There is a reason why I named this chapter with a different title than the last two chapters. You'll find out as you keep reading, but I recommend you prepare some tissues for just in case.
Two Fakemon of mine will appear around at the end of the chapter. If you don't like them, then keep those thoughts to yourself, thank you.
We have the 650 review shout-out winner! It's Layla347! Congratulations! The next shout-out will be by the 675th review!
Disclaimer: I do not own any Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's characters! I only own my OCs!
Chapter 32: The Star of Miracles
I reached slowly to my Deck to draw a new card and start my turn. I slowly opened my eyes, sensing the Crimson Dragon's presence. It was weak, because Goodwin had taken most of the God's power, but his spirit was still with us. He was waiting for the climax when I would assist him to remove the complete Seal on Goodwin's chest and bless the Signers with their Marks once again.
"I draw!" I called as I drew the top card of my Deck.
Jack: 2500 LP = SPC 10 – SPC 11
Yusei: 4000 LP = SPC 11 – SPC 12
Estelle: 4000 LP = SPC 11 – SPC 12
Goodwin: 11,600 LP = SPC 7 – SPC 8
"And before I continue my turn, Azure-Eyes Silver Dragon's effect activates! He can Special summon a Normal Monster from my Graveyard! Return, Blue-Eyes White Dragon!"
Blue-Eyes White Dragon, Level 8: ATK 3000
I slowly stood up on my feet and tried keeping my balance as I turned to the new dragon. Azure-Eyes Silver Dragon knew what I was trying to do, so he flew over to Blue-Eyes White Dragon and settled me on his clawed hand. I got down on my knees and continued my turn.
"Next, I summon the Tuner Monster, the White Stone of Legend!"
White Stone of Legend, Level 1, Tuner: ATK 300
"Before I do anything else, I activate my Trap card; Breakthrough Skill! This card allows me to target an opponent's Effect Monster and negate its effects until the end of this turn! And the Monster I choose is Sun Dragon Inti!"
A white dragon paw stretched out of the Trap card and hit Sun Dragon Inti right on its sun stone, leaving a small crack behind.
"Nice! That means if you attack that sun dragon with a stronger Monster, your Monster won't get destroyed!" Jack commented.
"I tune Level 1 White Stone of Legend with Level 9 Azure-Eyes Silver Dragon!" I continued. "Oh, mighty beast from Hell! Summon the flames of death and burn the Earth into ashes! Synchro summon! Come, Trident Dragion!"
Trident Dragion, Level 10: ATK 3000
"When the White Stone of Legend is sent to the Graveyard, I can add a Blue-Eyes White Dragon from my Deck to my hand", I explained as I drew my other Blue-Eyes White Dragon card. "And now, I tune Level 1 Supay with Level 10 Trident Dragion! A million suns are never enough to outshine the brightest star of the universe! Synchro summon! Arise, the Emperor of the Stars, Star Eater!"
Star Eater, Level 11: ATK 3200
"Star Eater, destroy Sun Dragon Inti with Starlight Breaker!"
Star Eater opened his mouth and collected energy of the billion stars of the universe, creating a massive yellow orb in front of him. Once he had enough power, he released a thin beam from his mouth that hit the energy orb and unleashed a huge beam of light. The energy beam hit Sun Dragon Inti and pulverized him into pieces.
Jack: 2500 LP = SPC 11
Yusei: 4000 LP = SPC 12
Estelle: 4000 LP = SPC 12
Goodwin: 11,600 LP – 11,400 LP = SPC 8
"Nice try, saving your precious dragon there, Estelle", Goodwin chuckled. "But Moon Dragon Quilla raises up, so you have no other choice but to attack him before trying to attack me with your Blue-Eyes!"
Moon Dragon Quilla, Level -6: DEF 2000
If I remembered things correctly, Jack had a card that could help us restrain Sun Dragon Inti the next turn, so I had to risk this next move.
"Blue-Eyes White Dragon, attack Moon Dragon Quilla with White Lightning!" I called.
Blue-Eyes White Dragon roared before he flew towards the moon dragon with me still sitting on his clawed hand. He opened his mouth and unleashed his White Lightning that shattered Moon Dragon Quilla into particles.
"Are you feeling so desperate you cannot think straight anymore? You just brought back Sun Dragon Inti by destroying Moon Dragon Quilla!"
