Crow: 1 LP
Jack: 1250 LP
Yusei: 4000 LP
Alex: 7900 LP
Crow's field: Blackwing Anchor
Jack's field: 3 face-downs.
Yusei's field: Junk Archer
Alex's field: Netherworld Spirit Shadow Dragon, Cycle of the Light and Dark, 1 face-down
The King of the Netherworld had reached the shore of New Domino City.
Alex: It's my turn.
Alex: 6 SPC
Jack: 9 SPC
Yusei: 10 SPC
Yusei: Jack's field is empty, which means there's nothing to stop Alex from attacking him directly and taking him out.
Jack: I reveal my trap cards: Fiendish Chain and Life Absolute. Fiendish Chain keeps your dragon from using his special abilities, attacking, or being sacrificed, and because of Life Absolute, one player of my choice is immune to any effects that would change their life points this turn, and I choose Yusei.
Alex: In that case, I activate Wiraqocha Rasca's special ability, and since I can't use it on Yusei, I'll be reducing your life points to 1, Jack. Go Rasca, Polestar Obey.
His monster unleashed the same beam that it fired on Crow at Jack.
Jack: If I have 1000 or less life points, Fiendish chain is destroyed.
Jack: 1 LP
One of the creatures slipped past Black Rose Dragon and Ancient Fairy Dragon and rammed into Jack's duel runner, causing him to crash.
Alex: An unfortunate result. It would appear that it's down to you and me, Yusei.
Yusei: You're wrong Alex. Jack and Crow might not be able to continue, but they're still right here beside me, because no matter what happens, our bonds will never break.
Alex: I place one card face-down and end my turn.
Yusei: Then it's my draw!
Alex: 7 SPC
Yusei: 11 SPC
Yusei: I activate Junk Archer's special ability, which means your Shadow Dragon is removed from the game until the end of this turn.
Alex: I play the trap card Passion of Bai Masse, and with it, your Junk Archer's effect is negated as he's destroyed.
A blast shot from Alex's trap at Junk Archer, turning him into dust before he crumbled away.
Yusei: In that case I summon Shield Warrior in defense mode.
Level 3/Earth/Warrior
ATK 800/DEF 1600
Yusei: Next, I place one card face-down and end my turn.
Alex: I draw.
Alex: 8 SPC
Yusei: 12 SPC
Alex: And now I activate Rasca's special ability. Strike Yusei with Polestar Obey.
Yusei: 1 LP
Yusei SPC: 9
Alex: Combined, your life points equal 3, while I have nearly 8000. Like I said, you are nothing but ants battling a giant. Now matter how much you struggle, you will never defeat me.
Yusei: Never say never Alex. I may only have one life point, but I can still ride my runner, which means I can still duel.
Alex: You just don't know when to quit. I end my turn.
Yusei: You're right about me not knowing when to quit Alex, and since it's my turn, I don't plan to learn!
Yusei: 10 SPC
Alex: 9 SPC
Yusei: And first I play Speed Spell - Angel Baton, and with it, I can draw 2 cards from my deck as long as I discard one card from my hand. Next I summon the tuner monster Debris Dragon!
Level 4/Wind/Dragon
ATK 1000/DEF 2000
Yusei: And due to his special ability, I can summon a monster from my graveyard that has 500 or less attack points, like the Sonic Chick I just discarded.
Level 1/Earth/Winged Beast
ATK & DEF 300
Leo: Alright! With those monsters out, Yusei can summon his,
Yusei: I synchro summon Stardust Dragon!
Level 8/Wind/Dragon
ATK 2500/DEF 2000
Alex: Not that it matters. Your Stardust Dragon can't beat my Shadow Dragon.
Yusei: You're wrong Alex, because this isn't my Stardust Dragon, it's our Stardust Dragon, the proof of our bond.
Alex: What do you mean?
Yusei: I mean that I'm activating the Blackwing Anchor trap card that Crow left behind. By sending it to the graveyard, Stardust Dragon's attack points go up by the amount of attack points that the monster Crow sacrificed had, for a total of 2500 more points.
Stardust Dragon: 2500-5000 ATK
Alex: 5000 attack points?
Yusei: That's right. Now Stardust, attack his Shadow Dragon with Cosmic Flare!
Stardust Dragon unleashed a blast of energy from his mouth at Alex's dragon, destroying it.
