Chapter 3: United Resistance
The engine of the Runner roared and Julian felt truly alive as he rode it along the highways of New Domino. He passed by cars and trucks, effortlessly dodging through the busy traffic and feeling slightly happier to be back home, in the city where he had grown up.
He briefly glanced out across the city and saw the shape of the Kaiba Dome, that stadium that meant so much for his past and all he had left behind two years before. As he looked down at it, all the memories and pain flooded back, and he quickly looked the other way, out across the ocean towards the faint grey stain on the horizon that was the Satellite. To be honest, that view hardly made him feel any better.
He couldn't put Kelsey out of his mind, and it was because he was responsible for her death. It had started with one man, but it had finished when Julian had allowed his rage towards Jack Atlas to escape his control, the second he had let his restraint go...
When Julian was born, his spirit had been forcibly bonded with that of an eternal evil known as Flamvell Nidhogg, one of Seven Spirits who controlled the elemental forces of the world and who were destined to bring the Apocalypse, and then recreate the world as a new Eden. They had been sealed, but the foolish acts of a samurai almost a thousand years ago had inadvertently opened a loophole for them, allowing them a chance to escape by bonding themselves to human Vessels.
A man named Ryutaro Miyamoto, son of the samurai who had begun the nightmare, bonded his soul with Primal Deity Khaos, the leader of the Spirits, and discovered the magic that allowed him to bond other humans with souls rich in elemental affinity to the other Spirits. Doing so, he had then gathered the Vessels and attempted to sacrifice them to enact the ritual to free the Spirits, but Julian had managed to defeat Ryutaro by summoning one of the Avatars, seven beings who stood as opposites to the Spirits.
Unfortunately, Julian had stopped the Spirits too late to save Kelsey. She had become a victim of a vengeful Flamvell Nidhogg, empowered by Julian's hate and rage enough to kill one time... and Kelsey had become its target in an attempt to punish Julian.
He bitterly looked away from the Satellite and just focused on the road ahead. Almost everything about the city brought memories back, and too many of them just dredged up the pain he had worked so hard to try and cope with.
As he rode onwards, his attention was drawn by a pair of wailing sirens. Two Sector Security issue Duel Runners shot past him, taking a turning up ahead.
"This looks interesting," Julian thought "better check it out, see if the regular cops need some help."
He angled his Duel Runner onto the turning as he started to pass it, changing his route down into the bowels of the New Domino streets...
55555
Ahead of Julian, the two Sector Security officers skidded their Runners to a stop and dismounted, pulling off their helmets.
"What's going on?!" one yelled to a bulky man in overalls and a hard hat.
"Some nutcase up there won't move outta the way of our diggers!" the man replied "when we tried to move in, he just summoned some weird Duel Monsters and whacked us back with the Solid Vision!"
"Sounds like some wacko protester out of the Arcadia Movement to me," the second officer noted, her long blonde hair waving in the breeze.
"If he was from Arcadia, we'd be seeing burnt wreckage," her colleague replied "don't forget what the Black Rose can do. Any Psychic Duelist would rip the machines to shreds if they wanted to stop construction."
As he finished this sentence, Julian pulled up and skidded to a stop beside them, lifting his visor.
"What's going on here?" he asked.
"Some wacko holding up a construction project, that's what!" the man in overalls shouted. Julian gave a slight frown.
"Are you telling me you can't just march him out?"
"Apparently this guy beat them back with his Duel Monsters," the female officer replied. Julian's frown grew.
"I'll handle this," he said, flicking down his visor and gunning his Runner's engine.
"Just who the hell are you anyway?!" the male officer yelled over the engine "are you even licensed to stop a crime?!"
"I'm Julian Mikuro," Julian said "and the technical term... is freelance..." With that, he revved the engine and shot past the line of construction vehicles...
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The protester seemed fairly ordinary. He was a black-haired teenage boy, maybe two or three years younger than Julian, wearing a loose grey shirt and black jeans. His skin was fairly tanned, and his Duel Disk was a dark green colour, with a card panel shaped like a holly leaf. His intense green eyes burned with passion for his cause.
However, he was still compelled to take a step back towards the vibrant emerald Duel Runner behind him, which was shaped much like the Sector Security Runners, but with a streamlined front shaped like a leaf. A crescent shaped seat curved upwards from behind the console, similar to Yusei's Duel Runner.
Julian skidded to a halt and dismounted, raised his visor with a light gesture.
"Who are you?" he asked.
"The name's Blake Emerick."
"How about you shift out of here? If you don't, then the Sector Security officers behind those diggers are going to drag you out in handcuffs."
"Oh, so you're with them!"
"I didn't say that," Julian replied "I'm trying to help you get out of here without being dragged away in cuffs, Blake."
"Yeah, and just let that lot tear up this valuable parkland!" Blake cried. Julian looked around and realised they were indeed in a relatively verdant grass field, with several trees scattered around.
"This park is essential for the people nearby," Blake said "without it; the kids couldn't get access to sunlight easily because of the highways overhead. They wouldn't have a safe place for their parents to watch them while they play. They need this park!"
"Are you willing to give up your freedom for it?" Julian asked "because that's what's on the line, Blake Emerick. They'll throw you into the Facility, take away your Deck, and take everything that makes you a true citizen of this city. And they'll leave you to rot in that hell. There's no escape from the Facility. I got people locked in there and I haven't seen them come out."