Sun Dragon Inti, Level 8: ATK 3000
"I place one card facedown and end my turn!" I called while setting Call of the Haunted.
I felt a cold run down my spine as the air suddenly got thickened by Negative Energy. I turned my head to see the King of the Netherworld was about to reach the harbor of New Domino City as he sent another horde of condors towards us. Black Rose Dragon, Ancient Fairy Dragon, and Power Tool Dragon did their best to protect us by destroying the condors.
However, time was running out for us.
"Not much longer now. When the King of the Netherworld reaches this shrine as I offer all of you as sacrifice, this world will be trapped in the Netherworld, starting by zeroing it out with destruction!"
"Whatever you're planning, we'll stop it!" Yusei retorted.
"Of course!" Jack agreed. "His laughing so loud disgusts me!"
"Let's join forces and end this war once and for all!" I added.
"It's my turn!"
Jack: 2500 LP = SPC 11 – SPC 12
Yusei: 4000 LP = SPC 12
Estelle: 4000 LP = SPC 12
Goodwin: 11,400 LP = SPC 8 – SPC 9
"I activate my Continuous Trap; Fiendish Chain!" Jack yelled. "It negates Sun Dragon Inti's Monster effect and prohibits it from attacking or being released!"
A greenish chain shot out from the Trap card and reached for the sun dragon. The chain wrapped itself around the four-headed dragon and restrained it from moving at all. The four necks fought against the chain and tried breaking it, but it was frozen solid.
"Good!" Yusei nodded. "Now Sun Dragon Inti is barred from attacking directly!"
"But don't forget Rasca's effect!" I called. "Goodwin can still inflict damage to any of us!"
"Jack Atlas, it was you who said it, yes? 'No matter how much a person abandons, they will never be alone' to paraphrase. However, that is not true. People can easily become alone. That is death. When people face death, they are reminded that they never had friends or bonds. This may not come as much of a surprise, but the journey to death is on one's own. I shall return you back into the old Jack Atlas once more! Back to that desperate solitude of one on the verge of death! Earthbound Immortal Wiraqocha will skip my Battle Phase for this turn! And, Jack, your Life Points will be reduced to 1! Unleash your fury, Rasca!"
Rasca screeched before releasing its fiery breath again, but this time it was aimed at Jack. Yusei and I could only watch in horror as Jack was engulfed by the breath.
Jack: 2500 LP – 1 LP = SPC 12 = SPC 10
Yusei: 4000 LP = SPC 12
Estelle: 4000 LP = SPC 12
Goodwin: 11,400 LP = SPC 9
"When my Life Points are taken to 1000 or lower, Fiendish Chain gets destroyed", Jack said, sounding weak after he had suffered from Rasca's effect.
The Fiendish Chain was destroyed, allowing Sun Dragon Inti to be free once again.
"And now, behold! Perceive! Your impending death! King of the Netherworld! May you offer Jack Atlas as sacrifice!"
I turned my head once again at the sludge body of the King of the Netherworld. He had now reached the dry land of New Domino, and kept crawling forward, crushing the buildings in his path. He stopped for a moment to raise his head and fired a beam of fire that destroyed his own minions. Black Rose Dragon, Ancient Fairy Dragon, and Power Tool Dragon had to fly aside to not get hit by the fire that came towards us.
I braced myself and curled into a ball in Blue-Eyes White Dragon's palm to shield myself from the fire. My hair flew around me as the fire hit us all, but it didn't burn my body. I opened one of my eyes to look down at Jack and Yusei to see if they were okay. My heart dropped when I saw how Jack's Duel Runner had started spinning out of control.
"Jack!" I yelled worriedly.
"So, Jack? Can you perceive it? Your death? Your despair?"
"I don't perceive any desperate solitude!" Jack yelled as his Duel Runner flipped down on its side and spun around like an uncontrollable carousel. "Because we all are not on the verge of dying!"
The course of the Condor crest turned into a sharp curve. Jack tried steering his Duel Runner so he wouldn't fly off the course, but that caused him to fly off the Runner instead and crashed on the course. There was nothing Yusei or I could do to help him as we went past him. We were the only ones left who had to stop Goodwin.
Jack: OUT
Yusei: 4000 LP = SPC 12
Estelle: 4000 LP = SPC 12
Goodwin: 11,400 LP = SPC 9
"Yusei… I've…given them to you", Jack's voice sparkled from my Duel Disk. "Even if my Duel Runner can't run… Those hopes are with you!"
