SIGNER TIMELINE/THE SATELITE/6:45 PM
For what it was worth, Yusei Fudo was a well-rounded person for all he'd endured-his renegade status literally seared onto his face, his friends and his own health threatened almost as quickly as they were secured, being led by the nose by Goodwin in one instance and the Dark Signers in the next.
Mainly, it was due to the fact that, well, this was a city of Duelists, the both of them- Neo Domino and the Satellite. Matters were easy to handle, especially for a Duelist so willing to endure the storm and push the pace as the Satellite Shooting Star.
The metaphorical black hole he was about to come into contact with, however, would serve as a sudden shock.
With one flick of the switch by the mystery Duelist, the area, instead of turning to a purple-on gold sepia as per the original setting of a Speed Duel, the area fizzled, then turned dust-clod orange, the sky now turning a sickly green as well.
Worse yet, Yusei's screen fizzed right in the middle of "Duel Mode activavavavavaaaaa-" then fizzled out-three seconds later. Three seconds later, several of his cards jutted out of his Deck. A lightning-fast look at the cards revealed that….
"…These are all my Speed Spells!" Yusei's head whipped to face his competitor's motorbike, wishing once again that he had an easier way to see inside not only the chrome sphere surrounding his racing rival, but their mind as well.
Finally, his computer sprang back to life. This time it had a picture of a different Field Spell on the front of the display-a mysterious one of a half-ruined silver tower with rings of machinery surrounding it. "Area 50-05, Chrome Star HQ" it described, and nothing else.
"Duel Mode Activated, T-Wheel restriction employed! Autopilot engagement locked! You have 30 seconds to remove non-legal cards from your Deck for this Duel."
Yusei, in short order, slipped out the Speed Spells and slapped in a set of new Spells from a pocket inside of his jacket. "I'm not seeing what they-either these Spells or my friends-have done to you lately for you to pull this to keep them out!"
"Not what they've done, sport-just you and your woefully un-impressive parlor tricks."
It was lucky for this mystery duelist-and all undisturbed daisies the world over-that they couldn't see the glare the Satellite Shooting Star sent their way at the venom in their voice.
"In case you're curious, it's because of the TW Lock, a little ditty installed with my new Field Spell, Area 50-05." The engine of the mystery Duelist's D-Runner motor was gunned again; even its whine sounded melodious if deafeningly loud, to Yusei's ears. Despite the noise, a certain detail of the Duelist's diatribe stuck.
"Wait, a TM lock? That sounds familiar-like this is something I've come into contact with when I was younger? - But I can't nail it down! Regardless-" And with a switch of several Spells from his on-foot Dueling Deck, Yusei was ready for this peculiar Speed Duel. "-I'm ready for you, Speed Counters or NOT!"
"I don't doubt that for a second."
Was that a waver in the Duelist's voice? thought the Synchron user. They seemed to be in complete control of the situation-what caused them to doubt now? Perhaps they had heard of the Signers and this series of events was their attempt at a preemptive strike. Yusei had harbored an inkling of fear before that the actions of the Dark Signers might herald a retaliation against the other Signers, due to all the souls they temporarily harvested just to Summon their very Earthbound Immortals-but it had seemed so out-of-space since their personal targets were so precise…..
…perhaps it was time to gain some answers-and if this Duel was the way to them, so be it!
He just hoped this wasn't dooming Akiza, who still took precedence. So he had to make this quick.
"Let's start this show off right!" And Yusei took in his five cards. Perfect, he thought, for allowing him to make his move without worry of the opponent tripping him up. "First off, I Summon to the field, 'Junk Forward'-a little helper I can Special Summon if I don't control any monsters!" With the speed of a wild hurricane, the lithe mecha rushed to action in Attack Mode. [EARTH/Warrior/Level 3/ATK 900/DEF 1500]
"Next up is 'Synchron Carrier', in Defense Mode!" and with a flash, the triple winch wielding robot sprang into action, a blue aura surrounding it.[EARTH/Machine/Level 2/ATK 0/DEF 1000]
"Don't worry though, because I've got a Spell to utilize as well-I activate the Spell, 'Tuning'! This allows me to move another 'Synchron' Tuner from my Deck to my hand, so long as a send the top card of my Deck to the Graveyard after! 'Junk Synchron' should do the trick!" And after adding the Level 3 Machine from his Deck to his hand, his mill to the GY turned up a 'Tuningware'.
"With that in hand, I now activate the special ability of my "Synchron Carrier', which lets me storm the field with another Normal Summoned 'Synchron' monster: like my Defense Mode 'Steam Synchron'!" The android that came out of the halo of blue this time looked far more advanced than the Carrier-though far bulkier and stouter. [WATER/Machine/Level 3/ATK 600/DEF 800]
"And with that, I end my turn!" As the mystery duelist took the initiative, a breath of fresh air seemed to circulate within the pod of the otherwise now silent strider. "Huh-guess I've hit a nerve for an otherwise defensive player such as yourself. My apologies."
Yusei almost fell out of his seat before they both raced into an empty junk lot-the mazes of refuse and autopilot mode saving him by turning away from his double-take. "You-you're sorry?"
"O'course-for many things." The sphere turned, and even though it still did not reveal its driver, Yusei knew they were looking directly at him. "For starters, unlike you, I'm not a fan of ruining someone's mood-or life-on every little roadblock they throw my way."
"Yeah, you still have yet to tell me how exactly that ruining happened!" Yusei retorted. "And also why you chose now of all times to get payback!"
"Due time's a funny thing-the people who most need to abide by it don't. But abiding by basic standards is probably another one of the failings I'm gonna address with you and these Signers-isn't that so, oh wonderful Satellite Falling Star?"
You could hear the aforementioned Duelist's heart hit his seat at those words. Satellite Falling Star?! The only other person who's called me that was….KIRYU!
Right over his fallen form at the end of Ccapac Apu's attack, even! Was this nightmare replaying again for him?!
But there were no signal fires from the Nazca Line tracks that normally signaled the Duel of a Dark Signer! And those monsters that had intercepted him back at the building were far too different from the Infernity insurgents that were his former friend's long-standing trademark.
Yet, this Duelist had cut him off from Speed World-a thing though impossible at this current state-had the old dog Kiryu gained new tricks?
Unfortunately, his pregnant pause gave this rogue rider a chance to make their move. "Goody, guilt's setting in apparently. I'll make this easy on you then, for one turn only. I draw!" With this, a field of six little holographic card imprints flickered onto the side of the driver-containing chrome sphere. They stayed in place even as the sphere turned back to face down the winding, junk-lined roads.
"Well then, I'll start things off on my end with the Spell, 'Factory Re-Set''! This allows me to draw 1 card on each of the first two monsters that I Set this turn, as well as allow me the ability to conduct two more Normal Sets this turn, though I'll take five hundred damage for each Set monster this turn!" Simultaneously, 1 card shown on the viewer on the side of the silver D-Runner winked out of existence-proof that that image shower was of his opponent's hand-and an image of the genuine article of the card.
