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 16 – Light that Guides the Souls of Justice! Synchro Summon, Savior Faerie Dragon
In the Dominion of Beasts, Judai ran through one of the villages dressed in the Supreme King's Black spiked armour with his eyes still the golden ones of the Supreme King, being followed by a spirit wearing red and gold armour, with a teal sword and a shield that had a purple crystal at its centre.
"Breaker," Judai instructed, pointing at a burning house that lay at just on the outskirts of the Magical City capital of the Magic Realm, "check that house for spirits and help who you can. I'll get the one next to it."
"Yes, my King," Breaker then stated, the two men running to different houses just afterwards. At the one Judai chose, the wooden store had been trapped by fallen debris, so he pushed his shoulder against it and it collapsed.
"Hello!" Judai yelled into the inferno. "Is anyone in here?" There was no verbal answer, but before one could even be given he saw a young elf-like woman trapped in the corner by burning wood. Noting this, Judai ran closer and grabbed the object (identified as a cabinet), tossing it aside.
"We have to get out of here," Judai stated urgently, getting a terrified nod from the sprite. With that Judai grabbed her, tucking her under his arm, and he quickly spun around and ran back to the door.
Before he could even exit, however (in fact just as he reached it), another burning roof rafter fell and barred the door from exit. Noting this, Judai made a split-second decision and jumped up onto the joist, discovering it still bore weight, and then jumped again up onto the roof.
"Come, Honest!" Judai then instructed, a white light shining out from his armour and taking on the form of the Archangelic figure, looking on with a serious gaze. Handing him the female elf he further instructed, "Get her to safety!"; and with a nod, the angel grabbed her and floated down to the ground.
Then, when they were safe, Judai jumped down onto a patch of grass and spun back around to face the house; then, his eyes glowed and he instructed, "Come on! Marine Neos!" All of a sudden a tall, mostly navy figure with a blue gem on its chest and spikes on its head, legs, shoulder and elbows. "Hyper Rapid Storm!"
Jumping up, the monster then made the gem on its chest glow and release a stream of water, dowsing the flames and backing them off to the ground in a matter of seconds. "Thank you, Neos," Judai then said, the monster disappearing just as he said this.
"Judai," Honest declared, getting the man's attention. "The girl… she's not harmed. You acted quickly."
"Thank you, but there's no time for complements. We have houses to save."
Back on the roof of Poppo Time, Luca was visibly disappointed by the inability to inflict any real damage; in fact, he plan had horribly backfired when she had taken damage because of her own attack.
Luca: LP 1100
Reggie: LP 1500
Still holding 3 cards in her hand, Luca grabbed one and declared, "I might not have succeeded in dealing damage, but I can guarantee you won't do as much. Permanent Magic: Dark Door! Both players can only attack with one monster per turn." As the card appeared, a black fog appeared around the feet of both players.
"So instead of winning this duel with her offensive move," Taiyou deduced, "she's switching to survival and trying not to lose."
"I set two cards and end my turn," Luca stated, placing a card before her and a card to her left.
"Then in the End Phase," Reggie stated, "The attack strength of Tethys returns to Normal (ATK: 2900, LV: 5). It's my turn. Draw." Looking at her card, she then spun it around and stated, "Because I have drawn the monster Virtue Angel Bach, I may draw another card."
When she pulled her second card, she placed it in her hand and stated, "I activate the effect of Court of Justice, and because I control Zeriel (DEF: 300, LV: 1), I Special Summon Virtue Angel Bach from my hand (ATK: 2700, LV: 6)." From the floating golden ring above them, a light began to radiate that released a white-clad golden angel with rigid wings and holding a large hammer.
"I attack Ancient Holy Wyven (ATK: 2000, LV: 7) with VENUS (ATK: 3300, LV: 8)!" Reggie then declared, pointing her hand at the long white monster while her bronze angel pointed its staff at it and began to form a golden orb of energy.
"Trap Card: Realize Defence!" Luca declared, revealing the card. "When a monster I control is selected as an attack target, I can change it to Defence Position and draw one card!" Roaring, the wyvern crossed its wings over its chest and turned blue while Luca snapped up a card.
"Too bad," Reggie stated, "but due to the effect of Bach, all Angels I control will inflict Penetration Damage!" With a gasp on everyone's face, the monster launched its golden orb at its target, striking it in the wings and creating an explosion.
