(Author's Note: This chapter features a Tag-Team Duel. The rules for these vary from instance to instance, but I am using the rules featured in 5D's Episode 31, which were also used in several Tag-Team Duels in GX Season 4 and are also used in the Tag Force video games. To sum up, each team shares a field, Graveyard, removed from play zone, Life Points and, judging by the episode, Speed Counters. However, their Decks and hands are separate.

In addition, Yusei has used Junk Destroyer in the anime with an official Synchro Chant, so I will use that chant from now on. Also, it seems that Junk Archer and Stardust Dragon's Synchro Chants have changed, so I'll use the most recent versions of those.)

Chapter 28: Reunion Tag-Team

Crow glared down at Yusei from atop the junk pile as the latter dismounted his Runner. The orange-haired teen slid down the pile and landed neatly before Yusei and raised a fist. Then he slowly unclenched the fist and shook hands with Yusei.

"Hey, Yusei," he laughed, grimace becoming a smirk.

"Hey, Crow," the Signer replied with a slight smile. "What've you been up to?"

"Oh, just the usual," Crow laughed. "Playing Robin Hood, robbing from the rich, giving to the poor... you know how it is." He noticed Yusei's criminal marker. "I see Security got ya, huh?"

"It happens," Yusei shrugged, looking up to Crow's Duel Runner. "I see you learned how to use a wrench." Crow chuckled.

"Yeah, I finished Blackbird last year," he said. "She's a beauty alright... let's hit the streets!" With that, he sprinted back up the junk pile, slung on his helmet and mounted Blackbird as Yusei mounted his own Runner. The engines started simultaneously...

28

A short while later, the two raced down the streets of Satellite.

"I heard you're the champion now!" Crow called.

"Something like that," Yusei replied.

"Did Goodwin really kidnap your friends just to make you take part in that Fortune Cup?" Crow asked.

"Yes... I need to make sure they're safe," Yusei murmured. "There's a lot of danger around here now, Crow."

"Let's head to your hideout," Crow suggested...

28

A short while later, they skidded their Runners to a stop underground, outside said hideout, dismounting. As they pulled off their helmets, Rally came running out from within, followed by Blitz, Nervin, Tank and Blister.

"Yusei!" Rally exclaimed, tears gleaming in his eyes as he hugged his friend tightly. "I knew you'd come back!"

"I'd never leave you guys alone for too long," the Signer replied with a smile before looking at Blister. "Thanks for the help, Blister." The man nodded curtly, smirking slightly.

"No worries."

"Hey, this club exclusive or something?!" Crow exclaimed. They all seemed to notice him for the first time.

"Hey, Crow!" Blitz and Tank exclaimed.

"Sorry... we didn't recognise you with the helmet and the bike!" Nervin said.

"Yeah, Yusei isn't the only Turbo Duelist round these parts anymore!" Crow laughed. Then suddenly spotlights shone down from above as helicopter rotors became audible.

"Crow Hogan!" a Security shouted down with a megaphone. "Give yourself up now!"

"Damn... looks like you're not the only one with a knack for ticking off these guys, huh, Yusei?" he muttered, running a finger across one of his criminal marks. Suddenly a sphere dropped into the tunnel and began to vent thick clouds of tear gas.

"They're trying to gas us out!" Nervin exclaimed.

"We need to split up!" Crow shouted. "You guys run for it and meet us at Daedalus Bridge, and we'll head the boys in blue off!" He pulled on his helmet as Yusei did the same, the two mounting their Runners and shooting along the tunnel. The two shot out of the subway tunnels up the staircase, narrowly avoiding running down several Security officers before shooting down the street as a Sector Security van gave chase.

Suddenly, a small spherical robot detached from the van and shot off after the two Runners, a built-in camera quickly scanning both Turbo Duelists. Inside the van, two Security officers in the back read through the information.

"We have the target," one noted. "Crow Hogan, currently eighteen years of age, previously convicted on charges of theft, resisting arrest and... holy cow, this guy's got a record!"

"The other's Yusei Fudo, the new champion," the other officer mused. "Once a Satellite scum, always a Satellite scum I guess. Eighteen years of age, allegedly uses a Deck strategy focused around the Synchro Summoning of the Warrior Archetype Synchro Monsters."

"This Crow guy apparently uses Blackwing monsters," his colleague read out. "I dunno... they seem like pretty hardcore Duelists."

