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 8 – Release the Held-Back Feelings! Shine Forth, Savior Star Dragon
"Cobra!" Standing alone in the darkness of the layer, an oozing lip from Bommer's attack, Cobra stood still in shock at the sight of Rudger, his leader and promissory savior for his stepson, stepped out from the shadows holding the bloody stump of his left arm, a very angry look on his face.
"Master Rudger…" Cobra began babbling, trying to defend himself, "I was…" His jittering line was cut short by a quick snatching of his left arm by Rudger's right hand, followed by having his closed fist shoved against the bloody stump and a quick flash of dark light.
When the flash finished, Cobra's scaled arm had been moved to Rudger's bloody arm as replacement for his lost mechanical hand, and Cobra's arm had been replaced by a human flesh one that matched his own. "A small reward for your defeat of Judai," Rudger explained, a solemn look on his face. However, Cobra's satisfaction was erased moments later with a quick blow to the chest and a fist to the neck, making him go down on his hands and knees.
"What did I do wrong master?" Cobra asked, looking up at the darkened man before him. "I've only done as you asked."
"You lost the girl," Rudger replied flatly.
"I didn't lose her," Cobra tried to explain, "Bommer took her."
"And you made no attempt to stop him from cutting off his Dark Mark," Rudger hissed out, holding up the severed stump of Bommer's old arm.
"I never thought he would."
"And now she's fallen into Kiryu's hands!" Rudger yelled angrily, kicking Cobra in the face and making him fall over on his side. "We've lost our bargaining chip to a madman too unstable to control or reason with! And it's all your fault."
"But I…"
"But nothing," Rudger declared. "If you still want to see your stepson's face again, then meet me at this location in one hour." Producing a slip of paper from his right glove, he gave it to a gasping Cobra before turning and beginning to walk away; stopping only for a moment to say over his shoulder, "If you fail me again, you get no more chances."
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"Now Kiryu," Yusei explained with the creation of his new monster, "I activate Quick Synchron's effect and treat it as Nitro Synchron, so I can Tune it with my Speed Warrior!" The projector produced the image of 5 other Tuners Yusei used, and as they revolved it shot the selected one with its pistol. Then, the robot changed into five green rings to change the other figure into 2 orbs of light.
"Clustering minds will now become a new force! Become the path its light shines upon! Synchro Summon! Blaze on, Nitro Warrior (ATK: 2800)!" The combination produced a green warrior with black forearms and bison horns that growled at Kiryu's black dragon, who snarled back more loudly.
"Unless you're packing a Speed Spell Yusei," Kiryu snickered, "Your monster is a waste!"
"Not when I Release my Nitro Warrior to Special Summon Turret Warrior (ATK: 1200)!" The green warrior changed into a neon rainbow orb that produced a gigantic beige stone warrior with a pair of two-barreled cannons. "And now, it gains my previous warrior's points (ATK: 4000)!"
"Holy shit! 4000 ATK?!" Kiryu laughed out maniacally. "Yes, yes, yes! You've brought real game."
"You don't know the half of it! Turret Warrior, destroy One-Hundred Eye Dragon!" The warrior's cannons started to fire at the dragon, but then it burst into flames and the attack was stopped.
"Sorry Yusei, but Infernity Guardian is in my Cemetery, so my dragon is indestructible."
"Maybe, but your Life Points just got hit hard!" The warrior shot at Kiryu, striking him and making him spit up a bit of blood as his Life Points and Speed Counter fell.
Yusei: LP 2400
Kiryu: LP 3000
"Alright Kiryu (Yusei: 1 SPC/Kiryu: 2 SPC), I set 1 card and end my turn."
"It looks like you're handless now," Kiryu said. "Draw! I activate the effect of Infernity Daemon right away; since I drew it on no cards, I Special Summon it (ATK: 1800), and add Infernity Salamandra to my hand!" Kiryu conjured a tall, thin, black-robed warrior with white skin, 4 red eyes and 6 demon horns before pulling another card (Yusei: 2 SPC/Kiryu: 3 SPC).
"Not good," Yusei said under his breath.