"No! Luca!" Johan yelled, only to become more relaxed when he saw a mirror-like object appear in front of Luca, the image of a mostly red and purple harlequin in a top hat appearing in the reflection.
"I activate the effect of Hatter in the Looking Glass from my Cemetery," Luca explained, the card sliding out of her Cemetery for her to hold it up to Reggie. "When I would receive Battle Damage from a battle with an Angel-Type monster while this monster is in my Cemetery, I Special Summon this monster and halve my Battle Damage (DEF: 0, LV: 1)."
Luca: LP 450
Reggie: LP 1500
"That's a clever tactic," Reggie stated. "But, when that monster leaves the field, it is removed from play. You can only use that tactic once my dear. And, when that Hatter is destroyed, you receive 1000 Damage"
"I know," Luca countered, "but in addition I can use the effect of Trust Guardian to save Holy Wyvern from destruction (ATK: 950)."
"But even so," Reggie replied, "due to my Permanent Trap, your monster will still be destroyed."
"Don't count on it," Luca retorted confidently, snapping her fingers. "Trap Card: Mirror Shield! When an Angel-Type monster I control would be destroyed by an opponent's Magic or Trap Card effect, I negate that effect and destroy my opponent's monster! By the effect of this card, I destroy Zeriel!"
Grunting, Reggie watched as a purple beam of energy shot out from her face-up card as the one Luca had just flipped changed its image into a mirror. The card then got in front of the crouching monster, striking it and bouncing off to strike the crouching golden angel. "Now, your monsters lose their extra points (ATK: 2800) (ATK: 2400) (ATK: 2200)."
"I set one card and end my turn," Reggie stated. "The time is now, child. Ether defeat me in this turn, or be prepared to hand over your Ancient Fairy Dragon."
"I will not allow that to happen!" Luca yelled, her mark lighting up and triggering Aki's mark to also illuminate. "I can save the Dominion of Beasts and defeat you in one move, and I'll do so now!" All of a sudden the marks disappeared off both girls and the Crimson Dragon's Seal appeared on her back, her top card lighting up in golden light.
"That can only mean one thing," Lua deduced.
"Yes!" Taiyou yelled. "Yes, Luca! Use the power of the Dragon!"
"Draw!" Luca then shouted, pulling the card and reaching for a card in her hand already. "Magic Activate: Synchro Release! I undo the Synchro Summon of Ancient Holy Wyvern. Come: Sunlight Unicorn (ATK: 1300, LV: 4)! Trust Guardian (ATK: 0, LV: 3)!" Glowing brightly, the serpent roared while it changed into a white glow and released the blue-robed sprite and the white unicorn from earlier.
"Because the equipped monster left the field," Luca pointed out, "Horn of the Unicorn returns to the top of my Deck. Thus, I activate the effect of Sunlight Unicorn and add it to my hand." Pulling the card from the top of her Deck, she then declared, "I tune my Level 3 Trust Guardian to my Level 4 Sunlight Unicorn!"
Once again the blue-robed monster changed into three green rings, surrounding the horse and changing it into 4 white orbs. Then, it changed into a column of light as Luca chanted, "The holy light of protection, shine now and become eternal life! Synchro Summon! Ancient Fairy Dragon (ATK: 2100, LV: 7)!" Out of the light then emerged a long, blue dragon with long arms, no legs, glowing butterfly-like wings, gold armour lining its shoulders and face, and green reed-like sections of hair from its tail tip and the back of its head.
"Next, I Summon Salvation Dragon – Savior Dragon!" Holding the glowing card up to the sky, Luca then called out the red dragon in its glory and declared, "I Tune my Savior Dragon to Ancient Fairy Dragon and Hatter in the Looking Glass!" Rising up into the air, the red dragon became enormous and translucent to take in the dragon and the mirror monster, changing them into a total of 8 white orbs and aligning them within a green ring.
"The Embodiment of the Sun Goddess, whose heart beats pure, shall now cast her light upon this world," Luca chanted out, the red dragon bursting into a white glow that lit up the sky for miles around. "Guide the souls of justice to this plane! Synchro Summon! Illuminate, Savior Faerie Dragon (ATK: 3300, LV: 9)!"
Suddenly, back in the Dominion of Beasts, Judai, Honest and Yubel were interrupted in their efforts when they heard a loud noise like an explosion over by the Dragon Temple. Looking over at it, they watched in awe while the only remaining normal obelisk lit up in a brilliant golden glow and shot light into the sky as a shining beam.
