YuGiOh 5D's: Konami/Kazuki Takahashi
Several minutes have passed since the Signers departed from New Domino City heading towards Satellite. Thunder roared and lightning flashed as they flew across the sky. Margaret was pondering in thought of what happened to her mother. Time after time she had always wondered who her mother was and what she looked like. Now the only clue she has what that she was connected to the original Ener-D reactor.
"You seem to be in-the-know. What's the whole story behind this old reactor thing?" Akiza asked Mina.
"They called the incident 'Zero Reverse', a massive energy reactor being built by a group known as the R.R.D malfunctioned, and released a powerful charge of negative energy." Mina explained, "That's what separated Satellite from the mainland of Domino City. The person who designed and constructed the reactor was Yusei's father. And the head of the Reactor Research Division, the one in charge of the reactor project itself, was Ekaterina Spires, Margaret's mother."
"If that's true, then what happened to them when when the reactor negative-energied and stuff?" Leo asked.
"Don't be dense!" Luna groaned, "What d'you think happened?"
"What, wha'd I say?"
"Nothing, just, just stop talking."
"Go back a few. Why would they put a couple of nobodies from Satellite in charge of such an important project?" Trudge wondered.
"Yusei and Magic's parents were born in the Tops district of New Domino City." Jack answered.
"So are you saying these Satellite rejects aren't actually Satellite rejects?"
"I was born in the Satellite, Trudge;" Jack snapped back fiercely, "Got a problem with that?"
"Uh, no. Of course not." Trudge cowed; he then went back to piloting.
"That's right, turn around."
It was silent for a few more seconds. "Say, uh, is this lightning bothering anyone else? One strike and we're finished. I'm thinkin' we should turn this bird around." Trudge suggested.
"Our primary directive is to reach Satellite!" Mina said in determination.
'She's kinda cute when she talks official-like...' Trudge thought. Then Yusei puts a hand on his shoulder and pointed at something.
"Set us down near that building in the park." Yusei said.
"Wha?"
"Do as he says." Mina ordered.
The helicopter carrying the Signers and their allies descended, landing beside Martha's house. Martha herself emerged to greet them, joined by Blister and Persian who were flanking a group of children behind them.
"Who could that be?" Blitz wondered as helicopter landing on the ground. The hatch opened up and revealed the Signers and company. "It's Yusei!"
"And Jason's with him too..." Persian added.
Martha gasped and hurried down the steps as they walked down the ramp out of the airship.
"Oh! And Jack!" Martha gasped as she ran up to him as the group in the helicopter got off. "Ohh, look at you, Jackie-boy!"
"Hi, Martha." Jack mumbled, solemn and guilty.
"I can't believe how big you've gotten!"
"Well, it has been quite a while since I left, you know."
"Do that thing you used to do! That adorable little prince routine." Jack was aghast; big-time public humiliation, doing something cute he did when he was a kid in front of the grown-ups! Yusei and Magic laughed quietly as they seen this before. Jack kneels before Martha and affects an English accent, "Greetings, most fairest of maidens, may this prince kiss your hand?" Jack asked as he kissed Martha's hand and got back up quickly. Everyone was just staring at him.
"You're such a sweet little boy!" She hugged him around the elbows, laughing merrily, completely oblivious to Jack's trampled dignity. Margaret couldn't help but laugh out loud as Martha spotted her and approached her in just surprise. "Magic! I haven't seen you in ages! My, look at how much you've grown!"
Margaret became bashful as Martha rustled her violet curls. "It's great to meet you too!"
"I thought everyone in the Satellite Sector would be all creepy and sad." Leo whispered to his sister as thew watched Yusei be greeted by a group of children.
"Yeah, I know; they seem so friendly." Luna added.
"That's how they trick you kids," Justine retorted, "but they're all just liars and thieves."
"Got that right," a voice purred, "We're the worst kind of people imaginable." the officer turned to see Persian and Blister walking towards her and Trudge.
"Wha? I know you!" Altman exclaimed, pointing.
"How nice of you to visit our happy wasteland, Officers." Blister greeted in deadpan sarcasm.
