After the destruction left in the wake of Izayoi, my side of the stadium is basically empty. Some smaller children are crying; I wonder how psychics look to someone that age. Shinji and Reika are contemplating leaving, I'm surprised they haven't left yet, neither have Kaoru or Emiko. I'm staying right where I am. There's more to this 'mark' and 'Crimson Dragon' situation, I can feel it. I'm snapped out of my thoughts when I see Yusei running up the stairs. He makes direct eye contact with me. He clearly doesn't recognise me in my disguise, since his facial expression hardens. He reaches his friends a couple of rows behind me.
"Everyone, hurry and leave this stadium." He tells them, I'm grateful for my above-average hearing at this point.
"But Bro, you still have your battle against the King."
"There are four Signers in this stadium. It's too dangerous if Signers battle against each other. You should know because you just watched my duel." Signers? Are they connected to that Crimson Dragon? What has Yusei got himself involved in?
"But Yusei, what about your friends?" I hear the voice of Ruka. At the word 'friends', my heart lifts slightly. Could that involve me?
"I'll talk with Godwin. You should leave here immediately." That proves it, Yusei has gotten himself involved with Godwin. I feel physically sick. He should definitely know who Godwin is, how could he? And what's worse is that I'm not part of the 'friends' Ruka was talking about. Yusei runs back down the stairs, I stare at his back. A part of me wants to cry, I know that I shouldn't be having such strong feelings towards this, but I can't help it. As I watch Yusei's friends walk down the stairs behind him, I remember the dream I had last night. Kiryu's pale, thin face stands out in my mind. I'm still not sure why Kiryu was in my dream, or why that dream was so vivid. I feel like that dream is trying to tell me something, but the place I saw was unlike anything I had ever seen before. Am I just being too hopeful in thinking this dream will come true? The more time passes, the more I've given up on seeing Crow or Kiryu again. Given how things with Jack and Yusei have gone, I'm not sure I even want to see them anymore. My mind shuts itself off before I can continue that downward spiral of thoughts again.
"Everybody listen! The special match will now begin! There were unexpected accidents, but the Fortune Cup continues!" The MC's voice proclaims as they show a giant projection of Jack and Yusei in the middle of the stadium. My eyes follow Yusei on his D-Wheel as he arrives at the starting point. Jack follows shortly behind.
"Yusei, in this duel, we will determine who is the true King!" I'm not sure why I'm still here, I don't want to watch this duel. Still, I feel like I'll miss out on something huge if I leave.
"However, if the Crimson Dragon appears again, then we won't escape unharmed!" Again? What is really going on here?
"So you're scared? If that happened, I'll make the Crimson Dragon's power mine!" Jack knows about it too. Though, that shouldn't surprise me given the fact he's affiliated with Godwin.
"Field Spell Speed World, set on! Speed World now controls the field! The only spells that can be activated are Speed Spells! Riding Duel! Acceleration!" The crowd cheers as the countdown reaches 0 and the D-Wheels set off.
"As the challenger, you get to go first!" Yusei is really challenging Jack for the title of King. Could that be all he's really after in the City? Am I really selfish enough to think that he came looking for me?
"My turn! I summon Shield Wing in defence position(DEF:900)! I set two cards and end my turn."
"My turn!" Both Yusei's and Jack's Speed Counter are now 1. "I summon Twin Breaker(ATK:1600)! Twin Breaker attacks Shield Wing! When Twin Breaker's attack points are greater than your monster's defence points, the difference is dealt to you as damage!" Yusei loses 700 life points, leaving him at 3300. "I knew that you would summon a monster in defence position. In a duel, a King always thinks one step ahead of his opponent." I scoff, isn't that a pretty standard strategy? Unlike Jack, most people don't go for straight-out offense.
"However, Shield Wing cannot be destroyed until the second attack during a single turn." It's strange that Yusei hasn't used that monster until now, given the fact he's been in three duels till now, would have been helpful.
"You fool! When Twin Breaker attacks a monster in defence position, it can attack again!" Okay not now, but you get what I mean.
"What?"
"Even among kings, this King thinks two steps ahead." Jack, stop trying to talk yourself up. "Go! Double Assault!" Yusei's life points drop to 2600. "I set one card and end my turn! In this duel, I will show you the pride of a King!"
"My turn!" Their Speed Counters increase to 2. "I summon Junk Synchron from my hand(ATK:1300). Junk Synchron tunes Shield Wing. Clustering stars will call upon a new force! Become the path that lights the way! Synchro Summon! Come forth, Junk Warrior(ATK:2300)! Scrap Fist!" Jack's life points drop to 3300. "Then the Continuous Trap Synchro Blast! With this card, when a Synchro Monster attacks, you take 500 points of damage!" His life points drop once again to 2800.
