Chapter 37: Against the Wind
Crow stood within the Satellite, listening to a crowd nearby.
"I heard some people were trapped in some freaky wall of fire!" someone insisted as he placed a card onto the haphazard chalk Duel Field sketched out between him and his opponent.
"I heard that rumor too," the opponent commented, activating a Trap Hole Trap Card. The first speaker swore as he placed his monster into the Graveyard space.
"It's just a hallucination," a third man nearby said. "There's nothing but a prison around there, anyway, so it's got nothing to do with us either way."
"You should be worried about it," Crow called to them, mounting Blackbird as he pulled on his helmet.
"Who the hell are you?!"
"I'm an ally of justice who's passing through," he replied with a laugh, starting his Runner and shooting off into the B.A.D.
"Don't go into the deepest regions!" a man called after him. "You'll be offed by a monster!"
"I'm coming for you, Dark Signers," Crow thought…
37
A short while later, he pulled up his Runner near a gaping crater in the ground, the crater containing the Old Enerdy Reactor, and dismounted, looking at the steps leading up to the surface. "Maybe I should get rid of one or two Dark Signers before Yusei gets back, since that's the least I can do for him right now."
He watched as Lazar climbed up the steps. "That little creep has Dark Signer written all over him!" He shifted his position, waiting for Lazar to walk into the right place…
Then suddenly the clown-like Security director found himself ensnared by a grappling hook! He struggled, but it was useless. Crow gave a laugh of triumph and rushed down to him, but when he got there, he found his grappling hook locked around some pipes, not Lazar!
"Where'd he go?!" the marked Duelist shouted, when suddenly laughter sounded behind him. He turned to see the chuckling Lazar.
"Only the cat can play Cat-and-Mouse, little rat," the man laughed, turning and running away, Crow following in hot pursuit…
37
The two ran into a warehouse, where Crow had Lazar cornered.
"Stop running!" Crow yelled at him.
"I'm neither running, nor hiding," the clown-like man replied snidely from his position on a crane hook.
"Get down here!"
"You shouldn't be near there right now."
"You would say that, Dark Signer!"
"You think I'm a Dark Signer?" Lazar chuckled. "It appears we have a misunderstanding – I thought you were a Dark Signer, with those criminal marks on your face."
"Huh?" Crow replied in surprise. Lazar pulled a long metal tube from his pocket and tapped a button on it, instantly creating a holographic screen displaying Crow's Security record. The clown-like man took very little time to skim through the information.
"I see, I see," he murmured. "So you are acquainted with Yusei Fudo and Jack Atlas?"
"Who are you, if you're not a Dark Signer?!" Crow demanded.
"Pardon my manners," Lazar replied. "I am Lazar, the director of the Public Security Maintenance Bureau under Director Goodwin."
"You're head of the PSMB?" Crow questioned. Lazar turned to leave.
"Try to avoid approaching that hole," he said as he walked away, but a grappling hook shot out and latched onto his Duel Disk. He glanced back to see Crow attaching the other end of the cord to his own Disk. "A Duel Cuff? Used by the Duel Gangs of Satellite, if I recall correctly… what a nuisance. This device won't detach until one of us is defeated in a Duel, and that person's Duel Disk is destroyed…"
"That's right," Crow said.
"You're an obstinate fellow, I see."
"What's going on with Yusei?! And wasn't' it your boss who told Yusei to defeat the Dark Signers?!"
"A sewer rat like you has no right to know those answers," Lazar retorted, as their Disks activated.
"Who's the sewer rat?! A demon clown like you has no right to talk!" Crow snapped.
"You seem to be quite the dullard," Lazar sighed.
"I'll do some warming up before beating the Dark Signers!" his opponent called as they drew their opening hands.
"DUEL!"
Crow 8000LP/Lazar 8000LP
"Since it's my turf, I'll start!" Crow yelled, drawing a sixth card. "I activate the Continuous Spell, Black Whirlwind, so when I Normal Summon a Blackwing, I can add another with lower attack from my Deck to my hand!" A small whirlwind of black feathers materialized around him as the Continuous Spell appeared. "Now I summon Blackwing – Shura the Blue Flame!"
With a piercing shriek, a new Blackwing burst from the Black Whirlwind, a large tengu with thin legs and upper arms, with immense forearms ending in vicious talons. As his name implied, most of his feathers were blue, though the wings that exploded out behind him were jet-black, and his plumage bore a stripe of blood-red. Shura alighted before Crow, spreading his body into a battle-stance (ATK: 1800).
"Now I use the effect of Black Whirlwind to bring Blackwing – Bora the Spear to my hand!" The card slid from his Deck and Crow took it in his hand. "Because I have a different Blackwing in play, I can Special Summon Bora from my hand!" He played the card and Bora the Spear burst from Black Whirlwind, alighting beside Shura (ATK: 1700).
"So you play Blackwings, just as your record states," Lazar chuckled.
"I end my turn with two face-downs," Crow snapped, placing the two cards down.
Crow 8000LP/Lazar 8000LP
"You're only helping me," Lazar chuckled, drawing. "I place no less than four cards face-down," the four reversed cards appeared, "and end my turn."
"No monsters?" Crow laughed.
"Maybe, maybe not," Lazar shrugged. "It's your turn."
"Then here I come!"
Crow 8000LP/Lazar 8000LP
"I draw!" Crow called out. "I summon Blackwing – Elphin the Raven!" The Black Whirlwind intensified and another new Blackwing burst from it, this one another tengu with entirely pitch-dark feathers, wearing a dark purple vest and shoulder pads. His jet-black wings exploded out as he shrieked (ATK: 2200). "Even though Elphin's Level Six, I can summon him without a sacrifice if I've already got a Blackwing out!"