Alex: 5900 LP
Alex SPC: 7
Alex: But that move will be your end, because now the effect of my Shadow Dragon activates, banishing your Stardust Dragon and inflicting you half his attack points as damage.
Yusei: I don't think so. I play the Interdimensional Matter Transporter trap card, which will remove Stardust from the game until the end phase, which means your effect is a miss.
Alex: So you managed to avoid his effect, but due to the effect of my Cycle of the Light and Dark trap card, my Abyss Dragon is revived.
Yusei: Not this time Alex. I'm activating Jack's Conquest of the Supreme Ruler trap card, so by sending it to the graveyard, any summon you make this turn is cancelled, so your dragon is staying in the graveyard.
Alex: That's impossible.
Yusei: Nothing is impossible when you have your friends by your side, a lesson you seem to have forgotten Alex. And since I'm ending my turn, Stardust Dragon returns to my field.
Alex: How could this have happened?
Yusei: This happened because of the bond we all share.
Alex: Bonds? Do you really believe in such things?
Yusei: I do. And I know you still do as well. In fact, it's because of your bonds that you're doing this.
Alex: What?
Yusei: That's why you're trying to do this. Because you can't stand the thought of losing the people you care about. That's how much you treasure the bonds you have with your friends and family.
Alex: I won't be swayed. I know what I'm doing is right. It's my move!
Alex: 8 SPC
Yusei: 11 SPC
Alex: This duel is finished. Rasca, attack Yusei directly!
Jack: Yusei, use your card now!
Yusei: I get it now Jack, that's why you didn't use it. I activate Scrubbed Raid's effect, so by sending it to the graveyard, your battle phase is forced to end, so your Earthbound Immortal can't attack.
Alex: Then I play the Meteor Flare trap card! By discarding two cards, you take 2000 points of damage.
Yusei: No way! I activate Joint Future, and with it, I can discard one card to negate your trap and force you to shuffle it into your deck.
Alex: I end my turn.
Yusei: Don't you see Alex? The power of our bonds is stronger than anything you could throw at me. Now let the power of the bonds you have with us triumph.
Alex: Be quiet! Those bonds were severed the moment I became a Dark Signer!
Yusei: You're wrong Alex. Some bonds can never be severed. Like family, and true friends. Those bonds last forever, and I know that deep down you can still feel them.
Alex: I-
Suddenly, the top card of Yusei's deck began to glow and the mark of the Crimson Dragon disappeared from Alex.
Alex: What?!
Everyone else's marks returned, but then something incredible happened. Yusei's mark changed to the Dragon Head mark and his original mark moved to Crow.
Alex: How could this be? Did the Crimson Dragon choose you over me?
Yusei: It chose us because we never falter in our convictions. Our bonds will always hold true, and that's why it chose us. This is the last turn Alex. I draw!
Alex: 9 SPC
Yusei: 12 SPC
Yusei: First, since Stardust Dragon is on my field, the Stardust Xiaolong in my graveyard can be summoned back in attack mode.
Level 1/Light/Dragon
ATK & DEF 100
Yusei: And then I summon the tuner monster Majestic Dragon!
Level 1/Light/Dragon
ATK & DEF 0
Alex: That means you can-
Yusei: That's right! I tune level 1 Majestic Dragon with level 8 Stardust Dragon and level 1 Stardust Xiaolong, in order to synchro summon Majestic Star Dragon!
Level 10/Wind/Dragon
ATK 3800/DEF 3000
Yusei: And now I use his special ability to negate Rasca's special abilities.
Alex: What?!
Yusei: And next I play the trap card Synchro Baton, and since there are a total of four synchro monsters in mine, Jack's, and Crow's graveyards, Majestic Star Dragon gains 600 attack points for each of them, for a total of an additional 2400 attack points.
Majestic Star Dragon: 3800-6200 ATK
Yusei: Earthbound Immortal Rasca is going down. Go Majestic Star Dragon, Star Shine Shred!
Alex: I lost. You won Yusei.
Majestic Star Dragon flew towards Rasca, tearing right through it.
Alex: 0 LP
Winner: Yusei
Yusei: Now set your sights on the King of the Netherworld!
His monster turned around and charged straight at the King of the Netherworld, ripping right through it. Yusei woke up in what looked like outer space before he looked to the side and saw the defeated Dark Signers. He turned to look in front of him and saw Alex, who had returned to his normal self.
Yusei: Alex, is it really you?