"They're Satellite scum! Man up already!" The officer punched a button before him and their Duel Disks activated, the screens switching to a Duel Mode view. "We'll take them both on as a team if it makes you feel better, wimp!"

Ahead of them, Yusei and Crow's Duel Runners immediately switched to Duel Mode. "Overriding suspect Duel Runner, Duel Mode engaged, autopilot standing by."

"Looks like it's a Tag Force Duel," Crow noted. "You know those rules, right? Each team shares field, Graveyard, Life Points and Speed Counters, but we have separate Decks and hands?"

"Yeah, I know the rules," Yusei nodded. "Let's do this." They drew their opening hands as Speed World flashed into view on all four monitor screens. "Speed World activated." Four holograms of the card spun and vanished as the world around was wrapped in the purple aura.

"Let's ride!" all four duelists shouted as one.

Yusei + Crow 8000LP 0SPC/Security 1 + Security 2 8000LP 0SPC

"I'll begin!" the first Security shouted, his voice being projected through speakers on the droid following Yusei and Crow. "I summon Gate Blocker!" The stone slab adorned by the Wdjat eye flashed into existence before the droid (ATK: 100).

"Damn Security, you always start with Gate Blocker!" Crow yelled at them.

"Try this then, Hogan! I Release Gate Blocker to Special Summon Gate Blocker 2!" The Gate Blocker expanded, becoming a larger tablet adorned with two Wdjat eyes (DEF: 3000). "Now I throw out three face-downs, and end!" The three reversed cards appeared behind Gate Blocker 2.

Yusei + Crow 8000LP 0SPC/Security 1 + Security 2 8000LP 0SPC

"I draw!" Crow yelled.

"I activate Full Throttle and Speed Edge!" the first Security shouted as two face-downs lifted up. "Full Throttle grants my side an additional Speed Counter in each Standby Phase, while Speed Edge nails you with 300 points of damage for each Speed Counter higher our total is than yours!"

The Security droid sped up (Security 1 + Security 2 8000LP 2SPC), but the other team didn't due to Gate Blocker 2's effect. Then energy ripped from Speed Edge and slammed into Crow, who grunted in pain.

(Yusei + Crow 7400LP 0SPC)

"I'll tear down your little wall!" Crow roared. "I summon Blackwing – Bora the Spear!" The bird man appeared in a flurry of feathers, raising his lance (ATK: 1700). "And now I Special Summon Blackwing – Gale the Whirlwind from my hand since I control a different Blackwing!" Gale formed from another burst of feathers with a shriek (ATK: 1300).

"Gale and Bora... the combo you used last time!" the Security shouted in alarm.

"Exactly!" Crow replied. "Gale, do your thing!" Gale flapped its wings and the red aura surrounded Gate Blocker 2 (DEF: 1500). "Now, Bora, attack his Gate Blocker 2! Black Spiral!" Bora blasted a lance of energy from his weapon and Gate Blocker 2 shattered like glass, the attack ripping into the Security droid.

(Security 1 + Security 2 7800LP 2SPC)

"You just screwed up bad, you moron!" the Security snapped as his third Trap activated. "I activate Broken Blocker – since you destroyed a monster with higher defence than attack in battle, I get two more copies from my Deck!" Two more Gate Blocker 2s appeared before the Security droid (DEF: 3000x2).

"Damn it!" Crow swore. "I toss out four face-downs and end my turn!" The reversed cards appeared behind Gale and Bora.

Yusei + Crow 7400LP 0SPC/Security 1 + Security 2 7800LP 2SPC

"I draw!" the second Security shouted (Security 1 + Security 2 7800LP 4SPC). Then Speed Edge fired its energy into Crow again.

(Yusei + Crow 6200LP 0SPC)

"I activate Speed Spell – Angel Baton!" the Security yelled, drawing twice and tossing a monster into the Graveyard. "Now I summon Scrap Chimera!" With a mechanical, grating roar a portal opened before the droid, disgorging a strange lion-like beast with eagle wings and a snake for a tail, made entirely from scrap-metal parts (ATK: 1700). "When Scrap Chimera is Normal Summoned, I can Special Summon a Scrap Tuner Monster from my Graveyard! I summon the Scrap Beast I tossed with Angel Baton!"

Another portal opened, releasing a panther-like beast again made from scrap-metal, with sabre fangs and large claws (ATK: 1600). "Now I Tune my Level Four Scrap Beast to my Level Four Scrap Chimera to Synchro Summon...!"