"You've done it, my child," Yubel said quietly and, from her tone, quite happily. When it reached the sky, the light shot across the entire sky and lit up the entire starry blackness in a golden glow. When it faded away, the sound of a dragon's roar echoed out just as the sky was once again revealed, the sun shining brightly and the sky blue with white clouds.
"Excellent job Luca," Judai stated, the Supreme King's black armour dissolving off his form. Looking around, he saw the fires begin to self-extinguish and the trees which had started to die off suddenly start to bloom back into life.
However, before he could enjoy it, he heard the sound of a twig snap. Turning to his left, he saw a figure in a red trench coat and white suit-like clothes underneath, and Judai instantly grew tense.
Looking up to the sky, the entire group was astonished to see the bright golden glow as it released a glowing, sparkling blue dragon. Said monster had a long, serpentine body in many vertically-aligned coils, four large wings like glowing moth wings but mounted and structured like birds' wings, a pair of arms roughly ten feet down from the wings which looked like legs, golden armour along its back and chest, green flowing hair from its head, deer-like glowing antlers, and a face armoured like a golden crown.
"That monster…" Reggie stated as the dragon descended to the rooftop, spiraling around the palace field. "But, due to the effect of VENUS, your dragon loses 500 ATK (ATK: 2800)."
"That means nothing," Luca stated. "I activate the effect of Savior Faefie Dragon! Shining Purity!" Roaring loudly, the dragon spread its wings as Luca stated, "Once per turn, I may destroy all face-up Magic and Trap Cards in play. When I do, I recover 1000 Life Points for each destroyed card; and the controllers of those cards draw 1 card for each of their own cards."
When the glow reached its maximum, the golden ring, the palace, the card producing the black fog and Reggie's Trap Card all began to glow in the same way. First the ring exploded, the fragments turning to dust just before the fog-producing card shattered, the fog fading away. Then the Trap exploded just before the palace was reduced to a glowing form, only to also fade away while Luca's Life Points recovered.
Luca: LP 4450
Reggie: LP 1500
Just as Luca looked on, Reggie pulled three cards from her deck while Luca drew one. "Now, I activate the other effect of Savior Faerie: Once in one turn, I may negate the effect of a monster my opponent controls, and then I may Special Summon a monster from my hand. But, I choose not to summon a monster. Thus, I simply negate the effect of VENUS!" Roaring, the dragon blasted a golden stream of energy from its mouth to surround the bronze angel, weakening it. "Now, the attack strength of Savior Faerie returns (ATK: 3300)."
"Go ahead and weaken my monsters," Reggie retorted. "Trap Card Open: Beckoning Light! I discard my entire hand, and then add LIGHT monsters from my Cemetery to my hand. And equal number to what I discarded." Placing her five hand cards into the Cemetery, Reggie watched as five monster cards slid back out – Zeriel, two each of Archangel Christia, Holy Spirit Parmal and Shining Angel (these three she had just discarded), and, to Luca's chagrin, Honest.
"You may think you've won now, Reggie," Luca replied, "but I've just completed my victory. I activate Exchange!" Placing the card down, Luca watched with a smile while Reggie looked back in total dismay. "You may keep my Horn of the Unicorn, but I'll be taking Honest!" Grunting, Reggie threw Honest to Luca to place into her hand, and Luca in turn threw the Equip Magic Card to Reggie.
"I attack VENUS with Savior Faerie, and I activate the effect of Honest!" Turning the card around, Luca watched as the golden glow of the card illuminated her dragon (ATK: 6800). "Will of the Sun!" Roaring, the dragon formed a ball of golden energy in its jaws and shot it at the bronze angel, striking it and causing an explosion that knocked Reggie back against the roof.
Luca: LP 4450
Reggie: LP 0
As the dragon roared out, it burst out into a golden glow and turned into glowing golden sparkles while the rest of the Solid Vision died down. Then, very concerned, Luca ran over to where Reggie was lying, unconscious, and saw that all of her cards had glowing green Infinity backs on them.
"Is she alright?" Aki asked, her and Johan also running over to where Reggie was. At this time, Taiyou only looked on while he spilled yet again out of this world and into his. As the group crowded around Reggie, they saw that the crystal of her earring had been shattered, with the fragments nowhere to be found.
