Emperor Skiel's ATK: 11500 - 14000]

[Mechlord Emperor Wisel's ATK: 11500 - 14000]

"Skiel, attack Bicorn Re'em! Sky Crusher!"

"No you don't!" Lucciano jerked his head toward the direction of Kiryu's voice. "I activate the Trap Card, Dodge Roll! It negates all Battle Damage during this turn!"

A giant die appeared and blocked Skiel's bullets.

"Tch…! All you're doing is stalling for time! I set one card face-down and end my turn!"

"Allow me to put a stop to your insolence! My turn! Draw!"

[Jose's LP: 4000]

Jose eyed his comrades with a patronizing stare. "You two are rushing into battle without even thinking. There's a way to accomplish both of our objectives at once!"

Lucciano rolled his eyes. "Enlighten me."

Placido clicked his tongue. "Such arrogance."

"Mechlord Emperor Grannel, absorb Skuld, Goddess of Aesir! Synchro Absorption!

[Mechlord Emperor Grannel's ATK: 4000 - 6800]

[Mechlord Emperor Skiel's ATK: 14000 - 20800]

[Mechlord Emperor Wisel's ATK: 14000 - 20800]

"Grannel, attack Team 5D's and Valkyrie Brunhilde at the same time! Grand Slaughter Cannon!"

Kiryu clenched his fist and began to sweat. "Damn, there's nothing in my hand…!"

The others closed their eyes in frustration, unable to do anything to stop the attack.

Grannel moved behind Sieg on the opposite side of the field in the blink of an eye. Before Sieg could even turn around, it fired a beam of light that shot through Sieg's arm and then through Valkyrie Brunhilde's chest, shattering her armor. Sieg coughed up blood as he stumbled forward on his feet.

The beam of light continued past the Daedalus Bridge and toward the area where Team 5D's rode up the rainbow bridge.

5D's heard the noise and gasped when they saw the beam headed right for them.

"What?!" Jack scrambled to come up with an idea, but Yusei stopped him with a wave of his arm.

"I've got this, Jack." Yusei removed his deck and quickly searched through it. He located a card and held it out in front of him. "Scrap-Iron Scarecrow!"

A junky-looking metal scarecrow appeared, blocking the Grand Slaughter Cannon.

Jose scoffed at their efforts. "It won't work!"

The scarecrow was snapped in half as the attack continued. It was again blocked by a wall of light.

"Twinkle Wall!" Ruka held up her own Trap Card.

Rua joined in. "Electric Shock!"

"Rose Blizzard!"

"Down Force"

"Demon's Chain!"

The wall of light was reinforced by snow, electricity, glass, and a set of chains. Aki, Rua, Crow, and Jack grunted as they used their strength to hold the attack back.

"Keep moving, everyone!" Yusei called to his friends. "Keep going until you're out of Grannel's reach!"

By the time Grannel broke through their barriers, Team 5D's had escaped its reach. The beam of light faded before it could reach its target.

Bomber sighed as he saw 5D's get away safely. He then turned to Sieg with a pained expression, seeing his serious injury.

Jose growled. "Even so, I accomplished one of my goals. Now fall into Hell!"

Sieg struggled to maintain his balance. He clutched his bleeding arm, additional blood dripping from his mouth. "It's up to you now, 5D's. I wish you luck."

[Sieg's LP: 1500 - 0]

Sieg finally succumbed to his injury and fell forward on his stomach.

Bomber winced and turned away from the fallen Duelist. "That damn fool! He used himself as bait to protect us!"

"He's one crazy bastard," Kiryu said. "I'll be sure to win this for you, Siegfried Von Schroeder!"

Sieg managed to lift his head through pained grunts. He saw his two remaining goddesses vanish from beneath the Ark Cradle, and the structure began to plummet once again. He struggled to hold up his Duel Disk, keeping the Rainbow Bridge Bifrost active.

"Sieg! Sieg, are you okay?! Answer! Sieg!"

Sieg mustered the energy to respond to his leader calling out to him through his headset. "I can hear you…idiot."

Yusei saw the goddesses disappear. He turned and saw Sieg's body far in the distance. "Sieg!"

Jose stared at the injured man with emotionless eyes. "One down. I set one card face-down, ending my turn."

Kiryu turned to look at Sieg one more time before he quietly placed his hand on his deck. "Your sacrifice won't be in vain! My turn! Draw!"

[Kiryu's LP: 4000]

"Trap Card, activate! Limit Impulse! I discard two cards from my hand to Special Summon two Soul Tokens in Defense Mode!"

A bright blue flame flared up from Kiryu's Duek Disk, forming two small bodies with glowing red eyes.

[Soul Token x2: LV1/0/0]

Kiryu's expression suddenly changed, turning into a confident grin. "Now I have zero cards in my hand!"

"I see," Placido said wryly. "You're one of the former Dark Signers, Kysokue Kiryu. You were quite well known among that group for your Handless Combo." Placido's tone changed to a darker one. "But the Dark Signers answered to Yliaster, not the other way around!"

"We'll see, won't we? I activate the Magic Card, ZERO-MAX! When I have no cards in my hand, I can Special Summon an Infernity Monster from my Graveyard! I Special Summon the Tuner Monster, Infernity Avenger, in Defense Mode!"

A vortex of black light opened in front of Kiryu. Out of that vortex emerged a small demon-like doll with red eyes, long hair, and two pistols in its hands.

[Infernity Avenger: LV1/0/0]

"It has zero Attack Points, so the other effect of ZERO-MAX won't activate, sparing our Monsters.

Taro released his breath he had been holding for a few minutes. "Thank goodness. That card destroys all Monsters with Attack Power lower than the Special Summoned Monsters. But you can't get anything lower than zero."

