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 3 – Enter the Summoners! Yusei vs. Taiyou!
"Where exactly is this old hideout of yours?" Yusei yelled back to Kyojo, riding a mere 6 meters behind him. The two of them had used more private roads to get to the heart of Neo Domino, afraid of another ambush by something like Ghost, and now they were there. The old slums, not much different than the Satellite, spoke back to the days when the mob ran the city.
"It's just up ahead," The Texan-Japanese answered. "I'll let you know when we reach it." Mere seconds later, Kyojo pointed at a run-down looking building and said," That's it!" With that they both braked hard to drop their speed and pulled into an old decayed parking lot, killing and getting off their vehicles.
"The rest of them should be here any minute," Yusei noted. "Jack and Crow don't waste time, and Aki doesn't live far from here." And sure enough, just as he finished, Wheel of Fortune and Blackbird pulled around the corner and into the parking lot as well, parking opposite Yusei and Kyojo before Jack jumped from his ride.
"Yusei," who's that?" Jack asked, pulling his helmet off. Moments later a look of awe consumed his face when Kyojo pulled off his helmet and mask, revealing his identity, and then pulled off his jumpsuit to reveal a black leather trench coat with several spike and belts. Furthermore, his black jeans were decorated with chains, and a skull belt buckle placed over a length of chain completed the look.
"How you been Jack?" Kyojo asked. Taking note of Jack's expression he added, "I know it's a surprise, but at least it's a chance to catch up?"
"Jack, you know that guy?" Crow asked in amazement, smiling on glory at the sight of Ryukishi Kyojo.
"I gave Rex Godwin my Deck to hand down to him before I left town," Kyojo answered. "Jack has been the owner of my Deck for some time I suspect, Haven't you?" Smiling in pride, Jack reached into his pocket and pulled out the mentioned Deck, wrapped in a bandana that it had been given to him in, where Kyojo grabbed it before pulling out a black Duel Disc whose Deck Zone faced backwards and was behind a single Monster Zone.
"I've treated that Deck well, and it in turn has served me well," Jack said.
"As I suspected," Kyojo joked, punching Jack's shoulder with the underside of his fist to avoid stabbing Jack with is spiked knuckles. As they laughed, the sound of footsteps made them all turn around, where they saw Aki, Lua and Luca all standing there with Duel Discs on their arms. When they saw who was with the group, they stared on in disbelief.
"Now that we're all here," Yusei declared, "I think it's time you tell us what's going on."
"Indeed," Kyojo answered. "Now come on in." Waving at everyone, they all formed a procession and walked into the building, Kyojo at the fore and Crow at the rear, and the door shut behind them. They thought that no one had seen them; however, moments later, the fake Judai stepped out from around the corner.
"It seems the Summoner has led the Signers to the rendezvous site after all," he said to himself, before pulling up his collar and speaking into it. "I've found the meeting point. I'll survey the scene and identify the traitor."
"Remain at a distance," Placido's voice instructed back. "Survey, do not engage."
"Understood." Releasing his collar, he stepped up to the door and passed through it, turning into black static matter as he did so. On the other side he regained his form, and followed a pathway down to a set of doorways with a magnetic lock. "Do these morons really think I'll be stopped by such trivial measures?"
Stepping up to the door, the fake Judai began to pass through the doorway, causing a storm of black and red electricity before he finally passed through. On the other side, he found himself at the top of a ridge-like shelf, looking down upon the Signers and the Summoner below.
Walking down the aisle of the impound centre, Ushio took Judai's deck and placed it into a security slot. Inside, the Deck was locked by a force field, and then sealed it with a fingerprint scanner. Turning, he walked away thinking nothing more of the situation.
When Ushio had gone, Yubel's spirit materialized from behind the Deck and smiled at the situation. "Well Placido, time to see what you're up to," she thought, stepping down from overtop of the deck and teleporting amongst the aisles. Eventually she came up behind a sleeping guard, holding an override key to the locks. "Bingo."
Stepping up behind the guard, Yubel grabbed him by the shoulders and sinking into his body. The guard woke up a second later, his eyes glowing orange, and he stood up and began walking back to the Deck. When she finally arrived, she used the guard's key to unlock Judai's Deck and put it in her pocket before reclosing it.
Yubel then slipped out of his body, taking the Deck with her, and that caused the Guard to collapse before she teleported out. Just before she did, she chuckled and thought, "And now to find out what's really going on."