"Jack's right", Crow added. "Even if our Life Points are at 1… Our hopes are at 10,000 points!"
They were right. This Duel was far from over, and I knew they had cards that could support me and Yusei in the desperate times of need. They were still technically in the Duel, so they had all rights to intercept when it was time.
"Everyone, your wishes…have been delivered!" Yusei exclaimed.
"You are at the verge of death and you are attempting to cover up your terror as much as possible, are you? I place one card facedown and end my turn."
"My turn!" Yusei shouted.
Yusei: 4000 LP = SPC 12
Estelle: 4000 LP = SPC 12
Goodwin: 11,400 LP = SPC 9 – SPC 10
"Junk Archer's effect!" Yusei continued. "Once per turn, it can remove an opponent's Monster! I'll eliminate Sun Dragon Inti!"
Junk Archer loaded its bow with an arrow and fired it at the sun dragon.
"How incorrigible. I activate my Counter Trap; Passion of Baimasse! It negates an opponent's Monster's effect and destroys the card!"
The Trap card appeared in front of Sun Dragon Inti and shielded the dragon from Junk Archer's arrow. In return, the card released a thick smoke that swallowed Junk Archer and turned it into carbon dust.
"I summon Shield Warrior in defense mode!" Yusei continued.
Shield Warrior, Level 3: DEF 1600
"I place one card facedown and end my turn!"
"You've received their wishes, you say? And your reply is summoning a Monster in defense mode, is it? Defenses mean nothing to Earthbound Immortal Wiraqocha Rasca! Fudo Yusei, Estelle Malmström, I shall make you experience the despair and solitude one feels before the verge of death as well! There, things such as bonds do not exist!"
The way he had been talking about no bonds and despair felt like there was a hidden meaning behind of it.
"Are you saying that because you're trying to suppress your true feelings, Goodwin?" I asked.
"What did you just say?!"
I didn't answer him as I drew a card, commencing my turn. "It's my turn!"
Yusei: 4000 LP = SPC 12
Estelle: 4000 LP = SPC 12
Goodwin: 11,400 LP = SPC 10 – SPC 11
I took a quick peek at my new card and saw it was my second Breakthrough Skill. This could come in handy a bit later.
"I remove my Breakthrough Skill in the Graveyard from play to activate its effect!" I called as I grabbed said Trap card. "The effect is the same as before; I negate Sun Dragon Inti's effects until the end of this turn!"
The transparent image of the Trap card appeared on the field before a dragon paw flew out and slapped Sun Dragon Inti right in the middle of its sun stone. A small crack appeared on the smooth surface.
"Star Eater, destroy Sun Dragon Inti one more time!" I called.
Star Eater used his Starlight Breaker attack and shattered the sun dragon into pieces once again.
Yusei: 4000 LP = SPC 12
Estelle: 4000 LP = SPC 12
Goodwin: 11,400 LP – 11,200 LP = SPC 11
"Clever move, but Moon Dragon Quilla raises as soon as the sun falls."
Moon Dragon Quilla, Level -6: DEF 2000
"Blue-Eyes White Dragon, take out Moon Dragon Quilla!"
Blue-Eyes White Dragon opened his mouth and unleashed his White Lightning to remove the moon dragon, only for the sun dragon to come back.
"And Sun Dragon Inti returns."
Sun Dragon Inti, Level 8: ATK 3000
With the cards I had in my Deck, one of the ways to remove at least one of the celestial dragons was to Synchro summon Orient Dragon and banish them. However, I didn't have the right cards to do that right now.
"I place one card facedown and end my turn", I set my second Breakthrough Skill.
This time, I was going to save the Trap card and use it on Moon Dragon Quilla to stop it from resurrecting Sun Dragon Inti, unless Yusei came up with a plan before my turn.
"You're just as disappointing as Yusei, Estelle. My patience is running low, so I guess I'll just have to eliminate you! It's my turn!"
Yusei: 4000 LP = SPC 12
Estelle: 4000 LP = SPC 12
Goodwin: 11,200 LP = SPC 11 – SPC 12
"I'll send you to where the other two are. Earthbound Immortal Wiraqocha Rasca's effect! By skipping my Battle Phase, it reduces my opponent's Life Points to 1! Rasca, eliminate Estelle!"
