Chapter 36: Divination of Fate
At the Sector Security headquarters, Julian, Yusei, Akiza and Mina were watching a series of videos on a computer screen, each displaying a different person using psychic abilities in a variety of ways.
The four looked on as a brown-haired boy played a Hinotama Spell Card, the resulting fireball incinerating a target dummy before he collapsed, screaming in pain as a surge of electricity ran through him. Akiza looked away, uncomfortable.
"We found these video clips and other important records in the Arcadia Movement yesterday," Mina explained. "There were details recorded concerning the children abducted by the Movement, and the live testing conducted in their facility."
"Abducted children?" Akiza thought. "Live testing?" She remembered Misty accusing her. "Was he one of them…?"
"Sayer was planning to use the Psychic Duelists with heightened powers as soldiers, to fight his war against the rest of humanity for the discrimination Psychic Duelists suffered," Julian murmured from his place behind her. "That was what he wanted you for, to inspire others to join the Movement."
"He's right," Mina sighed. "The Public Security Maintenance Bureau conducted an investigation into the Arcadia Movement, but these records will be powerful supporting evidence. As Julian said, Sayer picked those with heightened abilities and formulated a plan to refine their abilities for use outside dueling. Then he planned to send them into war-torn regions as soldiers. Akiza… you were one of them…"
Akiza gave a gasp of horror, turning and running out past Julian.
"You can turn your eyes and cover your ears!" Mina shouted after the Signer, "but it won't change the truth! Sayer was only trying to use you for your powers!" Then Akiza was gone.
"Yeah, way to go," Julian muttered.
"It's the truth! You've tried to tell her the same thing!" the young woman snapped at him. He gave a soft sigh.
"The truth hurts, sometimes. But telling her now, when she's still trying to recover from losing Sayer… you're only rubbing salt in the wounds. I know how it hurts to lose someone you love, and I know what it's like to have yourself reminded of that fact… in a terrible way." He fixed her with a burning gaze, a glare full of his pain and sorrow. "Sayer tested me two years ago, by using Kelsey's death to push my anger to the limits. I almost killed him… I was so angry and hurt by those words… so I understand how Akiza must feel to have Sayer denounced as a tyrant. It's the truth… but you shouldn't have forced it on her that way."
"I had no other choice," Mina retorted. "She has to know, one way or another!"
"Forget it," he snapped as Yusei left. "It's too late to take those words back anyway…" And with that, he followed the Tail Signer out, leaving Mina with the damning video clips...
36
Akiza sat at a desk, staring into space as Yusei walked up behind her. Julian lingered at the doorway of the room, looking at the two.
"Akiza…" the Tail Signer murmured. She glanced at him.
""I'm glad, nonetheless," she murmured. "Sayer accepted me; even if he was trying to use my powers… his existence was invaluable to me…"
"I understand," Yusei said, Akiza looking at him in surprise. "It's fine. I'm not going to reject you; I have no right to deny anyone. The one thing I'm sure of is that there are people who trust you, and who need you right now."
"Yusei…" As she spoke, he pulled back his sleeve to bare the Tail Mark of the Dragon.
"We're friends," he said softly.
"Friends," she agreed, laying a hand over her own Mark…
36
All was silent within the B.A.D. The shadows remained, stifling the air, and the ever-present silence oppressed the tunnels of the Enerdy Reactor.
Then a gentle sob disturbed the air, a tiny sound that was little more than a drop in the ocean… but it was enough.
"So she continues her feeble regretting," Roman growled, glancing across the other Dark Signers present – all minus Carly. "Kelsey." The Condor Dark Signer looked up at him. "Shut her up, for heaven's sake! And test her while you're at it… we need to establish whether she's worth the blessing of Aslla Piscu."
"And you can't do this, why?"
"Because I have far more important matters to attend to than some half-wit who won't stop sniveling about killing that wretch Sayer! Just do it!" Wisely, Kelsey obeyed, striding off into the tunnels.
The Condor Dark Signer soon arrived outside her new comrade's room, gently knocking on the door. "Carly? It's Kelsey…"
"Come in…" Carly said softly. Something about her voice seemed slightly darker, but Kelsey dismissed it as she opened the door to see the Hummingbird Dark Signer holding a Trap Card and staring down at it intently. The Condor Dark Signer recognized the artwork from even the brief glance she got before Carly placed the card into her Deck.
"Prophecy of a Future King…" Kelsey said, surprised. "Why were you looking at it like that?"
"I… saw something… a vision, I guess…" Carly murmured. "But… it was nothing, really… why are you here?"
"Roman sent me," Kelsey muttered bitterly. "He wants me to test you, Carly. It'll be a Duel… are you okay with that?" The other Dark Signer's eyes clouded over as she remembered Aslla Piscu stabbing its beak through the Arcadia skyscraper and hurling Sayer to his death…
"I guess… I could…" she murmured. Kelsey looked down at the older woman thoughtfully for a moment, before pulling her Deck from her Duel Disk and fanning it. Silently she plucked one card from the forty-one there, looking at it before flipping it round to show Carly.
