Chapter 11: Destiny of a King
Jack Atlas. Legendary king of Turbo Duels, he who rules the Duel, the Master of Faster. Well known, a legend of his own time, famous alongside his mighty Red Dragon Archfiend.
Thing is, if the public ever knew what he did to reach that celebrity status, they wouldn't cheer him on so loudly. He stole his best friend's strongest card deliberately to get to New Domino.
Julian stopped his Duel Runner right next to the pipeline entrance and stared into the dark tube ahead. True to Lazar's words, it was completely offline.
"Let's go," he said to Drago, Milo, Kelsey and Kisara. All of them except Kisara nodded and followed as Julian gunned his Duel Runner and rode into the pipeline at full speed. He had an hour, but Julian wasn't exactly going to trust anyone in Sector Security. Ever.
Suddenly, Julian's sensitive ears picked up the sound of another Duel Runner up ahead.
"What the hell?" he muttered as a white Duel Runner came into view, the white coat of its rider billowing out into the darkness and becoming visible in the faint glow of the maintenance lights. Blonde spikes of hair crowned the riders head and his black jeans fitted his legs tightly. The teenager glanced back, giving Julian a view of violet eyes.
"Jack!" Julian exclaimed "what the hell is he doing in here on Yusei's Duel Runner?!" He sped up the Runner as much as possible and soon caught up to Jack.
"What are you doing here?"
"I got an invitation," Jack said, glancing at Julian.
"Same with me," Julian muttered, spotting something in Jack's hand.
His breath caught in his throat as he saw the picture on the Duel Monsters card.
"What are you doing with Stardust Dragon?!" he yelled.
"Crap," Jack cursed as Julian instantly pressed the button on his Duel Runner console.
"Duel Mode engaged, Autopilot online, Speed World activated, Begin Turbo Duel."
"When you lose this, I'm beating the answers I want out of you!" Julian called to Jack.
"A King never loses to a peasant like you!" Jack yelled back.
Jack 8000LP 0SPC/Julian 8000LP 0SPC
"I'll start!" Jack yelled, drawing a card from his deck "I summon the Tuner Dark Resonator in attack mode and lay one card face-down!" A creature in a black shroud with a light brown hood, carrying a tuning fork and a drumstick, with red eyes and a smile full of spike teeth appeared with a faint cackle (ATK: 1300). Jack's face-down card appeared behind it.
"Just imagine Julian," Jack said "replace this dreary tunnel with a massive stadium of shining marble, full of screaming fans chanting your name. That's the life I'll have once I'm through this tunnel with Stardust Dragon and Red Dragon Archfiend."
"Too bad you'll never leave this tunnel!" Julian yelled "you stole from Yusei for this, Jack! Is that stadium, with all the fans, really worth betraying your best friend?!" A pained expression crossed Jack's face for a second.
"Stardust Dragon was being wasted with Yusei," he muttered.
"That's a lie!"
"I end my turn," Jack snapped.
Jack 8000LP 1SPC/Julian 8000LP 1SPC
"I draw," Julian snapped "next I summon my Flamvell Helldog!" A massive hellhound made of molten rock appeared, snarling as it bared obsidian teeth (ATK: 1900). "I lay two cards face-down and my Helldog attacks your Dark Resonator!" Flamvell Helldog leapt at Dark Resonator, only to be blocked by the creature's tuning fork.
"Once per turn my Dark Resonator isn't destroyed by battle!" Jack called "and next I'll activate my Defense Draw Trap to negate the damage and draw one card." He drew with a smirk.
"I'll end my turn," Julian snarled.
Jack 8000LP 2SPC/Julian 8000LP 2SPC
"I draw," Jack said "next I summon my Twin-Sword Marauder!" A massive, intimidating man wearing black clothes and brown leather gloves with serrated blades extending from them appeared, his coal black helmet making him look even more terrifying (ATK: 1600). "Next I discard my Noisy Gnat to raise the level of my Marauder by one!" There was a pulse of loud noise and Twin-Sword Marauder glowed faintly (LV: 5).
"Now I Tune Twin-Sword Marauder with Dark Resonator!" Jack yelled "to Synchro Summon...!" Dark Resonator hit its drumstick against its tuning fork, vibrating its entire body until it dissolved into three glowing rings that cut Twin-Sword Marauder down to an orange outline, then five glowing stars that exploded into green light...
"Behold the wings guided by the great winds!" Jack chanted "Synchro Summon! Reverberate, Stardust Dragon!"
Julian couldn't even hear the last words; such was his sheer rage at what Jack was daring to play.