My eyes widened in shock and fear when I heard my name. He was targeting me again, and I had absolutely nothing to use against Rasca! Trap cards were ineffective against Earthbound Immortals!
Rasca released its purple fiery breath again, but this time it was coming towards me and Blue-Eyes White Dragon. Star Eater tried to intercept it by shielding Blue-Eyes White Dragon, but the force of the Earthbound Immortal's effect swallowed both him and Blue-Eyes. I had to crouch down into a ball as I held onto Blue-Eyes' claws as hard as I could to not fly off his hand.
Yusei: 4000 LP = SPC 12
Estelle: 4000 LP – 1 LP = SPC 12 – SPC 9
Goodwin: 11,200 LP = SPC 12
All of the sudden, my hands slipped and the next thing I knew, I was falling through the sky. The only thing I saw was the night sky above me as I fell towards the ground. The transparent figure of Goodwin laughed at me as he said something I couldn't hear while Rasca's eyes glared viciously at me. I could see Star Eater and Blue-Eyes White Dragon flying after me as I descended like a rock towards my doom.
Negative thoughts and feelings suddenly started to consume my mind as the world around me slowly faded away. It felt like I had lost all hope.
I guess I didn't make a difference by trying to help Yusei, Jack, and Crow to stop Goodwin and the King of the Netherworld and save the world.
I had failed as the Crimson Star Priestess that the Crimson Dragon had hoped for. I couldn't create any miracles.
The King of the Netherworld's minions flew around me as I fell closer to the ground. I didn't know what they were going to do nor did I care. They could tear me apart and gobble my remains.
Goodwin was right. I was a disappointment. I was a failure.
"No!"
The dark minions were destroyed by a bright and warm light that emitted from Star Eater. The light heated up my ice-cold skin as I blinked my eyes to get rid of the numb feeling in my brain.
"Star Eater…?" I mumbled.
"You cannot give up on yourself, Mistress! The Earthbound Immortal and the King of the Netherworld are using the Negative Energy to manipulate your feelings! You are much stronger than this! Believe in yourself! Believe in the Signers! Believe in your friends, and you shall create a miracle together!"
Something about Star Eater's words made my dark thoughts fade away like dirty water that slowly got purified. He was right… I couldn't give up just yet.
I was still alive. I could still Duel. I wasn't alone in this. I had my friends who could give me strength, and together we could create the brightest miracle the world has ever seen.
I couldn't let my friends down because of a dark force that tried manipulating me. Not this time, Earthbound Immortals! Not this time!
Filled with determination, I reached my right hand towards Star Eater, hoping to grab onto something on his head. Star Eater must have sensed my determination because he pushed himself to reach me. He lowered his head enough so I could grab one of the horns at the back of his head. Just as the dragon lifted himself up, the force helped me jump up onto him. I still held onto the horn as Star Eater flew back to the Condor crest where Blue-Eyes White Dragon was waiting. He growled in relief when he saw me safe and sound before my two dragons flew after Yusei who was still driving around, but it looked like the Duel came to a standstill after the incident I just had.
We quickly found Yusei as he and Shield Warrior glanced up when my two dragons' shadows came upon them. "Estelle! Are you okay?!" Yusei yelled.
"Yeah, I'm fine, Yusei!" I replied.
"So you came back, despite being on your lowest level, my dear?" Goodwin mocked me. "It's only Yusei left who's got all his Life Points! If you're smart, you beg me for mercy! What are you waiting for, Yusei? Will you give up so you won't suffer from Rasca's power, and watch the world you know vanish?"
"No!" Yusei growled. "I'm still planning to win this! Even if I'll have only one Life Point left, I'll still be able to ride my Runner and that means I'll still be able to Duel you!"
"You just don't know when to give up."
"I have hope, so I will never give into despair! And what supports that hope are the bonds with my friends! It's my turn!"
Yusei: 4000 LP = SPC 12
Estelle: 1 LP = SPC 9 – SPC 10
Goodwin: 11,200 LP = SPC 12
"I activate the Speed Spell – Angel Baton! When my Speed Counters are at 2 or higher, it lets me draw two cards from my Deck and, then, send one from my hand to the Graveyard. Next, I summon the Tuner Monster, Debris Dragon!"
Debris Dragon, Level 4, Tuner: ATK 1000
"When Debris Dragon is successfully summoned, I'm allowed to Special summon a Monster in my Graveyard with 500 or lower attack points! Come out, Sonic Chick!"