"Infernity Salamandra's monster effect activates in my hand; I can discard it during Damage Calculation and add 2000 to my Dragon (ATK: 5000) for this battle!" Kiryu tossed out the card as the dragon gained purple flames around its body as it formed an orb of energy in its mouth. "One-Hundred Eye Dragon, attack Turret Warrior and make Yusei suffer!"
"You may activate that effect when this attack goes through, but until then you have cards in your hand, so Trap Card Open: Guard Block! I take no damage and draw 1 card!" Pulling his card, Yusei watched the dragon shoot through his larger warrior and destroy it, but he was unharmed.
"Well, my Destroyer's effect costs you 1600 Life Points!"
Yusei: LP 800
Kiryu: LP 3000
"So what (Yusei: 1 SPC/Kiryu: 3 SPC)?" Yusei asked. "I'm still riding."
"Infernity Daemon, attack Max Warrior!" The two figures shot towards each other and clashed, destroying both instantly.
"Fine, Draw (Yusei: 2 SPC/Kiryu: 4 SPC)!" Yusei said as he pulled another card. "Speed Spell – Half Seize activate! I halve your Dragon's ATK and add it to my Life Points!" The dragon was consumed by a red aura as it lost power (ATK: 1500) while Yusei recovered itself.
Yusei: LP 2300
Kiryu: LP 3000
"Now, Speed Spell – Power Draw Activate! When my hand and field are fresh out of cards and I have 2 or more SPC, I draw 3 cards!" Pulling his cards, Yusei pulled his cards and set all 3 of them. "I end my turn."
"During your End Phase," Kiryu declared, "I exclude Infernity Salamander to make my Dragon be unaffected by any cards used against it this turn (ATK: 3000)."
"Damn, now his monster can wipe out my Life Points," Yusei realized.
"Draw (Yusei: 3 SPC/Kiryu: 5 SPC). I set 1 card. One-Hundred-Eye Dragon, attack Yusei directly!"
"Trap Card Open!" Yusei yelled.
"Trap Cards cannot be activated yet Yusei," Kiryu pointed out.
"You're too hasty," Yusei said. "I play Synchro Spirits, excluding Nitro Warrior and returning Quick Synchron (DEF: 1400) and Speed Warrior (DEF: 400) to the field." Pulling the card away, the image of the green warrior's card appeared and was sucked into a vortex that then released the machine and warrior that had been used to create it. They both then crouched and turned blue.
"No matter," Kiryu sneered. "I'll still destroy your monster. One-Hundred Eye Dragon, attack Quick Synchron!"
"Trap Card Open: Threatening Roar!" Yusei declared as the card came into view. "You may not declare an attack this turn!"
Growling in irritation Kiryu said, "Then I end my turn."
"Draw (Yusei: 4 SPC/Kiryu: 6 SPC)!" Looking at his card, Yusei cracked a slight smile and said, "From my Cemetery I activate Bolt Hedgehog's effect and Special Summon it (ATK: 800)!" Alongside Yusei's other monsters formed a small hedgehog-like creature with several bolts along its body.
"You planning on a big Synchro Summon Yusei?" Kiryu asked. "Well I don't think so. Trap Card: Explosion Force! I destroy a Special Summoned monster, then damage you for its attack strength while I recover that many Life Points!" The little rodent exploded, shards striking Yusei while a red aura healed a cackling Kiryu.
Yusei: LP 1500
Kiryu: LP 3800
"Your Trap does, however," Yusei pointed out, "Let me draw one card." Pulling his card, he set it aside while he played another. "Speed Spell – Angel Baton activate!" Pulling his 2 cards allotted by its effect, he then saw the two cards he pulled – Stardust Xiaolong and Tuning Supporter – and closed his eyes for a moment.
"What are you waiting for Yusei?" Kiryu asked.
Snapping out of it Yusei opened his eyes and said, "I discard Stardust Xiaolong with my Spell Card. Then I summon Tuning Supporter (ATK: 100)."