The room in which the gang had stepped into was very similar to an old theatre, since it had been used as a nightclub that Kyojo's mob connections ran. Stepping up into the stage, Kyojo looked down upon the Signers, Johan and Lua, and said,
"Signers, Lua, Johan it's time you learned the other thuth about what's been going on in the five years since Zero Reverse…"
"Hold on: five years?" Crow questioned, interrupting Kyojo. "Zero Reverse was 17 years ago."
"It was and it wasn't," Kyojo explained. "When the negative energy generator exploded, the passage of time was affected. 12 years' worth of time occurred in mere seconds, and all the events of those 12 years became memories of events that never occurred. In that timeline, Godwin became the leader of Yliaster, but that brought in its own dark agenda."
"We're all familiar with the Brothers Godwin and what they did," Jack saying, angry at the memories of the Dark Signer incidents and being used in the Fortune Cup.
"Except that the Brothers Godwin were themselves mere pawns, long before the King of the Underworld corrupted them."
"Yliaster is in fact the force to blame for their corruption, in addition to many other things," a female voice issued from behind a curtain. Stepping out from behind it, a young woman with mousy brown hair and piercing green eyes, wearing one of Yliaster's white robes.
"Mt friends, this is my associate and ex-girlfriend, Yusuriha," Kyojo explained. "She's been undercover in Yliaster's ranks since Zero Reverse, and she's even gained a high ranking in Placido's administration.
"Why did she go undercover?" Crow asked.
"When we knew Godwin years ago," Yusuriha explained, "he was a good and kind man with strong morals, as was his brother. We wanted to know what could possibly turn them from that and cause such destruction, and the best way to do that was to enter into Yliaster, where Godwin was leader."
"Except that Godwin wasn't the leader," Kyojo interjected. "He was a totem leader. The previous leader went missing after Zero Reverse, so Godwin was named leader of Yliaster. It was assumed the old leader died, but we discovered he had gone underground and was still calling the shots through Godwin."
"And that leader was Placido," Yusei realized, receiving a nod from both Kyojo and Yusuriha.
"The Brothers Godwin were swayed by something Placido told them," Kyojo added. "We have no idea what, but it corrupted them both beyond repair. Godwin operated in conjunction with Placido for some time, away from the eyes of both the public and Yliaster. The cover-up was Placido's idea. And after Godwin died, Placido took his time to rejoin so he could create himself a new past."
"And that is why we brought you here," Yusuriha concluded. "We need your help to cleanse this world of Placido's corruption. But you cannot do it alone; it is the Dragons you wield that will help you."
"The Five Dragons are powerless against the Infinity," Yusei said.
"Not the Five Dragons," Kyojo countered. "The Saviors." Reaching under his coat, Kyojo pulled out a blue pendant and threw it into the ground below, where it erupted into a vertical column of blue light that showed through a human form. When the light died out, it revealed the dirty-blond, gold-eyed man in a purple and gold-trimmed trench coat and boots and black underneath.
"Taiyou!" Johan yelled, the only one who recognized the man.
"Glad to see I'm missed," Taiyou said sarcastically. Tu4rning t the crowd, he looked down upon them with a far more honoured expression, as though looking upon royalty, and bowed to the Signers with an arm crossed over his chest. Kyojo and Yusuriha quickly did the same, and then Taiyou added:
"It is my honor to be a servant of the Signers and the CRomson Dragon, a task with which fate has charged me. I now intend to carry out my task, beginning with returning a certain card to its rightful owner." Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a card and tossed it at Crow, who caught at with enthusiasm; but when he saw it, he looked up at Taiyou in confusion.
"What the hell's with this card?" Crow asked. "It's damn near blank."
"It was never completed," Taiyou explained, Yusuriha chiming in to complete the analysis.
"The Dragon's spirit was ripped from its mortal vessel and trapped in the soul of a demonic spirit. With its body gone, its card could not be made. But now its soul is free, and in the hands of its rightful owner." When she finished, the card lit up in Crow's hand, causing everyone to look at it in awe. Before their eyes it changed shape completely, including the image, and text and a Level then appeared.
"Black-Feather… Dragon?" Crow questioned, not knowing what to think and pausing. Seconds later, he smiled and declared, "I'll carry this dragon's spirit with the honor it deserves."