"How wonderful," Lazar mocked.
"And now Black Whirlwind activates again, so I'll bring in Blackwing – Breeze the Zephyr!" Crow called, adding the card to his hand. "Since Breeze the Zephyr just got put from my Deck into my hand by a card effect, he gets Special Summoned on the spot!" The Black Whirlwind intensified again as the monster soared out, a fiery-colored version of Gale the Whirlwind, with a wild plumage like a lion's mane (ATK: 1100).
"So it seems you may have me outclassed," Lazar noted.
"You want me to start attacking, but you've got those four face-downs…" Crow replied. "I guess I'll just have to make a swift attack! Blackwing – Elphin the Raven, attack directly!" Elphin the Raven charged forwards…
"How predictable," Lazar sneered as one of his face-downs lifted up. "I activate the Trap Card, Imperial Manners. Since I have no monsters, all your attack position monsters are now destroyed."
"What?!" Crow exclaimed. "Well, I can save Breeze and Bora at least – I activate the Trap Card, Urgent Tuning, letting me Synchro Summon during the Battle Phase! It's a shame to waste my trump, but at least it lets me keep something out on the field!" The Trap Card lifted up…
"So that's why you didn't Synchro Summon the moment you summoned Breeze the Zephyr," Lazar chuckled. "Unfortunately, it doesn't matter either way. I activate the Continuous Trap Card, Discord, preventing the both of us from performing a Synchro Summon."
"To hell with that!" Crow yelled. "I chain my Dust Tornado Trap to destroy Discord!" The third Trap Card lifted up and a raging tornado shot for Discord…
"And yet again you have fallen into a Trap," Lazar said. "I chain my Continuous Trap, Imperial Custom, which prevents all other Continuous Trap Cards being destroyed while it remains in play." A barrier of energy shot out and blocked the Dust Tornado. "Now the Chain resolves in reverse. First, Imperial Custom stops Discord being destroyed, which renders Link Four, Dust Tornado, invalid, so we continue to Link Three, Discord, which activates as planned and prevents Synchro Summoning. Link Two, Urgent Tuning, activates but its effect is rendered useless by Discord, leaving Link One – my Imperial Manners."
On that cue, all four of Crow's monster shattered like glass along with Dust Tornado and Urgent Tuning. The Satellite snarled in anger at the turn of events.
"Discord is quite the useful Trap Card," Lazar commented. "In fact, a certain Pro duelist by the name of Kevin Tasaki has made quite a reputation of himself by playing it in his Anti-Synchro Deck."
"I don't really care!" Crow retorted, throwing a card face-down. "I end my turn!"
Crow 8000LP/Lazar 8000LP
"Good grief," Lazar commented. "Why would a dolt like yourself want to step foot in a danger zone such as this?"
"It's obvious! The Great Crow's surefire combos are gonna beat those Dark Signers!" Crow snapped.
"Drop the matter – you couldn't stand up to a sewer rat," Lazar chuckled.
"Who asked you? Dolt or sewer rat, it's the guys with a heated fighting spirit as a duelist who win in the end!"
"You're such a darling dolt," Lazar laughed as he drew. "I'll show you where you stand. Here I go." He glanced across the three cards in his hand and calmly played one.
"I summon my Jester Masque in attack mode!"In a flash of energy, a tall thin woman wearing tight, colorful clothing appeared, her face covered by a mask of tragedy (ATK: 0). "Jester Masque gains 500 attack points for every Spell and Trap Card in play!" The woman cackled as she glowed with energy (ATK: 2500). "Jester Masque, attack him directly!" Masque lunged forwards…
"I activate my Trap Card, Black Back!" Crow shouted. "This lets me summon a Blackwing with 2000 or less attack points from my Graveyard so long as I don't Normal Summon this turn!" Shura the Blue Flame appeared in an eruption of feathers (DEF: 1200). Jester Masque's glow dimmed slightly (ATK: 2000), but she was still able to shatter Shura with a well-placed kick.
"A clever ploy," Lazar noted. "But I'll have the last laugh. I activate Giant Trunade, returning all Spell and Trap Cards on the field to our hands!" Instantly every Spell and Trap Card in play vanished, reappearing in their owners' hands. Jester Masque's glow vanished (ATK: 0). "Now I end my turn."
Crow 8000LP/Lazar 8000LP
"I draw!" Crow shouted. "I activate the Spell Card, Black Feather Treasure! This means I remove from play a Blackwing in my hand, like Fane the Steel Chain," he pocketed the card, "and then I draw two cards!" He drew twice. "Of course, I can't Special Summon this turn, and I'm only allowed to activate one Black Feather Treasure per turn, but that doesn't matter!"
"And why would that be?" Lazar asked.
"Because I summon Blackwing – Sirocco the Dawn!" As he played the card, Sirocco the Dawn exploded up in a blast of black feathers (ATK: 2000). "And you've left yourself wide-open! Sirocco, attack Jester Masque!" Blackwing – Sirocco the Dawn gave a piercing shriek and charged for Jester Masque, cleaving through her with a sweep of his claws. She shrieked and shattered, but then a burst of energy ripped from her mask and hurled Sirocco back into Crow.
(Crow 6000LP)
"What the hell was that?!" Crow demanded as Sirocco flapped his wings to land neatly a few feet to his side.
"When Jester Masque is destroyed in battle and sent to the Graveyard while there are no Spell and Trap Cards in play, all Battle Damage to me is negated and you take it instead," Lazar explained.
"Sneaky bastard," Crow snarled. "I activate Black Whirlwind again," the whirlwind of black feathers erupted into being around him, "and place a card face-down to end my turn!" The reversed card appeared.