"You're finally getting serious. My turn!" Jack starts his turn, causing both his and Yusei's Speed Counters to become 3. "I summon Dark Tinker from my hand(ATK:1000)! Then I activate my trap card Powerful Rebirth! This card lets me Special Summon a Level 4-or-below monster from my graveyard, and then it becomes an Equip Card (Twin Breaker-ATK:1600)! The monster resurrected using Power Rebirth gains 100 attacks and defence points and one Level(ATK:1600-1700/LV:4-5)."
"What?"
"You idiots, carve this into your soul! The King of Kings duels three steps ahead!" Welcome to counting to three with Jack Atlas. "Dark Tinker tunes Twin Breaker! The pulse of the King now forms a line here! Take witness to its creation-shaking power! Synchro Summon! My very soul! Red Daemon's Dragon(ATK:3000)!"
"Red Daemon's Dragon." Yusei is almost acting surprised. Why? It's Jack's ace monster.
"Due to Dark Tinker's monster effect, I draw a card! Yusei, listen and learn!" Jack drives on his D-Wheel backwards to face Yusei. "Everyone is powerless against the King! This is the power of the King! Absolute Powerforce!" I hate the theatrics Jack puts on when he duels now, it's just for the crowd.
"The King's Red Daemon's Dragon destroys Junk Warrior!" The MC screams at the top of his lungs as Yusei's life points drop to 1900.
"See that, Yusei? Weak excuses don't work against the King!" Jack finally turns around and drives normally. "The only thing left for you after this duel will be defeat! I set three cards and end my turn!" I look up at the sky, it's become overcast very quickly. This isn't normal, the clouds are strange colour. My body is telling me that something's wrong.
"My turn!" Their Speed Counters increase once again; they now stand at 4. "I activate my trap Descending Lost Star! I lower the Level of a Synchro Monster in my graveyard by one and Special Summon it to the field with 0 defence points! Resurrect, Junk Warrior(DEF:1300-0/LV:5-4)! Then I summon Hyper Synchron(ATK:1600)! Level 4 Hyper Synchron tunes the now Level 4 Junk Warrior! Clustering wishes come together to form a new shining star! Become the path that lights the way! Synchro Summon! Soar, Stardust Dragon(ATK:2500)!" At Stardust's appearance, my head begins to hurt again. I look up at Red Daemon's and Stardust, then at the strange clouds, could those dragons could be causing this?
"You've arrived, Stardust!" Jack was anticipating Stardust. Why? What reason could he have? Yusei could turn around the game by using Stardust.
"Stardust Dragon has appeared! Will we finally see the main monsters of these rivals battle?" Clearly.
"Hyper Synchron's monster effect activates! When Hyper Synchron is used a Synchro Material, the Synchro Monster gains 800 attack points(ATK:2500-3300)!"
"Now I activate my trap! Tuner Capture! When the opponent Synchro Summons, I can Special Summon a Synchro Material Monster from your graveyard! Join my field! Come, Hyper Synchron(DEF:800)!"
"Whoa! The King resurrected Yusei's monster onto his field!" After this duel, I don't have to deal with this MC. I just keep telling myself that.
"Stardust Dragon attacks Red Daemon's Dragon!"
"The King already knows what you're planning to do!" If Jack keeps referring to himself as 'The King', I'm going to go down there and beat him myself. "I activate my trap! Tuner's Mind! When my Synchro Monster is attacked, it reverts back to its Synchro Material Monsters(DEF:1000/DEF:1300)!"
"Stardust Dragon attacks Twin Breaker! Roar! Shooting Sonic!" Twin Breaker isn't destroyed to Yusei's surprise, but instead Dark Tinker. "What?"
"I told you! I already know all your strategies! The Tuner Monster that appeared due to Tuner's Mind must battle your attacking monster!" That's not predicting Yusei's strategy, that's your card's effect.
"I activate the Continuous Trap Synchro Blast!" Jack's life points drop to 2300. "With Synchro Blast, when my Synchro Monster attacks, you take 500 points of damage!"
"Since Dark Tinker was sent to the graveyard, I get to draw one card."
"I end my turn."
"My turn!" As usual, Speed Counters now increase, standing at 5. "Hyper Synchro tunes Twin Breaker! The pulse of the King now forms a line here! Take witness to its creation-shaking power! Synchro Summon! My very soul! Red Daemon's Dragon(ATK:3000)! Look at this sight! My most powerful servant and I walk the path of the King together! Since Hyper Synchron was used as Synchro Material, Red Daemon's Dragon gains 800 attack points(ATK:3000-3800)!"
"It's coming!" Jack's not a psychic, you're fine Yusei.
"Take this! Absolute Powerforce!"
"Since Hyper Synchron was used as Synchro Material, Stardust Dragon isn't destroyed in battle!" Yusei's life points drop to 1400.
