Disclaimer: The following piece is in no way a claim to ownership of the depicted characters. Yu-Gi-Oh, Yu-Gi-Oh R, Yu-Gi-Oh GX and Yu-Gi-Oh 5D's are owned by TV Tokyo, Konami Corporation and Kazuki Takahashi. This story as presented is strictly for entertainment purposes, both for its owner and readers.
Chapter 4 – Yuki Judai: Friend or Foe?!
At the mouth of a utility exit to the building, an elevator rose up to its platform and opened. Judai stepped out, looking around for any sign of armed guards or workers, before he jumped out and ran to the open door. Stepping outside, he could see the edge of an island, and when he turned around he saw what was going on.
"This is… Godwin's old property," he realized, remembering the final battle six months earlier. "They've turned in into some kind of storage facility."
"The official records will probably say you were taken to the Neo Domino holding facility," Yubel realized. "The only reason you wouldn't be..."
"Is if the charges were fraudulent," Judai realized, angry at this whole situation. "I'll bet those two weren't officers, or that Ushio doesn't know what's really going on."
"What's going on is none of your concern," a feminized voice issued from behind Judai, making him turn around. Behind him he saw Jaeger walking towards him, carrying some objects wrapped in a silk bag.
"It started to concern me when you dragged me and my friends into it, you effeminate little bastard." Instead of glaring, Jaeger simply walked up to him and dropped the package at Judai's feet, turning and running back into the facility before Judai opened it. When he opened it, Judai saw his tattered coat and bloodied, damaged Duel Disc.
"I thought the officers told us the Duel Disc and coat were never recovered," Yubel said. "That was the main hole in your story."
"Then either they lied, or…" Flashing back, Judai remembered the end of his duel with the robot and the black aura that had leapt off it after it exploded. "Something's not right." Reaching into the Duel Disc's cell phone compartment, he pulled out the device and, upon discovering it still worked, he hit Yusei's speed-dial number.
"Who's this/" Yusei asked on the other end.
"It's Judai," came the reply. "I'm out at Godwin's old residence."
"Why are you there?"
"That's where they've been holding me."
"That's good news," Yusei said on the other end. "We're sending Jack and Kyojo to get you. Hang tight."
"Understood." With that that line disconnected and Judai put the phone away, saying, "I need to get a new Duel Disc if I'm to be any use."
Judai did not notice, however, the fake Judai standing right behind him, smiling evilly before disappearing. Yubel did not sense him either, but they both heard it when he vanished into a static aura. Looking around in confusion, they decided it was power lines and stopped looking around.
At a warehouse down in the Satellite, near Godwin's mansion, the fake Judai appeared out of his black aura, sneering as he pulled a cell phone out of his own Duel Disc. He had copied Judai's contacts, so he called up Jack and said, "There's been a change of plans. I've had to run from some guards and I'm in Satellite, in an old storage facility."
"How did you cross the water?" Jack asked, sounding perplexed.
"I found an old Jet Ski and I crossed the channel," was his reply.
"Alright, we'll be there before sundown," Kyojo said on the other end, the line cutting out at that point.
"Then this will be a good show," the fake Judai said, putting the phone away. "I know you're close to the traitor, Jack Atlus, and I'll give you a message for her you'll not forget to deliver."
***
Nearly an hour later, the Wheel of Fortune and Kyojo's D-Wheel pulled up just outside an old, rusted warehouse just outside the B.A.D., where they had been told to meet him. Kyojo quickly dismounted and pulled off his mask and helmet, while Jack got off and then helped Carly Nagisa off as well. She was now wearing a new dark blue jacket instead of her older orange and white striped one, and was wearing contacts instead of her glasses.
"Are you sure Judai said he'd be here?" she asked, looking around. "That doesn't seem like something he'd do." She continued to look around in suspicion as she pulled out a camera and notebook from a shoulder bag, planning to talk to Judai for a story for the Daily Duel.
"Wolves in traps will chew off their own paws to escape captivity," Kyojo answered philosophically. "If he found himself in a tight spit, he'd certainly come here."
"Even so," she retorted, "is Judai the kind to be that desperate?"