Crow 6000LP/Lazar 8000LP
"It's my turn," Lazar chuckled, drawing. "I place three cards face-down." Three reversed cards appeared, presumably those returned to his hand by Giant Trunade. "Now I activate Fissure, destroying the weakest monster on your side of the field." Blackwing – Sirocco the Dawn shattered like glass.
"Finally, I summon Jester Lord!" A prominence of dark flame erupted before him and a fiendish figure leapt from it, a thin man in tight, colorful clothes, juggling two fireballs. Jester Lord gave a cackle as he landed before Lazar (ATK: 0).
"That's a monster?" Crow scoffed.
"A monster that gains 1000 points for every Spell and Trap on the field if it's the only monster in play," Lazar said, wagging a finger. "Currently there are five, equaling an attack power of…" Jester Lord glowed with fiery aura (ATK: 5000).
"So it's got 5000 points," Crow muttered."Keep the joking to your face."
"We'll see who laughs last," Lazar chuckled. "Jester Lord, attack directly!" Three more fireballs appeared in mid-air, Jester Lord juggling all five before hurling them at Crow, who hollered in pain as they slammed him to the ground, bouncing back for Jester Lord to catch them.
(Crow 1000LP)
"That… wasn't bad," Crow admitted with a laugh. "I never would've guessed there'd be a bastard in the Public Security Maintenance Bureau who'd Duel as crazy as you do!"
"I thank you for your kind words," Lazar said mockingly.
"I'll have to enjoy this Duel for all it's worth!" Crow said…
37
On the island containing Rex's mansion, Yusei stood on a balcony on the afore-mentioned mansion, staring out towards the sea. Luna and Akiza stood in the room behind him, Luna walking out towards him.
"He seems to be suffering," Akiza said softly.
"Do you know how Yusei's feeling as well?" Luna asked, stopping and turning to look at the older girl.
"I do. He cherishes the bonds shared between people above all else," the Claw Signer replied.
"Poor Yusei…"
"How are you, Luna? Are you already prepared to fight?" Akiza asked.
"I'll be okay," Luna answered, recalling the Spirit World and Ancient Fairy Dragon. "After all, I have a reason to fight." Akiza gave a soft sigh.
"She's so young to be caught up in all this…"
Yusei walked back inside, and Luna looked at him. The two Signers of Claw and Tail walked out in opposite directions, Luna sighing. Jack looked at Yusei from a nearby staircase with an angry look on his face…
37
Julian was sat up on the roof of the mansion, his knees tucked up to his chest with his arms wrapped around them.
"Kelsey…" he murmured, gazing out towards Satellite. "Is it you they were talking about… have you come back?" He closed his eyes, feeling the wind caress his cheek softly, brushing against his lips as they parted to release a gentle sigh. "Please… I know you wouldn't… let me be right." His eyes slowly opened and he looked away from Satellite, back towards the sound of footsteps he heard.
Rex Goodwin strode across the roof, gazing over at Julian. He stopped beside the Chosen of Flame, turning his gaze towards Satellite.
"What're you doing up here?" Julian asked, turning his own gaze towards the run-down, slum of an island that to him was more a home than the city where he had been born.
"I was intending to ask you the same," Goodwin replied.
"I'm just thinking about what you told us… the Dark Signers being the souls of the dead," he murmured. "It's just… I've met two Dark Signers over the last few days… and both of them have mentioned another to me, someone who seems interested in me above any Signer, so much so that they've singled me out… made it clear that I'm theirs… and two years ago, at the Legacy of Champions, Misty Tredwell told my future… she said someone I loved would die, but that they'd rise for revenge…"
"So you wonder if it is Kelsey they refer to," Rex concluded. "To allay your fears, to my knowledge, she remains buried here, in New Domino City. I do not believe she is a Dark Signer, Julian. I understand your concerns, but I feel that you are mistaken." Julian sighed again, this time in relief.
"It's just… if she had come back, I couldn't bear to see her like that," he said. "To see her being controlled by one of the Immortals… made to feel that hatred… I couldn't bear it."
"I must confess, I know nothing of how you feel," the director answered. "I've always been too engrossed in my work for romance… perhaps that in itself is my tragedy." He shrugged. "But, Queen Elizabeth the First of England once said her country was her husband… perhaps in a way, New Domino City fills the same role to me. To preserve this utopia has been my life ever since I came to this position."
"What did you do before all this, though?" Julian asked. "Before you became Director."
"I was a scientist, working for the R.R.D. or Reactor Research Division," Rex told him. "So I was on the team with your parents and Yusei's, working to harness Enerdy for this city's benefit."
"You knew my mom and dad?"
"Yes, I did. Personally, I found them very good people… they were always closer to Dr. Fudo and his wife than my brother Roman and I, though. Still, I did strike up a friendship with them… they were always willing to help with anything on the reactor, which is why, I think, they were within the complex when the Zero Reverse took place." Julian's eyes deepened with sorrow.
"To think that one event could change so much," he murmured. "It caused this crisis with the Dark Signers… divided New Domino and Satellite… some might say it set the scene for all of this. But I have to ask you… was it easy? Deciding to sacrifice the people of Satellite to preserve this city?"
"If I were to tell you it was easy, then I would be a liar, which I am not," Rex said. "No decision on such a scale can be easy, Julian. Sometimes you find that your fate hangs on one choice, and whichever decision you make defines who you are and what your life is…"
"So you didn't decide on a whim," Julian said, standing up. "At least now I know how you made that choice. Because, Goodwin, I've lived the life of a citizen of New Domino and of Satellite. I've stood in both worlds, met people from both. You know what I find an irony? The people of Satellite, for all the faults you proclaim in them, are willing to band together when given something to stand for, such as Daedalus Bridge."
"That was before my time," Rex said dismissively, though there was something in his eyes that said otherwise.
