AN: This chapter is the Team 5D's duel against Team Ne World, however, it won't be the last chapter since (as promised) I'm putting more sub only episodes :D I hope you enjoy this chapter, and as always, reviews are very much appreciated.
Ride 9- The Beginning of the End
(Poppo Time- Lazar kicks open the front door of Poppo Time, carrying a great big box.)
Lazar: Special delivery! Red Dragon's Noodles to Go-Go to fuel our future champions! (Notices there's no one there. The lights are off, and the garage is empty) Hello? Helloooo...? (Walks a few steps inside the door, Mina and Trudge enter from behind him and Trudge flicks on the lights.)
Trudge: Lazar.
Lazar: Huh?
(Turns to see Trudge and Mina in the doorway right behind him.)
Trudge: You're not who I expected to see here.
Lazar: I'm bringing snacks to Team Five-D's!
Trudge: Isn't this a little below your pay grade?
Carly: (Appears in the doorway behind Trudge and Mina, camera in hand) Say cheeeese! (Trudge and Mina turn) Huh? Hey move, you're blocking my shot!
Mina: And what're you doing here?
Carly: I'm here to snag stirring night-before photos of the thoughtful duellists gazing at their decks with equal parts courage and self-doubt! (Walks past Trudge and Mina, through the door.) Wait, where is everyone?
Mina: Dunno.
Lazar: They seem to have gone out.
Trudge: I bet I know where they went...
(Stadium- Team 5D's and Shining Storm stand shoulder-to-shoulder on the track, a few feet away from 5D's' booth.)
Leo: You guys seriously see a floating rock in the sky?
Luna: Yeah.
Leo: I think you guys are messing with me.
Luna: We're not, I promise. Whatever it is, it's there, Leo. And it's like it's getting closer.
Sect: Maybe you can't see it 'cause you're not a Signer or someone with something special, like me.
Luna: (Solemnly closes her eyes, hands clasped. Leo looks at the mark on her arm, then slowly places his hand on it. He looks again at the sky in front of them, still touching Luna's arm.)
Leo: Huh? Gggh! Guys! Guys, look! There's- the-there's like a giant floating rock in the sky!
Yusei: When I was speaking to my dad in a dream I had, he told me something was coming. Something very dangerous.
Lyra: My powers… They allowed me to sense the same thing too… With my father's help.
Crow: Ya mean the big scary rock's not coming to bring us cookies?
Toru: No, Crow.
(Stands- Trudge, Mina, Lazar, and Carly enter the through a doorway at the top of the bleachers.)
Carly: There they are!
Mina: Whadya think they're doing down there? (Carly snaps a few photos.)
Lazar: Well... it looks like they're having a very serious moment.
(Stadium- Everyone is gazing up at the rock in the sky.)
Primo: So. You made it to the finals! (A stadium Sphere appears between them and the rock, and it shows Team New World.)
(Stands. Lazar jumps, and starts twitching and shaking.)
Lazar: Those are the three evil guys from Yliaster...!
Carly: (Turns around and runs for the exit.) Uh, cool! See you guys later!
(Stadium)
Primo: I'm sort of disappointed. At least Team Shining Storm would've provided a little challenge.
Lester: Heheheheheheheh! But you guys of Team 5D's, not so much.
Yusei: What's this flying rock all about? Does it have something to do with your so-called 'Grand Design'?
Primo: Of course it does. That is the Divine Temple— where Z-ONE sleeps. That is why we are here.
Lyra: What's the Divine Temple?
Jakob: You'll find out soon enough. When we win the Grand Prix, the Divine Temple will be revealed to all— and come crashing down to the earth.
Lester: So actually you might not find out, because when that happens it'll obliterate your little city. Yaahahahahaha!
(Stands- Lazar is cowering half-way behind Trudge.)
Lazar: 'Obliterate'...?
Mina: No way.
Trudge: So this Team New World is actually a part of Yliaster? I didn't see that coming.
(Stadium- Carly runs out onto the track.)
Carly: W-what's going on, Jack?! What's happening?! (Grabs Jack's shoulder, her eyes widen.) Whaaaaaaa! What is that thing?! Is that a floating mountain, where did it come from, is that what's gonna obliterate the city?! What could it possibly—
Jack: Calm down.
Carly: (Takes her hand off his shoulder and goes for her camera.) The people have got to see this! They— (Lowers her camera and looks again, then looks through the camera window.) Whoa. Uh, where'd the upside-down floating mountain go? I'm starting to think I need to get more sleep...
(Stands)
Lazar: Was this your plan all along?
Primo: Oh look, it's the clueless clown. Rumour is, you're now the Director of this city.
Lazar: Yes, that's right. Wait, that means this is on me. I... I have to save the city!
Jakob: There's only one way for you to save your city.
Lester: But it's pretty much impossible.
Primo: You'll have to beat us tomorrow in the Grand Prix finals.
Lester: Hahahahahahaha... (The Sphere fades.)
(Stadium)
Yusei: So basically, guys, the fate of the city is in our hands.
Jack: You mean the fate of the world.
Halldor: You cannot doubt yourselves! (Yusei, Jack, and Crow turn around.) (Team Ragnarok are at the bottom of the stands.)
Lyra: Hey, aren't those the boys from...
Yusei: Team Ragnarok! (All three of the Ragnaroks' rune eyes are glowing.)
Halldor: Hold fast to your courage. You and your friends were chosen by forces greater than all of us. We, the duellists with the Rune Eyes, believed that we would be chosen; but we were wrong. It's up to you to do what destiny believed we could not do. You must defeat Team New World tomorrow.
Crow: So win the duel and save the city, just like that?!
Yusei: ...I don't know why, but I think he's right.
Halldor: But proceed with caution, Team 5D's.
Jack: I'm not afraid of those jerks! Let them bring it— I'll serve 'em up a barrel full of Jack attack!
Yusei: We'll give it our everything— and we will stop Yliaster!
Team 5D's and Team Shining Storm: Together!
(Lazar's viewing platform. Lazar paces around anxiously.)
Lazar: Maybe it's not too late to take my family and get out of here! Maybe go to a tropical island somewhere. I hear it's nice in the tropics. But if the whole world ends it won't be nice in the tropics, it won't be nice an-y-where! (Holds his head, babbling and twisting around.) Ohh! Wadoido wadoido wadoido wadoido aaaaaaaggggghhhhh?! (Lyra enters)
Lyra: Director.
Lazar: (Turns around in a panic.) What is it, is it over, are we doomed?!
Lyra: No; no one is doomed! But shouldn't you be, oh I don't know, doing your job and warning people about what might happen?!
Lazar: You mean get on the communication system and say, 'FYI, everyone, the world might end today!' Just imagine the panic! Chaos would sweep the streets! We've got to trust Yusei and his friends. Yusei— I'm begging you, please don't lose!
(Stadium)
MC: This is the moment we've all been waiting for! Welcome to the last of the semi-finals! Many teams have collided over the past few days, but the dust has settled and now only 3 teams remain! Let's hear it for Team 5D's, and Team New World!
(Stands- Lyra sits in an aisle seat next to the rest of her team)
Sect: So I take it they're not gonna tell people that the apocalypse might commence if the bad guys win?
Lyra: Nope.
Sect: (Clasps his hands.) Come on, Yusei; I know you'll save us all!
(5D's Booth- Jack waits on his runner, prepared to ride onto the track; for once, Yusei, Akiza, Bruno, and Crow stand nearby.)
Yusei: They're probably gonna try and do everything they can to seal away our synchro monsters, Jack. And we still don't know what Jakob's Meklord Emperor can do.
Jack: I'm not worried; they don't know what I can do either.
Yusei: That's right, pal. Good luck.
Jack: (Nods, and rides out of the pit booth lane, halting at the starting line. Then, Lester rides onto the track.)
Crow: Here comes Lester...
(Stadium)
Lester: Heheh! All right... let's do this! (Whips his duel disk- the shoulder mantle he usually wears- off his shoulders.) Hehahahaha.
Jack: Did you hear? Kindergarten called, it's time for you to take your nap!
Lester: Heheheheheh, you're as funny as you look!
MC: Jack and Lester are at the starting line. The final duel is about to begin!
Duel Runner: Duel mode, engaged. (The countdown turns green, and the racers take off. Lester quickly nosing ahead of Jack.)
MC: And Lester tears off into the lead!
(5D's Booth)
Crow: Come on, now, Jack— don't let 'im get the first draw!
(Duel Track)
MC: They're neck-and-neck as they enter the first curve!
Jack: Don't underestimate my runner, runt!
Lester: Huh! You want it that badly? Here; be my guest. (Jack races ahead of Lester. They complete the first curve and enter the duel lane.)
MC: In the final seconds, Jack Atlas pulls ahead and takes the first corner!
(Stands)
Misaki: All right, this duel's off to a good start!
Toru: Crush 'im, Jack!
(5D's Booth)
Crow: Nice! Now don't you waste this, Jack, open with a bang!
(Duel Track)
Jack: Time to battle! (draws) I summon the tuner monster Dark Resonator in defence mode! Then I place three cards facedown and end my turn!
Lester: Hmhmhmhm! First move, and you bust out a synchro monster? Seems you may've forgotten that our Meklord Emperors eat synchros for breakfast!
Jack: I hope for your sake that you've got more tricks up your sleeve than some hideous hunk of bolts!
Lester: You have no idea how many tricks we've got.
Jack: Then stop yapping— and get to duelling!
Lester: Ahahahahahahaha. I think I will. So get ready! (Draws) I summon Sky Core in defence mode!
(5D's Booth)
Bruno: That's one of their key cards!
Yusei: He's definitely trying to summon a Meklord Emperor.
Crow: Yup.
(Duel Track)
Lester: I lay down three face-downs and end my turn! Now show me what you've got, Jack!
Jack: ("When his Sky Core is destroyed because on an effect, he can bring a Meklord Emperor to the field; which means those face-down cards are trap cards that will allow him to destroy it himself! Heh! The duel's just begun and I'm already three steps ahead of 'im!") (draws) Let's kick this up a notch! First, I activate the Dimension Switch trap card. By turning this card's effect on and off, I can either remove one monster from play, or bring it back to the field. Switch— on! Now I can remove Dark Resonator— then summon Gear Changer to the field! Once it's out-'n'-about, Gear Changer's level increases by the level of the monster on your field. Obviously, then, I wish you had a more powerful monster in play at the moment; but I'll still gladly absorb Sky Core's one level. With that done, I can return Dark Resonator to the field by flipping the Dimension Switch from on to off! And now it's time for a little tuning action! My level-three Dark Resonator tunes my level-five Gear Changer! I synchro-summon- Red Dragon Archfiend!
MC: Ladies and gentlemen— two rounds in, and Jack Atlas has already brought his ace to the duel!
Lester: Heheh. So far, you've done pretty much everything I predicted you would!
Jack: Oh, well excuse me! I wouldn't want to bore you, now would I! You want me to dazzle you with a surprise? Fine— here's a little something you didn't see coming! I summon to the field, the tuner monster Trust Guardian! And since Red Dragon Archfiend is in flight above my field, I also have the ability to summon this monster directly from my hand! I give you, Red Nova!
Lester: Aww. Wake me up when you do something interesting.
Jack: There's no way you'll sleep through this. (Brandishes his right arm and it glows) This one's for my friends! Trust Guardian and Red Nova work together to double-tune Red-Dragon Archfiend! I synchro-summon, Red Nova Dragon!
(5D's Booth)
Leo: Yeah!
Luna: My sentiments exactly, Leo!
(Duel Track)
Jack: Red Nova Dragon gains five hundred attack points for every tuner in my graveyard. Dark Resonator, Trust Guardian, and Red Nova are all in my graveyard, so Red Nova Dragon gains fifteen-hundred attack points.
Lester: At this point your ignorance is really starting to amaze me!
Jack: Well, you'll really be amazed when Red Nova Dragon attacks Sky Core!
(5D's Booth)
Leo: There we go!
Luna: If this works, then Lester won't be able to summon a Meklord Emperor!
(Duel Track)
Lester: Nah-ah-ah! I reveal my trap! Twin Vortex can annihilate one of your monsters along with one of mine!
Jack: Except that Red Nova Dragon can't be destroyed by a spell, trap, or monster effect!
Lester: Heheheheheheh! Who cares! I really only cared about destroying Sky Core! And now that Sky Core's been destroyed by an effect, I can get the party started! I can summon Meklord Emperor Skiel Infinity... Skiel Top... Skiel Attack... Skiel Guard... And Skiel Carrier from my deck, hand, and graveyard! And now— they all come together to form— Meklord Emperor Skiel! Get ready to get walloped— 'cause this guy powers up by absorbing the attack power of all its individual parts!
