The Duel featured in this chapter is going to be long and quite brutal, but nothing excruciating. I hope you will enjoy it.
Special thanks to CitrusUnshiu for editing the chapter!
The chapter begins in normal point of view.
Disclaimer: I do not own any Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's characters! I only own my OCs!
Chapter 104: The Realm of Paradox – Part 1
The Signers and Antinomy got caught off guard by the sudden entrance and fell toward their doom. However, they were all able to land on the platforms that appeared after they had been falling for a less than a minute. Yusei and Antinomy landed on the same platform that Estelle managed to bounce on, only to fall over the edge after a miscalculation. The raven-haired Signer watched as the dragon Duel Runner disappear over the edge, so he quickly jumped off his Duel Runner and ran in hopes of grabbing Estelle's arm. He didn't make it in time as the brunette and her Duel Runner fell into the endless darkness beneath the platform.
"ESTELLE!" Yusei yelled desperately as the light from Estelle's Duel Runner could no longer be seen.
The Signer fell down on one knee as he tried containing the anger he aimed at himself for not coming to Estelle's rescue. He couldn't resist the urge to hit the floor once with his fist while gritting his teeth.
Antinomy remained silent as he stood behind Yusei. He was fully aware of the affection between the Signer and the Priestess, but after living with Estelle as Bruno he knew she was capable of looking after herself.
The android placed a hand on Yusei's shaking shoulder. "Yusei… I'm sure Estelle is going to make it", Antinomy told him. "Believe in her."
Yusei took a couple of deep breaths through his nose to calm down and think rationally. Antinomy was right and he could still sense the connection with the Priestess. As much as he hated the thought, he had to focus on the main issue. Estelle could possibly survive on her own until they could be reunited.
The Signer straightened up and turned to the other two platforms. Sherry, Aki, and Crow had landed on one while Jack and the twins landed on the third one. This almost meant the team had been split up into three groups. "Is everybody okay?!" Yusei yelled.
"Yeah, we're fine!" Aki shouted back while waving her arm.
"But we can't go together!" Jack shouted, pointing out the problem.
"Unbelievable!" Crow growled as he punched his fist. "What do we do?!"
Antinomy walked back to his Duel Runner and switched the screen on the dashboard on. "Look at this", he said as he sent the blueprint of the interior of the Ark Cradle to everyone's Duel Runner.
"What's this?" Yusei asked as he checked the blueprint on his Runner.
"I scanned the Ark Cradle's interior", Antinomy replied. "We're on three different paths that lead to the three Planetary Gears that surround the Sun Gear. If we don't stop the Planetary Gears first, we can't give positive spin to the Ener-D Reactor that powers the Sun Gear. If we don't hurry, the Ark Cradle is going to fall on New Domino City."
Yusei nodded in response and turned to the others. "Everyone, listen! We're splitting into three teams, and we'll each go to a different Gear!" he told his friends. "I believe in you. I know we'll reunite at the Sun Gear! And if you find Estelle, bring her along!"
"Fine, but you also better be careful!" Crow shouted back. "You better not die!"
"We'll wait for you at the Sun Gear!" Aki nodded as she climbed onto her Duel Runner.
"Don't let Iliaster get to you!" Sherry shouted to Yusei. "You've defeated them countless of times, so you better not lose this time!"
"I'm not a babysitter, but I'll look after the twins!" Jack yelled as Leo and Luna brought their Duel Boards out of their cases and strapped their feet onto them before holding onto the blonde man's Duel Runner. "Let's go!"
"Yes!" Leo and Luna called simultaneously.
"I'm counting on you!" Yusei yelled before everyone drove off to stop the Planetary Gears so they could stall the Ark Cradle before dealing with the main antagonist of Iliaster.
XXXXXXXXXX
Aki, Sherry, and Crow were silent as they drove together through the long corridors. The only light provided was the transparent floor glowing with Ener-D and the headlights on their Duel Runners. The corridor seemed endless and time kept ticking until they found a bright opening ahead. They drove out on a bridge that led them to another opening between two enormous gears.
The trio drove into the big opening between the gears and found themselves in a big futuristic room. Thin lines glowing by Ener-D surrounded the black walls. There was a large structure in the middle that first appeared to be a column, but they knew it was the key compartment of the Planetary Gear.