Beside Yusei's other 2 monsters formed the image of his little robot with scarf and frying pan helmet as his earlier robot began to glow. "I tune Quick Synchron to Tuning Supporter and Speed Warrior!" The cowboy robot changed back into 5 green rings that swallowed the other 2 figures, changing them into 3 orbs of light.
"Isn't this your Emblem of the Signers?" Kiryu asked with a chuckle as the 8 items fused into a beam of light.
"Clustering stars will awaken a new power. Become the path its light shines upon. Synchro Summon! Take flight, Stardust Dragon (ATK: 2500)!" Emerging from the light was Yusei's white dragon, a contrail of shining white stardust coming off its body initially, as it roared at the vile dragon before it.
"And now," Yusei explained, "Tuning Supporter lets me draw 1 card." Closing his eyes, he reached his hand over into his card and pulled it back in a long sweeping arc, looking at it only when it was beside his head. When he saw the card, he smiled slightly.
In his mind he saw a series of cards with a long, motherboard-like stream of light leading to one another. Starting with the card he'd drawn, a monster card, it lead to another monster of Yusei's, stardust Dragon and Stardust Xiaolong right side-by-side, to another Synchro monster, to One-Hundred Eye Dragon and finally to a set card. The set card flipped around, revealed as a Trap Card, and exploded into a flash of light.
"I activate the effect of Stardust Xiaolong from my Cemetery, and Special Summon it (ATK: 100)." Beside Yusei's larger dragon appeared a smaller, serpentine dragon with a face like its larger counterpart and a large mane of hair.
"Stardust and a Level One Monster?!" Kiryu realized. "Then you're…"
"From my hand I activate the Magic Card, Speed Spell – Summon Speeder! When I have 4 or more Speed Counters, I can activate this card to Special Summon 1 Level 4 or lower monster from my hand. Come, Salvation Dragon – Savior Dragon (ATK: 0)!" A Light erupted to spawn the large purple Dragon Judai and Jack had used before him.
"That monster…" Kiryu hissed.
"I Tuner my Savior Dragon to Stardust Dragon and Stardust Xiaolong!" The purple dragon changed into a single green ring around the two other dragons, changing them into a vertical column of 9 orbs that fused into a single beam of light.
"The clustering hopes will awaken a new shooting star! Become the path its light shines upon! Synchro Summon! Shine Forth, Savior Star Dragon (ATK: 3800)!" The light formed a gigantic 4-winged light blue dragon, similar to his white dragon but larget and more curved and streamlined.
"Once in one turn," Yusei said, "Savior Star Dragon may negate the effect of an opponent's monster. Go, Sublimation Drain!" The dragon lit up in a white aura that also appeared around the black dragon, making it cry out in anger.
"Why you!" Kiryu snarled out while both auras died down.
"The effects of your Handless Combo are sealed," Yusei explained. "Now, Savior Star Dragon, attack One-Hundred Eye Dragon with Shooting Blaster Sonic!" Shooting up into the air, the dragon changed into a glowing orb of energy, then a stream of energy that flew toward the black dragon before it. That creature shot a beam of its own energy, but the other creature dodged it and struck the black dragon dead centre in the chest.
"This can't be!" Kiryu declared. With that, the beam arced upwards and returned to true form above Yusei's D-Wheel, a gaping hole now right through the black dragon's body. The monsters then let out an utterly twisted howl and exploded, the shockwave knocking Kiryu's D-Wheel sideways a little.
Yusei: LP 1500
Kiryu: LP 3000
"Not too bad Yusei," Kiryu complemented. "That's some pretty fine damage. But, I activate Infernity Blast, and with 6 Infernity monsters in my Cemetery I draw 6 cards!" The Trap Card revealed itself and exploded as Kiryu pulled his new cards.
"From Handless to a full hand. And now, with the effect of One-Hundred Eye Dragon, from my Deck I add 1 card to my hand." A card slid out from his Deck and he grabbed it, adding it to the other 6.
"That means nothing," Yusei said. "Trap Card Open: Synchro Destructor!" With a look of total shock Kiryu stared at the revealed Trap Card, remembering it from his first Duel with Yusei. Back then he'd ha Damage Translation to hale the damage, but this time he had nothing on his field.
