Episode 28
Jack Atlas – Final Event: Promises and Vengeance
Maybe I'm just this way
Because of my pent-up emotions
…
Jack continued down the freeway, his thoughts on the call he received.
…
"What?" Jack responded, grabbing the phone. "Who are you?"
"Jack Atlas," said the voice on the other end of the call. "Meet me at the Kaiba Dome. We have a score to settle."
"You still haven't answered my question! Who are you?"
A click sounded the end of the conversation.
…
"Who in their right mind challenges me, Jack Atlas, in such a crude manner?" he wondered. "He's in for the Duel of his life. I'll teach him a thing or two. Still… that voice was familiar."
Thunder boomed. The gray clouds continued to expand beyond the horizon in all directions.
"This is some time for a challenge…" Jack thought.
…
"How disappointing," Morsus said, staring at the table. "Four of our members have fallen to the Signers."
"There's still us, Morsus," Ultio replied.
"Be that as it may, it's saddening to see that our members were so weak."
"Contemno still hasn't been eliminated yet."
"Except he's not really working with us. However… there's still another option."
"'Another option'?"
"You need not worry about it, Ultio. You have an opponent to face."
"You're not one to start getting impatient, Morsus."
"The time is drawing near. The Signers must be defeated."
"But what about—"
"Contemno is heading our way. I will deal with him myself."
"Very well." Ultio turned around to leave.
"Ultio."
"Yes?"
"Do not fail me."
"Wouldn't dream of it. Especially since now is my time… for revenge."
…
Jack pulled into a large stadium and halted on the large oval-shaped track on the inside. He scanned the area, noticing no one in sight.
"Who's there?" he shouted.
No answer.
"He must've run away. What a waste of time," Jack said.
"Who's running away?" asked a voice over a loudspeaker. "I've been waiting for you to come, Jack Atlas."
"Show yourself!"
"Fine by me." The image of a hooded man with a "復讐" mark on his chest appeared on a spherical hologram in the center of the stadium.
"You!" Jack recognized the mark.
…
Jack stared at Saevio. "You!" he exclaimed. "You're that woman I fought at that café!"
"Guilty as charged," Saevio stated. "The name is Saevio."
"I've got a score to settle with you!"
"Oh, please. We both know I would've won that Duel."
"You think so? Why don't you prove it, then?"
"Your business is with me, Jack Atlas," Ultio interrupted.
"And who are you?"
"I'm surprised you don't recognize me. After all, you've humiliated me several times before. The name's Ultio. Got it memorized?"
…
"So you remember me from our last meeting. But the question is… do you know who I am?" Ultio asked.
"What does that matter? You're just some punk thinking you can actually defeat me!" Jack replied.
"I am more than capable of crushing you, Jack Atlas, and I'll be more than happy to prove it to you. When I'm done with you, I shall have my revenge!"
"Then why don't you come down here and face me?!"
"With pleasure."
Jack suddenly heard the sound of another Duel Runner. "Where are you?!"
"Over here." Ultio burst onto the track from one of the hallways near the bleachers and pulled up next to Jack. "So, are you ready to settle this once and for all?"
"Who are you?"
"That doesn't matter. All you need to know is… you will fall."
"Just try it! If I lose to you, then I'm not Jack Atlas!"
"Typical."
"What was that?!"
Ultio chuckled, pressing a button on his Duel Runner. "I activate the Field Spell Speed World 2!"
"DUEL MODE ENGAGED," said the computer voice.
The two began to drive down the track, drawing five cards from their respective Decks.
"Now come, Jack, and we'll see if you're as strong as you think you are!" Ultio said.
"Mock me, will you? I'll teach you!" Jack responded.
DUEL!
Jack (LP 4000) VS Ultio (LP 4000)
"You can have the first move," Ultio said.
"Fine. I hope you're ready! It's my turn!" Jack declared, drawing a card. "I Summon Power Breaker!"
Power Breaker
LV: 4
ATK: 1900
"I end my turn."
"Then it's my move!" Ultio stated.