"Who are you?" Blake hissed, eyes narrowing.
"I'm Julian Mikuro," Julian replied "I'm the guy who will save you from hell, if you give me the chance."
"Fine," Blake spat "a Turbo Duel. If I win, then you leave me alone and I'll stay here to keep this park safe. If you win, I'll pack up and go."
"Very well," Julian replied, calmly extending his visor over his face and mounting his Duel Runner. He calmly attached his Duel Disk to its position, activating it in the process. Blake mounted his own Duel Runner, pulling on his green helmet and fitting his Duel Disk into place.
Both of them pressed a button on their consoles and Speed World flashed into view on their screens before turning and vanishing from sight.
"Duel Mode engaged... Autopilot standing by... Speed World activated..."
White energy circles expanded from the Duel Runners and coated the area in purple aura from Speed World. The two revved their engines.
"Ready... Set... Begin Turbo Duel!"
"Let's ride!"
Both Duel Runners shot off with roaring engines...
Julian 8000LP 0SPC/Blake 8000LP 0SPC
"I'll start!" Julian called, drawing a card. His hand contained Guard of Flamvell, Speed Spell – Vision Wind, Backfire, Blue Flame Swordsman, Speed Spell – Angel Blessing and Defense Draw.
"Make a move already!" Blake yelled. Julian grimaced and placed Blue Flame Swordsman face-down before setting Backfire and Defense Draw.
All three cards appeared around his Duel Runner before the two Trap cards vanished from sight.
"I end my turn!"
Julian 8000LP 0SPC/Blake 8000LP 0SPC
"I draw!" Blake called. Their Speed Counters increased (Julian 8000LP 1SPC) (Blake 8000LP 1SPC).
"I summon Naturia Guardian in attack mode!" With a low moan, an immense tree with large arms appeared beside his Duel Runner (ATK: 1600).
"You're not serious, are you?" Julian asked "you just summoned a tree."
"I'm deadly serious!" Blake yelled "now I'm playing Speed Spell – Over Boost to raise my Speed Counters by four!" Instantly he sped up as a golden aura surrounded his Duel Runner (Blake 8000LP 5SPC).
"Just because you're faster doesn't mean you're better," Julian muttered.
"I activate Speed Spell – Summon Speeder to summon Naturia Triumph!" his opponent shouted. An emerald green Spell Card flashed into existence beside his Runner and a strange creature with a large red bulb for a head and another for a chest appeared, beady blue eyes and a smiling mouth growing on its head bulb and a cape of leaves wrapped around its body (ATK: 600).
"I activate Backfire!" Julian yelled "this Continuous Trap deals you 500 points of damage if you destroy a Fire monster on my field!" The Backfire card appeared and lifted up to show its face.
"Thanks," Blake said with a smile "whenever you activate a Spell or Trap Card, Naturia Triumph gives all my Naturia monsters 500 more attack points until the End Phase." Naturia Triumph (ATK: 1100) and Naturia Guardian (ATK: 2100) both glowed with violet energy.
"Crud..." Julian thought.
"Naturia Guardian, flatten that monster!" Blake yelled. Naturia Guardian shuffled backwards and smashed one of its fists down on the face-down card, which rose into the image of a dark blue armoured warrior wielding a sword of the same colour as his armour (DEF: 1600). Blue Flame Swordsman groaned and shattered into pixels.
"When Blue Flame Swordsman is destroyed by battle, I can Special Summon the regular Flame Swordsman from my Graveyard or Extra Deck!" Julian yelled. With a burst of flame, an orange-coloured version of Blue Flame Swordsman appeared, raising his sword (ATK: 1800). Blake scowled as a blast of fire shot from Julian's Backfire card.
(Blake 7500LP 5SPC)
"I end my turn with this face-down," he muttered, placing a card face-down. His Speed Counters were reduced by the effect of Speed Spell – Over Boost (Blake 7500LP 1SPC).
Julian 8000LP 1SPC/Blake 7500LP 1SPC
"I draw!" Julian called, doing so. Their Speed Counters instantly increased (Julian 8000LP 2SPC) (Blake 7500LP 2SPC).
"I summon Guard of Flamvell!" With a roar, an azure scaled dragon appeared beside Julian, its throat glowing with molten heat, barbed claws clenching as its wings curled around it like shields (ATK: 100).
"I activate the effect of Naturia Cosmos Beet in my hand to Special Summon it since you Normal Summoned a monster!" Blake called. A cute monster that looked like a black ball of soil and roots with pale blue eyes appeared, its limbs short and stubby, and three beautiful flowers growing above it (ATK: 1000). "Plus, since you Normal Summoned a monster, Naturia Guardian gains 300 points!" Naturia Guardian glowed (ATK: 1900).
"Well, I Tune Guard of Flamvell to Flame Swordsman to Synchro Summon...!" Julian called. Guard of Flamvell roared and became engulfed in flame, rising into the air and descending as an electronic ring that encircled Flame Swordsman, reducing it to a framework that released five glowing stars. The stars aligned before being connected as one shaft of fiery light that expanded to fill the Synchro Summon...
"Unified flames give rise to a crusader of infernos. Unite, flames, and unleash your warrior. Synchro Summon! Flame on, Flamvell Urquizas!" Julian chanted.