"It's these cards, isn't it?" she said. "The Earthbound Immortals… they're why you're so scared, after what you watched Aslla Piscu do to Sayer… how callous you were. Carly, the Immortals can take control of us if they feel we won't act as is needed… I've felt it happen before. Aslla Piscu acted through you to defeat Sayer… but they can only possess us if we use them." She pocketed the monster, Earthbound Immortal Wiraqocha Rasca. "In that case, will you Duel if we don't use the Earthbound Immortals?"
Carly considered this and nodded, fanning her own Deck and placing Aslla Piscu's card in her pocket before both Dark Signers slid their Decks back into place…
36
A short while later, the two stood at opposite ends of the rickety old rope bridge spanning the room containing the actual Enerdy Reactor, which was exactly below the centre of the bridge. The other Dark Signers stood arrayed behind Carly at the end of the bridge leading into the complex, while Kelsey stood at the foot of the steps leading up into the outside world.
"Let's Duel!" the two called out, activating their Disks as their Decks shuffled, and then drawing their opening hands.
Kelsey 8000LP/Carly 8000LP
"I'll begin," Kelsey decided, drawing. "I summon Earthbound Linewalker!" A geyser of darkness erupted before her, coalescing into a grim figure resembling Roman, even wearing the same style of robes, with white gloves on its hands and black, clay-like skin (ATK: 1200). "Now I place two cards face-down, and end my turn!" The reversed cards appeared behind Linewalker.
Kelsey 8000LP/Carly 8000LP
"I draw!" Carly called, eyes hardening slightly. "I activate the Field Spell Card, Future Visions!" As the Spell was slotted into place, the psychedelic aura surrounded them. "With this in play, any monster Normal Summoned is removed from play until its controller's next Standby Phase!"
"Now I activate the Spell Card, Foolish Burial, sending Fortune Lady Water from my Deck to the Graveyard!" The card slid from her Deck and she placed it into the Graveyard. "I summon Fortune Lady Light!" A flash of radiance erupted and Light burst from it with a childish giggle (ATK: ? – 200) before blowing Kelsey a mocking kiss and fading into Future Visions.
"What's the point in that?" Kelsey asked, confused.
"Because Fortune Lady Light was removed from the field by a card effect, I can Special Summon any Fortune Lady from my Deck, and I choose Fortune Lady Dark!" Carly called. Shadows rose up, forming into a sinister looking Fortune Lady wearing dark purple versions of the typical halter top and skirt, her skin pale white and red markings marring her face. Dark gave a smirk as she twirled her staff, which was topped by a black glass orb, in her grip (ATK: ?).
"My Fortune Lady Dark's attack points are equal to her Level times 400, and currently she's Level Five!" Carly explained. Fortune Lady Dark glowed with energy (ATK: 2000).
"Oh crap…" Kelsey muttered as Fortune Lady Dark gave her a savage leer.
"Fortune Lady Dark, attack her Earthbound Linewalker! Dark Fate!" Lady Dark sneered as she blasted spears of pure blackness from her staff, impaling Linewalker, who shattered in eerie silence. Kelsey snarled in pain as the spears raked into her, ripping into her skin and letting thick, tar-like blood slowly drip out.
(Kelsey 7200LP)
"Because Fortune Lady Dark destroyed a monster in battle, I can Special Summon a Fortune Lady from my Graveyard!" Carly announced. "I summon Fortune Lady Water!" Dark raised her staff and a surging fountain of water erupted beside her, releasing a Fortune Lady clad in blue halter and skirt, her staff tipped by a teardrop of inert water (ATK: ?).
"My Fortune Lady Water's effect activates because she was Special Summoned with another Fortune Lady in play, letting me draw two cards!" The Hummingbird Dark Signer drew twice. "Water's attack points are equal to her Level times 300, and she's currently Level Four!" Lady Water glowed with energy (ATK: 1200).
"I activate Call of the Haunted to revive my Earthbound Linewalker!" Kelsey shouted. Earthbound Linewalker rose once more (ATK: 1200). "Now she'll have to suicide Water if she wants to attack…" Then Carly played a Quick-Play Spell.
"I activate Time Passage, raising my Water's Level by three until the End Phase!" she called as Fortune Lady Water glowed with energy (Level 7/ATK: 2100). "Fortune Lady Water, attack Earthbound Linewalker!" Water raised her staff and blasted a trident of water through Linewalker, the tri-pronged attack stabbing into Kelsey, who cried out in pain as the strike drew blood.
(Kelsey 6300LP)
"She may be stronger than we thought," Devack commented to Roman. The Spider Dark Signer remained silent.