"Not from what I remember," Jack said. "But this is where he said he'd be."
"Let's split up and look for him," Kyojo suggested. "I'll take the main doors."
"I'll look in the logging rooms," Carly offered.
"That leaves me with the main holding rooms," Jack deduced. With that, the three of them went into the main door of the building and went in separate directions. Jack was quick to make his way to the first main storage room, seeing nothing around him but torn sheet metal from the walls.
Suddenly, he heard the sound of a voice laughing indistinctly. He was confused because he could see no one around, but when he heard it again he recognized it. "Judai… where are you…?" Jack asked.
"I'm right here," Judai's voice answered. "I've been waiting, Jack…" with that a green light burst up from the floor in the shape of the infinity symbol, one side of the double loop surrounding Jack while the other's light revealed the fake Judai. Though his clothes and eyes were darker and colder, the green glow emulsified this and he looked like the real Judai. "I've been waiting for a long time."
"Why did you have us come all the way out here?" Jack asked, turning to the loops before asking, "And what are these about?"
"You'll see," the fake Judai answered, raising his left arm and triggering his Duel Disc. When this occurred, the doors to the room slammed shut and glowed orange for a second, with smoke pouring off of them afterwards. Jack realized that this Judai had welded the doors shut, but he could not tell how or why.
"What are you doing?" Jack asked forcefully. When Judai did not answer, but just smirked and chuckled darkly, he bellowed out, "Answer me to what I tell you!"
"What's wrong, Jack?" Judai asked jokingly. "Surely you don't object to a friendly duel between friends."
"Something's not right," Jack stated aloud, pulling on his Duel Disc and activating it. "But I accept your challenge!"
"That's what I thought." With that, both players pulled 5 cards and yelled,
"DUEL!"
Jack: LP 4000
"Judai": LP 4000
"I'll allow the King to lead," Judai smirked, seemingly enjoying Jack's reaction to being called the King in such a sarcastic manner.
"Don't talk down to Jack Atlus!" Jack yelled, drawing his card. "I summon Intercept Daemon (ATK: 1400, LV: 4)!" From a blue vortex on Jack's field emerged a fiendish-looking, sex-armed figure dressed like a football player, who growled angrily. "I Set 3 cards and end my turn."
"Then I draw," Judai stated, pulling his card and looking at his hand. "Magic Activate: Emergency Call. From my Deck I add E-HERO Bubbleman to my hand, and I summon him (DEF: 1200, LV: 4)." Pulling up his Deck, Judai picked out a card and placed it on the tray, causing his blue warrior with white cape and tanks on his back to appear. After shuffling his Deck he added, "When Bubbleman is Summoned and I control no other cards, I can draw 2 more cards."
"I'm familiar with that card," Jack said in irritation as Judai pulled his 2 cards.
"Come now Jack, stop being so bitter," Judai issued. "I too set 3 cards and end the turn."
"Draw!" Jack issued, pulling a new card. "Trap Card activate: Dragon's Vein! I release 1 monster and Special Summon 1 Dragon of the same Level from my Deck. Come, Axe Dragonute (ATK: 2000, LV: 4)!" The football demon faded out, only to be replaced by a black and purple human-shaped dragon wielding a battle axe. "Next I activate Angel's Gift!"
"Is the King not happy with his cards?" Judai asked mockingly as Jack pulled 3 new cards and placed 2 in the Cemetery.
"Shut up! Permanent Trap: Boosting Resurrection! I Special Summon 1 Level 4 or lower monster from my Cemetery with 100 more ATK and DEF and its Level 1 higher. Return, Tuner Monster: Magna Drago (ATK: 1500, LV: 3)!" From Jack's Cemetery ea light shone out and a small red dragon with brownish wings and a pair of tusks emerged, roaring at Judai in anger.
"I see. A Tuner Monster," Judai issued. "So, Jack, are you going to Synchro Summon Explode Wing Dragon?"
"Please, like I'd waste such a useful trump monster on you!" Jack issued. "I tune my Magna Drago which has become Level 3 to my Level 4 Axe Dragonute!" Roaring, the dragon released 3 white orbs from its jaws and vanished, changing these orbs to green rings. These then surrounded the axe-wielding dragon, making it roar as it became an outline of itself and vanished, forming 4 white orbs.