"This can't be!" Kiryu yelled out as the giant dragon lit up in white.
"Since your Dark Synchro monster was destroyed, you suffer its attack strength as damage." The dragon once again became an orb and stream of energy, this time shooting straight at Kiryu. Because of its size he and his D-Wheel were consumed in this light, and with that Yusei heard a small explosion within the light. On the other side of the D-Wheel the dragon returned to true form and began to glide off into the sky as Kiryu fell off his ride and it skidded to a halt.
"Kiryu!" Yusei yelled out as he jumped off his D-Wheel, running towards his former friend and hoping he was alright. As he grew nearer, he saw black streams of energy begin to leave the man's body, and when Kiryu opened up his eyes the scleras were white again. "Kiryu, are you alright?" Yusei asked with concern as he knelt down and held up the other figure by the shoulders.
"I'm sorry…" Kiryu strained to say through weakness. "Sorry that I drove a wedge through Team Satisfaction… and that I blamed you. I was clouded by rage and hatred… but now I know I brought this on myself."
"Don't say that," Yusei said, tears beginning to come to his eyes.
"Listen, Yusei. I'm not long for this world. But there's one thing I can do for you before I pass on…"
"What's that?"
"I heard about Judai. Judai; I'm sorry I dragged him into this… The Old Momentum Reactor now acts as a Gateway to the Underworld. If Judai can defeat his inner evil and the doorway is open, then he can return. I know how to open that gateway…"
"That's great," Yusei smiled through his tears, to which Kiryu smiled and nodded.
"But…" Kiryu said, "There's a price. A life must be offered as an exchange to bring that person back. If I cannot exist for long, I will be that offering… so that he can get the same second chance I always wanted… except that he's earned his…"
Getting up from the ground, Kiryu snapped his fingers and the floating Geoglyph slowly dropped back to the rooftops and vanished. Yusei, Kiryu and their D-Wheels were now on the roof directly beside the one the others now stood on, which they noticed and quickly began to jump to the other one.
"It's a slight irony…" Kiryu said, "That Judai's darkness may have saved him. He was sent to the Underworld, but he would have died if he had remained pure… only the truly dark ever see the Underworld."
"So then there is hope…" Yubel/Johan said, tears streaming down her face.
"Yes, but we must act quickly," Kiryu explained as he turned to her. "If Judai wins and the door is not yet open, he will be trapped there."
"Then we must hurry," Jack said, to which everyone nodded.
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"Your demise will be my rebirth," Haou said darkly to Judai. "Rainbow Dark Neos, attack Shining Flare Wingman!"
"Reverse Card Open: Instant Magic, Burial from Another Dimension!" Judai yelled out. "To my Cemetery I return Clayman, Featherman and Burst Lady!" Pulling the cards out of his pocket he fed them into the Cemetery tray one by one and they slid back into the slit. "Now, with 3 more E-HERO monsters in my Cemetery, Shining Flare Wingman gains 900 ATK (ATK: 4000)."
"So you've saved your Life Points," Haou spat indifferently, "but not your monster." The tall, black rainbow warrior released its energy stream at Judai's monster, striking it and dissolving it as the blast continued on to Judai, causing him extreme pain.
Judai: LP 300
Haou: LP 4200
"Reverse Card Open: Hero Signal!" Judai yelled out. "Come: Wildman (ATK: 1500)!" Judai then called forth a muscular tan-skinned warrior with a long ponytail and beard, war paint and a loincloth on, and a large sword strapped to his back.
"Then I activate my Rainbow Dark Neos' effect," Haou said. "By releasing Bubbleman, I exclude Wildman from the field!" The gigantic warrior let out a loud, dark growl as both the blue and tan warriors changed into rainbow energy orbs and vanished.
"I end my turn," Haou said.
"Draw!" Judai declared. "This should get me out of this bind." "Magic Card activate: Hope of Fifth! I reshuffle Mudballman, Flame Wingman, Flare Wingman, Featherman and Burst Lady, and I draw 2 cards." Pulling all 5 cards from the Cemetery, he placed the first 3 in his Extra Deck and the last 2 in his Deck and shuffled. Then, he drew 2 more cards.
