Disclaimer: The following piece is in no way a claim to ownership of the depicted characters. Yu-Gi-Oh, Yu-Gi-Oh R, Yu-Gi-Oh GX and Yu-Gi-Oh 5D's are owned by TV Tokyo, Konami Corporation and Kazuki Takahashi. This story as presented is strictly for entertainment purposes, both for its owner and readers.
Chapter 2 – The Mystery of Yliaster, Machine Emperor Wisel Infinity
The morning after the fire, in Johan's apartment, Crow and Johan stood over a now sleeping Judai, who was sprawled out on the couch with his Deck on a glass coffee table. The deck laid upside-down, Yubel's card on top, and her spirit stood over the couch staring at the other two.
"Who would want to do something like this to Judai?" Crow asked himself aloud, before turning to Johan. "Did Judai make any enemies that would do this?"
"Judai make enemies?" Johan asked in disbelief. "He has no enemies, and his rivals in the Pro League aren't murderous."
"The figure that started the fire," Yubel said, getting Johan's attention. Though Crow could neither hear nor see Yubel, he knew she was there because his Dragon's birthmark allowed him to sense her presence. She then added: "It was a robot, and it mentioned something about a master."
"Judai's opponents don't strike me as the type capable of building robots like those." Johan pondered as Crow put his thumb and index finger to his chin.
"They're not," Jack said, he and Yusei entering as Johan and Crow turned to see them. "How's he doing?"
"He's got first-degree burns on his left wrist," Johan started, "a deep slash to his left upper arm, hairline fractures to his shins, and he's anemic from loss of blood."
"He's lucky to be alive," Yusei stated. "Yubel," he declared, getting the spirit's attention even though he could not see her either, and further asked, "how did he suffer these wounds?"
"The robot played a duel against Judai in the confines of a glowing figure eight," the spirit declared, Johan restating what she said so the Signers could know. "One of the direct attacks did this to him."
"When Yusei and I dueled at the end of the Fortune Cup," Jack stated, "the Crimson Dragon's power made us feel pain, but we didn't suffer injuries from the match itself."
"Nor did the Dark Signers' power cause injuries like this," Yusei added. "What cards did the robot play?" He then asked Yubel.
"Infinity," was the spirit's reply. However, before they could say anything more, there was a knock on the door. Walking to it, Jack opened the door to reveal a tall, tanned, black-haired figure with a green officer's uniform on and a scar on his left cheek.
"Ushio," Yusei realized, slightly confused as to why he was there. Seconds later two men in black suits appeared behind Ushio, and Yusei added, "What's this about?"
"The arson last night," the officer stated plainly. "As Chief Detective, it's my job to make arrests in high-profile cases."
"High-profile?" Crow questioned.
"A single apartment fire?" Johan added, just as suspicious.
"Under the Director's new Statutes, arson in a private dwelling of multiple groups of residents, like a hotel or apartment complex, is terrorism."
"Hold on; new director?" Yusei questioned. "I thought the spot had been vacant since Godwin passed on six months ago."
"His replacement was named two weeks ago," Ushio explained. "And under His orders, I am here to place Yuki Judai under arrest for Arson, Terrorism, Destruction of Private Property and multiple counts of Attempted Murder."
"Say what?" the four friends asked in unison, incredibly disbelieving of the previous statement. At this time the two black-suited figures, identified as officers, stepped out from behind Ushio and shook Judai awake, then grabbed him by the shoulders.
"What the hell is this?" Judai asked angrily, struggling against the officers. "This is insane!"
"Shut up and save it for the judge," one of the officers yelled at him, twisting his arm by the burned wrist and making him scream out in pain.
"That's enough," Ushio ordered. "Take him out of here carefully."
"Ushio," Johan stated as the two officers left and Ushio turned to. "You know this isn't right. You can't honestly think Judai is responsible for this."
Hanging his head in shame Ushio stated in a melancholy, "I don't. I don't know Judai well, but from what my subordinates tell me he's the kind of person to help catch criminals, not become one. Unfortunately, I'm under orders from the top; but I'll make sure he gets a good lawyer."
"You can't be serious!" Jack bellowed.
"I'm sorry; it's the law." With that Ushio picked up Judai's Deck and placed it in his coat pocket. Yubel's spirit then faded out in the background, and with that Ushio walked out and left.
