The sun hadn't even risen as we all stood out the front of the orphanage about to go to the Nazca Lines in the B.A.D. Area. I wiped the sleep from my eyes as I yawned. We had been fortunate enough to be able to use the rest of the previous night to try and get ourselves prepared mentally for what might happen. I myself though just needed to sleep, but I wasn't able to get much rest, mostly because I was just really stressed out. I didn't even really have a need to be stressed, although, for some reason, I was.
"Alright, kids in the back, Tyler in the passenger seat." Trudge ordered. We did as we were told and got into the car and sat in our assigned seats. It was good that I got the passenger seat: It gave me extra room for my things. See, for extra measure (and pretty sure my inherent anti-socialist nature), I bought my Duel Disk, Deck, Torunka's Staff, my phone and my earphones.
"This is it, you guys… Are you ready?" Yusei asked, turning to us in his Duel Runner gear as he sat atop his ride. Just down from him was Jack, sitting in his Duel Runner, and then Akiza and Mina in their own Sector Security car.
"Yep!" Luna nodded.
"Let's hurry this up. We've got Duels to win. Just give us a rousing speech so we can head off!" Jack snapped.
"Alright then," Yusei cleared his throat, "the Dark Signers are powerful, and now we are the only things standing in their way! If you should find yourself up against a wall, just think of the rest of us! We're all in this together and even when we're apart, our Marks will always unite us!" Yusei shouted, determinedly, before turning to the road ahead of us. "Now let's go show these creeps how we Signers' do things!" Yusei revved his Duel Runner and sped off.
"If any of you loses your Duel, you'll answer to me!" Jack said before speeding off.
"Make sure you've got your seatbelts on!" Trudge instructed.
"This car doesn't seem to have any seatbelts…" I muttered.
"Hold on tight!" Trudge shouted as he revved his engine and we began our journey to the Monkey's Control Unit. We took a left turn, exiting the orphanage as we entered, for lack of a better word, the slum area of Satellite.
I watched outside as a raven perched itself on a tree in passing. Its eyes were blood-red.
"Hey…" I heard Luna say softly before Leo screamed.
"Don't scare me like that, Luna!" Leo shouted.
"You scare me when you scream like that!" Luna protested, causing Leo to sigh.
"Everything okay?" I asked, turning around to face Leo.
"No, everything's not okay! Did you see that bird? It was the creepiest thing I've ever seen! It was like its eyes were staring into my soul!" Leo ranted.
"You shouldn't have come with us, Leo… You're all on edge…" Luna muttered.
"D-don't worry about me!" Leo said, wiping his finger across the bottom of his nose. "I'm just pretending to be scared so that you guys don't have to be scared… Yeah, that's it! I'm just pretending, see? Check it out!" Leo raved as he took out his Duel Disk.
"Why did you bring that?" Luna asked.
"I'm gearin' up! All right you Dark Signers, come out and get some!" Leo shouted.
"I'm the one who's gonna be Dueling…" Luna said.
"Speaking of which," I began, "how are you feeling, Luna?"
"I'm fine." Luna nodded. "A little tired, but… I'll be fine." She smiled.
"Alright," I smiled back, "Let me know if I can do anything for you, okay?"
Luna nodded once more. "Thank you, Tyler."
Without warning, my body jolted and in a split-second, it was like I was on some weird acid trip, floating through a vortex of color. I heard a scream and I gasped as I returned to reality, finding myself back in Trudge's car, looking at the twins.
"Luna, you okay?" Leo asked worriedly.
"What was that screaming just now?" Luna panicked.
"You heard it too?" I asked.
"What screaming? I didn't hear anything!" Leo shouted.
Luna brought her hands up to the side of her head. "It was so loud and powerful… Like someone from the Spirit World was calling out to me… us…" Luna said, before looking at me.
"What did it sound like? Was it Ancient Fairy Dragon?" Leo asked.
"What's with all this Spirit World talk?" Trudge asked.
"Luna and Tyler can see and talk to Duel Monster Spirits from the Spirit World!" Leo clarified.
"How stupid do you think I am?" Trudge asked.
"No! It's true!" Leo argued.
"Right… And my sister can fly! She's got magic wings made of gold!" Trudge joked.
"Tyler, tell him!" Leo shouted.
I sighed. "Okay… First, it's impossible to fly with gold wings. They'd be too heavy." I left a pause for effect, but no one laughed. Well at least I thought it was funny. Regardless, I cleared my throat. "Second, the Spirit World does exist. I've been there at least twice in the last year." I said. It was actually three times, but no one needed to know about my most recent encounter with my 'guardian'.
"You believe this crap too?" Trudge asked. "Come on. Don't encourage them."
"Whether you believe me or not doesn't matter, but think of this: The Dark Signers are trying to resurrect the King of the Underworld by opening up a portal to Hell with the power of Momentum. Don't you think that in comparison, the Spirit World doesn't seem as farfetched?" I asked, turning to Trudge.
"You're not changing my mind…" Trudge said.
"Your choice…" I sighed.