Looking at his new cards, N-Flare Scarab and Convert Contact, he flipped them around and said, "Magic Card Activate: Convert Contact. From my hand I send Flare Scarab, and from my Deck Ground Mole, to the Cemetery, and I draw 2 cards." Placing both cards from his hand and the one from his Deck in the Cemetery, he shuffled and pulled 2 new cards: Sub-Space Battle and Contact Out.
"You seem to be having trouble drawing the cards you want," Haou pointed out. "Perhaps your misuse of your cards earlier has crippled your Deck."
Brushing aside the comment, Judai continued his turn by saying, "Come: Bubbleman." Once again the blue warrior appeared before Judai in a crouching position. "And since he is the only card I control, I draw 2 cards."
"Draw your entire Deck if you have to," Haou said as Judai pulled his 2 cards. "You can't best my Dark Neos because you've used your best cards already. You've proven yourself a fraud of a duelist."
"A fraud, eh?" Judai said back, undaunted. "What does that make you?"
Scowling Haou said, "What ever do you mean?"
"Where are the blood-red markings on your face?" Judai asked. "Where are the purple highlights in your eyes? The malice of tone? You're no Dark Signer." When Haou cringed in anger without speaking, Judai knew he'd shut Haou up. Looking at his 2 newest cards, Fusion and Miracle Contact, he saw his chance.
"Continuous Magic: Sub-Space Battle. We each now pick 3 monsters from our Decks and reveal them one at a time." Looking through their Decks, both of them picked out 3 cards before shuffling. Picking the first of the three Judai flipped it around for Haou to see and said, "I select Edgeman."
Flipping his own card around, Haou revealed the same card with a different picture and said, "Myself as well, so both are sent to the Cemetery." Both players then placed the cards in their Cemeteries and went again.
"I select Neos," Judai said, expecting that this time only one would be destroyed. And he knew which one, a theory confirmed by Haou's choice.
"I select Evil Hero Malicious Edge. Since I have the higher ATK, your monster is destroyed and mine is added to my hand." Placing his crd in his other hand, Haou smirked as Judai discarded his.
"Finally," Judai said flipping the third card, "I select Rainbow Dragon. I know you can't beat that."
"My monster is Evil Hero Hell Gainer," Haou said as he discarded it and Judai kept his. "But why did you leave that monster to last?"
"I had my reasons," Judai explained. "Since the effect has been used 3 times, Sub-Space Battle is destroyed." The Magic Card then shattered as Judai placed it in the Cemetery. "Magic Card: Miracle Contact! From my Cemetery to my Deck I return the Materials for a Neos Fusion monster in my Extra Deck to Contact Fusion Summon it!"
"So that's why you discarded Neos," Haou realized as a beam of light erupted behind Judai.
"I return Neos, Flare Scarab and Ground Mole to my Deck!" The images of the white warrior, the small mole-like creature and a tall human-like insect formed within the light and disappeared as the light stream erupted into Lava. "Come: Magma Neos (ATK: 3000)!"
From the lava appeared a larger form of the white warrior appeared, this one with most of its torso in a green-brown coat-like fashion, its right arm a huge rock claw covered in molten veins and its left a claw. Its shoulder pads and lower legs resembled sculpted pieces of molten metal, and its head resembled the bug figure but without the classic scarab horns.
"Now I set 2 cards and activate Magma Neos' effect; for every card on the field, he gains 400 ATK, and there are 5 (ATK: 5000)."
"5000 ATK?" Haou realized.
"Your Rainbow Neos can't stand up to this. Magma Neos, attack Rainbow Dark Neos with Super Heat Meteor!" Rising up until its head has level with the much larger monster's, the molten warrior raised up its right arm in a vertical blaze that formed a huge molten orb, which it flung into the chest of the enemy creature. It erupted into a huge blaze that turned black, and with an inhuman cry the giant creature exploded.
Judai: LP 300
Haou: LP 3700
"You may have destroyed Rainbow Dark Neos," Haou said, "but you cannot attack again."