"Pity that I can't play any more Normal Spells or Special Summon monsters the turn I used this-but for all I'll be doing today, it'll be worth it. My first Set monster is getting its mission statement…now!" Set card #1 in the Monster Zone was shown before the Life Points of Yusei's incognito foe's dropped to 3500, and the reader indicated the rider's hand-loss had been recouped by a draw.
"Second verse, same as the first!" And with this another Set monster came to the field, Yusei's mystery man took another Life Point hit to 3000, and another card was drawn. At least this is it for the hand draws-any further setting on their part is only being rewarded with pain. Then why did Yusei feel even more uneasy now?
"And now for my Normal Summon of the night-Come forth, my secretive 'Chrome Star Agent'-codename, 'Forgotten One'!" A gigantic cannon jutted out of the portal holding it. Almost immediately after, the Level Four long-haired warrior behind it barreled her way onto the field, flowing jet-black coat and staunch stance providing a chilling air to accompany its oversized weapon. [EARTH/Warrior/Tuner/Level 4/ATK 1700/DEF 700]
Chrome Star Agents….so that's the reason behind the focus around face-down cards. Are they trying to bait me out, then? If they were, it was working-one look at 'Chrome Star Agent – Forgotten One', and Yusei knew it could have its pick of the litter with his field. And he wasn't so sure-even with the Special Summoned surprises of his opponent on hiatus for the turn, that he wanted to see if this kid would do anything more before heading to the Battle Phase and blowing away his monsters.
So…
"Not so fast! Before you make another move, this 'Steam Synchron' of mine will make his! And it'll make for a real light-show because it allows me to perform a Synchro Summon, even if it's not my turn! So I tune it with my Level Three 'Junk Forward' and my Level Two 'Synchron Carrier'!" Without a second to spare, Steam Synchron's components and pipes began to belch that aforementioned cloud, right before it disappeared into a column of speedometer rings. Three in fact, that the now-soaring Junk Forward and Synchron Carrier would soon be surrounded with.
"From three comes one, and from one comes great power! I Synchro Summon 'Stardust Dragon'!"
The two monsters within those rings were soon swallowed up by a column of light that bisected those rings to Yusei's side- but even that paled in vibrancy to the next four words of the Satellite Shooting Star, as invigorating as they were iconic. "Let's rev it up!"
Almost on command, the light broke to be replaced by another-pouring from the luminous skin of the Level 8 Signer Dragon, a brilliant avatar of sharp claws, sharper eyes, and sleek form. [WIND/Dragon/Synchro/Level 8 2500 ATK/2000 DEF]
Almost immediately, the person-containing orb in the middle of Yusei's rival D-Runner turned to him-and the chrome cockpit finally began to open, a blinding field of mist pouring out of its every widening crevice. So my mystery foe's prepared to face me and my Stardust Dragon face-to-face… Finally, I'll have some an-
Yusei's inner diatribe was interrupted once more by the glowing sigil on his arm-the sign of the Crimson Dragon's head the Synchro he held embodied a part of. Like always, he would not be the only one to witness this event.
Over in the distant edge of the Satellite-where the Signer victory party had turned into the relatively empty garage of Yusei's for better protection-Crow and Luna's arms came alight with the same symbols of the symbol of the Crimson Dragon. "Assuming I haven't had too much to drink, is that a good sign?" Mima piped in.
"Should be…it's not hurting them or anything." Trudge pointed out. "Just to be sure though, kid…"
"No, it's fine." Luna nodded. "But I think that's the reason why!"
And her finger shot right to the distant yet very visible Stardust Dragon cutting across the sky. "If it's moving, our guy's definitely in a Turbo Duel-and if it's this fast after he left that it came out, he's really in the fight of his life," Crow explained. "If not for Leo, Luna, and the others, I'd join in to see what's up."
Mima folder her arms. "Don't we know, with the way you and Jack were at each other's throats-WAITASEC, C-CARLY! What are you doing!?"
For Carly was already trying to rush to Crow and Luna, babbling about the shock of the signs that had appeared on the Signers' wrists and where they could come from. She was only deterred by Trudge and Mima's arms looping around her. Well, that and the latter Sector Security member's verbal bombardment into Carly's ear about the insensitivity of burying two obviously 'distressed' friends with business questions, altruistic as they may be.
Ignoring it-and almost doing the same with the calming hand and bushy smile her brother Leo shot his way, Luna let her hand fall back to her side. "I just hope Jack and Akiza are seeing this-and are as safe as we are. Because I don't know…"
…what that starstruck show-off is thinking! Could he have picked a worse time for a Turbo Duel?
So came the mental retort from the Master of Faster. He had set out with Wheel of Fortune on a shortcut route to the building where the Black Rose had risen over-using an Atlas-known route that had taken him out of Yusei's trajectory-only for a massive traffic jam to delay him for a crucial span of time. Apparently, though, Jack had clearly wasted precious time in thinking the Satellite Shooting Star would stay at this dilapidated location long.
Regardless, Jack's blood still ran hot for a chance to meet the Duelist who had taken on the ex-Arcadian. Half of that heat came out of anticipation for a good fight against the Duelist who had willingly taken on his fellow Signer. Fellow?, he thought wryly at this point, then quashed the thought; she had the sigil, clearly that fanciful Crimson Dragon saw something in her, so should he!
The other half of the equation into why Jack's fiery temper was in its current high was from his anger at whoever would so cowardly pounce on one of their number in the near-dead of night. In fact, the ex-King had only been delayed his entry into the building Akiza had her Duel in by Stardust Dragon's flight-in a path away from him and the building. Yusei had better be handling the punk that pushed Akiza to that brink, or he'll be sorry-I can promise him that!
Just then, the doors threw themselves open.
Jack turned on his heels to retaliate against the new threat-then froze as he realized his fury would have been directed against an injured Akiza Izinski. Speak of Ha Des, Jack didn't say in half-relief, half-disbelief. Mainly because the ex-Black Rose Witch took that time to make her ragged voice heard.
"Had to take….six flights of stairs….avoid that green-haired lunatic…..Jack, you need to know something…"
"Whatever it is can wait until you're safe, Ra knows why Yusei hasn't made sure of that already!"
Akiza tried to start up again and went into a coughing fit-possibly a byproduct of her flight down the stairwells. "No….it's….you need to hear this before she…."
"-Oh come on, leaving so soon? By all means, let the Witch brainstorm for me-it'd be the most exercise that organ's gotten in months."
This time, Jack's ire would be properly aimed-at the 'green-haired lunatic' of Aki's fears. Sickly green, in fact-her hair was an almost blatant mockery of the redhead Signer. A curtain of almost lightning bolt-like tresses that almost reached her nearly-bared stomach at the front, and swept up to reveal a partially-shaved head in the back almost defied reality. What hung in the back of the cropped hair, however, was an almost fin-like metallic tail that connected into ports of metallic rib-cage like armor with green highlights, ringing her ribs, shoulders, legs, forearms, neck…
…and most notably, tightly arranged around her eyes. But when her green Duel Disk shot out, the arm attached to it all the more intimidating since it held a card in it, Jack took notice.