The shining white form of Stardust Dragon exploded from the explosion of green light, spreading its wings wide as it let out a roar that echoed along the tunnel like the scream of a banshee (ATK: 2500).
"You bastard," Julian growled "you utter bastard, Jack Atlas. How dare you use Stardust Dragon against me after you stole it from Yusei!"
"It's mine now!" Jack yelled "I'll use it where and when I like, Julian, not when you dictate!"
"Rot in hell, for all I care!"
"Stardust Dragon, show him why I'm going to be a king!" Jack snarled "destroy his pathetic Helldog with Cosmic Flare!" Stardust Dragon launched a flare of white fire from its mouth, incinerating Flamvell Helldog.
Jack 8000LP 3SPC/Julian 7400LP 3SPC
"I draw," Julian muttered "next I lay two cards face-down and summon my Gorlag in attack mode!" With a roar, his Balrog-like demon appeared and raised its flaming sword (ATK: 1000), bursting into flames as its effect kicked in (ATK: 1500).
Jack 8000LP 4SPC/Julian 7400LP 4SPC
"What's the matter?" Jack chuckled, speeding ahead of Julian "can't keep up with the Master of Faster? I play my Speed Spell – Speed Fusion to fuse the Big Piece Golem and Medium Piece Golem into my hand into Multiple Piece Golem!" Rainbow energy swirled around his Duel Runner and a giant creature made of bricks and other stone rose from the energy, extending colossal fists of smoothed stone with blocky fingers of red rock (ATK: 2600). "Next I lay down two face-downs!"
"Stardust Dragon, attack his Gorlag with Cosmic Flare!" Stardust Dragon launched another burst of white flames from its mouth...
"Go, Negate Attack!" Julian called. One of his face-downs flipped up and a swirling vortex appeared before Gorlag, swallowing the jet of white flames. "Negate Attack blocks that attack and ends the Battle Phase, so bull to you, Jack."
Jack 8000LP 5SPC/Julian 7400LP 5SPC
"I draw," Julian said "next I lay another card face-down and summon my Flamvell Hellion in attack mode!" The demon of flames appeared with a vicious snarl (ATK: 1600). "Now I Tune Flamvell Hellion with Gorlag to Synchro Summon..." Flamvell Hellion vibrated and dissolved into four glowing rings that cut through Gorlag, reducing the Balrog-like demon to an orange outline that broke into four stars that aligned in the rings and exploded with red light...
"Gathering flames become the inferno of new life! Synchro Summon! Become the soul of Fire, Flamvell Phoenixian!" Julian chanted. Flamvell Phoenixian burst from the red star, shining with fiery red light that seared Julian's eyes just to look at it (ATK: 1500). "Now my Phoenixian destroys all of your Spell and Trap Cards!" Flames gathered on Phoenixian's wings before being launched as a gale of burning wind.
"I activate the effect of Stardust Dragon and Tribute it to negate your effect and destroy your Phoenixian!" Jack growled. Stardust Dragon dissolved into shining silver dust that blocked the flames as Flamvell Phoenixian exploded.
"You idiot!" Julian yelled "you walked right into this! Go, Respect Synchron!" One of his cards flipped face-up, putting a scowl on Jack's face as light shone from the Respect Synchron card. "When a Synchro Monster you control is sent to the Graveyard by one of your effects, Respect Synchron activates and brings that Synchro Monster to my side of the field!" Jack snarled and tossed the Stardust Dragon card he had been about to slot into his Graveyard over to Julian, who deftly caught it and placed it on his Duel Disk with a smile as the shining white dragon burst from the Respect Synchron card in a cloud of silver dust (ATK: 2500).
"This is for Yusei," Julian said "I activate my face-down, Reinforcements, giving my dragon 700 more attack points!" Stardust Dragon shone even more brightly and roared (ATK: 3200).
"Stardust Dragon, destroy Multiple Piece Golem with Cosmic Flare!" Stardust Dragon breathed a jet of white flames, melting Multiple Piece Golem. Jack grimaced as the flames struck his Duel Runner, but showed no other reaction.
"Luckily for you, Reinforcements only lasts one turn," Julian said as Stardust Dragon's aura dimmed (ATK: 2500).
Jack 7400LP 6SPC/Julian 7400LP 6SPC
"I draw," Jack growled "next I activate one of my Trap Cards, Powerful Rebirth! This allows me to pick a Level 4 monster in my Graveyard and bring it back to my field, so I choose my Twin-Sword Marauder!" With a grunt, the vicious swordsman appeared (ATK: 1600). "That's not all. My Marauder gets 100 attack and defence points, plus an extra level for his troubles!" Twin-Sword Marauder glowed (ATK: 1700/LV: 5).