"Then with that finished," Taiyou said, raising his arm and producing a Duel Disc. It was black and dark purple, with gold trim and green zones; and it was almost the same as Johan's while infused with Yubel, save that its dome was emblazoned with the Magic Counter triangle. "I request a Duel with the Leader of the Signers, the bearer of the Head Birthmark."
Raising his own arm, Yusei stepped up onto the stage, before he pulled off his glove and pulled back his sleeve to reveal the Dragon's Head upon his arm. When Taiyou nodded, Yusei put his clothes back as they were and pulled on his Duel Disc, activating it as Taiyou's three blades extended out. Both players then positioned themselves at opposite ends of the stage (Kyojo and Yusuriha getting down into the crowd), pulled 5 cards, and yelled,
"DUEL!"
Yusei: LP 4000
Taiyou: LP 4000
"I take the first move," Yusei declared. "Draw! Magic Activate: One for One! I send Gauntlet Warrior from my hand to my Cemetery, and I Special Summon Tuning Supporter from my Deck (ATK: 100, LV: 1)." As Yusei inserted his card into the Cemetery slot, a light exploded off his Deck that released his small wok-headed robot.
"Next I activate Tuning. I add Debris Dragon from my Deck to my hand, and send 4 cards from the top of my Deck to the Cemetery." A card then slid out of his Deck, which he grabbed before pulling his top 4 cards and putting them into the Cemetery slot one by one. As he did, they were revealed as Junk Synchron, Turret Warrior, Equip Shoot and Fighting Spirits.
"I Summon Debris Dragon (ATK: 1000, LV: 4)!" In front of Yusei appeared his small white dragon with long thin wings, orange orbs on its chest and pieces of green armour that growled as it appeared. "When this monster is Normal Summoned, I Special Summon 1 monster with 500 ATK or less from my Cemetery in face-up Attack Position with its effect negated. Return, gauntlet Warrior (ATK: 400, LV: 3)!"
Beside Yusei's two existing monsters formed the image of a thick blue warrior with a massive right hand armed with a red gauntlet, who flexed it as he formed. "Yusei has set up the conditions on his first turn," Johan realized.
"Indeed," Kyojo said, crossing his arms just as Jack did.
"I Tune my Level 4 Debris Dragon to my Level 3 Gauntlet Warrior and my Level 1 Tuning Supporter!" Roaring, the dragon released 4 white orbs off each wing that changed into green rings before it disappeared; these rings surrounded the two other monsters and changed them into 3 and 1 white orbs respectively, where they formed a column of light.
"The clustering forces will invoke a new shooting star. Become the path its light shines upon. Synchro Summon! Take flight, Stardust Dragon (ATK: 2500, LV: 8)!" The light was dispersed by the beating of two extremely long white wings that belonged to Yusei's three-horned dragon with purple orbs on its chest, as it shrieked and flexed its muscles when it appeared.
"Stardust Dragon... it's good to see you again, old friend," Taiyou thought as the dragon stared at him.
"Due to the effect of Tuning Supporter," Yusei declared, "I draw 1 card from my Deck." Pulling his new card, he quickly checked it before taking it and his middle hand card and placing them into Magic & Trap Card Zones. "I set 2 cards and end my turn. Come, Taiyou; show me your power as a Summoner."
Sneering as he reached for his Deck, Taiyou bowed and strongly said, "Thy wish is my command. It's my turn. Draw!" Pulling his card and extending his arm our horizontally, he moved it forward between his index and middle fingers and issued, "Magic Activate: Terra Forming! From my Deck I select 1 Field Magic Card from my Deck and add it to my hand. I select Magical City Endymion, and then I activate it!"
Instantly, a bright light illuminated from Taiyou's Deck and exploded off him to cover the field, where it began to take form. Eventually it solidified into the shape of a massive city with a tall tower at its centre, surrounded by floating buildings and luminescent rings. "Permanent Magic: Indomitable True Strength! Once in one turn, if I control no monsters and my opponent does, I may Special Summon 1 Level 4 or lower Dual Monster from my hand. Come, Crusader of Endymion (ATK: 1900, LV: 4)!"
Rising up before Taiyou, a tall, thin figure in brown clothing with several sections of navy armour along its body, including limb plates suspended with magic and a full-head helmet that hid its face, emerged in a fighting position, and seconds later a white light illuminated above Taiyou's head. When it stopped the card of the City appeared, with an orb forming in front of it bearing a yellow triangle. "Taiyou's bringing his best moves early on to give the Signers a real test," Yusuriha realized in her head.