"Jerk…" Leo muttered.
"Tyler… Tyler…" a voice called. I didn't know where it was coming from. It sounded like it was all around me.
"Who's there?" I asked.
"Who are you talking to?" Trudge asked.
"It's me, Explosivo…" The voice whispered. "You need to come to the Spirit World right away…" he ordered. "The Ancient Fairy Dragon needs you…"
I immediately remembered what Mina had said, about it being important that the Ancient Fairy Dragon be saved, and I didn't need to hear anymore. I could've easily thought about it for a couple extra seconds, but there was no need: If Explosivo would keep his promise to me, then I would be able to keep my promise to Luna, and to everybody else. But most importantly, I'd be able to keep the promise I made to myself.
"Fine…" I sighed as Explosivo's voice faded. I looked to Luna and immediately noticed the expression on her face. I could tell almost straight away that she had just gotten a visit from a Duel Spirit as well. "Did you-" I began.
"Kuribon told me…" Luna murmured. "Would you… come with me?" Luna asked, desperation in her eyes. The message relayed was obviously the same.
"Of course…" I smiled.
"Thank you! I'll feel a lot better if you're by my side!" Luna smiled.
"What are you two babbling about?" Trudge asked.
"Close your eyes and take my hands." Luna said softly. I did as I was told and cupped Luna's hands in mine and closed my eyes as numbness overtook my body and Luna and I were bathed in a bright light.
I was forced to shut my eyes from the intense brightness, but once the light had faded and I had regained feeling in my body, I opened my eyes and saw that Luna and I were now back in Schwank, the same town in the Spirit World where I first met Torunka. Conveniently enough, Torunka came out from behind a barrel just as I let go of Luna's hands.
"Oh, Luna, Tyler! I've been waiting for you!" Torunka shouted, sounding relieved.
"Torunka!" Luna looked around the area, but besides the three of us, it was a practical ghost town, just as it had been the last time. "Where's Regulus?" Luna asked.
"Well, you see…" Torunka stammered. "He's, um… been captured…" he explained.
"Captured?! What could have happened?!" Luna asked anxiously.
"Right when they were about to catch me, Regulus sacrificed himself so I could get away." Torunka said.
"Don't tell me you-" Luna began.
"I'm so sorry." Torunka interrupted. "I bow my head in shame…"
"Then that means Regulus is in Zeman's Castle now, right?" Luna asked.
"I would say so, yes." Torunka sighed.
"Well then we have to rescue him! There's not much time though, so we'll have to split up." Luna suggested. "I'll go with Torunka to save Regulus. Tyler, please search for Zeman."
I nodded. "When I find him, what do you want me to do?" I asked.
"Beat him up! Test out your karate on him or something. You know karate, don't you, Tyler?" Torunka asked, before chopping the air in front of me. "Haiii-yah!"
"I guess. But I don't think taking a violent approach with him will work." I said.
"Tyler's right!" Luna cut in. "This is serious! The only way to win is if we all work together, okay?" Luna asked. "Don't do anything risky until we get Regulus out of harm's way." Luna said. I nodded, but Torunka didn't give any kind of notable response. "Well, at least I know I can count on you Tyler." Luna said.
"What is that supposed to mean…?" Torunka asked.
"Why, nothing at all, Torunka! Let's get going!" Luna said cheerfully. Luna, Torunka and I headed up the steps into town before splitting up at the fountain. Luna and Torunka began walking through the other side of town as I headed up the dank cliffside.
I had already been through the area once before, and I was actually able to remember the way, surprisingly. It didn't take me too long to reach the gate to Zeman's Castle, but what also surprised me was that the entrance to the castle seemed to be unguarded.
I put my hands to the doors and pushed them open with ease. "That's strange…" I muttered. The castle was unguarded and the gate was unlocked. I unhooked Torunka's Staff from my uniform and kept it close as I made my way inside.
Heading into the main hall, I took a second to once again admire the castle's architecture before running straight ahead, under the assumption that Zeman's throne room would be positioned at the head of the castle.
Once again, the doors opened easily to my touch, but the room I found myself in was not a throne room. Or at least it didn't look like it. For one, there was no throne. The room was also just plain weird. It was circular and had six platforms evenly arranged around the room jutting out from the walls. At the other end of the room was another door. As I approached the edge of the platform I was on, I realized that there was no other floor, and that below the platforms was a very large drop. The room itself seemed to disappear down into the darkness and I reminded myself that I had to be very careful.
Ahead of me there was a center platform with three different-colored walkways protruding out. To the left of me there was an altar with a strange symbol carved into it. I had no idea what the symbol on the altar meant but noticed that each platform seemed to have its own altar, and beside it, a Minus Staff hanging from the wall.
Nevertheless, I moved forward, taking slow cautious steps onto the green walkway and onto the center platform. Ahead from that, I noticed another walkway, this one smaller and orange. I stepped out onto the walkway, once again making slow steps until I had cleared it.