"Did you ever meet the legendary man? Did you hear what he had to say?" the Chosen of Flame asked. "He came to Satellite long before I did, but the hope he inspired lives on over there. He gave us all the hope to try and forge ourselves a greater destiny."
"I never met him. I only heard of him and his deeds… but I do respect the courage he possessed to fight back in the way he did."
"Hope is what he gave the people of Satellite… and hope is all we have left," Julian said. "I hope that someday, we'll live in a world without evil like the Dark Signers… and I'll fight to make my hope a reality. I'll fought before… and I'll keep fighting onwards, towards our future…"
37
Outside the mansion, Yusei sat on a bench, his clenched fist shaking. Jack walked over, his face grim.
"If Kalin really did die, I'm responsible," Yusei murmured. "He must have died with so much hate towards me… do I have to fight feeling like this? What should I do to put a stop to him?"
"What should you do?!" Jack snapped. "I'll show you!" With that, he threw a vicious punch into Yusei's gut, knocking the wind from the Tail Signer.
"Jack…" Yusei groaned breathlessly…
37
Further into the grounds, Akiza walked into a garden full of rose plants, gently running her hand across the fragile flowers as she breathed in their beautiful scent. As she did so, her mind wandered and she remembered…
She was stood with her parents in the hospital room a short while after her Duel with Yusei.
"Akiza!" her mother exclaimed in shock.
"Forgive me," Akiza replied. "I've made up my mind… I want to fight the Dark Signers as a Signer."
"Akiza..." Hideo murmured.
"Why do you have to do something so dangerous?" her mother asked with worry. "We just got back to being a family."
"I was so happy when you accepted me without once turning back…" the Claw Signer murmured. "That's why I believe I can't turn away, either. This is my duty."
"Duty?" her mother repeated.
"The Arcadia Movement was trying to lead the world into chaos, and I was one of their members," Akiza explained.
"It wasn't your fault!" her mother protested. "You were just being used!"
"As true as that may be, I don't think I can just let things be," Akiza replied. "A disaster's about to hit in New Domino City, and should my powers serve a purpose to everyone else…"
"What if you still don't know how to control your powers?" Hideo asked. "You might end up destroying yourself… you know that, don't you?"
"I'll be alright," she replied. "Don't worry about me."
"You're trying to discover what you consider to be wholeheartedly believable," Hideo concluded, and Akiza nodded. "If Yusei's going to be at your side, you'll never lose sight of yourself."
"Akiza…" her mother sighed.
"Akiza's found what she must truly do," Hideo assured her. She sighed. "Have faith in our daughter…"
In the flower garden, Akiza stared up at the sky…
37
In a room of the mansion, Leo was staring in awe at a table piled high with food.
"What should I get?" he wondered, grabbing a piece of chicken and placing it on his plate. Luna walked in and immediately noticed him.
"Why are you the only one kicking back?" she asked.
"Someone has to make sure this food doesn't go to waste!" he said, picking up a few sandwiches.
"Didn't you have the slightest care when you heard Director Goodwin's story?!" Luna said angrily.
"I didn't really… since I'm not a Signer…" Leo murmured, reluctantly picking up an apple and staring at it for a few seconds.
"So you're just taking it easy?!"
"Yup, taking it easy! Taking it easy!" he said, placing the apple on his plate and walking over to a table, where he put it down. "Because I'm not a Signer." She stared at him in disbelief. "If you're not going to eat, I'll eat it all myself." Luna turned to leave. "I'm not going to Satellite…"
At this, Luna turned back to him, as he turned away.
"What do you mean?" she asked, but he stated silent. "Leo…"
37
Back with Yusei and Jack, Yusei was still reeling from Jack's punch.
"What do you think you're doing?!" the Tail Signer cried.
"I'm showing you what you should do!" Jack snapped, punching him in the gut so hard that he was knocked flying. Yusei crashed to the ground, and Jack stood over him grimly.
"Where's that Yusei Fudo gone?!" the former King demanded. "It wasn't Kalin who died, it was you! You can fight, Kalin may have been our friend, but now he's an enemy we must defeat!"
"I-I…" Yusei began, but Jack grabbed him by the collar with a growl of rage.
"If you have something against them, you'll deal it back to him sevenfold! And since you can't do that, you're just a shell of a man!" He went to punch Yusei again… and a rose blew by, leaving to reveal that they had punched each other.
"I haven't died!" Yusei said firmly. Jack smiled.
"Now those are the eyes," he said, satisfied…
37
Luna stared at Leo in silent shock.
"Why did you say you wouldn't go to Satellite?" she finally asked.
"I get carried away," he murmured. "So when people say 'you gotta be the hero and protect your little sister', even I start feeling that way. It's stupid, but when I lost to that Sayer guy, it all sunk in – I can't be a hero."
"Leo…" He turned back towards her.
"I never said it before, but when we were little, I used to think 'man, Luna's a pest', just a bit. I thought you were holding me back. I thought that, because you were around, I couldn't go to dueling tournaments in town or any of Jack's autograph sessions. I'm… sorry…"
"I knew," Luna said softly. "I've always been so sickly, so because of that, you weren't allowed to go outside, but I wanted to apologize one day… and today's that day. I'm sorry, Leo."
"Stop," Leo said. "You'll embarrass me if you apologize to me. You're awesome because you're a Signer, the reincarnation of an ancient warrior. You're not like me. I'll be cheering you on from here…"
"You idiot…" she whispered, tearing up. "Isn't it obvious that I'm also scared? What would I do if I didn't go with you when I really needed you? You don't need to be a hero, just protect me like you always have!" She embraced him tightly, sobbing as she did so…
37
Yusei and Jack sat on the grass outside.