Correction-her hand held a card that featured a picture of an apparently sentient tornado with an iron mask and claws the only signifiers of its limbs. And it was not simply imposed on the card, but shooting out of it-and toward the two Signers.
Jack, with just under 100 pounds of dead weight in the faint Akiza-considered it a modern miracle that he avoided that cyclone-propelled claw. But his relief turned to regret when the claw simply continued on its merry way and wrapped around his Wheel of Fortune-not damaging it, but keeping him from accessing it.
"HEY!" Jack took this about as well as expected. "Unhand my D-Wheel and maybe, just maybe, I'll settle for simply Dueling you into submission! Consider it my last and only offer of the mercy rule-especially if you're the one responsible for Akiza's state!"
"Save your threats for someone who's scared-of Dueling, beating Signers, or you." The girl's steps upon the entrance to the building were surprisingly light for the footwear adorning them. "I'm doing this to keep your cowardice from making me lose the little patience I have left with this world.
Since you're the real reason I've even been sent here, though, I will take you up on that Dueling offer-to see what prize I win for making you become the second Signer to fall at my feet." The girl finished her walk at the edge of the building she had just exited, Jack at the other front end, the stars and his corralled D-Wheel between them both. "And should you prevail, then you're free to take Aki and crawl back to whatever hole you came from."
"I accept your challenge-if only to make sure that thing you've spawned comes off my wheel the hard way! Akiza, stay behind me-it's time I teach this lout some manners." Jack's Duel Disk-thankfully retrieved from his D-Wheel before its unfortunate date with this sentient twister-sprang to action. Not that I'd blame Yusei for skipping on this fight now, though, thought the Master of Faster. Clearly, this is one of those Psychic Duelists, so I'll have to make this Duel quick.
"You? Teach meanything?" The girl's Duel Disk jutted out to full operation mode as well. "How I wish that sell-out behind you hadn't destroyed Arcadia-that ego of yours would be the first thing they'd rid you of."
Arcadia?! Didn't Akiza send the higher ups of that cult packing before?! Jack did not busy himself with asking out loud. The current Duel would leave him far more than enough to handle without that nagging thought in the back of his mind of whether Yusei was being tied up with another Arcadian assailant.
"Let's Duel!"
"My pleasure!"
4000 LP apiece, the new Signer/Arcadia battle began anew. "Ladies first, no matter how loosely you fit the definition," snapped Jack.
"Keep flapping that tongue, Atlas-I love moving trophies." The mystery girl took a look at her cards. "To you, however, the name you should be looking to hold on it is Evy." And with that, her move commenced. "I'll start this simple matter off with the effect of my 'Tiago Steelswipe, the Torque Expert' in my hand-which allows me to add another WIND Tuner from my Deck to my hand by revealing him and returning him to the Deck! So he'll be giving me a windfall even before I start storming the field-" and Tiago was revealed and deposited back into the Deck, "-with 'Chao and Stride, the Torque Pacesetters'!"
Hand still at five cards, Jack was about to inquire about the point of this hand shuffling tactic-only for the emerald-haired enigma to respond in kind. "Now, since I returned a Torque monster to the Deck, I Special Summon 'Ariana Swifteye, the Torque Spearhead' from my hand!" An oddly blue rift produced the armored paladin, her weapon a half-harp half-spear, and her face all business. [WIND/Fairy/Level 4/1500 ATK/1000 DEF]
"With her in hand, I'll follow this up with another knight –I Normal Summon 'Donna Fairbreeze, the Torque Trainer' in Defense Mode!" A similarly metal-clad maiden took a point next to Ariana, wielding a gigantic javelin and round shield. [WIND/Psychic/Level 4/1500 ATK/1500 DEF]
"Then I Set 1 card face-down and end my turn! Should be enough for you to handle, o crownless one!" Well, that was an amazingly fast turn, Jack mused, as Evy's last card fizzled onto the field. "I'll be happy to show your move as the foolish waste of time it was. I draw!" 6 cards in hand, and Jack felt significantly better about his chances of a swift win against this speed freak.
"Two 1500 ATK monsters and a face-down? This is child's play against a King, and you're gonna see how!"
"Jack!"
He turned to face Akiza again, who had this time regained enough of her stance to get back to one knee. The sweat drenching her coat and puffy undershirt told the story of how much further she had to go for being okay. "It's…what she has in her hand…and her instant-speed Synchros….that you have to-"
Almost immediately Akiza's voice went out-even though her lips still moved, Jack could no longer hear a sound that spilled from them. And he had a sinking feeling he knew what-or who-was responsible.
Turning back to face Evy, Jack noticed the green-haired Duelist had thrown a card to her side this time-though it was too far away to read, the figure that floated atop it was unmistakable. 'Sage of Silence' was its name, and its staff pointing directly at the ex-Black Rose Witch showed that she had nullified Aki's voice as per her namesake. "You're becoming more insane by the minute, Evy-and that's saying something!"
"You have an opening move to get to, Atlas. I'm simply helping with keeping a….distraction…from scattering your thoughts to the winds. Want you at your peak before I push you down, after all."
Jack smiled. "Regardless, Evy, one thing you didn't count on is this-Aki told me everything I needed to know when she mentioned your instant speed Synchros. This weak front you've put the is just that-a front, and I'll bet that card you have face down is an 'Urgent Tuning', and that'll be all you need to Synchro Summon. One problem, though-"
Jack's face twisted in fury. "I don't plan on letting you get to that point! Since you have two monsters on your field, I can Normal Summon this behemoth of mine without Tributing a monster-go, 'Power Invader'!" Well, a hulking, yellow-eyed titan would certainly be the way to go if you're outnumbered, as Jack's field now showed. [DARK/Fiend/Level 5/2200 ATK/0 DEF]
Next, I activate 'Double Summon', to let me bring another monster out to put my three-part plan into place-go, 'Force Resonator'!" The WATER Fiend Tuner popped up next to Power Invader, tuning fork and tiny form only eclipsed further by the gigantic electricity-wrapped ball lodged behind it.[WATER/Fiend/Tuner/Level 2/500 ATK/500 DEF]
"And now with this in hand, this Duel is through! I tune my Level Two 'Force Resonator'…" The aforementioned monster clanged its instruments together, then flashed into a pair of shimmering rings. "…with my Level Five 'Power Invader'!" Almost instantly, the large Fiend leaped into the radius of the rings, turning into that all-too-familiar orange aura. "This star of doom is about to spell yours with its solemn light! It's time for your Judgment Day, courtesy of my great judge!"
A column of light finally burst beside both Jack and Akiza.
"I Synchro Summon…."
And then a giant scythe came out of the light beam.
"….the Level Seven 'Dark Highlander'!"