The door seemed to be bolted shut, but with one swift movement of the Staff, I was able to blast open the door, revealing another room. This room however was vast and empty, aside from the center, which seemed to have a hole with white light swirling around inside it, slightly obscuring my view of what was in front of me. The hole was surrounded by columns.
"How the Hell did you get in here?" a gravelly voice yelled.
I narrowed my eyes, looking through the light as what looked to be a giant monkey with maroon-colored fur dressed in a cape, wearing what looked to be a burgundy skirt partially covered by some loincloth descended from a set of steps.
"Yeah, the castle was unguarded and the doors were unlocked." I told him. "I was able to just… walk in."
The monkey growled softly. "It matters not. Just like the other Duel Spirits who revolt, you'll be dealt with."
"Okay, so I'm guessing you're Zeman." I said simply. "Okay, um, I'm not a Duel Spirit. I'm a human."
"Ah, a human…" Zeman mulled. "Then your soul will be of even greater use to Devack."
"Devack…" I muttered, recalling that that was the name of the Dark Signer that Luna was supposed to be fighting. "You're working with him?"
"Of course! It was Devack who sent me here to take over Schwank and imprison the Ancient Fairy Dragon. I owe a great deal to him and the King of the Underworld, and this is one way that I will be able to secure my place on a much larger throne! Once the Gate to the Underworld has been opened, my army of soldiers and I will be able to fully cross over into the Human World and plunge it into darkness!" Zeman shouted.
"No way! You have to get through me first!" I shouted, tensing a little.
"Is that so?" Zeman laughed as a Minus Staff appeared in his hand. "Consider it an honor to die by my hand, human!" Zeman pointed his staff toward me before I could react, only allowing enough time for a bunch of obscenities to race through my head. In a flash of light, Zeman's staff was knocked out of his hand. "What is this? My Minus Staff…?!"
I looked around for the perpetrator of the attack, but couldn't see anyone in my immediate view. Then I felt this presence overcome me, and I looked up and saw him floating above me.
Explosivo.
"You…!" Zeman roared as Explosivo dropped down next to me.
"Thanks…" I muttered.
"I told you: through me, you would always be protected." Explosivo smiled before drawing his sword and facing Zeman. "As for you, your reign as King ends today!" Explosivo shouted, charging at Zeman.
Explosivo and Zeman clashed and they parried each other's blows perfectly. I was honestly amazed. It took me a little while to realize however, that I could help Explosivo instead of standing around and doing nothing like an idiot. After all, I still had Torunka's Staff.
My grip on Torunka's Staff tightened as I focused all my efforts on it, before a blue light came forth and struck Zeman in the chest, allowing Explosivo to gain the advantage for an instant. Zeman became overwhelmed and staggered back towards his throne.
"Your abilities are impressive," Zeman panted, "but it will take more than that for the both of you to defeat me!"
"Explosivo!" Regulus yelled as he charged into my view, startling me a little.
"Good timing!" Explosivo yelled. "Although I could've taken him down on my own." he smiled.
Regulus turned to me. "Tyler, please lend me Torunka's Staff!"
"Uh, yeah. Sure." I said, fumbling a bit before reaching out for Regulus to take the staff, which he latched onto with his teeth, before turning back to Zeman. "Prepare yourself!" he yelled as he charged at Zeman. Once Torunka's Staff made contact with Zeman's Minus Staff, the surrounding area became bathed in a white light.
"Tyler! Regulus!" I heard Luna yell.
"H-hey, what's happening?!" Torunka piped up.
"Honestly… I've got no idea…" I muttered.
The light faded as I saw Regulus was on top of Zeman, claws out, ready to go in for the kill, with Luna and Torunka standing next to me.
"Go, Regulus! Get him!" Luna yelled.
"You fool!" Zeman groaned, knocking Regulus to the floor, but before anything else could be done, a sword ran straight through the left side of Zeman's chest as he let out a piercing scream.
Explosivo gripped the hilt of his sword tightly in his hands as Zeman's body sporadically jerked and pulsated. A quick twist of the sword tore at more of his flesh, and blood began to flow rapidly out of the open wound and down his torso. Torunka and I cringed, whilst Luna let out a small scream, before turning and burying her face in her hands to get away from the violence. One more quick motion, the sword being pulled out of Zeman, and his body dropped to the ground, completely motionless.
Explosivo breathed heavily. "That's it…" he said.
"Tyler… can I open my eyes now?" Luna asked shakily.
"Uh… no… I think it would be best if you, um… kept them closed for the time being." I said, eyeing the blood that began to trickle down Zeman's body and create small pools around his corpse.
Regulus struggled to get back on all fours, looking wearily at Zeman's body resting beside him. As Regulus turned his gaze towards Explosivo, I felt as though there was some tension between them. As it turned out, I was right. "You…! I didn't ask for your assistance!"
"Still angry at me I see, kitty." Explosivo taunted, though the taunt was somewhat offset by his serious expression. "You would've died without my help. Both of you would have." Explosivo turned his attention to me. "What were you thinking, Tyler? Were you trying to get yourself killed?"