"Guess again," Judai said. "Instant Magic: Contact Out! By returning Magma Neos to the Extra Deck, I Special Summon all its materials back to the field!" The molten warrior flexed as its body turned into rainbow energy and spawned the silhouettes of the three creatures it had been formed with. "Come: Neos (ATK: 2500)! Flare Scarab (ATK: 500)! Ground Mole (ATK: 900)!"
"No!" Haou realized as all three creatures fell to Judai's side and were lit up.
"It's over!" Judai pointed out. "Neos, attack with Wrath of Neos!" Nodding, the white warrior shot forward and struck Haou with a karate chop, making the figure's armour buckle and him stagger back.
Judai: LP 300
Haou: LP 1200
"Ground Mole, attack with Drill Mole!" Closing its drill panels around its head, the mole dove into the ground and reappeared moments later at Haou's feet, striking him with the drill and forcing him to sidestep to avoid serious damage.
Judai: LP 300
Haou: LP 300
"Flare Scarab, end this duel with Flaming Arrow!" Nodding, the creature jumped up into the air and shot a blast of fire directly at Haou, connecting quickly and setting the whole figure ablaze.
Judai: LP 300
Haou: LP 0
"You bastard!" Haou yelled as his armour dissolved into blackness and both the mark on his arm and the Geoglyph faded away. "You'll pay for this!"
"I have you to thank for this victory," Judai said as his features slowly morphed back to those of his modern form. "You were right; I had shunned the darkness in my soul. But you reminded me of the Darkness of Justice, the force you were sworn to protect. That I was sworn to protect. But if you will shirk your duties like this, then I have no place for you in my soul."
"You will pay!" Haou yelled out, closing his eyes and looking upwards. "You will pay!" And with that Haou dissolved into black fog and the flames died out.
As all the remaining creatures of the field vanished, Judai smiled and said, "Gotcha!" With that Judai glowed orange until it consumed his form, and it shot upwards in a vertical column of energy.
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Yusei and Kiryu stood in front of the others at the edge of a large hole in the ground, at least a kilometer wide. Inside it could be seen an old clockwork-like generator with a pointed cone top, one that had sat there silent for 17 years as it rusted away.
Standing nearest the edge of the crater, Kiryu's face and arms had begun to dry like sandstone and crack up, signs his body was no longer viable. Though still angry with his actions, the group stood there in solemn nature, waiting for a sign that their fallen friend would soon return.
Suddenly, the generator began to glow a light orange, Kiryu gasped and said, "He's here."
"Judai?" Yubel/Johan asked, stepping out beside them.
Nodding, Kiryu said to Yusei, "I wish things could have ended differently, but at least I can do something for you guys before I'm finished. It's been a good life."
"Kiryu," Yusei realized, "You can't do this. We just got you back and we can't bear to lose you again. There must be another way…" But Kiryu merely shook his head.
"Farewell Yusei." Before the young man could react, Kiryu ran forward and jumped forward into the crater, splayed out in a star formation, much to the surprise of the group.
"Kiryu!" Yusei yelled. "No!"
A beam of orange energy erupted from the cone of the reactor, striking Kiryu in the chest and causing him to glow white. His entire body then collapsed in on itself into one of the neon rainbow orbs used to call high-level monsters and the beam grew larger and continued up into the sky. The orb rose up through it until it was 20 feet above the group, and with that the beam diffused and the form of a human being could be seen.
"Is it really him?" Aki asked softly, a bandanna now around her marked forehead.
"No doubt about it," Crow said. Surely enough, the figure fell down on its feet in front of the crew, revealed indeed as Judai, Duel Disc on his arm and a smile on his face.
"Judai," Yubel said as she stepped forward to hug Judai. "I missed you so much."
"I know you did Yubel," Judai responded caringly, "And I bet Johan did as well." Turning to the others when Yubel released him he added, "I'm sure you all did." When they all nodded, Yusei stepped forward to him.
"I'm sorry this happened to you," he said.
"Don't be," Judai said. "I needed to sort out my inner demons, and thanks to you I have. Yubel…" He said, turning to the possessed figure beside him. "I think Johan would like his body back now."