"This is the Planetary Gear", Sherry stated as she recognized the shape.
"It's huge", Aki commented.
"How do we shut it down, though?" Crow wondered.
"I won't allow you to take another step!" a voice echoed around them.
The Signers grew rigid and looked around to find the source of the voice. A white gate opened next to them before a familiar Duel Runner flew out of it. The white Runner flew above the trio before it landed several meters from them and made a hundred-eighty degree turn to face the intruders. Crow gasped in surprise when he recognized the Runner. He may have only seen it once a couple of months ago, but he could never forget the rider who stole Yusei's Signer Dragon.
"Paradox!" the Blackwing Duelist exclaimed angrily.
Paradox eyed the three Signers with unamused eyes. "I remember you", he nodded at Crow. "You were one of Fudo Yusei's friends who witnessed me stealing Stardust Dragon."
"You stole Stardust Dragon?" Sherry raised a questioning eyebrow.
"It's a long story", Aki told the blonde woman before glaring at the guardian of the Planetary Gear. "I assume we need to defeat you in order to stop the Gear?"
"That would be correct", Paradox nodded. "However, I am giving you one last chance to retreat. The loser of this Duel will perish, so if you value your lives…you should turn back and leave the Ark Cradle immediately."
"No way we're running away with our tails between the legs!" Crow shouted as he got off his Duel Runner with his hybrid Duel Disk attached on his Wrist Dealer. "We've come all the way here to protect our home and make sure Yusei will return alive!" He removed his helmet and settled it on the seat of the Runner. "We're a team, so we share the burden together!"
"Crow's right!" Aki nodded in agreement after she got off her Duel Runner with the hybrid Duel Disk strapped onto her arm, her helmet also removed from her head. "We've come here to make a difference for the future! Besides, this isn't the first time we've fought with our lives at stake, so I'm not scared of getting hurt! I will use my psychic powers to protect my friends! My family! My home!"
Sherry removed her helmet and got off her Runner before joining the original Signers with her hybrid Duel Disk prepared for a Ground Duel. "I've lived most of my life in danger after you slaughtered my family when I was a little girl with nothing but bright dreams. You stole my childhood, so I won't let you steal my future as well!" she exclaimed determinedly. "I will protect the world with Father's feelings which he entrusted to me!"
"Your foolish passion is fascinating, but it won't be long before you will lose all hope", Paradox commented nonchalantly. "You had your chance running away, so you better prepare for your final breath."
The guardian's Duel Runner transformed into its flight mode and flew up so Paradox was up in the sky. Once he was in position, the whole platform within the massive Planetary Gear glowed in white before it faded away with an unsettling aura.
"The Planetary Gear's operation device is directly connected to my life", Paradox explained loud enough for the Signers to hear. "Defeat me and the Planetary Gear will stop!"
"We'll defeat you alright!" Crow shouted determinedly.
"A true warrior never runs away from a battle until the last drop of blood is shed!" Sherry glared at Paradox.
"Let's do it, guys!" Aki told her teammates.
"DUEL!"
Paradox: 4000 LP
Aki: 4000 LP
Crow: 4000 LP
Sherry: 4000 LP
"None of us is allowed to battle on their first turn in this Battle Royal Duel and we will have 4000 Life Points each", Paradox made sure to point out the rules as he rested his right hand on top of his Deck. "I take the first turn. Draw! I play the Field Spell; Malefic World!"
A bright black star appeared above the four Duelists as the walls of the Planetary Gear switched into a variety of rainbow colors that kept changing every few seconds, giving the area a mysterious but apocalyptic atmosphere. The Signers couldn't help but be in slight awe as they comprehended their new surroundings while the black star shone upon them.
"What's this?" Crow asked out loud.
"It kind of resembles the other Field Spell Future Visions", Aki commented.
"You will learn more about the effect of Malefic World later", Paradox chuckled. "Now, I banish Blue-Eyes White Dragon from the Deck to Special summon Malefic Blue-Eyes White Dragon from my hand in attack mode!"