Sonic Chick, Level 1: ATK 300
"I tune my Level 4 Debris Dragon with Level 1 Sonic Chick and Level 3 Shield Warrior! Clustering hopes will become a new shining star! Become the path its light shines upon! Synchro summon! Take flight, Stardust Dragon!"
Stardust Dragon, Level 8: ATK 2500
"It seems your hope has run dry. It doesn't have enough attack points."
"No, our bonds of friendship keep our hope alive!" Yusei retorted.
"What are you talking about?"
"I'm using the effect of the Continuous Trap that Crow left; Blackwing Anchor!" Yusei proclaimed as a transparent version of said Trap card appeared on his field. "By sending Blackwing Anchor to the Graveyard, Stardust Dragon's attack points will increase by 2500 until the End Phase!"
The Trap card transformed into energy that Stardust Dragon absorbed into his chest. He let out a cry as if saying thank you for the power boost.
Stardust Dragon, Level 8: ATK 2500 – ATK 5000
"What?!"
"This is all help from Blackwing Armor Master, who was used for the cost when Blackwing Anchor activated!" Yusei explained. "Stardust Dragon, attack Sun Dragon Inti!"
Stardust Dragon used his Cosmic Flare attack and destroyed Sun Dragon Inti while dealing damage to Goodwin's Life Points.
Yusei: 4000 LP = SPC 12
Estelle: 1 LP = SPC 10
Goodwin: 11,200 LP – 9200 LP = SPC 12 – SPC 10
"The Monster who destroys Sun Dragon Inti will be destroyed and you will receive damage equal to its attack points!"
The remaining particles of the sun dragon gathered into a red glowing ball before releasing a fire beam at Stardust Dragon.
"Stardust Dragon's effect activates!" Yusei called. "By releasing Stardust Dragon, it will negate and destroy any card-destroying effects! Victim Sanctuary!"
Stardust Dragon flew towards the fire beam and turned himself into shiny particles that wrapped around the incoming attack. The silver particles cancelled Sun Dragon Inti's effect just before the fire could reach Yusei.
"As the sun sets, the moon comes to view… And now, the sun shall rise again. That natural providence can be stopped by no one! I Special summon Moon Dragon Quilla from my Graveyard!"
"Or maybe not!" Yusei yelled as the transparent card of Jack's facedown, Conquest of the Supreme Ruler, appeared on his field.
"That card belongs to Jack!"
"It's now that I activate the Continuous Trap; Conquest of the Supreme Ruler!" Yusei called. "By sending this card to the Graveyard, it negates the summoning or Special summoning of your Monster!"
The moon dragon was coming up from the clouds when a dark tornado came out from Jack's card and hit the blue dragon right on its moon stone. The moon stone cracked before shattering into pieces, causing the dragon to get destroyed along with it.
"Impossible!"
"During this turn's End Phase, Stardust Dragon in my Graveyard returns to the field!" Yusei finished. "I end my turn!"
Stardust Dragon, Level 8: ATK 2500
I smiled at the silver dragon as I reached my hand to the Deck to start my turn, but I stopped in my movement when Yusei suddenly yelled to Goodwin. "Goodwin! As long we have these bonds, we're not alone! We'd never attract despair! You should understand!"
"Enough prattle! Complete solitude, perfect despair… Those were the ends I reached. That, unless my existence surpassed humanity, unless I become a God, I could never reset the world!"
"Then, you're saying you've forgotten about your brother Roman?!" Yusei yelled back.
"What?!"
"Yusei is right!" I involved myself in the conversation. "If you didn't believe in the bonds between people, why did you have pictures of you and Roman spread around in your mansion?"
While I was staying in Goodwin's mansion during the house arrest, I spotted picture frames in almost every room with photos of the Goodwin brothers when they were kids, teenagers, and adults.
"You saw them?!"
"Yes, I did!" I nodded. "That proves you've been missing your brother since Zero Reverse! And I'm sure you feel guilty that you couldn't save him when the Earthbound Immortals took over his body!"
"There was a time when you opposed destiny and marked the legend of the Daedalus Bridge", Yusei added. "But wasn't your intention to follow in, your brother, Roman's will?! That left arm of yours belongs to your brother!"