"I was doing what was asked of me. What you asked of me. To help the Ancient Fairy Dragon. Don't try and come off like I was doing the wrong thing!" I snapped.
"You didn't have to be so overconfident. You would've died like a fool on your own. Torunka's Staff would've ended up in Zeman's possession, Regulus would've been no match for him, and all hope would be lost. But not only that, how do you think your father would feel if I let any harm come to you."
"What? You mean any more than what you've already told me?" I asked.
"Just be more careful in future, that's all I'm saying…" Explosivo sighed, putting his sword back in the sheath as he bent down to pick up Zeman's lifeless body. "Anyway, there's not much time. I'll take care of things here, but the four of you had better get moving." He explained. "Behind the throne lies the door to the stairway, and Ancient Fairy Dragon is being kept at the summit of that stairway."
"Are you sure?" I asked.
"Of course I'm sure." Explosivo smiled, "Oh, wait. You'll need Zeman's Minus Staff to free the Ancient Fairy Dragon." Explosivo handed me Zeman's Staff, while Torunka retrieved his own.
I slowly turned to Luna and saw that she still had her hands covering her eyes. I obviously didn't want her to see any more than she absolutely had to. "Luna, turn to your right. Keep your eyes closed." I instructed.
"Um… okay…" Luna murmured, doing as I'd told her.
"Okay, sweetie, you can look now." I smiled. Luna slowly moved her hands away from her face, the blood stains on the castle floor far from her view.
"Alright then, you three: hop on." Regulus urged, lowering himself to the ground. Luna kept her sight to the wall as she made her way over to us. I helped Luna onto Regulus before giving Luna Zeman's Staff so that I could get on without any difficulty. With a mad dash, Regulus charged through the door at the back room and up a flight of stairs which seemed to stretch on to no end.
"Who was that Duel Spirit before?" Luna asked.
"His name's Explosivo."
"Didn't you Summon a monster named Explosivo in your Duel with Joel?"
I nodded. "Yep. Same one. He's sorta like my guardian. Or at least that's what he told me." I explained.
"Your guardian?"
"Yeah. Apparently my dad's dead. It was in a will or something that he requested that he take care of me. So I'm thinking my dad could talk to Duel Spirits as well, but I'm not really sure. I suppose it doesn't really matter now though, does it?"
"Tyler…" Luna muttered.
Eventually, the four of us made it up the stairway and into another room. This room was much bigger, with flaming torches hung from the walls, stone tablets, which I assumed contained the spirits of Duel Monsters that Zeman had captured for Devack's cause. A stone tablet of Ancient Fairy Dragon, or what I assumed to be Ancient Fairy Dragon, seemed to be the room's centerpiece, as torches with purple fire were hung near her tablet, which was around three times bigger than all of the others.
Luna, Torunka and I hopped off of Regulus. Luna gripped Zeman's Staff at the hilt. "I hope this works…" she muttered, raising the staff towards the tablet of Ancient Fairy Dragon. Instantly, Zeman's Staff began reacting, and in a flash of light, the Ancient Fairy Dragon appeared before us, the tablet behind her now blank.
I looked up, absolutely in awe of the dragon. She was quite large, towering over all of us, and of course resembling the image on the tablet, as well as the card that was in Devack's possession.
"Thanks to your efforts, I have finally returned…!" she bellowed.
"Ancient Fairy Dragon!" Luna cried.
"Are you alright?" Regulus asked.
"I am indeed, Regulus. I can't thank you enough for all your help." Ancient Fairy Dragon smiled kindly.
"There is no need for such words. I was merely carrying out my duties." Regulus said.
Ancient Fairy Dragon's smile widened as she directed her gaze towards Luna. "And you, Luna, because of your strength, peace has finally returned to the Spirit World. On behalf of everyone in this land, allow me to express my gratitude. I thank you."
"You're welcome." Luna smiled. "I'm just sorry it took so long. Anyway, I couldn't have done anything at all by myself."
Ancient Fairy Dragon nodded. "Maybe so…" she muttered, focusing her eyes on Torunka and me. Once again I must state that, size-wise, she was very intimidating. That said, her smile removed any uncertainties about her from my mind. "Tyler," she cooed, "thank you so much for rescuing Luna."
I wasn't sure what to do, so I bowed. "That's quite alright, Ancient Fairy Dragon. I apologize for not getting to her sooner."
"Torunka, thank you for guiding Tyler to Luna. Without your assistance, Zeman would have continued to rule the Spirit World."
"Oh really, it was nothing!" Torunka cheered. "We're happy to help!"
"Everyone, thank you so much for all your help!" Luna piped up. "I really appreciate it!"
"Although it is yet too early to say that we have found true peace. The Human World shall face a terrible crisis. It must be averted at all costs." Ancient Fairy Dragon said.
"Yes, if we don't seal the control units quickly, the King of the Underworld will be revived!" Luna explained.
"My, that sounds… dreadful!" Torunka cried.
"Indeed." Ancient Fairy Dragon said somberly. "We haven't got much time until the King of the Underworld is revived. And in fact, your brother, Leo, is now battling with a Dark Signer by the name of Devack."