"Thanks to you, I've opened my eyes," Yusei said. "The Dark Signers are pushing the world towards danger, and I have to set my resolve to protect my friends in Satellite, and what I hold dear."
"I see it's your same old friends and what I need to protect routine," Jack said. He pulled Carly's glasses from his pocket and stared at them. "What I need… to protect…"
Akiza walked over as Yusei stood up.
"So you're prepared now," she said.
"Akiza…" he murmured.
"I'll fight with you, and I think that what I must do lies ahead," Akiza told him.
"I see," he replied, bringing a smile to her lips.
"Yusei!" The group turned to see Leo and Luna running over to them. Leo ran to Yusei, panting for a minute or so. "I know now – you're so cool because you always fight while believing in yourself!" Then he walked over to Jack. "And you're still cool, even if you're not King anymore."
"Not the King… anymore," Jack repeated.
"That's why I'm going to be cool too!" Leo declared, putting a scowl on Jack's face.
"You can't!" he snapped. "A brat like you can never be cool!"
"I will!"
"I'm declaring it!" Jack snapped. "You definitely can't!"
"I say I will, so I will! I will! I will! I will!"
"What's the party about?" Julian asked as he strode over to Yusei…
37
Back in Satellite, the Duel between Crow and Lazar continued.
"Entertain me some more!" the Satellite said fiercely. "Is your turn over already?"
"You needn't be hasty," Lazar laughed with Jester Lord. "I will make sure you indulge in dancing in the palm of my hand."
"Who's going to be dancing?!" Crow retorted.
"I Special Summon Jester Confit!" Lazar called. A sphere of light erupted, forming into a short, fat clown in colorful clothes, his neck and wrists covered by yellow ruffs. He balanced on a rubber ball, chuckling to himself (ATK: 0). The presence of another monster immediately zeroed Jester Lord's points (ATK: 0).
"Are you screwing with me?" the taken-aback Crow said. "Zero attack again… plus, because he summoned it, Jester Lord had its effect negated and its attack reduced to zero. Is he going for another wacked-out combo?"
"I end my turn there," Lazar finished, activating his information device again.
"What have you been scheming?" Crow asked. "You're one hell of a crafty bastard."
"The same goes for you, but I shall have a clear view as to what it is you're thinking," the PSMB head chuckled, gazing over the screen.
Crow 1000LP/Lazar 8000LP
"My turn!" Crow shouted.
"I activate the Continuous Trap Card, Late Penalty," Lazar said. "This means that if you do not have a monster in play during your Standby Phase, you cannot conduct your Battle Phase that turn."
"You bastard!" Crow yelled at him. "I couldn't attack properly last turn, and now I can't attack at all!"
"Tell me what sort of dance you'll display for me," Lazar chuckled, the jesters joining in.
"I'll be damned if I'm made to dance to your will!" Crow snapped. Lazar looked over the screen in front of him, which was displaying Crow's likely next move.
"Hm… so I need to be careful about this Blackwing – Backlash Trap Card," he thought. "If I declare a direct attack while there are five or more Blackwings in his Graveyard – which there currently are – then Blackwing – Backlash destroys every monster I have in play. I'm sure the Trap he has there is not Backlash, otherwise he would have activated it last turn in response to Jester Lord's attack…"
"I activate Card of Demise!" Crow shouted, drawing five times.
"And I activate Discord and Imperial Custom once more," Lazar replied as the Traps lifted up.
"Even if I can't attack, it goes against my duelist pride to end my turn without summoning a monster!" Crow shouted. "I summon Blackwing – Kalut the Moon Shadow!" Another new Blackwing exploded from Black Whirlwind, this one a jet-black raven similar to Gale the Whirlwind, with a white face and yellow plumage. Kalut shrieked as it shifted into a martial arts stance (ATK: 1400). "Now I can activate Black Whirlwind, adding Blackwing – Blizzard the Far North from my Deck to my hand!" The card slid from his Deck and he placed it into his hand.
"Now I end my turn with a face-down!" The reversed card appeared.
"Which triggers the effect of Jester Confit," Lazar sneered. "As it was Special Summoned by its own effect, it now returns to my hand while also returning one of your monsters to your hand." Jester Confit and Blackwing – Kalut the Moon Shadow vanished, reappearing in their owners' hands. Without other monsters on the field, six juggling balls appeared before Jester Lord, who started to juggle… (ATK: 6000).
"Oh my God!" Crow exclaimed in horror. "This can't be happening! I was suckered into dancing in the palm of that clown bastard's hand!"
"I believe it's about time you stepped off the stage," Lazar said.
Crow 1000LP/Lazar 8000LP
"I draw!" He drew the card from his Deck and smirked.
"Yusei, forgive me!" Crow ranted. "I really was useless, and Rally, Blitz, Nervin, and you kids, please, forgive me!"
"Do you think that displaying your frustration will make me drop my guard and attack?!" Lazar snapped.
"I don't know anything, and because of me…!"
"For heaven's sake, shut up!" With that outburst, the PSMB head fell silent, glaring at his opponent. "Evidently one of your face-down cards is Blackwing – Backlash… but I believe the one you set first is not. That leaves just one alternative, the one you set at the end of your last turn…"
"I activate Spellbook Inside the Pot, permitting us both to draw three times," he said. They each drew three more cards, Crow still ranting about how stupid he was. "Now I activate the Spell Card, Distrain Card! As you have two or more face-down Spell and Trap Cards, Distrain Card allows me to seal one from being activated this turn, and I select the card you placed at the end of your last turn!" A shard of crystal slammed down, impaling through the said card.
