Disclaimer: I do not own RWBY or Yu-Gi-Oh. They belong to Monty Oum (RIP) and Takahashi Kazuki respectively.
Warning: This is not the actual war, but the start.
Without any ado, here is Chapter 21, enjoy!
(Yu-Gi-Oh Theme)
[Ruby's symbol appears on top as Ruby Rose stays in the middle as she then separated, one with her innocent self on the left, while the right is Stardust facing right]
(Your move! Your move! Your move! Your move!)
[Ruby's shadow shifts as it becomes Stardust Dragon with his amber eyes glowing]
(Your move!)
[Ruby's astral body flies in the vacuum of space as thousands of cards fly around her like an atom with giant beasts breathing fire and ice]
(Yu-Gi-Oh)
[Thunder clashed as monsters pour out from the land, sea and air. Zombies abruptly come up from the graveyard. Volcanoes erupted as Grimm ran to avoid their molten death. Multiple creatures came out and attack the city of Vale. Team JNPR attempt to fight off a giant T-rex as Yang is surrounded by raptors. In the skies, Weiss and Blake were trying to fight a green legless dragon in the Bullhead but was being trapped by lightning bolts. Ruby and Jaune then fall into a large portal as they called their friends for help.]
(Your move!)
[Ruby faces off a man in dark armor as she flows show bright red while the man in dark armor flows black and white. The camera then shows the man in dark armor on his throne while cards surround him like a shield. The scene switches to show a piece of armor fall off to reveal a small black pupil in its blood red eye.]
(Ruby: It's time to du-du-du-du-dududududududuel!)
[The camera shows Ruby's aura fluctuating while Ruby show stillness]
[The scenes then switch as it shows Weiss's face as she poses, Blake's face while pulling out Gambol Shroud, Yang's face in her semblance as she poises a punch, Team JNPR, Ozpin, Glynda, Ironwood, and Cinder with fire tracing her right eye]
[The screen cuts to Ruby as she draws a card to the sky bolts of lightning comes from the card as it reveals Elemental Heroes on the right, Junk Warrior, Junk Destroyer, Junk Archer, Turbo Warrior, and Chevalier de Fleur to the left, and finally a red dragon with six eyes emerged from a star appearing at the top.]
(Yu-Gi-Oh)
"I knew it…" General Ironwood said first softly, "I was right the entire time! We should've need more than just our current strength!"
"James, calm," Glynda tried to soothe the tense General.
"Calm down! That's easy for you to say, but being calm won't erase what we just witnessed!" Ironwood angrily yelled.
"Yes, while what they brought forth is… nerve-wracking," Ozpin first said, "But we need to have a sound head James, in time the crisis may soon be over."
"Oh you are not doing this again!" Ironwood yelled, "I have done what I can for Vale and for you Ozpin, but everything we have achieved, what we did... we were belittled by someone who had more resources and more power than two kingdoms combined! And all this time two teams were in the front lines, while we sit idle by, not even aware of the dangers someone had conducted!"
Before Glynda could speak, Ironwood continued on, "Whoever was behind the attacks and the introduction to their personal White Fang, had everything they need for a full-scale war! One could say they can bring more damage than we could ever think of."
"But despite everything," Ozpin started, "We were given a lot of insights thanks to Crow and Red. We can be more prepared and able to access the strengths. Given time, they will slip up and be their own downfall."
"I don't think we have time Ozpin," Ironwood countered, "And that thing can be more dangerous than we think of," he brought out his scroll and placed it on Ozpin's desk. A transparent hologram revealed the black knight Ruby and her friends fought against as it even showed what it did to Nora.
"Honestly," Ironwood pinched the bridge of his nose, "I think our war is meaningless compared to what your students have gone through."
"You are right on that," Ozpin made a deep sigh, "But regardless, it's only a matter of time before they can do any actual damage upon us. I am confident that Ruby and her friends will pull through."
"Was it the same when they were taken by Dr. Merlot," Ironwood said adding salt to the wound.
"That was different James," Glynda now said with narrowed eyes at the two.
(RWBY and JNPR's ship)
Nora was eating a large amount of food albeit slower than how she usually eats. Ever since the fiasco with Diabolos, their men had made sure Nora would make a fast recovery, but it looked like it'll be longer as Nora is a little pale than usual and her aura is coming back. That and Ren was with her the entire time. Meanwhile the rest were waiting at the factories with Triforce as Red and Crow entered.