"When a Magic Card is activated," Taiyou explained, "A Magic Counter is placed on this City. It also gains any Magic Counters on destroyed cards, and it may use its own counters to pay the costs of other cards. Finally, it may pay 1 of its own counters to negate its destruction by a card effect."
"I see," Yusei retorted. "Then there will be many Counters added to that monster by the duel's end."
"Equip Magic: Superbis!" Taiyou declared, an aura forming around the monster after this was declared and another counter appearing on the City's card. "The equipped Dual Monster is treated as an Effect Monster and gains its effect. Therefore, once in one turn, Crusader may place 1 Magic Counter on 1 card on the field, and then it gains 600 ATK for this turn only (ATK: 2500)." With that yet another counter was added to the City, and Taiyou's monster roared out to show its power.
"It has the same 2500 ATK as Stardust Dragon," Johan realized, looking on in shock.
"The effect of Stardust Dragon will protect it from destruction by card effects…" Luca started, Aki picking up almost instantly.
"…But it has no protection in battle, especially with its low ATK."
"Crusader, attack Stardust Dragon! Wrath of the Magician Deity!" Rising up into the air, the magical figure threw its armoured fist into the mouth of the dragon, which had been forming energy in its jaws. Upon collision an explosion occurred, making both monsters explode in a burst of smoke.
"Yusei's Stardust Dragon has been destroyed," Lua said, slightly nervous. "But at least that guy's monster is gone too."
"Don't be so sure," Jack said, Lua looking worried as Taiyou smirked.
"Because Superbis has been sent to the Cemetery," Taiyou stated as the card shattered, "I may Special Summon 1 Normal Monster from my Cemetery. And since Dual Monsters in the Cemetery are treated as Normal Monsters, return: Crusader of Endymion (ATK: 1900, LV: 4)!" After the card shattered, a white light shot up from Taiyou's Cemetery slot and the image of the navy-armoured figure returned, uttering a battle cry.
"This is bad," Lua yelled out. "Yusei's about to take real damage!"
"I'm not giving up on Stardust that easily," Yusei said, waving his arm over his right Trap as it rose. "Permanent Trap: Wicked Reborn! I pay 800 Life Points and Special Summon 1 Synchro Monster from my Cemetery. Return, Stardust Dragon (ATK: 2500, LV: 8)!" From a light in the sky came a shower of stardust that solidified into the white dragon, which let out a screech as it returned to the field.
Yusei: LP 3200
Taiyou: LP 4000
Grunting, Taiyou issued, "Your monster has more ATK, so I'll end my Battle Phase. In my Main Phase 2, I activate Magic Seize! With this effect I place 1 Magic Counter on my City, and add another Magic Seize to my hand. Therefore, my City gains 2 counters!" The card in Taiyou's hand dissolved into a light that shot up to the city's card, forming a counter beside another one as Taiyou's deck gave him another card.
"In his next turn," Crow realized, "he'll have more than enough to summon that card."
"Since I have not conducted my Normal Summon this turn, so I will Second Summon my Crusader and place 1 Magic Counter on my City!" Glowing the magic figure produced a light that shot up to the card, joining the other counters which were quickly accumulating.
"I set 1 cad and end my turn," Taiyou said confidently. "Come Yusei; show me the power of a Signer!"
"Then I will," Yusei declared as he drew his card, flipping it around instantly and picking out another card from his hand. "Magic Activate: Treasure of Harmony! I discard 1 Dragon-type Tuner and draw 2 cards. I discard Salvation Dragon – Savior Dragon." As everyone looked on in shock, Yusei took the mentioned dragon and placed it in the Cemetery while he drew 2 cards.
"Don't forget, Yusei," Taiyou stated, pointing at the card, "that every Magic Card you activate places 1 Magic Counter on my city as well." As he said this, yet another light appeared amongst the others and solidified.
"Very well," Yusei declared, holding up the card already in his hand. "Magic Activate: Sublimation Lift! When a Synchro Monster is face-up on my field, I Special Summon 1 Savior Dragon and 1 Level 1 monster from my Cemetery!" 2 cards instantly slid out of Yusei's Cemetery and he placed them onto the tray. One of them was his small robot with the wok-head (ATK: 100, LV: 1), and the other was the red dragon with segmented wings he had just discarded (ATK: 0, LV: 1). After that, another counter appeared on the card above Taiyou's head.