"I know that! I activate my trap Fiend Cannon! If I failed to destroy your monster in battle, you take 500 points of damage!" Yusei's life points drop once again to 900, as the strange clouds begin swirling above stadium. Red lightning strikes the projection of Yusei and Jack inside the stadium. "It's here!" What's here? Oh no, this is how I'm going to die.
"Crimson Dragon." The red lightening forms a body of lava, which morphs into a dragon whose body is nearly the length of the track. It roars, my whole body shakes from its power.
"Am I seeing things?" The MC is emulating what everyone in this stadium feels. The crowd is questioning the appearance of the dragon. This 'Crimson Dragon' begins making laps around the stadium. Just by looking at it, I can feel its power. But still, I feel ill from its very presence, which confuses me. Is this why I felt ill during Ruka's duel too?
"We finally meet, Crimson Dragon! Watch our duel closely!" This fact they're continuing this duel when literal lightning struck the stadium astounds me. I look up at Godwin's tower, he is clearly up to something. It's so obvious, but what?
"Jack, this is dangerous! If we continue this duel, I don't know what will happen!" Finally, some sense around here.
"Are you scared, Yusei? A person who's afraid of the future doesn't have the right to be a duelist! Even if heaven and earth are destroyed, I'll continue this duel!" Jack's just being stupid, he lies if he says that he's not afraid of the future. The dragon roars once again, creating a literal whirlwind in the stadium. I grip onto my wig tightly once again. I can't shield my face from the wind, it feels like the wind is cutting my face, it's that sharp. The Crimson Dragon begins to fly up out of the stadium. With its tails close to the ground, it stretches out its wings well above the stadium. My head throbs at this, my eyes tight shut.
When I open my eyes, I'm having that dream again. Kiryu's eyes are looking straight into mine. The rainbow lights everywhere make the colour of his eyes change, his sclera are much darker than they should. The thinness of his face is burnt into my mind. This time, I can hear people shouting. Something about the Crimson Dragon, Signers and resurrection. Don't trust them. A voice calls out. Don't trust who? The Crimson Dragon and the Signers, or Kiryu? I feel the ground collapse underneath me, I reach for Kiryu. He stands looking down at me as I fall, still and unmoving. I try to close my eyes in an effort to wake myself up, but they immediately snap back open. I see Yusei falling after me, he's stretching his hand out for mine. No matter how much I want to stretch my hand out, it won't move. Seeing his face makes anger boil up in my stomach. Then, everything goes black. I open my eyes and I'm standing looking at Yusei. He's shouting something at me, but I can't hear anything he's saying and this dream is too blurry for me to read his lips. I begin to sink into the ground, I reach out for someone, anyone. Crow suddenly appears a bit away from me, but it's too late as everything turns black.
When I come back to reality, I jump. I look at the track to see that Jack's fallen off his D-Wheel. I look up at the sky to see that it's no longer overcast, with a perfect blue sky.
"Hey!" Shinji calls out to me. I look up at him, I still trying to catch my breath from that dream. "Are you okay? You just passed out!" I'm still in my chair, which is a good sign.
"Yeah, what happened?" I move to sit up properly.
"The dragon started flying up from the stadium." Reika answers me in a panic. "There was a bright light and you passed out. Jack and Yusei disappeared too. They just appeared when you woke up. Are you sure you're okay? You don't look it."
"I'm fine, just a weird dream." Stardust and Red Daemon's are in the middle of the stadium, frozen and blackened. They start to slowly fade away. I glance at the scoreboard and freeze. "Guys, look up at the scoreboard! Yusei won." I glance at the track and see Yusei running up to the crashed Jack.
"What happened? It's finally over! The winner is Yusei Fudo!" Projections of Yusei are shown all around the stadium. "King Jack Atlas's undefeated legend is over, and we're witnessing the birth of a new King!" Yusei is King? How? They disappeared off the track and suddenly he's King? This isn't right, this can't be true. "The new King's name is Yusei Fudo! Yusei Fudo is the new King! The new King is from Satellite!" That's not possible, my breathing starts to quicken again. It's a fix, it has to be. Why else would they disappear? I'm confused and hurt, I keep thinking about that dream. Don't trust them. It's the Crimson Dragon I'm not supposed to trust. Anger starts boiling up inside me. I get up and leave my seat. I keep walking, not looking back. All I can hear is people cheering Yusei's name. He must have cheated. He wasn't on the track, there's no record of what happened. The last four years I've dreamt about meeting Yusei again. I wish I hadn't. All Yusei wanted was power, just like Jack. My hands are shaking violently. When I get out of the stadium, all I see are projections of Yusei's face everywhere. I can feel tears burning in my eyes, I finally take my sunglasses off as the tears roll down my face.