"What?!" I asked.
"He is?!" Luna cried.
"Yes. He is also the Dark Signer that has my card in his possession. So unfortunately, until he's defeated, I will be unable to assist you any further."
"But Ancient Fairy Dragon, does that mean then that we'll have to fight you?" Luna asked.
"No. Devack only has my card as a way of keeping it out of your hands, Luna. Besides, Devack, as well as the rest of the Dark Signers, use special cards."
"Special cards?" Luna asked.
"Yes, the Earthbound Immortals, which each have different, unique and powerful abilities residing within them. You must approach with extreme caution!" Ancient Fairy Dragon warned. "Devack possesses the Earthbound Immortal Cusillu, and while your brother fights hard against it, he is horribly outmatched. There is no time to lose. You must go to him posthaste!" Ancient Fairy Dragon decreed.
"Okay!" Luna said, determined. "But it's really far from the B.A.D. Area to the control units. Even if we leave now, it may be too late."
"Hey! You're not wimping out now, are you?" Torunka asked.
"No, but I just don't see how we'll be able to reach Leo in time!" Luna protested.
"Well," Torunka began smugly, "now that my magic's back, it'll be a cinch to send you right there in the Human World!"
"You can really do that?!" Luna asked, amazed.
"Well, just look at me! Aren't I just the cutest little spellcaster you've ever seen?!" Torunka asked, striking a pose.
I sighed as Luna looked at me out of the corner of her eye. I couldn't help but laugh.
"What's so funny?" Torunka asked.
"Uh… I think this is just one of those moments where it's either laugh or cry, Torunka…" I told him.
"What?" he asked, puzzled.
"Never mind…" I muttered.
"Okay, well… Luna, Tyler, get ready!" Torunka instructed.
"Luna, Tyler. Trust in your friends, and each other, and never give up." Ancient Fairy Dragon said softly. "May the spirits protect you both…"
A white aura enveloped Luna and I as we began to float. We were pulled into a giant white bubble, and all I could see besides Luna was the white light covering the two of us. After a couple of seconds, the bubble faded, and we found ourselves standing directly towards the Monkey's Control Unit.
Purple flames were spouting out of the ground all around the area, trapping us inside. Luna and I looked around and saw Devack, along with this literally titanic black monkey behind him facing Leo, who was lying face-down and barely moving.
Luna and I rushed over to him. "Leo!" she cried, shaking Leo's shoulders lightly. "Please tell me that you're alright!" Luna begged.
"Luna…" Leo groaned, "Everything's under control…"
"Ah, so the real Signer decides to finally show up. I've been waiting for you, girl." Devack called out as he walked over to us.
"What did you do to Leo?!" Luna screamed, tears pouring from her eyes.
"We were just having a little Duel, as you can see. I was just getting ready to finish him off when you arrived." Devack smiled.
"I won't let you!" Luna shouted. "You'll have to Duel me now!"
"What a brave sister you are!" Devack jested. "As you wish." Devack powered down his Duel Disk as his monsters disappeared, before he recombined his card piles into his Deck and slotted it back into his Duel Disk. I found it a bit strange that in spite of Devack doing something in a Duel that would constitute a loss, nothing happened. Weirder still, the fire around us remained. I would even go so far as to say that the flames intensified.
"I won't let you get away with what you did to Leo!" Luna shouted as her Signer Mark lit up brightly.
"You've got it all wrong, girl… You see, he challenged me… I merely accepted." Devack explained. "It's not my fault the boy wanted to throw his life away! If I were you, I'd be touched that he even went to such lengths, especially considering the state of him."
"Lu-Luna…" Leo groaned once more.
I clenched my fists. Leo's condition was not good to say the least, and there was no way that I was gonna let any harm come to Luna. "That's enough!" I shouted.
"Tyler?" Luna asked.
"Oh? And who's this? Another non-Signer?" Devack smirked.
I turned to Luna. "Luna, there's no way in Hell I'm letting you go through with this." I told her, facing Devack once more. "Now, I'm Luna's personal bodyguard, and if you want to get to her, you'll need to go through me first!" I said, walking in front of her.
"Oh, is that right?" Devack asked. "You think you'll do any better than him?" Devack gestured to Leo. "You could be the best Duelist in the world, but as a non-Signer fighting against me, your defeat is all but guaranteed. Still…" Devack muttered, "If you want the girl to see you die that badly, I'll take both of you on together – a Tag Duel!" Devack shouted.
"Tag Duel, huh?" I mulled.
"No way!" Luna shouted, looking at me. "Leo's already in bad shape because of me, I'd never forgive myself if I let something bad happen to you too!"
"I'm not letting you do this alone, Luna." I said. "I told you I'd protect you and I meant it. Look: we beat Liquid and Okita before. That was two-on-two, now it's two-on-one. We can do this. I'm not letting you face this guy alone, alright?"
Luna nodded after a moment of hesitance. I could tell by her expression that she was thankful that I was gonna be Dueling by her side, but also concerned for my safety. "Alright, Tyler, let's fight together!"
