Chapter 53: Spider's Lair

In the Dark Signers' lair, Roman sat at the table and watched as another candle went out.

"So Yusei has defeated Kalin," he murmured, looking away from the candles towards the bundle of blankets that lay on the table before him. The baby wrapped in the black cocoon was sleeping peacefully, though she seemed to stir occasionally.

Roman laid a hand on her small arm, looking at her pale face. He knew little of why he was even bothering with her now that Kelsey was gone, but somehow he knew she had a greater part to play yet. For that reason, he left her alive, there was no other reason he was bothering to preserve her life.

He looked down at his right arm, which was bruised. "I can't be stopped here." He then looked at a photograph depicting himself, Rex, Dr. Fudo and Julian's father, Dr. Aaron Mikuro. "I've settled my score with Julian… now for the seventeen year-old account between Yusei and I to be settled…"

53

Yusei placed Stardust Dragon's card into the control unit slot, before withdrawing it and sprinting from the tower before it slid back into the bowels of the earth. As he emerged, Crow called out to him from a nearby bridge, and the Signer ran to join him.

"Look, Yusei!" the redhead said, gesturing out over Satellite, where people had reappeared. "The people sacrificed to Ccapac Apu must have come back when you destroyed it!"

"That's right!" Leo exclaimed. "So if we beat the Immortals, everyone'll be saved!"

"Good job, Yusei," Crow congratulated.

"It's too early to celebrate," Yusei replied. "In order to close the Doors of the Underworld, two more towers have to be sealed, and there are still three Dark Signers out there." As he spoke, Trudge felt something bite him and the Spider Mark lit on his arm. Yusei noticed this, and backed away. "Get back, guys!"

"Yusei," Trudge said in a dark voice. "I see you have defeated Kalin."

"Roman," Yusei spat. "Julian must have failed… or he hasn't got to you yet…"

"Unfortunately for dear Julian Mikuro," Trudge replied. "It is the former, I am afraid. He could not overcome the might of the Earthbound Immortals, and so now he sleeps with his dear Kelsey in the depths of the Underworld." The officer gave a dark laugh, as Yusei clenched a fist.

"What about his daughter, then?"

"Julia? Don't concern yourself with her. But if you want to know, she is perfectly unharmed, if you want to take up Julian's foolhardy rescue mission."

"You're damn right, we want to save her!" Crow snarled, raising a fist. "Get out here so I can beat the crap out of you, you bastard!"

"Oh, it won't be that easy," Trudge said. "Yusei, I am your next opponent. If you want to fight me, you must come to the Old Enerdy Reactor to settle our score." The spider controlling Trudge shattered into dust and the Spider Mark faded away.

"It's gotta be a trap, Yusei," Crow said. "He's using Julia as bait to draw us in."

"It's not just Julia at stake here," Yusei mused. "If I can defeat Earthbound Immortal Uru, then all the souls sacrificed to it will come back… Rally, Martha… I could save them all, and Julia in the bargain."

"After what Julian did… you really want to save her?" Crow said incredulously. "Yusei, Julian sold us out to Security!"

"He did," the Signer admitted. "But that wasn't Julia's fault. She's innocent, and I won't leave her in Roman's clutches… if I can save her, then I will. That at least I can give Julian."

"So we'll save her," Luna murmured.

"There's no other way about it," Trudge said with a hint of determination in his voice. "She's an innocent kid, and we're going to get her out of this Hell."

"She'll end in an orphanage though, like we did, Yusei," Crow told his friend as they separated from Trudge and the twins to get to their Runners. "Who knows what her life will be like?"

"Better than ours," was Yusei's reply. "Before we set out, Goodwin promised me that if we could defeat the Dark Signers, he'd finish Daedalus Bridge, Crow. If he keeps his promise… then Julia can live in a world where there is no discrimination, or poverty… a better place than it is now. Maybe she'll grow up not knowing her parents… but the least we can do is give her the chance to forge her own path someday. That's why we have to save her, not just for Julian and Kelsey, but for her." Crow nodded…

53

"Angela Rains here, reporting from New Domino's West Fifth district," Angela said to her camera. "New Domino City has been placed under martial law following the declaration of a state of emergency by Director Goodwin yesterday during the widespread riots, and although those riots were put down by the intervention of the army, the state of emergency has not yet been revoked. Since Nazca Lines have begun appearing in the city, hundreds of people have gone missing, no one can be found, and Sector Security is offering no information!"