Malefic Blue-Eyes White Dragon, Level 8: ATK 3000
"Blue-Eyes White Dragon? That's Estelle's Monster!" Sherry exclaimed in surprise.
"You prick! Did you steal her cards?!" Crow growled at the guardian.
"No. I simply made copies of the three Blue-Eyes White Dragons that Kaiba Seto possessed when he was your age", Paradox replied. "I end my turn."
"Then I'll go next! Draw!" Aki called as she drew her sixth card. "I summon White Rose Dragon in attack mode!"
White Rose Dragon, Level 4: ATK 1200
"White Rose Dragon's effect! When it's Normal summoned, I can Special summon one Rose Dragon from my hand or Graveyard, except White Rose Dragon. I Special summon Red Rose Dragon from my hand in attack mode!"
Red Rose Dragon, Level 3, Tuner: ATK 1000
"Alright! Let's do it, Aki!" Crow encouraged the rose Duelist.
"I tune Level 3 Red Rose Dragon with Level 4 White Rose Dragon!" Aki called. "Chilling flames engulf the entire world. Pitch-dark flower, set into bloom! Synchro summon! Appear now, Black Rose Dragon!"
Black Rose Dragon, Level 7: ATK 2400
"Black Rose Dragon's effect! When she's Synchro summoned, she destroys every card on the field, including herself! But before that, I chain with White Rose Dragon's effect! When she's sent to the Graveyard as Synchro Material, I can send one Level 4 or higher plant Monster from my Deck to the Graveyard. I send Tytannial, Princess of Camellias to the Graveyard, and then I chain with Red Rose Dragon's effect! When she's sent to the Graveyard as Synchro Material, I can Special summon one Rose Dragon from my hand or Deck, except Red Rose Dragon. I Special summon Blue Rose Dragon from my Deck in defense mode!"
Blue Rose Dragon, Level 4: DEF 1200
Black Rose Dragon and Blue Rose Dragon exploded into pieces in the middle of the whirlwind, but some of their magenta and blue petals still blew around and got stuck onto the Duelists' hair.
"What a pathetic move!" Paradox yelled through the powerful winds that the Synchro Monster had summoned as his two cards were destroyed, the area returning to its original form. "You destroyed your own Monsters!"
"Yes, but now Blue Rose Dragon's effect activates!" Aki declared. "When it's destroyed on the field and sent to the Graveyard, I can target either Black Rose Dragon or a plant Monster in my Graveyard and Special summon it! Bloom once more, Black Rose Dragon!"
Black Rose Dragon, Level 7: ATK 2400
"Excellent!" Sherry nodded with a proud smile. "Not only did you clear Paradox's field, but you brought back your Monster. Well done, Aki."
"Thank you, Sherry", Aki smiled with a tiny blush on her cheeks before she continued her turn. "I now play Rose Bell of Revelation! I can add one plant Monster 2400 or more attack points from my Deck to the hand, so I choose Gigaplant. I place one card facedown and end my turn."
"It's time for the birds to gather around!" Crow grinned. "My turn! Draw! I summon Blackwing – Bora the Spear in attack mode!"
Blackwing – Bora the Spear, Level 4: ATK 1700
"Since I control a Blackwing, I can Special summon Blackwing – Gale the Whirlwind from my hand in attack mode!"
Blackwing – Gale the Whirlwind, Level 3, Tuner: ATK 1300
"I tune Level 3 Blackwing – Gale the Whirlwind with Level 4 Blackwing – Bora the Spear! Darkened gales, become the wings which will soar to heaven! Synchro summon! Blackwing Armor Master!"
Blackwing Armor Master, Level 7: ATK 2500
"I place one card facedown and end my turn."
"It's my turn! Draw!" Sherry yelled as she drew her sixth card. "I summon Horse of the Floral Knights in attack mode!"
Horse of the Floral Knights, Level 3: ATK 400
"Horse of the Floral Knights' effect! When it's Normal summoned, I may add one LIGHT Noble Knight Monster from my Deck to the hand. I add Noble Knight Joan, and then I activate Horse's second effect! Once per turn, during my Main Phase, I can Fusion summon one Fusion Monster from my Extra Deck, using this card I control and other Monsters from my hand or field as Fusion Material. I fuse Horse of the Floral Knights and Noble Knight Joan in my hand to Fusion summon Centaur Mina!"