"What?" Taiyou yelled out in surprise as everyone else looked on in surprise. "You've set up the Summoning Conditions for one of those monsters already?"
"I Tune My Savior Dragon to my Stardust Dragon and Tuning Supporter!" All three monsters rose up into the sky created by the field card, the small robot releasing a single white orb that entered the body of the white dragon before vanishing. That dragon then folded up its own wings and changed into an outline form of itself with 3 white orbs in each wing and one each in its neck, torso and tail. The red dragon then became a huge spirit form that swallowed the line dragon, its orbs forming a line inside a green ring.
"The clustering forces will invoke a new miracle," Yusei chanted. "Become the path its light shines upon. Synchro Summon! Descend down in light, Savior Star Dragon (ATK: 3800, LV: 10)!" From the body of the red dragon exploded a vertical column of white light that touched down behind Yusei, releasing the vertical body of the four-winged blue and silver wyvern as it hissed out in power. "And due to Tuning Supporter's effect, I draw 1 card!"
"I'm ecstatic Yusei," Taiyou said with a smile, staring up at the face on the dragon as it stared back at him. The tips of its power wings were resting just above the ground in front of Yusei, its upper ones extended out across the span of buildings. "I've seen the power of a Savior monster first-hand, and now I'll see its use."
"Magic Activate: Sublimation Energy! With Savior Star Dragon now in play, I draw 3 cards from my Deck." Pulling his 3 cards, Yusei saw out on the corner of his eye another Counter form in front of the city's card. "Then I equip Savior Force to my Savior Star Dragon!" Extending up from the card in Yusei's hand, a green aura extended off the card and covered the Dragon as another counter appeared. "Savior Star Dragon, attack Crusader of Endymion! Sonic Destruction Burst!"
Hissing, the dragon spread its wings and instantly shot up hundreds of feet into the air, turning horizontal and then tipping forward as it shot down at Taiyou. At this time, Taiyou raised his right arm and flipped a set card. "Trap Card: Dimensional Confinement! I exclude the attacking monster!"
"At this moment, I activate Savior Star Dragon's effect. By releasing this monster, I negate the opponent's card effect and destroy all cards they control. Stardust Nova!" Turning vertical again, the dragon glowed an intense light blue right before several beams of light shot off it and hit all the cards in front of Taiyou.
"By the effect of my City Endymion," Taiyou declared, "I remove 1 Counter from my City to negate the destruction." After that one of the counters disappeared from the card and a barrier formed around the card, protecting it from the beam of light.
"For your Field Magic," Yusei commented. "However, all your other cards will still be destroyed." With that the beams caused Taiyou's Magic Card and Trap Card to shatter, right before the monster before him groaned in pain and exploded. The dragon the let out a hiss before dissolving into stardust, but the aura off of it shot back down to the ground and caused the white dragon from earlier to reappear with a roar.
"That's this?" Taiyou asked, unsure of what to make of what had just transpired.
"When the equipped Savior Monster is removed from the field," Yusei informed, "I Special Summon its Synchro Material Synchro Monster from my Cemetery. Therefore, Stardust Dragon (ATK: 2500, LV: 8) has returned. Stardust, direct attack the player! Shooting Sonic!" Roaring, the dragon shot a burst of white energy straight through Taiyou's torso, the ectoplasm making it up simply reforming after the attack.
Yusei: LP 3200
Taiyou: LP 1500
"I remember when I used Stardust, Taiyou said, smiling at the fond memories. "It's just like I remember."
Nodding, Yusei smiled lightly and said, "I set 2 cards and end my turn."
"Draw!" Taiyou declared. "Magic Activate: Magic Seize!" The card then disappeared from his hand right before a new one materialized and 2 new counters appeared on the card for the City. "Next I activate Angel's Gift!" Pulling his 3 cards one by one, Taiyou smirked as he saw his draws and placed 2 cards in his Cemetery – a monster card and Magic Seize. Then, yet another counter joined the card. "t this moment, I activate the effect of a monster in my Cemetery!"
"What?" Yusei akse,d stunned. "The only monsters in your Cemetery are Crusader and…" Yusei's eyes went wide as he realized what had happened.
"He's set up that card's summoning conditions, hasn't he?" Jack asked of Kyojo, prompting the Texan to respond with,
"Yep."