"Of course." Glowing dark orange, the form of Yubel rose up from Johan's body and took spirit form behind the boy, whose eyes and clothes returned to normal. Then she stepped over to Judai and overtop of him, and returned to energy form to be absorbed into Judai. Closing his eyes, Judai opened them again instantly to reveal the green and orange irises that he had used so many times before.
"It's good to have you back," Asuka said with a smile and some light tears on her face.
The girl then ran forward and grabbed him in a hug, to which Judai merely said, "It's especially good to see you again Asuka."
Through sobs and tears Asuka managed to say, "We were so worried about you."
"I'm sorry," Judai said to her as Hell Kaiser stepped forward – and struck Judai clean in the cheek, making Asuka step aside in shock and Judai wince in pain. "What the hell was that for?"
"For making us waste all this time to find you," Hell Kaiser answered plainly, "And for losing."
"Enough," Yusei interjected. "We've got no time to fight amongst each other; Rudger and the other Dark Signers are still out there, and we need to stop them quickly." When everyone turned and nodded Yusei added, "I know together we can defeat them and…"
However, before Yusei could say anymore to rally the group, the speech was cut short by a loud rumbling in the ground that rose up suddenly, causing the land before them to crack and buckle. A quick black flash made then gang take cover just before a column of dark energy shot up into the sky, creating a pattern of black swirling clouds that expanded out in all directions and covered the now sunny sky in shadow.
"What's going on?" Crow yelled out to no one in particular. Suddenly, a guttural growl rang out from within the energy, and the shoulders and head of a strange beast were briefly seen within the darkness. It had a long neck with an arrow head-shaped face and two black glowing eyes, spikes along its beck and shoulders, and a pair of tusks that ran along its jaws.
"This is your one and only warning Signers," A strange dark voice echoed out. "If you cannot defeat my apostles by noon, the King of the Underworld shall rise and this world will fall into a shrouded ruin." With that the image of the dark figure faded out and the beam narrowed and closed, only to be followed by another bang in the opposite direction.
"Look!" Johan pointed out while the group stood up, indicating a spiraling column of red and purple energy emanating from a very specific area of Neo Domino.
"Where is that?" Manjyoume asked.
"Director Godwin's mansion," Jack answered.
"Godwin's mansion?" Rua asked. "Hey, that's right; that weird building is there."
"You mean the Sky Temple?" Judai asked, gaining the shock of the crowd.
"How do you know?" Ruka asked.
"I heard a few Peruvian stories when I saw some old ruins on my travels," Judai answered.
"Godwin showed us that place when he explained the ancient feud between Signers and Dark Signers," Aki added. A second later, all 4 Signers clutched their right forearms in pain as the glow of the marks roared to life.
"That kind of reaction," Yusei stated, "Can only mean something's happened to the Fifth Signer."
"Godwin did tell us that the Fifth Signer was close by," Jack commented.
"Hey, hold on," Yusei said. "I noticed something when we were there, out of the corner of my eye. Something shiny at the top of the staircase; it looked like a storage tank. And something was inside."
"The arm of the Fifth Signer?" Crow guessed. "Hey, wait a second… God Damn It!"
"What's wrong?" Aki asked.
"Wasn't Rudger missing an arm?" This statement made the whole group gasp, save for Yusei and Judai.
"Godwin did say he knew the Fifth Signer," Yusei replied.
"Then he's defected," Judai said.
"Well," Jack said, "With the power of the Five Dragons and the Saviors, we can stop Rudger and set things right."
"Right!" The rest of the group cheered.
Card of the Week – Yusei
Synchro Destructor
Normal Trap Card
Effect: This card can only be activated when your Synchro Monster destroys an opponent's monster by Battle and sends it to the Cemetery. Inflict damage to your opponent equal to half the ATK of the destroyed monster. Then, if the destroyed monster was a Synchro Monster, inflict further damage to your opponent equal to half the ATK of the destroyed monster.
*The realization about Rudger is no surprise to fans, but it looks like it's on next Chapter. Review if you wish.*
