"I'll mimic his will and learn his routines
And feel the same thrill and know what it means
I'll walk in his shoes as long as it takes
Till deep in my bones I'm sure I'm winning my game while I'm saying
I'm playing his game!"
-Death Note: The Musical by Frank Wildhorn
"What the hell was that?" Lina asked Yusei as soon as the two of them pulled into the garage on their D-Wheels. Lina held her helmet in her hands, a perplexed look on her face. She was, of course, referencing to their duel, and the fact that Yusei's Signer mark started glowing when their ace dragons battled.
Yusei took off his glove and rolled up his sleeve, revealing his mark. Lina gasped. "Is that-"
"It wasn't during our duel," Yusei interrupted Lina with a shake of his head. "It appeared after Aki and I's duel. I'm not sure why it hasn't gone away. It has every time before."
"So what does this mean?" Lina looked at him with a frown. "You, Jack, Ruka, and Aki all have marks. You're going against Jack next, who when you last dueled, a big ass dragon appeared when your marks started glowing. Does that mean it'll happen again?" Lina was worried for their friends in the audience, particularly Ruka and Rua.
Yusei seemed to be thinking the same thing. "We need to warn them. They can't stay here. Not after what happened between me and Jack."
"We're wasting time, then. Let's go get 'em, and after that, we can have a few words with Godwin about all this," Lina gave a nod towards Yusei. They both had questions that needed to be answered.
Up in the tower, Jack glanced towards Godwin. The Director had been responding to Jack vaguely about what was going on, but none of it made sense. Lina had activated Yusei's mark. Kodo had been able to activate Aki's mark, but as far as Jack had seen, Lina and Yusei's duel hadn't been on the same level as Aki and Kodo's in terms of emotions running. Yusei and Lina were having fun during their duel.
"So now you know who the four of the five Signers are," Jack commented aloud, his hand moving towards his marked arm.
"That's right," Godwin agreed. "When you duel Yusei, be sure to push him to his limits. The power your duel generates will reveal the fifth Signer and unite you all."
Jack stared ahead, his thoughts running. The fifth Signer. All of the other Signers participated in the Fortune Cup, which had to mean that the fifth Signer was either nearby, or also participated.
Jack couldn't help but believe it to be Lina. That would explain Godwin's interest in her. It made sense to him. There was no other option for him. It had to be her.
Yusei and Lina were running up the stands, skipping steps as they did so. Workers nearby still seemed to be doing damage control from Yusei and Aki's duel that took place early in the day, as several rows of chairs were partially demolished. Yui was the first to spot the pair running. She stood up at the sight- as both Yusei and Lina wore equal expressions of determination and concern.
"What's happening?" Anya caught on to the pair and stood up beside Yui.
"You have to get everyone out," Lina wasted no time cutting straight to the point.
"Yusei, Ruka's got a mark! She's a Signer like you!" Despite the tense situation, Yanagi exclaimed the words proudly.
"That's why you need to get her out. Now," Yusei looked to the entire group. "All of you need to get out. I'm thinking something's going to happen. Something dangerous. Look what happened during my last duel with Aki. It has something to do with the Signers."
"Do you know what's going on?" Ruka looked to Lina with hope-filled eyes. Lina could tell she was scared. Lina shook her head.
"We're going to see Godwin now. We'll get some answers. For now, Anya, could you take them to Saiga's?" Lina glanced towards her friend. The auburn haired woman nodded.
"We can manage," Anya spoke as if she had a new mission. Lina knew Anya wouldn't let her down.
Yusei and Lina glanced to each other, nodded, and took off towards the tower Godwin rested in. The group, meanwhile, took towards the exit.
"Stop right there!" Voices shouted behind them. Yui and Anya immediately took to standing in front of Ruka and Rua protectively.
"You weren't planning on leaving, were you?" Anya recognized that man based on Lina's descriptions. It was Yeager, Godwin's right-hand man.
"And what if we were?" Himuro challenged the shorter man.
"Director Godwin would like you to stay and enjoy the rest of the tournament," Yeager held the same smile that gave Anya the creeps.
"You can tell him to fuck off. He can't force us to stay," Anya snapped back. Yui laid a hand out to signal for Anya to stop.
"What she means is that we have places to be, and cannot stay for the final match," Yui's voice was smooth and calculated. "Extend our apologies to the Director for us."