With an almighty roar, the Synchro Summon faded to reveal a man clad in dark blue armour, almost black, with flames crackling on his shoulders, around his belt, edging his face and engulfing his fists. His eyes blazed like fireballs and his expression was stern as he soared beside Julian (ATK: 2100).
"I set a card," Julian said, sliding the card into place "and activate Speed Spell – Vision Wind to revive Guard of Flamvell." The blue-scaled Dragon reappeared in a vortex of energy, crouching down defensively (DEF: 2000). Naturia Triumph (ATK: 1100), Naturia Cosmos Beet (ATK: 1500) and Naturia Guardian (ATK: 2400) all glowed with energy.
"Now, Flamvell Urquizas, attack Naturia Triumph with Searing Justice!" Julian yelled. Flamvell Urquizas charged at Blake's monster...
Blake's face-down card lifted up.
"I activate Urgent Tuning!" he yelled "this allows me to Synchro Summon during the Battle Phase, so I Tune Naturia Triumph to Naturia Guardian in order to Synchro Summon...!"
Naturia Triumph glowed with aura as it rose into the heavens and descended as two electronic rings that surrounded Naturia Guardian and reduced it to a framework that released four glowing stars. The stars aligned within the rings before connecting as a burst of black aura that filled the Synchro Summon...
"The dragon of the East shall now come forth onto the battlefield and protect nature! Awaken, great Seiryu and strike down this foe with your holy rage! Synchro Summon! Arise, Naturia Balkion!"
With a roar, the Synchro Summon faded to reveal an immense twenty foot long white dragon with brown rock spikes and armour plates running along its back, patches of moss growing on its white scales. Its four legs clenched their black claws together as Naturia Balkion roared, its body coiling in mid-air (ATK: 2500).
Julian gazed up at the majestic creature with awe and shock apparent in his features, shock that his opponent had summoned something so powerful with such ease.
"Since the monsters on the field changed, it triggers a Replay!" Julian called "I redirect the attack of Flamvell Urquizas to Naturia Cosmos Beet! Urquizas, strike it down with Searing Justice!" Flamvell Urquizas returned to its master's side before charging and shattering Naturia Cosmos Beet with a blazing punch. Blake snarled in pain as the attack struck him.
(Blake 6900LP 2SPC)
"Now since Urquizas dealt battle damage, his power increases by 300." Flamvell Urquizas glowed with energy (ATK: 2400). "I'll end there."
Julian 8000LP 2SPC/Blake 6900LP 2SPC
"I draw!" Blake yelled. Their Speed Counters increased (Julian 8000LP 3SPC) (Blake 6900LP 3SPC).
"I activate Speed Spell – Vision Wind to bring back my Naturia Triumph!" The image of Vision Wind appeared beside him before Naturia Triumph flew from the glowing card image (ATK: 600). "Now I summon Naturia Flightfly!"
With a buzz, a glowing blue portal opened beside him and a fly with a blackberry for a chest and strawberry for a rear end appeared, with leaves for wings. Its pale blue eyes had a lazy expression to them (ATK: 800). "While Naturia Flightfly is on the field, all your monsters lose 300 points for every Naturia monster on my field. At the moment I have three monsters, so your monsters lose 900 points." Flamvell Urquizas (ATK: 1500) and Guard of Flamvell (DEF: 1100) both groaned.
"Now, Naturia Balkion, attack Flamvell Urquizas!" Blake called. Naturia Balkion roared and breathed a jet of acid from its maw, reducing Flamvell Urquizas to pixels. Julian's Trap Card lifted up.
"I activate Defence Draw!" he yelled.
"I counter with the effect of my Naturia Balkion!" Blake retorted "I remove two cards in my Graveyard from play to negate your Trap Card and destroy it!" Defence Draw exploded as Speed Spell – Summon Speeder and Speed Spell – Vision Wind slid from Blake's Graveyard. "But since you activated a Trap Card, Naturia Triumph raises my monster's points by 500 till the End Phase!" Naturia Balkion (ATK: 3000), Naturia Flightfly (ATK: 1300) and Naturia Triumph (ATK: 1100) all glowed with energy.
Julian winced as the acid jet from Balkion struck him.
(Julian 7000LP 2SPC)
Then Blake hissed in pain as Backfire struck him with a jet of flames.
(Blake 6400LP 3SPC)
"Naturia Flightfly, attack Guard of Flamvell!" the young man ordered. Naturia Flightfly glided over to Guard of Flamvell and stabbed the dragon with its long sharp proboscis. Guard of Flamvell shattered into pixels, but Blake snarled as Backfire hit him again.
(Blake 5900LP 3SPC)
"Naturia Triumph, attack him directly!" Naturia Triumph fired a volley of crimson petals from its body, slashing at Julian with them.
(Julian 5900LP 1SPC)
"Now I move to my Main Phase 2 and Tune my Naturia Triumph to Naturia Flightfly to Synchro Summon...!" Blake called.
Naturia Triumph rose into the sky and descended as two electronic rings that surrounded Naturia Flightfly, reducing it to a framework that released three glowing stars. The stars aligned within the rings and connected as a shaft of black aura that filled the Synchro Summon...