"I end my turn with two face-down cards!" Carly finished, the reversed cards appearing as Fortune Lady Water (Level 4/ATK: 1200) stopped glowing.
Kelsey 6300L/Carly 8000LP
"My draw!" Kelsey announced, wincing slightly as she drew. "I activate the effect of Dark Tuner Earthbound Envoy in my hand – since you control monsters and I don't, I can Special Summon it from my hand!" She played the card and a spiral of darkness erupted before her, forming into a grim figure clad in black leather armor and cloak, a draconic helm covering his face and bat-like wings exploding out behind him (ATK: 0).
"Now I activate the Trap Card, Earthbound Sacrifice. This lets me Special Summon two Earthbound Tokens to my field so long as there's an Earthbound monster in my Graveyard!" Two black monoliths rose up on either side of Earthbound Envoy (ATK: 0). "Now I Tune Dark Tuner Earthbound Envoy, to an Earthbound Token to Dark Synchro Summon…!"
Earthbound Envoy faded away into six glowing stars that impaled the Token, reducing it to a framework that shattered into a glowing star. The darkness coated the stars, then five black stars burst from it and spun around the Dark Synchro Summon…
"When the door to darkness is opened, its champion steps forth to challenge the light! Dark Synchro! Appear now, Earthbound Champion!" Kelsey chanted.
The Dark Synchro Summon shattered and a warrior leapt from it, a tall, black-skinned figure clad in the armor of an Incan noble taking the battlefield, wielding a large rectangular shield of black hide over dark wood, and a sword with a blade of obsidian. Earthbound Champion rose up, his face obscured by the condor helmet-mask he wore, and his cold, dead eyes bored into Carly's (ATK: 2300).
"And then she fights back," Kalin chuckled.
"I activate the effect of Earthbound Champion, once per turn while a Field Spell is in play I can Release another Earthbound monster to give him an extra 1000 points until the end of your next turn! I Release the Earthbound Token!" The Token shattered into a soul-light that flowed into Earthbound Champion (ATK: 3300). "Now I summon Dark Tuner Earthbound Priestess!"
Another burst of darkness erupted, and a sinisterly beautiful woman with the familiar jet-black skin rose up, clad in a tight, revealing black Incan-style dress. She clutched a staff topped by a condor-head ornament in one hand, her wrists adorned with dull gold bangles, and violet markings running across her face (ATK: 0). Then she faded into Future Visions.
"Earthbound Champion, attack her Fortune Lady Dark with Rage of Earthbound!" Kelsey shouted. Earthbound Champion rushed forwards, drawing back his blade to strike down Fortune Lady Dark…
"I activate the Trap Card, Slip of Fortune, negating your attack and removing the attack target from play until my Standby Phase!" Carly called. Fortune Lady Dark immediately faded away in a blaze of energy that knocked Earthbound Champion back to Kelsey's side of the field.
"I end my turn with a face-down card," Kelsey snapped, throwing the card into her Disk. It appeared in front of her.
Kelsey 6300LP/Carly 8000LP
"I draw," Carly said calmly. "Now I get back Fortune Ladies Light and Dark!" Light (ATK: ? - 200) and Dark (ATK: ? - 2000) both appeared before her once more. "The effects of all my Fortune Ladies activate during the Standby Phase, raising their Levels by one each!" Dark (Level 6/ATK: 2400), Water (Level 5/ATK: 1500) and Light (Level 2/ATK: 400) all glowed with energy.
"I activate the Spell Card, Dimensionhole, removing Lady Light from play until my next Standby Phase!" Light blew Kelsey another kiss as she faded away. "Now her effect activates, and I'll summon Fortune Lady Fire!" The crimson-clad Fortune Lady appeared, mouth twisting into a derisive sneer (ATK: ? - 400). "Because I just Special Summoned Fortune Lady Fire with the effect of another Fortune Lady, I can destroy one of your monsters and you take damage equal to the destroyed monster's attack points!"
Fire blasted a sphere of flames from her staff, obliterating Earthbound Champion before the blast smashed into Kelsey, sending her crashing back into the metal steps. She cried out in pain as she hit and then crumpled to the floor in a heap of white flesh and black cloth.
(Kelsey 3000LP)
"I activate the Trap Card, Dark Matter!" the Condor Dark Signer shouted furiously as she stood, the Trap lifting up. "Because a Dark Synchro Monster I controlled was destroyed, I can Special Summon two monsters from my Deck face-down!" Two cards slid from her Deck and she threw them onto her Disk face-down.
"I Release Fortune Lady Fire to Advance Summon Fortune Lady Earth!" Carly yelled. Fortune Lady Fire faded into an orb of rainbow light that reformed in a Fortune Lady clad in dark brown halter and skirt, swirl-pattern glasses like those Carly once wore over her eyes. Her staff was tipped by an orb of amber surrounded by a twisted ring of the substance (ATK: ?). Then the Fortune Lady faded into Future Visions like her sisters before her.