Kiryu gave Taro a thumbs-up. "Don't worry, Taro. I know you're trying to Summon Thud. I don't intend to get in your way of doing so."

Taro smiled in return. "Thanks."

Kiryu turned back toward his enemy as his expression became more serious. "I switch Infernity Beast into Defense Mode! Then I activate the Magic Card, Infernity Burst! It inflicts 800 points of damage to my opponent for each Infernity Monster I control on the field! I have two, so that's 1600 damage!"

Lucciano scoffed as two balls of fire were shot in his direction. "Oh, please! Trap Card, Infinity Force! It negates the effect damage and destroys all your Monsters on the field!"

Kiryu's eyes widened as a gust of wind shot his own fire balls back onto his field, striking his Infernity Beast and his Infernity Avenger. Both were eradicated in a painful execution. Kiryu screamed as he felt the force of their deaths, which landed him on his knees.

"We told you! You don't stand a chance against us!"

Kiryu gritted his teeth. "Turn end…"

Bomber took a step forward. "My turn! Draw!"

[Bomber's LP: 4000]

"I Summon Trap Reactor・Y FI in Defense Mode!" A green tank-shaped Monster joined Bomber on his field.

[Trap Reactor・Y FI: LV4/800/1800]

"Then I switch Spell Reactor・RE into Defense Mode.

[Spell Reactor・RE: LV3/1200/900]

"I set one card and end my turn."

Andre and Breo took the next turns.

"My turn! Draw! I set one card face-down and end my turn!"

"My turn! Draw! I set one card! Turn end!"

Jean then took the baton. "My turn! Draw! I Summon Rhinotaurus in Attack Mode!" Rhinotaurus was a bulky man-rhino equipped with heavy armor and long tusk-like swords.

[Rhinotaurus: LV4/1800/600]

"Then I set one card, ending my turn."

"My turn! Draw!" Taro looked at his card and simply added it to his hand. "I pass this turn."

Jose looked each one of them in the eyes with an arrogant expression. "Ridiculous. You all boast, but you've accomplished nothing."

"By the looks of it, neither have you," Jean replied. "All I saw was you attacking a man who willingly gave his life to allow us to continue fighting. And we've inherited that spirit!"

"Such impudence! You're nothing but insignificant ants nipping at our ankles! You can't accomplish anything!"

"One ant by itself can't," Bomber said, "but many ants together can carry several times their own weight."

Lucciano rolled with laughter. "You really think your number means anything to us?!"

"Don't get so arrogant, humans," Placido snapped. "We've already taken down the man holding the lives of your friends. It's only a matter of time!"

Kiryu chuckled whimsically. "No, you know nothing about Yusei and his friends. They possess a strength you'll never hope to understand! They'll reach the Ark Cradle, and they'll stop it! In the meantime, we're going to give you the entertainment of your lifetime!"

Off to the side, Sieg was now completely flat against the ground. He had his face lifted up just enough to watch Team 5D's riding up the rainbow bridge. His left eye was closed and his right eye was beginning to go blank.

Bomber gasped when he saw Sieg on the verge of losing consciousness. "Hang on just a little longer, Sieg! They're almost there!"

BREAK

Far off in the city plaza, Carly faced in the opposite direction of those escaping around her. She had her camera pointed up toward the Ark Cradle and the Rainbow Bridge Bifrost that was wrapped around it. As she pressed the shutter, she saw Team 5D's riding up toward the middle of the bridge.

"Oh! Is that Jack and the others?!"

Down by the Daedalus Bridge, Bruno rode past the Duelists and Yliaster.

"Wasn't he one of Team 5D's friends?" Bomber asked out loud.

"What's he doing?" This was Breo asking.

Bruno's eyes glowed a neo green as his entire body underwent a transformation.

"Yusei... I'm on my way right now."

Bruno's body was wrapped in a blue-colored Riding Suit, and his D-Wheel became longer and more futuristic in appearance. A helmet formed over his head, which concealed his eyes with an orange visor. His voice became deeper and his appearance more intimidating. He had transformed into the being known only as Dark Glass by his peers.

"What the hell happened?" Kiryu's jaw dropped as he watched the transformation take place. His Duelist allies had a similar reaction.

Dark Glass rode up the Rainbow Bridge Bifrost faster than their eyes could track.

Jose chuckled lightly as he watched Dark Glass.

"What's so funny?" Andre asked dryly.

"The final piece of the plan has just arrived."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Jean eyed him suspiciously.

"Do not bother to ponder the meaning behind my statement. None of you will be alive for much longer anyway."

Rua worked up the courage to open his eyes as Team 5D's continued their climb. As they approached the side of the Ark Cradle, Rua noticed the upside-down buildings sticking out of its bottom.

"These ruins are the future Satellite," Rua thought to himself uncomfortably.

Yusei, in the lead, turned his head to face his friends. "Everyone, just a little further!" Yusei caught something in the corner of his eye, and he identified Dark Glass quickly catching up down below.

"He's...!"

In Old Momentum, Dragan winced as the front engine of his D-Wheel exploded in his face.

"The Vahallander...!"

Brave clenched his fists as sweat poured down his face. "Shit…! Sieg's been taken down! And I don't got much left myself…"

Harald's D-Wheel violently exploded as well, slashing his right eye and shattering the glass of his visor. Blood trickled down his cheek.

"That's as far as we go. The rest is up to you, Team 5D's!"

Old Momentum's energy consumed the three men, and the room fell into an eerie silence.

Outside, the Three Lords of Aesir grunted and groaned as they attempted to keep their grasp on Bifrost. As the light from Old Momentum collided with their bodies, they began to fade away, eventually shattering into digital dust.

Sieg saw the events unfold as he finally fell unconscious. "Shit…" His hand fell limp onto the pavement, his Duel Disk sliding off his hand.