"How unfortunate. Say, did you know that Yusei has friends back in the Satellite Sector?" Yeager's words made everyone freeze. They knew where this was going.
"What about it?" Anya's voice was low. Her whole body was tensed.
"I heard they went missing a few days ago," Yeager's smile never left his face. "I hope nothing bad happens to them." The group was staring at Yeager. "I think it would be best if you return to your seats. Now."
The group had no choice but to obey.
Yusei and Lina were sprinting down the hallways. Security guards rushed at them. Lina ducked underneath the first's punch, only to turn around to kick him upwards, all the while Yusei took out the second. Both guards were laying on the floor. Lina shot Yusei a grin.
"You still got it, huh?" Lina couldn't help but laugh. Yusei would have cracked a smile, it if weren't for the situation. Together, they both went through the double doors into the control tower. They could hear Godwin telling off Ushio.
"Is Langley one of the guys guarding the door?" Yusei interrupted their conversation. Jack, Ushio, and Godwin all turned to stare at Yusei and Lina.
Lina gestured behind her to the doors. "You might need some new security."
"What are you doing here, punk?!" Ushio barked off to Yusei as he and Lina stepped further into the room.
"That's enough." Godwin stood up from his seat. His tone was clipped, cool, yet also calm. "How can I help you Yusei, Miss Atlas?"
"Weren't you going to throw him out?" Yusei seemed almost amused. Ushio grabbed Yusei by the lapels. Lina stood on the defensive, but Godwin beat her to the punch- literally. Ushio was dragged out by guard towards the elevator, screaming along the way about how Godwin would pay and how he was going down.
The air tensed.
"It's time to talk," Yusei turned to Godwin with a glare in his eyes. "You forced me and Lina into this tournament. You threatened me, locked up my friends, and blackmailed Lina. I wanna know the truth. I'm not dueling Jack until you tell me why you've done this."
"Are you dense, Yusei?" Jack spoke up. Lina looked away from him. "It's cause of this," Jack pulled up his sleeve to reveal his mark. "This mark. He wants the Crimson Dragon's power, so he's been trying to gather everyone up with its mark! He got me here by lying to me, buttering me up, and manipulating me! Do you think it's a coincidence that Lina was inNeo Domino City before the two of us showed up?"
"What?" Lina whirled around, her eyes wide with confusion.
"Oh come on, you're making me sound so devious," Godwin sounded hurt. Lina could tell from the neutral expression on his face that they were merely just words. "Jack, you wanted to be the Turbo Duel Champion."
"I wanted to earn that title," Jack huffed. "At this point, I'm starting to think you've been rigging everything. I think your little plan involved setting Lina up as bait- for both Yusei and me." Yusei scowled, his hands clenching at his sides, while Lina could only gawk. "Godwin knew that I would go after Lina. I did everything as he asked me to do. Isn't that right, Director?"
"Don't be ridiculous. I didn't even know about Yusei until you dueled him that night in the arena," Godwin's words weren't convincing.
"Do you honestly expect me to believe this is some big coincidence!?" Jack's glare only intensified. "You needed to verify that Yusei had a mark, so you needed me and him to duel with passion. You created a situation in which the stakes would be as high as possible! Yusei, Godwin could never have made you the same offer, because you wouldn't have stayed in Neo Domino City. You would have taken Lina right back to the Satellite. You couldn't leave behind your other friends. I, on the other hand, walked right into the trap of fame and fortune by taking your card." Jack slipped his gloves back on. Lina and Yusei were listening silently. "He brought Lina here. He gave you a reason to come after me."
"Public Maintenance brought me here," Lina realized in horror. She always thought the Arcadia Movement were the ones who brought her to Neo Domino City, but Lina knew it was Public Maintenance. Godwin was in charge of Public Maintenance. "You were the one who took me away from the Satellite," Lina glared towards Godwin. Her body was trembling from rage. "That's why Divine never tried to kill me until the end. You two had a deal. That's how Jack was able to "save" me." That's why I became Lina Atlas. I was just a pawn." Lina spat out the last word. Lina was stupid to never have seen this before. She felt disgusted at being used against her two best friends.
"I have a demand to make," Jack turned the attention back on him. "You got what you wanted. Yusei's here, right? Let his friends go. He doesn't need to be coerced. I want this duel to be legit. No threats, no gimmicks, just us." Jack paused. He was hesitating. "Yusei, I'm...sorry for how this happened. This duel is going to mean something. One of us will finally prove who's the best." Lina stared at Jack in surprise. He had actually done it. "Lina," Jack turned to his "sister". A neutral expression was shown on his face, but Lina could tell his tone had become more gentle. "I'm sorry for lying. I didn't know it would end up like this."