"Look, Director Goodwin is making me baby-sit these Satellites," Trudge replied, "No way I would willingly come to this garbage dump of a-" he cut off, noticing the two young girls were listening to every word as he insulted their home, fearful. "Go away!" they then scampered off in a hurry, "I cannot believe I had to come back here. Still, if it means being near Mina..." he spotted her a distance away, looking somewhere else, quite oblivious, and blushed. Then he notices that another of the kids, a boy, approached him.
"Whadda you want?"
"You're Sector Security, right, mister?" the boy asked.
"So what if I am?"
"That is so cool!" he said excitedly, "I wanna be Security one day!"
"Do ya now!" Trudge replied, suddenly flattered; the kid really looks up to him! "Well, play your cards right, and one day, you might look as good as me in this uniform." the both shared a hearty laugh.
YuGiOh: 5D's
Reverse of Arcadia
Ride 24: Mark of the Spider
Part 1: Into the Spider's Web
Soon after, everyone was back into the house and the Signers and others, including Martha, were meeting in the dining room around a large wooden table.
"So Martha, things sure seem quiet around here." Yusei noticed.
"That's because the fog's taken everyone!" Martha explained, "Yesterday a strange black fog appeared out of nowhere, and descended on the downtown area of Satellite. And when it cleared, almost everyone who had been caught in the fog was gone."
"Whaddaya mean?"
"They vanished. They just weren't there anymore. Fortunately, the fog didn't come here, so we were safe, but I'm afraid everyone else..."
"We haven't seen or heard from Rally, Tank, Nervin, Blitz, or Crow since this happened." Blaster said grimly.
"Seriously?"
"I'm worried that something terrible has happened to them." Martha said worried.
"Who're those people, Yusei," Leo asked, "are they your friends?"
Everyone there just sat there in silence until Martha noticed Akiza nearby. "You're that senator's daughter, aren't you."
"Yup," Akiza answered with a small smile, "Guilty as charged."
"Yusei was telling me all about you." she teased, "You were right, Yusei, she's very very pretty." Akiza blushed at the comment, "And how are you doing? You're not still scared to fight against Kalin, are you?"
"Not anymore." Yusei said, "But as for me doubting whether or not I can fight him because we used to be friends, I'm not worried anymore. After all, my real friends are right here."
"Whoa, I'm not your friend!" Jack protested, "I just came here to stop the Dark Signers."
"Sorry, Jack, but like it or not, we have to be friends! And our friendship is what makes us strong enough to take these guys on! As for Kalin... he made his choice a long time ago."
"Listen to you. You're becoming quite a man." Martha smiled, "So does this mean you're going to fight the Dark Signers?"
Yusei nodded.
"Well, before you head off, you have to eat. You can't save the world on an empty stomach!"
Later, Trudge was wandering around the back of the house until he came by a flowerbed blossoming with well-kept red tulips, "Who knew they had flowers on this dump of an island?" he wondered as he plucked one, "I'll give this one to Mina!"
He could already see it then. A flower was a powerful testament to one's affection; old-fashioned but powerful. He could see Mina as she accepted this lovely gesture, the whole world full of fluff and solicitude. They got closer...and closer...
Trudge giggled to himself, blushing pink. Suddenly he turned to see the same boy standing in front of him, watching him. "Why're you *staring* at me? not supposed to pick the flowers! He hides it behind his back. Taka tries to approach him and he starts to jog away. "Stop following me! Scram!" he came around the corner of the building, and saw Jack and Mina standing in the shade of a tree. A tire swing hung from one of its branches wiith Jack leaning on a set of monkey bars next to the tree with no bars left, looking away from her.
"What's going on, Jack, you're being grumpy," Mina asked, concerned, "Grumpier than usual, I mean. Are you scared of the Dark Signers?"
"Don't be ridiculous." he muttered.
"Oh, I know, you're worried about that Carly girl..." Jack nodded; Mina though it would be a good time to let it out into the open, "Um, Jack? I should disclose something; I think I might have special feelings for you!"
"Of course you do! But we're talking about Carly right now." Jack snapped, "Whatever happened to that girl... it happened because of me, Mina," he took her glasses out of his pocket, "Carly got involved with all of this because of me. It's my fault. I must find her."
"And... about what... I just... said?"