"Next I'll play my other face-down, Revival Gift! This allows me to return a Tuner monster from the grave and I can't think of anyone better than Dark Resonator!" The shrouded and hooded fiend rose from the ground, cackling (ATK: 1300). "But they aren't sticking around. I Tune Resonator with Twin-Sword Marauder to Synchro Summon...!" Dark Resonator vibrated and became three glowing rings that cut Twin-Sword Marauder down to an orange framework, then five glowing stars that exploded with dark purple light.
The ruler's heartbeats will now file through here!" Jack yelled "bear witness to its creation-shaking power! Synchro Summon! My very soul, Red Dragon Archfiend!" Dark as night, edged with plate like solid blood, dark ivory talons ripping at the air, his dragon burst from the shadowy energy of its birth, throwing back its head and baring its ebony neck as it roared. Tattered wings exploded into the air behind it and sanguine plates of armour crested its shoulders. Its long tail slashed at the air, the barbed point at its tip ripping tears in the feeble fabric of oxygen, nitrogen and carbon dioxide (ATK: 3000).
"Red Dragon Archfiend..." Julian breathed, gripping the console in front of him for support as Jack's dragon screamed in rage.
"I suppose now I should mention that you get Gift Fiend Tokens thanks to Revival Gift," Jack said. Two vaguely frog-like demons leapt out of thin air, dark skin nothing compared to the brutal majesty of Red Dragon Archfiend (DEF: 1500 each).
"Shit," Julian cursed, knowing that the Tokens were a blessing in thin disguise. Jack's Red Dragon Archfiend could wipe them out without any effort.
"Red Dragon Archfiend," Jack said, savouring the moment "destroy Stardust Dragon with Scorching Crimson Flare!" Red Dragon Archfiend roared and unleashed an unstoppable torrent of blood red flame from its gaping maw, engulfing Stardust Dragon and destroying the beautiful white creature in a second. Julian didn't realise he had cried out until a few seconds after Stardust Dragon was gone. He numbly took the card from his Duel Disk and tossed it over to Jack, who smirked as he slotted it into his graveyard.
"Now my Archfiend's effect activates and destroys all of your defensive monsters," Jack laughed "Red Dragon Archfiend, Absolute Power Force!" Red Dragon Archfiend built a sphere of orange flame around its hand and lashed out, crushing the two Gift Fiend Tokens. "I'll end by laying down a face-down."
Jack 7400LP 7SPC/Julian 6900LP 7SPC
"I draw," Julian said "next I lay two cards face-down and end." His face-down cards appeared in a flash of light.
Jack 7400LP 8SPC/Julian 6900LP 8SPC
"I draw," Jack said with a smirk "Now I play my Speed Spell – Speed Energy on my Red Dragon Archfiend!" Red Dragon Archfiend roared as its power increased (ATK: 4600). "Next I play Speed Spell – Final Attack!" Julian cursed as Jack's combo, his very own, was forced onto Red Dragon Archfiend. The demonic dragon screamed with sheer rage as its power increased again (ATK: 9200). "Finally, Red Dragon Archfiend, let's give this little brat a taste of what the crowds will be like! I give you the might of the Equip Spell, Speed Spell – Buster Break!" A claw gauntlet of steel appeared on his dragon's arm. "Buster Break allows my dragon to inflict Piercing Damage and it gains 200 points for each of my Speed Counters!" The Archfiend glowed (ATK: 10800)
"Shit," Julian muttered "go, Trap Card! I activate my Synchro Burst Guard! This allows me to summon a Synchro Monster from my Graveyard and it can't be destroyed in battle this turn! I choose my Flamvell Phoenixian!" With an ear-splitting screech, his phoenix burst from the card in an explosion of flames (ATK: 1500). Then it burst into flames of its own as its effect kicked in (ATK: 2400).
"So sorry for this!" Jack laughed "Red Dragon Archfiend, attack his pathetic Phoenixian with Scorching Crimson Flare!" Red Dragon Archfiend unleashed another fell scream, followed by an overwhelming torrent of flames that the shining phoenix somehow endured. The flames washed over Julian, making him scream as he forgot that he was inside an illusion...
"Damn you!" he yelled, blood sliding down his bitten lip "GO TO HELL, JACK! I activate my Defense Draw Trap to negate the damage and I can draw a card!"
"I'm headed a lot higher than hell!" Jack laughed "go, Synchro Halo!" The Trap flipped up and Red Dragon Archfiend burst into menacing purple flames with a harsh shriek (ATK: 21600).
There was a second of calm before hell was released.