Alex: Yeah, it's me. You were right Yusei, deep down I just couldn't bear the thought of losing anyone else.
Yusei: Where are we?
Alex: In between the light and darkness. A place of peace, aqnd it's all thanks to you. I really do owe you so much Yusei.
He turned to face the other Dark Signers.
Alex: Don't worry about them, they'll return before too long.
Yusei: But what about you and Roman?
Alex: Roman and Rex decided to move on to the afterlife together, and I'm afraid I can't go back Yusei. Even though you defeated the King of the Netherworld, I'm still affected by the curse. Just like every time before now, it's time for me to move on.
Yusei: Alex you can't just leave. What about us? What about your family?
Alex: I'm going to miss all of you. But it's like Ancient Fairy Dragon said, if I go back with you, the war will start again. Maybe one day I'll find a way to break my curse, but until that day comes, I'm afraid this is goodbye.
Yusei: I'll keep searching. I won't rest until I find a way to break the curse and bring you back.
Alex: I appreciate that Yusei, but that's my job. You have your own task ahead of you connecting Satellite to the city. I hope I can be there to see you do it. Promise me you'll look out for everyone and tell them I'll miss them all. And when you see Akiza, tell her this is a parting gift from her little brother.
He pulled a deck from his back pocket and handed it to Yusei.
Yusei: I'll do it Alex, I promise.
Alex: Thanks Yusei. You were one of the best friends I ever had, and I hope I get to see you again someday.
He turned around walked towards a bright light. Yusei opened his eyes and saw he was back with everyone else. Everyone rushed him, but he turned to Akiza first.
Yusei: Alex wanted you to have this.
Luna: But where is he?
Yusei: He stayed behind. He said he can't come back until he finds a way to break his curse.
Timeskip
Leo, Luna, Akiza, and Mina were sitting in a café in the city.
Akiza: Check it out guys, I got a postcard in the mail from Misty the other day. She says her brother is steadily getting his memories back and that she's so happy to be reunited with him.
She showed them a picture of Misty and Toby in front of the Eiffel Tower.
Luna: So how's life with Jaden and Alexis?
Akiza: It's great. I can still hardly believe it.
Flashback
Akiza: What? You want me to live with you?
Alexis: That's right. We know that you and Alex had been like brother and sister, and I'm sure he would've wanted this.
Jaden: So what do you say? Wanna join our family?
Akiza: A family. It's been so long since I've had one. I'd love to be part of your family.
End Flashback
Luna: Greiger said he's still looking for a way to break Alex's curse, but he thinks he may have found something.
Leo: Has anyone heard from Yusei, Jack, or Crow?
Trudge then pulled up next to them on his duel runner.
Trudge: No, and I've looked everywhere for them.
?: What?!
One of the patrons threw their clothes to the side to reveal Carly Carmine in disguise.
Carly: How can I write my story if they're not around?
Trudge: Why not just interview yourself? You were there.
Carly: I'll tell you why. Because I don't remember any of it. Some kind of magic memory brainwash, I guess. It's so frustrating!
Meanwhile in the Satellite
Crow: I know the others must be worried, but I have a feeling they'll understand.
Yusei: Oh yeah.
Crow: I mean, just look at it.
They looked in front of them to the completed bridge between Satellite and New Domino.
Jack: Makes what we went through all worth it.
Yusei: Sure does. Finally, Satellite and the city are one and the same. I just hope Alex can see this one day.
Crow: I'm sure he will Yusei.
Jack: Especially now that we can focus on getting him back.
Yusei: Right, cause when we work together, there's nothing we can't accomplish.
Little did they know Alex was watching them from the spirit world.
Alex: I knew you could do it Yusei.
He suddenly felt a pulse in his chest.
Alex: What was that? It was like when I summoned Rasca and Uru. Could there be another Earthbound Immortal?
Hey everyone. I'm sure some of you are probably confused about the end of the chapter, especially if you've only seen the dub of 5ds. Those of you who have seen the original japanese probably have an idea what Alex was talking about. Yes, this means the story isn't over yet. There's one more chapter that I'll be uploading next week. Oh, I almost forgot one more thing. As of posting this chapter, this story is just 42 views short of having 10000, and I just want you all to know how much I appreciate your continued support. More so, I'm just glad so many people have enjoyed my work, and I hope you all stick with me. Have a great day and stay safe everyone, and thank you.