"She will be fine," another female voice suddenly sounded from behind them, making them all turn. Standing on the next roof over, there appeared a tall, slender woman with pale white skin, black lips, nails and hair, wearing fishnet gloves and stockings with a black trench coat, shirt and knee-length pants. Jumping over to their rooftop, she stated, "But you most certainly will not be."
"Who are you?" Aki asked, getting to her feet and facing the woman, who in turn pulled out a black Duel Disc and strapped it on.
"My name is Hibiki Midori," she explained. "I've come looking for my brother, Koyou."
"Hibiki Koyou?" Luca asked, astonished. "The pro league duelist?"
"He's not here," Johan replied taciturnly, also standing up. "What made you think we would know where he is?"
"Because he went after your friend Judai," Midori replied. "And you know where he is."
"And what makes you think we'd help you with that?" Lua asked.
"Because you want me to find him as much as I do," she replied. "But if you will not tell me, perhaps I can win the answer I seek in a duel."
"I can accept those stakes," Aki replied, pulling out her own red and pink Duel Disc to put on. Her Deck then automatically shuffled, as did Midori's, and then both players pulled out five cards.
Aki: LP 4000
Midori: LP 4000
"I'll take the first turn," Midori stated, pulling a sixth card from her Deck. "Magic Activate: Trade In. I discard the Level 8 Fallen Angel Zerato and draw 2 cards." Taking said card and sliding it into her Cemetery, she pulled 2 cards at once and added, "I set 5 cards and end my turn." Taking her entire starting hand except for one of her new draws, she put it into the slots of her Duel Disc and made 5 cards materialize before her. "Your move, Black Rose Witch."
"I'm not a witch anymore," Aki replied flatly. "Draw." With that she took the card she had drawn and placed it into her Cemetery and held up the card from the centre of her hand. "I activate One for One. By sending a monster from my hand to the Cemetery, I Special Summon one Level One monster from my Deck. Come, Copy Plant (ATK: 0, LV: 1)."
Aki's card then released the form of a cactus-shaped bundle of brown vines which formed a humanoid shape, with branches for arms and a pair of blue eyes where its face would be. "Also, because the monster I sent was Dandelion, I Special Summon 2 Fluff Tokens (ATK: 0, LV: 1) (ATK: 0, LV: 1)." On either side of the existing monster then emerged a creature that was basically a dandelion seed with eyes, and then Aki stated, "I summon Debris Dragon (ATK: 1000, LV: 4)."
"Yusei's monster," Johan realized just as the white dragon with orange orbs, three horns and green armour and membrane appeared before Aki, just as a card slid from her Cemetery.
"When this card is Summoned, I Special Summon one Monster with 500 ATK or less from my Cemetery. Return, Dandelion (ATK: 300, LV: 3)!" In the final remaining zone, there appeared a small animal like a stuffed lion, but with leaves for forelimbs and a mane made of yellow petals. "Next, I activate the effect of Copy Plant, and make its Level the same as Dandelion's (LV: 3)."
All of a sudden, the level of the humanoid plant shot up as the vines reconfigured themselves into the shape of the lion-plant, and then Aki stated, "I tune my Level 4 Debris Dragon to my Level 3 Dandelion and a Level 1 Fluff Token!" The dragon then chanted into 4 green orbs which the two other monsters rose up into, changing into a total of 4 white orbs and becoming a column of light.
"Fell the serpent among the flowers as it strikes," Aki chanted. "The pitch-dark flames shall now sear the souls of wickedness. Synchro Summon! Arise, Wild Rose Dragon (ATK: 3000, LV: 8)!" AS everyone looked on in amazement, a long dragon burst from the light whose long, serpentine body was composed of dark purple and black rose petals. Its huge wings were made of red petals and tipped with a rose each, and a mane of red petals trailed behind its head. Finally, its thorny tail whipped around and it roared, creating strong wind.
"Because Dandelion was sent to the Cemetery again," Aki informed, "it will not Special Summon 2 more Fluff Tokens (ATK: 0, LV: 1) (ATK: 0, LV: 1)." After the two new seeds appeared, Aki stated, "I Tune my now Level 3 Copy Plant to my 3 Level 1 Fluff Tokens!" The vine monster then changed into 3 green rings, each one surrounding a seed and changing it into a white orb. All six objects then formed a column and burst into light.
"Synchro Summon! Splendid Rose (ATK: 2200, LV: 6)!" There then appeared a large rose along the ground, and from it there appeared a blond figure clad in a green and black body suit. "Next, I activate the Field Magic, Black Garden!" Placing the card onto her Field Zone, Aki surrounded the field in a grove of dark green thorny vines and black roses, making Midori look around suspiciously.