"Wait, Ushio," Yusei asked, getting the lead officer to stop for a second. "What's this new Director's name?"
As he turned and walked away, Ushio simply stated, "It's Placido."
"Judai has been arrested," the large older man stated from the shadows of the Sky Temple. He was speaking to Placido via a plasma screen, the latter man sitting on Godwin's old office and being dressed in a white suit with a black eye patch instead of his metal one.
"Excellent, Jose," Placido stated with a smile. "He'll be a pawn in our hands soon enough."
"Lucciano has completed the preparations to test the power," Jose added. "We're ready to confront one of the Signers."
Smiling, Placido replied, "Then by all means do." When Jose nodded, Placido turned off the screen on his end.
"We need to get down to the station," Jack stated, putting on his riding helmet. Crow and Yusei were already on their own D-Wheels, Johan being on Judai's, as Jack got onto Wheel of Fortune and started it up.
"I need to meet with someone before I can show up there," Yusei stated. "Judai arranged for me to meet with someone a few days ago."
"Who was that?" Johan asked, prompting Yusei to reply with,
"I have no idea, but I'm guessing it's somebody who can help us out."
"Meet us at the station when you're done," Crow stated, just before he, Jack and Johan pulled out and started off onto the roads. Seconds later, Yusei punched in an address Judai had given him into his D-Wheel's GPS. Then, he started up his machine and pulled out.
"I hope Judai's contact can really help us out as much as he said," Yusei thought as his speed level out to 150 km/h and he began to take the highest ramp. "I don't know what's going on, but it's not good."
"Fudo Yusei!" A distorted voice yelled from behind Yusei. When Yusei turned to look, a black D-Wheel with a rider in a black jumpsuit rushed by him, side-swiping his ride and making him veer left for a few meters.
"Who are you?" Yusei asked. "Are you Judai's contact?"
"You can call me Ghost," the rider stated, revealing a pale face with several piercings and violet eyes. "Now come, and show me your Power of the Signers!"
"How do you know about that?" Yusei asked, suddenly getting an idea into his head. "Do you work for Placido?"
"That's not of your concern," Ghost yelled, pushing a button on his D-Wheel. Instantly Yusei's own D-Wheel switched to Duel Mode, the autopilot taking over and activating his built-in Duel Disc. "We will now Riding Duel, and under the World Riding Grand Prix rules!"
"The Grand Prix rules?" Yusei thought. "Then we're going by Speed World 2's effect." This was confirmed when, instead of Speed World, the card Speed World 2 appeared on the screen. "The GPS will still get me to my location, but only if I can escape this duel."
"Are you ready to lose?" Ghost yelled arrogantly as his D-Wheel's card tray ejected 5 cards and Yusei pulled 5 from his wrist dealer. Suddenly the 2 D-Wheels veered off onto another road, leading across the Neo Domino Straight and towards Satellite, where barriers began to form along the edges and the words "DUEL LANE" formed in neon sign, followed by the ID Number "257091".
"I will not lose!" Yusei yelled, and so both players yelled,
"Riding Duel! Acceleration!"
Yusei: LP 4000
Ghost: LP 4000
"I'll go first!" Yusei yelled. "Draw! I summon Shield Warrior (DEF: 1600, LV: 5)!" To Yusei's left emerged a beige and brown warrior with a shield in one hand and a halberd in the other, which turned blue instantly. "I set 1 card and end my turn."
"It is my turn," Ghost declared as a new card was dispensed (Yusei: 1 SPC/Ghost: 2 SPC). "I summon Wise Core (ATK: 0, LV: 1)." To the right of Ghost emerged a white metallic egg-shaped device lined with several circuit patterns.
"Wise Core?" Yusei asked. "I've never seen that monster before."
"Next, because I Summoned a monster," Ghost added, "I Special Summon Wise Breaker (ATK: 1600, LV: 3)!" Opposite the machine he had just played, Ghost's new monster appeared as a white metal warrior with an electrified staff in one hand and several circuit patterns.
"When this monster is Special Summoned, I destroy all monsters I control and draw 1 card for each."
"What?" Yusei asked as Ghost pulled 2 cards. From the staff the warrior left shot two fields of electricity, one of which exploded the wielder while the other surrounded the white core. Before it could explode it opened up horizontally, splitting into a top and bottom half and revealing a green glowing orb. Then, the light erupted into a vertical column.