Centaur Mina, Level 6: ATK 2200
"I place two cards facedown and end my turn."
"We've built up our defense, Paradox! You can't defeat us now!" Crow shouted determinedly.
Paradox kept a poker face as he was unamused by the disadvantage he currently had. "That cockiness of yours is another reason why mankind was led on the path of destruction", he commented. "My turn. Draw! I play the Continuous Spell; Malefic Territory! When activated, I can activate one Malefic World from my Deck, which I shall do!"
The black star appeared above the Duelists once again as the cosmic and depressing dark colors of the Field Spell covered the Planetary Gear. This time, the Signers couldn't help but feel a small chill run down their spine.
"Did you girls feel that chill?" Crow asked.
"I did…", Aki nodded as she rubbed her left arm to warm herself.
"That was just the prelude of your demise, Signers", Paradox commented. "With the help of Malefic Territory, while Malefic World is in the Field Zone, no one can target a card in the Field Zone with card effects. Also, the Malefic Monster effect 'There can only be one face-up Malefic Monster on the field' becomes 'There can only be one face-up Malefic Monster on the field with the same name', and during the Battle Phase, the effects of the Malefic Monsters are negated. I banish Cyber End Dragon from the Extra Deck to Special summon Malefic Cyber End Dragon from my hand in attack mode!"
Malefic Cyber End Dragon, Level 10: ATK 4000
"4000 attack points?!" Aki exclaimed in disbelief.
"I'm far from done", Paradox said. "I play Malefic Selector! By banishing two Malefic cards from the Graveyard, I can add two Malefic cards with different names from each other and from the banished cards from the Deck to my hand. I choose Malefic Rainbow Dragon and Malefic Claw Stream. Next, I banish Rainbow Dragon from my Deck to Special summon Malefic Rainbow Dragon from my hand in attack mode!"
Malefic Rainbow Dragon, Level 10: ATK 4000
"Not good!" Crow cold sweated as he had figured out what the kind of effects Malefic Monsters had. "Malefic Monsters can be Special summoned if you banish the correct cards from your Deck?!"
"Correct", Paradox replied. "This gives me a wide advantage to summon Monsters strong enough to obliterate my opponents. Battle! Malefic Cyber End Dragon, attack Black Rose Dragon! Eternal Destruction Burst!"
The three heads of Malefic Cyber End Dragon opened their mouth and collected energy that shone in a combination of black, white and silver before firing a triple beam at the rose dragon.
"Black Rose Dragon!" Aki shouted worriedly, knowing she had no cards that could protect her Signer Dragon from destruction.
"I activate my Trap; Floral Shield!" Sherry yelled as she came to the rescue. "I can only activate it when my opponent's Monster declares an attack. That attack is negated!"
A cloud of white petals blew out from the Trap card and flew to the front of Black Rose Dragon. They created a massive shield to protect the dragon from the attack. The three beams from the machine Monster collided with the shield and caused the petals to scatter around after they had canceled the attack.
Aki sighed in relief as soon as the attack was over. "Thank you, Sherry", she thanked the blonde Signer.
Sherry nodded in response before turning to Paradox. "When the attack is negated, I can draw one card from my Deck!" she called as she drew an additional card.
That negation triggered something that laid dormant within Paradox's artificial body. "It appears someone here wishes to face their fate early", he growled as his anger reflected on his eye lenses. "Malefic Rainbow Dragon, attack Centaur Mina! Over the Dark Rainbow!"
The light of the northern lights appeared above the Duelists as Malefic Rainbow Dragon opened its wings and prepared its attack. The seven colors of the rainbow, except they were mudded by the negative energy, glowed onto the wings before the dragon released the same light like a spotlight and aimed the light at Centaur Mina.
"I activate my Quick-Play Spell; Half Shut!" Sherry called before the light could touch her Monster. "I target one face-up Monster on the field; this turn, it cannot be destroyed by battle and its attack points are halved until the end of this turn. I target Centaur Mina!"
Centaur Mina raised her shield up while her body was enveloped in a yellow aura that reduced her attack points and provided protection.