"You got it!" I smiled, activating my Duel Disk.
"Luna! Tyler!" I heard Yusei yell. I looked around, my eyes eventually zeroing in on Yusei and Trudge standing on the top of a building outside of the purple flames.
"Hey, Yusei!" I shouted, giving Yusei and Trudge a quick wave.
"You're awfully calm for someone who's about to stare into the face of death…" Devack smirked.
"Not calm. Focused," I told him, "I'm not letting anything happen to Luna."
"You're gonna wish you never intervened, brat!" Devack shouted.
"Duel!"
[Tyler & Luna: 8000 LP]
[Devack: 8000 LP]
"I'll start!" I said, making my draw. "I'll Set one card face-down and activate the Spell Card, Prohibition. Now, I declare a card name, and as long as it stays face-up, you can't play whatever card I name."
"What?!" Devack cried.
"Yeah, that's right. And I know all about the Earthbound Immortals, so I'm going to select Earthbound Immortal Cusillu." I told him, "I'll finish my move by Summoning Breaker the Magical Warrior in Attack Position!" The caped knight appeared on my side of the field, drawing his sword [ATK: 1900].
"My turn then," Devack said calmly. "I activate the Spell Card, Terraforming, which allows me to add Mausoleum of the Emperor to my hand. And… I think I'll activate another Terraforming so I can add another Mausoleum of the Emperor to my hand. Next, I'll activate the Field Spell, Mausoleum of the Emperor!" Two obelisks erupted out of the ground along with a stone stairway, which made its way up to the Monkey's Control Unit. "Next, I'll activate the effect of Mausoleum, and pay two thousand Life Points to Summon Green Baboon, Defender of the Forest in Attack Mode!" The musclebound monkey appeared in a flash of light [ATK: 2600].
[Devack: 6000 LP]
Devack laughed. "How ironic that the Defender of the Forest shall bring about its destruction! Green Baboon, attack Breaker!" He shouted. His monster complied and rammed its fist into Breaker, sending shockwaves through my body as I was knocked into the air before plummeting to the ground.
[Tyler & Luna: 7300 LP]
"Tyler?! Are you alright?" Luna asked, running over to me and offering her hand to me.
"Damn it…" I muttered, "What the Hell was that?" I grabbed Luna's hand as she helped me to my feet. "The damage… was real…"
"Of course it is, you fool!" Devack yelled. "This is a Shadow Duel. In a Shadow Duel, you feel pain unlike anything you've ever experienced. You could be killed before your Life Points hit zero!" Devack laughed. "Of course, in a Shadow Duel, death is quickly followed by rebirth."
"What do you mean?" Luna asked.
"If the two of you lose this Duel, you'll be reborn as Dark Signers!" Devack grinned.
Luna gasped. "N-no!"
Devack turned to me and laughed once more. "You really should have just let the Signer Duel on her own."
I slowly got up, Luna holding onto my waist to support me. "N-no way…" I said as firmly as I could, which wasn't very firm at all. I had to admit I might have been a little in over my head. The pain was like nothing I had ever felt before. Akiza's, Liquid's, and Okita's combined Psychic powers couldn't hold a candle to the power of a Dark Signer, and poor Leo had to face this guy all on his own.
"I'll end my turn…" Devack snickered at me as I attempted to stand on my own, successfully I might add. There were no visible signs of damage to my body, like scars, cuts or bruises, but I was feeling horribly winded.
Luna looked at me, then Leo, and then turned to face Devack. "I draw… and I summon Kuribon in Attack Mode!" Luna shouted as the little furball appeared on her field [ATK: 300]. "Next I'll place two cards face-down… Your move, Devack…" Luna murmured.
Devack smirked as he drew. "My tu-"
Luna flung her hand out. "I activate Bad Reaction to Simochi! Now all healing is reversed and turned into damage! Next, I play my Gift Card. This card would normally grant you three thousand Life Points, but thanks to Simochi, you'll now take three thousand points of damage instead!"
A giant glossy card appeared on Devack's field, before promptly bursting into flames and spraying its sparks over Devack.
[Devack: 3000 LP]
"Nice work, Luna!" I complemented. "That was really well done." I smiled. Luna giggled.
"I'm going to continue with my turn now!" Devack growled. "I summon Berserk Gorilla!" Devack shouted as the red-furred, fire-breathing ape appeared on his field [ATK: 2000]. "Berserk Gorilla, attack Kuribon!" Devack shouted.
"Not so fast!" I shouted, flinging my hand out. "I activate my face-down Magical Arm Shield! This card allows me to take control of one of your other monsters and then forces you to do battle with it, I choose Green Baboon!" I said. Devack growled as Green Baboon was forced in front of Kuribon, taking the hit and reflecting the attack back at Berserk Gorilla. "Not only is Berserk Gorilla destroyed, but you'll take the difference in damage as well!" I smiled as Devack was hit by shockwaves, though he seemed angrier about the fact we had pitted his monsters against each other than that he just took damage from the battle.