"I forgive you," Lina's face lit up into a smile. She ran forward to hug her brother. Jack tightly returned the hug, if only for a second. Lina enjoyed the hug. She missed Jack. Godwin raised his glass in the air.
"If that is what my Champion wants...then so be it," Godwin took a drink before setting his glass down on the side table. "However, I request that Lina stays in the tower during the duel."
"No," All three spoke at once.
"It is my only request," Godwin's voice held no room for debate. Lina gritted her teeth. "Come back before the duel starts, Miss Atlas. We're awaiting your company. If you do this, then our...contract is void." He meant his blackmail against Yusei. Lina could only glare.
"You have my word," Lina's voice was low. Both Jack and Yusei shot Lina a look- one that conveyed their own special look of worry for the small blonde.
Yusei and Lina were in the garage awaiting the start of the duel when an image of Yusei's friends appeared on his D-Wheel, crowded around a video screen outside of a cargo container.
"They're okay," Yusei murmured. Lina gripped his arm tightly.
The call changed to Jack. "Are you happy?" Jack raised an eyebrow. "You finally have the chance to settle the score with me."
"I guess," Yusei responded. The call ended.
"Yusei, they're okay!" Lina leaned to give Yusei a hug from behind as Yusei sat on his D-Wheel. Yusei raised his hand to grip Lina's in a tight squeeze.
"Are you going to be okay?" Yusei was referencing to Lina staying in a room with Godwin.
"Don't have a choice, do I?" Lina's words were bitter. She was pissed at what she just learned about the good Director, but Lina had a deal. All she had to do was stay in a room with him and Yeager, and Yusei would be free. She could handle it.
"Be careful, alright?" Yusei gave Lina's hand one last squeeze. Lina stepped back and gave him an innocent look.
"I'm always careful, aren't I?" Her tone was cheeky. "Good luck out there, alright?" Do us Satellite's proud!" Yusei nodded to her. With one last grin, Lina made her way up to the tower., just in time for the duel to start.
"Here we go," Anya mumbled to herself. "The start of the end of the world."
"This is the moment! Will Jack Atlas continue to reign as the King of Turbo Duels?"
"Ah, Miss Atlas. So splendid of you to join us," Yeager greeted Lina as she walked into the room.
"Bite me," Lina sat down on the couch in front of the monitor.
"Or will be he dethroned by Satellite's Shooting Star? It's time to find out!"
The countdown hit green, causing the two D-Wheels to speed off. The crowd went wild.
"Admit it, Yusei! The roar of the crowd is more appealing than the scamper of rats," Jack was already starting with the trash talking.
"Let's duel. I'm summoning my Shield Wing in defense mode!" Yusei started off the duel. "Next I play two cards facedown and end my turn."
"In that case-" Jack drew his card. He wasted no time in his next move. "I summon Twin Sword Marauder in attack mode!" Jack's monster appeared on the field. "You have just scrapped your way to the title match, but those other duelists were just amateurs compared to me!"
"Hey!" Lina was personally offended, even though she would have said the exact same thing. "That was hurtful!"
"Did Jack just insult Lina?" Rua asked aloud.
"He sure did," Anya would have laughed if Jack didn't irritate her so much.
"Allow my Twin Sword Marauder to give you a proper welcome to the big leagues, Yusei!" Jack's monster attacked Yusei's, causing Yusei's life points to drop to 3300.
"Shield Wing can't be destroyed in battle. It has to be defeated twice," Yusei countered.
"I do know that," Jack held a smug smile to his face. "When Twin Sword Marauder attacks a monster in defense mode, it can attack again! I said that I was two steps ahead of you, Yusei, not just one! Go, double Marauder Mayhem!" Yusei grunted as his life points full further to 2600. "I end my first turn with one facedown. You can't defeat me, Yusei!"
Yusei drew a card, signifying the start of his turn. "From my hand, I summon Junk Synchron. And now I'm gonna tune my Junk Synchron with my Shield Wing in order to Synchro Summon Junk Warrior! Let's rev it up!" One of Yusei's favorite monsters entered the field. "Now take out that Marauder!" Jack's life points fell down to 3300 as his monster was destroyed. "Next I activate my trap card Synchro Blast. When my warrior attacks, Synchro Blast can slam you with 500 points of damage!" Jack was now at 2800. The score was more even than before.
