Alex: 1600 LP
Roman: 3600 LP
Alex's field: Evil HERO Raging Tornado, Evil HERO Lightning Golem
Roman's field: Spider Web, Altar of the Bound Deity
Roman: It appears some flies have gotten caught in my web. Shall we continue our duel Alex? I'm looking forward to the moment you join our ranks.
Alex: Well, I wouldn't hold your breath waiting for that. It's your move.
Roman: Very well, I draw. And during my standby phase, since there's one monster on the field in defense mode, my Altar of the Bound Deity gains one Earthbound Immortal counter.
Altar: 1 EIC
Roman: I summon Ground Spider in defense mode.
Level 4/EARTH/Insect
ATK 0/DEF 1500
Roman: Next, I place one card face-down and activate the Fissure spell card to destroy your Lightning Golem.
The ground split open underneath Lightning Golem and he fell into the crevice.
Alex: Just great.
Roman: It's your move.
Alex: Fine, I draw. With the field as is, Altar will gain 2 more counters on Roman's next turn, and he'll be that much closer to summoning his Earthbound Immortal. The problem is, even if I summon a monster, Spider Web will force it into defense mode after it attacks. I play the spell Monster Reborn in order to summon my Evil HERO Voltage from my graveyard in attack mode.
Level 4/Light/Fiend
ATK 1600/DEF 1400
Roman: Not good enough Alex. I activate Ground Spider's special ability. Since he's in defense mode, I can change the monster you just summoned into defense mode as well.
Threads sprung up from up of the ground and pulled Voltage down.
Alex: Maybe, but I can still use Voltage's special ability. So by revealing the Evil HERO Malicious Fiend in my extra deck, I can add Evil HERO Malicious Edge to my hand.
Roman: So you add some strong monster to your hand, big deal.
Alex: It is a big deal for me. Your Ground Spider can only use its effect once each turn, so any monster I summon now won't be affected by it.
Yusei: Way to go Alex! Stick it to him!
Alex: And as much as I hate to throw my friends to the wayside, I sacrifice my Evil HERO Raging Tornado to play the Advance Draw spell card. This card can only be activated by sending a level 8 or higher monster on my field to the grave, and in exchange, I can draw 2 cards.
Roman: You must be truly desperate to sacrifice one of your best monsters. You're only delaying your defeat.
Alex drew his cards and looked at them.
Alex: Thanks for your sacrifice Tornado, I promise it won't have been in vain. Since there's a monster on your field, I can summon Edge with only one tribute.
Level 7/Earth/Fiend
ATK 2600/DEF 1400
Alex: Now Malicious Edge, attack Ground Spider with Needle Burst!
Malicious Edge launched spikes at Ground Spider, some of them bouncing off and striking Roman.
Alex: I'm not gonna lie, I enjoyed that.
Roman: 2500 LP
Roman: But now my field spell's effect activates, so your monster is forced into defense mode.
Alex: I place one card face-down and end my turn.
Yusei: Keep this up Alex, a few more shots like that and this duel is over.
Meanwhile, Martha and Trudge had just arrived at the geoglyph.
Trudge: Martha, I don't see any of them, do you?
Martha: No, let's get up higher and try to find them.
They climbed up one of the buildings and saw Alex dueling Roman.
Trudge: Looks like Alex is holding his own against that Dark Signer.
Martha looked to the edge of the duel field and saw John and Mitch outside the geoglyph.
Martha: There they are!
Yusei heard Martha's voice and turned to her.
Trudge: Don't worry Martha, once the duel is over they'll be free.
Akiza: You're wrong!
Martha: What do you mean?
Akiza: If Roman summons an Earthbound Immortal, their spirits will be taken. Please help!
Martha: Alex, you have to win this duel!
Alex: I will. I won't let you have your way any longer Roman.
Roman: We'll just see about that. Since it's now my standby phase, Altar of the Bound Deity gains one counter for every monster on the field in defense mode, so it gains one more counter.
Altar: 2 EICs
Alex: A shame you need two more to summon your Earthbound Immortal.
Roman: And I'm about to get them. I play the trap Offerings to the Bound Deity! By giving up half my life points, I can place two more counters on my altar.