"My removing 6 Magic Counters from my City," Taiyou declared as his Cemetery glowed, "I may Special Summon this monster from my Cemetery. With 12 Counters on my City, I have more than enough. Come, Divine Magician Deity Endymion (ATK: 2700, LV: 7)!"
Six of the counters lined up vertically and formed a vertical gateway of light, releasing a black-armoured magician with a purple cape, gold trim on his armour and a golden circle on his back encrusted with Magic Counters, a Devil-horned mask with red hair above it, and a staff with a Magic Counter inside a sun-like shape.
"The time has come to pt the Signer to a true test," the magician spoke, his gaze fixed upon Yusei as the white dragon roared at him. "My apprentice, show them the true power of Endymion."
"By the effect of Endymion-sama, I can add 1 Magic Card from my Cemetery to my hand. I choose Angel's Gift, where I activate it!" A card slid out of the Cemetery, where Taiyou immediately put it back and pulled 3 cards, discarding 2 of his new ones and placing another counter on his city. "Equip Magic: Halberd of Endymion! This card may only be equipped to an Endymion monster, and it then gains 500 ATK for every face-up Endymion card. I equip this to the Magician Deity (ATK: 4200)!"
At the end of Endymion's staff formed a long recurved blade with an axe-like head on its front and back, embedded with Magic Counters, and another counter was added to the city. "Attack Stardust Dragon!"
"Feel the Judgment of the Magicians, beast," Endymion said solemnly, jumping up into the air with its sword extended and slashing the dragon in half vertically. It screamed out in pain before it exploded, causing Yusei to cover his eyes and grunt in pain himself.
Yusei: LP 1500
Taiyou: LP 1500
"Trap Card: Afterglow of a Miracle!" Yusei declared, flipping a card to his left. "I Special Summon 1 monster destroyed by battle this turn. Come to us, Stardust (ATK: 2500, LV: 8)!" Once again the white dragon rose up from behind Yusei and shrieked, its wings moving rather frantically as Endymion stared at it coldly.
"That dragon never did know when to stand down," Taiyou observed. "I activate Spellbooks of the Pot, so we both draw 3 cards!" As another counter formed, both he and Yusei pulled three cards from their Decks and looked at them, Taiyou smirking. "I set 1 card and end my turn."
"Draw!" Yusei declared, but he didn't have time to look at his card before Taiyou flipped his own card and yelled out.
"Trap Card: Mutual Destruction! Since we both have 3 cards or more in our hands, we both now discard our entire hands, taking 100 damage for each card we discard, and then we draw 5 cards!" Sneering, Taiyou threw out his three cards and pulled 5 new ones while Yusei had to toss out six. Before he pulled his new cards he looked down at his Deck and retreated into his own head.
"This might be my last chance at securing this match. If not, I've lost, and I won't dishonor my charge in doing so. I must succeed. I must!" With new vigor, Yusei ripped up the five new cards from his Deck and pulled them out his side, and as he did so all the Signer marks around the room glowed and disappeared. Confused, the Summoners looked on for a few seconds before they aw the mark of the Crimson Dragon's seal on his back.
Yusei: LP 900
Taiyou: LP 1200
"Thank you, Taiyou… for giving me a duel by which to surpass my limits and evolve my duel! I Activate 2 Permanent Traps: Limit Rebirth and Angel Lift!" Flipping the cards, Yusei's Cemetery lit up and two cards slid out. "Revive: Tuning Supporter (ATK: 100, LV: 1)! Savior Dragon (ATK: 0, LV: 1)!" when Yusei slapped the cards down onto the tray, the small wok robot and the red dragon reformed on either side of the white dragon, causing Taiyou to look on in confusion.
"Your Savior Star Dragon is used up," Taiyou stated. "Reviving those monsters is pointless."
"No move is pointless," Yusei said, flipping a Spell Card around. "I activate Shining Rebirth, and I Synchro Summon Savior Star Dragon from the Cemetery!"
"Amazing," Aki and Luca stated in unison as Yusei's three monsters dove up into the sky and his Cemetery lit up again, his red dragon becoming enormous and swallowing the nine orbs that the two other monsters became.
"The clustering forces 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)!" The red dragon exploded into light, releasing the form of the gigantic metallic dragon with 4 wings as it hissed at Endymion, its eyes locking with the magician's.
"That is the monster whose power I sensed," Endymion confirmed as another counter joined those on the city and Yusei drew a card from Tuning Supporter's effect. "There can be no doubt."