Kiryu looked over and saw Sieg unconscious on the ground. "Sieg! What the hell happened?!" Kiryu turned toward Old Momentum and saw the Lords of Aesir were no longer present.

"Did something happen to Team Ragnarok?! What's going to happen to Yusei and his friends?!"

Bomber's face tensed as he looked over to the Ark Cradle. "Hurry up, Team 5D's! You don't have much time left!"

BREAK

Yusei gasped when he saw the Three Lords of Aesir disappear. "Team Ragnarok!"

Yusei looked below and saw the Rainbow Bridge Bifrost was beginning to lose its solid form.

"The Bifrost is disappearing...!"

Looking concerned, Yusei backed up his D-Wheel, moving past Jack, Crow, and Rua. The two called over to him in confusion as they saw their friend heading back. As they reached the edge of the Ark Cradle, they parked their D-Wheels and quickly spun around to assess the situation.

"What happened?!" Jack cried in a panicked voice.

Crow looked over to see the Bifrost fading away in midair. "The path's disappearing!"

Aki's D-Wheel was falling behind the others considerably. Yusei, Crow, and Jack recently got their engines upgraded before the W.R.G.P., but Aki was not so fortunate.

"She won't catch up at that speed!" Jack yelled between clenched teeth.

"Oh no! Aki's D-Wheel has the least horsepower!"

Fresh tears appeared in Rua's eyes as he watched the scene unfold in horror. "Ruka!"

Yusei pulled up beside Aki's D-Wheel, where Ruka clenched onto Aki, looking intense and scared.

"Are you alright, Aki?!"

Aki looked toward him with fearful eyes. "Yusei! I can't go any faster than this!"

Yusei turned toward Ruka, who was cringing behind Aki. "Ruka, jump over to me!"

Ruka's eyes widened at the thought. She looked toward Yusei, obviously not wanting to.

"My D-Wheel's more powerful!" Yusei quickly explained. He then turned back to Aki. "If you reduce your weight, you'll be able to go faster!"

"But at this speed...?!" Aki's voice was frantic.

Ruka couldn't help but gasp at the thought.

Yusei narrowed his eyes. "You have to do it! I can't save you if you don't!"

Ruka stared at him for a moment before shuddering and turning away. She closed her eyes and tightened up. After a moment, however, she regained her composure.

"I'll do it, Aki-san!"

The frightened girl placed both of her hands on Aki's back, pulling herself up on her seat. Yusei inched his D-Wheel closer to Aki's. He opened the door on his and leaned forward, extending his arm toward the girl. Ruka began to hesitate as she looked at Yusei with frightened eyes.

"Ruka!" Rua called out to his sister from the Ark Cradle.

"Hurry!" Yusei yelled, his eyes pleading and sincere.

Ruka's eyes met Yusei's and she felt a comforting sensation wash over her. She readied her body and nodded to her older friend. "Here I come!"

Ruka used every ounce of strength she could muster to jump from Aki's D-Wheel. Though it was only a few inches, it felt like an eternity to Ruka as her feet dangled over the unstable Bifrost. Yusei leaned forward and caught Ruka's light body, pulling her toward his chest. He wrapped his arms around the girl and closed the door on his D-Wheel.

Aki held her breath until she realized Ruka was safe. She sighed heavily, smiling. "Ruka!"

Just as Aki felt relieved, she heard the sound of another D-Wheel engine behind her. She spun around and saw Dark Glass driving straight for her. She yelped and closed her eyes shut. When she opened them again, Dark Glass was no longer in back of her. He was, in fact, now driving in front of Yusei. Yusei, Ruka, and Aki shared a collective gasp as the mysterious man now took the lead. He was surrounded by a windy vortex that blew past the other D-Wheelers in back of him.

Dark Glass turned back to face Yusei. "Yusei! It's a slipstream! Follow behind me!"

Yusei nodded to the stranger. "Okay! Aki, stay right behind us!"

Aki nodded to Yusei, who used the flow of Dark Glass' slipstream to increase his speed.

"Right!"

Using the slipstream, Yusei managed to bring himself and Ruka onto the Ark Cradle's edge safely. Dark Glass already arrived seconds before him. Though Aki had a close call, as the Rainbow Bridge Bifrost vanished from underneath her in the last second, she managed to land safely.

Far down below, Kiryu wiped the sweat off his forehead as he breathed a sigh of relief.

"That was close. I'm glad they made it…"

"Now we can focus on taking care of our mission," Bomber said.

The remaining Duelists all nodded to one another before staring down their opponents.

"So they got away in the end, huh?" Placido sounded nonchalant, no longer seeming to care.

"This is embrassing…" Lucciano, on the other hand, seemed to care quite a bit. He slapped his hand against his forehead in shame.

"It doesn't matter," Jose said in a gruff voice. "Though we failed to keep them from boarding the Ark Cradle, we managed to stall them long enough. All the necessary preparations should be complete by now."

"Enough chitchat, bastards!" Kiryu cut in. "It's time to make you satisfy us!"

BREAK

Team 5D's all faced one another on the Ark Cradle, looking pleased by their reunion.

Rua and Ruka ran toward one another and embraced each other tightly.

"Rua!"

"Ruka! Thank God!"

"I'm sorry I made you worry!"

Yusei worriedly turned toward Aki. "Aki! You okay?!"

Aki smiled brightly. "Yeah."

Yusei breathed a sigh of relief before turning and smiling at Dark Glass. "Thank you for that."

Jack, however, did not have friendly words for the mysterious man. "Just who the hell are you?!"

Dark Glass eyed Jack cautiously through his dark visors. "I have lost crucial memories. I have come here to find those answers."

"We don't have time for this!" Crow interrupted Jack. "It's all good as long as you're not an enemy!"

Yusei took the lead of the group once again. "Let's go, everyone! We're aiming for the heart of the Ark Cradle! Z-one should be there!"