Centaur Mina, Level 6: ATK 2200 – ATK 1100
"But you still take damage!" Paradox reminded the blonde Signer.
Centaur Mina grunted as the rainbow light shone upon her. The light was strong enough to burn her skin and clothes, causing pain to her. Some of the rainbow light traveled onto Sherry and she could feel the extreme heat of it. She cried out as the attack burned her body and even left a few scorched holes on her clothes.
Paradox: 4000 LP
Aki: 4000 LP
Crow: 4000 LP
Sherry: 4000 LP – 1100 LP
"Sherry!" Aki and Crow yelled worriedly as they saw how much pain Sherry had just experienced.
The French blonde collapsed onto one knee as she gasped loudly to regain her breath. "W-What…was that?" she gasped while her body ached. "That attack…was real."
"Everyone in Iliaster has the power to turn the damage into real during Duels", Paradox explained. "I thought you were already aware of that, but it appears you have forgotten about it. I place two cards facedown and end my turn."
Sherry's raspy throat soon returned to normal after she caught her breath back and slowly raised onto her feet. "C-Centaur Mina's attack points return to normal during this End Phase", she reminded everyone.
Centaur Mina, Level 6: ATK 1100 – ATK 2200
Aki felt the anger boil within her at the sight of the weakened blonde Signer. Seeing her mentor, friend, and secret crush getting injured after she had protected her Monster from getting destroyed infuriated her. She wasn't going to let Paradox get away with it.
"You'll regret hurting Sherry, Paradox!" the psychic Duelist growled with fire in her eyes. "My turn! Draw! I activate Rose Bell of Revelation in my Graveyard! By removing it from play, I can Special summon a Monster with 2400 or more attack points from my hand! I Special summon Gigaplant in defense mode!"
Gigaplant, Level 6, Gemini: DEF 1200
"Next, I Normal summon Gigaplant, which lets him become an Effect Monster!"
Gigaplant, Level 6, Gemini: DEF 1200
"Then I activate my Continuous Trap; Overdoom Line! When a plant-type Monster is Special summoned from the Graveyard to my side of the field, it gains 1000 attack points while this card is face-up on the field. However, it is destroyed during my second End Phase after activation."
Crow grinned and nodded to himself, knowing what Aki was about to do. "Keep going, Aki! Show Paradox how strong your thorns are!" he encouraged her.
"Gigaplant's effect!" Aki declared. "Once per turn, I can Special summon one plant-type Monster from my hand or the Graveyard. I Special summon Tytannial, Princess of Camellias from the Graveyard in attack mode!"
Tytannial, Princess of Camellias, Level 8: ATK 2800
"Overdoom Line's effect activates! Tytannial gains 1000 attack points!"
Tytannial, Princess of Camellias, Level 8: ATK 2800 – ATK 3800
"It was a good try, but your plant princess is still too weak against my Monsters", Paradox snorted.
"Maybe so, but it will change when I equip Thorn of Malice on Tytannial!" Aki shouted. "I can only use this Equip Spell on Black Rose Dragon or a plant Monster. The equipped Monster gains 600 attack and defense points, and when it attacks a defense position Monster it inflicts piercing damage."
Green particles appeared in front of Tytannial as they flew to her right hand. She opened her fist as the particles merged into one and the energy shaped itself into a whip made out of the stem of a rose.
Tytannial, Princess of Camellias, Level 8: ATK 3800 – ATK 4400
"You did it, Aki!" Crow cheered happily.
"You surpassed the 4000 attack points…", Sherry mumbled to Aki before smiling proudly. "Impressive, Aki."
"Battle!" Aki yelled determinedly. "Tytannial, attack Malefic Rainbow Dragon!"
Tytannial grunted as she floated toward the dragon of the northern lights and swung her whip at it. Malefic Rainbow Dragon got hit on the side of its head that was protected by its monochrome helmet, but it didn't shatter into pieces.
Paradox: 4000 LP – 3600 LP
Aki: 4000 LP
Crow: 4000 LP
Sherry: 1100 LP
"When a Monster equipped with Thorn of Malice attacks, the attacked Monster isn't destroyed by battle and both its attack and defense points are reduced by 600 points", Aki explained with a soft smirk.