"When Wise Core is destroyed y a card effect," Ghost explained, "I destroy every monster I control, and then I Special Summon Wisel Top (ATK: 500, LV: 1), Wisel Carrier (ATK: 800, LV: 1), Wisel Guard (DEF: 1200, LV: 1), Wisel Attack (ATK: 1200, LV: 1) and Machine Emperor Wisel Infinity (ATK: 0, LV: 1) from my Deck!"
From the glowing green light, the silhouette of a gigantic robotic figure slowly came into view. When the light finally died down, it revealed a white metal monster with a humanoid body, two different arms, massive legs, red eyes glowing through holes in the faceplate, and a green infinity symbol on its chest (ATK: 2500, LV: 1).
"2500 ATK and only Level 1?" Yusei questioned in shock as the white metal monster swung its fist towards his warrior. Acting quickly, Yusei flipped his Trap Card and blurted, "Trap Card Open: Scrap-Iron Scarecrow! I negate the opponent's attack and reset this card." A metallic scarecrow appeared in front of the metal monster's fist, getting his and disappearing.
"Such an annoying card," Ghost uttered disdainfully. "I set 2 cards and end my turn."
"Draw (Yusei: 2 SPC/Ghost: 2 SPC)!" Yusei declared, quickly reaching for a card in his hand after placing his existing one in his tray. "I Activate Speed Spell – Angel Baton! When my SPC is 2 or higher, I draw 2 cards and discard 1!" Pulling his two cards at once, Yusei then took a Trap Card from his hand and placed it in the Cemetery slot.
"I send Speed Warrior to my Cemetery and Special Summon Quick Synchron (ATK: 700, LV: 5)!" Placing the card into the Cemetery, Yusei placed another onto the tray to call forth a blue cowboy robot with a revolver and a projector-like face. "Then I Summon Tuning Supporter (ATK: 100, LV: 1)!" With that Yusei's small robot with a wok-like head and scarf appeared.
"Such weak monsters will not counter Machine Emperor Wisel!" Ghost laughed, pointing at Yusei.
"I activate Quick Synchron's effect: When used for a Synchro Summon, it can be treated as any Synchron. I choose Nitro Synchron!" 7 different cards appeared in front of the cowboy robot and began spinning in formation clockwise, until the robot pulled its revolver and shot one. "And next, Tuning Supporter is treated as a Level 2 monster for this Synchro Summon!"
"That's it, Yusei," Ghost thought confidently, "Synchro Summon a powerful monster."
"I tune my Level 5 Quick Synchron to my Level 2 Tuning Supporter!" The robot fired off 5 rounds, which changed into white orbs and then green rings, before it disappeared. The rings then surrounded the smaller robot, turning it into 2 white orbs that changed into a beam of light. "The clustering minds will now become a new force! Become the path its light shines upon! Synchro Summon! Blaze on, Nitro Warrior (ATK: 2800, LV: 7)!"
Out of the light emerged a green muscular warrior with 4 jet nozzles on its back, bison horns, two tanks on its back and black jets on its forearms. "Because of Tuning Supporter's effect, I draw 1 card. Nitro Warrior, attack Machine Emperor Wisel!" Jumping up in the air, the warrior shot forward and swung its fists at the chest of the robot, but they hit the right arm of the robot instead and shattered only that. "What?"
"When a Wisel monster is attacked," Ghost explained, "I may make Wisel Guard the attack target."
Looking down at his cards, Yusei placed them all in the slots and said, "I set 3 cards and end my turn."
"Draw (Yusei: 3 SPC/Ghost: 3 SPC)," Ghost declared, snickering. "I summon Wisel Guard 3 (DEF: 2000, LV: 3)." A shield-like piece of machinery appeared to the right of the giant robot, and it quickly snapped out into the shape of an arm and attached to the shoulder of the robot. "And next, I activate Machine Emperor Wisel's effect!"
The infinity symbol glowed brightly for a second before six tentacles of green energy shot off if it, wrapping around the green warrior and vanishing it. "Once per turn, I may eqquip up to 1 Synchro Monster to this card, and have Wisel gain its ATK (ATK: 5300)! Attack Shield Warrior!"