"The Ruler's Battle General shall now lay siege upon the enemy!" Jack roared. "Behold its power as it lays waste to all in its path! Synchro Summon! Soul of Destruction, Burst Cannon Dragon (ATK: 2800, LV: 7)!" Out of the light created from the burst of force emerged a massive black dragon, one with enormous fan-like wings, very long legs and tail, a crested head and a pair of cannon-like forearms each with 3 claws on them. "And because this monster inflicts Penetration Damage, I attack Bubbleman! Hellfire Cannonball!"
"Trap Card: Hero Shield!" Judai declared, flipping the card. "I equip this to Bubbleman, and prevent its destruction by sending this card to the Cemetery." From the mouth and hands of the dragon erupted three streams of fire that struck the blue warrior, causing the flames to cover Judai, but he merely stood there as they covered him. When they died down, he pulled 1 card.
Jack: LP 4000
"Judai": LP 2400
"It seems your plan has been thwarted, King," Judai declared, expecting an angry glare back from his opponent. However, he was surprised when Jack merely grinned back.
"Jack Atlus does not have his plans thwarted by riffraff like you, Judai!" Jack yelled as his card flipped. "Trap Card: Hell Flare's Road! I knew your monster would be saved by an effect, so this card was set earlier. It can only be activated when a Synchro Monster attacks and fails to destroy its target. Then, it destroys all Defence Position monsters on the field!"
The blue warrior on Judai's field screamed as it burst out into red flames, exploding as Jack fanned through its Extra Deck. "And next, I call out Red Daemon's Dragon (ATK: 3000, LV: 8)!" Behind jack appeared a huge tower of fire that extended up to the 40-foot-high roof of the building, from which 2 grey taloned hands emerged and formed fists. Within the fire appeared the form of mainly grey dragon armoured with several pieces of blood-red armour, a face seemingly made of grey patches with red flesh in between and two-clawed wings with dark red membrane.
Exploding out of the fire, the monster roared at Judai in a hostile manner. Judai, however, stared up at the beast and laughed sadistically. When Jack stared on in confusion, Judai issued, "You're too predictable Jack. You summon that monster for your own entertainment, even against people for whom you hold total disdain. Such heroic nonsense."
"Nonsense?" Jack growled. "How dare you call my dragon nonsense?! I'll show you nonsense! Battle!" Suddenly, a loud thud issued at the metal door, and a second later Kyojo came barging through, having tackled the door open. Behind him Carly rushed in, and as he stood up Kyojo saw what was going on.
"Jack, no!" He yelled. "The damage is real in these duels!"
"Absolute Power Force!" Jack yelled, ignoring the black-clad biker duelist. Roaring, his dragon's right fist burst into flames and it swung this fist straight at Judai. Seconds later the fist collided, causing an explosion that ignited Judai's side of the field. Realizing what had happened, he yelled out, "No! What have I done?"
Seconds later, however, the flames burnt out and were reduced to smoke. Through that smoke, the maniacal laughing of Judai could suddenly be heard, and then seconds later the smoke began to waft aside. Through it, Jack could see a single glowing yellow eye: Judai's left eye. The right side of his face had been blasted apart, but the three watched in horror as the face healed and reformed.
Standing at the gate to Godwin's old property, Judai had grown impatient from waiting for his friends, which showed through the angry expression on his face. As the sun had begun to sink below the clouds, he pulled his cell phone out and dialed Yusei's number. On the other end he heard Aki pick up, and with some irritation he heard her say, "Where the hell are you and the others?"
"The others?" Judai asked in angered confusion. "Nobody's shown up here yet!"
"Stop playing games Judai!" Aki threatened. "Jack, Kyojo and Carly arrived at the warehouse half an hour ago!"
"Warehouse? What warehouse? I'm at Godwin's old place, the same as I said."
"What are you talking about?" By this time Aki's tone had changed to total confusion, and she said, "You called Jack and told him to meet you at a warehouse in Satellite. You said they chased you there."