"So, who was that," Jaune first asked.
"To answer for some," Red first said, "He isn't with the White Fang, not affiliated with our enemies at all, and he's not human, nor Faunus."
"So who is he," Weiss asked.
Red snickered at first, "If you want to know, he's actually a monster like us."
"And how can you prove that," Weiss asked.
"Well, let's start by an introduction," Red stated moving away to reveal to the said monster.
The monster had dark blue hair, pale skin, and now wears a blue-gray suit of armor like a knight, unlike where they found him wearing civilian clothes.
"Greetings duelists and Signers," he greeted with a bow, "I am known as the Master Diamond, I am pleased to see you face to face."
"Diamond," Weiss questioned looking around him, "You don't seem much."
"On the contrary, I had to keep the guise so no one could notice who I am," he replied, "But while I would love to hear your names, I have dire news… the Earthbound Immortals are ready to begin their plan. Right now with every second, they are growing more powerful thanks to what transpired these past few days. As of this moment, we are not safe, not even anywhere on Remnant or even Reverse Remnant can be a safe place."
"So what happens now," Pyrrha wondered.
"We continue the offense," Jaune uttered, "Take the fight to them and end this. The sooner we end this war, the better."
"Ha-ha!" Triforce haughtily laughed, "Now you act more as a warrior. We have enough forces to go against all of Remnant itself. All we need is to find their main hideout."
"Yes," Diamond said, "And soon the real duels will begin. I understand that you have enough forces to wipe out anyone, but I've seen Diabolos' work. He has been conducting procedures to counteract your ever growing army of monsters. It'll be pointless to just blindly deploy your forces. Combined with the negative energies of the Earthbound Immortals, you can't beat them with brute force… only by beating them in a Shadow Game will ensure their defeat."
Shadow Game. Two words that made even veteran duelists anxious and intimidated as the said game meant life and death. There hadn't been any reports of a Shadow Game on Remnant and that was a good sign. And they want to keep it that way.
"What's a Shadow Game?" Blake asked curiously.
"A dark and dangerous version of the game we play," Crow explained, "Unlike the original, the Shadow Game gambles more than one can bargain. For the winner leaves victorious, the loser… loses his soul and his life extinguished."
"You mean to say…" Pyrrha said but then feared what will come next.
"In the coming hours of the war we are placed in a large Shadow Game, a game of Survival of the Fittest. With Ruby and Jaune being the only Signers here, losing only one will be catastrophic, especially when you lose, you forfeit your life," Tilla solemnly explained.
"But then…" Blake said.
"We too will be part of the dark game, monsters and all, the next thing that happens when the Signer War ends, only one side will remain victorious," Black Rose said added.
"Then Jaune, and Ruby will be a part of this," Yang questioned the monsters.
"Yes," Red, Crow, Black Rose, and Triforce said nodding.
A small gust of wind was felt on the flesh of others as they look to see Ruby had vanished, impressively away from their own senses. Then Yang decided to go up and see what Ruby is up to, while the others ponder on what to do.
"Is it really true, Stardust, everyone's life will be gone in the Shadow Game," Ruby asked more nervously to her dragon.
"Yes," Stardust said, "Even when we had thousands of soldiers, they can all perish with just one game. This is where we are forced to play their tormenting game. We don't like it too, but we need to in order to survive."
"Couldn't there be any other to end the war," Ruby asked for another solution.
"I am sorry, but the Immortals and Diabolos made sure once we venture to their battlegrounds, we must play by their rules, no matter how despicable," Stardust apologized.
Ruby sat down on a nearby bench, took out her deck, and saw her monsters in their cards with sadness. She didn't want them to be taken away, she loved with an extreme passion. The worst part is her friends may end up disappearing from her life too. She has to win, or everyone will pay for her defeat.
"I can already sense your doubt, your anxiety, but you need a calm mind to put in a way where everyone can live their own lives. All their lives rely upon you and Jaune or perhaps the teams' will to fight the Immortals," Stardust said as he brought his claw up and produced a series of cards for her to see, "I can help you defeat the Earthbound Immortals like we did before in Reverse Remnant. All I ask is for us to combine our power."
"Heh, you forget, we have already bonded Stardust, you are always with me and you already know my answer," Ruby made a soft laugh.