"Trap Card: Scrap-Iron Scarecrow!" The metal object once again appeared in the path of the robot's left fist, shattering on connect. But this time, Ghost smiled as he flipped a pair of Trap Cards.
"Permanent Trap: Battle Return, and I chain Wise A3! I release Wisel Attack and Special Summon Wisel Attack 3 from my hand (ATK: 1600, LV: 3)!" The left arm of the robot disappeared, and was replaced by a new one with a thicker form and an axe-like set of blades on its forearm. Thus, the giant Robot's ATK rose (ATK: 5700).
"After activation, Battle Return equips to Wisel Infinity. Once per turn, Battle Return lets me halve the ATK of Wisel Infinity after an attack where no monster is destroyed," Ghost explained. "And thanks to Wisel Attack 3, Machine Emperor Wisel inflicts Penetration Damage (ATK: 2850). Attack Shield Warrior!"
Yusei was unable to react before the robot swung its fist again, striking his monster and shattering it. The shockwave from the impact made Yusei's D-Wheel swerve and wobble, and he took his damage, but due to Speed World 2 his SPC did not decrease.
Yusei: LP 2750
Ghost: LP 4000
"Your moves are useless, Signer," Ghost taunted with a chuckle. "I set 2 cards and end my turn."
"Draw! (Yusei: 4 SPC/Ghost: 4 SPC). I Summon Massive Warrior (DEF: 1200, LV: 2)!" Where the previous warrior had been, a thick-set stone figure with 4 arms and 4 legs, which held a helicopter landing pad, appeared and lowered the pad in front of it before turning blue. "I end my turn."
"Draw (Yusei: 5 SPC/Ghost: 5 SPC). I Activate the Equip Magic known as Speed Spell – Rapid Shot Wing, and equip it to Wisel!" From the back of the robot emerged 2 large metal wings and Ghost laughed. "During my turn, Wisel gains 100 ATK for every one of my Speed Counters (ATK: 6200). Attack Massive Warrior!"
"I activate Scrap-Iron Scarecrow!" Yusei declared, stopping the first swing of the robot's massive left arm.
"Even so, with Battle Return's effect, I halve my ATK (ATK: 3100) and I strike again!" Swinging its fist again, the robot struck the landing pad, where the shot was deflected. "What's this?" Ghost asked in shock.
"I take no Battle Damage from Massive Warrior battling," Yusei explained. "And once per turn, it cannot be destroyed by battle."
"Meddling little creature," Ghost grunted, before laughing psychotically. "But you will not triumph so easily! I activate Speed World 2's effect: By removing 4 Speed Counters, you take 800 Damage for every Speed Spell in my hand!" Flipping over his hand, Ghost revealed Speed Spell – Over Boost and Speed Spell – Gap Storm, and from Yusei's control console he received a quick electrical shock.
Yusei: LP 1150
Ghost: LP 4000
"I end my turn Yusei," Ghost sneered. "Good luck surviving (ATK: 5700)."
"Draw (Yusei: 6 SPC/Ghost: 2 SPC)! I set 1 card and end my turn."
"Draw! (Yusei: 7 SPC/Ghost: 3 SPC). I activate Speed Spell – Over Boost!" Ghost declared, instantly increasing his SPC by 4 and smiling evilly. "Trap Card Open: Over Blast! During this turn, any monster that battles a monster I control that is not destroy by battle, is destroyed after damage calculation, and half its ATK is dealt as damage to the opponent. Attack, Wisel!"
"Permanent Trap: Forceful Stop!" Yusei decalred, flipping over a new card. "By sending Scrap-Iron Scarecrow to the Cemetery, I end the Battle Phase!" Yusei's older Trap Card flipped over and disappeared, and then the fist of the robot never swung out of its place.
"Clever," Ghost declared, "but not enough so. I activate Speed World 2's second SPC effect: I remove 7 SPC and draw 1 card!" Dropping his SPC all the way to 0, he pulled another card and flipped it around instantly. "I activate a second Speed Spell – Over Boost! And then, I remove the 4 Speed Counters to inflict you with 800 more damage!"
"That's insane!" Yusei yelled as more electricity shot off his console, making his D-Wheel shudder and shake.