(5D's Booth)
Crow: What's Jack gonna do now?
Yusei: Whatever he has to.
Leo: That monster is monstrous!
Luna: Jack can take it— can't he?
(Duel Track)
MC: Lester has wasted no time in getting his synchro-stopping Meklord Emperor onto the field!
Jack: 2200 attack points?! D'you really think that's enough to scare off my monster?! Take flight, Red Nova Dragon, and rid the field of Meklord Emperor Skiel! Go, Blazing Soul Strike!
Lester: Nobody's gonna be ridding anything, 'cause Skiel Guard's special ability lets it negate your monster's attack once a turn!
Jack: I'm well aware of your monster's abilities, which is why I laid this trap— Power Pressure! When a monster's attack is negated, this trap can slam you for a thousand points of damage!
Lester: Heheh, I'm glad you did that! 'Cause now I can activate— Infinite Aura! Infinite Aura gains one counter for every one hundred points of damage that I take!
Jack: And then what happens?
Lester: That's for me to know and you to find out. Leeet's just say when Infinite Aura absorbs enough damage... you do not want to be anywhere near it! Heeheeheeheeheehee!
Jack: So right now it does nothing. Gotcha. Then I end my turn!
(5D's Booth)
Crow: All right, Jack!
Bruno: That was a really good round for us. Jack remained unscathed!
Akiza: This is so great!
Luna: Whoohoo!
(New World Booth)
Primo: That fool Atlas has no idea what he's triggered.
Jakob: Indeed. This— is the beginning of the end!
Lester: It's my move, Jackie! And I activate Meklord Emperor Skiel's special ability! Once a turn this bad boy can absorb one synchro monster! If you don't mind, I'll take Red Nova Dragon!
Jack: Actually I do mind. Now, by removing my Red Nova Dragon from play, I can put a stop to your monster's special ability! How's that for a surprise! With no target, your special ability is completely useless! Your Emperor can't absorb my dragon!
(5D's Booth)
Crow: Sweet!
Bruno: He did it!
Luna: As long as Jack has Red Nova Dragon's power...
Leo: He doesn't even need to be scared of Meklord Emperor!
Bruno: Yeah!
(Duel Track)
Lester: Hmph! You're no fun. I end my turn with a face-down card.
Jack: And with that, Red Nova Dragon returns to the field.
MC: Looks like Jack Atlas has found a way to severely cripple Lester's strategy! And blocking his way is Jack Atlas's newest ace, Red Nova Dragon!
(Stands)
Toru: That little half-pint has lost his ability to counterattack.
Sect: That's great an' all, but now neither one of them can deal any damage!
Misaki: Sect's right; it seems like we could have a stalemate on our hands.
(Lazar's Viewing Platform- Lazar is pacing again.)
Lazar: Come on, Jack, make something happen, 19:00 win this thing already! I'm going crazy here! (He stops pacing, arms and legs crossed.)
(Duel Track)
Jack: This is the standoff I've been building towards. Soon Red Nova Dragon will have nothing to fear from your Meklord Emperor! It's my turn! (draws) I'm summoning Force Resonator! By sending this bloke to the graveyard, I can prevent your monster from activating its special ability when my synchro monster attacks this turn! Which means Red Nova Dragon— can tear into your Emperor! And there is nothing you can do about it!
Lester: Umm...! Say what?
Jack: Oh— and now that there's another tuner in my graveyard, Red Nova Dragon gains another 500 attack points! This battle is mine! Red Nova Dragon, soar in and attack Meklord Emperor Skiel! Go, Blazing Soul Strike!
Lester: I activate the Infinite Prison trap! By pulling one card from my hand and discarding it (Discards Skiel Carrier 5) I can use Infinite Prison to take one monster card from my graveyard and treat it as if it were a spell card!
Jack: That's useless! It can't save your Meklord Emperor and it can't save you!
Lester: Now, my Infinite Aura's effect kicks in! And that means it now gains a counter for every 100 points of damage I took. (Jack pivots around to ride forward, and leaves Lester and his field behind.)
MC: Ladies and gentlemen, it is. overrrrr! Jack Atlas has buried Team New World's Lester beneath an avalanche of 100% purified perfection!
(5D's Booth)
Luna: All right!
Leo: Yeah! You did it, Jack!
Crow: Yeah! Keep the momentum going; send the next joker to the same place!
Yusei: ("Something's not right. That was way too easy.")
(New World Booth- Primo waits for the relay astride his runner, Jakob standing off to the side. Lester rides up behind.)
Primo: Way to take one for the team; you did well!
Lester: Whatever. (Passes Primo the cards from his field, and Primo swipes them away. Lester folds his arms, his duel surface settling itself around his shoulders again. It would've been you taking the fall, if I hadn't lost to you in rock-paper-scissors... stupid scissors.
Jakob: What matters, is that our plan is in motion. They thrust themselves into a tempest from which they cannot escape!
Primo: Right. I think it safe to say that New Domino City's time is almost up. (Dons a helmet, then applies the New World relay sticker to his arm, grasps his runner grip, and accelerates out into the lane.)
MC: It's one down and two to go for Team New World! The defeated Lester has passed the baton to Primo!
(Duel Track. Jack glances over his shoulder as Primo rides up behind.)
Jack: Well, look who it is. I hope you're ready to be sent to the same place I sent Lester.
Primo: You talk a pretty big game for such a tiny worm. I'm gonna silence you once and for all! (Looks down at his console.) ("Let's see. He's got Red Nova Dragon and one facedown card on his field. Meanwhile, Lester left me with Infinite Prison, Infinite Aura, and two face-down cards. This is gonna be fun.") It's my turn! I summon Wise Core in defense mode!
(5D's Booth)
Akiza: Primo must be setting up to summon a Meklord Emperor.
Yusei: You're right. But he hasn't combined with his duel runner yet. ("This doesn't feel right. It's like he's holding back. What's he waiting for?")
(Duel Track)
Primo: Next I activate the Lightning Rod speed spell! When I've got two or more speed counters, I can use Lightning Rod to destroy one monster on my field! And now, when Wise Core is destroyed, due to a card effect, I can summon Meklord Emperor Wisel Infinity— Wisel Top— Wisel Attack— Wisel Guard— And Wisel Carrier! And with that done, the parts combine to form Meklord Emperor Wisel! Wave bye-bye to your dragon. Your Red Nova Dragon's mine! 'Cause I'm activating Meklord Emperor Wisel's special ability. Once a turn, it can absorb one synchro monster on your field.
Jack: If you had paid attention while I was schooling your little pal, you would know that that tired little stunt of yours isn't going to cut it anymore! I activate Red Nova Dragon's ability! By removing it from play, I can stop your monster from attacking.
(5D's Booth)
Leo: Yes! He dodged it!
Luna: And now Meklord Emperor can't attack this turn!
(Duel Track)
Jack: I fell for that bit once; you can't use the same strategy twice against me!
Primo: It's kind of funny you should say that; because I was about to say the same thing to you!
Jack: You were?
Primo: I activate the Infinity Barrage trap card.
(New World Booth)
Lester: Hey! I left that facedown card for you, not him! What does he think he's doing?!
Jakob: There's only one reason Primo would break the strategy. He wants to defeat all three of them by himself!
Lester: Hunh? What a selfish jerk!
(Duel Track)
Primo: When you've got no monsters on your field, I can choose not to attack you directly and use Infinity Barrage instead, to hit you with four hundred points of damage for every monster on my field. And while Meklord Emperor may act as one monster, it's actually five monsters. Which means, you will be enjoying a whopping 2000 points of damage!
Jack: So, then; you were never really after my dragon, were you?
(5D's Booth)
Crow: Hnh! So Primo went to absorb Red Nova Dragon knowing that Jack would remove it from play, leaving himself wide-open for this Infinity Barrage trap! Man, I really hate it when the other guys do smart things!
(Duel Track)
Jack: (LP- 4000- 2000) Uuuuuggghhh!
(5D's Booth)
Leo and Luna: Oh no!
(Duel Track)
Primo: I place two cards face-down and end my turn. Yusei is my true opponent; I won't bother using my ultimate power against the likes of you.
Jack: You're going to wish you hadn't said that. No one underestimates Jack Atlas and walks away without a proper thrashing! And to prove my point, I will first return Red Nova Dragon to the field! (Jack draws.) Time to heat things up! Red Nova Dragon, take out Meklord Emperor Wisel! Go, Blazing Soul Strike!
Primo: Nice try, Atlas; but I'm activating Wisel Guard's special ability. So now Wisel Guard becomes the target of your attack!
Jack: How dim d'you think I am?! I knew full well you would try to save yourself employing that little manoeuver! Which is why I set the Burning Strike trap. When a monster equipped with Burning Strike attacks a monster in defense mode, it deals piercing damage!
Primo: Really. How interesting.
(5D's Booth- Leo is tapping on a calculator.)
Luna: This is great, 'cause Red Nova Dragon is much stronger than Primo's Wisel Guard!
Leo: (Stops calculating.) Jack's gonna deal 4300 points of damage! He is gonna win this thing, right now!
(Duel Track)
Jack: I hope you enjoyed our time together— because we are done here!
Primo: We're not done just yet! 'Cause now I'm activating— the Wise G3 trap! By sending Wisel Guard to the graveyard, I can use Wise G-Three to summon one Wisel Guard Three directly from my hand! Think of it as an upgrade. And thanks to its special ability, Wisel Guard 3 becomes the new target of your attack; which is unfortunate for you, because Wisel Guard 3 can negate its own destruction once per turn!
Jack: Fine, but your lifepoints are still takin' a hit!
Primo: Rrrggh! (LP- 4000- 500.)
(5D's Booth)
Leo: That was so close! Jack almost had 'im there!
(Duel Track)
Primo: With that attack, my Infinite Aura trap activates. (Extends a hand toward Infinite Aura.) So for every one hundred points of damage I take, Infinite Aura gains one counter. Next I'll activate the Echo Mirror trap!
(New World Booth)
Lester: Hey, that card was for you, too!
(Duel Track)
Primo: With my Echo Mirror trap in play, when a monster in defence avoids being destroyed, I can draw one card from my deck, and if it happens to be a monster card, then you're going to take 300 points of damage per level. I drew Wisel Attack 3— which, as you might guess, is a level 3 monster! So you take 900 points of damage!
Jack: (LP- 2000- 1100.) Aaaaggghhhh...!
(5D's Booth)
Akiza: Ugh, man!
(Duel Field)
Jack: I'm placing one card face-down! It's your move!
MC: What an intense battle! Neither duellist is giving an inch!
(Stadium- Jack and Primo ride through)
Primo: ("I can do this...! I can end him right now!") We've reached the part in the story where you meet your much-delayed demise, Jack Atlas!
(New World Booth)
Lester: You just gonna stand there and let 'im keep doing whatever he wants?!
Jakob: (Sighs and then closes his eyes)
(Stadium)
Jakob (Via telepathy): Primo? Playtime is over!
Primo: Go away! (Looks over toward the pit booth)
Jakob (Via Telepathy): You will not forsake our mission just to satisfy your ridiculous ego. Do you hear me?
Primo: Loud and clear, boss. I'll stick to your plan like a good lapdog. It's my move! I place two cards face-down and end my turn!
Jack: Really. What happened to my demise?
MC: Well! This is certainly a curious turn of events!
(5D's Booth)
Crow: Has Primo hit a wall?
Akiza: That, or he's setting up some kind of trap...!
Yusei: ("Akiza's right; something is definitely up. What're they planning?")
(Duel Track- Jack and Primo ride through the track gate)
Jack: ("Why would Primo place two cards face-down and call it a turn? What is he planning?")
Primo: There's no need to show mercy; just hurry up and attack me!
(5D's Booth)
Yusei: ("What's the strategy here? That's it! Whatever it is they're planning, it has something to do with that Infinite Aura's ability! We've gotta destroy that card!") Leo, go get the pit board, quick!
Leo: On it! (Runs away. Then raises the pit booth beside the track, and it displays an image of the Infinite Aura trap card with a red X through it.)
(Duel Track- Jack's runner screen buzzes an alarm, Infinite Aura with a big red X appears on his screen.)