The figure, not waiting for the light show to end, cut itself out of the luminous column surrounding it with its giant weapon-revealing a giant Fiend draped in black and gold patterned armor, a blue robe and a grin worthy of Neck Hunter. [DARK/Fiend/Synchro/Level 7/2800 ATK/2300 DEF]
"Ready for this, Evy? Its Special ability, 'Tropic Doom', means you're out of luck, time, and options-because it prevents any further Synchro Summons while it's face-up on the field!"
Evy's eyebrows unbalanced at this. "Well, my. Impressive Jack. But you've still done nothing but delay the defeat."
"Indeed Evy-YOUR defeat!" the Master of Faster proclaimed. "And I'm through with burning time, it's time Dark Highlander burned you! Strike down her Ariana with Polar Doom!" A single bound put the Highlander into quick orbit, before it and its scythe came crashing down, in hopes of landing on the knight's crown.
The Psychic paladin, however, had other plans.
"Perhaps some sacrifice is needed for your Highlander-but it won't be my Spearhead! I activate the Quick-Play Spell, 'Torque Relay Strike'!" This allows me to Special Summon a "Torque" monster from my Deck, halve its ATK and have it take the hit for another one of my monsters-the 'Tiago' I put back in my Deck should be the breath of fresh air Ariana's hoped for!" With a flash, the Torque Expert found its way back onto the field, rapier at the ready to try and parry the Highlander's blow-now at six hundred fifty ATK to Highlander's whopping twenty-eight hundred. Any thoughts of Jack have an even easier route to ruination for Evy, however, were quickly quelled.
"That's far from all, crownless-now I can activate Tiago's ability! All it takes is for me to reveal 1 "Torque" monster in my hand and return it to my Deck, in order to jump up another monster's Level on the field by Tiago's Level-like my Torque Queen, 'Jade Nevermore'-and put it in a different battle position from him! A taste of 'Steel Resolution' should stop your 'Highlander' cold!" Indeed, the lime-green buccaneer's spinning into a steel-lined Tornado forced back the powerful Synchro and switched it to Defense Mode.
"Really?! All this talk about taking the fight to me and you deflect it when I bring it to you?" Jack snorted. "Expected more-well, maybe that's not so, since, with Highlander on the field, you wouldn't be able to present more."
"Seems that witch of yours behind you isn't the only Signer wrong about everything-see, that 'Jade Nevermore' of mine I returned from my hand to the Deck has an ability fit for a queen! When she's returned to the Deck, she can Summon herself straight to the field-all twenty-seven hundred points of her!" And a whipping wind swept the Dueling field, heralding the arrival of the Swift Savior, a flurry of baggy white clothes, scarlet hair, and blackened wings. [WIND/Fairy/Level 7/2700 ATK/1300 DEF]
"Pity she loses 300 of those points from being Summoned this way," Jack added, seeing Jade's ATK come down to 2400 and its DEF to 1000. "Or joy. Pity or joy, they've gotten mixed up a bit. I Set 1 card then, and end my turn."
"Then 'Torque Relay Strike's effect finally goes through, I'm afraid. It'll return my Torque monster with the highest Level from my field to my hand, so you'll be saved Jade's power for now". Jade bid farewell to the playing field with a shining burst of light. Evy's hand, however, would be brought back to the 2 she originally had-and her next turn's draw brought it to 3. "Now, I activate my Field Spell: 'Torquia, Home of the Swiftest'!"
A shimmering gleam engulfed the battlefield before it all disappeared into a field of green sparkles-a giant silver tower with emeralds jutting out of it from behind the Arcadia assailant's back.
"Its ability allows me to put a "Torque" monster and a "Swiftest" Spell Card from my Deck into the Graveyard to draw a card-and each following turn, as long as I do this, a "Torque" monster I control can activate its effects without returning a card to the Deck!" For now, however, I send my 'Hirokou, the Torque Renewer', and my 'Survival of the Swiftest' Spell out from my Deck, to draw once more." After the two cards were in the GY, again Evy's hand was at 3. "And now I activate 'Ariana's' special ability, which lets me take up another Torque card from my hand and shuffle it into my Deck-and once again it'll be Jade Nevermore, so you know what's here's to stay, Atlas!"
"It's been two turns and I've had my fill of that Queen already!" Jack shouted as Jade touched down on Evy's field once more.
Evy shook her head. "She's no longer your biggest threat, however-because Ariana's ability doesn't just return a card from the field to hand, but also allows for a "Torque" monster with 1000 or less DEF to double its original ATK! Herself, for example, to rise to a hefty 2400!" With a raise of her harp-lance, Ariana's power climbed to phenomenal heights, now meaning that two of Evy's monsters were fit to take down the Dark Highlander on Jack's field. "Jade, rid me of that oversized eyesore with your 'Torque Nightrain'!"
As Jade took to the sky, the ex-King sought to bring it down. "Not this time, Evy! Your birds about to be plucked with my 'Shadow Spell', which takes out 700 ATK from your Torque Queen and stop its attack!" And under the Queen, a flurry of chains quickly lashed around each of its limbs, anchoring them to each other and sending the royal anthropomorphic to the floor. It struggled to its feet, but the chains tightened again and kept it just off its knees.
Evy's eyes-hidden behind that metal visor-could not shoot the daggers they so clearly wanted to send the Master of Faster's way. But her words would shoot all the venom her vision would not.
"How dare you! Ariana will do the job Jade cannot, then-take down the Highlander with your 'Torque Sonata'!" The sound the harp of Ariana's made as it crashed into Dark Highlander would not go unnoticed by Akiza, who silently slapped hands to her ears at the destruction of Jack's Synchro Monster. The Sage of Evy's was still doing its work, it seemed.
And Evy was just starting hers. "I activate the card I just gained with Torquia-the Quick-Play Spell, 'Hunt of the Swiftest'! It replenishes my hand with 2 Quick-Play Spells from my Graveyard-in this case, my 'Torque Relay Strike' and the 'Survival of the Swiftest' that I just lost-then makes me send a Torque monster from my GY back to the Deck-so 'Hirokou's' gets a return ticket back to my Deck.
Now I activate 'Survival of the Swiftest' to get a non-Tuner 'Torque' monster out of my Deck-in this case, my 'Alin Bladeblitz, the Torque Enforcer'!"
Evy's scowl deepened.
"Tiago, you may have 650 ATK, but anything that'll wipe that smirk off that crownless wonder will suit me fine today-go with-"
Evy felt the warp before she saw the entire scene freeze in front of her-and this time, the girl-this Aspect boss-came to her from nothingness in a slow, deliberate walk. Evy, however, was less fazed by her sudden drop-in than her other compatriots.
"If this is about that punk Atlas-I'm literally in the middle of fighting him now. Akiza was a roadblock and a bait doll-she always was, and I still remember what we came here to-"
"Look at your field and what you're about to do with it." The boss finally finished in front of her. "And then say again that Akiza's something far removed from your mind."
The Psychic Pacesetter finally slumped. "650 ATK-yes, I get it. But come one, you've had issues with the Signer's arrogant attitudes before, I thought you'd be happy I'm about to start paying them back in kind!"