Yusei's friends all nodded to one another, and Dark Glass mimicked their action. With that, they all fell silent and began their descent into the unknown depths of the Ark Cradle. Ruka once again joined Aki on her D-Wheel.

After about ten minutes of driving, the group came across a series of pathways that all overlapped with one another in a circular pattern. Toward the center of the structure was a mechanical device that glowed in the colors of Momentum energy. Each of the pathways was lit with the same energy.

Jack eyed the scenery curiously. "That's the heart?"

Yusei was lost in his own thoughts as he stared into the scenery. "The heart of the Ark Cradle... It's a mass of Momentum energy?"

"Looks that way," Crow said. "So, what do we do now?"

BREAK

Z-one watched the group intensely on his screen. As Sherry walked into the room, she noticed there was blood on the floor beneath Z-one's mechanical body. She did not say anything, though she did find herself wondering what the cause of that blood was.

"So you have come, Yusei, Team 5D's," Z-one said in a half-whisper. "It seems Jose and the others weren't able to stop them from getting here."

Z-one suddenly began to cough deeply, startling Sherry. She did not show concern, nor did she feel any for him, but his sudden condition struck her as out of place. At the very least, it left her bewildered.

Z-one's face and attitude began to change right before Sherry's eyes. He narrowed his visible eye menacingly. "It seems that I am left with no other choice."

Though Sherry kept it to herself, she noticed the air surrounding Z-one suddenly felt heavier and was filled with killing intent.

"Then, let us invite them…to my citadel, the Ark Cradle."

Dark Glass felt the floor beneath his feet give way. He jerked his head down and his eyes widened when he saw the floor was suddenly nowhere to be found. "What?!"

Dark Glass and Team 5D's scream as they plummet into a pit of darkness, deep through the structure of the Ark Cradle. As they fell, the lighter Rua and Ruka lost their grip on Crow and Aki. They were sent spiraling into the air.

Yusei noticed a set of paths down in the center of the dark room below them. Thinking fast, he flicked a switch on his D-Wheel, which turned his front headlights on. Using the light as a guide, he alerted them all of the location of the paths below. Yusei shifted his weight and skidded to a halt on the first path. Jack and Dark Glass managed to position themselves safely on the second path, while Crow and Aki barely made it onto the third.

"Is everyone all right?!" Yusei called out into the darkness. He heard Rua and Ruka screaming above his head suddenly. Looking up, he realized they were in danger and acted immediately. He jumped forward and caught Rua by the waist. He was not able to grab Ruka and he gasped when he came to that realization. Rua leaned forward and caught his sister's arms, groaning as he tried to support her weight.

"Don't let go of her!" Yusei managed between grunts as he managed to hold onto Rua and Ruka at the same time.

"Yusei!" Crow called out, sounding concerned.

"Guys!" Aki sounded even more frantic.

Yusei mustered all of his strength and pulled the twins up to safety, falling down in the process. Yusei smiled at them between pants as he saw they were safe.

"Looks like they're all okay," Dark Glass said.

Jack, however, sounded less optimistic. "But now..."

Once everyone started to notice their surroundings, they realized they were separated amongst three groups on separate platforms.

"It's impossible for us all to go together as a group!"

Crow growled and punched his own hand in frustration. "I can't believe this...! What should we do now?!"

Dark Glass looked at Jack and motioned for him to move toward him. "Come look at this."

Jack watched as Dark Glass rendered a scan of the Ark Cradle on his screen. He then uploaded the data to the other D-Wheels present.

"That's..." Yusei's voice trailed off as Dark Glass began to speak to them through their D-Wheels' communication system.

"I scanned the interior of the Ark Cradle. Each of the three passages before us now are surrounded by a support gear. Each of which is connected to three Planetary Gears. If we don't stop those Planetary Gears first, we can't change the movement of the support gear powered by Momentum at the central heart into a positive rotation."

As he spoke, he displayed various diagrams and graphs on their screens.

"Yusei, we're short on time. If we don't hurry, Neo Domino City will be crushed by the Ark Cradle!"

Yusei nodded and turned to look at his friends around him.

"Listen up, everyone! From here on out, we'll split into three groups and stop the gears from moving."

Ruka and Rua gasped when they heard that. The others watched him in silence, all seeming to understand what he was about to say.

"I believe in all of you! That you'll be able to stop the support gears and meet up with me!"

Jack nodded in reply and started up his engine.

The twins looked up at the others, appearing to be uncomfortable with the situation. Jack appeared on Yusei's D-Wheel and he addressed the two.

"Didn't you hear what Yusei just said? We have a mission to carry out. We must save Neo Domino City from the brink of death and destruction!"

After a moment's hesitation, the kids nodded to Jack, to each other, and then to Yusei. Yusei returned their nod with approval.

"Let's go!"

"Yup!"

"Us too!"

Rua and Ruka removed their D-Boards from their backpacks and attached the objects to their feet. D-Boards were similar to skateboards, and were designed to allow children the ability to Riding Duel. Rua's was blue in color while Ruka's was pink. The twins also placed on helmets, elbow pads, and knee pads.

"Yusei!"

Yusei and the twins turned back when they heard Crow call over.

"I understand. But you better watch yourself! You better not die!"

Yusei did not know what to say to that, so he just returned Crow's gaze.

"We'll be waiting for you at the support gear," Aki added.

Aki and Crow rode off on their D-Wheels toward their destination. Jack and Dark Glass followed suit, heading down their own path.

"I'm counting on you, guys!"

With that, Rua and Ruka grabbed onto each side of Yusei's D-Wheel. Once they were in place, the three drove into the dark tunnel in front of them.

Z-one watched the three groups split apart on his screen in the all-white room. He turned toward Sherry, acknowledging her presence in the room.