Jack: ("I see... so that card's the key to whatever he's planning.") It's my turn! I place a card face-down. Then— I activate the Synchro Sonic trap; this card grants me the power to destroy one face-up card on your spell and trap zone for every synchro monster I have on my field. So say goodbye to Infinite Aura!
(New World Booth)
Lester: Uh-oh! I think they're onto us!
(Duel Track)
Primo: It won't be that easy. I activate the Infinity Guard Formation trap card! By negating my monster's special ability this turn, I can also negate Infinite Aura's destruction!
(5D's Booth)
Crow: He was willing to dismantle Meklord Emperor in order to protect that trap a' his?!
(Duel Track)
Jack: You're desperate to protect that card, aren't you? Then I guess I'll just get rid of you instead! (Pivots to ride backwards) When Meklord Emperors are dismantled, they've got no attack points! So Red Nova Dragon, take out Meklord Emperor Wisel Infinity! Go, Blazing Soul Strike!
Primo: (LP- 0) Ggggghhhh! Now, Infinite Aura's effect activates; for every one hundred points of damage I took, it gains a counter! Next I activate— Infinite Prison's effect. By discarding one card from my hand (Wisel Attack), I get to treat one monster card in my graveyard as a spell card, and place it face-down.
MC: He did it! Jack Atlas has managed to wipe the track with two opponents in a row!
(Crowd)
Aura: Yeah, Jack!
Saph: Amazing!
Toru: That's two down and just one more to go!
(New World Pit Booth- Primo cruises to a halt beside Lester and Jakob.)
Lester: What is your malfunction, Primo?! You almost blew it out there by letting him destroy Infinite Aura!
Primo: (Removes off his helmet.) I did what I had to do. Infinite Aura is fine; spare me your petulance.
Lester: Petulance?!
Jakob: Quiet, both of you! This is not the time for your petty bickering.
Lester: Primo almost ruined everything! He almost—
Jakob: But he didn't. Right now that is all that matters. The pieces are in place; the time has finally come to defeat them and complete the Circuit.
Primo: ("Just wait, Yusei Fudo! I'll get the chance to battle you again— soon enough.")
(5D's Booth- (Bruno is busily typing away, his screen bearing an image of Infinite Aura.)
Yusei: What is so special about that Infinite Aura card?
(Stadium- Jack comes through the gate leading to the stadium.)
MC: Ladies and gents— it all comes down to this! Primo has passed the baton— to Team New World's last duellist, Jakob!
(New World Booth- Jakob holds the team's relay sticker in one hand; he sweeps off his cloak, revealing his turbo-duelling garb underneath. His shoulder plates glisten in the light. He slaps the relay badge onto his forearm, then takes off running at a superhuman speed. Jakob runs out of the pit lane and onto the track, following Jack.)
(5D's Booth)
Crow: What does that clown think he's doing?
Leo: Doesn't he need, like... a duel runner?
Yusei: I don't think I like where this is going.
(Stadium- A garage door opens up, revealing Jakob's duel vehicle, which is wide and short as runners go, with brown, orange, yellow, and red plating. It blasts off out of its bay and races after Jakob, who sprints along the track in a most unnatural fashion, and catches up with him, keeping pace.)
Jakob: Hahahahahahahaha, game time is over! The real battle begins now! Prepare to face the end, of everything you know! (Leaps, or hovers, into the air, before he plugs into his runner. His upper body faces straight ahead. A screen unfolds in front of him.)
Jack: What in the world?!
(5D's Booth)
Akiza: Did you guys see that?
(Duel Track- Jakob flexes his arms, freewheeling onto the track)
MC: Ladies and gentlemen, this is a first! Duellist and duel runner, joined as one! Something tells me, this is only the first of many surprises!
(5D's Booth)
Yusei: These guys are actually part machine...!
Bruno: ("No way...!")
(Duel Track- Jakob's deck pops out of his right wrist. A glowing duel surface like his teammates' appears before him, and he places the cards left on the field for him on it.)
Jakob: Your time is up, Jack Atlas! I am going to beat you!
Jack: Better duellists have tried- but if you think you can defeat me, then by all means bring it on! (A ring of white light appears around them, then a smaller, similar ring appears around each of them, forming infinity.) Where did these come from?! These're the rings that make damage real!
Jakob: That's right. And it's my turn! First, I summon Grand Core in defense mode! Then, I trigger the Attack Cannon trap card. With this, I can destroy up to three machine-type monsters on my field, provided they haven't yet battled. And for every monster destroyed due to this effect, Attack Cannon bombards you with four hundred points of damage!
(5D's Booth)
Leo and Luna: Oh no!
(Duel Track)
Jakob: Next, I activate Grand Core's special ability! Since it was destroyed due to a card effect, I can summon Meklord Emperor Granel Infinity! Granel Top! Granel Attack! Granel Guard! And Granel Carrier! And now, they combine to form, Meklord Emperor Granel!
MC: Team New World have summoned their third Meklord Emperor!
Jakob: Now, I activate Granel Infinity's special ability. This monster's attack and defence points, become the same as my life-points.
Jack: Relatively impressive. But Red Nova Dragon is still much more powerful than that. Your monster's 4000 attack points are nothing compared to my 5500.
Jakob: You're rather confident in your precious attack points. Typical, for one so obsessed with brute force. Allow me to shatter that confidence for you, by activating the Take Over speed spell. (Jack swerves, and Jakob crosses back behind him then rides forward again, they're both neck and neck.) By destroying Infinite Aura... (Shoves the side of Jack's runner with one hand, causing Jack to wobble.) I gain life-points equal to the number of counters on the machine, multiplied by 100! (Jack looks over his shoulder.)
(5D's Booth)
Leo: By a hundred?!
Akiza: That would give him...
(Duel Track)
Jakob: Infinite Aura has registered eighty counters during this duel; therefore, I gain 8000 more life-points! And now, due to Meklord Emperor Granel's special ability, its attack and defense points become the same as my life-points!
Jack: So it's got 12000 attack points?
(5D's Booth)
Yusei: Lester and Primo were just gathering counters for Infinite Aura, so that Jakob could increase his life-points, his attack points, and his defence points.
Luna: So are you saying that...?
Leo: Those other two guys lost to Jack on purpose?
(New World Booth)
Lester: Get a load of the looks on their faces! Ahahahahahahahaha!
(Duel Track)
Jakob: The curtain is rising on New Domino City's final act! Witness my power! Meklord Emperor Granel, take out Red Nova Dragon!
(5D's Booth)
Yusei: Jack!
(Duel Track)
Jack: Hold on— don't forget my special ability! I can remove Red Nova Dragon from play until the end phase.
Jakob: Not this time, you can't! There's no escape! When Granel attacks, it can negate the special abilities of a synchro monster on your field.
Jack: It what?!
Jakob: Go, Final Bombardment!
Jack: Red Nova Dragon— no! (LP- 0. His runner wobbles dangerously, growing into an uncontrollable spinout, then somersaults, and launches into the air.)
(5D's Booth)
Yusei: Jack!
Akiza and Luna: Oh no...
(Crowd)
Misaki, Aura and Saph: Oh my!
Lyra and Sect: This is terrible!
Toru: Jack!
(Duel Field)
Jakob: And now, Granel Attack's special ability activates, and it absorbs the synchro monster that was just destroyed in battle! And with that, Meklord Emperor Granel now gains attack points equal to the original attack points of your Red Nova Dragon! Hmhmhmhmhm! Where's your confidence now, Jack Atlas? Our victory is imminent, and soon— New Domino City will be no more!
(5D's Booth)
Bruno: I have never seen anything like this, you guys.
Luna: You're up, Crow...
Crow: Yeah, I know...
Leo: Is there any possible way to defeat that thing?
Yusei: ("If there's not— then we're done-for!")
(Stadium Hallway. Aura, Saph, Toru and Misaki wheel Toru on a gurney. His breath is ragged and choked.)
Toru: Come on, Jack, stay with us!
Misaki: Jack...!
(Lazar's Viewing Platform- Lyra and Sect enter)
Lyra: Director Lazar! Team New World has manipulated the field, and now battle damage is real! Jack's already on his way to the E.R.! You've gotta step in and shut this thing down!
Lazar: I can't. We don't know how Yliaster might respond. (Stands, and walks past her to the window, hands behind his back.) This is out of my hands, Lyra. We have to trust Yusei and Crow. The fate of the world is in their hands...
(5D's Booth- Crow slaps the Team 5D's relay badge on his arm. Luna and Leo grip the left-side bar of his runner.)
Leo: Crow, stop! You saw what happened to Jack out there, you can't do this!
Luna: Leo's right, don't go out there!
Crow: Knock it off, you guys. Let me go.
Luna: (Luna and Leo pull on Crow's runner.) No way!
Leo: You can't duel that guy!
Crow: I've gotta! First of all, I've gotta do it for our friend. Then there's that. (Looks toward the strange, rocky spires sticking out of the sky beyond the stadium. The only way to make that go away is to win this duel. (Ruffles Leo's hair, smiling.) Cheer up- it won't be the end of the world if I lose. That's what happens if Yusei loses!
MC: Team New World's Jakob is ready to continue duelling— but there's still no sign of Team Five-D's! Is this a forfeit?
Crow: That's my cue. (Waves to his team and rides out of the booth and onto the track.)
MC: Wait a second! Here comes Crow! Looks like this duel is going to continue. The only question now is— can Crow avoid the cruel fate that sent his teammate crashing into defeat?!
(Duel Field)
Crow: Hey! Muzzle-mouth!
Jakob: Hmm?
Crow: Are ya ready for some Crow?!
Jakob: I praise you for having the courage to face me after bearing witness to Granel's might; but your courage has led you into the arms of your undoing!
(New World Booth)
Lester: 'he arms of what?! Jakob always sounds so stiff and awkward when he tries to trash-talk his opponents, eheheheheheh!
Primo: Yes, well... as long as he pushes this loser to his limits and completes the Circuit, he can be as awkward as he wants.
(Duel Track)
Jakob: Now, face my Meklord Emperor, using the full spectrum of your power! Come at me with everything you've got.
Crow: "'Everything I've got'...? I don't have a special monster like Red Nova Dragon to work around that synchro-stopper. And with over 15000 attack points... Boy, if I make a mistake, it's not gonna feel too good. But I do have one way to push back against 'im. I've just gotta turn off the reckless and stay focused.") Let's go! (Draws.) It's my turn! ("I can't show even the slightest weakness against that behemoth! I gotta bring my A-game. Please don't hate me for this, Yusei...!") I'm kicking things off with Speed World Two's effect! By removing ten speed counters I can destroy one card on the field!
(5D's Booth)
Bruno: Crow just used up all the team's speed counters!
Yusei: It's fine.
Bruno: Huh?
Yusei: It's not like he can afford to take any chances right now.
(Duel Track)
Crow: Say goodbye to your Meklord Emperor Granel!
Jakob: I won't be saying goodbye to anything!
Crow: What?!
Jakob: I play the trap Infinity Wall, which prevents my Meklord from being destroyed! Did you honestly think I would neglect to have countermeasures against Speed World Two in place?
Crow: Rrggh. Well, ya can't blame a guy for tryin' the direct approach. In that case, I'm summoning the tuner monster Blackwing - Steam the Cloak to the field in attack mode! And now, since birds of a feather like to flock together, I can summon this card from my hand as well. Say hello to Blackwing - Bora the Spear!
(5D's Booth)
Leo: Now he's got a monster and a tuner on his field!
Luna: In theory, he could do a synchro-summon... except that...
(Duel Track)
Jakob: There is no point in synchro-summoning when you're facing a Meklord Emperor!
Crow: I have no idea what you're talkin' about, buddy, I never said anything about synchro-summoning. I'm removing both Steam the Cloaked and Bora the Spear from play, to summon Blackwing- Aurora the Northern Lights! I'm able to summon Aurora by removing both a Blackwing and a Blackwing tuner from play; and its level becomes equal to the total level of the two monsters that I removed. And even though Steam the Cloaked has left the field, a steam token appears to take its place! This token'll only stick around until my end phase, but that'll be long enough. Now— if I remove a level-seven Blackwing synchro monster from my extra deck, Aurora the Northern Lights gains its attack points and all its special abilities until my next turn!
Jakob: Hmm...
Crow; Now, lemme see, here... I think I'll remove Blackwing Armor Master from play. With that out of the game, my Aurora now has 2500 attack points! Not only that, but since Aurora gains Armor Master's special abilities, it can't be destroyed in battle now, and all battle damage becomes 0!
(5D's Booth)
Bruno: Perfect! Now Aurora gets to function like a synchro monster!