"Not when you're putting a mile-long weak spot in your formation to get a cheap shot off." The figure turned to look at the Sage of Silence still to the left of Evy. "Plus I'm pretty sure that projection of yours is putting a strain on your power control from how long you've been shutting up Black Rose with it."
"Not this, okay? Not now-keeping her from spilling my Deck's secrets-"
"Is something we consider before making her the first target, then losing her, then making an enemy of another Signer in the next five minutes!" the boss's tone took a hard edge for the first time in interaction with her comrades. "Look, Evy. You've lost so much to her and to the Signer's crusade against Arcadia. I've known this ever since I met you, fostered you, helped you finish your adjustment to that suit you've got on that you need just to keep from bumping into every wall and blowing apart every window in the Dystopia-"
Evy's head snapped up to meet her, a pair of holes certainly being burned through her visor at the words.
"Okay, I had to go there. And I'm sorry. I'm sorry. But who is this idiocy in your ironclad attrition strategy helping? Go fast, go hard, get the win. You said this to me. Said that you, of all the Aspect members, knew what it took to endure and replace these false heroes in the Signers." The boss finally placed a hand over her eyes, the slight exasperation coming through.
"Full disclosure. Save and Ceren-they're the only ones I don't have to constantly keep reminding of what it is we all came here to do. Please be the third for me. For all of us. Too much has already come through these worlds for us to be anything but our best…"
"…when we take the reigns in our worlds again and try to do right by them." Evy finished. "I won't let you down, I promise."
"You haven't even done that now." A light chuckle accentuates Evy's leader's relaxed stance. "We're getting close to the cutoff point for our time here, though. And Jack'll likely Summon Red Dragon Archfiend-Stardust has already come out."
The figure turned to leave. "I'll swing by Save after this-you've got the Duel secure, but let's see how well Jack can break your formation-if he even can."
Evy cocked one hip and balanced her fist on it. "You saying I'm not good enough for him now? Tsk, tsk."
"He is the former Fortune Cup Champion. And Yusei….well, he's a rather strange one, even for all the 'heroes' we've met." The boss's figure started fizzling away, even as Evy turned and prepared for the time-freeze to end-and to keep from making her Tiago attack. "But as long as we all keep our wits about us, we can get through this. Save only needs to get the stars out of her eyes now and our Aspect's plan is assured-just keep a hand on your callback switch."
Evy nodded. Her boss's figure was now only visible by her piercing eyes, the rest lost to the rift she was sinking back into.
"Second things get too hairy, we'll pull them all back…"
"and in our world, put them all down." said the winged spirit behind the Aspect boos, again back at her mentor's side even as she took in the comforts of the Dystopia of Desire again.
Back in the Satellite, as the cockpit opened, Yusei steeled himself for who would be seen, apparently marveling at the sight of his Synchro dragon cutting a path across the otherwise blank night sky. Was it some hulking stranger-some renegade criminal? Kiryu? the Satellite superstar refused to add, for fear of making it true by will.
But the person he saw nestled at the center of that shell of steel nearly made his jaw drop. In it was a girl-who couldn't have been more the Rally's age by the looks of her. Yet, she was dressed in an incredibly elaborate and design-laden silver-on black cloak. The hood itself coated in fur to almost add a lion cub-like appearance to her face-notable mainly by the scar that looped from under her chin and came within a whisker of intersecting with her left eye.
Now, there was only a rising wave of concern in Yusei's heart-for there was no way that a person that young could, or should have, been riding the elaborate D-Runner she had. Whoever was guiding that motorcycle through some GPS or technology-aided trick, however….
"Are you okay? Is the guy who's controlling that bike controlling you too?"
And then the girl shook her head away from Stardust Dragon.
Words struggled to brew up in her throat, but none of them came out.
Until, once again, the world in front of her eyes shuddered and stopped.
But not because of the D-Runner jumping the trash-heaps or hitting something-no, this event would be courtesy of an all-too-familiar face to her.
One currently staring at Yusei, still with eyes focused on Save even as she was focused on the new arrival.
Finally, the driver girl spoke. "I-I don't know what to say! After all that I did to him-and he has something that brilliant as a monster? I mean, he can't be as bad as what he's made out to be! Maybe it was some other Enforcer who looked like him that, it has to be-"
"Calm down, Save." The girl was still looking at Yusei, though. "I assure you, he was an Enforcer too. Maybe not the one that stormed your Duel clan and destroyed it-but he's one of them."
"But that was only when he didn't know me!"
"And now that he does, he doesn't see you as the Duelist you are-but as the Duelist someone's forcing you to be. As if Dueling prodigies like yourself are nonexistent-Esper Roba, and Weevil Underwood, and a whole host of legends of centuries past."
Save's shoulders finally slumped. "I can change this though, can't I?"
Her boss shrugged, finally breaking contact with Yusei and turning to walk the length of the road back to Save.
"Of course. But only if you quit getting caught up on his show and make one of your own. One that'll force him to see the full depths of what his actions in the past enabled. How many lives it ruined."
At Save's side now, the girl leaned back onto the shell containing Save's driver's seat and pointed to the Stardust Signer once more. "I mean the event you saw yourself, on that fateful day when the sun went out forever. The one where that white-haired Enforcer, with no reason, no mercy and no quarter given, stormed your compound, took your friends' cards, fought your boss to such a ruthless extent that it caused the place to collapse. And the other three-the ones you'd shared food and stories with when you first met-rushed past your broken body to him and ate up his lies about how they turned on him. Who was there when that happened?"
Save looked up, a new apprehension widening her eyes and shrinking her pupils. "Yusei Fudo. And they got rewarded for it with those glowing signs and awesome powers and…I grew up with those people-we were going to make it big, I was being prepared by the Swanks to be the youngest Turbo Duelist in history! And those….those…!"
"Don't." The boss shook her head. "Just...keep that in mind when you face down Yusei now. Even if this is not who he is, it's what he enabled. Your progress here is a testament to not only the potential of your clan before the Enforcers ran through it-but of all the other clans that fell to such brutal, despicable tactics as yours."
"O-okay." Save readjusted in her seat.
Almost immediately, the boss was by her side, Save's hands in hers. "I….I'm sorry for bringing that up. I was only trying to help you take this seriously. Look, if this is all too much-I'll blow the cover, I'll come down and face Yusei myself. Just say the word."
Save looked up to meet her eyes-and indeed, light tears dotted them. "Don't. Not for me-I'm no kid. Not after….what I've been through. I don't get to be one, I don't get to have it easy, and I don't get to look weak. I did once before." The Chrome Star Duelist straightened up in her seat, fingering the chain of a rather large globe-like bauble at her neck... "And you literally know the rest."
"…I see." The Aspect boss turned away. "I'll see to the last of us at Duel Academy. Keep in touch if it gets too much. Yusei has a lot of surprises and the patience to wait for the right time to use them all. So do you. Use it to your advantage."
With that, the girl in front of Save vanished, and the scene returned to normal-the wind whipping through Save's hair as she finally mustered her response-though to the Satellite Shooting Star, only a second or six had passed.