"It is just as you said it would be. He did come here after all."

Sherry stepped forward and looked right into Z-one's exposed eye. "I will stop them without fail. The future you are expecting will move as planned."

"…"

"In exchange, keep your promise."

"Yes. That goes without saying."

Without saying another word, Sherry exited the room.

BREAK

Aki and Crow were the first to arrive at their destination. It was an open room with nothing but Momentum light and various machines. The two stopped their D-Wheels and observed their surroundings.

"So this is the Planetary Gear, huh?" Crow eyed the large pillar at the front of the room. It glowed with Momentum energy and made a whirring noise.

"Looks that way," Aki said.

The sound of echoing footsteps suddenly filled the room. Aki and Crow looked in the direction of the footsteps, and saw Sherry walk out from behind the planetary gear. She wore the dark expression of a murderer.

"Sorry to inform you, but you two won't be going any further than this."

"Sherry!" Crow did not look happy to see the woman.

"Why are you here?" Though Aki looked serious, there was a hint of sadness in her eyes.

"I have taken Z-one's side," Sherry replied. "I will guard the Ark Cradle and stop you from reaching your destination." Sherry raised her left arm, which had a Duel Disk attached to it.

Aki shook her head in protest. "You can't...! Haven't you always been fixated on getting revenge for your parents against Yliaster?"

"That's right!" Crow added. "You really think your parents will be happy if you do something like this?!"

Sherry narrowed her eyes and replied in a malevolent tone. "That has nothing to do with either of you."

Crow answered her by tossing a card at her, which she caught in her hand. She looked at it and shot Crow a displeased glare.

"Why... do you have this?!"

"Mizoguchi asked me to give it to you. That's a memento of your old man, isn't it?!"

Sherry paused for a moment before replying. "It is. Everything began with this card. My happy life was suddenly broken on that day."

Sherry had images of the day her mother and father were murdered. She was only a young girl, and she recalled standing at their corpses in the center of her mansion.

"Since that day, I bet my very life in order to find a way to avenge my parents. But now that I know the circumstances behind my parents' deaths, this world can vanish into thin air for all I care. What awaits someone like me, who's lived her entire life for revenge?"

Sherry's voice began to sound like she was on the verge of tears, but she swallowed it and closed her eyes.

Aki said nothing, but she appeared as though she felt bad for Sherry.

Crow had a similar expression. "Sherry..."

Then Sherry's expression changed, as a forced smile came to her face. "But I have seen God. After losing everything, Z-one has given me the hope to live."

"The hope to live?" Aki appeared bewildered. "Sherry, what exactly did Z-one tell you?"

"It's a simple matter," Sherry said as she placed her hand on her chest. "We made a deal. If I help Z-one, he will grant me a wish in return."

Crow looked surprised. "What? He can grant any wish?"

"Beats me." Sherry shrugged and sounded sarcastic." I wonder about that myself."

Aki became serious and she stared right into the woman's eyes. "Listen to me, Sherry! While we're wasting time here, the Ark Cradle is falling! In order to grant a wish for yourself, you're willing to put so many lives in danger?!"

Sherry returned the glare. "Say what you like, but my thoughts will not change. I no longer need this card." Sherry lifted her arm to toss the card back, but stopped when Crow stopped her.

"That's really important to you, isn't it?! It was meant for you to hold!"

Sherry couldn't hold back her smirk. "Are you sure you should give your enemy an opportunity to kill you like this? You should understand how much strength this card holds. That power could very well lead to your defeat."

"I don't care. I promised Mizoguchi!"

"I see." Sherry said nothing more. She shuffled the card into her deck using her Duel Disk's automatic shuffler. Once she was set, she took a step back. The ground beneath her lit up with an intense flash of white light. The light extended over to where Crow and Aki were standing.

"My Life has been directly connected to the Planetary Gear's special device. Unless you defeat me, you won't be able to stop the Planetary Gear!"

Aki looked pained by her words. "Sherry...!"

Crow hesitated momentarily before working up the nerve to continue. "We've got no choice...!"

The three took their positions and drew their starting hands.

"Duel!"

Z-one quietly watched the Duel unfold on his monitor. He watched Sherry intently on the screen with concerned eyes.

"Sherry, I pray that you do not have to use that card…"

oOo

The battle for humanity begins! What tricks does Sherry have up her sleeve?

To be continued in Chapter 3: "The Soul Binding Gate"

Cards Used (In Order of Appearance)

Wise Core

DARK

Level 1

Machine/Effect

0/0

When this card is destroyed by a card effect and sent to the Graveyard, destroy all monsters you control. Then, Special Summon 1 "Mechlord Emperor Wisel", "Wisel Top", "Wisel Attack", "Wisel Guard", and "Wisel Carrier" from your hand, Deck, or Graveyard.

Reload

Quick-Play Spell

Add all the cards in your hand to your Deck and shuffle it. Then draw the same number of cards that you added to your Deck.

Sky Core

WIND

Level 1

Machine/Effect

0/0

When this card is destroyed by a card effect and sent to the Graveyard, destroy all monsters you control. Then, Special Summon 1 "Mechlord Emperor Skiel ∞", "Skiel Top", "Skiel Attack", "Skiel Guard", and "Skiel Carrier" from your hand, Deck, or Graveyard.

Grand Core

EARTH

Level 1

Machine/Effect

0/0

When this card is destroyed by a card effect and sent to the Graveyard, destroy all monsters you control. Then, Special Summon 1 "Mechlord Emperor Grannel", "Grannel Top", "Grannel Attack", "Grannel Guard", and "Grannel Carrier" from your hand, Deck, or Graveyard.

Acid Rain

Spell Card

Destroy all face-up Machine-Type monsters on the field.