"What was the point in that?" Kelsey groaned.
"So I could activate this – the Spell Card, Fortune's Future!" Carly called to her. "By returning a removed-from-play Fortune Lady to my Graveyard, Fortune's Future lets me draw twice!" She took Fortune Lady Earth from her pocket and placed it into her Graveyard slot before drawing two cards. "Now, Fortune Lady Dark, attack one of those monsters! Dark Fate!"
Fortune Lady Dark cast the black spears from her staff, impaling through one of Kelsey's monsters, a tall Incan spearman clad in dark leather armor, his skin made of the black clay substance typical of all the Earthbound monsters (DEF: 1300). Earthbound Spearman groaned and shattered like glass.
"Now I activate the effect of Fortune Lady Dark and Special Summon Fortune Lady Earth from my Graveyard!" Carly shouted as Fortune Lady Earth burst from the darkness below with a laugh (ATK: ?). "Like Dark, Earth's points are set by her Level times 400, and she's currently Level Six!" Fortune Lady Earth shone with energy (ATK: 2400). "Fortune Lady Earth, attack her other face-down with Cursed Thorn!"
Earth spun her staff in her grip before slamming it into the bridge, barbed thorns ripping from the timbers in a jagged path shooting towards the monster, which was revealed as a strange misshapen human in a ragged black robe, made of black clay (DEF: 500). The monster shrieked as the Cursed Thorn impaled it, shattering into pixels.
"You just destroyed Earthbound Promethean, which means I can Special Summon a Level Four or below Earthbound monster from my Deck since a Field Spell is in play!" Kelsey declared. "I summon another Earthbound Promethean!" A second Promethean appeared before her (ATK: 500).
"I activate the Trap Card, Prophecy of a Future King!" Carly cried, the Trap she had been staring at earlier lifting up and shining with power. "Since my Spellcaster-Type monster destroyed your monster in battle, Prophecy of a Future King lets that monster attack again right now! Fortune Lady Earth, attack with Cursed Thorn!"
Earth slammed her staff down again and the thorns ripped into Earthbound Promethean, before stabbing into Kelsey and tearing screams from the Condor Dark Signer.
(Kelsey 1100LP)
"I summon my third Promethean…" Kelsey groaned as the third Earthbound Promethean appeared in a flare of darkness (ATK: 500).
"Fortune Lady Water, attack the third Earthbound Promethean!" Carly commanded. Water blasted the trident from her staff and Kelsey screamed again as it stabbed into her.
(Kelsey 100LP)
"I use that one's effect to summon Earthbound Shaman!" Kelsey declared. A prominence of darkness erupted, forming into a tall, noble woman clad in black robes similar to those worn by Kelsey herself, the Shaman's hair shaped into black feathers and her body formed from the black clay (ATK: 1400).
"I'll end my turn with a face-down card," Carly finished darkly, playing the face-down.
Kelsey 100LP/Carly 8000LP
"I draw!" Kelsey shouted angrily, pulling the card from her Deck. "Now Future Visions returns my Dark Tuner Earthbound Priestess to me!" Earthbound Priestess materialized before her (ATK: 0). "I activate the Spell Card, Dark Wave, multiplying the Level of Earthbound Shaman by negative-one!"
"I chain the Trap Card, Twist of Fate!" Carly retorted. "Since all my face-up monsters are Fortune Ladies, Twist of Fate negates the activation of your Spell Card and removes it from play!" Dark Wave faded away and Kelsey grimaced. "It's returned to your hand during the End Phase though."
"Yeah, wonderful," Kelsey muttered, quickly re-planning. "I activate the effect of Dark Tuner Earthbound Priestess, letting me raise or lower a monster's Level by one. I'll raise hers." Dark Tuner Earthbound Priestess chanted in a dark language and dark energy surged around her (Level 5). "Now I Tune Dark Tuner Earthbound Priestess to Earthbound Shaman to Dark Synchro Summon…!"
"A Level Negative-One Dark Synchro," Roman mused. "I never knew she had something like that."
"Evidently, she is willing to keep her Deck's powers hidden from us," Devack commented.
Dark Tuner Earthbound Priestess faded into five glowing stars that burned into Earthbound Shaman as she wailed a lamenting cry, dissolving into a framework and four glowing stars. Eight of the nine stars collided and shattered out of existence, leaving only one that turned dark and orbited the Dark Synchro Summon as it exploded into a spiral of cold darkness…
"When the gate of the Underworld opens wide, the shadows at the edge of darkness march to the realm of light! Dark Synchro! Appear, Earthbound Shade!"