Lazar sighed as he watched the broadcast before switching off the TV with a snap of his fingers. He strode to the far wall of the room, and tapped a panel, opening a hidden door into another room, which he entered.

"Has Rex already left?" a man shrouded in shadow said from a screen within.

"Yes, just moments ago," Lazar replied. "Is Yliaster planning to offer any intervention?" The man seemed to think for a moment.

"Were the situation to reach a certain severity, then we might be convinced to dispatch aid," he finally said. "We have considered the option of the Emperors intervening if the Signers should fail." Lazar shuddered. He didn't personally know the Emperors of Yliaster due to the organization's secretive nature, but he had heard of them by reputation, and what he heard was not exactly favorable. "Regardless, Lazar, do you not trust in Rex and Roman?"

"I have some doubts," Lazar murmured.

"We have to place our hopes in them," the man said. "We have waited twenty years ever since the brothers turned over a new page in history." Lazar nodded and laughed.

53

Two helicopters touched down beside the Old Enerdy Reactor crater, and Rex stepped from one as eight armed guards immediately disembarked from the two helicopters, forming a secure perimeter very quickly and with military precision. The director pulled a remote control from his pocket and activated it, a tunnel opening up in the earth to descend into the reactor complex.

"Captain, please take your men and withdraw," Goodwin said.

"New Domino City is currently going through a bizarre phenomenon like nothing ever seen before," the captain replied, glancing around warily. "Our duty is to ensure your safety, director, even at the cost of our lives."

"Against this opponent, bullets and explosives are of little use," Rex warned.

"Regardless, sir, we have an obligation to defend you to the last, and we will fulfill that obligation whether you believe it necessary or not."

"Very well," Goodwin sighed. "Please take great care, captain."

"I shall, sir," the captain replied. "Men, form up! I want a protective cordon on director Goodwin!" The men formed up around the director and the captain, before they all advanced into the tunnel…

They soon came into the room with the great table, where Roman sat; Julia laid on the table before him.

"Ah, Rex, you made it," the Dark Signer welcomed. "We must talk, but first, what about your guards?" The soldiers already had their weapons out and aimed at him, though the presence of a baby was giving them some pause for thought, which was probably the reason they weren't firing yet. Well, that and the fact Goodwin hadn't ordered them to open fire.

"It is their duty to protect me," Rex replied calmly.

"This must be a private discussion," Roman replied. "Don't worry… I see no need in the wasting of such minor lives." There was a hiss and Ground Spider exploded from the darkness, barreling into one soldier while the rest pulled back to open fire, but a second spider appeared and together they sprayed webbing onto the soldiers, wrapping them into tight cocoons of webbing.

"I stayed alive in order to fulfill a promise, and I've thrown away my future as Security director," Rex said, crossing his arms as he stared at his brother.

"There's not a single moment you could have forgotten the promise from back then," Roman replied, standing. "I opened Pandora's Box seventeen years ago, but like Pandora, I left Hope." He raised his mechanical left arm to show it to Rex. "This body won't last much longer…"

"What do you intend to do with the child?" Rex asked, gesturing to Julia.

"Julia Asagi… Julian's daughter," Roman chuckled. "Granddaughter of Aaron and Catherine… our old colleagues, if only they were here today to see what their son had become."

"Where is Julian?"

"Dead," the Dark Signer replied. "He thought himself capable of defeating me… he was wrong." Rex's eyes clouded with sorrow. "He had a choice, and he took the wrong path, brother."

"What of Julia? What use is she to you?"

"The child of a Dark Signer," Roman mused. "Like any scientist… I think I'll make the most of a good opportunity, like what Kelsey has left me with. Regardless, we are digressing from the true matters at hand. I must discover out of the Signers of the Crimson Dragon and the Dark Signers of the Earthbound Immortals… which is the creator, and which the destroyer? The destiny of seventeen years ago is still alive today, and Dr. Fudo's will lives on in his son, Yusei. If I am defeated here, you must tell Yusei of that account." He activated his Duel Disk.