Yusei: LP 350
Ghost: LP 4000
"I set 1 card andduring the End Phase my SPC becomes 1. I end my turn," Ghost snickered. "You Life Points are almost gone, Signer. Can you survive another turn?"
"Of course I will," Yusei stated. "I have faith in my Deck. It's my turn. Draw (Yusei: 8 SPC/Ghost: 2 SPC)." Looking at his card, Yusei realized that he had indeed found a chance at escaping this vicious cycle. "Speed Spell – Energy Force! Because I have 8 SPC, both players draw 3 cards!" Pulling his three cards, Yusei saw that he had drawn into a good combo.
"You must be desperate Signer," Ghost taunted with a chuckle. "Why else would you let me draw cards?"
"Let me worry about that," Yusei answered. "I Summon Junk Synchron (ATK: 1300, LV: 3)!" In front of Yusei emerged his short, chubby orange robot with the white scarf and the motor on the back. "With its effect, I Special Summon 1 Level 2 or lower monster from my Cemetery with its effect negated. Return, Tuning Supporter (DEF: 300, LV: 1). Yusei's small wok-headed robot returned beside his existing monsters, crouching and turning blue.
"Next, by releasing Massive Warrior, I Special Summon Turret Warrior (DEF: 2000, LV: 5)!" The grey stone warrior disappeared, being replaced by a blue stone warrior with 2 tower-like shoulders armed with cannons and a thick body to match. "I tune my Level 3 Junk Synchron to my Level 5 Turret Warrior!" Pulling on its start chord, the orange warrior's engines revved as it turned into 3 green rings that surrounded the other warrior, turning it into 5 white orbs that formed a vertical column.
"The clustering powers will invoke a new shooting star. Become that path its light shines upon! Synchro Summon! Take Flight, Stardust Dragon (ATK: 2500, LV: 8)!" From the light emerged Yusei's white dragon with massive, thin wings, a long neck and tail, large hawk-like talons and three horns off the back of its head. The creature shrieked wildly at the robot, showing its anger. "I set 1 card and end my turn."
"Draw (Yusei: 9 SPC/Ghost: 3 SPC)!" Ghost yelled, pointing at Yusei's Dragon. "That monster of yours represents your status as a Signer. Lucky for it I can't equip another Synchro Monster to Wisel, but what I can do is this: I attack Stardust Dragon with Wisel (ATK: 6000)!"
"I activate Forceful Stop's effect: I send my set Slip Stream to the Cemetery and end the Battle Phase!" Flipping up, Yusei's Trap Card disappeared as the fist of the robot stopped short of the dragon and went back to its place.
"You'll not last another turn, Yusei," Ghost taunted. "I set 1 card and end my turn."
"Come on Deck," Yusei thought to himself,closing his eyes. "If ever I needed a miracle, that time is now." As though answering his pleas, the top of his Deck started to glow a strong yellow, and he felt the Dragon's Head mark disappear from his arm. Just then, he also felt the Seal of the Crimson Dragon appear on his Deck.
"It's my turn!" Yusei said, opening his eyes and slinging his arm way back. "Draw (Yusei: 10 SPC/Ghost: 4 SPC)!"
"What the hell is going on?" Crow asked as his D-Wheel pulled to a stop. On their way to the jail where Yusei was being kept, the three of them had encountered a series of robots which had attempted to run their D-Wheels off the road. Now, they didn't have enough charge left to get there.
"I don't know," Javk responded, "but I bet it's not good."
"What's with your arms?" Johan asked out of nowhere, prompting Jack and Crow to look down at their right arms. The red of their Birthmarks was pulsing through their sleeves, and then all of a sudden it died out.
"It's Yusei…" Crow realized.
"He's calling out to us… asking for our power…"
"Well, what did you draw?" Ghost asked, slightly amused at Yusei's reaction.
"You'll soon see," Yusei declared. "I summon the Tuner Monster, Salvation Dragon – Savior Dragon (ATK: 0, LV: 1)!" Out of a red beacon of light emerged a red teardrop-shaped dragon with bulging yellow eyes and four-bladed wings.
"That monster!" Ghost realized, half in fear and half in excitement. "That's it, Yusei... use that power..."