"Archfiend," Jack began, licking his lips in anticipation "DAMNING HELLFIRE TORRENT!" His Red Dragon Archfiend screamed as it unleashed a wave of flames that struck Julian with the intensity of a supernova, making him scream...
He couldn't see.
Couldn't hear
Couldn't feel
Couldn't breathe...
He screamed as the flames engulfed him, these weren't his flames, the flames that would embrace him, these flames were cold and full of malice, laughing as they tortured him...
It ended and there was nothing as he fell against the console of the Duel Runner, everything fading to black as the Runner cut out and hit the wall of the pipeline...
Jack 7400LP 8SPC/Julian 0LP 0SPC
"Julian...! Julian...! JULIAN!"
There was blood in his mouth. He tasted the sharp metallic taste as he parted his lips and felt a warm bead of sanguine elixir slide over his lower lip.
"Julian?" he heard the voice ask. He struggled to open his eyes, forcing aside the pain as they opened and flooded his vision with beautiful light and the sight of Kelsey staring down at him.
He felt his ribs protest as tight arms enclosed him, Kelsey pulling him into a tight embrace.
"Julian..." she whispered in his ear, voice underlined with relief. He felt so weak, too weak to protest.
He didn't want to protest.
She was there.
He was happy.
She was the one he wanted there.
She was the one he wanted to love him.
He loved her.
"Kelsey," he gasped, voice ragged with pain. His sleeves were torn, skin mottled with thick purple bruises. His leg burned with agony and his whole head throbbed with pain, but at least that told him he was still alive.
"Oh, Julian," she gasped back, sheer relief overtaking her other emotions.
"Where's Jack?" In an instant, a shadow fell upon them and Kelsey broke the embrace, drawing away as she heard the deadly venom in his voice, fear flickering across her pretty features.
"He's gone," Drago growled, rage filling his tone "that bastard traitor's gone."
"We shall have our vengeance," Evil Hero Inferno Wing spoke from beside him, invisible to all others.
"But... Jack Atlas," Drago replied "I'm not sure this time... but on the other hand, Jack stole Stardust Dragon. No mercy will be granted to him, Inferno Wing. I promise you and the other Evil Heroes that."
"He shall burn."
"He rode on ahead after you crashed," Milo said, his own disbelief and anger apparent "Face it Julian, Jack's in New Domino by now. I think we all know why he's going." Everyone but Julian nodded.
"What?"
"Last night," Drago said "I hacked their mainframe. Wasn't that much trouble, given I've been inside so many Sector Security terminals, the amateurs they hire for security... anyway, I got a list of participants in this little freak show tournament Goodwin's put together. Jack is on that list."
Julian felt numb as the words hit him.
"Jack's in this tournament!" he gasped.
"He is," Kisara snarled "and so is my uncle." Her face was twisted in anger. "That's why I came with you. I'm facing him head on this time. I was invited, I'm on the list. That little freak show clown dropped an invitation with me when I took a stroll."
"Lazar invited you?" Julian asked.
"Yep... if it's any consolation, he still looks a bit char grilled from Nidhogg... good work there. And Julian, if you want to summon a giant magma dragon thing, remember that we can check your duels at any time by hacking Goodwin's satellites."
"Never mind Flamvell Nidhogg," Julian said "Seto Kaiba and Jack Atlas in this tournament, Kisara. This was rigged for us. Goodwin wants me to face off against Jack and you to duel your uncle."
"I'm not in this," Drago said "but I've got reasons to come too. Look, there's something I haven't told you guys, about myself. You might not believe me, but seriously, just hear me out. I come from a whole different world to you guys. I don't have to live in Satellite. I could just go and live safely, in the lap of luxury, rich and blissful. But I don't choose that, because I've seen that this world is not safe. I chose long ago to abandon wealth and comfort for this path, the path of the enforcer."
"I am Drago. That's my alias. You've never heard my surname, any of you. My full name is Drago Yuki. I am the son of Jaden Yuki."
"WHAT?!" Julian exclaimed "you're Jaden's son!"
"Yes," Drago replied softly, regretfully "but I had to leave my dad and mom behind. I had to leave it all behind to take this path. I'm coming with you to meet my dad again and well, say I'm sorry. I ran away in the night, guys, and left him a note explaining my choice. I didn't want him to worry. But I guess I just made it worse, so now I'll see him and explain."
"Well, that's three reasons to hit New Domino!" Julian cried "let's ride!"
"You just crashed your Duel Runner, you psychopath," Kisara said, rolling her eyes.
"He can ride with me," Kelsey said quietly, blushing softly.
"Thanks Kelse," Julian replied "it'll be my pleasure to accept your offer." Kisara rolled her eyes again.