"They? I'm apparently the only one at this place. What the hell's…" at this moment Judai's face gained a look of stunned realization, looking over at the Duel Disc and coat Jaeger had brought him, and he said in total shock to the female Signer, "Aki, listen to me now. I think someone's impersonated me and led Jack and Kyojo away from me."
"What? Impersonating you to lure them! But… why?"
"To lure them into an ambush," Judai stated flatly and with urgency dripping from his voice. "Get Yusei and Johan the fuck over here now! We don't have any time to waste! My Duel Disc is trash and I need a new one, so tell them to bring one."
"Right away," Aki said before hanging up. After he heard the line sever, Judai's anger boiled over and he lashed out, punching the wrought iron gate in anger and cutting his hand in the process.
"Damn you, Placido!" Judai yelled, turning around and gritting his teeth. "Damn you to hell!"
"What the hell's going on here?" Jack asked, watching as the figure, the thing, calling itself Judai laughed on hysterically, Kyojo and Carly looking tense as they processed the situation. "This duel should be over!"
"And it would be," the figure answered, "If I had not activated my Offensive Guard! Thanks to this, my Battle Damage from a Direct Attack is halved, and I draw 1 card." Pulling his card, the figure sneered as Jack realized he had just been played.
Jack: LP 4000
"Judai": LP 900
"Enough of this charade!" Kyojo spat. "Who are you and why the fuck are you impersonating our friend?"
"Impersonating?" the figure asked, looking surprised by the accusation. "I'm not impersonating anyone. Don't you recognize your old friend Judai, Kyojo?" With that the fake Judai's eyes began to glow yellow, making all three people on his opposite side look at him in total shock for a few seconds. When his eyes stopped glowing, they all resumed like nothing had happened.
"I set 3 cards and end my turn," Jack said. "It's your turn, Judai."
"Then I draw," the fake Judai issued, pulling yet another card. Turning angry, it then stated, "The time has come, Jack, to show you just what kind of crown you've gained, King. Choke on your hubris!"
"What are you talking about?" Jack asked, looking at 'Judai' like he'd just shot a man.
"You left me to rot in that cell!" the imposter yelled angrily, his eyes changing to Yubel's eyes in an instant. "Instead of showing me you cared and being a good friend, you showed me your true face and left me behind. I mean nothing to you, and now it's time I showed you exactly what I thought of you!"
"Judai… I…" Jack stuttered, feeling horrid over his friend's suffering and guilty over his alleged part in it, but Judai continued to stare on coldly.
"Magic Activate: Double Fusion! By paying 500 Life Points, I perform 2 Fusion Summons in a row. So first, I fuse my Featherman and Burst Lady in my hand to summon… Elemental Hero Flame Wingman (ATK: 2100, LV: 6)!" Holding up 2 cards, the forms of a green-feathered male warrior with bird's feet and a red-clad female warrior appeared and spiraled together, forming a green warrior with a red right arm ended with a dragon head, a white wing on its right side and a mouthless face with elven ears.
"Next, I fuse Flame Wingman with Sparkman and Summon… Elemental Hero Shining Flare Wingman (ATK: 2500, LV: 8)!" Holding up another card, a golden-armoured dark blue warrior in a visor appeared and spiraled together with the previous figure. Out emerged a glowing green-skinned warrior in silver armour with a long helmet and bladed wings, screeching as it came into view.
"Judai's ace HERO," Carly realized. "Jack could be…"
"For each Elemental Hero Monster in my Cemetery," Judai declared as he held up his Duel Disc, "Shining Flare Wingman gains 500 ATK. There are currently 5 Elemental Heroes in my Cemetery, so its ATK is 4000!"
"If this attack connects, then Jack…" Carly began to fret, with Kyojo cutting her off angrily.
"Judai, stop this now! It's my fault that Jack and the others didn't come for you! Don't take it out on Jack!"
"Then I'll deal with you later," Judai sneered, before turning and pointing at Jack. "Battle! I attack Red daemon's Dragon with Shining Flare Wingman!"
"The King is prepared for any move!" Jack yelled. "Trap Card: Roar of Pride! I pay 1000 Life Points, and the ATK of Red Daemon's Dragon becomes 300 higher than that of your Shining Flare Wingman (ATK: 4300)!" Roaring while its power increased, the Dragon looked at the glowing warrior as it approached.