Scrap Beast roared and dissolved into four stars that expanded into Synchro Rings as they encircled Scrap Chimera, reducing it to four glowing stars. The stars collided in a blaze of pitch-black energy...

"The scrap-metal discarded as unworthy, take a form of destruction and rise for revenge! Obliterate those who defile you with unclean touch! Synchro Summon! Destroy, Scrap Dragon!"

An almighty roar reverberated as a towering shadow took flight, a monstrous dragon made of scrap-metal sheets welded and bolted together, steam venting from valves across its form. Car tyres ringed its tail, and its immense wings were formed from sheets of corrugated iron. With a baleful roar, Scrap Dragon turned its crimson gaze upon Yusei and Crow... (ATK: 2800)

"I throw out a face-down!" the Security called, the reversed card appeared behind Scrap Dragon. "Now I activate Scrap Dragon's effect, destroying a card on my field and one on yours!" Scrap Dragon roared, and his face-down shattered, followed by one of Crow's. The orange-haired teen smirked.

"That face-down was Dummy Marker, so I draw once!" the Security called, doing so. "Now, Scrap Dragon, annihilate his Gale the Whirlwind! Junkyard Bombardment!" Scrap Dragon roared and various shards of scrap metal tore from its body, shooting towards Gale...

"I activate Urgent Tuning, and Tune my Gale the Whirlwind to Bora the Spear!" Crow retorted as his remaining face-down lifted up. Gale split into three glowing rings that encircled Bora, reducing him to four stars that collided in a blast of black feathers...

"Darkened gales, become the wings that will soar to the heavens! Synchro Summon! Blackwing Armor Master!"

The black feathers exploded apart as the Synchro Monster glided down to hover beside Crow's Runner. He was tall and slender, clad from head to toe in jet-black armour adorned with orange patterns, his hands coated in bronze, clawed gauntlets. His helmet was shaped like a bird's head with a crimson jewel held within the beak, bladed wings spreading behind his back. His bare midriff was the only clue that he was even alive and not an armoured robot (ATK: 2500).

"Fine then!" the Security roared. "Scrap Dragon, destroy that thing!" Scrap Dragon fired its Junkyard Bombardment, but the scrap-metal simply bounced off of Blackwing Armor Master without harming Crow's Synchro Monster, or even Crow himself.

"Armor Master can't be destroyed in battle, and I take no damage when he battles!" Crow explained.

"Damn it!" the Security roared, throwing out a face-down card. "I end my turn!"

28

On the other side of the ocean, in New Domino City, Julian wandered the streets aimlessly alone. Drago had returned home, while Julian walked on alone, thinking about what had happened with April. While his cousin had returned to her duties, he had been left to wander and remember, all his memories and pain flooding back.

"Uncle... Kelsey..." he murmured. "Was I right to use Vulcan against her... she had to know the truth... but did I push it too far?"

He was so engrossed in his thoughts he didn't notice the person in front of him until he had walked right into them. They were sent stumbling forwards, and he instinctively caught their arm, hauling them back to their feet. As the person turned, their face brought back another memory.

"Carly..." he said in surprise, remembering the reporter/blogger from the Legacy of Champions two years before.

"J-Julian!" she stammered. "What are you doing here?"

"Just thinking," he replied, letting go of her arm. "I suppose you're looking for another story..."

"What's a Metro Pass?!" The shout from the railway station nearby drew their attention.

"Isn't that...?" Julian began.

"Jack!" Carly cried out, running into the station. Julian followed her, acting out of his need to gather the Signers.

Inside the station, Jack was engaged in a lengthy argument with a barrier repeatedly asking for a Metro Pass.

"Isn't that Jack Atlas?" someone nearby said.

"Uh... no, that's my cousin Ralph!" Carly answered, entering the conversation and the area. "He just looks like Jack..." She grabbed Jack's arm and proceeded to drag him out of the station with Julian following them. Once they were outside, Julian crossed his arms and glared at Jack. He still felt a lot of bitterness and hatred towards the Wing Signer.

"Jack," he said curtly, nodding.

"What are you thinking?!" Carly yelled. "You're still hurt, and the press are tracking you like bloodhounds! If they see you, you'll get mobbed!"

"I can take care of myself," Jack snapped.

"Evidently," Julian said, voice dripping with sarcasm. "Jack, come off it. You're not Jack Atlas, the Master of Faster and all that crap anymore. You can't just waltz through anywhere you damn well like; you're down on our level now. The only thing that can make you special now is that Mark of the Dragon on your arm." Carly glanced at him, puzzled.