"I direct attack with Wild Rose Dragon!" Aki yelled, making her dragon build up a dark red ball of flames in its jaws; but, before it could launch them, Midori snapped her fingers and a Trap Card flipped up.
"Permanent Trap: Dark Fog! Once in one turn, I may send one DARK Angel-Type monster from my Deck to my Cemetery to negate an opponent's attack. I send Fallen Angel Superbia to the Cemetery." Holding up the card before sliding it into the slot, a black fog formed directly in front of Midori. When the dragon shot its red flames, it dispersed the fog but did nothing more.
"That effect is only once per turn, as you stated," Aki replied. "I direct attack with Splendid Rose!" The monster standing on the rose then jumped up into the air to lash out at Midori, but then Midori snapped her fingers again and another card appeared.
"Trap Card: Hellfire! By discarding one card, I destroy a monster declaring an attack and inflict damage to my opponent equal to its ATK." Aki then watched as Midori slid her card into the Cemetery and a wall of flames rose up, incinerating the monster before the flames bathed Aki as well.
Aki: LP 2900
Midori: LP 4000
"I set 2 cards," Aki stated, putting the two remaining cards in her hand into slots. "I end my turn."
"Draw," Midori stated, looking at her card for all of a second before stating, "I set one card and end my turn."
"Draw," Aki then said, turning her card around instantly. "I Summon Botanical Leo (ATK: 1600, LV: 4)." Suddenly, Aki called up a yellowy lion-like monster with root-like feet and a red flower instead of a mane. "Due to the effect of Black Garden, my monster's points are halved (ATK: 800), and a Rose Token is Special Summoned to the opponent's field (ATK: 800, LV: 2)."
Suddenly, vines shot out from the field to bind the limbs of the monster, while a red rose shot up on Midori's field. "Next, the Permanent Trap, Rose Flame! When a Plant-Type monster is Special Summoned to my opponent's field, they receive 500 Points of Damage." With the card up, it shot flames at Midori and made her cover her eyes.
Aki: LP 2900
Midori: LP 3500
"Next, I activate the effect of Wild Rose Dragon," Aki stated. "By removing your Rose Token, I Special Summon one Wild Rose Token in Defence Position (DEF: 1200, LV: 3)." The rose before Midori then turned pitch-black and the stem's thorns grew larger, and then the flames again struck Midori.
Aki: LP 2900
Midori: LP 3000
"Due to this Special Summon, Black Garden halves your monster's Points and gives me a Rose Token (DEF: 600) (ATK: 800, LV: 2)." There then appeared on Aki's field a similar rose to the one there had just been. "Now, my Botanical Leo gains 300 ATK for each of my face-up Plants (ATK: 1700). I attack the Wild Rose Token with Botanical Leo!" The plant-lion then shot forward and slashed through the existing plant.
"Very well," Midori stated.
"I direct attack with Wild Rose Dragon!" With that the dragon again formed a ball of red flames in its jaws; but with a smile, Midori snapper her fingers and flipped her newest card.
"Trap Card: Fallen Angel's Descent! When my opponent direct attacks, I pay half my Life Points to Special Summon 2 DARK Angels whose Levels are those of the attacking monster. Return: Fallen Angel Superbia (ATK: 2900, LV: 8)! Fallen Angel Zerato (ATK: 2800, LV: 8)!" All of a sudden a blast burst of energy rose up, spawning a pair of monsters as Aki looked on in awe.
Aki: LP 2900
Midori: LP 1500
The first one was a jar-like monster with brown feather wings, an orange face, a feathery skirt and black talons for arms. The other monster was a blue-skinned humanoid with red membranous wings that extended onto its chest, a helmet with devil horns, a jagged sword and grey, brown and red battle armour. "Your monster's points are now halved due to my Garden (ATK: 1450 (ATK: 1400)," Aki pointed out, brambles surrounding them and another two roses appearing before Aki (ATK: 800, LV: 2) (ATK: 800, LV: 2).
"Yes, but now Superbia's effect lets me Special Summon one Angel-Type monster from my Cemetery when it is revived. Come, Fallen Angel Ede Arai (ATK: 2300, LV: 5)!" From the jar top of the monster then arose a tall, devil-like creature in white robes whose wings were black. "And because you cannot summon another Rose with your field full, my monster's power remains."