Mechlord Emperor Wisel (OCG: Meklord Emperor Wisel)

DARK

Level 1

Machine/Effect

2500/2500

Other monsters you control cannot attack. Once per turn, you can select and equip 1 face-up Synchro Monster your opponent controls to this card. This card gains ATK equal to the combined ATK of all Synchro Monsters equipped to it and all other face-up "Wisel", "Skiel", and "Grannel" monsters you control. When this card is destroyed, destroy all monsters you control.

Wisel Top

DARK

Level 1

Machine/Effect

500/0

If you do not control a face-up "Mechlord Emperor" monster, destroy this card.

Wisel Attack

DARK

Level 1

Machine/Effect

1200/0

If you do not control a face-up "Mechlord Emperor" monster, destroy this card.

Wisel Guard

DARK

Level 1

0/1200

If you do not control a face-up "Mechlord Emperor" monster, destroy this card. When another monster you control is selected as an attack target, you can switch the target to this card instead.

Wisel Guard

DARK

Level 1

800/600

Destroy this card if you do not control a "Mechlord Emperor" monster. This card cannot be destroyed by your opponent's card effects.

Mechlord Emperor Skiel ∞ (OCG: Meklord Emperor Skiel)

WIND

Level 1

Machine/Effect

2200/2200

Other monsters you control cannot attack. Once per turn, you can equip 1 face-up Synchro Monster your opponent controls to this card. This card gains ATK equal to the combined ATK of all Synchro Monsters equipped to it and all other face-up "Wisel","Skiel", and "Grannel" monsters you control. When this card is destroyed, destroy all monsters you control.

Skiel Top

WIND

Level 1

Machine/Effect

600/0

If you do not control a face-up "Mechlord Emperor" monster, destroy this card.

Skiel Attack

WIND

Level 1

Machine/Effect

1000/0

If you do not control a face-up "Mechlord Emperor" monster, destroy this card.

Skiel Guard

WIND

Level 1

Machine/Effect

200/300

If you do not control a face-up "Mechlord Emperor" monster, destroy this card. Once per turn, when a monster you control is selected as an attack target, you can negate the attack.

Skiel Carrier

WIND

Level 1

Machine/Effect

400/0

If you do not control a face-up "Mechlord Emperor" monster, destroy this card.

Mechlord Emperor Grannel (OCG: Meklord Emperor Granel)

EARTH

Level 1

Machine/Effect

0/0

Other monsters you control cannot attack, except for Synchro Monsters equipped to this card. This card's original ATK and DEF are equal to your Life Points. This card gains ATK equal to the combined ATK of all Synchro Monsters equipped to this card. When this card is destroyed, destroy all monsters you control.

Grannel Top

EARTH

Level 1

Machine/Effect

500/0

If you do not control a face-up "Mechlord Emperor" monster, destroy this card. When a "Mechlord Emperor" monster you control declares an attack, you can negate the effects of 1 face-up Synchro Monster your opponent controls, until the End Phase.

Grannel Attack

EARTH

Level 1

Machine/Effect

1300/0

If you do not control a face-up "Mechlord Emperor" monster, destroy this card. Once per turn, if a "Mechlord Emperor" monster you control destroys an opponent's Synchro Monster by battle: You can equip that monster to a face-up "Mechlord Emperor" monster you control. At the start of each of your Battle Phases, if you control a face-up "Mechlord Emperor" monster equipped with a Synchro Monster(s): Treat those equipped Synchro Monsters as monsters you control in the Spell & Trap Card Zone, until the end of the Battle Phase. They cannot attack your opponent directly, and if they attack a Defense Position monster, inflict piercing Battle Damage to your opponent. If a "Mechlord Emperor" monster you control attacks an opponent's Defense Position Synchro Monster, inflict piercing Battle Damage to your opponent.

Grannel Guard

EARTH

Level 1

Machine/Effect

500/1000

If you do not control a face-up "Mechlord Emperor" monster, destroy this card. When a monster you control is attacked, you can select a Synchro Monster equipped to a "Mechlord Emperor" you control: Treat it as a face-up Attack Position monster you control in the Spell & Trap Card Zone, until the end of the Damage Step, and change the attack target to it.

Grannel Carrier

EARTH

Level 1

Machine/Effect

700/700

If you do not control a face-up "Mechlord Emperor" monster, destroy this card. Once per turn, if a monster you control would be destroyed by battle, it is not destroyed.

Infernity Beast

DARK

Level 3

Beast/Effect

1600/1200

If this card attacks while you have no cards in your hand, your opponent cannot activate Spell or Trap Cards until after the Damage Step.

Spell Reactor・RE

DARK

Level 3

Machine/Effect

1200/900

Once per turn, when your opponent activates a Spell Card, you can destroy the Spell Card and inflict 800 damage to your opponent.

Nimble Momonga

EARTH

Level 2

Beast/Effect

When this card is destroyed by battle and sent to the Graveyard, gain 1000 Life Points. You can also Special Summon any number of "Nimble Momongas" from your Deck in face-down Defense Position.

Egotistical Ape

EARTH

Level 5

Beast/Tuner/Effect

1200/1200

This card cannot be Normal Summoned or Set. This card can only be Special Summoned by sending 1 Beast-Type monster from your hand to the Graveyard. When this card is Special Summoned this way, you can activate 1 of these effects: ● Increase the Level of this card by the Level of the Beast-Type monster. ● Decrease the Level of this card by the Level of the Beast-Type monster.

Playful Possum

EARTH

Level 2

Beast/Effect

800/600

During your Main Phase, if your opponent controls a face-up monster with a higher ATK than the ATK of this card, you can destroy this card on the field. During your Standby Phase, if this card was destroyed by this effect, you can Special Summon this card from the Graveyard.