"Mark of the Dragon?"

"And I suppose you're so much better," Jack retorted, cutting her off. "After all, you only murdered your little girlfriend now, didn't you?" Julian's eyes seemed to ignite with rage, and if looks could kill, Jack would have dropped dead right then, Signer or not.

"You know what really happened," he whispered in a voice of pure venom. "You of all people know the truth about what happened that day, Jack Atlas. You were right there on that track with me... when Flamvell Nidhogg killed Kelsey, you watched it happen. You're a Signer; you knew that was a real being, not some Solid Vision hologram gone haywire, or a Psychic Duelist's powers. After everything you saw that day... after you summoned Savior Demon Dragon... would you still believe that lie?"

"I'll believe whatever the hell I like," Jack snapped. Julian's gaze hardened further, and he seemed on the brink of committing an actual murder. Fortunately, Carly intervened before he could lose his temper enough to throttle Jack.

"I can't believe you!" she shouted at Jack. "After everything that happened to Julian, you'd just rub salt in his wounds! And as for me... I got you out of that hospital! I cooked for you, cleaned up after you, looked after you! Is this how you repay me?! Well, now I get it – you're just a pampered, spoiled jerk who doesn't even know how to ride the Metro Rail!" Jack turned to walk away from them, but thought better of it.

"Hey, everyone!" Carly called. "Over here, come and check out Jack..."

"Fine!" Jack snarled. "I'll hang out with you geeks if that's what you want, but I'll do it with dignity!" Carly nodded and Julian smirked slightly...

28

A short while later, the trio stood outside a clothes store, with Jack dressed in a beret, very old sunglasses and a grey shirt. Julian smirked slightly at the outfit.

"That outfit's perfect!" Carly exclaimed. "No one'll recognise you!"

"I look like a disco reject," Jack muttered.

"You're so high-strung... just let go and have some fun for once!" Carly cried.

"I hate fun."

"If I'm going to get my story... I'll have to get Jack to open up... I'll have to get friendly with him," Carly though.

"I need to get Jack on our side," Julian thought. "I need a chance to talk to him alone about this whole thing... without Carly there. As nice as she seems, she's a reporter. The last thing we need is this whole thing getting into the papers..."

"I've got an idea!" Carly exclaimed. She started to walk away, and Julian and Jack followed her...

28

Carly screamed at the top of her lungs as the rollercoaster they were all in hurtled down a steep slope. Beside her, Julian and Jack were silent, Jack looking very fed-up, Julian a bit more relaxed.

After that ride came to an end, they went on a bungee-jumping ride, with Carly screaming yet again, and Jack still very fed-up. Julian didn't really react to it, but his eyes were deep with memory. He remembered coming to this amusement park with April and his uncle for his twelfth birthday, spending some quality time with the family he had left... his uncle had always been pretty busy in his job at Kaiba Corp's Duel Runner Manufacturing division. April had looked after him more often than not, something that had bonded the two further... before his uncle, her father's death had ripped them apart...

It would take time to form that close bond again, but they'd manage it. Once the city and the world were saved... then, they'd have time for each other again... but until then, Julian had to dedicate himself to gathering the Signers... he'd promised himself that in Peru, that he wouldn't stop until he had brought the five together to defeat the Earthbound Immortals.

The ride finished and the three sat down on a bench, Jack folding his arms as he glared out at the world.

"Wow... that was great..." Carly said with a smile. "I think we really bonded, hey, Jack?"

"Not really," he replied. "I'd have a better time watching paint dry." Julian clenched a fist tightly. As much as he might not have trusted Carly, he did respect her for helping Jack... and having been brought up to help those who helped him, he was not particularly happy about Jack refusing to do so.

"I'm out of here," the former champion snapped, standing up. "Consider your 'kindness' repaid, Carly."

"Hang on!" Carly cried out, standing and running after him as he walked away. Julian swore under his breath as he stood and followed the two.

"What do you want from me?!" Jack snapped at her.

"Hey, Jack Atlas!" a boy shouted, running up to Jack, who looked down at him.

"Uh, he's not Jack Atlas," Carly said.

"I know it's him!" the boy said. "I'm his biggest fan! I've watched all his Duels... even his very first ones against that Julian Mikuro!" Julian stopped and stared at the boy silently. "My friends say he's a loser 'cause some Satellite beat him, but I know he can win back that title!"