"I tune my Level 1 Salvation Dragon – Savior Dragon to My Level 8 Stardust Dragon and my Level 1 Tuning Supporter!" Rising up into the air, all three monsters formed a vertical line as the red dragon expanded in size until it was the size of a 747. Screeching, the white dragon sank down into its body, followed by the robot, as they turned respectively into 8 and 1 white orbs, forming a line inside a green ring within the dragon's body.
"The clustering hopes will invoke a new miracle. Become the path its light shines upon. Synchro Summon!" As Yusei yelled this, he body of the red dragon exploded into a blue orb of light that came down upon Yusei and swallowed him. It then rise up into the air where Yusei, now inside a neon rainbow field, finished the chant with, "Descend down in light, Savior Star Dragon (ATK: 3800, LV: 10)!"
Out of the blue light exploded the form of a humungous, four-winged silver and light blue wyvern with a long whip-like tail, a medium neck with a fused plate-like face and three horns, a segmented torso, long legs with spear-like feet and very long, four-bladed wings. "That's the Ultimate monster," Ghost realized.
"Once per turn," Yusei echoed from within the warship-sized dragon, flying along at sonic speed overtop of the city, "Savior Star Dragon may negate the effect of an opponent's monster and gains its effect, until the End Phase. I choose to negate Wisel's effect. Sublimation Drain!" With a hiss, the dragon made white sparks shoot off of the robot's torso, causing the infinity symbol to dull.
"With Wisel Infinity's effect negated, it loses Nitro Warriopr as an Equip Magic, and it no longer gains the ATK of its limbs (ATK: 0)!"
"Damn it!" Ghost realized. "He's figured out my game plan!"
"Savior Star Dragon, attack Wisel Attack 3! Shooting Blaster Sonic!" Folding its wings in against its body, the dragon formed a blue flaming aura around its body, like a comet, and began shooting down towards the monster.
"I activate Wisel Guard 3's effect!" Ghost answered, pointing at the right arm. "Once in one turn, I negate an attack against a Wisel Monster."
"I activate Savior Star Dragon's effect!" Yusei yelled out, making the dragon pull out of its dive and glow like a flare. "I release this monster to negate that effect and destroy ever card you control!"
"What did you say?" Ghost asked.
"Stardust Nova!" With that the dragon once again began to dive, swooping right overtop of Ghost and his monster before striking the road 100 meters ahead. The blue light exploded into stardust, releasing Yusei to continue riding as the robot and all of Ghost's Traps exploded catastrophically.
"Kisama!" Ghost yelled out angrily, looking on at Yusei with total contempt. "You destroyed my Machine Emperor Wisel!"
"That's the least of your concerns," Yusei declared. "Trap Card: Synchro Spirits! By excluding Savior Star Dragon from my Cemetery, I Special Summon Stardust Dragon (DEF: 2000, LV: 8), Tuning Supporter (DEF: 300, LV: 1) and Salvation Dragon – Savior Dragon (DEF: 0, LV: 1) in Defence Position!" Pulling the card from his Cemetery, three bright lights appeared before Yusei as blue versions of his white dragon, his red dragon and his blue robot all appeared before him.
"Next I activate Dimensional Inversion!" Yusei declared. "I return all excluded monsters to the Deck!" Taking Savior Star Dragon's card, Yusei placed it back in his Extra Deck and looked back at Ghost.
"Even so," Ghost declared, "Your monsters cannot attack me now!"
"Now as is, but the power of bonds makes anything possible," Yusei retorted with a smile. "Trap Card: Urgent Tuning! I Synchro Summon during the Battle Phase!"
"What?" Ghost asked in dismay.
"I tune my Savior Dragon to Stardust Dragon and Tuning Supporter once again!" This time, the three monsters all burst out into the navy light from before and combined into a glowing blue flare around Yusei, rising off the track again and taking on the shape of the dragon's comet directly above Ghost. "The clustering hopes will invoke a new miracle. Become the path its light shines upon. Synchro Summon! Descend down in light, Savior Star Dragon (ATK: 3800, LV: 10)!"
Exploding out from the light, the large wyvern spread its wings with a triumphant hiss and once again flew onwards. "And now," Yusei's voice echoed out, "I activate Skill Successor's effect from my Cemetery!"
"Skill Successor?" Ghost questioned angrily. "You never played that card!"
"When I played Angel Baton," Yusei explained, "I sent it to the Cemetery. And since this is not the same turn, by excluding this card, my Savior Star Dragon gain 800 ATK until the End Phase (ATK: 4600)!"