"The Tiger of the West emerges now to strike down my enemy! Come forwards, almighty Byakko, and break this foe with your savage power! Synchro Summon! Pounce, Naturia Beast!"
With a savage roar, an emerald green tiger leapt from the Synchro Summon, running beside Blake's Duel Runner. Its legs were like trees and moss grew on its fur. Naturia Beast gave another roar, baring fangs shining with saliva (ATK: 2200).
"I end my turn with that." Naturia Balkion (ATK: 2500) stopped glowing.
Julian 5900LP 1SPC/Blake 5900LP 3SPC
Julian drew silently, amazed by how Blake had turned the tide so quickly. Their Speed Counters increased (Julian 5900LP 2SPC) (Blake 5900LP 4SPC).
"I set a monster and end my turn," Julian said. The face-down monster appeared.
Julian 5900LP 2SPC/Blake 5900LP 4SPC
Blake drew and their Speed Counters increased (Julian 5900LP 3SPC) (Blake 5900LP 5SPC).
"I summon Naturia Ladybug," he said. A glowing blue portal opened and a ladybug with flower patterns on its shell flew out, gliding beside his Duel Runner (ATK: 100). "Now I activate the effect of Naturia Ladybug, Tributing it to rise my Naturia Balkion's attack points by 1000 until the End Phase." Naturia Ladybug dissolved into emerald dust that flowed into Naturia Balkion, making it shine with energy (ATK: 3500).
"Naturia Beast, attack his monster!" Naturia Beast leapt at the card, which flipped over and rose into the image of a dark green tortoise with a silver UFO for a shell (DEF: 1200). The UFO Turtle screamed and shattered as Naturia Beast bit down on its neck. Blake hissed as Backfire hit him.
(Blake 5400LP 5SPC)
"Because you destroyed UFO Turtle by battle, I can summon a Fire monster with 1500 or less points from my Deck!" Julian called "I summon another UFO Turtle!" Another UFO Turtle appeared in a burst of flames (ATK: 1400).
"Naturia Balkion, attack it!" Blake yelled. Naturia Balkion breathed a stream of acid that melted the monster and Julian cried out in pain as the acid hit him.
(Julian 3800LP 1SPC)
Then Blake hissed as Backfire damaged his Life Points again.
(Blake 4900LP 5SPC)
"I use that Turtle's effect to summon Flamvell Magical!" Julian yelled. The purple-skinned fire sorcerer appeared in a burst of flames (ATK: 1400).
"I end my turn with a face-down," Blake said calmly. Naturia Balkion stopped glowing (ATK: 2500).
Julian 3800LP 1SPC/Blake 4900LP 5SPC
Julian draw, wincing slightly. Their Speed Counters increased (Julian 3800LP 2SPC) (Blake 4900LP 6SPC).
"I activate Speed Spell – Angel Blessing," he said "this allows me to draw four cards since I have less than four Speed Counters and my Speed Counters are less than half of yours." The card appeared, glowing with energy.
"I activate the effect of Naturia Beast!" Blake yelled "allowing me to give up two cards from the top of my Deck to negate your Spell and destroy it!" He slid the two top cards from his Deck into his Graveyard and Naturia Beast glowed with energy. The Speed Spell – Angel Blessing card shattered.
"Damn... he's got me locked down completely. I can't win this..." Julian thought "no... If I lose, then he'll get thrown in the Facility for sure! I've got to push onwards and find a way to beat these monsters..."
"I summon Ultimate Baseball Kid!" Julian called. A short boy dressed in a baseball uniform appeared, raising a large steel bat studded with spikes, the kanji sign for fire emblazoned on his helmet (ATK: 500). "Ultimate Baseball Kid gains 1000 points for every other Fire monster on the field, and so far I count Flamvell Magical!" Ultimate Baseball Kid glowed with flame (ATK: 1500).
"What's the point in trying?!" Blake exclaimed "I've got you completely locked down. Naturia Balkion and Naturia Beast lock down your Spells and Traps and I can still use my own, so you're finished. You can't win with monsters alone!"
"Who said I planned to?" Julian said "I Tune Flamvell Magical to Ultimate Baseball Kid to Synchro Summon...!"
Flamvell Magical rose into the heavens and descended as four electronic rings that encircled Ultimate Baseball Kid, reducing him to a framework that released three glowing stars. The stars aligned within the rings and were connected as a pillar of flame that engulfed the Synchro Summon...
"Clustered flames will now arise as a chosen magical spirit. Step forth and devastate the foes of justice with your true power. Synchro Summon! Blaze onwards, Flamvell Runemancer!"
Flamvell Runemancer burst from the Synchro Summon with a mighty cry, soaring alongside Julian (ATK: 2400).
"I activate the effect of Flamvell Runemancer," Julian said "I remove Flamvell Magical and Guard of Flamvell in my Graveyard from play to remove Speed Spell – Angel Blessing in my Graveyard from play and use it as my Runemancer's effect! Flamvell Runemancer, Runic Mastery!" The three cards slid from his Graveyard and he pocketed them before Flamvell Runemancer drew glowing runes in the air before him and swung his staff, shouting a word.
Julian drew four times as a glowing white armoured angel appeared beside him with a smile, raising a staff. This was Celestia, Lightsworn Angel, a monster Julian had had the privilege of seeing in person two years earlier at the Legacy of Champions tournament.