"I'll show 'em all," Jack murmured, patting the boy's hair. "It's nice, but I'm not Jack Atlas."

"I'll see you later!" the kid said as Jack walked away. 'You're still the best Turbo Duelist ever!" Jack ignored him, walking away and vanishing into the crowds.

"He needs to see that people still see him as a champion," Julian murmured, stepping to stand beside Carly. "As much as I hate him... I have to admit that under that icy shell, Jack has a good heart... but it's been lost because of what he lost, back home in the Satellite."

"What did he lose?"

"Friendship... comradeship... bonds..." he replied. "Back in the Satellite... three years ago, there was a team, Carly. A Duel Gang, like so many back then, seeking to dominate the Satellite. But this team was different, they didn't seek their dominance for the power, or the wealth... they sought dominance because they wanted to make the best of what there was in the Satellite... to generate true satisfaction for themselves, even there. They named themselves Team Satisfaction, and they consisted of Yusei, Jack, and two others."

"So Jack is from the Satellite..." Carly murmured.

"Team Satisfaction conquered the other Duel Gangs... they found success, but their leader couldn't stop there," Julian murmured darkly, his eyes darkened with the memories of that terrible time. "He said that they couldn't have their true satisfaction until all the shackles of the city were gone... and he saw Sector Security as those shackles. He tried to fight Sector Security... and because of all that he did to wage that war... the team broke."

"What happened to them?"

"They went separate ways... embraced separate fates," he explained. "Yusei dedicated himself to coming here... he built himself a Duel Runner from spare parts and scrap metal... but then Jack betrayed his friends... he stole that Runner, and Yusei's Stardust Dragon... he came here. I tried to stop him... but I failed." His voice was bitter and dark as he remembered that fierce struggle in the pipeline connecting Satellite and New Domino, the struggle that had ended in his defeat. "But Yusei soldiered on... he built another Runner, and he made it here... the rest, you know."

"What about the others?" she asked.

"Crow... Kalin... I don't know," Julian said softly. "I never really saw them after the team broke..." He did know Kalin's final fate, but he didn't want to talk about it. He'd had such great respect for Kalin, and then the leader of Team Satisfaction had fallen, broken... lost everything for his 'true satisfaction'...

"Is that why he's like this now?" Carly wondered.

"That's part of it... but also because he lost it all to Yusei the moment he lost the Fortune Cup. He was so used to fame and fortune... and now he has infamy and misfortune... but he has to break through this. He has to live his life... and he has to accept the change. The Master of Faster died when he lost to Yusei, now Jack Atlas must rise from the ashes... let's go help him, Carly..."

"I know where he is," Carly said. She gestured to a tower nearby. "That Metro Rail we saw him trying to take, it leads there. And in my apartment... he could see it from the window."

"Let's go," Julian nodded. He took a step, then stopped and looked at her awkwardly. "He was in your apartment overnight? And this isn't plastered over the headlines?" She blushed slightly.

"Oh... no, nothing happened!" she exclaimed, before realising he was chuckling slightly.

"Don't worry," he said. "I'm not going to make a big thing of it... let's go help Jack, shall we?" And with that, they ran towards the tower...

28

On top of the tower, Jack stared out over the sea, towards the setting sun.

Carly walked up to stand beside him, while Julian waited further back.

"Jack," she said. "If this was where you wanted to go, you could've just said so. You seem worse than before... what're you looking at?"

"Satellite, right?" Julian cut in. Jack nodded slightly. "You can't see it from here, Jack."

"Do you miss it?" Carly wondered. "Do you want to go back... you can tell me."

"Two years ago," Jack said, "I gave up everything I knew to come here from the Satellite. I betrayed my friends, the people I grew up with... I turned my back on everything I was. And what did I gain? Temporary greatness. The admiration of fickle fans who love you when you're on top and hate you when you're not... in order to be the duelist I wanted to be, I lost sight of the duelist I really am."

"Sometimes, fame robs you more than it gifts you," Julian murmured.

"For once... you're right," Jack said. "I wanted to be the greatest, but I took the easy path. Now it's too late, I know what I really stand for."

"It's like a do-over," Carly murmured. "You can use what you've learned and go forwards... the old Jack Atlas died in that battle with Yusei, and now it's time for the real Jack to live. You can do it again! Go back to the Satellite and make it up to your friends, say sorry and things can go back to the way they were!"