"This can't be!" Ghost yelled out in dismay.
"Savior Star Dragon, direct attack the player! Shooting Blaster Sonic!" Hissing again, the dragon furled up its wings and formed its blue comet again, shooting down at Ghost fast enough to create a sonic boom and shooting overtop of him. Without even touching Ghost, the force of the flyby made Ghost's body begin to spark and eventually explode, revealing to be yet another robot.
Yusei: LP 350
Ghost: LP 0
"Another one of these robots," Yusei thought as the Duel Lane barriers withdrew. "This confirms my theory that Placido had someone attack Judai last night, and I'll bet he set this up so I couldn't reach him."
Ahead by about 100 meters again, Yusei was dropped off by the dragon as it shot back up into the sky, flying towards the sun as a contrail of blue stardust flew off behind it. Slowing down, Yusei deactivated Duel Mode for his D-Wheel as Ghost's D-Wheel, still on Autopilot, shot by until it was 10 meters ahead. There, it slowed down strangely, and the SPC lit all the way up to 10. As it slowed, to ended up a few feet ahead of Yusei, where the SPC started to beep as they counted backwards.
"Oh no, it's a bomb!" Yusei realized. He tried to break away, turn, anything, but the Duel Mode feature kept him from leaving even though the duel was over.
Just as the Counter reached three, Yusei heard the roar of an engine slowly begin to descend. Looking up and to the left, he saw a blur of red shoot by and strike the D-Wheel on its side, making both fly off the edge of the Duel Lane. Ghost's D-Wheel exploded in midair, while the other object – a dark red D-Wheel – fell into a forest below.
Back in Placido's office, he had been watching the Duel between Ghost and Yusei from a camera on the console of Ghost's D-Wheel. When Savior Star Dragon attacked, the camera shattered and the feed turned to static, but Placido was still impressed. "Yes, I've seen it; the power of the Saviors, the power that defeated Rex Godwin!"
Pressing a button as the feed cut out, the screen changed to the woman of the group of three, sitting in a throne-like chair, and he said, "An excellent job of recreating my Wisel cards, Lucciano."
"Thank you, Placido," Lucciano answered, strolling her red hair as another of Placido's screens extended up and Jose appeared on it.
"The bomb has failed to destroy Yusei's D-Wheel," Jose said in disappointed anger. "It was intercepted."
"What?" Lucciano said in irate impatience. At that moment footage of the red D-Wheel and its rider, dressed in a black riding suit with an orange-eyed balaclava, striking Ghost's ride and knocking it off the ledge before the bomb went off.
"Who is that man?" Placido asked as Jose came back on the monitor.
"I don't know. There's no shot of his face."
"Oh well," Lucciano said. "We still proved that the cards work, and that I can recreate cards well."
"And as for this interloper," Placido said, pressing a button to produce a third screen with Judai alone in an interrogation room as the footage, "perhaps he can tell us." Placido was interrupted by a knock on the door, and so he looked up and said, "Enter."
With that, a black electrical aura passed through the doorway, taking a human form and solidifying into the shape of Judai; only with harder, colder eyes and darker clothes. In the real Judai's voice the figure said, "The test was a success. I have replicated Yuki Judai's Deck and style completely."
"Very impressive," Lucciano said, smiling.
"This person will come in handy," Jose realized.
"Yes," Placido grinned. "Very much so indeed…"
Sitting alone in the sealed room, facing a mirror and looking melancholy, Judai was internally frustrated by his situation and externally broken. Even Yubel had disappeared from his senses; he figured she was doing something constructive, but he still wanted company.
"Something's not right" Judai thought to himself, "And I hope that Yusei and the others can figure out what's going on."
Several minutes later, Yusei was continuing along the duel lane in the opposite direction, trying to get back to where the Riding Duelist had side-swiped the D-Wheel. Looking around, he could see no sign that the collision had ever occurred, nor that Judai's contact would be there.
Suddenly, Yusei heard the sound of a D-Wheel motor behind him. He had not seen another D-Wheel on this road since the incident or before, so he looked back in curiosity. All of a sudden the dark red D-Wheel shot right by, the rider breaking hard and turning sideways to block Yusei's path. Thus, Yusei quickly braked and turned right as well, stopping before a collision.