Jack: LP 3000
"Judai": LP 900
"You think I'd be so naïve as to rush in head-first into such an obvious trap?" Judai asked, sneering and acting sarcastically hurt. "I'm insulted. And now, I'll show you how I take that. By sending Honest to the Cemetery, I add your vile Dragon's ATK to my Shining Flare Wingman's (ATK: 8300)!" Flipping over the card, everyone looked on in shock as the warrior glowed even brighter and its power increased.
"No, Jack!" Carly yelled. "Stop this, Judai!"
"I'll not halt me revenge for some whiny bitch!" Judai yelled "Shining Orb Shoot!"
"Trap Card: Shock Reborn!" Jack declared, flipping a card. "I have my Battle Damage and summon 1 monster with 2000 or less ATK from my Cemetery!" With that a field of energy built up around Jack's dragon just before the warrior threw a green orb of energy at the dragon. A huge explosion issued and the concussive force knocked Jack forward onto his knees while his Life Points fell.
Jack: LP 1000
"Judai": 900
"Return!" Jack yelled, forcing himself back to his feet. "Magna Drago (ATK: 1400, LV: 2)!" After the hit a huge electrical field of sparks formed around Jack's Cemetery, eventually releasing a burst of power that revealed the form of the red dragon as it roared out.
"So you mamanged to survive my monster's battle damage," Judai sneered. "No matter; by the effect of Elemental Hero Shining Flare Wingman, damage equal to the ATK of the destroyed monster…"
"Is dealt as damage to the opponent," Kyojo realized, half-gasping and half growling bitterly. "If Jack receives this damage…"
"Jack, don't lose here!" Carly yelled as the glowing silver warrior got closer to Jack, beginning to glow even brighter as it did so.
"Counter Trap: Damage Polarilyzer!" Jack bellowed, snapping his fingers and flipping his card. Another electrical field then sparked up around the glowing warrior, shocking it and making it retreat to Judai's field. The man then growled in annoyance as Jack explained, "By the effect of this card, I negate a Damage Effect and have both players draw 1 card."
"You've eluded defeat for now," Judai issued as both he and Jack drew their cards. "But I'll have you defeated yet. I set 2 cards. Come now, King; show me your true power, if that even exists."
"What do you mean?" Jack asked angrily, sensing a negative implication in Judai's words.
"Signers claim that their power comes from the bonds of friendship they hold," Judai explained, stating things in a matter-of-fact way while sneering. "But clearly such things are a lie to you. You don't value friendship; you only value your own power! You're so narcissistic that you felt to reason at all to fight for my friendship. So tell me; who else have you lied to? Are you just using Crow and Yusei for your own goals? How about Kyojo, or that girl Carly?"
"Shut up!" the blond duelist roared. "Don't speak ill of that which you cannot comprehend. It's clear that a lone wolf like you knows nothing of true friendship."
"I'd rather be a lone wolf than a broken lion that's lost its fangs," Judai sneered, Jack growling loudly. "Kisama no turn."
"Draw!" Jack declared, pulling his new card. "I Tune my Level 2 Magna Drago to my Level 7 Burst Cannon Dragon!" With a half-oar half-hiss, the red dragon changed into an outline of itself that released two white orbs, one from each of its wings, before it disappeared. These orbs became two green rings, surrounding the larger black dragon and changed it into an outline containing seven white orbs. The outline then vanished and the orbs formed a column of light.
"The screams of the high ruler shall call upon a new pitch-dark soul," Jack chanted. "It shall spread its wrath upon the world, and destroy all at its feet. Synchro Summon! Soul of the Devil, Giant Boar Dragon (ATK: 3300, LV: 9)!" From the light, four long, thick wings emerged, followed by a pair of large taloned paws, a long bladed tail and massive legs. After that, the whole animal emerged: a blood-red and dark-grey monster with a many-horned face of jagged teeth, masses of muscle and a blood-curdling scream.
"I see," Judai smirked. "Without your ace monster, you've resorted to bigger and uglier dragons."