"You know what?" Jack murmured. 'You're right. I can still do this!" He pulled off his sunglasses and stowed them in a pocket. "No more hiding! No more feeling sorry for myself!" He tossed the hat away, and the wind threw it down into the sea. "It's time to move on!"

"My hat!" Carly exclaimed.

"Sorry," he said. 'It's time I showed the world who I really am!" She lifted her bag and pulled his white coat from it. He pulled off the grey shirt, threw it into the bag and pulled on his coat. "Write whatever you like about me... because that's not the real Jack Atlas you're writing about."

""I'm not writing that article," Carly said. "This city would just use it to point more fingers at you." Julian smiled.

"Thank you," Jack murmured, turning to walk away. He looked at Julian. "I know you hate me, Julian. To be honest... I'd feel the same. But maybe someday, you can forgive me for what I did."

"After all you just said," Julian murmured. "You've changed, Jack. The old Jack, the betrayer and traitor... he died against Yusei... and like Carly said, now the new Jack Atlas lives. I've got no reason to hate that Jack, right?" He laughed, and Jack gave a very small smile, but a smile nonetheless.

"Then let's get going," he said...

28

Back across the ocean in Satellite, the Tag-Team Turbo Duel continued.

Yusei + Crow 6200LP 0SPC/Security 1 + Security 2 7800LP 4SPC

Yusei drew silently (Security 1 + Security 2 7800LP 6SPC). A moment later, Speed Edge blasted Yusei and Crow for the third time.

(Yusei + Crow 4400LP 0SPC)

"I summon Trident Warrior!" the Signer shouted. A seven-foot-tall warrior clad in sea green armour and a blue ankle-length kilt appeared beside him, wielding a golden trident that sparked and crackled with lightning (ATK: 1800). "When Trident Warrior is summoned, I can Special Summon a Level Three monster from my hand, like Junk Synchron!" The orange-armoured Warrior rose beside him (ATK: 1300).

"Yes!" Crow exclaimed.

"Now I Tune together Junk Synchron and Trident Warrior to Synchro Summon...!" Yusei called. Junk Synchron pulled his ripcord and faded into three Synchro Gates that encircled Trident Warrior, reducing him to four glowing stars that collided in a blaze of black energy...

"Clustering shouts will become a silver arrow and split the air! Become the path its light shines upon! Synchro Summon! Come, Junk Archer!"

Junk Archer soared from the Synchro Summon to hover beside his Duel Runner, stringing an arrow (ATK: 2300).

"Blackwing Armor Master, attack Scrap Dragon with Black Hurricane!" Yusei commanded. Armor Master surged forwards and threw a fierce punch into Scrap Dragon, Yusei avoiding damage due to Armor Master's effect. As the Blackwing pulled back, he left a black shard stuck into the titanic Synchro.

"Yeah, go Yusei!" Crow shouted with a laugh.

"Our clustering bonds have formed a path to defeat your Dragon!" Yusei called. "When Blackwing Armor Master attacks a monster, he leaves a Wedge Counter on it, and I can remove that Wedge Counter to reduce that monster's points to zero!" The Wedge Counter exploded and Scrap Dragon screamed (ATK: 0). "Junk Archer, destroy Scrap Dragon with Scrap Arrow!" Junk Archer fired his arrow, shattering Scrap Dragon. The arrow stuck into the Security droid, sending a surge of pain through the Security.

(Security 1 + Security 2 5500LP 4SPC)

"I end my turn with a face-down card!" Yusei finished, throwing out a face-down.

Yusei + Crow 4400LP 0SPC/Security 1 + Security 2 5500LP 4SPC

"I draw!" the first Security yelled, drawing (Security 1 + Security 2 5500LP 6SPC). Then Speed Edge blasted Yusei and Crow again.

(Yusei + Crow 2600LP 0SPC)

"I throw down a face-down, and end my turn!" the Security called. The reversed card appeared behind his Gate Blocker 2.

Yusei + Crow 2600LP 0SPC/Security 1 + Security 2 5500LP 6SPC

"I... draw!" Crow exclaimed as the Security droid sped up further (Security 1 + Security 2 5500LP 8SPC). Then Yusei and Crow both cried out as Speed Edge blasted them.

(Yusei + Crow 200LP 0SPC)

"I summon my Blackwing – Jet the Blue Sky!" Crow shouted angrily. With a shriek, an emerald green crow swooped down to glide beside him, its head a crimson red colour (ATK: 0). "Now I activate Yusei's Trap Card, Synchro Out! Using this, I can split one Synchro Monster I control back into its material monsters!" Junk Archer exploded into white light and split into seven glowing stars that clustered as groups of three and four. The three stars formed Junk Synchron (ATK: 1300), while the four created Trident Warrior (ATK: 1800).