"I have thought about it these past seventeen years," Rex murmured. "And I have come to a conclusion… an alternate possibility you did not think of." He raised his mechanical left arm, which expanded into a Duel Disk…

53

Yusei and Crow brought their Runners to a halt before dismounting, as Trudge, Leo and Luna all got out of the car. They stood on the edge of the immense crater, staring down into it.

"There's the Enerdy Reactor built by Yusei's father," Luna murmured.

"It's that Reactor that caused the Zero Reverse, and why our cities are split in two now," Trudge said form behind her.

"It's huge…" Leo said in awe at the sheer scale of the crater.

"I heard that a giant meteor crashed down here and made this crater," Luna added. They followed Trudge and Yusei down the stairway into the crater, while Crow noticed the helicopters and the tunnel nearby.

"The Public Security Maintenance Bureau… I'd better check this out," he mused, sprinting towards the tunnel…

At the bottom of the stairway, Yusei, Leo, Luna and Trudge found themselves standing at one end of the rope bridge spanning the crater. A dark laugh echoed from the darkness as Roman stepped onto the bridge from the opposite end, holding Julia in one arm.

"So you sent Kalin into the Underworld," the Spider Dark Signer said to Yusei.

"You're wrong," Yusei replied. "Between Kalin and I, there was no hatred. It was your fault for twisting our misunderstanding!"

"Give Julia to us!" Trudge added angrily, stepping forwards with fists raised.

"Why should I do that?" Roman replied. "You have nothing to threaten me with, officer. Thanks to Julian, your gun is out of your hands, and I'm hardly going to just hand her over. It was Fate that turned Yusei and Kalin against one another, and it shall be Fate who decides this child's destiny." He placed Julia down on the bridge slightly behind him gently.

"You and Kalin were fated to be bound by hate, Yusei! The original Enerdy Reactor was built through sadness and hate, like Dr. Fudo and I!" He pressed a switch in his hand and far below them, the reactor was ripped apart by a fiery explosion as a fountain of Enerdy itself erupted into the world, forming a swirling pool of rainbow light down beneath them. "This is the door to the alternate possibility that your father and I found seventeen years ago, Yusei! Within the light of Enerdy lies the power to change the world! It holds the power to rule the world!"

"Will that light take more victims?" Yusei snarled, recalling Martha and Rally's deaths. "I'll never let you get away with you've done!"

"In order for the alternate possibility, there are always small sacrifices, and people are just small existences in the great container called fate," Roman said dismissively. "Before fate, lives will disappear like trash, and the light of Enerdy is fate itself, and alive. The light swallowed your father's fate and became alive!"

"You're crazy!" Yusei shouted, activating his Disk. "I won't allow you to do any more harm than you already have! For Julian… for Martha, and Rally, for everyone you took away from us, I'll end this here and now!" He drew his opening hand.

"I'll bury you inside the light as well!" Roman proclaimed, activating his own Disk and drawing his own opening hand.

"DUEL!"

Yusei 8000LP/Roman 8000LP

"I'll start!" Yusei called out, drawing his sixth card. "I summon the Tuner monster, Drill Synchron!" A new monster appeared before him, an orange spherical machine with arms ending in blue drills, mounted on caterpillar tracks with a bronze drill protruding from its forehead like a horn (ATK: 800).

"Now I activate the effect of Mirror Ladybug in my hand, letting me Special Summon it because there are no monsters in my Graveyard!" A monster resembling Level Eater, but with a shining, mirrored shell appeared (ATK: 100). "Because Mirror Ladybug was summoned that way, its Level becomes equal to the combined Levels of all other monsters I control, but if its Level exceeds eleven, it is destroyed!" An image of Drill Synchron appeared on Mirror Ladybug's shell (Level 3).

"I Tune my Level Three Drill Synchron, to my Level Three Mirror Ladybug, in order to Synchro Summon…!"