Goodwin was quiet before he snapped out of his trance. "What is your point?! You're trying to confuse me, so you can win! But it won't work! The King of the Netherworld is right around the corner! Seeing as how the other two cannot return to riding, when your Life Points are depleted, victory will be mine!"
"Stop denying the truth, Goodwin!" I yelled as something inside me grew stronger. "The truth is you're lonely!"
"What did you say?!"
"You're hiding it, but you're actually very lonely!" I continued. "You never got married or started a family because you wanted to keep your promise to Roman to protect the world, but as time passed, you started yearning to have someone close to you. Someone to call family!"
"Be quiet!"
"Don't deny it! You didn't lure Jack just to come to New Domino City and make him the King, but you wanted to be like a father for him!"
"That's not true!"
"Then why did you bring me to your mansion for the house arrest? You could have sent me to the Facility, but you didn't!"
"That's because I wanted to confirm whether you were a Kaiba or not!"
"Not just that, but you wanted to have someone to welcome you home and talk to and eat meals with, besides your staff! You wanted to see me as your daughter!"
"THAT'S A LIE! Every single word you've just spoken is nothing but lies! Me, feeling lonely? With the mighty power of both the light and the darkness, I shall never feel lonely! Bonds are what make people weak, but I shall cut all the bonds I have left and I shall rule the world with an empty heart! The only thing that can stop me now is just a miracle! And you, Estelle, are too weak to create any miracles! You failed becoming the Priestess the Signers needed this whole time! You are a failure!"
"That's not true!" Yusei yelled angrily. "Whether Estelle's the Priestess or not, she never failed to be by our side when we were in our lowest levels! She picked me up when I doubted myself after facing Kalin the first time! She stopped Aki from losing her family when she thought she had lost everything! She protected Leo and Luna when they faced powerful enemies! She may have not interacted so much with Jack and Crow, but I know she cares deeply for them, just as she cares for Rally and the others! And I can tell by her voice this whole time that she cares for you too! So don't you dare say she's a failure!"
I couldn't help but feel touched by his speech. The way he said it with his serious voice told me he cared a lot for me as a friend and trusted me to argue with Goodwin.
"That's sweet defending Estelle, Yusei, but it's the truth! She's a failure as a Priestess!"
"But not as a caring human being!" Yusei retorted. "Why won't you admit that everything she said is the truth? You actually don't want to become a God, do you? You simply couldn't forget your brother!"
"That's bull! I cannot become a God unless I surpass my brother!"
"You're wrong! All people have something they could never forget!" Yusei retorted. "Something…no one could ever sever. Within each and every one of their hearts! Your brother, Roman, is within you! You aren't trying to become a God and surpass destiny! You're trying to oppose destiny alongside Roman! Isn't that what bonds are all about?"
"Roman may no longer be with you, but his spirit is still living inside you!" I added. "Open your heart and listen to his voice!"
Goodwin looked like he went into a trance and looked to his right. He must have thought he saw the spirit of Roman who was disappointed in him.
The strange feeling inside me grew stronger as I was suddenly enveloped by a crimson aura with my long hair flowing as water. The top card of my Deck started glowing in golden color as I felt the hair on my body grow stiff by a familiar presence.
"The Crimson Dragon…", I mumbled.
"Go on, Priestess… Return my Marks to the Signers…", the Crimson Dragon's voice echoed in my head. "They have once again proved to me why they are worthy of them. Rex Goodwin is not worthy to carry any of my Marks."
I stood up on Star Eater's head and used my left hand, where I kept my cards, to hold onto one of his horns while I reached out my right hand. My Mark started glowing as I felt the power surge through my body to the hand. I opened my hand and aimed it at Goodwin before clenching it into a fist. By doing that, I felt like I had grabbed onto something and I used all my strength to pull the Seal of the Crimson Dragon out of Goodwin's body. The Seal disappeared from his chest as the Crimson Dragon took over and sent the Marks back to the Signers, except he blessed Yusei with the Head Mark and Crow with the Tail Mark.
"Why?!" Goodwin yelled in shock. "Didn't the Crimson Dragon choose the God-like figure that is me?!"
"No, it chose bonds!" Yusei yelled. "These bonds of ours are going to surpass destiny!"
"And you're not worthy of the Marks, Goodwin!" I yelled. "The Crimson Dragon chose the Signers because they have proved to him the reason why they are worthy of the Marks! You're not worthy to carry a Mark because you lost yourself in the hunger for power! You tried filling the empty gap with the power to become a God, but you're just a lonely man! But that can change if you give us a chance to become your family!"