Celestia vanished and Julian looked over his new hand. With a slight smirk, he picked out a card and slotted it into his Graveyard slot.
"I discard Flamvell Baby to grant my Flamvell Runemancer a permanent 400 point attack increase." Flamvell Runemancer glowed with a fiery aura for a moment (ATK: 2800). "Next I lay one card face-down and my Runemancer attacks your Naturia Balkion! Runic Devastation!"
Flamvell Runemancer raised his staff to the heavens and chanted an incantation that sent fireballs raining down on Naturia Balkion, reducing the monster to ashes. Blake snarled as he was seared by the flaming attack.
(Blake 4600LP 6SPC)
"I end the Battle Phase and end my turn," Julian said.
Julian 3800LP 2SPC/Blake 4600LP 6SPC
Blake drew with a fierce look on his face. Julian had broken his lockdown strategy by removing one piece, the face-down card was likely a Trap Card able to destroy Naturia Beast and open the Flamvell duelist's Speed Spells up again. Blake still had several back-ups, fortunately, and he already had what he needed to achieve one of those back-ups ready.
Their Speed Counters increased (Julian 3800LP 3SPC) (Blake 4600LP 7SPC).
"I activate Speed Spell – Reduction Return," Blake said "by reducing my Speed Counters by thee, I can return two cards from my Graveyard to my hand." His Duel Runner slowed down as his Counters went down (Blake 4600LP 4SPC), then two cards slid from his Graveyard and he placed them in his hand. "Now I activate Speed Spell – Speed Fusion and merge together the Elemental Hero Knospe in my hand with Naturia Beast to Fusion Summon...!"
A strange humanoid monster with forearms made of bulbs, feet made from leaves and a bulb for a head appeared, with some sort of necklace around its throat before both it and Naturia Beast rose into the air and vanished into a swirling vortex of purple energy...
Julian felt a drop of sweat slide down his forehead "there's only one monster that could fit those materials... and it really isn't good for me...!"
"I Fusion Summon...!" Blake yelled "Elemental Hero Gaia!"
With a fierce cry, a jet-black colossus dropped from the vortex, ten foot tall, with gold trim on its armour and red gems studding the plates. Its bracers were immense, as were its greaves, and its whole body glowed with an aura of strength (ATK: 2200).
"When Elemental Hero Gaia is Fusion Summoned," Blake said "I choose one of your monsters and its points are halved. Then Gaia gains points equal to the amount of attack points that monster lost until the End Phase." Flamvell Runemancer groaned (ATK: 1400) as Elemental Hero Gaia glowed with power (ATK: 3600).
"Damn..." Julian muttered.
"Elemental Hero Gaia!" Blake yelled "attack Flamvell Runemancer with Continental Hammer!" Elemental Hero Gaia raised fists that glowed with energy before smashing them down onto the ground.
The earth split asunder as spikes of rock tore from beneath the surface in a path that lanced between Gaia and Flamvell Runemancer, before the spikes impaled the latter, who howled in agony and shattered into pixels. Julian cried out in pain as a spike grazed his chest in passing.
(Julian 1600LP 1SPC)
"I end my turn there," Blake said "next turn, if I can draw a Level 1 or Level 3 Tuner, then I'll Tune Gaia to it to summon Naturia Landols or Naturia Gaodrake, or maybe that Avatar thing I got from dad... Either of them can end this duel now, and I can save that park for my friends!"
Elemental Hero Gaia stopped glowing (ATK: 2200).
Julian 1600LP 1SPC/Blake 4600LP 4SPC
"I draw," Julian said, doing so. Their Speed Counters increased (Julian 1600LP 2SPC) (Blake 4600LP 5SPC).
"I activate my Trap Card, Synchro Spirits. With this, I remove Flamvell Runemancer in my Graveyard from play to Special Summon its Synchro Materials back to the field." He pocketed Flamvell Runemancer and two orbs of light burst into life, coalescing into Flamvell Magical (ATK: 1400) and Ultimate Baseball Kid (ATK: 500 - 1500).
"You still can't beat my Gaia," Blake said "face it Julian, you've lost."
"No, I haven't," he replied "because now I summon Flamvell Dragnov." The crimson and silver dragon appeared with a snarl (ATK: 1100). "And I Tune my three monsters together to Synchro Summon...!"
Flamvell Magical rose into the heavens and became four glowing rings that descended and encircled Ultimate Baseball Kid and Flamvell Dragnov, reducing them to frameworks that released five glowing stars. The stars aligned within the rings before exploding with crimson flames...
"I'm sorry it has to end like this," Julian said softly "but I want to help you, Blake. And to do that, I have to unleash my most powerful monster." He took a card from his Extra Deck and raised it to the skies, closing his eyes as he played it with a delicate motion...
"In brightest day, in blackest night, behold your fears made into light. Let all who stand within my sight, behold my power, all fires might. Synchro Summon. My blazing soul, Flame Avatar Vulcan!"
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Far away, within the deepest sector of the Satellite, in a room shrouded in shadow, a young woman gave a sudden gasp.
She was shrouded in robes of ebony cloth marred by violet markings, a glowing stylised condor etched on her forearm in violet fire. Her skin was ivory pale, and her features were soft, eyes a piercing violet like the mark on her arm. Her long hair was dark brown, almost black, and she gave a gentle sigh as her mark stopped flaring with radiance.