Akiza: But since it isn't a synchro, technically, that Meklord Emperor can't use its power to absorb it. Is that right?
Bruno: Mmm-hmm.
Leo: Sweet! It's like a synchro in disguise!
Yusei: For as long as I've known 'im, Crow's been able to find ways to surprise me.
(Duel Track)
Crow: And now, Aurora the Northern Lights, take out Meklord Emperor Granel Infinity!
Jakob: Twist and struggle all you want! But you still can't match the might of my Meklord Emperor Granel. Your actions are futile.
Crow: Your game is futile! See, my Aurora picked up another special ability from Armor Master that I haven't mentioned yet! See, a monster attacked by this card gains one wedge counter, and by removing that wedge counter, I can make your monster's attack and defence points drop down to zero until the end phase of this turn!
Jakob: What?!
Crow: And when your monster loses all its attack points, Steam Token can sweep in and remove it from play!
(5D's Booth)
Bruno: Yeah!
Leo: Ha!
Yusei: With Granel Infinity out of the picture, we might actually have a slight chance at beating this guy.
(Duel Track)
Crow: Your Meklord Emperor may be enormous, but you know what they say— the bigger they are, the harder they fall!
Jakob: This is your trump combo? This is the move you are banking on?! Pathetic! I activate Granel Guard's special ability! When you attack a Meklord Emperor, Granel Guard can snag a synchro monster that the Meklord Emperor consumed— and set it out in front to become the target of your attack!
Crow: What?!
(5D's Booth)
Leo: Forcing Jack's dragon to smack down Crow? That is the very definition of not cool!
Luna: This guy is unstoppable!
Yusei: At least Aurora has Armor Master's abilities, so it won't be destroyed, and Crow won't take any battle damage.
(Duel Track)
Crow: ("Great. Now I gotta face Jack's monster...!")
Jakob: Your strategy is falling apart, Crow. Since Red Nova Dragon is under my Meklord's control, you can't put a wedge counter on it!
Crow: Rgh...
(5D's Booth)
Akiza: So that's this Meklord Emperor's real power...!
Bruno: Not only can it absorb synchro monsters, it can use them in battle!
Yusei: That Aurora and Armor Master combo was Crow's best chance at countering Granel Infinity. But even that didn't work. If he doesn't come up with something— then he's done-for.
(Duel Track)
Crow: ("Jakob's got me right where he wants me...! Steam Token's gonna be destroyed during this end phase, leaving me with next to nothing! I- I don't— I don't know what to do! How can I counter him?")
Jakob: Have you resigned yourself to failure?
Crow: (Glances over at his hand; Ghibli the Searing Wind, and two traps, Black Revenge and Blackboost.) I place two cards face-down and end my turn.
Jakob: Hmm! All that effort with nothing to show for it? It seems your time is over! (Draws) First, I activate Speed World Two's effect! By removing ten speed counters, I can obliterate one card on the field! Bid farewell to your beloved Blackwing - Aurora the Northern Lights! And now, Meklord Emperor Granel, attack Crow directly! You cannot stop the Divine Temple from descending!
MC: Whoa-oa-oa, Jakob is about to knock Crow outta the picture!
(5D's Booth)
Leo and Luna: Ahh...!
Luna: If he takes that direct attack it's all over!
Bruno and Akiza: Do something!
(Duel Track)
Jakob: Go, Final Bombardment!
(5D's Booth)
Bruno and Akiza: Oh no!
(Duel Track)
MC: Look at that! At the last second, one of Crow's monsters came out of nowhere to act as a shield!
Crow: When your monster attacks me directly, I can call Ghibli the Searing Wind from my hand to take the attack!
Jakob: How bothersome...
(5D's Booth)
Bruno: Ahh.
Akiza: He managed to stop it...!
(Duel Track)
Crow: Sorry, Ghibli. But I won't let your efforts go to waste. I reveal my trap card— Blackwing Revenge! When a winged monster with less than 1000 attack points like Ghibli is destroyed in battle, I can summon two Blackwing - Black Crest tokens to the field. Next, I reveal my "Blackboost" trap card! When I've got two or more Blackwings on my field, I can activate Blackboost and draw two cards from my deck! (Draws two cards)
MC: Against all odds, Crow has miraculously managed to pull off two consecutive combos!
Crow: It just goes to show, ya can't keep a good guy down.
Jakob: Uh! My attack isn't over yet. And by summoning a monster in defence mode, you have sealed your fate.
Crow: What?! Whadda you mean by that?
Jakob: I mean, I activate Granel Attack's ability! Once a turn, the monster that Granel absorbed can be forced to attack your monster.
Crow: You're going to attack me with Jack's dragon?
Jakob: Go, foolish synchro monster, eliminate your own teammate! Now, my little puppet, shall deal you 2700 points of piercing damage.
Crow: How many points?!
Jakob: Take your friend's fury! (Crop LP-1300) Normally, the synchro monster that Meklord Emperor Granel absorbed can't attack you directly. You brought this pain upon yourself- by summoning a monster in defence mode. And now I end my turn with a face-down.
(Infirmary- Jack lets out an agonized groan, still unconscious. Team Shining Storm are concerned.)
Toru and Misaki: What's wrong?
MC (via screen): Jakob's got Crow against the ropes! Is there anything our scrapper can do against the overwhelming power of Meklord Emperor Granel?!
Lyra: This might sound strange, but d'you think Jack knows his monster is being forced to attack Crow?
(Duel Track- Crow grips his left arm with his right hand, hunched over in pain as he rides.)
Crow: ("This must've been what it felt like for Jack...! Man. As if things weren't bad enough, now I've gotta face both Granel and Red Nova Dragon! One Black Crest token, two cards... everything to lose.")
(5D's Booth)
Leo: Ahh...! Is there anything Crow can do?
Luna: That remaining Black Crest token only has, like, 800 defence points!
Bruno: Right, so if Red Nova Dragon attacks again... Crow will take twenty-seven-hundred points of damage, and well, that'll be that.
(Duel Track)
Jakob: You're finished, little worm.
Crow: Don't think so, Jakob! (draws) I release my Black Crest token, in order to summon Blackwing- Hillen the Tengu Wind, in defence mode!
Jakob: A monster with 2300 defence points...
Crow: Which means if you attack me again with Jack's Red Nova Dragon, I'll still be hanging on with 100 life-points.
Jakob: Perhaps— but if that's the extent of your strategy, Meklord Emperor Granel will then pound you into oblivion.
Crow: ("He's right; I'll be totally vulnerable without a follow-up. I could use Hillen the Tengu Wind; after Red Nova Dragon attacks and deals its damage, I could summon Hillen, and one of the other Blackwing from my graveyard. Then— if I use Urgent Tuning to summon Black-Wing' Dragon in defence mode, I'll be able to stop Granel's attack. That's perfect! That's— No— that's not good enough! Even if I stop the attack, Black-Winged Dragon'll be gobbled up by the Meklord Emperor in the aftermath! I can't let that happen. I can't let Yusei go into battle against a Meklord Emperor and two of our best monsters! Jack had the perfect strategy against those first two clowns with Red Nova Dragon, but it didn't work against Granel. My synchro monster is not the way to go. I'll only make his Meklord Emperor stronger! So I guess I could— no! That's not gonna work either! He'll just—ugh! I got nothing! I can't beat him! (Pounds the dashboard duel disk of his runner with a fist.) I've got nothing! I'm sorry, guys... I know I'm letting everyone down, but... there's nothing I can do. Yusei... I'm sorry…")
Yusei's Voice: Believe in your cards.
Crow: ("Believe in my cards... (Looks over at his hand; Urgent Tuning, and Shadow Impulse. When he spots the second card, something clicks.) Ah...! That's it! I may not be able to take this guy out, but I can leave a little something behind for my friend! All right— my last action will take me down, but it'll set Yusei up!") I'm placing two cards face-down!
(5D's Booth)
Leo: Wha?! Just like that, he's gonna end his turn?!
Akiza: You might wanna get on your runner, Yusei.
(Duel Track)
Jakob: It seems you've come face-to-face with your own limits, Crow. Now it's my turn! I activate Granel Attack's special ability. You have no choice, Red Nova Dragon- you're mine! Now, tear into Hillen the Tengu Wind!
Crow: (LP- 100) Ugggghhhh- aaaaaaaggghhh!
MC: Ladies and gentlemen— this could be it! Crow is wide-open! (Crow's runner wobbles)
(5D's Booth)
Bruno and Akiza: Huh!
Akiza: No way!
(Duel Track)
Jakob: Your back is against the wall. Rage back with everything you've got; show me your strength— and synchro-summon!
Crow: Try to provoke me all you want; but I'm not walking into this one. I'm not summoning my synchro monster just so that you can steal it away... And turn it against my friend. If nothing else, I'm going to keep that from happening!
Jakob: You can't avoid it forever.
Crow: I can't?
Jakob: Friends driven to turn on one other, to betray each other— this is the way of the world according to Man! Just look at this repulsive creature forced to do my bidding! Your pathetic synchro monsters perfectly symbolize the evolution of humanity's folly!
Crow: Stop talking bunk! If Red Nova symbolizes anything, it's the spirit of my friend! My buddies and I always battle alongside our synchro monsters. You don't get to roll around and call them pathetic!
Jakob: You're so naïve! You don't yet realize how these shallow thoughts will lead you to your own destruction.
Crow: What're you getting at?!
Jakob: I need not explain myself to one such as you. Granel Infinity, attack Crow directly! Go, Final Bombardment!
(5D's Booth)
Bruno and Akiza: Ahh...!
Luna and Leo: Uggghhh...!
(Duel Track)
Crow: (LP- 0) Aaghh-ggh-ugghh...!
MC: Iiit's overrr! Crow has been decimated by Jakob. Now the only thing standing between Team New World and the championship— is Yusei Fudo!
Jakob: It's finished.
Crow: Not yet!
Jakob: Hmm?
Crow: The battle phase hasn't ended, pal; and I've got a surprise. I'm activating Hillen the Tengu Wind's special ability. Since your power-packed Emperor attacked me, I can now make a move that will help Yusei and Team 5D's soar to victory! This might be my final move in the tournament, but I have a feeling it's gonna leave a lasting impression! Now, Hillen the Tengu Wind, and Ghibli the Searing Wind, rise and take flight! Next, I activate the Urgent Tuning trap card. Ths card allows me to synchro-summon one synchro monster during the battle phase— so my level-five Hillen tunes my level-three Ghibli! I synchro-summon— Black-Winged Dragon!
MC: Incredible! That last attack nearly annihilated Crow— but he mustered up the strength to bring his ace monster to the field! It's Black-Winged Dragon!
(5D's Booth)
Leo: If Crow had activated Hillen's special ability before Jakob's Meklord Emperor attacked, he might've been able to use that combo to save himself!
Luna: Leo's right; why would Crow wait until after he took the damage?
Bruno: Because— if he had done that, Jakob would've been able to absorb Black-Winged Dragon and then use it to his advantage.
Akiza: And Yusei would be a goner.
Leo: Nnnnhhh...
Luna: Yusei...
(Duel Track)
Jakob: So you gave the last of your life-points to summon a synchro monster?
Crow: That's right. I took a loss so that my team can win.
Jakob: What?
Crow: You ranted about the world being full of people fighting and betraying one another? But in the world I live in, my friends and I, look out for each other. What can I say— that's just how we roll!
Jakob: Foolish...!
Crow: All right, Black-Winged Dragon... it's all you. I'm feelin'... kinda... sleepy. (Crow gives in to unconsciousness, drifting to the left of the track, he blacks out...)
(5D's Booth- Yusei climbs onto his runner and starts it. Bruno and Akiza stand at his side. He places the relay sticker on his arm.)
Yusei: ("Crow... you risked everything to pass your dragon on to me. I won't let you down.") (Places Black-Winged Dragon on his duel disk in defence mode, and it appears in the sky above.) Well, this is it.
Bruno: Good luck!
Akiza: Take 'im down!
Yusei: I will. And you take care of Jack and Crow. (Rides onto the track.)
MC: The baton has been passed! Both teams are down to their last duellist; it's a one-on-one battle between Jakob, and Yusei Fudo! With the arrival of Team 5D's' Yusei Fudo, the World Racing Grand Prix has forayed into its exciting finale!
Jakob: I know not why your teammate Crow left you with a synchro monster; but I do know that my Meklord Emperor Granel, can absorb synchro monsters. So I'll simply consider this beast to be a parting gift from him!