"Well, I still attack Zerato with Wild Rose Dragon!"
"Not so fast! Due to the effect of Dark Fog, I send Fallen Angel Asmodeus from my Deck t my Cemetery, and negate the attack." The black fog then kicked up again as Midori threw out another card, the flames striking it and doing nothing but remove the fog.
"Then I end my turn," Aki stated, a triumphant smile on Midori's face.
"Then the secret of Judai's location is mine," Midori stated. "Draw!" Looking at her card, Midori then stated, "I release Fallen Angel Zerato to Summon Fallen Angel Desire (ATK: 3000, LV: 10)." Turning into blackness, the blue-skinned monster gave way to a new monster with red-feathered wings, battle armour with two-spiked shields on each hand, and glowing yellow eyes. "And I activate its effect: I lower its ATK by 1000 (ATK: 2000) and send Wild Rose Dragon to the Cemetery."
As Aki looked on in surprise, the monster in front of Midori produced a shot of blackness that struck her dragon, turning it into black fog and making it fade away. "I know that with that field in play," Midori stated, Your Dragon cannot be destroyed by effects. But, sending it to the Cemetery is not destruction. Next, I activate Forbidden Chalice which I've set; I negate Desire's effect and give it 400 extra ATK (ATK: 3400)."
"This isn't good," Johan stated. "Aki's got all her monsters in attack position."
"I attack your Rose Token with Desire!" Swinging its arm, the newest monster exploded one of the roses and made Aki cover her eyes while her Life Points fell almost to nothing.
Aki: LP 300
Midori: LP 1500
"Trap Card Open!" Aki yelled as soon as the previous move resolved. "Shock Wave! Since my Life Points are lower than my opponent's, I destroy one face-up monster and inflict damage to both players equal to its ATK. Thus, I destroy Desire!" Midori watched in awe while her monster suddenly exploded, the force striking both women at once.
Aki: LP 0
Midori: LP 0
"It's a stalemate," Lua realized. "Aki had no way of winning, so a draw became her only option."
"You didn't win," Aki replied. "I don't have to tell you where Judai is."
"No, you don't understand," Midori stated urgently. "I'm not trying to harm Judai; I'm trying to save him!" With everyone looking on in shock, Midori added, "My brother wants Judai's life."
"Why?" Luca asked. "Judai's done nothing to him."
"Because of what Judai did as the Supreme King," was Midori's shocking answer.
On the top of the dragon altar, Taiyou looked up at the five obelisks. The only obelisk which had previously been its original form, the fairy dragon spire, had indeed changed into a dark blue structure whose body included both dragons now.
As Taiyou could sense, Endymion then came up behind him and stated, "Our world has been spared a grim fate, and your friend is recovering in the city. As for you, I must congratulate you; you have given Luca the drive to summon the last Savior, and thus you have completed your proficiency. You are no longer my student; you are my Knight."
"Then I must thank you for this promotion," Taiyou responded, turning around. "But, I also owe gratitude to Judai for his help. Where is he?"
"I do not know," Endymion said solemnly. "He helped evacuate the Villages, but that was the last I had seen him."
"Master Endymion!" the voice of another figure issued, making both spirits turn to face the source of the sound. Looking to the side, they saw the form of the archangel-esque Honest, who then stated, "Judai has been approached and a challenge issued on his life."
"What?" Taiyou asked in dismay. "Take me to him; I must help save his life."
"Go, my Knight," Endymion instructed. "Judai is a sacred person, the only carrier of the Darkness of Justice still alive. He must not perish!" Nodding, Taiyou turned and ran down the stairs of the temple, then off into the forest as Honest faded out.
***
Minutes earlier, on the opposite end of the forest, his yellow eyes glowing, Judai stared back at the figure that had approached him and asked, "What do you want of me, Koyou?"
"How quick you are to forget my goals, Haou," the man replied harshly. "I never forgot you, or what you did."
"I'm not proud of what I did," Judai then replied, "But I did what was necessary to protect the balance."
"You did what was necessary to cause pain and satisfy your own avarice and bloodlust," Koyou snapped. "You must perish for your sins." Pulling out a Duel Disc, Koyou strapped it on and activated it, stating, "If you win, I'll leave you be; lose, and your blood spills into this soil."
"Do you really think Judai would agree to such terms?" Yubel asked, she and Honest glaring back.
"If he has any honour at all," Koyou replied, "he will atone for his wicked acts."