[Devack: 2400 LP]
"I'll end my turn…" Devack muttered.
"I draw!" I emphasized. "I'll place one card face-down and summon Rapid-Fire Magician!" I shouted as the robed man appeared as various elements appeared around him [ATK: 1600]. "Next I activate the Spell Card, Fissure! Not only is Green Baboon destroyed, but thanks to Rapid-Fire's effect, you'll also take four hundred points of damage!"
"What?!" Devack cried as one of the elements surrounding Rapid-Fire became ablaze and struck him the chest.
[Devack: 2000 LP]
"Attack! Rapid-Fire and Kuribon!" I shouted. Kuribon looked to Luna for approval, who nodded. Rapid-Fire blasted Devack in the chest a couple times, followed by a quick headbutt from Kuribon.
[Devack: 100 LP]
"I end my turn…" I muttered as Devack coughed up blood.
"You fool! You dare to interfere in the War of the Titans?!" he asked. "You have no idea what I am capable of!" Devack shouted before coughing up more blood. "Foolish boy!"
"Who's got more Life Points, Devack?" I asked him, even though I already knew the answer. "We do. I told you that I'm not gonna let you harm Luna! And you're gonna pay for what you and Zeman did to the Spirit World."
Devack wiped the blood from his face. "You really have no idea, do you? Just exactly who I am…"
"I don't care who you are, Devack. All I care about is how Luna's a Signer and she was chosen by the Ancient Fairy Dragon to defeat you."
"Well I was chosen by the Earthbound Immortals to help the King of the Underworld claim his rightful place as the ruler of this world! I have shed my mortal form, fully embracing the darkness and plan that has been laid out for me since I was a member of The Scarlett Path. I will bridge the gap between this world and the next, and my brethren will return!"
"I've blocked your Earthbound Immortal, Devack, and you've only got a hundred Life Points left! Take your head out of your ass! You can't win! I won't let you win!" I told him.
"Let me win?" Devack asked softly. "Boy, even if you wanted to surrender right now, I wouldn't let you. I'm going to crush you and feed your soul to the King!" Devack shouted, drawing from his Deck. "I'll destroy Mausoleum of the Emperor and place another Field Spell face-down…" Devack muttered. "Next, I summon another Berserk Gorilla!" Devack called as Berserk Gorilla appeared once more [ATK: 2000]. "Berserk Gorilla… Crush and destroy! Attack Rapid-Fire Magician-"
"I activate Negate Attack!" I shouted, as my card opened out. "Not only is your monster's attack stopped, but your Battle Phase ends as well!" I told him.
"I know what the card does. All you're doing is simply delaying the inevitable." Devack smiled. "I end my turn."
"Alright, Luna, you can do this!" I said, turning to her. Luna nodded as she drew.
"I'll Set one monster, switch Rapid-Fire Magician to Defense Mode [DEF: 1200] and place one card face-down. I end my turn…" Luna muttered.
Devack continued to smile. "Then I draw-"
"I activate my Trap Card!" Luna shouted, flinging her hand out. "The Paths of Destiny! Next, I chain my other face-down, Dark Cure! Now a coin is tossed and if it's heads, you'll gain two thousand Life Points. If it's tails, you'll lose two thousand Life Points. Then we'll toss a coin, and if it's heads, we'll gain two thousand Life Points. If it's tails, we'll lose two thousand Life Points."
A giant coin appeared on the field before flipping itself and landing on heads, as shown by the display on our Duel Disks.
Devack grinned. "Well look at that… I guess that means I gain two thousand Life Points now…"
"Nope!" Luna piped up. "Remember, I've got Bad Reaction to Simochi out, so all Life Points that are gained from card effects are reversed!" Luna shouted.
I couldn't help but be amazed at Luna's skill. She made it so that whatever the result of the coin toss would have been, we would have won anyway. She was absolutely amazing!
Devack's eyes widened as a purple aura overcame Devack and he screamed in pain.
[Devack: 0 LP]
The purple flames surrounding us faded away as Devack collapsed onto the ground, groaning. "How could I have lost…?" he whispered as the monsters on the field disappeared. Devack broke out into hysterics. "Exalted one of The Scarlett Path, I ask for your forgiveness as I complete my ascension! Roman, please forgive me for my failure!" The aura around Devack grew as he screamed once more. "Make way for the Titans! Glory to the Dark Signers!"
When the purple aura cleared, Devack was nowhere to be found and Luna's Signer Mark dimmed.
"We won…" Luna muttered, before gasping. "Leo?!" Luna and I turned around and saw Leo staggering to his feet.
"Y-you beat him…" Leo spoke softly, as if speaking any louder would cause him pain. "I was supposed to be protecting you, but you ended up saving me instead…"
"No way!" Luna insisted. "I was only able to win because you were there with me!" Luna said, running up to him and hugging him.
"Really…?" Leo asked.
"Yes, really! I couldn't have done it if I was by myself!" Luna assured him. "You and Tyler were both here to help me!"
"W-well that's good to know!" Leo smiled before turning to me. "Thanks, Tyler."