"Julian..." she whispered...
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Flame exploded from the Synchro Summon, a writhing, twisting inferno that shrank down to reveal a single form of pure fire. It was a man, clad in Greek hoplite armour and wielding a majestic longsword, his features leonine and his eyes blazing with hope and courage. Flame Avatar Vulcan gave a roar as he gripped his blade in both hands and stepped forwards, spreading blazing angelic wings behind him (ATK: 2400).
"An... Avatar..." Blake whispered in awe "you... have one... too?"
"What?" Julian replied, just as shocked "you have an Avatar?!"
"Yes... I do... but how... how can you have one?"
"What does it mean?" Julian wondered "the Avatars are the opposites to the Seven Spirits... does that mean Blake's destined for something... like I am? Are we connected in some way...?"
"I activate the effect of Flame Avatar Vulcan," he said "I can choose one of two effects during each of my Main Phases, and that effect is applied until the next Main Phase. I can either have Vulcan gain 300 points for every Fire monster in my Graveyard, or remove from play any number of Fire monsters in my Graveyard to have Vulcan gain 600 points for each until the End Phase. I choose the second effect and remove all ten Fire monsters in my Graveyard from the game to give Vulcan 6000 more points!" Flame Avatar Vulcan roared and burned with energy (ATK: 8400). The colour drained from Blake's face.
"No…" he whispered.
"I'm sorry," Julian said "I'm so sorry." He closed his eyes. "But this has to happen. I know now that you and I have a shared fate, our destinies are connected by the Avatars. So I can't let you be thrown into the Facility. Flame Avatar Vulcan…" his eyes snapped open…
"End this Duel with Wrath of Etna!" Flame Avatar Vulcan gripped his blade with both hands and charged, taking flight and diving. He slashed downwards in a great motion, cleaving through Elemental Hero Gaia and going on to strike Blake with a blazing slash, forcing a cry of pain and anguish from the protester's lips as his hopes of resisting shattered in a second.
Julian 1600LP 2SPC/Blake 0LP 0SPC
Blake's Duel Runner came to a halt, with steam pouring from the engine and the word 'LOSER' flashing up on his screen. He dismounted shakily, tearing off his helmet to reveal a questioning gaze.
"How can… you have an Avatar?" he whispered "I thought Geb was the only one… there was…"
"No," Julian replied, shaking his head "there are Seven Avatars, one for each element in the universe. Vulcan is the Avatar of Fire. What Attribute is Geb?" Blake replied by pulling a card from his Duel Disk's Extra Deck slot and holding it up. Julian read the name as the words flashed in the sun; Earth Avatar Geb.
"It's Earth Attribute," Blake said quietly.
"So Geb is the Avatar of Earth…" Julian murmured "that makes sense. Geb was the Earth god in Egyptian mythology… so the Avatars are like the Spirits, named for mythical beings."
"Spirits? What are Spirits?" Blake asked. Julian raised his head and gazed into Blake's eyes, and the wielder of the Avatar of Earth was confronted with all of Julian's sorrow and pain, everything that drowned the former Vessel of Flame's soul in agony and heartbreak.
"You don't want to know," Julian said softly "you really don't want to know. They are the ultimate forces of destruction, the powers that hunger for ruin and devastation. They are an eternal nightmare, but I forced them back two years ago… but I was too late…"
"Too late? But if you stopped them… then how were you…?"
"Because before I realised the truth…" Julian whispered "I embraced the power of my Spirit, the Spirit of Fire. I let it loose out of anger… and… I suffered for it. I paid the most terrible price for letting that power loose on the world…" His eyes glistened with tears, and Blake could see all the pain in his eyes.
"What… what happened?" he whispered.
"Flamvell Nidhogg," Julian whispered, the words ash in his mouth "that was my Spirit. I let it loose, and it killed the person I loved most in the world, the girl I'd have died to protect. Flamvell Nidhogg killed her, because she was just there and I cared about her. Her name was Kelsey Asagi, and she died for my mistake. But it wasn't just her, Flamvell Nidhogg couldn't have known, but it took another life. It didn't just kill my true love; it killed my child with her." Blake's gaze was filled with horror as Julian spoke, a horror that consumed him as he saw the pain in Julian's eyes.
"I… I'm so sorry…" he whispered.
Julian didn't react to the words. "In the end, I defeated the Seven Spirits. I destroyed the strongest of the Seven with Vulcan, and they were locked away again, stopped from ever coming back. I saved us all… but I couldn't save the ones I loved most. Even with that power… I couldn't save Kelsey."
"I am sorry," Blake said. Julian met his gaze again.
"I know you are," he replied "Blake… I think that a time will come when we will need to meet again. We both hold Avatars, which means we've been chosen. There will be five others, and they will come to us when the time is right. Until then… live your life, stay out of trouble, and prepare yourself. There's a storm coming soon, so very soon, and it will engulf us all in shadows. Be ready to fight back, because that's the only way we can end the storm."
"What are you talking about?" Blake called.