"Go ahead and laugh," Jack sneered. "After all, this beast will be your destruction. Magic activate: Avarice Pot!" From his Cemetery emerged his Red Daemon's, Burst Cannon Dragon, Magna Drago, Axe Dragonute and Intercept Daemon cards, which he grabbed and slipped into his Deck. It then automatically shuffled and he drew 2 cards, looking at Judai with confidence after he did.
"Drawn good cards? Good; you'll need them."
"He's right," Kyojo realized. "Judai's Deck always has a trick up its sleeve."
"I've got a move right up my sleeve," Jack issued. "Magic Activate: Tempest! I destroy all Magic & Trap Cards on the field!" Rising up from the ground, a massive wind shook all of Judai's cards and shattered them, making Judai cover his face as Jack smirked.
"Because Dummy Marker was destroyed by an opponent's effect while set," Judai explained, "I draw 2 cards!"
"And your monster is left wide open!" Jack issued. "Magic Activate: Soul Release! I exclude the five E-HERO monsters in your Cemetery!"
"What?" Judai asked angrily, looking down to see his Cemetery light up and the five cards eject. After that, the power of his monster fell (ATK: 2500).
"The time is now to strike!" Jack yelled, pointing at the warrior. "Giant Boar Dragon, attack Shining Flare Wingman!" Roaring, the monstrous dragon jumped over to where Judai's monster was and bit it in half, creating a shockwave that sliced through Judai, causing his body to reveal black matter that sparked with electricity for a second before it healed.
Jack: LP 1000
"Judai": LP 100
"Hey, what the hell is this?" Kyojo asked, seeing the strange behaviour of Judai's body. "Enough mind tricks! I thought Judai was possessed before, but now I know."
"Know what?" Judai asked, acting slightly confused and amused.
"You're an imposter! You're not emitting Haou's or Yubel's energy, you're not acting like Judai and you're certainly not dueling the way he does. Who the hell are you?"
"I'm Judai," the figure still insisted, "and I'm offended you'd think otherwise. Finish your move, Jack, so I can prove it!"
"Very well. When this dragon destroys a monster by battle," Jack explained, "I draw 1 card." Pulling his card, he took it and the card in his hand and jammed them into slots on his Duel Disc. "I set 2 cards and end my turn. Now you imposter, show us who you really are!"
"You people and your disbeliefs," the fake Judai stated. "If I weren't the real Judai," could I do this?" Closing his eyes, he reached for a card from the top of his Deck, grabbing it and swinging his arm back as he yelled, "Draw!" When he opened his eyes, he bore the orange and green irises of Yubel.
"It's another trick," Kyojo blurted. "I can't sense Yubel's presence, so she isn't within you. The real Judai has that spirit bound to his soul!"
"Then in that case," the imposter stated, his voice gaining a mechanical undertone as he spoke, "Allow me to show you what Judai's Deck is capable of. Magic Activate: Take Over Five! When I play this card, I send my top 5 cards to the Cemetery." Pulling 5 cards from his Deck, the imposter revealed E-HERO Neos, N-Flare Scarab, N-Ground Mole, E-HERO Edgeman and E-HERO Bubbleman Neo and placed them in the Cemetery one by one.
"Sending his cards to the Cemetery like that," Carly pondered, "why would he do that? Unless…"
"Magic Activate: Miracle Contact! I return the Fusion Material Monsters of a Neos Fusion Monster from my Cemetery to the Deck, and Summon that monster. I Choose to return Neos, Ground Mole and Flare Scarab, so I may Summon Elemental Hero Magma Neos (ATK: 3000, LV: 9)!" One by one the cards slid back out of their slot and the fake Judai took them, placing them back in the Deck where its matter dematerialized and reformed seconds later.
Up from the ground then rose a column of lava, through which the silhouette of a monster could be seen. As Jack looked on in disbelief and the others in shock, the Judai double chuckled darkly as the lava dispersed, revealing a mostly brown armoured warrior with one arm made entirely of molten rock, the other armed with a power claw; its shouler pads and lower legs in black, gear-like armour, and a brown face with blue eyes and a carapace with two long wings down its back. On its chest sat a gem, and its stomach and inner thigh area were stark white.