Jack walked away, ignoring her completely. Trudge saw the whole thing, still holding his flower. Taka, like his shadow, was watching, too. Trudge sighed heartbroken as the flower wilted in his hand. The kid then noticed Martha sneaking up behind them, eyes full of mischief. Martha held a finger to her lips to silence him, then snagged Trudge by the ear, all the way to the kitchen. But they weren't alone on it. Altman was also led there in a headlock, courtesy of Margaret.
"What're you doing?" Trudge argued.
"I'm gonna start getting dinner ready, and you're gonna help."
"You're putting me to work? I'm a guest!"
"Here, wear this," Martha tossed him an apron, "it'll look great on you!"
"Smaller pieces!" Martha stated as she bopped Trudge upside the head with a metal ladle.
"Alright, alright!"
While the stew simmered on the stove, Altman dipped a fingertip in it but hastily took it out; so hot!
"Don't put your finger in the soup!" Margaret bopped her with a wooden spoon.
"What does cleaning the bathroom have to do with making dinner?" Trudge grumbled as he and Altman were cleaning the toilets.
"Nothing! "Martha snapped cheerfully as she bopped Trudge with a plunger, "...But it needed a good scrubbing."
"I can help you!" the same boy who followed him offered.
"Oh yeah? Hey, thanks, kid!"
He grabbed a broom from a closet in the bathroom, and started sweeping the floor in the first stall.
"Yeah, thatta boy!" then Trudge turned back to Martha, "As for you, lady, d'you treat all your guests this way?"
"Hasn't being active and helping someone else taken your mind off things, Officer Trudge?" he realizes that it has; and that she did this because she knew about Mina. Altman just kept working, listening in, "The best way to deal with a broken heart is to stop dwelling. Get outta your head and make yourself useful. You see, here in Satellite, we've had to become very good at finding ways to cope with sadness and loss." she then gestured to the boy sweeping, "Take Taka for example; when he was younger, he lost his home to a fire. But he was so grateful for the Security officers who did everything they could to help, he never forgot their kindness. He decided he wanted to grow up and become a Sector Security officer himself. That's how he deals with his sadness: by trying to be helpful."
"So that's why he keeps following me around..."
"What a waist..." Justine caught the two's attention with a frigid tone, "All he's doing is relying on false hope. In case you don't know, only people born in New Domino can be Security."
"In this crazy world of ours, nothing is impossible; don't you think so?" Martha asked.
"We'll see... I'm done." the female officer tossed the brush aside in the toilet and walked out of the bathroom.
Apparently, Margaret listened to every word as she stood outside the bathroom door...
"If only it had been that simple." At least that was the thought on one's persons mind, as he had been listening to the whole scenario outside. David had been pretty much by himself since the gang had landed in Satellite; he was still plagued with other problems. He had to admit the situation wasn't good; the whole incident with Yusei and Magic's fathers and the Dark Signers had rattled things up in all of them. Though still some part of him couldn't have cared less.
He wasn't being heartless; he just had other problems plaguing him. As he continued to look out into Satellite his phone rang, that was unusual as many people didn't know his number. He simply picked and opened the flap. "Hello?"
"We need to talk!" A voice all too familiar to him came down the line, which made the long haired male gasp in complete shock.
"Mana, where on earth are you?"
"I'll be waiting for you in the abandon church, on the outskirts of Satellite. Don't worry, it's nearby your location. I have to discuss something with you before this war kicks off. Get here soon. I don't think there is much time left." The phone suddenly cut off, and David was left there with it close to his ear for a little while longer before flapping it shut again.
He could hear Martha calling others for Dinner, but he simply shook his head. "Not interested." He mumbled to himself and left without another word, no one saw him go and for some reason he wasn't even sure if they would notice if he was missed.
Meanwhile, Jason was elsewhere in the household, staring at the ceiling from one of the many beds, in the darkness of the orphans' bedroom. It had been a long time since he has been in the Satellite, where his travels began. He remembered when he was first found by a young boy and challenged to his first duel. He remembered when he first met Yusei and made his first duel-runner. He remembered when he escaped with him to New Domino City where his adventures truly began.