"Agreed," Stardust said bringing a bright light to her cards and her aura.
Ruby began to see newly made cards invented for her deck as they merged. In the process, her deck begins to lose its light and her Elemental Heroes were slowly being removed from her deck.
'I hope you can forgive me,' Ruby apologized to her superheroes as her new deck was forged from her and Stardust.
When the process was complete, the Elemental Heroes she adored began to have a new owner in her stead. A man dressed in gold armor with a red cape longer than hers with bull horns pointed up. Her Elemental Hero Captain Gold who stood proud before kneeling before her.
"We were your allies Ruby Rose since our arrival, now we became one to be your sword and shield. Till our fading breath, we are thankful to be your friends," Captain Gold declared representing the other heroes they declared their loyalty to her.
Ruby looked sad when her friend made that declaration.
Something got Gold's attention as she looked to see Yang standing there, but her eyes were covered by her golden hair.
"Hi Yang," Ruby first said happy before going sad, "What brings you here?"
"What? Can't your loving sister check on you," Yang first joked before asking, "Are you sure you want to go through this?"
"…I have to Yang, if I don't, everyone at Remnant will fade away from the Earthbound Immortals," Ruby said determined, "I have to do it, for you, for the Alliance, for everyone!"
"I know that," Yang said, "You're my little sister for crying out loud, you wouldn't hesitate to help someone. I'm just… you know curious that you would go into a war so easily."
"Yang, I fought monsters that could've ended me, went to another dimension to fight a big army and face off a humongous whale, and got myself impaled by my own baby," Ruby cringed when she listed the last part, "Honestly I'm not surprised that I did all that stuff."
"That's the thing Ruby," Yang said, "You are putting yourself in more danger than even all of us combined, and I live my life like every day's the last. I just… I just think you care little about your life."
"And for once I agree with your sister."
The three turned to see Weiss and Blake walking toward them in unison.
"Lately you've been putting yourself in danger in ways I never thought possible," Weiss pointed and added, "After what happened with Nora, even we were thinking we are about to go in something way over our head. Even bigger than we were going after the White Fang. Yet somehow, we managed to emerge victorious in every mission. And now we are introduced to where the game became one where we would lose our souls."
"Weiss," Ruby said with uncertainty.
Stardust manifested behind his partner as he looked at them in a human height.
"Sometimes I wonder what we have been doing these past few days," Weiss wondered.
"Would… it be bad to go back to the way it used to be," Ruby asked almost ashamed.
"A part of me says yes," Weiss admitted, "But look at what we got and achieved. I don't we could've accomplish this were it not for you, Stardust, or the monsters themselves. There's no turning back now, and when we do this Shadow Game, we WILL support you and team JNPR all the way."
"You won't get any arguments from me neither," Blake said wanting to help her leader through the dangerous task.
"And I'll come too," Yang said giving Ruby a comforting smile and placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Thanks guys, honestly I would've asked if you can back out and let me deal it alone, but you guys are the greatest friends I can ever have," Ruby said with a big smile and a tear touching the edge of her eye.
"Well too bad sis, we're staying with you," Yang said happily, "We don't need another Blake in the team."
"Yeah," Blake said agreeing… before widening her in realization and putting a narrow glare, "Hey!"
A loud explosion was heard afar as they look at the black cloud with caution. Immediately they ran to see what has happened. When they arrived, they saw the same burnt circle at the docks, but this time Red Dragon Archfiend stands tall as he gave out a triumphant roar, while the other side has the so-called Master Diamond laying on his back defeated.
"That's… the match," Jaune said panting just a little.
"Well played, Bearer of Red Dragon Archfiend," Master Diamond got up congratulating the blond Signer.
"It would be better if you weren't disabled from the dark beings, otherwise you've played a powerful game," Red commented the knight.
"I was part of a Great War that would've ended with annihilation, what you can expect from someone like me," Master Diamond said mentioning the war.
"Aww, did we miss it," Ruby asked disappointed.
"A big yes on that Ruby," Pyrrha said with a smile.
"But, on the other hand, you can meet our latest duelists that joined your crusade," Crow merely said as two duelists came forth and presented themselves.
The first on the right is a boy about 5'10 feet tall was running through the damaged streets in rapid pace. He had black hair that goes to his upper neck, blue denim jacket with leather sleeves, black cargo pants and black with blue highlighted shoes. However his eyes are different with blue on the left and red at the right.