The darkness unraveled, leaving only a formless mass of shadow behind. It hovered before Kelsey in eerie silence… (ATK: 0)
"I activate the effect of Earthbound Shade," Kelsey said. "This creature is too weak to fight in its own form, so it takes the image of the Earthbound monsters that have already fallen… in other words, by removing any Earthbound monster in my Graveyard from play," she pocketed Earthbound Champion, "Shade takes on that monster's attack and defense points until my next Standby Phase, but it can't deal Battle Damage to either of us." Earthbound Shade immediately expanded, becoming a shadowy clone of Earthbound Champion (ATK: 2300).
"Earthbound Shade, attack Fortune Lady Water! Rage of Earthbound!" Earthbound Shade charged forwards and cleaved Water in twain with a sweep of his sword, the Fortune Lady shattering like glass. Carly was unharmed due to Shade's effect however.
"I end my turn with a face-down card," the Condor Dark Signer finished, the reversed card appearing behind Earthbound Shade even as Dark Wave reappeared in her hand.
Kelsey 100LP/Carly 8000LP
"I draw," Carly said. "Now the effects of my Fortune Ladies activate, and when Earth's Level increases, you take 400 points of damage!" Fortune Ladies Earth (Level 7/ATK: 2800) and Dark (Level 7/ATK: 2800) glowed with energy, then Earth raised her staff and a blast of power ripped from it, smashing into Kelsey and hurling the Condor Dark Signer back…
Kelsey 0LP/Carly 8000LP
Kelsey groaned as she stood up, the blood of her wounds starting to harden into scabs. The monster images faded away as both Duel Disks deactivated, the two Dark Signers remaining staring at each other for a few moments afterwards.
"I had no idea you'd be that strong," Kelsey murmured.
"Indeed," Roman laughed. "She may just be stronger than you, Kelsey! Imagine that!" Kelsey's eyes narrowed and her fists clenched in anger…
36
In New Domino City, the sun shone down brightly as a limousine pulled up outside a colossal mansion made of white stone, with slate-grey roof tiles. As the Signers, Leo, Julian and Mina all stepped out of the limo; Rex Goodwin emerged from the mansion, looking down at them all.
"Is this Director Goodwin's house?" Leo wondered, staring up at it.
"I have been expecting you," Rex greeted, walking over to them. "I welcome the Signers, one and all, and though it was done in a roundabout manner, I am glad I am finally able to meet you all like this."
"You're shady to the core," Jack scoffed.
"Why did we come here?" Akiza asked Yusei. "He's the one who kidnapped your friends in the Satellite to make you duel in the Fortune Cup."
"I can't stand what Goodwin's done so far, but the world's on the verge of destruction and no one but Goodwin knows the truth of it all," the Tail Signer explained.
"So you accepted this invitation to drag it out of him," Akiza mused.
"That's all we can do now."
"What do you want from us, huh?" Leo asked Goodwin, who stared down at the boy disapprovingly.
"I have no business with anyone who isn't a Signer," he replied. "Please, do leave."
"What about me?" Julian asked coldly, glaring at Goodwin. "You do realize that I'll probably find out anyway."
"I suppose a few more secrets make no difference to you," the man mused. "But Leo will not be allowed into the Stairway to the Dragon Star."
"I won't go in unless I'm with Leo!" Luna protested. Goodwin sighed.
"I suppose there's no way around it," he muttered. "I'll show you inside, so please head in behind me…"
36
A short while later, they were walking down a dark, torch-lit corridor, made of weathered stone.
"Where are we going?" Luna wondered.
"The King has been led here once before," Goodwin commented.
"That was someone else," Jack retorted. "I'm no longer the King."
"Then I'll be so bold as to call you 'Jack Atlas' from now on," the Director said calmly. As they reached the end of the corridor, the wall ahead split and opened, revealing an immense room dominated by the immense temple, the Stairway to the Dragon Star, marked by the Seal of the Crimson Dragon, which all four Signers present stared at in wonder as their Marks blazed into life, lighting the larger Seal etched into the floor by crimson light.
"What… is that…?" Luna asked.
"It's the symbol of the Signers that has been passed down as the legend of the People of the Stars," Goodwin explained.
The Crimson Dragon seal below them shone bright, and then the Dragon itself was there, its fiery red form wrapped around the Stairway. It gave its song-like cry, staring down at its four chosen warriors with a certain pride in its blazing eyes.
Julian respectfully stepped away from the Signers, aware that he was not to be included in the Dragon's gaze. To his surprise, it glanced at him for a mere moment, before returning its gaze to the Signers.
"The Crimson Dragon…" Yusei murmured, recalling his Duels with Jack where the legendary dragon had appeared. "It was supposed to be a battle with our prides at stake…"
"The Crimson Dragon chose to instill its power into you Signers, influencing your lives until you came together at this time, in this place," Goodwin said. "For example, Yusei, Jack, it brought you from the Satellite to New Domino City." The two rivals both looked at him in surprise.
"We were guided by the Crimson Dragon?" Yusei said. "But I thought it was you who set it up?"
"We were settling the score between us," Jack said. "The Crimson Dragon had nothing to do with it!"