"For every card on the field," the fake Judai explained, "Magna Neos gains 400 ATK. At this moment there are 4 cards in play, so his ATK becomes 4600!"
"If I receive an attack from this faker," Jack realized, "I've lost. But my Synchro Deflector and Magic Cylinder should protect my monster from his attacks."
"Magic Activate: Neos Quake!" The imposter yelled, shocking Jack, Kyojo and Carly stiff. "When a Level 8 or higher Neos Fusion Monster is face-up on the field, during this turn, all the opponent's Magic, Trap and Monster card effects are negated and cannot be activated during the Battle Phase only."
"What?" Jack bellowed as a radiant wave of neon energy shot off the card, covering his two set cards and leaving him wide open for an attack.
"He can't stop that thing's attack now," Kyojo realized.
"Then Jack will…" Carly sobbed, before turning to the fake Judai and blurting, "Whatever the hell you are! Stop this!"
"It stops here," the fake Judai stated in reply, pointing at Jack's monster. "Magma Neos, attack Giant Boar Dragon! Super Heat Meteor!" Raising its molten arm to the air, the warrior shot a stream of flames up nearly to the roof, where they formed into a molten ball of lava. Then, with a swinging motion, the warrior shot this orb down and towards the dragon, which received the blow and exploded.
Jack yelled out in anger and pain as the smoke from the explosion instantly consumed the place. Through this cloud of blackness the maniacal laughing of the fake Judai could be heard, before it faded out and he was no longer audible.
Jack: LP 0
"Judai": LP 100
"Jack, are you alright?" Carly asked as she and Kyojo ran through the smoke to where Jack was. The smoke quickly died down and revealed Jack to have fallen on his knees, soot clinging to his coat and the marks from the battle scorched into the ground. Jack was shaking in anger, and he suddenly snapped, hitting the ground with both fists.
"What the hell is going on here?" Jack asked angrily, deciding to get to his feet. "Where's the real Judai?"
"Well, it would stand to reason that he's where he said he was," Carly suggested, getting an irate glare from Jack before backing off.
"Then we left him there," Jack realized.
"We couldn't have foreseen this," Kyojo retorted.
"This… isn't possible…"
"How can there be two Judai's? What is this imposter?" Kyojo asked.
"Hey, what's going on?" Carly suddenly asked, prompting the others to turn around. Looking down, the two men saw that she had a digital camera with some pictures of the duel on it, which had been on a timer, but where the fake Judai had been there was nothing.
Going through the pictures quickly, the group kept looking for something that would tip them off, until they reached the part of the duel where the fake Judai's body had come apart. As they passed it, Jack thought he saw something and issued, "Wait! Go back!" Flipping back to said picture, a field of electrical sparks became apparent on the frame, causing the image to become grainy.
"What's going on Carly?" Kyojo asked. "Why's the image to fuzzy?"
"I… don't know…" Carly stuttered, "…but the rest of the images are fine…"
"There was some sort of burst at that point…" Jack realized. "I thought it was the result of the ring, but…"
"…The entire entity was just some electrical field…" Kyojo interpreted. Seconds later, the fluorescent light above the group began to hum and flicker, and the sound of static electricity filled the air.
"The place has become charged from the duel." Before anybody could say anything more, however, there was a huge explosion from above, and they had to time to react before the roof and walls collapsed…
The following morning at the storage area where Judai was, he stood up from sitting on a crate as he heard the sound of electric motors, and turned to see Yusei and Crow pull up on their D-Wheels. As they got closer, Crow tossed Judai a red and black jacket and a Neo Domino Duel Disc in black with red trim, which the duelist quickly put on as the others stopped and got off their vehicles.
"What the fuck is going on Judai?" Crow asked, shoving Judai in frustration. "Are you trying to screw with us?"
"Why would I do that?" Judai spat in anger, disgusted by the insinuation.
"You don't seem to understand what true friends are for. We're not so you can have fun by splitting us up and sending us on wild goose chases."
"What exactly am I supposed to have done?"
"Jack and Kyojo aren't answering their phones," Yusei explained, Crow cutting him off with further ranting before Yusei could explain anything.