"Enough preaching!" Judai snapped, pulling out his Duel Disc. "You have a challenge!" He then shoved his Duel Disc onto his arm, both Duel Discs shuffling the players' cards and giving them five.
"DUEL!"
Judai: LP 4000
Koyou: LP 4000
"I shall lead," Koyou stated, pulling a card. "I summon Elemental Hero Airman (ATK: 1800, LV: 4)." Watching in anger, Judai saw him call forth a blue-skinned warrior dressed in grey, black and white armour that included two wing-like fans on its back and a blue glass visor.
"You're using Elemental Heroes," Judai replied. "You talk of my acts while you simply use my own monsters against me."
"I'm using the rightful heroes whose names are not smear with the blood on innocence," Koyou replied. "When this monster is summoned, I may add one HERO from my Deck to my hand. I select E-HERO Ocean." Holding up the card as it slid from his Deck, he took two cards from his hand and placed them down. "I end my turn, tyrant."
"I am no tyrant," Judai replied. "I am not King anymore, and if I were I would be a rightful King."
"A tyrant will always find a pretext for his tyranny," Koyou quoted, not noticing Honest slip out of sight. "Kisama no turn."
"Then I draw!" Judai yelled, holding up a card. "Magic Activate: Fusion! I fuse Featherman and Burst Lady!" Judai then revealed all three cards and brought up his green-feathered warrior and his red-clad woman, fusing them in a vortex into the odd-looking monster with the dragon's head and one wing. "Come: Flame Wingman (ATK: 2100, LV: 6). Battle!"
Grunting, the new monster pointed its dragon's head at the opposing monster, lighting it in fire and making it explode while the flames leapt onto Koyou. A green glowing Infinity Symbol then briefly flashed on the ground while Koyou looked on in anger.
Judi: LP 4000
Koyou: LP 1900
"Such aggressive tactics," he spit. "Nothing less from the heartless murderer that dares call himself a King. When Placido told me to destroy those who aided the Signers, I knew you should be the first to die."
"Stop the bullshit and duel!" Judai yelled back.
"Very well. Trap Card: Hero Signal." Raising up the card, Koyou caused it to produce a spotlight-like light with the sharp-edged "H" on it over Judai's head. "Come: Forestman (DEF: 2000, LV: 4)." In a crouching position before Koyou then appeared a human-like figure whose clothing was merely brush-like matter over its feet (as boots) and its groin (as a war-skirt). Its body was mostly green, but its right arm and chest were made of wood with many irregular spikes.
"So you can summon Heroes from the Deck easily as well," Judai observed. "I'd expect nothing less of a pro duelist; I just didn't expect your E-HERO Deck initially. I set 3 cards and end my turn."
"Draw!" Koyou yelled, snapping up a card from his Deck. "I activate the effect of Forestman: Once per turn, during the Standby Phase, I add one Fusion from my Deck to Cemetery to my hand." Suddenly, a card slid from his Deck and he grabbed it, holding it up with a card from his hand. "I Fuse Ocean and Forestman."
The green monster then rose up in front of a vortex and was joined by a humanoid blue figure with a fin on its head and a trident in its hand. When they spiraled together, they produced a huge figure with a white body almost carved of marble, with blue gems on shoulders and head and glowing yellow eyes. "Behold: E-HERO the Earth (ATK: 2500, LV: 8)."
"So this is the legendary E-HERO of Hibiki Koyou," Yubel noted, arms crossed while she watch Koyou continue.
"I Summon Elemental Hero the Heat (ATK: 1600, LV: 4)." Koyou then placed down a card that spawned a yellow, red and white figure with painted flame-like patterns. "Next, for each of my E-HERO monsters, it gains 200 ATK (ATK: 2000)."
"This isn't good," Judai realized just as Honest and Taiyou arrived at the edge of the clearing, both stopping to watch the event.
"I attack Flame Wingman with the Earth!" Koyou commanded, causing his huge warrior to jump forwards and punch through the much smaller humanoid warrior, exploding it and hitting Judai with the shockwave.
Judai: LP 3600
Koyou: LP 1900
"Trap Card: Hero Signal!" Judai yelled, producing the same search light that Koyou had. "Come: Clayman (DEF: 2000, LV: 4)!" In a crouching position before Judai then emerged his dark grey stone figure, who grunted as Koyou observed the situation.
"Good," he stated. "It's nice to see the high and mighty ruler cowering like the weak murderer he is."