Jack
LP: 4000
SPC: 1
Ultio
LP: 4000
SPC: 1
"I Set one monster in Defense Position and place two cards face-down. That's all."
"Is that the best you can do?" Jack asked. "Since you're talking about getting revenge, I thought you'd be a little more offensive than that."
"Oh, you won't have to worry about that," Ultio answered. "Now come at me, Jack."
"You asked for it. My turn!"
Jack
LP: 4000
SPC: 2
Ultio
LP: 4000
SPC: 2
"I Summon the Tuner Monster Influence Dragon!" Jack declared.
Influence Dragon
LV: 3
ATK: 300
"This monster, once per turn, can change the type of a monster on my field to Dragon-Type until the End Phase! And I'll use this effect on Power Breaker!"
"It's coming…" Ultio thought.
"I tune Level 3 Influence Dragon with Level 4 Power Breaker!" Jack continued.
3 + 4 = 7
"The ruler's shouts echo throughout! Hammer of victory, shatter the very earth! Synchro Summon! Flap your wings, Exploder Dragonwing!"
Exploder Dragonwing
LV: 7
ATK: 2400
"Typical Jack Atlas," Ultio commented. "Going for a Synchro Summon."
"You got a problem?" Jack responded.
"Not at all. So what are you waiting for?"
"You want it? You've got it! Exploder Dragonwing, attack the face-down monster!" His dragon shot flames from its mouth."
"I activate the Trap Card Waboku!"
"What?"
"This turn, my monsters can't be destroyed by battle and I don't take any Battle Damage!" Ultio's monster was revealed.
Gladiator Beast Hoplomus
LV: 4
DEF: 2100
The large armored rhinocerous absorbed the blow from the flames.
"At the end of the Battle Phase, after Hoplomus battles, I can return it to the Deck to Special Summon a "Gladiator Beast" monster from my Deck! Appear now, Gladiator Beast Spartacus!"
Gladiator Beast Spartacus
LV: 5
ATK: 2200
"Gladiator Beast…" Jack thought. "I Set one card face-down and end my turn!"
"My turn!" Ultio declared.
Jack
LP: 4000
SPC: 3
Ultio
LP: 4000
SPC: 3
"I Summon Gladiator Beast Lanista!"
Gladiator Beast Lanista
LV: 4
ATK: 1800
"Since I control a "Gladiator Beast", I can Special Summon Test Tiger from my hand!"
Test Tiger
LV: 3
ATK: 600
"Test Tiger's monster effect activates! By Tributing this card, I can return a "Gladiator Beast" to my Deck and Special Summon another in its place! I return Lanista to the Deck and Summon… Gladiator Beast Bestiari!"
Gladiator Beast Bestiari
LV: 4
ATK: 1500
"A monster Summoned by the effect of Test Tiger is treated as Summoned by the effect of a "Gladiator Beast"! Therefore, Bestiari's effect activates!"
Jack scoffed. "I've seen this strategy before," he thought.
"When Bestiari is Summoned by the effect of a "Gladiator Beast", I can destroy one Spell or Trap Card on the field! I'll destroy that Set card!" Ultio continued.
Jack's face-down card was shattered.
"I now return Bestiari and Spartacus to my Deck!"
"Returning them to your Deck, you say?" Jack responded. "Then he's really…"
"Vengeful creatures, combine into a beast that will storm the field! Contact Fusion! Appear now, Gladiator Beast Gyzarus!"
Gladiator Beast Gyzarus
LV: 6
ATK: 2400
"When Gladiator Beast Gyzarus is Special Summoned, I can destroy up to two cards on your field! I'll destroy Exploder Dragonwing!" Ultio's new winged creature struck Jack's dragon, vanquishing it. "With this, your field is empty. Go, Gyzarus! Direct attack!" The monster then crashed into Jack's Duel Runner, causing him to spin out momentarily.
Jack
LP: 4000 – 2400 = 1600
SPC: 3
"How do you like that, Jack Atlas?" Ultio asked, pulling ahead of Jack as the latter regained control of his Runner.