"Now you're dueling, Yusei, but you won't be for long! From my hand, I summon Dark Tinker!" Jack wasted no time in his turn. "I activate the Powerful Rebirth trap card! With this card, I can resummon Twin Sword Marauder from my graveyard!"
"What are you up to, Jack?" Lina whispered to herself. She figured he was trying to summon out Red Daemon's Dragon, but this early? He was wasting no time.
"Now the monster resurrected by Powerful Rebirth gains 100 attack and defense points, and its Level increases by one!" Jack had enough to summon out his ace monster. "Yusei, I'm the best Turbo Duelist Neo Domino City has ever seen, and that move I just made was just one example of why I'm King! The ruler's heartbeats will now file through here! Take witness to its creation-shaking power! Synchro Summon! My very soul, Red Daemon's Dragon!" Red Daemon's Dragon appeared on the arena with a powerful roar.
"He's not wasting any time," Yusei muttered to himself. He had to get out Stardust as soon as possible. Yet, if he did that, would the same thing happen as before?
"The Master of Faster Jack Atlas already has a commanding lead! Can Satellite's Shooting Star catch up? Or will this be his final lap? Let's watch and see!"
"What's that?" Ruka looked up at the sky and gasped. Purple clouds had begun to form.
"I don't think the forecast called for scary purple clouds!" Rua moved closer to his sister, both protectively and because he was scared himself.
"It's a sign!" Yanagi insisted. "The Crimson Dragon is coming! And if he's coming, we should all get going! We don't wanna be here when he gets here!"
"Take it easy, gramps," Himuro didn't sound too concerned. "I mean, it's probably just some acid rain drifting in from the Satellite."
"Don't be too sure," Anya was staring at the clouds with a narrowed gaze.
"Don't tell me you believe in all that nonsense, Layne," Himuro stared at her wide-eyed.
"I don't," Anya spoke the words slowly. "I do think something's going on, more so than what we know."
"Something's going to happen," Yui agreed with her friend. Anya reached over to take Yui's hand in her own.
"They wanted us to stay for a reason," Anya glanced down towards Ruka. "I think we're about to find out why."
Up in the tower, Godwin looked down at the duel with a smile. "It's the sign we've been waiting for," His voice was smooth. "Soon the Crimson Dragon will awaken from its long slumber."
"Just one question about all that," Yeager interrupted with a curious look to his face. "I thought we needed five Signers, no?" Lina perked up at the conversation. "We just have four- the little girl, Aki, Yusei, and Jack. Besides, are we even sure we can control the Dragon's power once it's been summoned? Perhaps Officer Ushio had a point."
"Yeager, don't you trust me? You see, I know the fifth Signer," Godwin didn't sound worried at all.
Lina gasped in her seat. Godwin knew who the fifth Signer was. Yeager seemed to not take in his words, as he kept rambling. "That's good. If you know, I'll just watch this match and-" Yeager blew out air, the dawning of realization finally hitting. "Wait, you know?!" Yeager turned to the Director. "Who is it? Are they here?!" Yeager turned to look at Lina, surprising the blonde. "How exciting! Then that means we can unlock all of its power!"
"Why are you looking at me?" Lina couldn't help but snap out into the air.
"First, we must see if we can harness the immense power the Crimson Dragon's summoning will create," Godwin ignored Lina to answer Yeager. Lina only scowled at the pair, but they weren't looking in her direction anymore. Lina instead turned to watch the duel.
"It's my turn, Jack!" Yusei started the round. Lina expected him to summon Stardust Dragon- or at least try to. "First I'll activate my trap- Descending Lost Star! By powering down my Junk Warrior, I can then bring it back out to my field. Then I summon Hyper Synchron! I tune my Junk Warrior with my Hyper Synchron!" Lina was right. Stardust Dragon was appearing. She stood up, her adrenaline rushing. Would it come out again? Yusei started his summoning chant, "Clustering wishes will become a new shining star! Become the path its light shines upon! Synchro Summon! Take flight, Stardust Dragon!"
"Go Yusei!" Rua called out from the stands as Stardust Dragon appeared in its full shimmering glory. Lina stepped back- as if she were bracing herself- as a wave of energy hit her. Jack and Yusei's marks on the track began to glow. Lina could see it from the monitor.