"I activate Savior Star Dragon's effect," Yusei stated. "Once per turn, I may negate the effect of an opponent's monster until the End Phase and have my dragon gain that effect. Sublimation Drain!" Endymion's body then burst out into several white flares of energy, making him groan and grunt in frustration and weakness as the orbs joined the body of the dragon, once again hissing at Endymion.
"You've absorbed the effect of Endymion?" Taiyou asked in shock. "But, the monster equipped with Halberd of Endymion cannot be targeted by Monster effects!"
"Then I will target your Halberd of Endymion!" Yusei declared. "I activate Endymion's effect as that of Savior Star Dragon! I discard Domino and destroy Halberd of Endymion!" A blue orb of energy formed from the jewel on the dragon's forehead, which then fired a shot of blue energy into the blade and caused it to explode. "Now, Endymion's ATK returns to normal (ATK: 2700). Savior Star Dragon, attack Endymion! Sonic Destruction Burst!"
Once again the dragon instantly rose up nearly a thousand feet into the air and shot downwards, folding its wings against its body before it turned into a stream of dark blue energy. The magician was struck dead centre in the chest by the energy before it continued on and through Taiyou, making him scream as the dragon returned to its original form on the other side.
"I'm sorry, my apprentice," Endymion said, turning to the duelist. "I've… failed you…" And with that Endymion exploded, the energy stream's full force turning on Taiyou.
"And I… you…" As Taiyou screamed in pain, the energy stream exploded in his side like a mortar, shredding the ectoplasm of his left arm and torso and making him fall on his knees. Seconds later the spiritual material recollected and he got up, but his Life Points had taken a near fatal hit.
Yusei: LP 900
Taiyou: LP 100
"Magic Activate: Arms Hole," Yusei declared, pulling his top card (revealed as Shield Warrior) and placing it into the Cemetery. "I add Savior Force from my Cemetery to my hand, where I activate it." Pulling the card from the slot, Yusei placed it into the Magic & Trap Card Zones and called back the green aura around his dragon. "I set 1 card. During the End Phase, my Dragon does not return to the Extra Deck. I end my turn."
Taiyou looked on at Yusei with a tense look on his face, and in anger he said, "Do you think this is funny Signer? Is my misery and pain a thing of fun to you? You discarded my master as though he was nothing, and for that I harbour no forgiveness!"
"That's not it at all!" Yusei retorted. "I meant no disrespect for you or your master."
"Save it! Draw!" Pulling his card, Taiyou look a card in his hand and Put it down. "Magic Activate: Dimensional Magician's Technique! I remove 1 Magic Counter from my City and Summon a Magic-User monster from my hand without Release. Come, Cybernetic Magician (ATK: 2400, LV: 6)!" A Magic Counter exploded from the card of the city and formed a dimensional rift through which a magician in a silver trench coat with blond hair and a small staff appeared, looking on at the massive dragon.
"That monster," Crow noted. "That's not good for Yusei."
"He'll be fine," Aki said. "My Yusei doesn't fall so easily."
"Maybe, but neither does Taiyou," Kyojo answered gravely.
"I activate Cybernetic Magician's effect! I discard 1 card and make Savior Star's ATK 2000 for this turn!" Taking a card and sliding it into the Cemetery, the dragon was surrounded by a field of static-like glitter that weakened it, causing it to hiss in anger.
"I next remove 6 of the 12 Magic Counters on my City to raise my Divine Magician Deity Endymion from my Cemetery (ATK: 2700, LV: 7), and add Halberd of Endymion to him (ATK: 4200)!" With a burst of light the black-clad magician returned with the blade on the end of his staff, and then he looked to at the dragon and said coldly,
"It is time to slay this beast."
"Agreed," Taiyou said. "Endymion-sama, attack Savior Star Dragon!" Jumping up, Endymion raised his blade to slice at the dragon, but Yusei responded with a quick and stunning counter.
"Trap Card: Sublime Absorb! When the opponent attacks my Savior monster, I discard my entire hand to halve the ATK of the attacking monster (ATK: 2100) and return my Dragon's ATK to normal, then increase its ATK and DEF by 1500 (ATK: 5300!) Savior Star Dragon, counterattack!" Hissing as its power rose and Endymion's fell, the dragon formed an orb of bluish energy in front of its fused face that shot as a stream at the black-clad magician.