"The Army of Shadows," Julian whispered in a voice filled with fear "the Earthbound Immortals. But above all… the Dark Signers. Their time is here, Blake, and they will soon emerge to start a war against us all. Just hope that the five Signers will appear in time to defeat them…" With that, he revved his Duel Runner and shot away into the dusk sunset…
03
Card Stats:
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Monsters:
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Naturia Guardian
EARTH/ Plant/Effect /Level 4/ATK: 1600/DEF: 400
When your opponent Normal Summons a monster, this card gains 300 ATK until the End Phase.
*
Naturia Triumph
EARTH/ Plant/Tuner /Level 2/ATK: 600/DEF: 1500
While this card is face-up on the field, each time your opponent activates a Spell or Trap Card, all face-up "Naturia" monster(s) you control gain 500 ATK until the End Phase.
*
Naturia Cosmos Beet
EARTH/ Plant/Tuner /Level 2/ATK: 1000/DEF: 700
When your opponent Normal Summons a monster, you can Special Summon this card from your hand.
*
Naturia Balkion
EARTH/ Dragon/Synchro/Effect /Level 6/ATK: 2500/DEF: 1800
1 EARTH Tuner + 1 or more EARTH non-Tuner monster(s)
You can remove from play 2 cards in your Graveyard to negate the activation of a Trap Card and destroy it.
*
Naturia Flightfly
EARTH/ Insect/Effect /Level 3/ATK: 800/DEF: 1500
While you control this face-up card, face-up monster(s) your opponent controls lose 300 ATK and DEF for each face-up "Naturia" monster you control. Once per turn, you can gain control over a face-up monster with 0 DEF your opponent controls until the End Phase.
*
Naturia Beast
EARTH/ Beast/Synchro/Effect /Level 5/ATK: 2200/DEF: 1700
1 EARTH Tuner + 1 or more EARTH non-Tuner monster(s)
During either player's turn, you can send 2 cards from the top of your Deck to the Graveyard to negate the activation of a Spell Card and destroy it.
*
Naturia Ladybug
EARTH/ Insect/Effect /Level 1/ATK: 100/DEF: 100
When a "Naturia" Synchro Monster is Synchro Summoned, you can Special Summon this card in your Graveyard to your side of the field. You can Tribute this card during your Main Phase, and select 1 "Naturia" monster you control. The selected monster gains 1000 ATK until the End Phase of this turn.
(The Naturia monsters were released in the Duel Terminal sets Justice Strikes Back, Demon Roar God Revival, Champion of Chaos, Dragunity of the Hurricane and Charge of the Genex in Japan. A U.S. release date for them is currently unknown.)
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Blue Flame Swordsman
FIRE/ Warrior/Effect /Level 4/ATK: 1800/DEF: 1600
During either player's turn, you can reduce this card's ATK by any amount, to have another face-up monster gain equal ATK. When this card is destroyed and sent to the Graveyard, Special Summon 1 "Flame Swordsman" from your Graveyard or your Extra Deck.
(Blue Flame Swordsman was first used by Joey Wheeler/Katsuya Jonouchi against Mai Valentine/Mai Kujaku in Episode 172 of the second series anime. Creative credit goes to the writers of the second series anime.)
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Guard of Flamvell
FIRE/ Dragon/Tuner /Level 1/ATK: 100/DEF: 2000
A guardian soldier of Flamvell; who is able to freely control fire. By producing a scorching-hot barrier, he reflects the enemy's attacks.
*
Flamvell Urquizas
FIRE/ Pyro/Synchro/Effect /Level 6/ATK: 2100/DEF: 400
1 Tuner + 1 or more non-Tuner monster(s)
During battle between this card and a Defense Position monster whose DEF is lower than the ATK of this card, inflict the difference as Battle Damage to your opponent. When this card inflicts Battle Damage to your opponent, this card gains 300 ATK.
*
Flamvell Baby
FIRE/ Pyro/Tuner /Level 1/ATK: 800/DEF: 200
You can send this card from your hand to the Graveyard to have 1 target FIRE monster you control gain 400 ATK.
(The Flamvell monsters were released in the Duel Terminal sets Synchro Awakening, Invasion of Worms and Justice Strikes Back in Japan. Several were released in Ancient Prophecy, and several more may be released in Hidden Arsenal later this month.)
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Flame Avatar Vulcan
FIRE/ Pyro/Synchro/Effect /Level 9/ATK: 2400/DEF: 2400
1 FIRE Tuner + 1 or more FIRE non-Tuner monster(s)
Once per turn, you can select a FIRE monster in your Graveyard or that is removed from play. This card gains the selected monster's effect(s) until the End Phase. During each Main Phase, select one of the following effects and this card gains that effect until the next activation of this effect: ● Remove from play any number of FIRE monsters in your Graveyard, this card gains 600 ATK for each card removed until the End Phase. ● This card gains 300 ATK for each FIRE monster in your Graveyard.
(Flame Avatar Vulcan was first used by Julian in Seven Spirits. Creative credit for it goes to me if it is used.)
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Spells:
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Speed Spell – Over Boost
Normal Spell Card
Image: Four golden stars flying upwards through Speed World.
Gain 4 Speed Counters. During the End Phase, the number of your Speed Counters becomes 1.
(Speed Spell – Over Boost was first used by Jack Atlas against Yusei Fudo in Episode 26 of 5D's. Creative credit for it goes to the writers of 5D's.)
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Speed Spell – Summon Speeder
Normal Spell Card
Image: Dunames Dark Witch soaring from a burst of white energy into Speed World.