Drill Synchron faded into three Synchro Gates that encircled Mirror Ladybug, reducing it to three glowing stars that aligned and collided in a flare of energy…

"Clustering powers will become a spear that pierces the earth! Become the path its light shines upon! Synchro Summon! Break it apart, Drill Warrior!"

With a mighty roar, a new Synchro Warrior crashed down before Yusei, this one resembling the titular mecha of the anime Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann. As its name implied, one of its arms ended in a massive drill, with more drills forming its lower legs and crowning its shoulders. A yellow scarf similar to Junk Synchron's was tied around its neck, its body coated in dark brown armor, and its eyes a blazing crimson color (ATK: 2400).

"Now I end my turn!"

Yusei 8000LP/Roman 8000LP

"So already you display the power of your bonds through a Synchro Summon," Roman mused, unimpressed as he drew. "What other powers do you hold? I place a reversed card and end my turn." The face-down card appeared.

Yusei 8000LP/Roman 8000LP

"Is he pulling Yusei's chain?" Trudge wondered.

"I draw!" Yusei shouted, pulling the card from his Deck. "I activate the Spell Card, Tuning, letting me add a Synchron Tuner monster from my Deck to my hand so long as I send the top card of my Deck to my Graveyard!" He took Junk Synchron as it was ejected from his Deck, before placing Road Synchron into the Graveyard. "I summon Junk Synchron!" The orange-armored mechanical Tuner appeared in a flare of light (ATK: 1300).

"Next up, I use his effect to bring back Mirror Ladybug!" The mirror-shelled insect appeared once more (DEF: 0). "And I Tune them together to Synchro Summon…!" Junk Synchron pulled his ripcord and faded into three Synchro Gates that encircled Mirror Ladybug, reducing it to a single glowing star that exploded with energy…

"Clustering hearts will bring forth a shining power! Become the path its light shines upon! Synchro Summon! Unite, Armory Arm!"

The strange mechanical gauntlet appeared from the Synchro Summon (ATK: 1800). "I activate Armory Arm's effect, equipping it to Drill Warrior!" The gauntlet split apart and rebuilt itself onto Drill Warrior's drill arm, the five fingers reconfiguring to form a new spiked point to the drill as the warrior glowed (ATK: 3400).

"Does he want me to attack…? I don't have a choice… I have to beat him to save everyone, including Julia…"

"Drill Warrior, attack him directly with Power Spear!" Drill Warrior's drill-arm started to revolve as it charged forwards, the metal spike glowing with energy to become a rotating cone of aura that was stabbed into Roman, knocking the Dark Signer back away from Julia.

(Roman 4600LP)

"Get Julia!" Leo cried.

"Pick her up, now!" Luna added desperately. Unfortunately, Drill Warrior seemed to not comprehend anything other than its place in the Duel, and so Julia was left there as it returned to Yusei. Roman laughed as he stood up.

"A spirited effort, but you won't save the child so easily," he said. "I activate the Trap Card, The Truth of Nonresistance! As I just took damage from your direct attack, I can Special Summon a Level One monster from my hand, and another copy of that monster from my Deck!" Two copies of Dark Spider appeared before him with dual hisses (ATK: 0x2).

"Two zero-attack monsters?" Leo wondered. "Is Roman weak, or something?"

"You're wrong," Luna replied. "Roman doesn't do anything useless, and he's setting up for his strongest card."

"The Dark Signers have a powerful card that can overturn any situation, and Roman has two monsters to Release," Trudge pointed out.

"Stay close to me, guys," Luna said. "I think he may be about to summon his Earthbound Immortal…"

"I end my turn," Yusei finished.

Yusei 8000LP/Roman 4600LP

"I draw!" Roman declared. "I activate the Field Spell Card, Spider Web!" Immediately a complex network of spider webs was created, filling the crater in a cage of white webbing bars. "Now I Release both Dark Spiders to Advance Summon…!"

The Dark Spiders faded into rainbow light that soared upwards and formed into the Earthbound Immortal heart as Luna's Claw mark expanded into a red shield of light around her, Leo and Trudge. As the dark fog was sucked into the heart, a fountain of Enerdy erupted from the pool below and enveloped the heart…

"O souls of the dead who lurk in my light of destiny! Grant me the power to lead the dark truth in this protean world! Appear now, Earthbound Immortal Uru!"