"First you sent them to a wrong location, then you convince us to come here, and then on top of that you make the others turn off their phones!"
"I never told Jack and Kyojo to go to the wrong spot," Judai asserted. "I thought Aki told you that. And I haven't called anyone since that; my phone's battery is dead."
"She didn't tell me anything. I heard where you were from Yusei."
"We just assumed that Jack and Kyojo were told to go to a new location, but when we learned the call was fake…"
"Wait, call?" Crow asked, pulling out his phone. "I got a text from Jack saying he's been texted… What the fuck is going on?!"
"I think… Placido is behind this…" Judai uttered.
"But… how?" Yusei asked. Seconds later, Yusei's phone vibrated and he pulled it out, seeing the caller to be unknown. Answering it, he stated, "Who is this?" Shocked by what he heard seconds later, he handed the phone to Judai with a stunned look on his face and said, "I think you should heard this…"
Picking up the phone, Judai placed it to his ear and listened intently. From the other end of the line, he heard a distorted version of his own voice issue, "Having fun yet?" The voice sounded amused and there was even a slight chuckle on the other end, but Judai instead sneered and growled.
"You bastard!" he yelled into the phone. "Who the hell are you and what are you doing all this for?"
"I'm showing people what you could have been, had you not instead sided with the Signers like a sheep."
"What have you done with our friends?" The answer came in the form of a video message that registered seconds later. Going to the inbox, Yusei and Crow gathered round as Judai opened up the video, showing Kyojo, Jack and Carly all standing around, looking at a camera and talking amongst themselves right before the lights began to short and the building exploded. The loud sound and bright flash caught them off guard, terrifying them as to their friends' fates.
"This is what happens to those who defy the power of Yliaster."
"What the fuck do you want?!" Judai yelled into the phone, but before an answer came the line went dead.
Inside the old Sky Temple, the interior throne room had been converted into a very new form which gave it a whole new look. The walls had been painted white, with circuit-board patterns running along them and a cloudy energy gathering around the base. Rising up through this were three tall thrones, at each one sat Placido, Jose and Lucciano, staring into an orb screen at the base showing the reactions of Yusei, Judai and Crow to the news.
"Are we sure this is the proper venture to pursue?" Jose asked of Placido, who had resumed his white robed appearance. The younger man merely smiled back and said,
"If we can create enough stir amongst the Signers and their friends, we can split their solidarity apart and manipulate them."
"Why should we waste so much energy on such a venture when we could simply manipulate them en masse?" Jose countered, almost immediately being answered by the disembodied voice of the fake Judai.
"Because your friend Placido is far too attached to me by now." Seconds later a field of black and red static formed beside Placido's throne, spawning the fake Judai's form as he leaned against the structure.
"Your dueling skills are a near perfect match to your namesake," Lucciano complemented, smiling darkly as she spoke. "But… you were far slower at defeating Jack than I had hoped."
"Care to show me that you can do any better, runt?" Judai's double said, offended, standing up and glaring angrily at the female Infinity Member. In response, the woman raised her hand and began to shock him with an opposing current, causing him to scream out as his body's form began to revert to its static state.
"That's enough, Lucciano," Jose stated, making the woman frown sarcastically before ceasing her current. The fake Judai then quickly regained his shape and stated,
"Besides, I've managed to duplicate Jack's Deck as well now," he stated, sneering as his voice temporarily changed to a distorted version of Jack's. "The power of the King is in our hands."
"You've done well, X," Placido stated, smiling and closing his eyes. "You may rest until I call upon you again."
"As you wish," X stated again in the distorted Judai voice, bowing with a crossed arm before disappearing. Turning back to the others, Placido then stated,
"And to fruition nearer draws our plan…"
Card of the Week – Jack
Giant Boar Dragon
Type: DARK
Level: 9
Sub-Type(s): [Dragon/Synchro/Effect]
Effect: 1 Dragon-type Tuner + 1 or more non-Tuner Dragon-type monsters
When this card destroys a monster by battle, draw 1 card. During your End Phase, if this card did not attack, discard 1 card.
ATK/ 3300
DEF/ 3000
*And as of this point in time, the plot is really getting going. Review if you wish.