"Why you…" Jack scoffed. The two began to turn the corner on the elliptical track.
"At the end of the Battle Phase after Gyzarus battles, I can return it to the Extra Deck to Special Summon two "Gladiator Beasts" from my Deck!" Ultio continued, his monster vanishing. "Come! Gladiator Beasts Hoplomus and Retiari!"
Gladiator Beast Retiari
LV: 3
ATK: 1200
Gladiator Beast Hoplomus
LV: 4
DEF: 2100 + 300 = 2400
"When Hoplomus is Special Summoned by the effect of "Gladiator Beast", its original DEF becomes 2400. In addition, when Retiari is Summoned this way, I can banish a card in your Graveyard! So why don't we take out your Exploder Dragonwing?" An image of Jack's Synchro Monster disappeared into a vortex. "Then I'll return Retiari and Hoplomus to my Deck!"
"Again?!" Jack exclaimed.
"Vengeful creatures, merge together and form a creature that will avenge its allies! Contact Fusion! Appear now, Gladiator Beast Essedarii!"
Gladiator Beast Essedarii
LV: 5
ATK: 2500
"Wait a second…" Jack mumbled.
"So… you've finally realized who I am?" Ultio asked.
"The opponent I faced in the final round of the last tournament… you're…"
"That's right! Keiichi Girvin!"
"But what have you got against me?"
"Simple… to you, it was just another tournament… for me… lives were at stake."
"What do you mean?"
"You wouldn't understand. I am a poor man and my daughter was ill. I did not have the means to pay for an operation that would save her life. But the opportunity to win cash in a local tournament would have sufficed. Little did I know that I would face the one and only former King, Jack Atlas. I thought that defeating you would not only mean obtaining the prize money, but fame as well which, in turn, would've meant even more on top of that."
Jack remained silent.
"But because of you… I failed to save her… not to mention that my wife fell ill as well. Both of them are on their last threads of life because of you."
"You're crazy."
"Think what you want. I was their latest recruit after the tournament. That's when Saevio appeared before me. I swore I'd have my revenge on you… and I will!"
"That's absurd."
"What?"
"You think I'm going to buy that nonsense? And if it were true, why blame someone else for your shortcomings? In a Duel, only the strongest Decks can triumph!"
"Joke around if you must… I will finish you. I end my turn," Ultio concluded.
…
DBG pulled up in front of a run-down building. He clutched at his heart, the glow of the "嫌い" mark on his chest piercing through the spaces between his fingers. "He's here," he thought. He removed his helmet and got off his Duel Runner. After placing his helmet on the seat of the Runner, he moved towards the entrance.
…
Yusei glanced at the monitor of his Duel Runner. The screen displayed a map that showed a red dot stopping.
"DBG must've stopped for some reason…" he thought. "But… in an abandoned part of New Domino City…?"
Thunder continued to boom while the lightning burst from the dark gray clouds.
Yusei inspected the location on the map and gasped.
"This is… near the laboratory… have the Cursed Hearts been nearby all this time?" he wondered. He then pressed a button his Duel Runner.
Crow's face appeared on the monitor.
"What's up, Yusei?" Crow asked.
"Crow, I want you to get the others. Meet me at these coordinates."
"What for?"
"I may have found out where the Cursed Hearts are based. We'll need everyone's help to stop this."
…
"My turn!" Jack declared.
Jack
LP: 1600
SPC: 4
Ultio
LP: 4000
SPC: 4
"If you control a monster and I don't, this card can be Special Summoned with its original ATK and DEF halved! I Special Summon Vice Dragon!"
Vice Dragon
LV: 5
ATK: 2000 / 2 = 1000
"Next, I Normal Summon Flare Resonator!"
Flare Resonator
LV: 3
ATK: 300
"Another Synchro Summon?" Ultio wondered.
"I tune Level 3 Flare Resonator with Level 5 Vice Dragon!" Jack continued.