"Family…?"
I reached once again for my Deck to draw the golden-glowing card, starting my turn. "Let the star of miracles shine upon us all!"
Yusei: 4000 LP = SPC 12
Estelle: 1 LP = SPC 10 – SPC 11
Goodwin: 9200 LP = SPC 10 – SPC 11
The card I had just drawn was a Monster I didn't recognize. It looked like a mirror-version of Majestic Dragon. Its scales were golden while its wing parts were yellow. It had a pair of orange jewels on the junction where the wings met the body, big crimson eyes, and a light-yellow M on its forehead that looked like the Crest of Miracles from the Digimon franchise.
"I summon the Tuner Monster, Miracle Dragon!"
Miracle Dragon, Level 1, Tuner: ATK 0
My Mark started glowing stronger before it fired a red beam of light to the sky. It stopped far above the Stairway to the Dragon Star and created a crimson star. The Earthbound Immortal cried out in pain as if the light of the star burned its body.
I jumped off Star Eater when I noticed both he and Miracle Dragon were flying towards the crimson star. Blue-Eyes White Dragon caught me as the other two dragons continued their journey.
"It's time to show you how powerful a miracle can be! I tune Level 1 Miracle Dragon with Level 11 Star Eater!"
Miracle Dragon grew in size around Star Eater as they flew together into the crimson star. A light of crimson and golden erupted as the star imploded.
"When all hope is lost, the true star of miracles shall bring its light and illuminate the crimson earth and silver stars! Synchro summon! Release your light, Miracle Star Dragon!"
Miracle Star Dragon, Level 12: ATK 4000
Miracle Star Dragon had traits from both Star Eater and Miracle Dragon. His wings looked like Majestic Star Dragon's, having four of them, while his body was more of a serpent with stripes in both crimson and black. The wings were decorated with orange and crimson jewels. The tip of his tail looked like Majestic Red Dragon's, but it was shaped as a five-pointed star with yellow edges and had an orange jewel in the middle.
"What kind of dragon is that?!" Goodwin yelled in disbelief.
"Your path to open your eyes and see the reality, Goodwin!" I replied. "When Miracle Star Dragon is Synchro summoned, he gains attack and defense points equal to the total Level of each dragon-type Synchro Monster on the field and in every Graveyard times 100, except himself! So, since there are seven other Synchro dragons, their Levels are combined and added as attack points to Miracle Star Dragon!"
Stardust Dragon flew by Miracle Star Dragon's side as the transparent images of Sun Dragon Inti, Moon Dragon Quilla, Red Dragon Archfiend, Azure-Eyes Silver Dragon, Trident Dragion, and Star Eater appeared around the new Monster. They were surrounded by an aura before they sent their energy to Miracle Star Dragon, giving him a huge power boost. I made a quick calculation and figured out the extra attack points were 6000 in total, more than enough to finish Goodwin once and for all.
Miracle Star Dragon, Level 12: ATK 4000 – ATK 10,000
"Ten thousand attack points?!"
"It's time to end this once and for all!" I shouted determinedly. "Miracle Star Dragon, eliminate Wiraqocha Rasca and the King of the Netherworld!"
Miracle Star Dragon roared before he expanded his wings and made himself thin like a spear before flying in lightning-speed. He shot himself towards Rasca while he got slowly enveloped in a fiery aura that shone in both crimson and golden.
"This is not the end! I activate my Trap; Meteor Flare! By sending two cards in my hand to the Graveyard, it will inflict 2000 points of damage to the opponent, finishing your Life Points and ending your so-called miracle dragon's attack!"
His facedown card flipped up before releasing a dangerous beam of fire and magma towards me and Blue-Eyes White Dragon. I braced myself to get hurt, but that moment never came because I had my knight on a shiny motorcycle supporting me.
"Not while I'm around, Goodwin!" Yusei yelled. "I activate my Trap; Joint Future! By sending a card in my hand to the Graveyard, this negates an opponent's Spell or Trap card activation! Also, the card whose effect is negated by Joint Future is shuffled back into the Deck! Not that it matters, since the Duel is over!"