"Only person in control here, Yuse, is the youngest Turbo Duelist of all time and Chrome Star Crusader-Save Haranou, at your service." With a hand on the wheel of her auto-piloted Duel Runner (a force of habit), she offered the other to Yusei in a mockery of a handshake.
"And yet, you're this obsessed with something I've done. Care to fill me in on exactly what, now that Stardust is over your head?" Yusei inquired-hoping that Save's original fascination with his Synchro might elicit more information about that situation…
Unfortunately, the spell Stardust has cast had inexplicably worn its magic. The clandestine cruiser simply shook her head. "Nuh uh! That'll only come over my busted Runner! Since that seems to be the only way you find out about everyone you leave under your notice! And since I'm not up for attacking that Stardust right now, I'll set this 1 final card and end my turn!" The score still stood at Save's 3000 to Yusei's 4000-but with three monsters to Save's name, Yusei would have his work cut out for him keeping up with the Chrome Star crusader's defenses.
The Signer's next draw, however, would go a long way toward extending his field of play.
"First off, I activate my new Spell, 'Scrap-Iron Sentinel'!" The Quick-Play Yusei had just drawn fizzled to life. "By sending a card from the top of my Deck to the Graveyard, this Spell allows to either Special Summon a Junk monster from my hand, or a Machine Tuner from my Graveyard that was sent there since this turn or the last! So the top card of my Deck this time is…."
And Yusei's mill turned up…'Bri Synchron'! Perfect. Two inner voices would utter that-Yusei's in gratified anticipation and Save's in growing dread.
"Well now, I guess the Soldier can bring back the Tuner I just left to there! Take flight, 'Bri Synchron'!" And the emerald android finally took a position next to Stardust. [EARTH/Machine/Tuner/Level 4/1500 ATK/1100 DEF]
"And thanks in part to the Summon, not only does 'Bri Warrior' gain another Level, bringing it to Level Five, but Scrap-Iron Soldier goes face-down on the field instead of the Graveyard since I activated it from my hand!" And the number of Yusei's set cards was back at two once more. "Next, another Synchron's going to join the party-my 'Junk Synchron'!" Another stout Synchron, much like Steam before it, would be called to action-this one an orange enigma with a gigantic rip-cord motor attached to its back. [DARK/Machine/Tuner/Level 3/1300 ATK/500 DEF]
"Junk Synchron's not exactly going stag either-his special ability allows me to bring back a Level Two or lower monster from my Graveyard, like the 'Tuningware' I sent there last turn!" With this, Junk Synchron disappeared into another portal that lay at his feet-only to come back with the tiny Level 1 frying-pan helmeted robot in back tow. [LIGHT/Machine/Level 1/100 ATK/300 DEF]
"Now I tune my Level Four 'Bri Synchron' with my 'Tuningware', to Synchro Summon out 'Bri Warrior'!" Once again, that all too familiar speedometer ring-to-light-pillar process brought out another monster-this time, a white-bordered bionic with some sharp claws for hands. A sleek green body with jet-like wings decorated with golden rings finished its look-and the turbulent look behind its glowing eyes make it look like it'd be happy to finish Saves' field in turn. [EARTH/Warrior/Synchro/Level 6/2000 ATK/1400 DEF]
"Tuningware's' use isn't through yet, though-it allows me to draw another card since it was used for a Synchro Summon this turn!" And Yusei again had 1 card in hand. "Plus, 'Bri Synchron's' ability gives. 'Bri Warrior' another eight hundred Attack Points to work with!" And now, Bri Warrior stood at an impressive twenty-eight hundred Attack Points.
"Oh man….I mean, well at least the monster looks nice." The subterfuge-loving Duelist knuckled one fist into the bottom of her chin as she looked back at the monster.
"Well, now that that's all over and done with, one of Bri Warrior's two attacks that it gets this turn should go a long way to making sure your Forgotten One goes out with a bang! Let it rip, Bri, with your Brilliant Stride!" And as the advancing android made its way to Save's monster, claws a silver flash among the blue waves of the rockets it uses to steer itself toward the Agent, Save would strike again with another complex ploy.
"First it'll have to hit my Agent-and she's got a new way to blend into the crowd! Go, 'Operation Outbreak'!" Save's face-down Quick-Play Spell Card finally revealed itself and showcased two other cards shooting out of Save's Deck and shrouding themselves alongside the Warrior Tuner.
"What's this?"
"Simple well-placed misdirection-see, the Forgotten One's made a trio with two other 'Operation' cards from my Deck-and for each one of the 'Operation' cards you hit, I draw a card. But if you still make your mark on Forgotten One, half of the difference between your monster's ATK and my monster's DEF get cut out of my Life Points!"
Yusei, almost seriously deliberated whether to attack or not. The thought of Akiza, still possibly at the mercy of whoever had Dueled her (though he certainly hoped otherwise) made his decision for him.
"Bri Warrior, go for the center card again!"
Once again, Bri Warrior set on a path for the center piece-and Save Haranou could only watch in muted anticipation and slight horror as the blade barrage of the powerful Synchro Warrior came in.
And the attack finally hit its mark-on an 'Operation' Continuous Spell, the 'Operation PrivateEye', in fact. "Well, that's cool, since the 'PrivateEye's' destruction gives me three hundred Life Points for each face-up monster you control; that's three, so it should be 900!" Save's Life Points shot up to 3900 on the spot, and Yusei gritted his teeth.
If I hit another 'PrivateEye' that she Set, she'll be at 4800, and I'll be further from ending this Duel than I was at the beginning! Time to switch to a different tack.
Yusei's thought process finished, he turned his new Synchro's attention to another face-down of Save's-the untouched left-most card. Perhaps targeting one of the cards the Chrome Star CEO had set before OutBreak arrived would yield better luck.
"Bri Warrior, your second strike goes at the leftmost card!" The Level Six WIND Warrior took aim at this card-all twenty-eight hundred points of it-and a flurry of clawed blades tore through it. The card, however, revealed itself to be another Chrome Star Agent-
"-codename, 'Chosen One'..." [EARTH/Warrior/Tuner/Level 3/1400 ATK/400 DEF]"...has a little going away present for you as well-second it hits the GY, you take a hundred damage for each face-down card on the field. Five of those here…"
"…comes out to five hundred points of damage," Yusei finished for her, keeping his stance firm even as the electricity from the spinning wheels of the destroyed Tuner hit his D-Runner, and the Chrome Star Agent-Chosen One's Chariot Crasher strike put his Life Points to 3500.
Not the change in pace the Satellite Shooting Star was hoping for, but he was definitely cured of his obsession with avoiding the OutBreak cards at all cost. And just his luck, he had another Synchro to take the precision blow to that two-card monte.
"Stardust Dragon, it's time we bring more light to the shadows of the Chrome Stars-hit the card at the new rightmost end with Cosmic Flare!"