After his first hazards he met two people who shaped his destiny. Gabriella Cheshire was the most chivalrous person Jason had ever met. When he was blighted the night he retrieved hid duel-runner, she took him into her home and cleaned his wounds, despite his recent criminal record. Her kindness knew no bounds; a guardian angel who would always look after Jason and keep him safe.
Katherine Cheshire was the closest thing to a little sister as ever, perhaps even more. Ever since after their first duel she never hid her adoration for him. Just like a kitten with her favorite toy, Katherine would always cling to Jason. No matter what the situation, even when the would was against Jason, she would always root for him. But as strong as her devotion to her hero, Katherine was just as weak. Her bubbly spirit was very delicate as observed in countless situations. She was in danger's grip and was caught in the line of fire countless times, crying for her knight to rescue her. Now when she needed him the most, Jason was not there to save her, not that he could be forgiven; after all, where was he when she fell to Divine?
Moments after Jason drifted off to dreamland, he could feel a small bundle of mass press down on his chest. He peeked through his heavy eyes to a small pair of bright, emerald eyes staring right at him, reflected by what little light there was in the bedroom. A small mewl squeaked from the small muzzle of this furry creature. Raising a hand, Jason carefully stroke the animal's night-black fur, then moved up to scratch between its ears, earning an audible rumble from the black kitten. The cat was happy of the treatment Jason gave her, so she decided to give him a little reward for his gentleman-like manners.
She crept up further until she stopped at Jason's face, a couple of inches, if not centimeters, apart from each other. She then closed the space between them and softly brushed her moist nose against his. Jason was in sudden awe, not because of what the cat did, but of how it was done, of what it reminded Jason of. It was the same trick Katherine used to wake him up. Jason was in the verge of tears now, because she would not be around to wake him anymore; not after how he had let her down. He closed his eyes once more, wanting to sleep for eternity...
"It's alright..."
Jason snapped his eyes open wide from a familiar, too familiar voice. And there she was, looming over him face-to-face. Her image was dimmed from her short black hair; however, Jason's expression was exposed from her golden green eyes. He could not believe what he was seeing before him, but there was no question in his mind...
"Kat..." the name finally escaped the Satellite's lips, "I...I'm-" but he was unable to finish as the little neko-girl leaned in and gave him a small peck on his forehead, before pulling back to meet with his awed face.
"I know, Jason..." Katherine softly mewed, "I forgive you."
Martha called out around the house for everyone to come to the dining room; it was almost dinnertime. She searched around realizing that Jason did not come. She looked all over but he was nowhere to be found. The last place she searched is the children's bedroom. And when she opened the door, she was met with a heart-warming sight of Jason fast asleep with Katherine in his arms. Not wanting to wake them, she quietly closed the door and left with a soft smile, pleased knowing Katherine has been reunited with her hero...
A while later, the group were all sat at Martha's dinner table, along with the orphans under her care. They were all enjoying the stew Trudge had made.
"This is delicious, isn't it?"
"Yeah, it's awesome!"
"The cool guys from Security whipped it up for us!" Taka proclaimed. Everyone but Martha looks at Trudge and Altman, shocked; since when do cops cook, they wondered? Trudge stops in the middle of a bite, blushing again, while Justine just looked away.
"Thank you. It's so good!"
"Yeah, thanks!"
Mina, sitting next to Jack, was barely touching her food. When Mina glanced toward Trudge, the officer a spoonful of scalding stew into his mouth, before quickly having to gulp down a glass of water, "It's too spicy!" all the kids laughed.
"Hey, kids, if we're able to win this next battle, Goodwin's gonna finish the bridge that connects the Satellite to New Domino City," Yusei announced. "That bridge will bring people together. It'll signal the beginning of a new era, where you guys can grow up to become anything." At this ringing speech, everything came to a halt; everyone is staring at Yusei now, not quite sure what to make of it.
"I sure hope you're right!" Taka hoped.
'If they win this war, and society does change, Taka might be able to become Security." Trudge thought, 'And I might be worthy of Mina...'
Mina looked at him, as though she heard this thought. Trudge panicked, and then innocently bit off a roll.
Just then a lightning bolt struck near the house causing the glass from the windows to shatter which made the children scared by screaming. By now, the grown-ups have also gotten to their feet, ready for anything. Even Jason rushed in to investigate the commotion.