"It's starting," Yui whispered with worry as she looked at Ruka's arm, which was also glowing. "Ruka, are you okay?" Yui held concern for the younger girl.
"Yeah, I'm okay," Ruka wasn't completely telling the truth to the purple haired girl. She was worried about what was going to happen. She felt completely sick to her stomach. Her head was pounding.
"This is the moment we've all been waiting for! So get ready, 'cause these two beasts are about to battle it out! It's dragon versus dragon!"
"Incredible! Director, are you getting all of this?!" Akutsu appeared on the screen. His voice rang with frantic energy. "The Crimson Dragon- it's here!"
"What!?" Lina held a hand to her head. The energy was strong. She could feel it vibrating throughout the air. She only imagined what Ruka was feeling at that moment.
"And now, Hyper Synchron's special ability activates!" Yusei continued on with the duel. "You see, Jack, when it's a part of a Synchro Summon, the new monster gets an extra eight hundred attack points! So now my Stardust Dragon's at thirty-three hundred!" It was enough to beat out Red Daemon's Dragon.
"I guess I'll play my trap card Tuner Capture!" Jack revealed his facedown card. "This enables me to take control of the monster you used to make your Synchro Summon happen. What goes around comes around, Yusei!" Yusei's monster appeared on Jack's side of the field.
"Whoa! While Yusei's Hyper Synchron goes Benedict Arnold, Jack out monsters him two to one!"
"Stardust Dragon, why don't we even up the playing field?" Yusei was getting prepared to attack.
"Come on now! I trigger the trap card Tuner's Mind!" Jack's trap card was a game changer. Jack's smirk was shown on the monitor. Lina held her breath. "This is just one example of why I'm the Master of Faster, and you're a worthless wannabe! Now I can de-tune my dragon to double my defenses!" Jack's monsters reappeared on his side of the field, with his Red Daemon's Dragon disappearing.
"Stardust Dragon, attack Twin Sword Marauder with Cosmic Flare!" Yusei tried to attack but Dark Tinker blocked the attack. "No way!" Yusei's eyes widened.
"Surprise, surprise!" Jack let out a chuckle. "You see, my trap forced you to attack my Dark Tinker. When are you gonna learn that you'll never be a match for me, Yusei? I'll beat you in front of the whole world, just like I beat you way back in the Satellite!"
Like we all haven't beaten you in the Satellite, Lina laughed at her thoughts. Back in the Satellite, they all had beaten each other in a duel at one point or another. Jack and Lina's duels had lasted hours, as the two would argue over if the other was "cheating" or not.
"That was then and this is now! Go, Synchro Blast!" Yusei still chose to attack. Jack's life points were now down to 2300. "Thanks to that trap card, you automatically lose 500 life points!"
"The difference between us is that I can afford it! It's my turn, Yusei!" Jack drew his card.
"It won't help you win the duel, Jack," Yusei sounded confident. Unlike Jack, Yusei wasn't just spewing words from his ego.
"Oh really, Yusei? Because I tune Hyper Synchron with my Twin Sword Marauder in order to Synchro Summon Red Daemon's Dragon one more time!" Red Daemon's Dragon appeared once more onto the field in its dark glory. It let out a menacing roar as it did so. "Let's kick this Turbo Duel into overdrive!" Jack raised his fist into the air. The crowd cheered. Jack turned backward in his D-Wheel to face Yusei, who appeared collected. He wasn't giving any of his emotions away. "Just like Hyper Synchron added 800 attack points to your dragon, now it's helping me with my Synchro Summon. I get to reap the benefits of its power as well. You wanted to prove who's dragon its the best? Let's find out, Yusei!" Red Daemon's Dragon's attack power rose to 3800. "Ready?"
"Bring it!" Yusei countered.
"Consider it brought!" Jack pointed towards Stardust Dragon. Red Daemon's Dragon took it as a cue to attack. The dragons clashed, but just as quickly separated. Neither was destroyed.
"It looks like you forgot that since Hyper Synchron was used, neither dragon can be destroyed!" Yusei reminded Jack. Still, Yusei's life points fell down to 1400.
"Good thing I've got this: My trap Field Cannon!" Now you lose 500 life points 'cause I couldn't destroy your monster!"
"Yusei, no!" Rua wailed from his place in the stands.
"Yusei better think of something fast," Himuro glanced with worry towards his friend on the track.