"And with this interesting show at an end, Jester Lord shall pull down the curtain with a direct attack!" Jester Lord cackled as it prepared to throw its juggling balls…
"I don't think so!" Crow retorted. "I activate Fake Feather!" Lazar gaped in shock as the unsealed Trap lifted up. "So now by sending a Blackwing, like Vayu the Emblem of Honor, from my hand to the Graveyard," he threw the card into his Graveyard slot, "I can use the effect of any Trap in your Graveyard, like a certain Imperial Manners!" Lazar watched in horror as Jester Lord exploded into flames and shattered.
"Never mock the Great Crow's animalistic instincts! I'm a thousand times better than your crummy data! I've known about your plan ever since you Special Summoned Jester Confit!" he boasted.
"So you were pretending to dance like a puppet, but utilizing it to your favor instead?" Lazar realized. "All to deceive me."
"What kind of dance are you gonna show me?" Crow chuckled.
"It's interesting that duelists such as you exist among the Satellite rats."
"Rat or crow, there's a difference in brains between it and some weak pet from the city!" Crow chuckled.
"My word," Lazar laughed. "Boasting about being a sewer rat is quite a feat. But nevertheless, Distrain Card has another effect. If you should activate a card I didn't pick, you take 800 points of damage!" Crow winced as a red aura surrounded him.
(Crow 200LP)
"Now I Special Summon Jester Confit once more, this time in defense mode." Jester Confit reappeared (DEF: 0). "And I equip him with Spirit Burner, so now when he returns to my hand, you take 600 points of damage and lose the Duel. Now I end my turn… how does it feel to know your situation is hopeless?" The shard of crystal impaling Crow's face-down faded away.
Crow 200LP/Lazar 8000LP
"Quite good, since it isn't hopeless!" Crow laughed as he drew. "I activate my face-down, Trap Stun! It does what it says, negating the effects of all other Trap Cards this turn!" Lazar swore under his breath as his Trap Cards were sealed in stone.
"No!" the PSMB head shouted.
"And it's only just begun," Crow said. "I summon Blackwing – Blizzard the Far North!" Black Whirlwind intensified as a Blackwing flew from it, a white albatross with black highlights on wings and plumage (ATK: 1300). "When I Normal Summon Blizzard the Far North, I can Special Summon a Level Four or lower Blackwing from my Graveyard, like Shura the Blue Flame!" Blizzard gave a piercing shriek and Shura appeared beside it (DEF: 1200).
"Now I activate the effect of the Blackwing – Vayu the Emblem of Honor I sent to the Graveyard with Fake Feather – I can remove it and a Blackwing non-Tuner in my Graveyard from play to Special Summon a Blackwing Synchro Monster with those exact Levels from my Extra Deck!" Elphin the Raven and a bizarre grey-feathered tengu dressed in a black gakuran appeared, fading into a crimson symbol…
"Darkened gales, become the wings which will soar to the heavens! Synchro Summon! Blackwing Armor Master!"
Armor Master descended with a shriek (ATK: 2500). "Of course, his effects are negated, but now I'm going to bring out today's leading role to take centre stage! Tuning, Level Two Blackwing – Blizzard the Far North to Level Four Blackwing – Shura the Blue Flame! Synchro Summon…!"
Blizzard cawed and faded into two Synchro Gates as it and Shura soared upwards, the Gates encircling the other Blackwing and reducing it to four glowing stars that collided in a flash of pitch-dark energy…
"Pitch-dark power, lodge in its great wings and stir up the divine winds! Synchro Summon! Gust fiercely, Blackwing Armed Wing!" Crow chanted, raising a hand.
The Synchro Summon faded as the new Synchro Monster descended, a thinner, less-armored version of Armor Master, with a mane of crimson feathers crowning his head, grey feathers adorning his shoulders between his chestplate and bracers. Armed Wing gave a piercing shriek as he cocked the hunting rifle with attached bayonet he gripped in his hands, landing before Crow neatly (ATK: 2300).
"So you finally managed to Synchro Summon, but Jester Confit is in defense position!" Lazar pointed out.
"I'm not done," Crow said, wagging a finger. "I Special Summon Blackwing – Gale the Whirlwind through its effect!" Gale erupted into being beside Armed Wing and Armor Master (ATK: 1300). "And as for that defense thing, Armed Wing inflicts Piercing and he gets 500 points just for attacking a defensive monster!"
"He what?!"
"Blackwing Armed Wing, attack Jester Confit!" Crow shouted. Armed Wing raised his rifle, glowing with energy (ATK: 2800). "Oh, and that Kalut the Moon Shadow you sent back to my hand on my last turn? By discarding it from my hand when a Blackwing battles, that Blackwing gets 1400 more points!" Kalut appeared behind Armed Wing, sending a shadowy aura into the Synchro (ATK: 4200).
Blackwing Armed Wing opened fire, Jester Confit screaming and shattering. Lazar's screams of pain sounded a second later as the shots thudded into him.
(Lazar 3800LP)
"Blackwing Armor Master, attack directly with Dark Hurricane!" Armor Master charged forwards and socked Lazar in the jaw with a vicious haymaker.
(Lazar 1300LP)
"Now, Gale…" His words were cut off as an earthquake began, shaking the building and all around…
"What is this?! What's going on?!" Purple light began to shine though the warehouse windows, and Lazar's eyes widened.
"This is terrible!" he exclaimed, pulling his Deck and cards from his Disk before simply slipping it off of his arm and sprinting away. "I hadn't thought it would start this quick!"
Crow 200LP/Lazar 1300LP
"Hold it!" Crow shouted after him angrily. "Where are you going that you're leaving the Duel?!"
"Now is not the time! We have to escape as soon as possible!" Lazar shouted. Crow growled, retracting the Duel Cuff and hurling it at Lazar as he sprinted after him. It struck the clown-faced man, but didn't even slow him down.
"Quit screwing around! You shameless bastard, trying to abandon your life as a duelist to run away!" Crow yelled at him.