Malefic Rainbow Dragon, Level 10: ATK 4000 – ATK 3400
"Alright! We've got one of his Monsters down to below 4000 attack points!" Crow smirked. "This will be a piece of cake for me."
"Main Phase 2!" Aki called. "I switch Black Rose Dragon to defense mode and end my turn."
Black Rose Dragon, Level 7: ATK 2400 – DEF 1800
Overdoom Line: Turn 1/2
Aki turned to the Blackwing Duelist on her left. "I leave Malefic Rainbow Dragon to you, Crow", she told him.
"Thanks, Aki! My Blackwings look forward to battle. Draw!" Crow called. "I summon Blackwing – Blizzard the Far North in attack mode!"
Blackwing – Blizzard the Far North, Level 2, Tuner: ATK 1300
"Blizzard's effect! When it's Normal summoned, I can Special summon one Level 4 or lower Blackwing Monster from my Graveyard in defense mode! Return, Blackwing – Bora the Spear!"
Blackwing – Bora the Spear, Level 4: DEF 800
"I activate my Trap; Malefic Claw Stream!" Paradox called as soon as the Blackwing Monster was summoned. "I can only activate this Trap card while I have a Malefic Monster on the field. It lets me target one Monster my opponent controls and destroy it. I target Blackwing Armor Master!"
"Wait, what?!" Crow exclaimed in surprise.
A beam of green, purple, and magenta colors shot itself out of the card after it had aimed itself at the chosen Monster. Blackwing Armor Master shielded himself with his arms, but it was to no avail. The beam engulfed the Synchro Monster and incinerated it into ashes.
"Blackwing Armor Master!" Crow yelled desperately.
"One less Monster to worry about", Paradox chuckled. "I'm aware it is one of your favorite Synchro Monsters, Crow Hogan."
Crow gritted his teeth in anger, but he shook his head to calm down and focus on the Duel and come up with another strategy now that his impenetrable wall was gone. "I tune Level 2 Blackwing – Blizzard the Far North with Level 4 Blackwing – Bora the Spear! Pitch dark power, lodge in its great wings and stir up the divine winds! Synchro summon! Gust fiercely, Blackwing Armed Wing!"
Blackwing Armed Wing, Level 6: ATK 2300
"Battle! Blackwing Armed Wing, attack Malefic Rainbow Dragon!"
"Your math is clearly incorrect!" Paradox pointed out as Crow's Monster aimed its shotgun at his Malefic Monster. "Blackwing Armed Wing isn't strong enough to destroy Malefic Rainbow Dragon!"
The Synchro Monster fired the bayonet attached on the shotgun with a loud bang. The bayonet flew through the air toward Malefic Rainbow Dragon who just watched the dagger come closer for each nanosecond.
"My math is correct because I activate Blackwing – Kalut the Moon Shadow's effect in my hand!" Crow called while revealing said card. "During either player's Damage Step, when a Blackwing Monster I control is attacking or being attacked, I can send Kalut the Moon Shadow from my hand to the Graveyard to increase the Blackwing Monster's attack points by 1400 until the end of this turn!"
The spirit of Blackwing – Kalut appeared around the bayonet and used its power to envelope it in an orange aura. The tip of the weapon extended and made it look sharper than before as it kept heading toward Malefic Rainbow Dragon.
Blackwing Armed Wing, Level 6: ATK 2300 – ATK 3700
The bayonet pierced itself through Malefic Rainbow Dragon's chest and left a large hole on its chest. The dragon screeched in pain before it shattered into pieces, inflicting a small amount of damage on Paradox's Life Points.
Paradox: 3600 LP – 3300 LP
Aki: 4000 LP
Crow: 4000 LP
Sherry: 1100 LP
"I activate my Trap; Malefic Tune!" the guardian yelled. "When a Malefic Monster I control is destroyed by battle or my opponent's card effect, I can draw two cards from my Deck!"
Crow inwardly sighed in relief that his second Synchro Monster didn't get targeted and destroyed by Paradox's Trap card. He had already lost Blackwing Armor Master, so he had to rely on his current Monster.