Roman: 1250 LP
Altar: 4 EICs
Alex: No way!
Roman: The four torches are lit, let the summoning begin!
Alex: No! Not this again! I failed them.
Yusei: It'll take a miracle to save those kids.
Suddenly, an engine could be heard close by. Just then, Jack's duel runner jumped off a hill and went sailing through the air.
Jack: Did someone order a miracle?
Yusei: Jack, protect the kids!
Jack: Right!
He landed near the kids and ran over to them and a red sphere grew out from Jack and enveloped him and the boys, protecting them from being absorbed.
Martha: Thank goodness, he saved them in time.
Trudge: I guess he's not such a bad guy after all.
Roman: Makes no difference. I still have the almighty Earthbound Immortal Uru!
Level 10/Dark/Insect
ATK & DEF 3000
Alex: You really have a thing for spiders don't you?
Jack: Hey Alex, why don't you squash that pest so we can go home?
Alex: No problem.
Roman: For someone who's faced two Earthbound Immortals before, I would think you should know the danger you're in.
Alex: And I would think by now that you know I'm not afraid of you or your eight legged freak
Roman: Well, let's see if you're scared of this! Uru, attack Alex directly! You can't survive a blow from a monster this strong. It's time for you to join us.
Alex: I'm afraid I'm gonna have to turn you down. I play the Rising Evil trap card! When you attack me directly, I can use this trap to revive an Evil HERO from my grave ignoring any summoning conditions, and then you're forced to attack it instead of me.
Roman: Say what?!
Alex: I'm bringing back my Evil HERO Raging Tornado in attack mode!
Raging Tornado reappeared on the field and put himself between Alex and Uru's attack. The attack hit and a massive dust cloud was kicked up as the ground shook.
Alex: 1400 LP
Roman: So you saved yourself, but your monster is still destroyed!
The dust cleared and Alex's monster was still on the field.
Roman: What, he should've been destroyed!
Alex: Except due to his special ability, he can't be destroyed by battle.
Roman: I place a card face-down and end my turn.
Alex: Looks like I'm still standing.
Roman: Perhaps, but let me remind you all the damage in this duel is real.
Alex: What's he talking about?
He then heard a loud rumbling sound coming from behind him. He turned around and saw the building Martha and Trudge were in was starting to collapse.
Alex: No!
Martha and Trudge then heard Taka shouting from above them. They rushed to the roof to try and help him. Martha started to walk towards him, but lost her balance and almost slid off the edge.
Yusei: Martha!
Alex: Akiza, catch!
Akiza had just enough time to catch the card Alex threw her.
Akiza: Yubel?
Alex: Yubel can create rose vines and catch them before they fall!
Akiza: Okay!
She pulled out her duel disk and summoned Yubel.
Akiza: Please, we need your help!
Yubel: Right away.
She landed at the base of the building and created three large rose vines which snaked their way up the building before reaching the roof.
Akiza: Make your way to the vines and they'll lower you to the ground!
Martha nodded and helped Taka get over to them, while one of the vines made its way to Trudge. Once everyone was in reach, the vines wrapped around their waists before lowering them to the ground safely.
Trudge: Is everyone alright?
Taka: I'm okay.
Martha: I'm glad you're safe. Please don't ever run off like that again.
Taka: I'm sorry Martha. I promise I won't do it again.
Martha: I forgive you. I know you were just trying to help.
She turned to face Yubel, who had flown over to them to ensure they were okay.
Martha: Thank you.
Yubel: Mention nothing of it.
Alex: I'll make you pay for that Roman. First I'm going to flatten your Earthbound Immortal like the worthless insect it is, and then you're going down.
Roman: Let's see if you actually can. It's your move.
Alex: I draw. Raging Tornado, attack!
Jack: What?! But Uru is stronger!
Tornado rushed Roman's monster but passed right through it and charged at Roman.
Akiza: What? Why did Alex's monster go right through it?
Alex: The Earthbound Immortals can't be attacked by other monsters, so since Uru is the only monster Roman has, that leaves me with just one other target: Roman himself. Now strike Roman down with Furious Twister Strike!