"Right now, my real life is more important!" Lazar wailed, raising one arm. A white balloon exploded out, lifting him into the air. "If you value your life as well, you should run! Even though it may be too late as it is!"
"Damn you!" Crow roared. "You could at least say the match is postponed!" Then he noticed a black fog spreading across the Satellite behind him, a fog that stank simply of death. "What is that?" He ran to Blackbird and connected his Duel Disk, pulling on his helmet as he revved the engine and shot off.
"Damn it all… what the hell is it?!" The fog continued to spread through the streets, enveloping the people of the Satellite, who screamed as their bodies turned into more black fog…
The fog continued to race after Crow, who kept trying to outrun it.
"Dammit! I'm not gonna die! I'll… be damned… if I die here!" Then the fog swallowed him into its black embrace…
37
Over in New Domino, Yusei and Akiza stood on a balcony together, watching the sunset. Julian stood slightly behind them, also watching the death of the sun.
"I wonder if the sunsets five-thousand years ago were so vivid?" Akiza murmured.
"Probably," Yusei replied. "But the future is uncertain, and we must protect this world." Julian remained silent, recalling the sunsets he had seen in Satellite, sunsets stained into all sorts of vibrant colors by the pollution in the air. He remembered sitting with Kelsey on the roof of Martha's orphanage, her head on his shoulder, his arm around her as they watched the setting sun together…
The memories brought a film of tears to his eyes at all he had lost to the ravages of time and fate.
"Yes," Akiza said to Yusei, "you're right."
Above them, Jack was sat on the roof, staring down at Carly's glasses.
"Sir Atlas!" He looked to see Mina striding across the roof towards him, returning his gaze to Carly's glasses. "I figured I'd find you up here!"
"What's wrong?" he asked, but she didn't answer, distracted by the glasses. "I asked what's wrong!"
"Something awful has happened in the Satellite," she finally said.
"What did you say?!"
37
A short while later, Mina, Yusei, Jack, Akiza, Leo, Luna and Julian stood in the Security monitor room, gazing up at the numerous screens, which showed the Satellite sector wrapped in thick pitch-black fog.
"What is this?" Akiza wondered.
"Is that Satellite?" Luna whispered.
"Is the fog always that thick?" Leo asked.
"No," Julian replied. "This is different to the regular industrial pollution… it's something more. This is the Dark Signers at work."
"What happened there?" Jack asked.
"We're not sure on the details," Mina answered, "but some sort of abnormality occurred in the deepest regions of Satellite."
"The deepest regions?!" Yusei repeated.
"The B.A.D.," Julian murmured. "The Old Enerdy Reactor." Mina nodded.
"We're currently unable to establish contact with Security in Satellite at all, and this footage may not hold for very long," she answered. As if on cue, the screens instantly faded to static.
"We need to get over there, now," Julian said. "Who knows what that stuff is doing to the people within the Satellite?"
"Julian's right," Jack said. "We have to get over there and do something – Mina, prepare a helicopter, on the double."
"Yes, sir," Mina said…
37
Several hours later, the group stood with Mina and Goodwin on top of the Security building, staring out towards the barely-visible Satellite on the horizon.
"Sir Atlas?" Mina asked.
"What is it?" Jack asked, keeping his gaze fixed on his home.
"Why are you going to the Satellite?"
"It's obvious," he replied. "I have something to do." At that, Mina remembered him looking down at Carly's glasses.
"Is that as a Signer, or is it…?" she wondered.
"Satellite… hold on," Julian murmured, gazing at the fog-wrapped island. "We're coming to free you from the Dark Signers…"
Unknown to him, Kelsey's condor still hovered overheard, unseen by any of them…
"It seems that the mist wrapped around Satellite is occurring at the site of the Old Enerdy Reactor," Rex said.
"Old Enerdy Reactor?" Akiza repeated.
"What is it?" Leo asked.
"Destiny is indeed guiding you," Rex commented, his gaze rapidly moving across Julian and Yusei. "The sons of the men who built the Reactor to begin with… the children of Dr. Fudo and Dr. Mikuro will now act to correct their parents' flawed creation."
"The sons?" Akiza murmured in surprise. "Julian and Yusei are the children of the people who built the Old Enerdy?"
"I'm not proud of it," Julian murmured.
"The gears of destiny are beginning to turn in a major way," Rex continued. "Your mission is to defeat the Dark Signers and make the Old Enerdy revolve in the right direction." He fell silent as a helicopter landed on the helipad beside them, the doors opening to allow April and Trudge to step out.
"April?" Julian asked. "Are you coming too?" She shook her head.
"Trudge picked me up… there's a virtual riot going on in the streets," she explained. "Every Security officer out there is being called to control the situation. I have to go… but Julian… don't die on me, please…"
"I won't," he promised, and then he was wrapped in a tight hug by his cousin.
"When this war is over, I'll be here to be your cousin again," she promised. "That sound good to you, Julian?" He smiled.
"That sounds perfect," he replied as they pulled apart. "I'll be back, I promise." She smiled, before walking away past him and sprinting to the stairs leading down into the building. Julian stood with a renewed determination in his gaze.
"Agent Trudge, arriving at your service, sir," Trudge said to Goodwin.
"Excellent work, officer," Goodwin commented.
"Oh, it's you," Yusei said somewhat mockingly.
"What do you mean by 'oh'?!" Trudge demanded. "I received direct orders from the director himself to escort all of you to that damned dump!" Then Mina walked over and he rapidly recomposed himself.
"Are you coming along?" she asked him.
"It would be my honor to be of service to you," he replied proudly.
"Is an early-morning mission a lot to handle?"
"It really isn't," Trudge mumbled, blushing.
"Should we go?" Akiza asked.