(New World Booth)
Lester: This couldn't have worked out better for us. Crow is gone and his synchro monster will soon be ours!
Primo: Let's not celebrate yet, Lester. We still have Yusei to deal with; and it's a safe bet that he'll be putting up quite a fight.
Lester: You give him far too much credit.
Primo: I give credit where credit is due. But still, make no mistake, he will be dealt with— harshly.
(5D's Booth)
Akiza: So what's your take on why Crow just summoned Black-Winged Dragon, Bruno?
Bruno: I wish I knew. Because if that Meklord Emperor is able to absorb him in like he's already taken in Red Nova Dragon... we'll be through.
(Infirmary- Crow is in much the same shape as Jack. Both have bandages around their heads, their boots are placed against the wall. Team Shining Storm's members all stand at the end of Jack's and Crow's beds. The two, still unconscious)
Crow: Keep fighting, Yusei... with all your heart...!
(Duel Track)
Yusei: ("There's not a question in my mind; I know exactly why Crow left me that Black-WInged Dragon synchro monster. It's because up until this point, all the success we've had in the World Racing Grand Prix, we've had as a team. Crow left me that card because he thought it could help me win. And now... I'm gonna do my best to prove him right!") For Team 5D's! (Draws.) Let's rev it up! First I summon forth Wave Wall in defense mode! Then I'll end things with two face-downs! Crow— I promise not to let you down!
Jakob: ("Like a moth to the flame, Team 5D's must've known— that summoning a synchro would lead to their destruction— yet still, they couldn't resist. No matter; it will be my pleasure to make them pay for their foolishness!") It's my turn now! And I shall use it, not to absorb Black-Winged Dragon, but to destroy it! Meklord Emperor Granel, attack!
(5D's Booth)
Bruno: No! If Jakob connects with this strike, Granel Attack's ability will activate and take out all of Yusei's life-points!
Leo: Aaah?!
Akiza: Yusei...!
(Duel Track)
Yusei: I'm activating Wave Wall's special ability! Now for every synchro monster on my field, I can negate your monster's attack one time!
Jakob: Clever boy.
(5D's Booth)
Akiza: All right! So long as Yusei still has that Black-Winged Dragon out on the field, Granel won't be able to get ahold of him!
Bruno: Yeah, 'cause it won't matter that Meklord Emperor's made of five monsters— Granel can only attack once!
Leo: Right, and if he can't connect with that attack, all of its attack points—
Luna: Are completely and utterly useless!
(New World Booth)
Lester: My, he's doing well!
Primo: Yes; for now. But we both know it won't last. Not once our true power is unleashed.
(Duel Track)
Jakob: I activate the trap Attack Cannon! When Meklord Emperor fails to destroy your monster in battle, I can send the Granel Attack on my field to the graveyard in order to destroy one of your monsters. And I'll bet you can guess which monster it will be. Black-Winged Dragon, begone!
Yusei: Oh...! Black-Winged Dragon! (Looks aside, hurt by the loss, then straight ahead) That's it. Time to go full throttle! I'm playing a trap card; go, Shadow Impulse!
(5D's Booth)
Akiza: Wait, that's the trap that Crow left out!
(Duel Track)
Yusei: Now Jakob, since your trap card destroyed my monster, I can now replenish my field with a new one. But both its attack points— and its special ability— must be cancelled out! Now then— rise, Stardust Dragon!
(5D's Booth)
Leo: Way to go, Yusei!
Akiza: Yeah! All right!
Bruno: Stardust Dragon is one of Yusei's very best cards, and you know he's gonna get the best of Jakob with it!
(Infirmary- Jack and Crow are still unconscious)
Crow: Yusei... Keep fighting, pal...! We believe in you...!
(Duel Track)
Jakob: So you were able to avoid my Emperor's attack; but don't think it will happen again! It doesn't matter how many cards and monsters you play; they're all heading towards the same end! Sure, maybe one puts up a fight— but guess what!
Yusei: Tell me, Jakob.
Jakob: Fighting simply postpones the inevitable. There's no escaping what fate has in store. A fate that you'll soon be meeting yourself, Yusei; you and all your friends. And there's nothing you can do to stop it. Meklord Emperor's left arm now revives itself, but with even greater power! Behold— Granel Attack 3!
Yusei: No, now his Meklord Emperor is whole once more!
Jakob: Indeed, Yusei; and since I have at least four speed counters, I can activate Silent Burn! Which means, that for every monster that didn't attack this turn, you take 300 points of damage!
Yusei: Say what...?!
Jakob: So, for the four parts of my Meklord Emperor that I kept at bay, you now take 1200 points of damage! (Yusei and his runner weave into a dodge, an explosion kicks up fire and dust. Yusei and his runner fly out of it backwards, land, and spin. Yusei clenches his teeth and hangs on.) I'm rather enjoying your refusal to accept defeat; but you still can't match the might of my Meklord Emperor Granel. I place one card face-down, and end my turn.
Yusei: Keep playing your mind games; but I know there's just one person who controls my fate, Jakob— and that one person is me!
Jakob: You fool... you have no concept of the powers that you're up against, do you? Well, allow me to show you. (The infinity carving on his mouthpiece glows. A glowing infinity symbol appears in the sky.)
Yusei: What in the world...? (His mark glows) My mark...!
(5D's Booth- Luna and Akiza's marks are also glowing)
Akiza: It's glowing...
Leo: Luna!
(Infirmary- Lyra's mark is also glowing, along with Jack and Crow's, their eyes spring open in shock.)
(New World Booth)
Lester: What is this?! What's happening here?!
Primo: Jakob is about to enlighten them. (The symbol on his eyepiece lights up)
(Duel Track)
Yusei: What's going on?! (The infinity shines brighter, Yusei looks away from Jakob and back to it.)
(Vision World- It's full of pinkishly red clouds. Team 5D's, Lyra, Toru, Misaki and Sect are floating in the air. Below, the harsh, red landscape is dotted, highlighted and shadowed with lots of smaller, unmoving forms.)
Lyra: Where are we? (Everyone looks down. Leo frantically windmills, and clings to Bruno's leg.)
Leo: Aaaahh! Oh no, we're falling...!
Luna: No— we're floating. (Jack and Crow are also awake and floating like the others)
Jack: What is this place?
Crow: Someplace without a lotta gravity.
Akiza: Yusei—!
Yusei: I saw this place in a dream I had before about my dad...!
Lyra: What's that on the ground?
Crow: Do we wanna know...?
Toru: It's like a card graveyard...!
Sect: Grave-what?
Bruno: What is this place? (Then they spot something else among the petrified cards; the gem atop it is shattered halfway off, the metal of both the outer arch and the inner that supports the jewel are bent horribly, like misshapen tinfoil, it's the arch monument that stands at the heart of New Domino City.)
Misaki: Look there!
Akiza: That's the archway built over the Daedalus Bridge!
Luna and Leo: Whuuh!
Jack and Toru: Impossible...!
Crow and Sect: How'd it get here?
Lyra: Wait, are we... dreaming...?
Jakob: This is no dream. (He, Lester and Primo appear in a giant form, in the sky ahead.) This... is the future. The future of the place that you call New Domino City. And with each tick of the clock, we arrive closer to this future.
Jack: You've lost it!
Yusei: Wait, how is this our future? (There is a long pause.) Tell us, now!
Jakob: By way of chain reaction, you fool. (The landscape transforms, becoming a more familiar vision; New Domino's sparkling seas, blue skies, and shiny skyscrapers. Several glittering buildings float in mid-air.) A reaction that all starts with your precious synchro monsters. Watch closely, and I will show you how synchros took over the world— and destroyed the human race! (Several people hold up synchro monster cards)
Sect: Who are they?
Jakob: They are the spawns of the synchro. As duelling evolved, the world evolved along with it. And with the great popularity of synchro monsters, came great prosperity. Why, the people of New Domino enjoyed synchro-summoning so much...That the activity generated enormous amounts of Ener-D. This Ener-D powered the Ener-D more Ener-D this reactor absorbed, the more powerful it became. And in turn, the more quickly the world evolved!
Lester: Hahahahahahaha! That's right! But there was a steep price to pay! And guess who paid it! Daa-hahahahahaha!
Primo: We did! Huh...?! (The sky of New Domino is pale white, with foggy layers of clouds; and things smaller than buildings are float in the sky. Lester grips his head and starts trembling and crying out. Against the clouds above the city, familiar figures in orange, grey, and blue appear. They descend toward the city's skyscrapers, Hundreds of Wisels, Granels, and Skiels, slowly descend on the city.)
Yusei: Those're Meklords! (A Granel lets loose a blast— at a cluster of buildings at the city's heart. The blast explodes in destruction. More Meklords fire, creating numerous explosions like unnatural sunrises on the horizon. Black smoke and ash rises through the dark, clouds)
Misaki: What's happening?!
Lyra: They're destroying the city!
Leo: Look— down there! (In the street surrounded by wreckage below, a family of three runs in flee for their lives. The dad carries a large leather bag the mom runs after, her hand gripping a young boy's behind her.) Is that—Lester?!
Lester: Yes, it is. It's me as a boy. But my childhood ended on that day. (The streets below is an apocalypse; everything is destroyed, refugees flee, and the swarm of Meklords blast everything.)
Primo: And that... was just the beginning. (This scene happens even further into the future. A Granel floats through the streets, and, to either side of a ruined window, two fighters dressed and armoured in grey blend in with scorched concrete waiting to ambush Granel. One looks at the other; the young man- Primo- regards his comrade- a female warrior smiles back and nods. Granel passes the window, and gets shot, barely noticing. Primo keeps firing, his friend fires a rocket the Granel notices. The two fighters share another smile. A blast from Granel rips up the side of the building. The explosion knocks Primo back, to land painfully and roll a few times, and come to rest in a pile of concrete and scrap-iron. He looks up, painfully and gasps in horror, then runs back to where the blast hit. A huge chunk of wall has been ripped out through the centre of the building, only the blaster remains, the edge still white-hot where it was separated from the rest.)
Vision Primo: My Lieutenant's blaster!? (The Granel comes back, rising into view. Primo faces it, with recklessness and defiance.) What have you done with her?! (The Granel emits a tone as though in response. Primo steps into a fighting stance and levels his blaster, peppering the monster with fire, yelling with fury.)
Jakob: Humanity's greediness had finally reached its peak, and that's when the Ener-D Reactor started to rotate backwards— and Zero Reverse occurred again. As if it was responding to the backwards nature that was residing in people's hearts. It went faster, and faster, and soon— it exploded! This triggered other Ener-D Reactors to surge, and the world as we knew it began to change for the worse...
Yusei: You lie! I refuse to believe that Zero Reverse happened again, Jakob!
Jakob: You can refuse all you like— but it's the truth. I know because I was there, Yusei. (Among the shadows and ruins of the city, an old man is walking. His gnarled hands grip a long stick which helps keep his balance, his brown robes, a little more than rags, are patched. He looks up at a building with a domed disk on top as rain starts to pour from the sky.) This was my era, and I saw it all happen first-hand. For whatever reason, destiny chose me to survive this calamity. (He travels to a desert, a large ship appears to have crashed sideways and partially sunk.) And after I did, there was not much to do, but walk. (The next vision is an icy ravine, in the middle of a blizzard.) So I wandered the earth looking for anyone, anything... (Jakob wanders to another ruined city, covered in snow.)
Vision Jakob: Hello...? Is anybody out there...?! Anyone...? Answer me...! (A tear falls from Jakob's one remaining eye as he watches the sunset. The vision fades and Lester scowls with resentment, Primo looks solemnly off into the distance, and Jakob regards the ruined world with harsh regret.)
Jakob: There was no answer. Just the echo of my own voice. The echo... of what once was.
Yusei: So you're saying... this is our future...?
(5D's Booth- Expressions range from worry to fear to surprise.)
Akiza: What just happened...?
(Infirmary Room- Jack and Crow lay in their beds with expressions of confused horror.)
Crow: That wasn't a dream, was it...?!
Jack: If it was, I had it too!
Lyra: Urh…
Toru: You're not the only ones. (Sect nods and Misaki gives a blank stare at the wall)
(Duel Track- Yusei and Jakob race onward.)
Yusei: You paint a dreadful picture; and you pin all the blame on something I put my deepest faith in... synchro-summoning.
Jakob: If this is so, then your faith is misplaced. I tell you, Yusei Fudo— the power of the synchro-summon, is festering with all the things that make mankind wicked!
Yusei: Like any great power, if misused it could cause great harm; but if championed by the righteous it can create good.