Roman: Not so fast, I play the trap Spider Egg! Not only is your attack cancelled, but I get three spider tokens.
Level 1/Earth/Insect
ATK & DEF 0
Alex: I'll win this duel yet Roman, I place two face-downs and end my turn. I'm not gonna let you take anyone else's spirit Roman.
Roman: That's fine, I already have so many.
A bright glow emanated from him, and when it faded, Roman was gone and Alexis was standing in his place.
Alex: Mom?
Yusei: He didn't.
Akiza: What's going on?
Alex: Mom!
He began to run towards her but stopped when he heard Roman laughing. He looked up and saw Roman standing on top of the spider web around the field.
Roman: Since you missed your parents so much, I freed your mother's spirit so she could duel you instead of me.
Alex: You can't! I won't duel her!
Roman: You have no choice. You can either attack and win or be attacked and lose. So what'll it be? Sacrifice the life of your mother, or throw the duel and join the Dark Signers?
Alex: You can't do this Roman!
Alexis: Alex, you have to win.
Alex: I can't! It was bad enough when I lost you and dad to Misty, I can't do that to you myself!
Alexis: Alex you have to. If you don't then your friends are doomed. You have to be strong.
Yusei: Roman you coward! Fight Alex fairly!
Roman: Oh, but why do that when this is so much more entertaining?
Alexis: I'm sorry Alex. It's my turn.
Alex: Mom, please don't do it!
Roman: Oh she will duel, even if it means turning her darling son into a Dark Signer.
Alexis: I summon the tuner monster Turbo Rocket.
Level 2/Wind/Machine
ATK & DEF 0
It suddenly dawned on Alex what was about to happen.
Alex: Mom, please don't, attack me instead.
Alexis: Alex don't make this harder than it already is. Your father and I need you. Only you and the Signers can save us and everyone else that's been taken. I'm sorry.
Alex: Please.
Alexis: I know you can't bring yourself to win this duel, which is why I have to do this. I tune Turbo Rocket with one of the spider tokens on my field in order to synchro summon Turbo Cannon.
Level 3/Fire/Machine
ATK & DEF 0
Akiza: That monster only has one ability.
Alexis: I activate my monster's special ability. With it, I can destroy any monster in play and deal damage to its owner equal to its attack points.
Alex started to move his hand towards a button on his duel disk.
Alexis: Alex, stop.
Alex did as she said and stopped, turning to face her.
Alexis: Alex, I can tell your face-down card is Skill Twist. With it you can change the target of Turbo Cannon's effect to one of your monsters. Alex, you have to be strong. I know you can do this.
Alex could feel the tears building up in his eyes and just nodded.
Alexis: Now Turbo Booster, destroy Uru! This is for me and my husband Roman!
Turbo Booster flew up in front of Uru and shot a massive laser blast at it, destroying it and setting off a large explosion, pushing Alexis to her knees and knocking Roman off the web.
Alexis: 0 LP
Winner: Alex
Alex: Mom!
He ran to her and tackled her in a hug before he started crying.
Alex: Mom, please don't go.
Alexis: Hey, it's okay. I know you'll save us. Be strong Alex. Your father and I love you with all our hearts and we believe in you.
Alex could only watch as she turned into dust and faded away. He dropped to his knees and slammed his fist on the ground.
Alex: No!
Akiza: Alex!
Roman: Well, I certainly wasn't expecting that outcome. No wonder the human race is going extinct, no one has the sense to look out for themselves anymore.
He walked to the top of a junk pile and the other Dark Signers walked up beside him.
Devack: Be kind Roman, the boy did just lose his mother.
Akiza: Is she-
Kalin: Gone? She and her husband are ours, along with everyone else from this trash heap you call a town. Wanna get 'em back? Well we're right here Alex. Or are you afraid?
Alex: Yeah, but not of you. I'm scared of what I'm gonna do to all of you. If you thought I was aggressive before, just wait till you see how I duel now.
Hey everyone. So my power held up. Well, Martha made it out okay, but Roman just dug his own grave with that little stunt. Do the Dark Signers stand any chance now that Roman has pushed Alex over the edge? Stay tuned to find out. Have a great day and stay safe everyone.