3 + 5 = 8
"The King's determination is conceived with a flame that burns red and becomes a crimson blade! Appear from beyond the burning hot waves! Synchro Summon! The burning fierce god, Crimson Blader!"
Crimson Blader
LV: 8
ATK: 2800
"The Synchro Monster that uses Flare Resonator as Synchro Material gains 300 ATK!"
Crimson Blader
LV: 8
ATK: 2800 + 300 = 3100
"3100 ATK?" Ultio mumbled.
"Battle! Crimson Blader, attack Gladiator Beast Essedarii!" Jack commanded. His warrior lunged forward at Ultio's beast.
"No you won't! I activate the Trap Card Waboku!"
"Another one?!"
Ultio's monster endured the strike from Crimson Blader and pushed it back. "Crimson Blader's effect… when it destroys a monster in battle, the opponent cannot Summon a Level 5 or higher monster during their next turn. It would have been bad if I had let that attack through," he grinned.
"I end my turn!" Jack concluded.
"My move!"
Jack
LP: 1600
SPC: 5
Ultio
LP: 4000
SPC: 5
"I activate the Speed Spell – Angel Baton! Since I have at least two Speed Counters, I can draw two cards and discard one! Next, I Summon Gladiator Beast Bestiari!"
Gladiator Beast Bestiari
LV: 4
ATK: 1500
"That monster…" Jack thought.
"I return Bestiari to my Deck and Essedarii to my Extra Deck!" Ultio continued.
"Vengeful creatures, combine into a beast that will storm the field! Contact Fusion! Appear once more, Gladiator Beast Gyzarus!"
Gladiator Beast Gyzarus
LV: 6
ATK: 2400
"When Gyzarus is Special Summoned, I can destroy up to two cards you control. Say good-bye to Crimson Blader!" Ultio's beast struck Jack's Synchro Monster, destroying it. "It's just like before… only this time… you lose! Gyzarus, direct attack!"
"Keep dreaming!" Jack stated. "I Special Summon Battle Fader!"
Battle Fader
LV: 1
DEF: 0
"When you attack directly, I can Special Summon this card from my hand and end the Battle Phase!" The pendulum attached to the underside of Jack's new monster struck the bell on its side. The ringing caused Ultio's beast to stop moving.
"I Set two cards face-down and end my turn," Ultio scoffed.
"Then it's my turn!" Jack declared.
Jack
LP: 1600
SPC: 6
Ultio
LP: 4000
SPC: 6
"I activate the Speed Spell – Shift Down! By removing six Speed Counters, I draw two cards from my Deck!"
Jack
LP: 1600
SPC: 6 – 6 = 0
"Next, by sending a monster from my hand to the Graveyard, I can Special Summon Power Giant from my hand!"
Power Giant
LV: 6
ATK: 2200
"Power Giant's Level decreases by that of the sent monster. Since Force Resonator is Level 2, its Level becomes 4!"
Power Giant
LV: 6 – 2 = 4
ATK: 2200
"Then I Summon Trust Guardian!"
Trust Guardian
LV: 3
ATK: 0
"I tune Level 3 Trust Guardian with Level 1 Battle Fader and Level 4 Power Giant!"
3 + 1 + 4 = 8
"The ruler's heartbeats will now file through here! Take witness to its creation-shaking power! Synchro Summon! My very soul, Red Dragon Archfiend!"
Red Dragon Archfiend
LV: 8
ATK: 3000
"So it's finally here… Jack's ace monster," Ultio mumbled.
"Battle! Red Dragon Archfiend, attack Gladiator Beast Gyzarus!" Jack commanded. "Absolute Power Force!" The fist of his dragon became engulfed in flames.
"I activate the Counter Trap Negate Attack! This card negates your attack and ends the Battle Phase!"
Jack scoffed as his dragon's fist struck a barrier, halting the attack. "I end my turn!"
"It's my turn!" Ultio declared.