"This… can't be!" Taiyou yelled as Endymion swung its blade up to block the energy, grunting as he strained to stop the blast. He fought valiantly, but seconds later the blast overpowered Endymion and shot over him completely, exploding him before striking Taiyou with the force of a meteor.
"How very interesting..." the fake Judai though from up above. "Such power and fighting spirit, of both duelists... they'll make excellent weapons for the cause..." With that he faded out into a black static mist, leaving to trace.
Yusei: LP 900
Taiyou: LP 0
After the blast hit, the Solid Vision lining the field around them began to disappear and the dragon roared out, bursting into a massive beacon of light. Everyone had to cover their eyes while it faded out, and when they opened them nothing was left of the duel. Deactivating his Duel Disc, Yusei walked over to Taiyou, whose Disc had disappeared and who was standing there solemnly.
"That was an excellent duel," Yusei said, expecting Taiyou to shake his hand. Instead, Taiyou, Kyojo and Yusuriha all got down on one knee and bowed to him and the other Signers, standing up again just before Taiyou said,
"You are truly worthy of your roles as Signers. I apologize for my outburst earlier; I wanted to test thee, but thy fighting spirit did not waver."
"This can be our hideout for a few weeks while we formulate a plan of attack," Kyojo stated. "In that time, we need to finish this ceremony."
"What does that mean?" Lua asked.
"The remaining Saviors need to be called forth," Yusuriha explained. "Luca and Crow are the only ones not to have done so, and thus we need to get you to invoke that power."
"If that is what it takes, then I shall do so," Crow said, bowing to the white-clad woman.
"As will I," Luca added. "I'll give it all my fighting spirit."
"But we still need to do one thing," Johan interjected. "We need to get Judai. He's our friend and ally, and he'll be very useful to us in this fight." Everyone nodded to this.
As Judai sat in the metal chair, his face down in his crossed arms, he heard the sound of the door open and two pairs of footsteps entering. Looking up, he saw the two officers involved in his arrest and said, "Are you finally going to interrogate me? I've been sitting in here for hours, and I'd rather not stay much longer."
"That's too bad," one of them said, "Because you're not leaving anytime soon."
"Except to come with us," the other said, as Judai stood up and they advanced to grab him.
"I don't think so," Judai retorted, his irises changing to the golden ones of Haou Judai. When one man grabbed for him, Judai jumped up backwards onto the table and leapt over him, turning around seconds before they did. He then took a swing at one and hit him in the face hard enough to knock him back against the table, and he grabbed the other one and threw him backwards against a wall for the same result.
"Sayonara, bastards," Judai then issued, closing the door behind him and making a mad dash through the hallways. "Now to get my Eck back and find out what Placido's angle is..."
"It seems our prisoner has escaped," Placido said sourly, observing the footage of Judai's breakout during a video conference with Jose and Lucciano.
"Shall we send people after him?" Lucciano asked, a sadistic smile over her face.
"No, let's not," Jose answered. "We should focus our efforts on the Signers."
"Agreed, but we shall keep tabs on him," Placido answered, turning off the screens after saying that.
"He's not the only person we should be tracking," the fake Judai said from behind Placido. Turning around, the man could see that his copy was standing against the wall, arms crossed and with one foot parallel to it. "I found our Mole."
"Excellent," Placido smiled.
"And, I know just how to get our message across…"
Running into the maintenance exit of the station, Judai found himself surrounded my mechanical devices but not any officers. He had not seen a single officer since he had arrived, and he was now very suspicious of it. "I'm not where they say I am, am I?"
"No, I don't think so," he heard Yubel's voice answer in his head. Turning around, he saw his Duel Spirit standing against a doorway, clearly waiting for him. She then said, "I think this is an underground facility."
"I know where the elevators are," Judai stated, having seen many when he came through this place."
"Then let's go." With that Yubel disappeared back into the depths of Judai's mind and soul, his Deck materializing into his Deck Box on his waist. He then started running toward the elevator, desperate to escape.
Card of the Week – Taiyou
Divine Magician Deity Endymion
Type: DARK
Level: 7
Family: [Magic-User/Effect]
Effect: This card can be Special Summoned from the hand or Cemetery by removing 6 Magic Counters from [Magic City Endymion]. When this monster is summoned in this way, add 1 Magic Card from your Cemetery to your hand. Once per turn, activate by discarding 1 Magic Card and selecting 1 card on the field. Destroy that card.
ATK/ 2700
DEF/ 1700
* And so the plot moves forward… review if you wish.*