Jakob: Yes, that's just what everyone was saying before the world crumbled!
Yusei: You're wrong— our fate's not set! And somehow I'll prove it! Jakob— my draw. (Draws) I summon the tuner monster Mono Synchron! And now its ability will activate! When Mono Synchron is used to synchro-summon, another synchro-material card's level— becomes 1. Which means Wave Wall's level is reduced. Now, level 1 Mono Synchron, tune with level 1 Wave Wall! Behold— as both power and speed surge towards each other and collide, to create— The synchro tuner, Formula Synchron! But guess what— there's more! Lots more, Jakob! But better that I just show you. Here— goes! (The air around Yusei fills with streaks of light, and the Seal of the Crimson Dragon appears around him.) I tune level 2 Formula Synchron with level 8 Stardust Dragon! (The air beyond Yusei and the bright sparks thrown off the nose of his runner turn green, bright green lights fly past. The road under Yusei's wheels is shining bright white.) Let the spirit of all duel monsters now spread its wings, and soar to new heights where it can be transformed! I accel synchro! (His eyes flash briefly with white sparks. The surface of the card he raises dusts away to reveal itself.) Shooting Star Dragon! (Yusei, his runner, and monsters disappear from the road. A light appears behind Jakob, and he looks over his shoulder, as Yusei and Shooting Star Dragon appear.) Now I play Shooting Star's ability; which means once per turn, I can look at the top five cards of my deck, and for every tuner monster I find, I can attack you one time. (Prepares to draw, and pauses, gripping the cards.) Here goes... The first card is a tuner monster— Drill Synchron! The second card is one as well— Debris Dragon! The third card? Another one, Nitro Synchron! And fourth— yet another tuner! Quickdraw Synchron! And now fifth, the tuner monster Effect Veiler! Five tuners— that means five attacks! So go— Shooting Star, attack! Here comes the first one! Target Granel Attack Three!
Jakob: Red Nova Dragon, take out that Shooting Star!
Yusei: I don't think so! I activate the trap Synchro Striker Unit! Now Striker becomes an equip card for my synchro monster, and increases its attack points by 1000.
Jakob: But due to Granel Carrier's special ability, Red Nova Dragon's destruction is negated!
Yusei: Maybe, but you still take damage.
(5D's Booth)
Leo: Check it out, Granel's points are lower now!
Bruno: Jakob's points are, too! And they're gonna keep getting lower.
(Duel Track)
Yusei: Here comes the second attack! And now, the third! Target Granel Attack Three! Here comes number four! Target Granel Top!
(5D's Booth)
Bruno: He did it!
Akiza: All right!
Luna: Granel's finally been cut down to size, Leo!
Leo: Ya got that right, Luna! And now it's— go time!
(Duel Track)
Yusei: Prepare yourself— it's time for my fifth and final attack! Target Meklord Emperor Granel! (The dragon strikes right through Granel's chest. Granel falls out of the sky.) And since Meklord Granel's been beat, all your other monsters, Jakob— are now destroyed! We've reached the turn's end phase and that means Shooting Star, must now reduce its assault power by 800 points. Then lastly, I'll throw two face-downs. That's my turn. The power of synchro-summoning can't be all bad, Jakob. After all, I was able to use it to knock you down a notch! So now maybe you see, the destiny you speak of isn't for certain!
Jakob: It's clear you don't understand how destiny works; not only is it still certain, your actions just now have helped usher it along! (Yusei jumps) And because they have, I'm now forced to take drastic measures!
(New World Booth)
Lester and Primo: Aporia!
(Duel Track)
Jakob: Indeed.
Yusei: Aporia?
Jakob: You need not ask who Aporia is, for words cannot answer— but I will show you! (The infinity on his mask glows, the same infinity symbol he called out of the sky earlier burns again. Jakob lifts off from his runner, and rises into the sky. Primo and Lester fly toward the infinity symbol also.)
Primo: At long last...! This battle can now be fought with all of our powers!
Lester: And in one spiffy package! (Green lines of code fly through the air. Jakob, Primo, and Lester come together; their masks are put together to make two eyes and a mouth, which combines into a mask of infinities. Jakob's body transforms, growing taller, slimmer and stronger, with a gold ring forming a mantle around its head. The mask of infinity transforms into a face. Yusei watches Aporia over his shoulder.)
Yusei: Whoa, who are you? (Aporia opens his eyes.)
Aporia: I am— Aporia.
(5D's Booth)
Leo: Whoa— you see that?
Luna: Yeah, Team New World all combined... And formed this guy!
(Duel Track- Aporia hovers above Jakob's runner, smiling. Primo's runner and Lester's duel board ride up on either side of it. They glow, and green data streams into Jakob's runner. The runner and duel board rise into the air.)
MC: Whoa, my! First the fusion of three humans, and now it seems their duel runners are going to be getting into the mix! (Jakob, Primo's runners reshape and so does Lester's duel board. The piece that used to be a runner settles onto the front like a head, the big mechanical arm that used to be Lester's duel board attaches to the back like a tail. Cables plug into Aporia's back as he locks into place atop the vehicle, and its head slides up to become the duel console. The cards slot into place, and the screen lights up. The ring atop his shoulders opens, and the U shape sticks upward, shining with energy.)
Yusei: What in the world?!
(Infirmary- Team Shining Storm, and Jack and Crow in their beds are all watching the duel on the TV)
Toru: It's one half man—
Misaki: And the other half is machine!
Lyra: Ah...!
Sect: No- Yusei...!
Crow: This... is bad!
Jack: That's putting it lightly!
(5D's Booth)
Luna: It's not fair! Yusei didn't sign up to fight this- this- whatever this is!
(Duel Field)
Yusei: Tell me! Now— what's the meaning of all of this, Aporia?!
Aporia: What's the meaning, Yusei? You'll see soon enough.
Yusei: I want answers!
Aporia: Oh, and you will have them, just not now. You'll have to wait along with everyone else. But don't worry; I can assure you that the ending is worth the wait. For the Circuit is now nearly complete, you see...
Yusei: What?!
Aporia: The Circuit. But that's all you get for now.
Yusei: No, tell me more!
Aporia: Hmhmhm. Afraid not! (Draws) My turn! And first I play the trap Infinite Prison. Now by discarding one card, I can place Grand Core from my grave to the field face-down. But I'm not done just yet! You see, my trap has a second effect! By sending Infinite Prison to the grave, I can send all the cards in my spell and trap card zone straight to my hand! Now, since I believe I've gotten just about as much use out of that trap as possible, I'll play— a brand new trap! Meklord Emperor Creation! By banishing Sky Core, Wise Core, and Grand Core, I can now summon, the all-mighty, Meklord Astro Mekanikle!
Yusei: Astro Mekanikle?! Sounds bad.
(5D's Booth)
Luna: That thing scares me!
Leo: Right there with ya.
Akiza: I've never seen a monster like that before... (Bruno says nothing, but his eyes narrow.)
(Duel Track- Lightning strikes down from the sky in hundreds of spots, blasting down to the rooftops of New Domino, smashing pavements and billboards, striking windows and buildings.)
Aporia: Hahaha! Ha!
Yusei: (His mark glows; he looks down at it grimly.)
(Infirmary- Jack's, Toru's, Crow's, and Lyra's marks all glow)
(5D's Booth- Luna's and Akiza's marks glow and they along with Leo and Bruno nervously watch them glowing. A bolt of lightning crashes down from the sky at the center of the stadium, landing on the track with a huge explosion that chains down to the duel gate. The crowd is in a panic. The entire crowd stands and stampedes toward the exits.)
(MC's Booth- The MC is cowers behind the desk in his booth, knees to his chest, still holding his microphone. All the screens are black.)
MC: Tell you what, duel devotees— (glances over the counter) you asked for a high-voltage matchup... and that's just what you got! And you better believe there's a lot more in store! (One of the green-blazered stadium tech guys is on one of the monitors.)
Tournament Assistant (via screen): Not for me! I'm takin' our duel crew an' gettin' outta here right now!
MC: What?! You're kidding me! You buncha yellow-bellies!
(Infirmary- Team Shining Storm, Jack and Crow are watching the devastation on their monitor.)
Saph: What's- happening out there?!
Aura: I think our city's being destroyed...!
Sect: Yeah- we gotta do something!
(Lazar's Viewing Platform- Lazar is cowering on the floor, his back to a window full of red clouds and lightning.)
Lazar: Guuhh...! (Lyra appears on a screen.)
Lyra (via screen): Hey! Lazar! You have to stop this!
Lazar: (Stops cowering, still frantic.) I wish I could— but we just installed a system that makes it impossible to end the match in the middle of a duel!
Lyra (via screen): Say what? 'We' who?!
Lazar: Who do you think! It was those three Yliaster snakes! Nnggghhh! Our only chance is for Yusei to win! Otherwise not only would this match be lost, but our whole city could be as well!
(Infirmary- Team Shining Stomr, Jack, and Crow are watching on their TV. Crow props himself up on his elbows.)
Toru: That monster's massive.
Aura: What's Yusei gonna do?
Sect: He'll do what he always does, find a way to win!
Crow: Yeah; remember, so long as he has Shooting Star Dragon, he'll be able to avoid attacks.
(Duel Track)
Aporia: Now, Yusei, witness the power of my Astro Mekanikle. For you see, once a turn it can absorb a synchro monster and gain its attack points; a synchro monster like your Shooting Star Dragon!
Yusei: Speaking of, I activate its ability! It lets me remove it from play once per turn!
Aporia: So what? Due to Meklord Mekanikle's ability, I can send an Emperor part to the graveyard and gain that part's special ability. So by banishing Granel Guard Three to the great beyond and activating its effect— I can negate your monster's special ability once per turn!
Yusei: No!
(5D's Booth)
Leo: Huh?! This can't be!
Luna: Shooting Star Dragon is Yusei's best chance at winning this thing! And now he's being forced to switch sides?
(Duel Track.)
Yusei: Oh no, Shooting Star Dragon!
Aporia: Hmhmhmhmhm...
(MC's Booth- He stands alone at his desk, abandoned papers scattered on the floor)
MC: Unbelievable! Yusei's Shooting Star Dragon has been sucked into the belly of the beast! Or more specifically, that Meklord Astro Mekanikle! And even worse— My whole production crew has abandoned meee...! (Bursts through a door and runs into the sound booth; it has a control console, and the console faces a wide array of screens and angles.) Even so, I'm certain in saying that neither Yusei nor I will give up! No— we will fight to the very end like the true warriors that we are!
(5D's Booth)
Leo: At this point it's not about fighting, it's about surviving!
Luna: We gotta believe, Leo...
Akiza: ... Yusei...
(Duel Track- Another lightning bolt crashes down, right behind the duel.)
Yusei: There's gotta be something I can do.
Aporia: Haha... I see the fear in your eyes; and you're right to be afraid. You will taste the same despair that I have.
Yusei: Huh?
Aporia: A despair that was so powerful it was given life, and even now devotes itself to our cause.
Yusei: What're you talking about?!
Aporia: You are so insistent on getting answers, aren't you, Yusei... Very well. Then I shall give you them.
(Vision World- Team 5D's, Lyra, Sect, Misaki and Toru appear in mid-air one by one. A building shaped like a duel dome surrounded by a ruined landscape of crates is below them.)
Sect: Whoa! Where are we?
Jack: Not this place again!
Crow: Uh...?
Yusei: What's that dome?
Leo: Wish we could get a closer look! (They zoom in, standing in mid-air below the dome's ceiling.)
Akiza: You were saying?
Lyra and Luna: Someone's there! (Below them, Jakob straggles through the empty street, among concrete ruins and half-fossilized vehicles.)
Vision Jakob: Is... is there anyone here?
Yusei: Hey, look— it's Jakob. (Below them, Jakob falls to his knees, exhausted and despairing, in the middle of an empty world. Aporia's voice speaks to them, though he isn't visible.)
Aporia: Not Jakob. That was me, at my lowest. (Jakob shouts weakly to the sky. Then Awren, Antinomy and Paradox walk from the other end of the street.) That's when they arrived. (Antinomy and Awren on his right. Paradox is to his left and Z-ONE is in the middle with a limp.) As you may've heard, I was looking for survivors; and I found them. Or rather, they found me. (Z-ONE limps ahead and approaches Aporia on his knees in the street. He looks up at them, barely believing his eyes. Z-ONE extends a hand to him.