"I place one card facedown and end my turn, and Blackwing Armed Wing's attack points return to normal", the Blackwing Duelist called. "You're up, Sherry."
Blackwing Armed Wing, Level 6: ATK 3700 – ATK 2300
"My turn! Draw!" Sherry called as she drew her next card. "I play the Spell; Tuning! I can add one Synchron Tuner from my Deck to the hand and then send the top card of the Deck to the Graveyard! I choose Necro Synchron!" She revealed said card before adding it to her hand. "Next, I activate Centaur Mina's effect. Once per turn, I can Special summon a Level 2 or lower Monster from either my hand or Graveyard! I Special summon Necro Synchron in attack mode!"
Necro Synchron, Level 2, Tuner: ATK 200
"Its name becomes Fleur Synchron while it's on the field and in the Graveyard, so I tune Level 2 Necro Synchron with Level 6 Centaur Mina! Body born from speed, the time for revolution has come! Bring victory into my hands! Synchro summon! Shine, Chevalier de Fleur!"
Chevalier de Fleur, Level 8: ATK 2700
"Necro Synchron's effect! When it's sent to the Graveyard as Synchro Material for a WIND Monster, I can Special summon one Level 1 plant Monster from my Deck! I Special summon Necro Fleur in defense mode!"
Necro Fleur, Level 1: DEF 0
"Centaur Mina's effect! When she's sent to the Graveyard as Synchro Material for a WIND Monster, I can destroy one face-up Monster on the field! I destroy Malefic Cyber End Dragon!"
Chevalier de Fleur drew her rapier out of the sheath and held it in front of her while the spirit of Centaur Mina appeared above her. The centaur hummed before she transformed into white energy that gathered by the tip of the weapon. The Synchro Monster grunted before she aimed the rapier at the chosen Monster and fired a lightning bolt. The lightning struck Malefic Cyber End Dragon and forced it to screech in pain as it got electrocuted. The pain lasted for a short moment before the triple-headed machine dragon exploded into pieces, leaving Paradox's field open for direct attacks.
"Alright!" Crow cheered loudly.
"You did it, Sherry!" Aki praised the blonde woman. "We can actually defeat him now!"
Sherry nodded silently in response while sensing the tickle of heat on her cheeks by the praise from the rose Duelist. However, the blush disappeared as soon as it had appeared when the three Signers heard Paradox chuckle. They looked at the guardian of the Planetary Gear as his chuckle grew into a loud cold laughter.
"What's so funny?!" Crow asked irritably.
Paradox stopped laughing and glared maliciously at the Signers with a creepy smile on his face. "Because you have just set up your path of demise!" he replied. "I activate Malefic Truth Dragon's effect in my hand! When a Malefic Monster I control is destroyed by battle or card effect; I can pay half my Life Points and Special summon Malefic Truth Dragon from my hand! Arise, my beast!"
Paradox: 3300 LP – 1650 LP
Aki: 4000 LP
Crow: 4000 LP
Sherry: 1100 LP
The air was suddenly filled with electricity as sparkles erupted from Paradox's Duel Runner that was still in flight mode. An orb of light appeared below him that rapidly shapeshifted into an enormous size while the Duel Runner dissipated into particles. Paradox fell into the light and fused himself with the ultimate Malefic Monster by attaching himself on the top of the dragon's head to the waist, just like when he Dueled the three Heroes of Time.
Malefic Truth Dragon, Level 12: ATK 5000
"5000 attack points?!" Aki gasped in shock.
"You've got to be kidding me!" Crow exclaimed angrily.
"I warned you the loser of this Duel will perish, but you were so naïve thinking you actually had a chance to defeat me", Paradox smirked maliciously. "That's one trait of the mankind that led itself to the apocalypse my friends and I had to suffer from! You shall soon bear witness to the pain I experienced when I watched the world fall apart! I now chain with Malefic Tune's effect in my Graveyard! If a face-up Malefic Monster I control is destroyed, while this card is in my Graveyard, I can banish Malefic Tune and add one Malefic Monster from my Deck to the hand. I add my second Malefic Rainbow Dragon to the hand! Try defeating the king of Malefics, Signers, before you face your own destruction!"