And Stardust's signature stream of power raced at that card. Thankfully curving along with the two riders as their race along the junkyard hit an upward facing ramp, leading to a defunct train station-and the rails that threaded through the Satellite.
However, for Stardust Dragon, its attack was about to hit a wall. "From my hand, I'll keep my 'Forgotten One' safe, with another 'Chrome Star Agent'-codename, 'Rouge'! By sending him from my hand to the Graveyard, he takes any hits my Agent would for the rest of this turn!" The renegade researcher's appearance in front of the now blue-tinged defending Tuner would serve as a shock to the Stardust Signer. The Rogue Reflector it conjured to push back the powerful attack of Yusei's dragon would only make the spectacle more amazing.
But Yusei had yet one more attack to push.
"Go, Junk Synchron your target's the new rightmost card!" Junk Synchron turned and charged straight at the card, revealing it to be the 'Chrome Star Agent - Number 13'. Its DEF was equal to Junk Synchron's ATK, though… [EARTH/Warrior/Level 3/1300 ATK/1300 DEF]
"So your Junk Synchron and my Agent both survive this battle-and so do your Life Points!" Save pouted at this. "And since this Battle Phase is over, the other card I set with 'Operation OutBreak' is sent to the Graveyard as well, and I lose five hundred Life Points for it." The score now stood at 3400 for Save and 3500 for Yusei.
Mission accomplished, I guess, thought Yusei-he'd gone through a lot of effort for this, but he was now a cool hundred above the Chrome Star crusader. "I'll finish my turn with a face-down and leave the next move to you!"
And what a move it'd be, now that the two Turbo Duelists were on the parallel rails of the abandoned trains. Rails that Yusei, with a start, realized led and looped around close to the area where he'd last seen Akiza. This could be a two for one, he just had to keep the Duelist that was now speeding behind him occupied!
With that in mind, Yusei uttered the four words his enemy wished to hear….
"…I end my turn!"
Jack had only a minute to grasp what had happened. After it looked like Evy-this Psychic predator of Arcadian fame-was ready to force her weakened Tiago Steelswipe to attack, a split-second change came over her-and without a second to spare, ended her Battle Phase and quickly switched the buccaneer to Defense Mode. The Master of Faster would have asked what gives, were it not for those four words.
A reprieve from the ravings and insults was welcome though-but not redeeming. At least, Jack thought as he looked back at the muted Akiza, not just yet-he'd been rid of a promising Synchro Monster by this girl and that just wouldn't do. Not at all.
"My turn then, and I'll start things off with a few new rules!" As Jack's newest draw gave him a new window of opportunity, he looked at Evy's field-though she had finally had no Set Spells and Traps to trip him up, he knew that he'd need to take back the field one part at a time. "First off, I'll bring back the Synchro you so helpfully destroyed with the Normal Spell, 'Shuffle Reborn'!"
As the revival Spell came to life, the arms that sprouted from it opened a rift in the air in front of him, reached into it, and brought back the Dark Highlander, though it was once again in Defense Mode. "Fortunately for you, this card now comes with its special abilities negated! But he'll still serve a new purpose, and so will this-my 'Chain Resonator'!" Another spry tuning-fork wielding Fiend spiraled onto the field, this time with a circular length of coil behind it. [LIGHT/Fiend/Tuner/Level 1100 ATK/100 DEF]
"And whenever it's Normal Summoned while I control a Synchro, it can bring out another 'Resonator' from my Deck-like my old favorite, 'Dark Resonator'!" And finally, Jack's most iconic Resonator made landfall in Defense Mode, turning its fork and hammer in a cross as its jagged grin dared the opponent to make tracks with it. [DARK/Fiend/Tuner/Level 3/1300 ATK 300 DEF]
"Now it's time for the main event! I tune my Level One 'Chain Resonator' with my Level Seven 'Dark Highlander'!" This time, Chain Resonator's instrument clang turned it into a flaming ring, which the Highlander floating into before collapsing into seven stars within it.
Jack's grin, however, was as bright as the spear of shining light that cut through the ring a second later. "Time to turn up the heat-say hello to my glorious 'Red Dragon Archfiend'!" Just like that, the scarlet, wicked-horned Signer Dragon burst out of the prism and loomed over both Duelists' heads, its ragged wingspan almost touching the rails to the left of Jack and the abandoned building to his right. [DARK/Dragon/Synchro/Level 8/3000 ATK/2000 DEF]
"Peachy…" Evy's eyes narrowed a bit at the sight of yet another one of her nemesis team's greatest monsters making its presence known. "I suppose you're getting right into the attack now?" she asked.
Jack snorted. "Now who's being impatient? There's still another thing for my 'Shuffle Reborn' Spell in my Graveyard to do! By banishing it and returning a card from my field to my Deck, I can draw another card-but if it stays in my hand during the End Phase, it's banished as well! And I pick my Shadow Spell for that Spell to return!"
"Wait, what?!" the Emerald Arcadian roared in disbelief. "But that means that Jade's ATK becomes 700 points stronger again!" As stated, the aforementioned Torque queen rose to 2400 again. "Are you trying to mock me?"
"No, your stupid metal suit provides far more mockery than I can ever manage-and your puffed-up queen should be at its top form before Red Dragon Archfiend knocks it down!" With Shadow Spell now safely squirreled away in his Deck, Jack's next draw really served to make his grin go half-mast, but only for a second. "Oh would you look at that, it's my 'King Nova' Spell, which lets me take in two more cards since a monster that was Synchro Summoned using a DARK Fiend monster is on my board!"
His one card turned into two again, Jack now had a reason to further the pain. "Now, Red Dragon Archfiend, put that Queen down in flames, with your Absolute Powerforce!" One rush with its superheated claw later, and the Queen was defrocked, Evy six hundred Life Points poorer for the attack. She now stood at 3400 Life Points, and even the standing was a challenge after the blowback from the Red Dragon's attack.
"Don't worry, your Queen's not going down alone! And all her horses and men won't put your other monsters back together again with my 'Red Dragon Raigeki'!" Jack's newest Quick-Play Spell hit the field with all the thunder its name implied. "Since I destroyed a monster you controlled with a DARK Synchro Monster I controlled, this card takes out EVERY ONE of your monsters in one fell swoop-so the rest of your lineup's heading to the cleaners with a taste of my Synchro's absolute power!"
Evy panted in pain from the hit previous, but still had an answer to the Master of Faster. "Not while….Torquia….stands in your way. Its ability lets me prevent a Torque monster from going out to a card effect, by discarding 1 WIND monster….and shuffling 1 Spell or Trap from my Graveyard into the Deck. I'm sorry, my Torque Pacesetters….but your pain will preserve my pack." And with this, the Level 5 horseback duo stood valiantly in front of the Raigeki, stopping it with its body and an ear-rattling explosion before it could hit the other three WIND monsters of Evy's.