Thunder Unicorn

LIGHT

Level 5

Beast/Synchro/Effect

2200/1800

1 Tuner + 1 or more non-Tuner monsters

Once per turn, during your Main Phase, you can select 1 face-up monster your opponent controls. It loses 500 ATK for each monster you control, except for "Thunder Unicorn", until the End Phase. During the turn this effect is activated, no other monsters can attack. When this card is destroyed by battle and sent to the Graveyard, you can Special Summon it during that turn's Battle Phase in face-up Attack Position. If this card is Special Summoned this way, remove it from play at the end of the Battle Phase.

Purgatory of Nothingness (OCG: Into the Void)

Spell Card

Activate only if you have 3 or more cards in your hand. Draw 1 card. During the End Phase of this turn, discard all the cards in your hand.

Chosen One

Spell Card

Select 1 Monster Card and 2 non-Monster Cards from your hand. Your opponent randomly selects 1 card among them. If it is a Monster Card, it is Special Summoned and you send the remaining 2 cards to the Graveyard. If not, send all the cards to the Graveyard.

Mine Mole

EARTH

Level 3

Beast/Effect

Once per turn, this card cannot be destroyed by battle. If this card is sent to the Graveyard as a Synchro Material Monster of a Beast-Type monster, draw 1 card. If this card is removed from the field by your opponent's card effect, remove this card from play.

Bicorn Re'em

DARK

Level 4

Beast/Tuner/Effect

This card cannot be used as a Synchro Material Monster, except for the Synchro Summon of a Beast-Type Synchro Monster. If this card is sent to the Graveyard for a Synchro Summon, send the top 2 cards of your opponent's Deck to the Graveyard.

Voltic Bicorn

LIGHT

Level 7

Beast/Synchro/Effect

1 Beast-Type Tuner + 1 or more non-Tuner monsters

If this card is destroyed by your opponent's card (either by battle or by card effect), both players send the top 7 cards of their Deck to the Graveyard.

Trident Warrior

LIGHT

Level 4

Warrior/Effect

1800/1200

When this card is Normal Summoned: You can Special Summon 1 Level 3 monster from your hand.

Delta Fly (OCG: Delta Flyer)

WIND

Level 3

Dragon/Tuner/Effect

1500/900

Once per turn, you can select 1 face-up monster and increase or decrease its Level by 1.

Lightning Tricorn

LIGHT

Level 8

Beast/Synchro/Effect

2800/2000

1 Tuner + 1 or more non-Tuner monsters

1 Tuner + 1 or more non-Tuner Beast-Type monsters

If this card is destroyed by your opponent's card (either by battle or by card effect), you can select 1 "Thunder Unicorn" or "Voltic Bicorn" in your Graveyard or Extra Deck and Special Summon it.

Holding-Hands Majin

DARK

Level 4

Fiend/Effect

You can only control 1 "Holding-Hands Majin". Your opponent cannot target other face-up monsters you control for an attack. While this card is in face-up Defense Position, it gains DEF equal to the total DEF of every other face-up monster you control.

One for One

Spell Card

Send 1 Monster Card from your hand to the Graveyard. Special Summon 1 Level 1 monster from your hand or Deck.

Bat

WIND

Level 1

Machine

300/350

Key Mace

LIGHT

Level 1

400/300

Enchanting Fitting Room

Spell Card

Pay 800 Life Points. Pick up 4 cards from the top of your Deck and Special Summon to your side of the field all Level 3 or lower Normal Monsters among the picked-up cards. Return all the other picked-up cards to your Deck and the Deck is then shuffled.

Kageningen ("Shadow Fighter")

DARK

Level 2

Warrior

Different Dimension Trainer (OCG: D.D. Trainer)

DARK

Level 1

Fiend

100/2000

Plant of the Demon World (OCG: Fungi of the Musk)

DARK

Level 1

Fiend

400/300

Angel's Charity (OCG: Graceful Charity)

Spell Card

Draw 3 cards, then discard 2 cards.

Pot of Greed

Spell Card

Draw 2 cards.

Walkuren Ritt ("Ride of the Valkyries")

Spell Card

Special Summon as many "Valkyrie" monsters from your hand as possible. During the End Phase, return all monsters Special Summoned this way to your Deck.

Valkyrie Dritte

LIGHT

Level 4

Fairy/Effect

1000/1600

This card gains 100 ATK for each banish monster.

Valkyrie Erste

LIGHT

Level 6

Fairy/Effect

1600/1800

Once per turn: banish 1 monster from your opponent's Graveyard. This card's original ATK becomes equal to the banished monster's original ATK, until the End Phase.

Valkyrie Zwei

LIGHT

Level 5

Fairy/Effect

1600/1600

When this card is Summoned, target 1 monster your opponent controls, and destroy it.

Final Light

Spell Card

Pay 1000 Life Points and select 1 LIGHT monster in your Graveyard. Special Summon it. Then, your opponent can Special Summon 1 monster with 2000 or less ATK from their Graveyard in face-up Attack Position.

Valkyrie Brunnhilde

LIGHT

Level 7

Fairy/Effect

1800/2000

While this card is in face-up Attack Position, it gains 300 ATK for each Dragon-Type and Warrior-Type monster on the field. When this card would be destroyed by battle, you can have it lose 1000 DEF instead.

Convert Ghost

Trap Card

If you control a face-up "Mechlord Emperor" monster when your opponent activates a Spell/Trap Card or Effect Monster's effect: Banish 1 Machine-Type monster in your Graveyard; negate the activation and destroy that card. Set this card face-down again instead of sending it to the Graveyard.

Thor, Lord of the Aesir

EARTH

Level 10

Divine-Beast/Synchro/Effect

3500/2800

1 Tuner + 2 or more non-Tuner monsters

Once per turn, you can select 1 monster your opponent controls. Negate the effects of the monster and this card gains the negated effect(s) until the End Phase. If this face-up card is destroyed and sent to the Graveyard, you can Special Summon it from the Graveyard during the End Phase. If this card is Special Summoned from your Graveyard, you can inflict 800 damage to your opponent.