Activate only while you have 4 or more Speed Counters. Special Summon 1 Level 4 or lower monster from your hand. The monster Special Summoned by this effect cannot declare an attack this turn.
(Speed Spell – Summon Speeder was first used by Hunter Pace/Mukuro Enjo and Yusei Fudo in Episode 17 of 5D's. Creative credit goes to the writers of 5D's.)
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Speed Spell – Vision Wind
Normal Spell Card
Image: Speed Warrior within a vortex of white energy, inside Speed World.
Activate only while you have 2 or more Speed Counters. Special Summon 1 Level 2 or lower monster from your Graveyard. That monster is destroyed during the End Phase of the turn.
(Speed Spell – Vision Wind was first used by Yusei Fudo against Trudge/Tetsu Ushio in Episode 1 of 5D's. Creative credit goes to the writers of 5D's.)
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Speed Spell – Angel Blessing
Normal Spell Card
Image: Celestia, Lightsworn Angel flying through Speed World.
Activate only while you have 4 or less Speed Counters on it and your total Speed Counters are less than half of your opponent's Speed Counters. Draw four cards.
*
Speed Spell – Reduction Return
Normal Spell Card
Image: Two cards shining with white aura flying upwards through Speed World. One is Speed Warrior, while the other seems to be the Trap Card Iron Resolve.
Activate only while you have 4 or more Speed Counters. Reduce your Speed Counters by three and select two cards in your Graveyard. Add the selected cards to your hand.
(The above two cards are my own inventions and creative credit for them goes to me. Speed Spell – Angel Blessing was first used by Julian in Seven Spirits.)
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Speed Spell – Speed Fusion
Normal Spell Card
Image: Dark Magician and Flame Swordsman standing in Speed World, with a silhouette of Dark Flare Knight rising behind them.
You can only activate this card when you have 4 or more Speed Counters. Send Fusion Material Monsters that are listed on a Fusion Monster Card from your hand or your side of the field to the Graveyard, and Special Summon the appropriate Fusion Monster from your Extra Deck. (This is considered a Fusion Summon.)
(Speed Spell – Speed Fusion was first used by Jack Atlas against Yusei Fudo in Episode 4 of 5D's. Creative credit goes to the writers of 5D's.)
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Traps:
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Synchro Spirits
Normal Trap Card
Image: Junk Synchron and White Magician Pikeru rising from bursts of white energy in the foreground, with Junk Warrior towering over them in the background.
Remove from play 1 Synchro Monster in your Graveyard. Special Summon the Synchro Material Monsters used for the Synchro Summon of that Synchro Monster from your Graveyard.
(Synchro Spirits was first used by Yusei Fudo against Greiger/Bommer in Episode 21 of 5D's. Creative credit goes to the writers of 5D's.)
03
Digidramon: Talk about a lockdown! Blake had Julian on the ropes there! But our favourite hero still pulled through to win with Flame Avatar Vulcan, his new best card!
Akiza: Digidramon does not own Yu-Gi-Oh; it is the property of Kazuki Takahashi.
Digidramon: I must note that Blake Emerick is not my own character; he was created by Blackwing44 specifically for this fic. I hope you don't mind the additions of Elemental Hero Knospe and Elemental Hero Gaia to Blake's Deck, Blackwing. They still seemed to fit in and Gaia gives Blake a decent Fusion Monster, since I wanted to display a few more Fusions in this than are shown in 5D's. To this end, I'll probably give some more people Fusion Monsters, including Julian eventually.
Jack: Hey, I used a Fusion Monster!
Digidramon: Jack, you used Multiple Piece Golem a grand total of once. Mind you, in this you'll use it more. Its effect is great for making Synchro Material. And the only other character to date in 5D's to use a Fusion Monster was Sherry with Centarumina.
Julian: I guess Synchros are just too fast for Fusions to win these days.
Digidramon: I wouldn't say so. Remember Drago against Jordan in Seven Spirits? Drago won that with Fusions.
Julian: He used Evil Heroes though… and those things are brutal. Speaking of Drago, will we see him again any time?
Digidramon: He'll show up later in this. Anyway, Crow, Featured Card please.
Crow: Today's cards are Naturia Balkion, Naturia Beast, Flame Avatar Vulcan, Speed Spell – Angel Blessing and Speed Spell – Speed Fusion!
Blake: I choose Flame Avatar Vulcan as today's Featured Card. It has an incredible set of effects which can easily turn the tide of a Duel, and as Julian's strongest card, it will appear a lot in this fic!
Digidramon: Well, now's when I roll out some news. Apparently several of Julian's cards have received name changes in Hidden Arsenal. Flamvell Urquizas is now known as Flamvell Uruquizas, Flamvell Magical is now known as Flamvell Magician and Flamvell Dragnov is now known as Flamvell Drachnov. Therefore these names will be in effect from now on.
Anyway, next time on Seven Spirits, the events of 5D's come back in force as Yusei and Jack face off in their legendary Turbo Duel, leading to an event of great significance for the forces of Good in New Domino. Be ready for a Turbo Duel of epic proportions, breath-taking action and a climax that will leave you pinned to your seat!
So watch for Chapter 4 of Spirit Legends, otherwise known as The Paths of Destiny!