"Just shut up and finish your turn," Judai snapped, making Koyou grin in amusement.
"Very well. I set 2 cards and end my turn."
"Draw!" Judai yelled, looking at his card for all of a second. "I activate the Magic Card, Angel's Gift!" With an extremely fast motion Judai pulled three cards from his Deck, and took the two monsters among them and placed them into the Cemetery.
"I activate the effect of Cross Porter. Because I sent it to the Cemetery, I may add Neo-Spacian Ground Mole from my Deck to my hand." Pulling a card from his Deck, he revealed it and then slapped it sideways.
"Come: Ground Mole (DEF: 300, LV: 3)." Out of the ground then dug the drill of the mole creature, which folded around as the mole creature itself appeared and became blue while it crouched. "Next, Permanent Magic: Mirage of Nightmare!" Placing the card beside himself, he stated, "I end my turn."
"It seems that David and Reggie were not powerful enough to eliminate the Signers," Placido observed in a melancholy tone. "And, to make matters worse, Paradox has acquired a stronger dragon than anything previous."
"This mess of yours is getting far too difficult to maintain," Jose scolded. "You're fighting two enemies at once; both Paradox and the Signers and crew."
"I agree," Lucciano added "We cannot continue with our split focus. Either we stop devoting so much to the Signers to fight Paradox, or we stop watching Paradox."
"That presents dangers all its own," Placido pointed out. "If Paradox is allowed to acquire too much power, we're all in grave peril. But… on the flip side, perhaps we can use the Signers to help us combat Paradox."
"There's no way the Signers will trust us now," Lucciano pointed out. "We've put them through too much."
"But, they have something powerful enough to combat Paradox: the Three Phantom Demons under Yubel's guard."
"How do you intend to get them from her?" Jose interrogated. "She has more power than the three of us combined, and she is allied with almost as powerful – perhaps more powerful en masse – warriors, both here and in the Spirit Realm."
"By using him," Placido stated with a smile, pointing down at the surveillance orb at the duel between Koyou and Judai. "Playing upon Judai's alienation will force him to break off on a solo mission, as is his nature; then Yubel will have only one or two allies, and she will be more vulnerable."
"If you want to conduct this suicide mission," Lucciano replied harshly, "Then you must conduct it yourself. Jose and I are done devoting valuable resources to your insane ambitions."
"Very well," Placido responded, standing up. "I can get the Demons on my own, and then we will use them collectively – but if I must get them alone, I will control them alone."
"Very well," Jose stated. "But if you fail, you will hand over to me your Machine Emperor." The weight of these words was very clear to Placido, but he simply smiled back darkly before turning and leaving.
"Trust me when I say: you will not be disappointed," Placido concluded, stepping out and leaving Lucciano and Jose to stare down at the viewing orb amongst themselves.
"Koyou blames Judai for what Haou did?" Johan asked of Midori back at Poppo Time, in the main room. The group had been joined by Jack and Carly, who had been working on coffee tables, as Midori told them of Koyou's motives and plan.
"He believes that Judai is the dark one," Midori explained. "The Supreme King was a being of piece and goodness; the only explanation is that the evil lies within Judai."
"But that doesn't make any sense," Aki retorted. "Judai told us about when he separated from Haou and dueled him. How is that possible then?"
"Judai was most likely hallucinating, and experienced falsities that seemed real. He would have thought it was true, even though it was all in his head."
"And how do you know all this?" Jack asked suspiciously, the burning question on everyone's mind now out in the air.
"Because Koyou and I are warriors for the Darkness of Justice."
Card of the Week – Luca
Savior Faerie Dragon
Type: LIGHT
Level: 9
Family: [Dragon/Synchro/Effect]
Effect: "Salvation Dragon – Savior Dragon" + "Ancient Fairy Dragon" + 1 non-Tuner Monster
Once per turn, activate by selecting 1 Monster your opponent controls. Until the End Phase, its effect is negated, and at this time you can Special Summon 1 Monster from your hand whose Level is equal to or lower than that of the selected monster. Once per turn, you can destroy all face-up Spell and Trap Cards. If you do, recover 1000 Life Points for each card destroyed, and both players draw 1 card for each card destroyed. During the End Phase, return this card to the Extra Deck and Special Summon 1 "Ancient Fairy Dragon" from your Cemetery.
ATK/ 3300
DEF/ 4000
*What is Yliaster truly planning? Only time will tell. Review if you wish.*