Jack
LP: 1600
SPC: 1
Ultio
LP: 4000
SPC: 7
"I activate the Trap Card Reckless Greed! This card lets me draw two cards from my Deck, but I must then skip my next two Draw Phases after its activation. Next, I activate the effect of Speed World 2! By removing seven Speed Counters, I draw one card!"
Ultio
LP: 4000
SPC: 7 – 7 = 0
Ultio sneered upon glancing at the cards in his hand. "With this… my victory is assured," he thought.
"What is he up to?" Jack wondered.
"I Summon Gladiator Beast Retiari!" Ultio continued.
Gladiator Beast Retiari
LV: 3
ATK: 1200
"Then I Special Summon Test Tiger!"
Test Tiger
LV: 3
ATK: 600
"Not this again," Jack mumbled.
"I Tribute Test Tiger to activate its monster effect! I return Retiari to my Deck to Special Summon Gladiator Beast Darius!" Ultio stated.
Gladiator Beast Darius
LV: 4
ATK: 1700
"When Darius is Special Summoned by the effect of a "Gladiator Beast"… treated as such due to Test Tiger's effect… I can Special Summon a Gladiator Beast from my Graveyard! Revive, Gladiator Beast Laquari!"
Gladiator Beast Laquari
LV: 4
ATK: 1800
"Here it comes," Jack thought.
"I return Darius and Laquari to my Deck and Gyzarus to my Extra Deck!" Ultio said.
"Vengeful creatures, combine into one, the ultimate creature that cannot be halted and will leave nothing in its wake! Triple Contact Fusion! Descend, Gladiator Beast Heraklinos!"
Gladiator Beast Heraklinos
LV: 8
ATK: 3000
"I Set one card face-down and end my turn," Ultio concluded.
"So… you've finally brought out your ace monster," Jack commented. "But… its ATK is equal to my Red Dragon Archfiend!"
"Indeed. It would be a draw."
"Almost…" Jack thought. "Due to Trust Guardian's effect… once per turn, Red Dragon Archfiend can't be destroyed in battle. Then its ATK is decreased by 400 when that effect is used."
"Go on, Jack. Attack me," Ultio grinned. "When you do, this Duel is over. Even if you don't, my victory is assured. Especially since Spell and Traps are useless. Heraklinos has the ability to negate them as long as I discard a card in my hand for its Cost… which I happen to have."
"It's my turn!" Jack declared.
Jack
LP: 1600
SPC: 2
Ultio
LP: 4000
SPC: 1
"If I control a Level 8 or higher Synchro Monster, I can Special Summon Create Resonator from my hand!"
Create Resonator
LV: 3
ATK: 800
"Then I Normal Summon Chain Resonator!"
Chain Resonator
LV: 1
ATK: 100
"Now it's time… for you to face my Burning Soul!" Jack held his right arm up to his chest as his Signer mark glowed a bright red. "I double tune Level 3 Create Resonator and Level 1 Chain Resonator with Level 8 Red Dragon Archfiend!"
3 + 1 + 8 = 12
"The King and the Devil, here and now shall become as one! A raging spirit! Lift up the very cries of creation itself! Synchro Summon! Come forth, Red Nova Dragon!"
Red Nova Dragon
LV: 12
ATK: 3500
"Red Nova Dragon's ATK increases by 500 for every Tuner Monster in my Graveyard! Since there are a total of six… it gains 3000 ATK!"
6 * 500 = 3000
Red Nova Dragon
LV: 12
ATK: 3500 + 3000 = 6500
"That's right, Jack Atlas…" Ultio grinned. "Attack me."
"He's too calm… I don't like it," Jack thought. "No monster he Summons can defeat my Red Nova Dragon in battle but… that Set card…"
"What's wrong, Jack Atlas?"
"I end my turn!"
"What? Ending your turn? Are you scared? Some duelist you are."
Jack remained silent.
"Fine by me. It's my turn! Due to Reckless Greed's effect, I won't be drawing a card this turn."
Jack
LP: 1600
SPC: 3
Ultio
LP: 4000
SPC: 2
"If you won't attack, then I will!" Ultio stated.