"No problem…" I said softly, turning to Luna. "Luna, that combo you did at the end there was really impressive. You've got to teach me how you did that sometime."
"Tyler! Luna! Leo!" Yusei shouted as he and Trudge rushed over to us. "Are you alright?" he asked.
"We're better than alright!" Leo psyched. "Luna and Tyler just beat one of the Dark Signers! It was so awesome!" Leo cheered, before groaning and putting his hands to his chest.
"Maybe you should take it easy, Leo." Luna suggested.
"I-I'm fine, really." Leo cringed.
"We'll get you looked at later, Leo. For now, we have to go and seal the Control Unit…" Trudge muttered. Luna nodded as we all took a short walk to the Monkey's Control Unit.
I glanced at Luna as we walked. There was a little part of me that was worried we wouldn't make it, so I was glad that we'd won. She'd been so brave to face Devack and I was so proud of her. The light from the sun finally broke through the haze and dust of the cold morning as our feet pressed to the cracked, dry ground where the Monkey's Control Unit stood.
"This is like a total happy ending moment!" Leo cheered.
"Except it's not the end yet…" Luna muttered.
"Luna…!" a voice bellowed. We all looked and saw Ancient Fairy Dragon floating in the sky above us, along with Regulus.
"Where did those things come from?" Trudge asked. "Is there a laser light-show goin' on?"
"No, Tetsu Trudge," Ancient Fairy Dragon began, "we are not illusions. We are real."
Trudge flipped out. "Did that thing just talk back to me?" he asked, before promptly fainting.
"Grownups are so weird…" Leo murmured as we turned back to the two spirits.
"Luna… Tyler… I thought you should know… By defeating the Dark Signer, you have saved us all. The spirits captured by Zeman's Minus Curse and Devack's Earthbound Immortal are free now, and they have returned home to the Spirit World…" Ancient Fairy Dragon explained. "All thanks to you two."
"Actually," Luna began. "It isn't all thanks to us. I wouldn't have been able to face Devack even with Tyler if it weren't for Leo's help. He set up Devack so Tyler and I could finish him off." Luna smiled as she turned to Leo. "And Yusei stuck by Leo's side the whole time." Luna added, facing Yusei.
"Well then, I offer my thanks to all of you." Ancient Fairy Dragon said softly.
"Our fight with the Dark Signers isn't over. Will you help us?" Yusei asked.
Ancient Fairy Dragon nodded. "The Dark Signers are like a disease. If they are not vanquished completely, their power will continue to fester, and the Spirit World will once again be in danger. We must finish this! I will fight alongside you, even if it costs me my life!" Ancient Fairy Dragon said.
"I, too, will fight alongside you, until the bitter end!" Regulus added.
Ancient Fairy Dragon and Regulus were covered in a bright light, before disappearing. A Regulus card and an Ancient Fairy Dragon card appeared in Luna's hands.
"We did it, Tyler!" Luna cheered. "We saved the Ancient Fairy Dragon!"
"We sure did!" I smiled. "Now all we have to do is seal the control unit."
"Right. The Monkey Control Unit is just up ahead…" Yusei muttered as we walked towards it. Yusei ran his hand along the side of one of the doors and it opened.
"So is this one of the control towers that Mina was talking about? The ones that like, controls the Momentum reactor thing?" Luna asked.
"Yup. This is it…" Yusei muttered as we all went inside the control unit. It was a very small room, certainly looked bigger on the outside. The walls were lined with various colors and patches. It was like one giant computer chip. In the middle of the room was a pillar and an image of Cusillu engraved into it. There was a space in the middle for a control card, which I presumed was Ancient Fairy Dragon.
"Luna, do you have the card ready?" Yusei asked. Luna nodded and walked forward.
"Here goes everything, I guess…" Luna muttered as she gently slotted the Ancient Fairy Dragon card in place.
The central pillar lit up before the whole control unit began shaking. "I have a feeling we might wanna run right now…" Yusei said as Luna grabbed the card back and we all ran out of the control unit.
We all turned back and saw the Monkey's Control Unit begin to sink into the ground. "Where's it going?" Leo asked. The four of us watched as the control unit receded into the ground further and further until it was as if it was never there to begin with. Even the ground itself seemed to force itself back into place, presenting the appearance of the ground being untouched.
"It's okay, everyone… I'm fine…" Trudge groaned, getting to his feet. "Hey, uh… Where'd the tower go? There was a tower here, right?" Trudge asked.
"I didn't see any tower!" Leo lied.
Trudge plonked himself on the ground before sighing. "I need some sleep… I keep seeing things that aren't there. Towers, dragons, flying lions…"
Leo and Luna broke into laughter and I smiled. I put a hand to her shoulder and looked down at her. "Hey, Luna, we won." I reaffirmed.
Luna nodded and smiled back at me. "Yeah." She said.
"It's not over yet," Yusei told us, "there are still three towers left… And the next one's mine!" Yusei said, clenching his fists. "Time for me to settle things with my old friend, Kalin…"