"Boys," she muttered "how dramatic can you get when you love a girl?"
Soon, they were ready to ride, with Julian's Duel Runner being towed behind Drago's. They set out, ready to hit the world beyond the tunnel and fulfil their dreams!
Jack Atlas is a traitor, but in a strange way, his betrayal was all destinies' woven threads.
If he hadn't stolen Stardust Dragon, Yusei wouldn't have chased him into New Domino City two years later. And if Yusei hadn't done so, he wouldn't have been revealed as a Signer and the Crimson Dragon wouldn't have been released for the first time in five thousand years.
If the Dragon hadn't been released, the Dark Signers would have ruled the world, as none would have stood in their way...
But all of that was irrelevant to me then. Now, even past the end of one thread of destiny and onto the beginning of another, the destiny of my life looking after my child, I look back and wonder how I was so naive.
Card Stats:
Monsters:
Flamvell Helldog
FIRE/ Beast/Effect /Level 4/ATK: 1900/DEF: 200
When this card destroys a monster of your opponent's by battle and sends it to the Graveyard, you can Special Summon 1 FIRE monster with 200 or less DEF from your Deck other than "Flamvell Helldog".
(Flamvell Helldog will be released in the Ancient Prophecy set in America in August.)
Spells:
Speed Spell – Speed Fusion
Normal Spell Card
Activate only while you control a "Speed World" with 4 or more Speed Counters on it. Fusion Summon a Fusion Monster.
(Speed Spell – Speed Fusion was used by Jack against Yusei in Episode 4 of 5D's. Creative credit goes to the writers of 5D's.)
Speed Spell – Buster Break
Equip Spell Card
Activate only when you control a "Speed World" with 2 or more Speed Counters. The equipped monster inflicts Piercing Damage and gains 200 ATK for every Speed Counter on a face-up "Speed World" you control. If the number of Speed Counters on a "Speed World" you control goes below 2, destroy this card.
(Speed Spell – Buster Break is my own invention and creative credit goes to me.)
Traps:
Respect Synchron
Continuous Trap Card
When a Synchro Monster your opponent controls is sent to the Graveyard by an opponent's card effect, Special Summon the Synchro Monster to your side of the field ignoring the Summoning Conditions. When the Synchro Monster is removed from the field, destroy this card. When this card is removed from the field, destroy the Synchro Monster.
(Respect Synchron was first used by Leo/Rua and Luna/Ruka working together against Demak in Episode 50 of 5D's. Creative credit goes to the writers of 5D's.)
Powerful Rebirth
Continuous Trap Card
Select 1 Level 4 monster from your Graveyard and Special Summon it. The monster gains 100 ATK and DEF and 1 Level. When this card is removed from the field, destroy the monster. When the monster is removed from the field, destroy this card.
(Powerful Rebirth was first used by Jack Atlas against Yusei in Episode 25 of 5D's. Creative credit goes to the writers of 5D's.)
Synchro Burst Guard
Normal Trap Card
Activate only when your opponent controls a monster and you control no monsters. Special Summon one Synchro Monster from your Graveyard, ignoring the summoning conditions. That monster cannot be destroyed by battle in the turn this card is activated.
(Synchro Burst Guard is my own invention and creative credit for it goes to me.)
Digidramon: So Julian loses against Jack! And Jack has stolen Stardust Dragon, which is epic!
Yusei: You had to make Julian use Stardust Dragon, didn't you?
Digidramon: Well, yeah! It's an epic card, and it let me show off Respect Synchron in the bargain!
Akiza: Digidramon does not own Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's because if he did, all of the Signers would use Savior Dragons.
Digidramon: It's only fair. Why do Yusei and Jack get everything cool?!
Jack: You gave Yusei Savior Star Dragon and you're probably going to give me Savior Demons Dragon too. You can't talk.
Digidramon: I'll even this up! Akiza and Luna, be prepared to enter the Savior too!
Luna: But… I'm too ill to Duel… remember?
Digidramon: Fine. Akiza then.
Akiza: Sounds okay to me.
Digidramon: Leo, Luna, Featured Card please!
Leo: Today's Featured Cards are Synchro Burst Guard, Red Dragon Archfiend, Stardust Dragon, Flamvell Phoenixian and Speed Spell – Final Attack!
Luna: Today's Featured Card is Jack's Red Dragon Archfiend! As a staple card in many real-world decks today, it is really powerful and can overwhelm many other Synchro Monsters. The only thing truly capable of overwhelming this beast in battle is something like the Savior Dragons!
Digidramon: So there's today's card! Watch out for next chapter, Chapter 12: The Elemental and the Evil Part 1: A Father-Son Showdown!