"Fine by me," Jack snorted. "See, for every monster of yours that avoided destruction, the power of my "Red Dragon Raigeki" also allows me to draw an extra card, so long as I discard 1 of them for every 3 I drew-that's three more cards for me! Then I'll set 2 cards, and discard my 'Vice Berserker' to Summon out my 'Power Giant', though it'll lose Levels equal to the Level 'Vice Berserker' had!" The now Level 3 crystalline colossus would immediately touchdown alongside the Dragon of Absolute Powerforce. [EARTH/Rock/Level 6-3/2200 ATK/0 DEF]
"Now I tune my Level Three 'Dark Resonator' with my Level Three 'Power Giant', to Synchro Summon…"
Another lance of light cut across the sleepy town.
"…the Level Six 'Supercharged Skull Archfiend'!"
A gigantic, wiry DARK Fiend cut its way through the beam of light its sharp arms and vice-like metal mandibles promising pain to any who'd even look at its horn-framed face wrong. [DARK/Fiend/Synchro/Level 6/2500 ATK/1200 DEF]
"And with all of this in hand, I end my turn!"
"I assume your little Supercharged Skull goes as well, right? Courtesy of your all too powerful dragon?" Evy tutted.
"Oh no, not for this powerful Fiend of mine-see, if its Synchro Summoned with a DARK Fiend, it can prevent itself from being destroyed by any means once a turn by returning a Level Four or lower DARK Fiend from my Graveyard to my hand, so even though the Dragon's fire may wash over it, it'll keep chugging on, granting me my Vice Berserker too! Let's see if you can handle the heat now!"
Evy's eyes bugged out as she realized the situation she was in. Two powerful Synchros now ran the board, Ra knew what he'd put down to prevent any other assaults, and she only had three monsters that she'd neglected to follow through on a useful Synchro Summon due to her trying to reign in her temper….and succeeding too much by half.
She'd find a way around this. She HAD to.
"I draw, and am now going to show you a new breed of monsters-one without peer, without fear, and without escape! Even your Synchros themselves won't stand up to them!"
Jack's eyes finally widened. "What's this about-something BETTER than a Synchro? Explain yourself, now!"
"This card's own method of Summon should do that for me-by using monsters and Spell or Trap Cards in equal measure, a new monster comes out, with power multiplied by each card used for its Summon-so, by using my Level 6 Spectre-Type monster 'Terrai, the Torque Groundskeeper', and my newly acquired 'Torque Relay Strike' Spell, I call on the power of the Advent!"
With the gigantic Spectre monster – and what even is a SPECTRE-TYPE MONSTER?! Jack didn't immediately yell- taking point now, the Spell turned into a green light that stretched out into a giant DNA-like tower, the ends of one of the helixes splitting and warping open to reveal a shimmering gateway that the Groundskeeper was sucked into. Then the portal finally sparked with new electric life, and two silver hands emerged to grip its edges.
The Master of Faster was finally slow to respond-and his compatriot Signer, Akiza almost frozen to the spot with horror-to the monstrosity that was coming out of the gate. It was already making his Dragon Archfiend pale in size as the portal grew wider and wider to fit it through.
Finally, a face to match its phenomenal form ripped out of the helix portal-or rather two, from the mask that jauntily sat to the left of its metallic visage. Both faces, however, betrayed a ferocity that could span the very city they were Dueling in.
"I SUMMON the new face of eternity, the titan of true potential-known to YOU as the Level Seven Advent Monster-'VITRO THE MASKED MARVEL'!"
This shouldn't have had to be shown this early-but you've left me no choice, o dethroned one, the Arcadian assailant didn't mournfully add.
Because there was no way she could bear to return to her boss, after all this time she'd frittered away, and tell her that she owed her tail-between-the-legs position….
HERO TIMELINE/DUEL ACADEMY/8:59 PM
"…is because of you?"
This was the half-finished but full-throated declaration of Jaden Yuki. Yes, it was a far cry from how he, even in times of danger, would address a person he'd need to throw down with. Part of it did had something to do with the fact that it was the person who'd single-handedly taken down two of his friends, and had sent another running scared to tell him of what he desired rather than face him himself. So yeah, not exactly a good first impression for whoever this person was.
…who was he by the way, though? Not only was this the more pressing question, but it would also end being the one the unseen Yubel would present to Jaden. He's ready for us. And while that may be expected, this person also seems like he knows more than he's letting on. Even his stance makes me feel he's been here longer than-
"-Rather rude of a mysterious Duel Spirit such as yourself, to not even ask the name of your target of gossip."
Yubel almost turned into a statue with how harshly she jumped and froze at the mystery man recognizing her existence. Jaden was as well, though he did a better job of hiding it than his fiendish familiar.
"So you can see Duel Spirits too-well, that's pretty sweet! I'd think we could make some great friends…" at this point, Jaden caught himself in realizing who he was starting to warm up to. "…well, if you hadn't spent the last couple of minutes rag-tagging them around the Academy grounds! If it's a fight you want, I'm your solution-not them!"
"I have no doubt you are-as well as the solution to a whole host of questions no one in this Academy's asked!" The figure swept back his black curtain of hair-well what little of it wasn't tied behind him in a thin but long ponytail-in an almost habitual-looking gesture. "Absolutely shocking how many of this Academy's issues can trace their starting point to your arrival…or your actions."
"Right now, you're the new problem-"
"Problem-solver, my man." The figure sighed heavily. "And since your friend is so curious, I'll fill you in on one more thing before she gets stuck like that. My name is Castano - 'Ceren' for short. And right now, what family I do this business in the name of is none of yours. I challenge you, Jaden Yuki, to a Duel-and if you lose, that HERO Neos of yours comes with me!"
"And if I win…?" Jaden asked suspiciously, still not trusting of a situation that had no discernible benefit on the other end of the scale. Even some more information would be welcome. And it seemed Ceren would give him such an option.
"You win, Jade, I'll tell you everything you need to know, hand you my Deck's best monster and leave." Ceren heartily laughed at this. "A 3 for 1 special, my serendipitous Slifer. So what do you say? Only one word I need: yes or no."
"I'll happily give you four, Ceren…" And with that, Jaden Yuki's Duel Disk sprang into action, the finalizing beep music to his ears. "Get your game on!"
The Aspect member's far more elaborate crimson Duel Disk spread into an ammo-belt like configuration for his field. And his next words would come in just as rapidly. "If only y'knew how badly this game was about to go for you, kid…."
"…especially since you're the reason the Aspect came to be!" both he and his boss said in unison, as the final Aspect soldier went to war.
TO BE CONTINUED…
HEY THERE
IT BE D'SCEPTRE INC. AGAIN
Don't worry, however, capslock didn't get stuck, I've just fixed up the chapter for your viewing pleasure. Next up is HEROes in the Hot Seat, and well...things are about to get cerebral for the people of the HERO Timeline. Should have an update on what to expect, but after this, you'll be treated to a slight reprieve from the rapid-fire Dueling of the present day, to take a little deep dive into the origins of one of its more...
...devotion-obsessed members. Maybe help bring a bit more light to him than that knight Akiza wiped the floor of the Fortune Cup stadium with way back when.
Till next chapter, folks!