Vision Z-ONE: We are the only remaining human souls in this world. We invite you to join us, to make things right. Aporia looks at Z-ONE's hand, then up at Z-ONE. The vision world's scenery changes to a futuristic tower that stands among grey and ruined landscape.)
Aporia: Of course I accepted their invitation. And once I arrived at their secret compound that would become my new home, I was so happy I did. For you see, the ones who took me in were devoted to restoring the world to how it was, before the second Zero Reverse tragedy struck. And they were using very advanced equipment in this effort. Day and night, the five of us laboured with both our minds and our bodies, for a way to take back all the unpleasantness. But sadly, it was to no avail. And even more sadly, all the hard work began to take its toll. (The Vision World changes to a circular room, with doorways and doors jutting up across from each other. At the centre of the room, a spire points down from above. Aporia, leans heavily on his cane, and Z-ONE who now is supported by a hovering white machine, stand over Awren, Antinomy and Paradox, laying motionless in metal and glass capsules.) Exhausted by the long days and nights, the members of our consortium began to fall ill. Things were seeming hopeless. (Aporia's grip loosens on his cane, and he leans against one of the capsules for balance.) Why soon, even I was on the verge of the great abyss. (Later, Aporia is in a glass capsule himself. Z-ONE approaches him.)
Vison Z-ONE: Aporia.
Vision Aporia: I... grow weak. (Coughs and winces. Z-ONE's eye peers through his metal mask.)
Vision Z-ONE: But I cannot continue the mission alone.
Vision Aporia: Yes, I know; so... I want you to add to your ranks by creating from me, three others.
Vision Z-ONE: What do you mean?
Vision Aporia: You see... There have been three instances in my life that shaped who I am. The day I was separated from my parents... The day that my partner-in-arms, and the woman that I loved, was taken from me... And the day that I lost the world that I once knew, and cherished so much. Since I arrived, I've done much research. The hardware exists for you to take these instances I've shared... and give them corporeal life! To make them flesh. Do this, friend... for me. For all of mankind!
Vision Z-ONE: I shall. And through these three new agents, you shall live on.
(Duel Track)
Aporia: So you see, Yusei, all this time, Lester, Primo, and Jakob were just different versions of me from different instances in my life! And their sole purpose here was to gather all of us... to where we find ourselves now! To the point where I can wipe New Domino City off the map!
Yusei: Are you out of your mind?! Millions of people live here!
Aporia: But fear not, Yusei. The people of New Domino won't suffer the same fate as their city; they will live. But once they get to know the festering dimension that they've been banished to— they may wish that they hadn't.
(Lazar's Viewing Platform- Lazar now has his face pressed up against the glass of the window.)
Lazar: Festering what?!
(Duel Track)
Aporia: It's over, Yusei. Once I win this duel the city will be destroyed! And my future reborn!
Yusei: You're a fool!
Aporia: No, Yusei, I'm afraid you are the fool. I have seen what is in store for all of us, and I will not stand by and forsake the future! So ready yourself, Yusei, because it all ends now! (Red light blasts from him in all directions, and slices across the track in front of Yusei, slicing it off. In a cloud of dust and debris, the track falls apart.)
Yusei: No! Aaaaahh! (Jumps and lands on the street below, bouncing and skidding a bit, Aporia and runner follow him down to the street in a huge cloud of dust; a guy standing on the sidewalk nearby gets covered with it, and hits a streetlight pole as Aporia rides past.)
MC: Whoa! What a terrifying turn of events! The duellists are off the track now! But continuing their match on city streets, packed with people!
(Lazar's Viewing Platform, the stands below are completely empty.)
Lazar: Keep fighting the fight, Yusei! Beat this guy, please!
(5D's Booth)
Luna: Ahh...!
Leo: Yusei really has his work cut out for 'im, now!
(Duel Track- Yusei watches Aporia over his shoulder. Looking forwards and up; the base of the Divine Temple is hanging in the sky, surrounded by dark clouds. Lightning bolts strike around it toward the city below.)
Yusei: If what my father said to me in that dream is true, I'd better act fast! (Accelerates)
Aporia: Heh— you are wise to flee, Yusei. After all, now that my Meklord has absorbed your best monster, you don't have a chance to beat me! Hah! You're done-for!
Yusei: ("Usually this is when I tell the bad guy how wrong he is, but this time— he could be right.")
Aporia: Meklord Astro Mekanikle now attacks you directly— go, Mekanikle Mayhem!
Yusei: (Looks behind him again, then ahead, seeing a young boy sitting in the middle of the road, with his toy ball.)
Boy: Help! Mamaaa!
Yusei: Uh-oh! I play Scrap-Iron Scarecrow! This negates one of Aporia's monsters' attacks! (Brakes sideways just short of the kid who is amazed.) Now go! (The kid picks up his ball and runs away, crying. Yusei rides again) I can't duel with all of my heart with these people around and in harm's way. (Goes down a street, and turns a sharp corner.) Come and get me! (Aporia somehow turns and follows. Yusei rides out the other side of the alley, causing an alarmed person to jump back; then Aporia rides through and takes out a chunk of the corner. They head towards the bridge on the ocean.)
MC: Goodness gracious! I'm just guessing, but I believe Yusei is leading Aporia into Satellite!
Yusei: There. It's just us, now.
Aporia: Oh, Yusei— a do-gooder to the end. And on that topic, I end my turn with a face-down. So since it's now the end phase, my Mekanikle's ability activates; an ability that sends your Shooting Star Dragon to the graveyard and then uses those attack points against you.
(Infirmary- Team Shining Storm gasp)
Crow: No— Shooting Star Dragon's original attack points're 3300, and Yusei—
Jack: Only has 2800 life-points remaining!
Lyra: Yeah, that's true. But look; I think Yusei saw it coming!
(Duel Track)
Yusei: I activate a trap that'll blow you away! Now Aporia, by destroying one face-up card in my spell and trap card zone— I can destroy Shooting Star Dragon!
(5D's Booth)
Leo: So— he's through?!
Luna: That was the only move for Yusei!
Akiza: Maybe so, but that was his best monster...
Bruno: Right. Which means Yusei wouldn't give him up unless he really knew what he was doing.
(Duel Track)
Aporia: Your turn now.
Yusei: I draw! (Draws) I play the effect of Speed World Two. Now by removing seven speed counters, I'm allowed to draw one card! (Draws- Salvagent) Next I'll summon that card straight to the field in attack mode. Rise, Salvagent! Now by releasing Salvagent, I can negate the ability of one synchro monster in my graveyard, and summon it to the field in defence mode. Shooting Star Dragon, welcome back! However— the monster summoned using Salvagent's effect doesn't count as a synchro monster! I'll now throw two face-downs to end my turn.
Aporia: Hmhmhmhmhm. You pathetic fool! What good is it without its status or special ability? Hahahahaha!
(5D's Booth)
Luna: For one, now it can't be absorbed!
Leo: Wait, so Shooting Star Dragon's just an ordinary monster now?
Akiza: Yeah. And that changes everything.
(Duel Track)
Aporia: The moment I win this duel; New Domino City will be destroyed! And then from its ashes will rise a grand future!
Yusei: Destruction never leads to anything grand, Aporia!
Aporia: You have your opinion, Yusei, and I have mine; so let's just settle this with our cards, once and for all! My turn. I draw! (Draws) And now I activate the effect of Speed World Two! Now, by removing seven of my speed counters, I get to draw one card from my deck! (Draws- Wisel Attack 5) I banish Wisel Attack 5 from my hand to the graveyard, so that Meklord Mekanikle gains Wisel's ability. Now— when Meklord Astro Mekanikle attacks a monster in defence mode, not only does your monster feel its wrath, but so will your precious life-points!
Yusei: Not with Scrap-Iron Scarecrow out!
Aporia: Think again! Using Wisel Attack Five's special ability, which is in play, I can negate the trap card you activated, and destroy it!
Yusei: What?!
(5D's Booth)
Leo: Oh, no! If Scarecrow's gone, Yusei can't stop Aporia's attack!
Bruno: And that's bad. Shooting Star Dragon has twenty-five-hundred defense points; Meklord Mekanikle has four thousand; that difference doubled means that Yusei will have three thousand pounding points of damage headed his way!
Luna: ...And he only has 2800 points left!
(Infirmary- Jack strains to sit up in bed.)
Aura: Jack, you shouldn't be moving!
Jack: I'd move the whole world if I could help Yusei now! Nnngghh...
Crow: (Sits up as well.) Yeah, Jack, I'm right there with ya! We gotta send Yusei all of our good vibes! Rgh...
(Duel Track)
Aporia: This is where it ends for you— and New Domino City! Hehe, ahahahahahaha!
Yusei: Hhgghh... (Yusei glares grimly over his shoulder, as Aporia laughs, and the Divine Temple hangs above)
Aporia: Farewell, Yusei Fudo, this is the end! Hnhnhnhnhnhn!
Yusei: ("Not if I can find a way to destroy Aporia's Meklord Astro Mekanikle. But the question is, how?") (Jack and Crow ride out from behind a crate, behind Yusei, just ahead of Aporia.)
Jack: Yusei!
Yusei: Who's that? No way!
(5D's Booth- Team Shining Storm are also at the Booth)
Leo and Luna: Ah...!
Leo: Look, it's Jack and Crow!
Akiza: Guess they're feeling better...
Toru: Still injured though…
Sect: (Pouts) At least they're feeling better…
(Duel Track)
Jack: Yusei— we're with you all the way!
Crow: We're not lettin' ya face this creep alone!
Yusei: No, get outta here! It's too dangerous, and you've both been through so much!
Crow: We been through worse, pal. Sorry, but there's no way that you're gettin' rid of us. Jack an' I are here to stay!
Jack: And here to help, just like the cards we played still are! Don't tell me you forgot all about my face-down card, Yusei?
Yusei: ...Actually, I did! Jack threw a card...! And it's still in play. Which means I still have a chance to win this duel! And I'm gonna take that chance, here and now!
Aporia: Now, Meklord Astro Mekanikle, rev up your mechanized motor— and attack Shooting Star Dragon! Go! Meklord Mayhem!
Yusei: I activate a trap— Scrap-Iron Scarecrow! It negates your Astro Mekanikle's attack.
Aporia: You foolish dolt; have you forgotten that Astro Mekanikle cannot be affected by trap cards right now?! Due to the ability of my banished Wisel Attack Five, any one trap you activate is negated and destroyed!
Yusei: Any one trap, but what if I have two?
Jack: Go for it, Yusei! Use my face-down!
Yusei: With pleasure, Jack! Go, Revenge Twin Soul!
Jack: And the revenge will be Yusei's! Because now by removing two synchros in his graveyard from play, he can increase a monster's defence by those two synchros' levels times 100!
Yusei: And the two synchros that I remove are the level 12 Red Nova Dragon and the level 8 Black-Winged Dragon, which means Shooting Star Dragon now gains 2000 protective points! And if ya do the math, that's more than your Astro Mekanikle's attack points!
Jack: But Twin Soul is double trouble, because it has a second effect! Since Shooting Star's defense is greater than Mekanikle's attack strength, Aporia's monster— goes bye-bye!
Aporia: Yes— perhaps if you were dealing with just any attacking monster! But you're facing the ultimate Meklord— so, by removing one Emperor part in my graveyard from play, its destruction is negated! Hnh! So your trap card dealt me a bit of damage; but that is nothing compared to the damage— I'll soon deal to your city. I place one card face-down and end my turn.
Crow: All right, then it's our move now!
Yusei: My draw! (Draws) And first I'm throwing down Angel Baton! Which means, since I have two or more speed counters, I now get to draw two cards, but then must send one card in my hand to the graveyard (Guard Master)! Next I activate the trap, Dimension Voyage! This lets me take the amount of synchro monsters that were removed from play and summon that same amount to my field!
Jack: And right now two synchro monsters have been removed from play!
Crow: Which means
Yusei: Welcome back, Red Nova Dragon and Black-Wing' Dragon! However, due to Dimension Voyage, their abilities are negated, they can't attack, and they're removed from play at this turn's end phase!
Aporia: No special abilities and they can't wage attacks? Then why play them at all?
Yusei: Next I switch Shooting Star Dragon to attack mode. Next I activate the trap, Trust Chain! Now synchro monsters can't attack this turn, but until my turn's over, Red Nova Dragon and Black-Wing' Dragon's attack points—are added to make Shooting Star Dragon a whole lot stronger!
Aporia: 9600 attack points?!
Yusei: Shooting Star Dragon, attack Meklord Astro Mekanikle!