With a great roar, the Enerdy fountain broke as Uru rose up, perched upon the spider-webs despite its immense size and weight (ATK: 3000).

"That's the monster that killed Julian…" Luna murmured softly. "I can feel it…"

"Earthbound Immortal Uru, attack him directly!" Roman ordered. "Hell Thread!" Uru blasted the spears of webbing from its maw at Yusei, who cried out in pain as they stabbed into him.

(Yusei 5000LP)

"Now I activate the Continuous Spell Card, Destiny Trigger," Roman continued, playing the card. "With Destiny Trigger, sending the top card of my Deck to the Graveyard." He placed Mother Spider into the Graveyard. "Then, if you should draw a card of the same type as my Mother Spider, a monster, then Destiny Trigger is destroyed and your Life Points are halved. I now conclude my turn with a reversed card." The face-down appeared as Uru changed to defense mode by the effect of Spider Web (DEF: 3000).

Yusei 5000LP/Roman 4600LP

"I draw!" Yusei called, pulling the card from his Deck and revealing it as Defense Draw due to Destiny Trigger.

"So your luck stands firm this turn," Roman murmured.

"You shouldn't let your guard down yet, Yusei," Trudge muttered.

"I activate the effect of Drill Warrior!" the Signer declared. "By permanently halving its attack points during the Main Phase, it can attack you directly during this turn's Battle Phase!" Drill Warrior glowed with crimson aura (ATK: 1700). "Attack directly with Power Spear!"

The Synchro surged forwards as its drill spun, stabbing the weapon into Roman once more.

(Roman 2900LP)

"Now I separate Armory Arm from Drill Warrior!" Yusei continued as the gauntlet detached and reformed as a separate monster (ATK: 1800), prompting a crimson glow from Drill Warrior (ATK: 700). "Finally, I activate Drill Warrior's second effect, discarding a card to remove it from play until my next Standby Phase!" He placed De-Synchro into the Graveyard and Drill Warrior faded away.

"I end my turn with a face-down!" The reversed card appeared.

Yusei 5000LP/Roman 2900LP

"I draw," Roman spoke, pulling the card from his Deck. "I activate the Continuous Trap Card, Pole Position, rendering the strongest monster on the field immune to Spell Cards." Earthbound Immortal Uru glowed with energy.

"Why would he do that?" the puzzled Leo asked.

"Because it means Uru is immune to Spider Web's effect," Trudge explained.

"I switch Earthbound Immortal Uru to attack position," the Dark Signer continued as the Immortal roared (ATK: 3000). "Now I place two cards face-down." The two reversed cards appeared. "Earthbound Immortal Uru, attack Yusei directly with Hell Thread!"

The spears of webbing shot at Yusei again, but this time his face-down lifted up.

"I activate Defense Draw, reducing the damage to zero and drawing a card!" he called, drawing as the spears deflected off of the glowing shield.

"I end my turn," Roman finished.

Yusei 5000LP/Roman 2900LP

"I draw!" Yusei called, bringing his hand to six cards and revealing Descending Lost Star. "Now Drill Warrior returns, and the second part of its effect activates, letting me return a monster card from my Graveyard to my hand!" As Drill Warrior (ATK: 2400) reappeared, he took Junk Synchron from his Graveyard.

"I summon Junk Synchron!" The orange-armored Tuner appeared for the second time (ATK: 1300). "Now I use its effect to bring back Mirror Ladybug!" The mirror-shelled ladybug appeared for the third time (DEF: 0).

"Now I Tune together my Level Three Junk Synchron, Level One Mirror Ladybug and Level Four Armory Arm to Synchro Summon…!"

Junk Synchron pulled its ripcord and soared skywards, splitting into three Synchro Gates that encircled the rising Mirror Ladybug and Armory Arm, reducing them to five glowing stars that aligned and connected in a flash of power…

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

With a mighty roar, Junk Destroyer crashed down beside Yusei (ATK: 2600).