"Now I Tune together Junk Synchron, Trident Warrior and Blackwing – Jet the Blue Sky to Synchro Summon...!"

Junk Synchron pulled his ripcord and faded into three Synchro Gates that encircled Trident Warrior and Jet the Blue Sky, reducing them to five glowing stars that collided in a prominence of black power...

"Clustering fighting souls will awaken the raging wicked God! Become the path its light shines upon! Synchro Summon! Obliterate, Junk Destroyer!" the two chanted in unison.

Junk Destroyer exploded into being with a roar (ATK: 2600). "Now Junk Destroyer's effect activates, destroying cards on the field up to the number of non-Tuners I used to summon it!" Crow called. "Tidal Energy!" Fiery energy coated two of Junk Destroyer's hands and exploded forwards, obliterating the Securities' two face-downs.

"Blackwing Armor Master, attack a Gate Blocker 2 with Black Hurricane!" The Blackwing shot forwards and slammed a Wedge Counter into the Gate Blocker 2. "Now I remove that Wedge Counter!" Gate Blocker 2 fragmented as the Wedge Counter exploded (DEF: 0).

"Fine, destroy my Gate Blocker 2!" the Security laughed through the Security droid's speakers.

"Oh, I'll do more – I'll win this!" Crow laughed. "I activate Blackwing – Anchor, letting me Release a Blackwing," Blackwing Armor Master dissolved into golden motes, "and add its points onto a Synchro Monster's!" Junk Destroyer shone with power (ATK: 5100). "And now I play Ebon Arrow, reducing my Junk Destroyer's points to give it a Piercing effect until the End Phase!" Junk Destroyer's aura dimmed (ATK: 4600).

"Still not enough!" the Securities laughed.

"Oh, it is," Crow sneered. "Junk Destroyer, attack the weakened Gate Blocker 2 with Destroy Knuckle!" Junk Destroyer rushed forwards and smashed through the Gate Blocker 2 with a savage punch, the Security droid being knocked further away by the force of the attack.

(Security 1 + Security 2 900LP 6SPC)

"Ha, you haven't won, outlaw!"

"Actually, we have," Yusei cut in. "When a monster affected by Ebon Arrow destroys an opponent's monster in battle, you take damage equal to that monster's defence points. This ends here!"

A thousand spears of shadow ripped from Junk Destroyer and tore into the Security droid, which shone with red light and fell to the ground, as much further back, DEFEAT flashed onto the Securities' screens and their van skidded to a halt.

Yusei + Crow 200LP 0SPC/Security 1 + Security 2 0LP 3SPC

The two friends rode on, whooping in joy.

"We've still got it, huh, Yusei?!" Crow laughed.

"You think so?" Yusei chuckled.

"Hey, have you heard about Jack?" his friend asked. "Some reporter found out he was from the Satellite, and now he's off the grid."

"Off the grid, huh?" Yusei murmured. "That'll make it harder for Julian to find him."

"Julian? He's back?" Crow wondered. "Man, it's like everyone's popping up again!"

"He's in the city at the moment, sorting some stuff out," Yusei explained.

"Huh... anyway, how are you and Jack?"

"We've sorted things out between us," Yusei said plainly. "He did what he thought he had to do, and he though if he didn't grab that chance, he'd be stuck in the Satellite for the rest of his life. I can't blame him for making a choice when he didn't think he had one..."

28

Card Stats:

55555

Monsters:

55555

Gate Blocker 2

EARTH/ Rock/Effect /Level 6/ATK: 100/DEF: 3000

You can Special Summon this card by Tributing 1 "Gate Blocker" you control. As long as this card remains face-up on the field, your opponent cannot gain Speed Counters during each player's Standby Phases with the effect of "Speed World".

(Gate Blocker 2 was first used by the Securities against Crow and Yusei in Episode 31 of 5D's. Creative credit goes to the writers of 5D's.)

55555

Scrap Chimera

EARTH/ Beast/Effect /Level 4/ATK: 1700/DEF: 500

When this card is Normal Summoned, you can Special Summon 1 "Scrap" Tuner monster from your Graveyard. This card cannot be used to Synchro Summon a Synchro Monster except a "Scrap" monster and if this card is used as a Synchro Material Monster, all the other Synchro Material Monsters must be "Scrap" monsters.