"That in itself is the fate derived by the Crimson Dragon's power, and I myself did nothing more than conduct my actions according to the Crimson Dragon's guidance," the Director explained.
"The fate… of the Signers…?" Akiza murmured, recalling her powers smashing her father against the wall, and the sorrowful chain of events that had followed. "My powers, which were feared and detested by all those around me, swelled more and more due to the flames of rage smoldering within me."
"But, without those powers, none of you would have met, correct?" Rex smiled. "The Mark of the Dragon is a mark bestowed only upon duelists chosen by the Crimson Dragon. The fate of the Signers joins each and every one of your fates together, and guides you all, including you, Luna."
"The fate of the Signers…?" Luna said, as Akiza had. Memories came to her as well, memories of the world of Duel Monsters presided over by the dragon that was hers, but she didn't yet possess – Ancient Fairy Dragon. "Those memories from when I was little that I'd long since forgotten… I met Duel Monster Spirits from a world unlike ours…"
She remembered seeing the blue serpentine Ancient Fairy Dragon, with butterfly wings rising from its shoulders, its amber eyes staring down at her younger self compassionately. "I met Ancient Fairy Dragon there… but I didn't stop to think if there was any reason behind that strange meeting back then. Now I know that saving Ancient Fairy Dragon is my fate – no, it's what I want to do. I want to save Ancient Fairy Dragon and the Spirits' world."
"You can't avert your eyes from it," Rex said. "That you all share the same mark, and you were chosen as the reincarnations of the legendary Signers. Whether you like it or not, it was promised thousands of years ago that you would encounter as Signers, while at the mercy of destiny. "
"Encounter… as Signers…" Akiza murmured.
"Our… destinies…" Luna added. The Crimson Dragon roared and faded away, as did their marks.
"You're forgetting one key thing," Leo pointed out. "There are four Signers here…but there are supposed to be five, right?"
"He's right… where's the other one?" Luna asked.
"The other one was awakened long ago," Rex said, drawing gasps of shock from the whole group. "I know that they will appear when you face true danger."
"What do you mean?" Yusei wondered.
"You'll know soon," Goodwin replied, raising an arm. The room's landscape changed instantly, reforming into the desert panorama of the Nazca Lines before the geoglyphs had vanished. "Thousands of years ago, the Crimson Dragon descended forth to this land, and sealed the Incarnates of Evil within the Earth. These seals are referred to as the Nazca Lines." He gestured all around to the geoglyphs. "The truth of that has been the forbidden history that was only allowed to be handed down to you." The Spider Nazca Line began to glow…
"And recently," he continued, "there has been a bizarre phenomenon involving the geoglyphs suddenly disappearing off of the Nazca Plains. This is the Dark Signers' doing."
"The Dark Signers…" Yusei said softly, recalling the possessed Grady. Jack remembered Trudge, Akiza the Shadow Drone who had challenged her in the Daimon Area and Luna the possessed Heitmann.
"They possess marks, the symbol of the Dark Signers, similar to yourselves," Rex explained.
"You can't escape from the special field they create," Yusei added, recalling the ring of purple fire from his Duel with Grady, as well as the immense, flaming Giant Nazca Line Kalin had created as the circuit for their Turbo Duel. "And their attacks will materialize…" He recalled the Dark Tuning of Nightmare Penguin and Dark Tuner Catastrogue. "On top of that, those Dark Synchro Monsters…"
"When the shadows are devoured by even darker shadows, the curtain pulls back to reveal a world without light! Dark Synchro! Come forth, Frozen Fitzgerald!" Grady's chant echoed in his mind as he remembered the Dark Synchro Summon.
"The Dark Synchro Synchro Summons monsters whose Level turns negative due to a Dark Tuner… it's dueling that defies all common logic," the Tail Signer continued.
"If our dueling is based on the power of life," Rex said. "Then it would be appropriate to deem their dueling the powers of the Underworld."
"Powers of the Underworld?" Yusei repeated.
"As we are aware," Rex continued. "Whenever a Dark Signer appears, a geoglyph is sure to follow. All of New Domino City is now in a life-or-death crisis."
"I agree," Yusei murmured, recalling Kalin summoning Ccapac Apu and the dozens of people sacrificed to the Earthbound Immortal. "I saw a slew of people become their victims in the Satellite… as your so-called sacrifices!"
"It's safe to say that their actions have already exceeded my calculations," Goodwin admitted. The scenery changed again, displaying the Arcadia skyscraper surrounded by the geoglyphs of Lizard and Hummingbird. "The geoglyphs appeared within the city as well, producing many casualties."
"I knew it," Yusei muttered. The Earthbound Immortal hearts appeared around the skyscraper below, shining with malevolent energies. As he beheld them, Julian could almost hear Misty's voice again, speaking that dread chant with ever-greater ecstasy.