"That's a God?" Roman scoffed. "It doesn't hold a candle to the power of my Earthbound Immortal!"

"Junk Destroyer is a mightier God than Uru can ever be!" Yusei replied. "When I Synchro Summon it, I can destroy a number of your cards equal to or less than the number of non-Tuner Synchro Material Monsters I used in the Synchro Summon!"

"But if he pulls this off and destroys Uru… Roman's wide-open!" Leo exclaimed. "We're gonna save Julia, and everyone else! Go, Yusei!"

"I choose to destroy Earthbound Immortal Uru, and your face-down card!" Yusei declared. "Junk Destroyer, obliterate them and form the pathway to victory! Tidal Energy!" Junk Destroyer roared and power ripped from its hands, shooting towards Uru and the face-down…

"I activate the Counter Trap Card, Divine Wrath!" Roman retorted as a face-down lifted up. "By discarding a card, I can negate an Effect Monster's effect and destroy that monster!" He placed Security Orb into the Graveyard and a blast of purple fire from Uru obliterated the energy blasts, and then Junk Destroyer itself was consumed.

"Drill Warrior, attack him directly!" Yusei shouted. Drill Warrior glowed with crimson aura (ATK: 1200) and surged towards Roman with its drill spinning…

"You're so naïve, Yusei!" Roman retorted. "I activate the Continuous Trap Card, Roar of the Earthbound!" The card lifted up. "Now once per turn when you attack with a monster that has less attack points than an Earthbound Immortal on my field, I can destroy that monster and inflict damage to you equal to half of its attack points!" Uru roared and Drill Warrior was struck down by the energies of the Immortal, before Yusei screamed as the blast ploughed into him, knocking him back across the bridge.

(Yusei 4400LP)

"Yusei!" Leo and Luna cried simultaneously as the Signer crashed down, shaking the whole bridge. He groaned and weakly stood up.

"He… defeated that whole strategy… with two cards…" Trudge gasped in shock. "Is this the power of the Dark Signers?"

"I end my turn with three face-down cards…" Yusei groaned, placing the cards into his Disk. They appeared before him.

Yusei 4400LP/Roman 2900LP

"I draw!" Roman called out.

"I place a card face-down!" The reversed card appeared before him. "How long can you withstand Uru's attacks, Yusei? Earthbound Immortal Uru, attack him directly with Hell Thread!" The Earthbound Immortal unleashed the spears of webbing at Yusei once again…

"I activate the Trap Card, Shock Reborn, halving the damage!" Yusei cried. A shield of fiery aura appeared around him, knocking the spears aside, though he still felt the terrible force of the impacts.

(Yusei 2900LP)

"Then I can Special Summon a monster with attack points equal to or less than that damage from my Graveyard!" The fiery energy coalesced to form Junk Synchron (ATK: 1300). "And I also activate Descending Lost Star, bringing back Drill Warrior with zero defense points, one less Level and its effect negated!" Drill Warrior reappeared, crouching down in defense mode (DEF: 0).

"I end my turn," Roman finished.

Yusei 2900LP/Roman 2900LP

"I draw!" Yusei declared, only to grimace as he revealed Zero Gardna.

"The effect of Destiny Trigger activates!" Roman declared as the card shattered and Yusei screamed as he was engulfed in dark purple flame that seared into him…

(Yusei 1450LP)

"I activate the Trap Card, Rage Resynchro!" Yusei shouted as his third face-down lifted up. "With this, I can use Synchro Materials from my field to Synchro Summon from my Graveyard, and the monster I summon gains 500 attack points!"

"I counter with the Trap Card, Earthbound Wave!" Roman retorted. "Because I control an Earthbound Immortal, I can use Earthbound Wave to negate the activation of one of your Spell or Trap Cards and destroy it!" A bolt of power ripped from Uru to shatter the Rage Resynchro card.

"Damn it…" Trudge muttered. "Yusei almost had him…"

"What do you mean?" Leo asked.

"He was going to use Rage Resynchro to summon Junk Destroyer again and use its effect to destroy Roman's Immortal," Luna explained. "With the 500 point boost from Rage Resynchro, Junk Destroyer would have had enough attack points to end it there."