"We need to get there as fast as possible," Julian determined. "It'll give the Dark Signers less time to make their move on Satellite."
"Wait a minute," Yusei said softly, Julian turning to face him.
"What's wrong?" he asked, but Yusei just turned to Goodwin.
"Before we go," he told the director, "I need you to promise something."
"What is it?" Rex asked.
"I want you to promise that when we defeat the Dark Signers and return everything to normal, you'll connect the Daedalus Bridge to the city," Yusei said.
"Daedalus Bridge…" Julian murmured, understanding.
"I see you mean the Daedalus Bridge that links Satellite and the city," Rex murmured. "Do you intent to emulate the legendary man who fought to build that bridge?"
"If your story is true, there should be no more reason to discriminate Satellite," Yusei told him firmly. There was a brief pause.
"I agree," Rex finally said. "Should you triumph over the Dark Signers, then I promise that you shall see Daedalus Bridge finished as the legendary man intended." Then, as the sun began to rise over the horizon, they all climbed into the helicopter, which then took off with Trudge and Mina at the controls…
As they flew out over the shore of New Domino, the passengers looked out of the windows to see the people gathered to send them off to Satellite. Dexter, Tanner, and Yanagi stood together, waving up to the Signers, while Drago, Kira and Blake stood a short distance apart. Kira seemed to play a card into her Disk and the sky exploded with rainbow light, an immense white serpentine dragon with an angel's wings soaring upwards past the helicopter, and Julian knew it was their blessing and wishes for the group to remain safe, carried by the Rainbow Dragon.
"You can do it!" Dexter yelled up to them.
"Come back safe!" Yanagi called.
"Yusei, don't wind up dead!" Tanner shouted.
"Come back safe!" Kira called up to them.
"All of you, we'll be behind you every step of the way!" Drago added.
"Hey, all of you, don't screw this up, okay?!" Blake said. Julian smiled a true smile for the first time in a short while, smiling that despite everything, he knew that he had people down there ready to support him and his friends no matter how far apart they were.
And leaving those well-wishers behind, the helicopter soared onwards to the sunrise, towards Satellite and towards the destinies of those it held within it…
37
Card Stats:
55555
Monsters:
55555
Blackwing – Breeze the Zephyr
DARK/ Winged Beast/Effect /Level 3/ATK: 1100/DEF: 300
If this card is added from the Deck to your hand by a Spell, Trap, or Effect Monster's effect, you can Special Summon this card. This card cannot be used to Synchro Summon a Synchro Monster except a "Blackwing" monster.
(Blackwing – Breeze the Zephyr will be released in The Shining Darkness later this month.)
55555
Jester Masque
DARK/ Spellcaster/Effect /Level 4/ATK: 0/DEF: 0
While this card is face-up on the field, it gains 500 ATK and DEF for every Spell and Trap card on the field. When there are no Spell or Trap cards on the field and this card is destroyed by battle, reduce the Battle Damage you would have taken to 0 and inflict the amount of damage you would have taken to your opponent's Life Points.
(Jester Masque is my own invention and creative credit for it goes to me. It was first used by Lazar in Seven Spirits.)
55555
Spells:
55555
Black Feather Treasure
Normal Spell Card
Image: Two black feathers in a tempest of azure energy, with a glowing golden light behind.
Remove from play 1 "Blackwing" monster in your hand to draw 2 cards. You cannot Special Summon during the same turn you activate this card. You can only activate 1 "Black Feather Treasure" per turn.
(Black Feather Treasure will be released in The Shining Darkness later this month under the name Cards for Black Feathers.)
55555
Distrain Card
Normal Spell Card
Image: Three face-down cards side-by-side, with a shard of purple crystal impaled through the centre card.
Activate only when there are 2 or more Set Spell or Trap Cards in your opponent's Spell & Trap Card Zone. Select 1 of them. It cannot be activated this turn. Inflict 800 damage to your opponent if they activate another face-down card.
(Distrain Card was first used by Lazar/Jeager in Episode 44 of 5D's. Creative credit for it goes to the writers of 5D's.)
55555
Traps:
55555
Imperial Manners
Normal Trap Card
Image: A member of Goblin Attack Force and a Chthonian Soldier leading a chained Abaki up to the emperor depicted on Imperial Order.
Activate if your opponent declares an attack while you control no monsters. Destroy all Attack Position monsters your opponent controls.
55555
Late Penalty
Continuous Trap Card
Image: Three peasants knelt before the emperor depicted on Imperial Order, with two guards blocking their path with spears.
If your opponent controls no monsters during their Standby Phase, they cannot conduct their Battle Phase this turn.
(Imperial Manners and Late Penalty were first used by Lazar/Jeager in Episode 43 of 5D's. Creative credit for them goes to the writers of 5D's.)
55555
Black Back
Normal Trap Card
Image: Blackwing – Sirocco the Dawn soaring upwards from a flash of white light.
Special Summon 1 "Blackwing" monster from your Graveyard with 2000 or less ATK. You cannot Normal Summon this turn.
(Black Back was first used by Crow in Episode 105 of 5D's. Creative credit for it goes to the writers of 5D's.)
37
Next time on Spirit Legends, I'm diverging from 5D's once more! As rioting runs rampant in New Domino after Goodwin denies the public answers, a group of lesser heroes than the Signers act to help protect their city by taking on members of this mob! First up, two members of families legendary both within Duel Monsters and business take to the streets of New Domino with the aim of helping the weary and overwhelmed forces of Sector Security. Who are these two? Are they capable of overcoming the sheer numbers of their opponents?
And when April is confronted by a being whose power of light is the stuff of myth, can she unleash the true power and spirit of the X-Sabers to achieve victory?!
To find out, read Chapter 38 – Ragnarok!