The other is also 5'10" like him but wears a red and black cybernetic armor on him with only two differences: a special set of reinforced armored leggings and a mask similar to a robot.
"Boys, can you please introduce yourselves to your superiors," Black Rose said to them.
The one with the robot head first the first introduction, "My name has been known as the Steel Valor, cybernetic assassin under the power of Lord Red I look forward to fighting alongside you."
Then the other one… didn't say anything. He looked like a deer staring at the headlights, while his mouth tried to utter some words.
"Uh, is there something wrong with him," Ruby asked curiously.
"Hold on," Steel Valor said before slapping the back of his head, "Greet yourself before you try to run."
"Uh right," he said mentally face palming himself as he introduced himself as bravely as possible, "My name… is Angel Paloma, I work under the majesty of Ancient Fairy Dragon."
"Do forgive the way he acts," Crow said to team RWBY, "He tends to get shy when it comes to girls."
"Well, I don't have a problem with that, how about you guys," Ruby asked her friends.
They gave no objections to their new dueling friends, since they're army strength has risen by a margin.
"So we have everyone ready to assist in combating the Earthbound Immortals, where to next," Jaune asked as Ren and Nora came out to see.
"Where else… Reverse Remnant," Ruby declared.
(Reverse Remnant)
"AAHH!" a cloaked duelist before falling on his back lifeless as he began to turn to ash.
On the other side of a dark arena, Diabolos stood victorious as nearby, a Dark Armed Dragon roared with rage as it faded away from the recent Shadow Game. His armor was completely repaired from the damage Ruby Rose had dealt upon as he deactivated his duel disk.
'No,' Diabolos thought, 'the strategies and cards aren't strong enough. I'll need to adapt more if I should duel against the Signers.'
"Sir!" one of the cloned Faunus called as she entered the arena bravely.
"What is it soldier," Diabolos asked calmly.
"All the airships have been deployed evenly around the Archipelago we stand on and the Grimm and Atlesian machines are within the islands," she reported.
"Very good," Diabolos said pleased with the report, "Have our soldiers bolster around the Grimm and maintain defenses at the towers."
"Yes sir," she said before asking, "Before I depart, I would like to have permission to ask."
"Hmm… alright, you have my approval," Diabolos said with a tilted head.
"The ones you spoke, Cinder Fall and her minions, was it wise to let them live," she asked curiously.
"I am… afraid you lost me," Diabolos slowly said.
"Their leader does promise a place within this world, and they have hidden themselves for over the past months, remarkable that no one bother to even investigate their crimes. But would you also ally with their leader in the shadows," she asked.
"The one called Salem," Diabolos said saying the name like it's common, "This is exactly what I had asked the Earthbound Immortals about. And their answer is the same answer I'll give to you."
(Flashback when Diabolos asked what to do with Salem and her cronies)
"What point can they be of any use to us," the spider mark glowed.
"Despite their attempts to burn the world into darkness and they align with our goals," The giant mark glowed.
"They are hardly called the destroyers since they merely bide their time, allowing their so-called enemies to lax and dispute amongst themselves," the lizard mark glowed continuing the statement.
"And of the massing Grimm that populated most of the world," Diabolos asked.
"Nothing but a nuisance the kingdoms allowed to expand, while they spoil themselves with the riches they've held," the whale mark glowed.
"While our Grimm thrive and become stronger in the darkness our battlefield," the monkey mark glowed.
"And our hybrids shall soon be the ultimate power of Remnant itself," the hummingbird mark glowed brighter to emphasize the sentence.
"With you as well," the spider mark glowed again, "You have been our most prized servants to ever exist within the countless worlds, but alas soon our power will either thrive or be extinguished, nothing will change that."
"Then what shall I do my masters," Diabolos asked.
"Continue preparations for the Signers' arrival, ready our defenses and initiate the fail-safes from here, Remnant and to the countless worlds," the giant mark glowed again, "If they defeated us in this world, then we will return in the countless worlds and universes, no matter how many times we will fall. Salem and her pathetic cronies have no place in the coming days that will transpire in Remnant. They are meaningless, if you see any of them… crush them."
"Yes, my masters," Diabolos said bowing before them.
(End Flashback)
"I see," she said now understanding, "I will relay messages to all units to prepare for the Signers' arrival and warn our forces at Remnant to kill Salem's minions on sight."