"I'm not sure if he'll have time to, with those clouds lookin' like that," Anya glanced up at the dark clouds, which were now swirling around ruthlessly. Huge flashes of lightning began. One formed a huge bolt that struck right through the image of Jack and Yusei on the sphere, while also forcing the two dragons apart.
"Here it comes!" Jack sounded excited. He was ready for this. He was ready for this power.
"The Crimson Dragon," Yusei murmured in alarm.
"It's back," Lina stepped closer to the window to get a glance of what everyone wanted a look of. The lightning formed itself into the familiar shape, one that was present on all five signer's arms. It was now flying directly beside both Stardust Dragon and Red Daemon's Dragon.
"Why are you here?" Lina knew the Dragon wouldn't answer the question. Lina couldn't understand it anyway. The power radiating off of it was too strong. It sounded like alarm bells loudly going off in Lina's head when she tried to understand.
"I see it- but I do not believe it! It's the third dragon!"
"My arm...It's glowing again," Ruka rubbed her arm cautiously. Yui put an arm around the younger girl to comfort her.
"It'll be fine," Yui spoke in a quiet, soothing voice. "Everything's going to be alright."
"Don't promise what you can't deliver," Anya couldn't help but say. Yui shot her a pointed look, one that Anya sheepishly smiled back at. "What? It's the truth."
"The blackout," Lina suddenly remembered what happened last time. "What's going to happen this time?" Lina demanded out of the Director.
"Nothing. Watch and look closely, Lina," Godwin was staring directly at the Dragon. "Beautiful, isn't it? So much power that we have yet to understand. Yeager, get me Akutsu right now."
"Right away, sir," Yeager pulled up a monitor that revealed the hyped Akutsu.
"It's working!" Akutsu announced happily. "We're absorbing the Crimson Dragon's Ener-D! I've never seen anything so power!"
"You must shut the reactor down immediately," Godwin responded back in a direct voice. There was no room for debate.
"Excuse me? But...it's working perfectly!" Akutsu was very deeply confused. "There's enough Ener-D here to power Neo Domino City for a hundred years! It's a success!"
"We must be cautious, Akutsu," Godwin stared straight ahead, his mouth in a firm line. "If you don't shut down the reactor right away, then there might not be a city left to power. I'm sure you understand." Godwin hung up the call. Lina stared straight ahead, her heart racing.
"Bommer's village..." Lina held a hand to her heart. Bommer had lost his home, his family, all because of Godwin and his quest for the Crimson Dragon. It was here now, but people's lives were lost because of it. Lina couldn't help but question if all of this was worth it.
"Crimson Dragon, welcome to my arena!" Jack, of course, announced his presence to the mighty beast. "Now watch and witness how your future master rules this duel!"
"Jack, how is that a good idea?" Lina pressed her hand up to the glass. She longed to be beside her friends on the sidelines so she could cheer them on, but she had to make do with being stuck in a tower. "Let's not taunt the big scary dragon, thanks."
"Jack, be careful!" Yusei was being the voice of reason. "The Crimson Dragon might rip this place and everyone in it!"
"Don't tell me you're scared," Jack's words were mocking. "I am a Signer, Yusei Fudo, and this is my destiny! Godwin told me that the power of the Crimson Dragon will help me save this world!"
Lina couldn't see what Godwin was doing. Instead, she saw the Crimson dragon roar, the wind picking up. The audience yelled to shield their face. When Anya could finally see, Ruka was gone.
"What!? My sister's gone! Ruka's gone!" Rua was crying out. "Where did she go?"
No one had an answer for him.
"Guys, there's no one out on the field," Yui pointed ahead to the track. Stardust Dragon and Red Daemon's Dragon were suspended in motion. Neither Jack and Yusei were on the field, nor was the Crimson Dragon present.
"Where the hell did they go?" Anya stood up in her seat to take a better look. "Come on, this is some hocus pocus bullshit. They can't have just vanished."
"Take a look again, Layne, because that's exactly what happened," Himuro gestured to the field.
"It was the Crimson Dragon! The Crimson Dragon took them away somewhere!" Yanagi was spouting nonsense as usual. At least, non-sense to Anya.
Lina cried out from her spot on the tower, her heart dropping. Yusei and Jack were gone. Lina turned towards Director Godwin, who held an odd smile to his face.
"Where did they go?" Lina demanded, a passionate look in her eyes. "Where did the Crimson Dragon take them?"