"O God which resuscitated my life, now I offer you my soul! Break free from the spell held over you for so long! Descend forth, Earthbound Immortal Ccarayhua!"
"It's like she was possessed," he murmured too quietly for the others to hear.
"The phenomenon you saw with your own eyes in Satellite also occurred in the city," Rex said, the Immortal hearts exploding into pillars of dark fire. "Because of the monsters that emerged from the geoglyphs, hundreds of people that were in their vicinity," the flames faded, Ccarayhua and Aslla Piscu rising up with their deathly shrieks, "are currently unaccounted for."
They watched in silence as Ccarayhua gripped onto the skyscraper, staring in at Julian and Akiza, then as Aslla Piscu impaled the building with its beak, sending smoke and flames ripping through the top floor.
"The Earthbound Immortals are the Dark Signers' Gods, summoned by sacrificing people," Goodwin explained. "But they are a lesser representation of far more malevolent and powerful entities, Earthbound Gods still sealed by the seals formed by the Crimson Dragon. The Immortals are mere phantoms of the power the Gods truly possess…" His eyes seemed to gain a dark light as he spoke.
"What happened to those who were sacrificed?" Jack interrupted sharply.
"I don't know," Rex calmly replied, provoking an angry growl from Jack. "This situation requires immediate action. If we just stand idly by, all of the residents of the City and Satellite will fall into the Dark Signers' clutches, and New Domino City will mostly likely collapse, as in the vision you all had."
"When you say all of the people within the City and Satellite…" Leo began.
"This was an unavoidable battle from the start," Rex cut in. "The Signers and Dark Signers are, in a word, light and dark. The only people who can defeat the Dark Signers and save us from this life-and-death situation are you Signers."
"I don't care about fate!" Jack snapped. "I myself decide what I should do!"
"Fight all you like," Julian told him coldly. "But as I said to Akiza, fighting destiny is fighting fire with sparks – you won't win." Yusei remembered his talk with Martha when he'd been recovering from his Duel with Kalin.
"She was right," he thought. "This battle won't be so simple that I'll be able to weather it out alone."
"There's something I want to ask you," he said to Goodwin. "When I returned to the Satellite, a man who I thought had already died – a man who was once my friend – appeared before me as a Dark Signer." Jack gasped as he realized who Yusei was talking about. Julian's eyes hardened as he too realized.
"Kalin Kessler was once the leader of the same Duel Gang as Jack and I," Yusei continued. "He became a Dark Signer with horrifying powers… his dragon had incredible magic powers…" He remembered Kalin summoning One-Hundred Eye Dragon.
"He's right, but Kalin's true goal was to summon a more terrifying monster," Jack added, remembering how Kalin had added Earthbound Immortal Ccapac Apu to his hand through One-Hundred Eye Dragon's effect.
"That was when I learned that the people of the Satellite had gathered to be his monster's sacrifices," the Tail Signer murmured.
"I could hardly believe my eyes… and I had to believe that Kalin acquired a tremendous power," Jack said darkly, remembering the rise of Ccapac Apu.
"Earthbound Immortal Ccapac Apu," Julian cut in, looking at Goodwin. "It couldn't be attacked by monsters, and it could strike through them for direct attacks. That's the power Kalin gained."
"If my Duel Runner hadn't broken at the last second, I would have died," Yusei concluded. "How did Kalin become a Dark Signer?"
"Answer him!" Jack commanded. "What are the Dark Signers?"
"It might be better if you didn't know," Rex answered hesitantly.
"Cut the bull!" Jack snapped at him. "Yusei and I are going to be having a life-or-death Duel with a man we once called a friend!"
"I'm prepared to risk my life to protect the city and the Satellite," Yusei said. "But if there's a way to return Kalin and the others to normal…"
"There is not," Rex replied firmly. "There's no way to return those who've turned into Dark Signers to their former selves. No way at all."
"What do you mean?" Yusei murmured.
"The Dark Signers are the souls of the dead who have awakened to their abilities," Goodwin explained. "In other words, they are no longer of this world." At this, the entire group gasped.
"Souls of the dead?!" Julian thought, his thoughts a whirlwind of speculation as he connected the metaphorical dots. "Then Misty… Kalin… 'she'… it couldn't be! Kelsey… wouldn't… come back like this…" The argument satisfied him, for now. He knew Kelsey well enough… she would never have come back as a Dark Signer.
"What did you say?!" Jack exclaimed.
"Not… of this world…" Akiza repeated in horror.
"Kalin's… already dead…" Yusei realized.
"Enough is enough!" Jack shouted. "Someone who's dead can't possibly come back to life!"
"They can," Rex said firmly. "Look at the unbelievable phenomenon on the other side of the doorway to the Underworld. Even the Dark Synchro Monsters' Levels becoming negative is proof that they are messengers of the Underworld. Destiny is in motion, and there can be no turning back now." He paused for a moment as they returned to the Stairway to the Dragon Star and the Crimson Dragon seal below them dimmed.