"What?!" Jack exclaimed.
"Gladiator Beast Heraklinos, attack Red Nova Dragon!"
"You're mad! Your monster has less ATK than mine!" Jack then stared hard at Ultio.
Ultio continued to grin.
"I see… he wants this to happen…" Jack realized. "In that case, I activate Red Nova Dragon's effect! When the opponent's monster attacks, I can banish it to negate that attack!" His dragon vanished.
Ultio scoffed. "I end my turn," he concluded.
"I figured as much. You want to force a battle," Jack said. "But it'll take much more than that! During the End Phase, Red Nova Dragon is Summoned back to the field!"
Red Nova Dragon
LV: 12
ATK: 6500
"It's my turn!" Jack said, glancing at his drawn card.
Jack
LP: 1600
SPC: 4
Ultio
LP: 4000
SPC: 3
"But if you want to fight so much, I'll give it to you!"
"What?" Ultio responded.
"Red Nova Dragon, attack Heraklinos!" Jack commanded. "Burning Soul!"
"After avoiding a clash twice? Why?" Ultio wondered.
Jack's dragon became engulfed in flames as it pierced through Ultio's beast.
6500 – 3000 = 3500
Ultio
LP: 4000 – 3500 = 500
SPC: 3
"But it doesn't matter…" Ultio mumbled, his eyes becoming blood red. "My victory is set!"
"What?" Jack replied. "His eyes turned that color… just like the others before…"
"I activate the Trap Card Cursed Emotion – Heart of Revenge! This card Special Summons a monster from my Graveyard that was destroyed in battle, while ignoring the Summoning conditions! Then during the End Phase, that monster is destroyed and you take damage equal to its ATK!"
"Now I get it…"
"Too little… too late… revive, Heraklinos!"
Gladiator Beast Heraklinos
LV: 8
ATK: 3000
"It's over, Jack Atlas," Ultio said. "My revenge is complete. When this turn ends, Heraklinos will be destroyed. Then, due to Heart of Revenge's effect, you'll take its ATK as damage. 3000! You only have a mere 1600 Life Points… I win."
"Are you sure about that?" Jack asked.
"What?"
"When you Special Summon a monster, I can Special Summon Extra Veiler from my hand!"
Extra Veiler
LV: 2
DEF: 200
"What good will that monster do you?" Ultio asked.
"You'll see. Now that it's the End Phase, your monster is destroyed!" Jack continued.
An explosion occurred, destroying Ultio's Heraklinos. "Yes, it is! And now you'll take 3000 points of damage! You're finished!"
"At this moment, I use the effect of Extra Veiler!" Jack's new monster held up its red cape to absorb the blast from the explosion. "During the turn Extra Veiler is Special Summoned, all effect damage to me is inflicted to the opponent instead!"
"No way! Impossible!"
"Take this!" The energy absorbed into the cape began to flow into Jack's dragon. The dragon then opened its mouth and shot flames at Ultio.
Ultio screamed as the flames burned.
Ultio
LP: 500 – 3000 = 0
SPC: 3
His Runner crashed, triggering an explosion. The smoke cleared and neither the Runner nor duelist could be found. In their place was a pit of darkness, seen already only by the other Signers.
Jack slowed to a stop.
He remained still within the silent stadium.
"Keiichi," he mumbled. "If what you say is true, then…"
A beep on his Runner interrupted him.
"What is it?" he asked.
"Jack, where have you been?" Crow asked, on the monitor. "I've been trying to reach you."
"Taking care of business."
"Still doing your own thing… anyway, Yusei needs us. He wants us all to meet up at these coordinates."
"Fine." Jack hung up. "But first… I've got a hospital to visit."
…
Morsus stood alone in the empty room.
"So… now only two of us remain…" he mumbled. "I guess it's time to initiate the other plan… I hoped it wouldn't come to this… but I have no choice."
The table projected an image of DBG moving through the building.
"Contemno…" he said, "looks like you'll get your wish after all…"
…
How stupid of me
To want to let it all out