"They're off learning about their future, and their destinies," Godwin answered her vaguely.
"I don't believe in fate," Lina growled out. "They better come back alive, got that?"
"It's not my choice to make, Lina," Godwin stared out the window. "That is left up to the Crimson Dragon."
"All of the Signers are here," Aki spoke to herself as she glanced around the new world the Crimson Dragon had taken them to.
"No, there's one missing! There's only four!" Ruka called out as she counted.
Only four. One was still missing. All of the Signers glanced around. They all had one person in mind, but she wasn't there.
"It's not Lina," Jack realized it first.
Who else could it be? Yusei was convinced the fifth Signer had to have been Lina, but she wasn't present. If not Lina, then who?
Lina stared straight ahead, her teeth biting her lip as time passed agonizingly slow. Lina could feel the strange energy in the air. It was weaker, yet felt more chaotic.
"Can you feel anything in the air, Lina?" Godwin turned to the blonde.
"...No," Truth be told, Lina didn't try. She wasn't sure if she wanted to after the last time she visited the Spirit World and nearly didn't make it out.
Still, her friends were gone. Lina closed her eyes and reached out into the unknown, to the in-between, or perhaps even further. Lina could feel a spark of something, some form of life-
Lina cried out in pain as she was forcibly ejected out of wherever she was. She didn't recognize the voice, nor could she clearly make it out, but she knew it was telling her to stay out for her own good. Lina couldn't tell if it was trying to protect her, or if they were annoyed at her for trying to intervene. Lina sunk to her knees, her hands moving to her head, all while she tried to gather her bearings again.
"Interesting," Godwin was staring at her with a newfound curiosity, as if she were a new device he could figure out. "You do have a bond with the Signers, to an extent. You, an ordinary girl, somehow forged a bond with the gatekeepers to destiny."
"Their Dragons are out there," Lina breathed out. She was panting from the pain she just felt. "They're somewhere else. It's like- it's like there's a wall separating our world and wherever they are. I can't reach it. Something's not letting me." Lina last time used her bond with Ruka to venture into the Spirit World. Lina may have been blindly reaching out to whoever she could, but the moment she had gotten a response, her mind was kicked out by something. She couldn't understand what it was.
"Lina, don't," Sun Hope's Magician appeared next to Lina with a frown. Lina stood up slowly, a determined look on her features. "Don't get involved!" Sun Hope's Magician insisted. "This isn't your fight. It's never been your fight! Don't make it apart of you!"
"I already am apart of it. I'm not backing down now," Lina dismissed her monster. Sun Hope's Magician shook her before fading. "Godwin," Lina turned her attention to the Director. "In the last match, Yusei's mark started to glow. Why? Why was it only Spirit of the Stars Dragon that made it do that? What do I have to do with- with all this?" Lina gestured to the air around them.
"As I've said before, Lina, you have a special bond with each of the Signers," Godwin spoke the words as if they explained everything. "Think about it. Before this tournament, you had a connection with all four of them."
He had a point. She had known Jack and Yusei since childhood, Aki she had become close within the Arcadia Movement, and Ruka she had found by accident, but bonded over their shared powers. "Did you do this?" Lina accused the Director. "This all seems really coincidental that this all just happened that way, that I formed a bond with each of the Signers."
"Believe what you will, but I had no part in your connections with either Aki or Ruka," Godwin's voice held a certain tone to it. Lina didn't know why, but she believed him.
"You didn't answer my question yet about the duel," Lina took out her card: Spirit of the Stars Dragon. "I summoned Star Eyes Dragon and attacked Stardust with it, but nothing happened. When Spirit of the Stars Dragon attacked, his mark glowed. Answer me that, Director."
"Fine," Godwin's tone suggested he was merely humoring Lina. "Your card. Where did you get it?"
"It was a gift," Lina answered simply. Kiryu, Crow, Jack, and Yusei had given it to her for her birthday. Her ace Dragon wasn't originally intended for Lina's deck, but fit perfectly.
"Do you remember Aki's duel with Kodo, when her mark started to glow?" Godwin questioned Lina.
"She got upset," Lina nodded. She vividly remembered that duel, and Aki's rampant emotions.
"Aki was pushed to her limits. Her emotions were at a high, high enough that her mark appeared. Ruka, on the other hand, was frightened." Godwin paused. "There are other ways rather than negative emotions to gather the same effect. To every negative, there is a-"
"Positive," Lina finished it for him. She stared down at her card in wonder. "The bond we share with my card. Are you saying that caused his mark to appear?"