"Whether you defeat the Dark Signers, or the world – along with us – perishes… that decision is in your hands…" With that, he walked away, leaving them behind to think about it…
36
Card Stats:
55555
Monsters:
55555
Dark Tuner Earthbound Envoy
DARK/ Fiend/Dark Tuner /Level 6/ATK: 0/DEF: 0
If there is a Field Spell Card in play and none of your monsters have higher ATK than your opponent's monster with the highest ATK, you can Tribute 1 'Earthbound' monster you control to Special Summon this card from your hand. If you control no monsters and your opponent controls a monster, you can Special Summon this card from your hand.
Earthbound Champion
DARK/ Warrior/Dark Synchro /Level -5/ATK: 2300/DEF: 1700
1 non-Tuner – 1 Dark Tuner monster
In order to Special Summon this card, subtract the Level of a Dark Tuner monster from the Level of 1 other monster you control; the value must equal the Level of this card. If there is no Field Spell Card in play, this card's effect(s) are negated. Once per turn, you can Tribute 1 other 'Earthbound' monster you control to have this card gain 1000 ATK until the Standby Phase of your next turn. This card inflicts Piercing Damage.
Dark Tuner Earthbound Priestess
DARK/ Spellcaster/Dark Tuner /Level 4/ATK: 0/DEF: 0
This card's effect(s) are negated while there is no Field Spell Card in play. Once per turn, you can select 1 monster you control and increase or decrease its Level by 1.
Earthbound Spearman
DARK/ Warrior/Effect /Level 4/ATK: 1800/DEF: 1300
This card's effects are negated if there is no Field Spell Card in play. This card inflicts Piercing Damage. If this card attacks a face-down defense position monster, that monster is flipped face-up (Flip-Effects are not activated) and destroyed, and its DEF is dealt as damage to your opponent's Life Points.
Earthbound Promethean
DARK/ Rock/Effect /Level 4/ATK: 500/DEF: 500
This card's effect(s) are negated while there is no Field Spell Card in play. When this card is destroyed and sent to the Graveyard, you can Special Summon 1 Level 4 or lower 'Earthbound' monster from your Deck in face-up attack position.
Earthbound Shaman
DARK/ Spellcaster/Effect /Level 4/ATK: 1400/DEF: 1400
This card's effect(s) are negated if there is no Field Spell Card in play. Once per turn, you can discard 1 'Earthbound' monster from your hand to Special Summon 1 'Earthbound' monster from your Deck with a lower Level than the discarded monster.
Earthbound Shade
DARK/ Fiend/Dark Synchro/Effect /Level -1/ATK: 0/DEF: 0
In order to Special Summon this card, subtract the Level of a Dark Tuner monster from the Level of 1 other monster you control; the value must equal the Level of this card. This card's effect(s) are negated while there is no Field Spell Card in play. Neither player takes Battle Damage from battles involving this card. Once per turn, you can remove 1 'Earthbound' monster in your Graveyard from play to have this card's ATK and DEF become equal to the removed monster's ATK and DEF respectively until your opponent's next End Phase.
(The Earthbound monsters are my own inventions and creative credit for them goes to me. Dark Tuner Earthbound Envoy, Earthbound Spearman and Earthbound Shaman were used by Kelsey in Seven Spirits.)
55555
Spells:
55555
Dark Wave
Normal Spell Card
Image: An orb of dark energy emitting waves of darkness into a purple nebula.
Select one monster you control. That monster's original level is multiplied by -1.
(Dark Wave was first used by Devack in Episode 48 of 5D's. Creative credit for it goes to the writers of 5D's.)
55555
Traps:
55555
Earthbound Sacrifice
Normal Trap Card
Image: Two Earthbound Tokens rising up with a shadow of Earthbound Immortal Wiraqocha Rasca in the stormy skies above them.
Activate only while there is an 'Earthbound' monster in your Graveyard. Special Summon 2 'Earthbound Tokens' (DARK/ Fiend /Level 1/ATK: 0/DEF: 0) to your side of the field in face-up attack position.
(Earthbound Sacrifice is my own invention and creative credit for it goes to me.)
55555
Dark Matter
Normal Trap Card
Image: Two stars of dark energy in a corridor of shadows leading towards a flash of white light.
Activate only when a Dark Synchro Monster you control is destroyed. Select 2 monsters in your Deck and Special Summon them to your field in face-down Defense Position.
(Dark Matter was first used by Devack in Episode 50 of 5D's. Creative credit for it goes to the writers of 5D's.)
36
Next time on Spirit Legends, as the Signers reflect on the knowledge Goodwin has given them, Crow resolves to face the Dark Signers in Satellite! But when he's drawn into a Duel with the wrong person, can he achieve a victory through the power of his Blackwings?!
To find out, read Chapter 37 – Against the Wind!