"In that case," Yusei replied softly, "I'll follow the pathway that was always laid out for our battle, Roman! Level Three Junk Synchron, Level Five Drill Warrior, Tuning!"

Junk Synchron pulled its ripcord for the third time and split into three Synchro Gates that encircled Drill Warrior, reducing it to five glowing stars that aligned and collided in a pillar of shining aura…

"Clustering wishes will become a new shining star! Become the path its light shines upon! Synchro Summon! Take flight, Stardust Dragon!"

With a mighty roar, the white wings spread from the pillar, which faded as Stardust Dragon soared upwards, halting its flight when it was at the same height as Earthbound Immortal Uru, roaring its fury against its age-old nemesis as Uru hissed. The Signer Dragon shone with radiant starlight, while the darkness around Uru seemed to thicken in response… (ATK: 2500)

"So our battle comes to this," Roman laughed. "Fate shows its hand once more, as we come to the conflict of an Earthbound Immortal with a Signer Dragon, just as it was always meant to be…"

"I'll triumph over your Immortal, and then everyone you've taken from us will return!" Yusei shouted.

"No, Yusei, I'll let you go soon to the light below where your father is resting!" Roman replied.

"I won't give up…!"

53

Card Stats:

55555

Monsters:

55555

Mirror Ladybug

LIGHT/ Insect/Effect /Level 1/ATK: 0/DEF: 0

If there are no Monster Cards in your Graveyard, you can Special Summon this card from your hand. When this card is Special Summoned this way, this card's Level becomes equal to the combined Level of all other monsters you control. If this card's Level becomes 12 or more this way, destroy this card.

(Mirror Ladybug will be released in the upcoming OCG set Starstrike Blast.)

55555

Spells:

55555

Tuning

Normal Spell Card

Image: Spirit of the Harp plucking her instrument.

Add 1 "Synchron" Tuner monster from your Deck to your hand. Then, send the top card of your Deck to the Graveyard.

(This is the real-life version of Tuning, to be released in the upcoming OCG set Starstrike Blast.)

55555

Destiny Trigger

Continuous Spell Card

Image: A green, demonic hand holding up a bone.

This card is activated by sending the top card from your Deck to your Graveyard. During each of your opponent's Draw Phases, check the card your opponent draws. If it was a card of the same type of the card you sent to the Graveyard (Monster, Spell or Trap), destroy this card and halve your opponents Life Points.

(Destiny Trigger was first used by Roman in the multi-part 5D's episode 'Destiny's Will'. Creative credit for it goes to the writers of 5D's. It was known as Destiny Activator in the dub.)

55555

Traps:

55555

Shock Reborn

Normal Trap Card

Image: A blast of fiery energy splitting apart just before striking a duelist resembling Yusei, as a monster swathed in green energy soars upwards from the blast.

Activate only when you would take Battle Damage. Halve the Battle Damage, then Special Summon 1 monster from your Graveyard whose ATK is equal to or less than the Battle Damage you took.

(Shock Reborn was first used by Yusei in the 5D's episode 'Proof of Evolution, Synchro Monster'. Creative credit for it goes to the writers of 5D's.)

55555

Rage Resynchro

Normal Trap Card

Image: Stardust Dragon soaring upwards in a pillar of light within a graveyard, with orbs of red and blue energy shooting out of the pillar.

Activate by selecting 1 Synchro Monster in your Graveyard. Send monsters you control to the Graveyard who fulfill the Synchro Summoning requirement of the selected monster, and Special Summon it; it gains 500 ATK. Destroy it during the next turn's End Phase.

(Rage Resynchro was first used by Jack in the 5D's episode 'The WRPG Commences! Team 5D's vs. Team Unicorn'. Creative credit for it goes to the writers of 5D's.)

55555

Next time on Spirit Legends, as Yusei's Duel with Roman continues, can the Tail Signer overcome the Spider Dark Signer? As Stardust Dragon goes head-to-head with Earthbound Immortal Uru, who will triumph?

To find out, read Chapter 54 – Synchro Halo!