Godwin didn't answer her. Lina let out a growl, but on the inside, she felt all light. Yusei was happy dueling her. Yusei felt strong enough emotions that his sign came out. A smile tugged on the corner of Lina's mouth.
"What about the fifth Signer?" Lina looked to Godwin, a fire in her pale green eyes. "There are five, right? Where's the fifth?" She didn't mention how Yusei thought it was her. Lina knew she wasn't a Signer.
"They will be revealed soon," Godwin's answer was short. He was hiding something. Lina could tell. "I know and am in contact with the fifth Signer. All will be revealed when the time is right."
"I want to help," The words came out of Lina's mouth before she could properly think about them, but she didn't regret saying them. "I want to be there for them- all of them," Lina continued in a stronger voice.
"You will be able to do something," Godwin promised her. "Your powers may be weaker than any of the Signers, but you will have some use."
"Some use," Lina couldn't help but scoff. Some use. Lina wasn't sure if she should be offended by the words. Knowing Godwin only used her this entire time as a pawn against Yusei and Jack, she couldn't tell.
"Lina, they're coming back," Sun Hope's Magician's voice rang in her ears. Lina stiffened, her whole body tensing. Without a second thought or a word, Lina raced out of the tower and down to the sidelines.
Just in time for Jack's D-Wheel to fall out of the sky. Jack's D-Wheel fell to the ground, flipping midair, and throwing Jack off onto the ground. Yusei landed next. He side skidded hard but came to a halt. He was breathing heavily.
"Jack!" Lina shouted as she jumped over the railing to sit next to her brother. She placed Jack's head in her lap and grabbed onto his hand.
Stardust Dragon and Red Daemon's Dragon still remained frozen in place.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, we seem to be experiencing some technical difficulties at this moment! Your patience is appreciated as we try to sort this matter out."
The dragons blurred, before vanishing into sparkles.
"What just happened?" Yui glanced down at Ruka, who was now back in the present with the gang. She was the only one who wasn't looking freaked out.
"First they were dueling, then they disappeared, now they're back and their dragons are gone!" Yanagi shouted out the words.
"Guys! Look there!" Rua pointed to the monitor. Yusei had 400 life points left. Jack had zero.
Yusei had won the duel.
"Well I'll be damned," Anya stared at the scoreboard.
"Yusei won. He's the new champion now," Ruka confirmed in a calm voice, a sharp contrast to how she was acting earlier.
"Jack, say something," Lina was close to tears.
"He beat me..." Jack was in disbelief as he stared up at Lina. He tried to wipe a tear away from her cheek but didn't have the strength. Lina gave him a shaky smile as she took his other hand in hers.
"You're going to be okay," Lina promised him.
"Are you okay?" Yusei rushed to join them.
"You did it...I don't how, Yusei, but you're the Champ now," Jack seemed to be in disbelief.
"If that vision was true, none of this matters!" Yusei looked shaken. Lina stared back and forth between them. "It looks like we all might lose. We're in danger and our cities might be destroyed. We have to unite and stop it from happening."
"Where did you guys go-" Lina looked up in alarm at Yusei by his choice of words. Yusei was never one to be dramatic. Whatever they saw, it was intense.
"You always wanted to be the hero...here's your chance," Jack slowly closed his eyes.
"Jack! Jack!" Lina was starting to panic.
"Lina..." Jack breathed out.
"I'm here. I'm not going anywhere," Lina squeezed his hand. It was too late. Jack had fainted.
"It's over! Yusei is our winner!"
The crowd cheered. Anya and Yui both stood up, turning to the other with excitement.
That's when Anya did something she knew was wrong. She grabbed Yui's face in hers and kissed her on the lips. When Anya pulled back, Yui stared at her with wide eyes. It took Anya a second to figure out what she just did.
"Oh, fuck, no," Anya had gotten too wrapped up at the moment. She had fucked up royally.
Yusei's face was on the holographic screen. "From the refuge of refuse, he rose! From the slums of Satellite, he now reigns supreme!"
Lina stood up, gently letting Jack down onto the ground as she did so, to stand beside Yusei. Lina grabbed onto his hand. Yusei held on tightly, as if his life depended on it. Lina couldn't imagine what he had seen.
"I proudly present Neo Domino City's newest hero- Yusei Fudo!