"Glad to see that we are on the same page," Diabolos appreciating the clone, "If you have nothing else, you are dismissed."
The female clone bowed before him and departed the arena in silence. As the clone finally left, Diabolos enacted some dark magic on his deck again, the swirl around him as some cards disappear and reappear, then they finally merged into a deck once more as he placed it in his duel disk once more. Everything is going exactly as the Immortals foretold, now all Diabolos can do now… is wait.
But before he can, he felt a powerful rift emerging from outside as he quickly exited to see a massive portal, revealing multitudes of worlds as the Dark Signer marks surrounded the portal and glowed in unison.
"Minions of the Shadow Army, hear me! Our time of reckoning has come once more. Within this portal lays countless worlds for us to forever cloak in shadow. Go forth, lay waste to anyone standing your way, bring despair to those who oppose you, and wreak havoc across the dimensions!"
Diabolos could hear the ocean of roars, giant wings beating across the skies, and the sounds of magic exploding all around.
"Show the worlds around that they are not the supreme beings they once held. Make them suffer for their pride and arrogance. Our fallen Fabled, servants of the Dark World, the Wicked from the Void, unleash your wrath and create your destiny!"
Already, huge dark masses surge through the portal with haste as they ventured into the worlds unknown to him. He was curious what the dimensions would hold for him, many things that could perhaps rival or better Remnant. But despite that, he must stay, and prepare for the Signers' arrival.
(Remnant; RWBY and JNPR ship)
Within the ship, RWBY and JNPR got along quite quickly with the two duelists that came aboard. Though there were times Angel would sometimes speak softly or stutter around team RWBY because of his shyness towards girls, they tried to get along.
But after some time, Stardust and the other dragons stood around as they felt a powerful energy form on the other side of Remnant. The feeling made their essence anxious and paranoid as they know this is the work of the Earthbound Immortals.
"You all felt it, the negative energies pouring around the worlds," Stardust said looking to all of them.
"Yes, I never thought it would the day that the Immortals would pull such a powerful feat," Red said almost impressed.
"And to declare war on all the dimensions, I would call them insane were it not for the help they were given," Ancient Fairy said somewhat grimly.
"And now our times of expanding our interdimensional empire will be put to the test by the Immortals," Black Wing said now determined to fight the army.
"But we can't deal all of them at once, we still need to work here in Remnant," Life Stream pointed out.
"But perhaps we can," Stardust said, "We can bring out our various avatars amongst the dimensions and create a powerful defense against the Shadow Army. I don't know what the governments will think of us, more likely to stop us from saving them."
"Then we will make sure to defend ourselves from both sides," Red declared fist pumped.
"Yes, that may be our only action so far," Ancient Fairy said.
"Then let's not dally any longer," Black Rose said ready to face them.
"Agreed," they all said.
The signer dragons began to surge some energy of light and darkness. Appearing before them are human avatars, each replacing another in a rapid pace. Ancient Fairy and Back Rose produced a portal above them as orbs were created before the six dragons.
"Go," they simply said.
The orbs erupted as thousands of human spirits entered the makeshift portal with haste, with desire to fend off the Shadow Army. As the last of the forms no longer exist and the orbs faded into oblivion, the portal has sealed itself away as the dragons now look at the sky with anxiety. Only time will tell of what the Shadow Army will have in store.
Within the ship, WBY and NPR began prepping their strategies and decks with the help of their monsters should they need so to fight against the Earthbound Immortals as several duelists as done theirs as well.
(Reverse Remnant)
Diabolos and several hybrids began massing at the center of the six floating islands. Every dark being was deployed to prepare for defense as several others took to the skies, surveying all around them. As everything is being prepared, Diabolos went inside a secret building and walked where his footsteps echoed. Now sitting down on the lone throne, Diabolos now bides his time as the room he stays went into utter darkness.
"Time to duel," Diabolos whispered darkly as his blood red eyes were the only things shining within the pitch black room.
To Be Continued.
(Yugioh ARC-V Soundtrack: Future Fighters)
Narrator: With preparations of war have been made on two sides, the time of clashing began at not only in the Reverse World, but also with Remnant as a whole. Many restless, many stable, the players will take their places in the dreadful game. Next time on Dawn of Duel Monsters: Signer War Part 1. The fun has only begun.