Aporia: Pride comes before the fall— like your pride in those attack points, Yusei! As for the fall— go, Banishing Crime! I'm allowed to use this trap card during the battle phase, to remove all synchro monsters on the field from play.
Yusei: Ohh, man, I don't like where this is going.
(5D's Booth)
Leo: This is just plain awful, Shooting Star Dragon's attack points are now lower than Meklord Astro Mekanikle's!
(Duel Track)
Yusei: I activate another effect of Trust Chain; now by destroying this card the battle phase ends! Ugh...
Crow: Back to square one.
Jack: This guy's got an answer for everything!
Aporia: I'm not through yet, Yusei; now, due to Banishing Climb's effect, the monsters that were removed from play, return to the field with their special abilities negated!
Jack: Oh no! It's the worst-case scenario!
Aporia: Indeed, it is, because now, Yusei Fudo, your synchro monsters will become my synchro monsters!
MC: Oh, my word! By way of some bedazzling gameplay, Aporia has set the stage, to infuse Yusei's synchros into his Astro Mekanikle's gears!
Yusei: I place one card face-down, and end my turn.
Aporia: My draw, then. (Draws) I activate Mekord Astro Mekanikle's special ability! And it's as you feared— once per turn, my Astro Mekanikle can absorb a synchro monster and gain attack points equal to that synchro's original attack points. So thank you for the power boost, Red Nova Dragon!
(5D's Booth)
Luna: Ah?!
Leo: I'd say things can't get worse, but I think they're about to!
(Duel Track)
Aporia: And now, by sending a Meklord Emperor part to the graveyard, Meklord Astro Mekanikle takes on that part's ability! So, Granel Top 5, you are hereby banished and your ability is hereby gained. Meaning Astro Mekanikle now can absorb an additional synchro monster!
Jack: So he's stealing two synchro monsters in a single turn?!
Crow: Oh no, Black-Wing' Dragon! Sorry we couldn't protect ya, pal...!
Aporia: And I think we all know what happens next, don't we? Astro Mekanikle gains Black-Wing' Dragon's original attack points to use as its very own!
Yusei: But that's over 10000 power points!
Aporia: That's right, Yusei, and I'm going to use them all, to defeat you and destroy this city! Now, Yusei— say goodbye! Meklord Astro Mekanikle, attack!
Crow and Jack: Incoming!
Yusei: I can't let it end like this! I play Guard Master's ability! You see, Aporia, if you attack when this card is in my graveyard, I can simply remove it from play; then the target of your attack switches to defence mode, and can't be destroyed this turn.
(Lazar's Viewing Platform- Lazar springs to his feet, face pressed against the window, and sighs in relief.)
Lazar: ...He's still in it...
(Duel Track)
Aporia: You're getting desperate, Yusei. And in your desperation, you've forgotten about my Astro Mekanikle's special ability. Let me remind you; by sending a synchro monster that Astro Mekanikle has absorbed to the graveyard, I can deliver you damage equal to that synchro monster's attack points.
Yusei: Huh!
Aporia: And since the monster I'll be banishing is Red Nova Dragon, that damage is 3500 points!
Jack: Yusei won't be able to withstand this attack! If it connects, he's going to lose this duel!
Crow: Yusei, no!
Yusei: I play my face-down, the trap Hardship! This card now becomes Shooting Star Dragon's equip card! Which means by making the attack and defence points of Shooting Star 0, the attack you're sending my way deals 0 damage!
Crow: All right, he's still in this!
Aporia: Huh! Fine, I'll just send Black-Wing' to the graveyard, and deal you 2800 points of damage!
Yusei: But that makes no sense, your Astro Mekanikle would simply lose attack points, and due to Hardship's effect, any damage sent my way would be negated! But if you insist, fine, I'll use Hardship's effect once more!
Aporia: I do insist, Yusei, because that trap is of no concern to me! Not with this trap in play; Infinite Feast! Now, Yusei, since a synchro monster that was absorbed by Astro Mekanikle is in the graveyard, my Astro Mekanikle is allowed to absorb whatever synchro monsters I so choose from that same graveyard.
Yusei: Wait— did you say monsters?! He did!
Aporia: And now, Yusei, you take damage equal to all the synchro monsters that my Astro Mekanikle absorbed this turn times 600.
Jack: Math's not my strong suit, but as I recall, Astro Mekanikle absorbed two synchros earlier, and then there were the two just now, so that means— 2400 points of damage!
Aporia: This might pinch a bit, Yusei!
Jack and Crow: Yusei! (Yusei swerves back and forth across the track, there are scuff marks all over his helmet. Crow and Jack breathe a sigh of relief.)
Aporia: And now due to Infinite Feast's effect, I regain 600 life-points! Next I play Astro Mekanikle's ability. As you might recall, it takes the attack points of your absorbed synchros, and gives them to my monster!
Crow: So after that, Astro Mekanikle's still as strong as ever!
Aporia: I end my turn, Yusei. And very soon after— I'll take great delight in sending you away!
Yusei: ("I only have four hundred life-points left! I better make a move— or I'm through.")
Jack: You may be low on life-points, Yusei, but you're still flush with friends, and we're not going anywhere!
Crow: Yeah, Jack's right! And we're not just with ya in body, but we're with you in spirit as well!
(5D's Booth- Luna's mark glows)
Luna: My mark, it's glowing...!
Akiza: (Clasps her hands prayerfully.) Yusei...
Lyra: You can do it.
(Duel Track)
Yusei: (Looks at his mark) ...All right. If my friends still believe... then I believe, too. And not just in myself, in my cards as well. And with that... there's only one thing left to say. (The top card of his deck shines) Let's... rev it up! I draw! (Draws) Perfect! First I play the effect, of the trap Hardship! Which means by sending Hardship to the graveyard, Shooting Star Dragon's destroyed.
Aporia: What's this? Why would you destroy your one and only monster?
Yusei: Because— it's not just my monster that goes, but all equip cards go, too!
(5D's Booth)
Misaki: Wait a sec…
Leo: Then that would mean...
Sect: That the Red Nova Dragon and Black-Winged Dragon that Astro Mekanikle absorbed go adios, and Astro Mekanikle's attack points go down!
(Duel Track)
Jack: All right! Now that metal monolith is a lot easier to take down!
Aporia: Yes, if you had any monsters to take him on with. But in case you have a short-term memory, you just destroyed the last beast you had!
Yusei: Indeed I did, Aporia. Which is why I now summon Mystic Piper! Now, by releasing Mystic Piper, I'm allowed to draw one card— and if the card I draw's a monster card, I get to draw again! (Draws- Sonic Chick) Must be my lucky day, it's a monster; now here comes my second pull. (Draws) Looks like my luck just keeps on coming! I now play the card I drew, the trap Ghoul Summoner! Now I can summon one monster that was destroyed and sent to the graveyard back to my field, and then equip Ghoul Summoner to it! And the monster I choose is Black-Winged Dragon!
Aporia: We've been through this before! When will you finally learn— your synchros are useless against my Astro Mekanikle, can't you see!
Yusei: If I were you, I'd be more concerned with what you're about to see, Aporia! The second effect of Ghoul Summoner! It lets me summon a synchro from my graveyard by making one discard! However I must then take damage equal to that synchro monster's attack points. Now return, Red Nova Dragon!
Aporia: You're through! Red Nova Dragon has more attack points than you have life-points!
Crow: Doesn' matter with Black-Winged Dragon's ability!
Yusei: That's right, Crow, when I take damage from an effect, I can place a counter on Black-Winged Dragon! For every counter I place, Black-Winged Dragon loses 700 attack points, but all damage dealt to me is negated!
(5D's Booth)
Leo: Yeah! Way to go, Yusei, low lifepoints aren't so bad so long as Black-Winged is there to take the hit!
(Duel Track)
Jack: And don't forget, Yusei— for every tuner in the graveyard, Red Nova Dragon gains 500 attack points! And since we have two, Mono Synchron and Formula Synchron, that's a big-time bonus of 1000!
Yusei: Then once again, due to my Ghoul Summoner trap's effect, by making just one discard, I can bring back from the graveyard Shooting Star Dragon! And just like before, the damage sent my way for summoning Shooting Star Dragon is absorbed by placing another counter on Black-Winged!
Crow: They're all here...!
Jack: Like it was meant to be!
Yusei: Like they share the same bond we do! Time for me to rev things up! I now activate Black-Wing's ability! With it, I can remove all of Black-Wing's counters, and then your monster's attack points decrease by the number of those counters multiplied by 700! But that's not all; your life-points get hit by the same amount! So since Black-Winged Dragon has two counters... Your Astro Mekanikle loses 1400 attack points. And now, Aporia, another fourteen-hundred points— are delivered to you as damage! Go, Shadow Squall Blast!
Crow: Way to go, Yusei, plus, since Black-Wing doesn't have any counters, he gains 1400 attack points! Now Black-Wing' Dragon has more attack points than Meklord Astro Mekanikle!
Yusei: He sure does, Crow. And now I'm going to have him use them! Black-Wing' Dragon! Attack!
Aporia: Gah!
Aporia: I activate my Astro Mekanikle's ability. By removing one Meklord Emperor part in my graveyard from play, Mekanikle's destruction is negated! And the part I remove is, Granel Guard.
Jack: Yusei! Don't let up!
Yusei: Not a chance! Red Nova Dragon! Attack! Go, Burning Soul Strike!
Aporia: I play Astro Mekanikle's power once more, and remove Granel Attack from play, to save it from being destroyed!
(5D's Booth)
Leo: All right!
Bruno: He's only got 500 life-points left!
(Duel Track)
Aporia: This cannot be! There is a chance— I could lose this!
Yusei: Not a chance— you will lose this, Aporia! Right now! Time to end this! Go, Shooting Star Dragon! Attack with Stardust Mirage!
Aporia: Agh...! Agh, I've failed! (The Divine Temple fades from the sky.) The Divine Temple is no more...! And this city and its people are safe! (His runner explodes, scattering cards and flames in every direction. Yusei, Jack, and Crow brake to the side in time to watch Aporia and his runner careen and fall apart, straight past and off the pier and into the sea with another huge explosion. Aporia's wreck sinks. Yusei, Jack, and Crow stand near the shore, staring after it, then turn to each other with smiles.)
Crow: You did it.
Yusei: Not me...
Jack: ...All of us.
Yusei: Right. We did this together. (They fist-bump. The sky turns blue again, filled with fluffy white clouds and streaming sunshine.)
MC: And we have our winner! Wow, what a winding road it has been for these three duel warriors! But when push came to shove... We were witnesses to what true champions are made of! And speaking of champions, the victors of the second semi-finals of the World Racing Grand Prix are Team 5D's!
(5D's Booth- Team Shining Storm, Luna, Leo, Akiza and Bruno cheer, putting their fists in the air.
Twins, Bruno, Akiza: Hooray!
(Lazar's Viewing Platform)
Lazar: Yippee! We won, we beat that no-good villain! Okay, maybe not we, so much, but even so— (Pops a confetti popper, and the streamers drift down across the top box windows.)
(Stadium- Yusei, Jack and Crow return to the starting line.)
MC: And here are our heroes, taking their victory lap! Jack Atlas, Crow, and Yusei Fudo! We salute you! (Yusei, Jack and Crow stop in front of the pit booths, and the rest of the team runs out to meet them.)
Luna: There they are!
Leo: Way to go, guys!
Luna: The city's safe, now! How'd you do it?
Yusei: Teamwork.
Crow: Heheh...
Toru: Jack! You saved us! We're indebted to you!
Lyra: I'll cash in later. (Yusei and Crow look at each other, and laugh.)
Halldor: Team Five-D's. (He, Broder and Dragan join the others)
Yusei: Huh? Team Ragnarok? Whada you want?
Halldor: We are here to tell you something.
Crow: Lemme guess, that you wanna rematch?
Broder: No, that you did great. (Offers a fist to Crow, who returns the fist bump.)
Crow: I'll take that. (Carly enters with her camera.) Smile, everyone! This moment's gonna go down in history! (The first photo is of Broder, who has Crow in a headlock. The second is of Jack and Dragan linking elbows. The third shot is Bruno and Misaki holding up a 'V' signs, while Yusei ruffles Leo's hair and Akiza and Luna stand by laughing with Lyra and Sect. The fourth shot has Carly holding the camera away from herself; not noticing Mina and Toru fawning over Jack in the background. Yusei savours this peaceful moment with his friends, looking up at the sky.)
Yusei: ("And now history, and the future, are safe forever.")
(Ride 9- End.)