Yusei's Trap card flipped up as rolls of negatives shot out from it to cancel Goodwin's Trap card. The negatives whipped the flames of the Meteor Flare until they were gone. Goodwin let out a growling hiss through his teeth, but his jaw dropped when Miracle Star Dragon flew through Rasca's chest, leaving a hole behind on the shadow Monster. The giant condor screeched in pain as its body dissolved and returned to its prison in Nazca.
"Rasca!"
I followed Miracle Star Dragon with my eyes as he flew towards the King of the Netherworld who was less than two kilometers from the condor crest. The miracle dragon flew past the giant monster before he turned around and aimed himself at the King's back.
"End this now, Miracle Star Dragon!" I yelled. "GO, CRIMSON GUNGNIR!"
XXXXXXXXXX – Normal POV
Miracle Star Dragon roared as his body was surrounded by the Crimson Dragon before he made himself thin again and pierced through the King of the Netherworld's back. He didn't stop when he came out of the sludge monster's chest. He continued flying forward and shot himself through the Stairway to the Dragon Star. The Stairway started crumbling into pieces as Goodwin fell among the falling debris.
Yusei: 4000 LP = SPC 12
Estelle: 1 LP = SPC 11
Goodwin: 9200 LP – 0 LP = SPC 11 – SPC 2
"I… I lost…", Goodwin mumbled sadly to himself, already feeling how his life force was fading from his reborn body.
(Insert: "LAST TRAIN -Atarashii Asa- (TV Ver.)" by knotlamp)
At the same time, the condor crest faded, causing Yusei, Jack, and Crow to fall through the sky with their Runners. Luckily, Stardust Dragon caught Yusei and his motorcycle while Black Rose Dragon, Ancient Fairy Dragon, and Power Tool Dragon flew past him to catch the other two young men. Black Rose Dragon used her vines without thorns to catch Crow and his crashed Duel Runner. Ancient Fairy Dragon caught Jack while Power Tool Dragon used his ladle-like hand to catch the blonde man's Duel Runner.
The dragons flew towards the others who were on the ground while the Satellite Trio watched how the Stairway to the Dragon Star fell apart. "We did it!" Crow cheered joyfully.
Yusei and Jack didn't let go of the tension yet as the King of the Netherworld's body slowly dissolved, its sludge dripping to the ground. Jack turned his eyes back at the Stairway to the Dragon Star when he saw something that made his jaw drop. "Wait, what's she doing?!"
Yusei followed his foster brother's eyes and watched as Blue-Eyes White Dragon flew towards the crumbling temple before Estelle jumped off the dragon into the falling debris. "Don't tell me… Estelle is trying to save Goodwin?!"
XXXXXXXXXX
Goodwin knew he had failed. He failed to recreate a world with the hope of bringing back his brother. Only now as the Mark of the Condor faded from his back, did he realize how foolish he had been. The only punishment he had left was to die and join Roman in the world where the spirits of the dead rested.
(Insert: "CROSS GAME (TV Ver.)" by Alice Nine)
The man was about to close his eyes and accept his fate when a crimson light shone among the falling debris, making him snap his eyes open. Estelle was diving through the debris while she reached her right hand out in an attempt to grab him.
"Goodwin! Take my hand!" the woman called.
Goodwin merely shook his head. "It's too late… My life is fading away once again. Go and save yourself."
"I'll still save you!" Estelle yelled desperately as she stretched her arm as far as she could. "So don't give up on yourself!"
Goodwin stared nonchalantely at the brunette who forced herself to fall through the air, but he blinked his eyes when Estelle's image was suddenly switched into Roman. His brother looked like what he used to be before he got corrupted by the Earthbound Immortals.
"Roman…", Goodwin whispered.
Roman's spirit fell through the sky, his right hand reaching out to his little brother as time came to a standstill between them. "Rex… Don't give up. Keep living. You still have much to do. Carry my legacy to protect this beautiful world from all danger…together with the Signers and the Priestess. Protect it, and live a happy life."
Goodwin got touched by his brother's words, realizing even more that he had gone against his brother's wishes. "I'M SORRY, ROMAN!"
Goodwin snapped out of it when he felt a small hand grab his large wrist. He opened his eyes to see the determined face of Estelle's. She didn't waste time to wrap her thin arms around Goodwin's naked and bulked chest as Miracle Star Dragon and the Crimson Dragon unleashed a bright light together that engulfed the whole city.
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You can find the cards of Miracle Dragon and Miracle Star Dragon on my DeviantArt account.