*

Scrap Beast

EARTH/ Beast/Tuner /Level 4/ATK: 1600/DEF: 1300

If this face-up Defense Position card is selected as an attack target, destroy this card during the end of the Battle Phase. If this card is destroyed by the effect of a "Scrap" card, you can select 1 "Scrap" monster in your Graveyard except a "Scrap Beast", and add it to your hand.

*

Scrap Dragon

EARTH/ Dragon/Synchro/Effect /Level 8/ATK: 2800/DEF: 2000

1 Tuner + 1 or more non-Tuner monsters

Once per turn, activate by selecting 1 card each on you and your opponent's side of the field. The selected cards are destroyed. When this card is destroyed by your opponent and sent to the Graveyard, select and Special Summon 1 non-Synchro "Scrap" Monster from your Graveyard.

(The Scrap Archetype will be released in the upcoming set Duelist Revolution in the OCG).

55555

Trident Warrior

LIGHT/ Warrior/Effect /Level 4/ATK: 1800/DEF: 1200

When this card is Summoned, you can Special Summon 1 Level 3 monster from your Hand.

(Trident Warrior was used by Jean in Episode 101 of 5D's, and will be released in the upcoming set Duelist Revolution in the OCG).

55555

Blackwing – Jet the Blue Sky

DARK/ Winged-Beast/Effect /Level 1/ATK: 0/DEF: 800

When a face-up "Blackwing" monster you control would be destroyed by battle, you can discard this card instead.

(Blackwing – Jet the Blue Sky was first used by Crow against Bolger in Episode 95 of 5D's. Creative credit goes to the writers of 5D's.)

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Traps:

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Full Throttle

Continuous Trap Card

Image: A Duel Runner accelerating forwards as rays of blue light shine from it in all directions.

Activate only when the effect of "Speed World" activates. Increase the number of your Speed Counters on "Speed World" by 1 during each Standby Phase.

*

Speed Edge

Continuous Trap Card

Image: A blast of emerald energy launched by a draconic being slamming into a Duel Runner.

During each Standby Phase, if you have more Speed Counters than your opponent, inflict 300 damage times the difference of Speed Counters to your opponent.

(The above two cards were used by the Securities against Yusei and Crow in Episode 31 of 5D's. Creative credit goes to the writers of 5D's.)

55555

Blackwing – Anchor

Normal Trap Card

Image: An immense fireball exploding in the background, hurling black feathers into the foreground across a desolate plain.

Select 1 Synchro Monster you control and Tribute 1 "Blackwing" monster you control. Increase the ATK of the selected Synchro Monster by the ATK of the tributed "Blackwing" monster.

(Blackwing – Anchor was released in the set The Shining Darkness in the OCG. A TCG release for it is currently unknown.)

28

Digidramon: Well, Jack finally stops being such an arrogant bastard, and Yusei meets up with Crow once more! Was that an awesome Duel finish or what?!

Drago: Yep, it rocked! Especially since you managed to toss in Junk Destroyer and combine it with Blackwing – Anchor!

Blake: I agree… man, I wanna Duel Crow sometime!

Digidramon: Oh, don't worry. If I can Duel Jack, then you can Duel Crow, my friend… heh…

Drago: Something tells me that you versus Jack will be a massacre, DD.

Digidramon: Oh, it might… and it might now… Crow, Featured Card please!

Crow: Today's cards are Junk Destroyer, Scrap Dragon, Blackwing – Anchor, Full Throttle and Ebon Arrow!

Blake: I choose Blackwing – Anchor as today's Featured Card! Since the attack boost lasts as long as the monster, Anchor can turn even a weak Synchro into a powerhouse! Since most Decks run Blackwing – Gale the Whirlwind these days, Blackwing – Anchor can be handy for a power boost in a pinch!

Digidramon: Next time on Spirit Legends, it's time for the true Dark Signers to make their move against their counterparts! Yusei reunites with his friends and the legend of Daedalus Bridge comes to light, but when Yusei ventures into the B.A.D. with Crow, he is greeted by an old friend, now an enemy! As he faces his Dark Signer opponent in a match destined by fate, what forces will be unleashed? Can Yusei survive the Dark Synchro Monster wielded by his former friend? Can he avoid burning in a vengeful inferno of hatred from this new foe?

To find out, read Chapter 29 of Spirit Legends – Ashes to Flames!