"Who is this?" Yusei asked in curiosity, taking off his helmet. Looking over, he saw that the rider was wearing a black leather jumpsuit covered in metal spikes, completed with a silver helmet overtop of a balaclava. The eyes of said item were orange eyeplates, and the helmet was air-sealed. Getting off his ride, the man showed that he was slightly taller than Jack, perhaps 6'4".
"I forgot how long it had been," the figure responded, their voice sounding very low and dark from the helmet. Reaching to the sides, the figure released the vapour seals and took the helmet off, putting it in his D-Wheel. The figure then said, in a rather unique voice, "Do I sound more familiar now, Yusei?"
"There's only one man I know who speaks Japanese with a Texan accent," Yusei realized aloud, smiling as he dismounted and walked towards the man. While he did so, the man took off his balaclava to reveal crimson hair spiked into a flame style, a pair of dark red-rimmed sunglasses with black lenses, piercings through both ears and his eyebrows, and a tanned complexion. "How's it been, Kyojo?"
"Well, it's been a pretty lonely life in the lamb," Kyojo answered, smiling. "I miss this city." Turning serious for a second he then asked, "Where's Judai?"
Growing somber, Yusei reiterated, "He's been taken in by the new director's police officers."
"That bastard Placido took Judai in?" Kyojo growled, his fist shaking.
"You know about Placido?" Yusei asked in disbelief, prompting Kyojo to clear his throat.
"Forgive me; I've been in a sort of undercover operation for several months now, investigating Godwin and now Placido. I'll tell you more later. Right now, we need to meet up with the others so we can make everything clear."
"Where?"
"There's an old hangout of mine in the downtown region, left over from the era of Duel Mobsters. Send the other the coordinates and tell them to meet us there ASAP."
"Should we not to get Judai then?"
"We can fill him in later, but I fear that after that little event just now they'll not allow us to see him so soon. I have a man who can go see them, and I'll let him know en route. Get Jack and Crow on the horn."
"Okay," Yusei nodded, turning to his D-Wheel and pressing its menu button. Selecting his contacts option, he pulled up Jack, who was pulled over by the side of a road. "Jack, change of plans," Yusei answered. "We need to get to a certain location; I'll send you the coordinates."
"What's changed?" Jack asked.
"We need to do something and fast. I've had a run-in with one of Placido's robots and I fear we're walking into a trap. We'll get Judai later."
"If you're suggesting we abandon Judai then it must be important," Jack said. "Alright, send me the location." Nodding, Yusei punched in the location and Jack nodded. "Do you want Aki there too?"
"Yes, and the twins," Yusei stated. Once again nodding, Jack signed out. Turning to Kyojo, Yusei said, "Let's ride!"
"Now that's my kind of plan," Kyojo declared, pulling on his balaclava before they both put on helmets and rode off.
Standing at the base of the altar, Taiyou looked up at the blue spire, which was glowing brightly. Above the whole thing, the seal of the Crimson Dragon floated in the sky, until it suddenly began to fade out. At that time, the spire too returned to normal, and Taiyou looked on in disbelief.
"It has been summoned again," Endymion stated, stepping up from behind the man. "And there's news of your friend; he is in Neo Domino and has made contact with Yusei."
"Really?" Taiyou asked, intrigued. "Then I guess it's time I had a rendezvous with them."
"I can make a portal to leave this dimension," Endymion answered, "but you must wait until Kyojo opens the one on his end before you enter."
"Then let me know when he has," the man answered, pulling a Deck from his cloak and placing it into a purple and black Duel Disc before discarding the cloak. "It's time I completed my duty to the Crimson Dragon."
Card of the Week – Ghost (Placido)
Machine Emperor Wisel Infinity
Type: EARTH
Level: 1
Sub-type(s): [Machine/Effect]
Effect: Your other monsters cannot attack. Once per turn, you can select 1 Synchro Monster your opponent controls and equip it to this card as an Equip Magic Card. Only 1 monster at a time may be equipped with this effect. This card gains ATK equal to its ATK. This card gains ATK equal to the ATK of all other "Wisel", "Skiel" and "???" monsters you control. When this card is destroyed, destroy all monsters you control.
ATK/ 0
DEF/ 0
*Not a bad chapter is I say so myself. Review if you wish.*