Loki, Lord of the Aesir

DARK

Level 10

Divine-Beast/Synchro/Effect

3300/3000

1 Tuner + 2 or more non-Tuner monsters

Once per turn, when this card attacks and your opponent activates a Spell/Trap Card during your Battle Phase, you can negate its activation and destroy it. If this face-up card on the field is destroyed and sent to the Graveyard, you can Special Summon it during the End Phase. If this card is Special Summoned from the Graveyard, you can select 1 Trap Card in the Graveyard and add it to your hand.

Odin, Father of the Aesir

LIGHT

Level 10

Divine-Beast/Synchro/Effect

4000/3500

1 Tuner + 2 or more non-Tuner monsters

Once per turn, you can activate this card's effect. If you do, all face-up Divine-Beast-Type monster(s) you control become unaffected by the effects of Spell/Trap Cards until the End Phase. If this face-up card on the field is destroyed and sent to the Graveyard, you can Special Summon it during the End Phase. If this card is Special Summoned from your Graveyard, you can draw 1 card.

The Rainbow Bridge Bifrost

Continuous Spell Card

All face-up "Valkyrie", "Nordic", and "Aesir" Monsters gain 500 ATK. Increase their ATK by an additional 500 points for each Banished Monster on both fields.

Prose Edda

Spell Card

Pay half your Life Points and Special Summon as many "Goddess" Synchro Monsters from your Extra Deck as possible, ignoring Summoning Conditions.

Skuld, Goddess of Aesir

LIGHT

Spellcaster/Synchro/Effect

Level 9

2800/3400

1 Nordic Beast Tuner + 1 "Valkyrie" Monster

Once per turn, you can look at the top 3 cards of your opponent's Deck and rearrange them.

Urd, Goddess of Aesir

LIGHT

Spellcaster/Synchro/Effect

Level 9

2800/3400

1 Nordic Beast Tuner + 1 "Valkyrie" Monster

Once per turn, you can select 1 face-down card your opponent controls and guess its card name. If you guess correctly, remove from play that card.

Verdandi, Goddess of Aesir

LIGHT

Spellcaster/Synchro/Effect

Level 9

2800/3400

1 Nordic Beast Tuner + 1 Valkyrie Monster

Once per turn, you can guess the card type of the top card of your opponent's Deck (Monster, Spell or Trap). If you guess correctly, apply an appropriate effect: ● Monster Card: Your opponent Special Summons it in face-down Defense Position. ● Spell or Trap Card: Your opponent Sets it.

Wise A3

Trap Card

Send 1 face-up "Wisel Attack" you control to the Graveyard. Special Summon 1 "Wisel Attack 3" from your hand.

Wisel Attack 3

DARK

Level 3

Machine/Effect

1600/0

You can Tribute 1 "Wisel Attack" to Special Summon this card from your hand. If you do not control a face-up "Mechlord Emperor" monster, destroy this card. During battle between an attacking "Mechlord Emperor" monster you control and a Defense Position monster whose DEF is lower than the ATK of the attacking monster, inflict piercing damage to your opponent.

Dimension Trap

Trap Card

Remove from play 1 monster you control and select 1 Trap Card in your Graveyard. The effect of this card will be the same as the selected Trap Card.

Threatening Roar

Trap Card

Your opponent cannot declare an attack this turn.

Trap Stun

Trap Card

Negate the effects of all other Trap Cards on the field during this turn.

Double Cyclone

Quick-Play Spell

Select 1 Spell/Trap Card you control and 1 Spell/Trap Card your opponent controls. Destroy the selected card(s).

Chain Whirlwind

Trap Card

Activate only when a card on the field is destroyed by a card effect. Select 2 Spell/Trap Cards on the field and destroy them.

Infinity Wall

Trap Card

Activate only if you control a face-up "Mechlord Emperor" monster. Negate card effects that would destroy cards you control during this turn.

Dodge Roll

Trap Card

Activate only when you would take effect damage or Battle Damage. You take no damage from that attack or card effect.

Limit Impulse

Trap Card

Send 2 cards from your hand to the Graveyard. Special Summon 2 "Soul Tokens" (Fiend-Type/DARK/Level 1/ATK 0/DEF 0). These Tokens cannot be Tributed except for a Tribute Summon.

ZERO-MAX

Spell Card

Activate only if you have no cards in your hand. Select 1 "Infernity" monster in your Graveyard. Special Summon it, and destroy all face-up monsters on the field with ATK lower than the Special Summoned monster's ATK. You cannot conduct your Battle Phase the same turn you activate this card.

Infernity Avenger

DARK

Level 1

Fiend/Tuner

0/0

When a monster you control, except "Infernity Avenger", is destroyed by battle with an opponent's monster and sent to the Graveyard, while you have no cards in your hand, you can Special Summon this card from your Graveyard. In that case, the Level of this card is equal to the Level of your destroyed monster.

Infernity Burst

Spell Card

Inflict 800 damage to your opponent's for each "Infernity" monster you control.

Infinity Force

Trap Card

Activate only if you control a face-up "Mechlord Emperor" monster when your opponent activates a card effect that would inflict effect damage to you. Reduce that damage to 0, and destroy all monsters your opponent controls.

Trap Reactor・Y FI

DARK

Level Four

Machine/Effect

800/1800

Once per turn, when your opponent activates a Trap Card, you can destroy the Trap Card and inflict 800 damage to your opponent.

Rhinotaurus

FIRE

Level 4

Beast-Warrior/Effect

1800/600

If 2 or more of your opponent's monsters are destroyed by battle with your monsters during the same Battle Phase, this card can attack twice during that Battle Phase.