"What was that?" Yusei wondered.
"You mean besides some creepy dude standing over there all villian-like?" Kenichi pointed toward the shattered window. A dark laugh sounded from the shadows as another bolt of lightning strikes the ground right in front of two figures, silhouetting a dark cloak . The caped figure cast a shadow that looked like the outline of spider.
"Who are you?" Yusei demanded, "Whadda you want with us?"
The winds floated over the person's cape, revealing an individual wearing black highlighted with red, sleeveless tunic and gauntlets. He removed his hood to reveal a face marked with two vertical lines tapering from his temples to frame his chin; each with two horizontal strokes, one beneath each eye and the other on each cheekbone. Framed by the vertical lines, a dot in the center of his chin. His hair was impossibly spiky and pointy. "Sorry to interrupt your dinner. My name is Roman, and I bear the mark of the Spider." the man held up his right arm, and indeed the spider was glowing there. Yusei gasped; that was the similar marking he saw in that vision. "I heard that we had four Signers visiting. I thought I'd come welcome you. Of course... we Dark Signers have only one way of saying hello." He held up his duel-disk, making clear what that one way is.
"Bring it on, Bub!" Jack declared.
"No." Yusei said stopping Jack, "We can't duel here, it's not safe. Everyone'll get swallowed up if he summons an Immortal. I'll try to lead 'im away. You look after Martha and the kids." Jack was hesitant because he wanted to take on Roman too, but he did as Yusei said as everyone else went to the back of the house. But suddenly Margaret barged out the window.
"You want a duel, Roman?" she challenged, "You got one right here!"
"You?" Roman laughed, "You're no Signer! You're not even worth my time!"
"What are you doing?" Yusei protested, "You don't have anything to prove; just stay inside!"
"This is my home too, Yusei!" Margaret said, "That means I'm a part of this as much of you!"
"But Magic..."
"I'm willing to risk my life to help stop this war! I don't care what's thrown my way, I'm not going anywhere. You understand?"
"...Understood." Yusei finally agreed. He later went to his duel-runner and detached his duel-disk.
"Yusei! I have something to tell you!" Akiza called as she approached him with Rico in tow, "Our Signs can form a barrier to protect people around us. So even when an Immortal's summoned we'll be safe." Yusei nodded.
In Martha's house, everyone else were escorting the children out to safety.
"Hey, don't lag behind!" Trudge called to Taka, as well as two others.
"We're coming," Taka said as they saw the others going away. When they were far away enough…"Alright, men; that Roman is a bad guy. He took Crow and everyone else! Let's go help Yusei defeat him!"
"Yeah!"
On the outskirts of Satellite...
Whilst the commotion that Roman had caused back at the orphanage, David had traveled to the church, and opened the solid wooden door. There was no doubt that it had been abandoned for years, the stain glass windows were covered in filth, some had even been broken by certain people throwing stones through them. The seating had been cracked and broken also, even the flooring creaked underneath him, to say the least the place couldn't be any more ominous if he wanted it to be.
"You came!" Mana's voice rang throughout the hollow building; she was standing on the far end with her back to David. "Even when you are close to breaking, you've come to see me." Her voice held no malice, instead it showed great concern.
David had run over to her and tried to look at her directly. "I...I wanted to make sure I saw you before all of this started."
"I see." Mana laughed, as she finally faced him. "David listen to me, I know that you are hurting deep down, but I also know there is no way around this. I have to tell you this..." She paused for a while; something silvery fell from her hood. "I can't say it!" She grabbed his hand and placed it on her chest. "See?"
David's eyes widened, what he would usually feel would be a heartbeat, but there was nothing there. No thumping sensation at all, then that could mean...no not even that was possible. "Why... Why don't you have a pulse?"
Mana's facial expression saddened greatly. "I'm just a puppet; a reanimated person brought back from the dead. It doesn't matter what happens I'll always remain dead. To think I would get a life with no beat, no purpose but to destroy, and of all people you. It hurts David, even without a heart it hurts."
"Mana..."
"David, please save me. Let me pass away with your hands." Mana was in tears but pleading like she had never pleaded before.
"I...I can't, I don't want you to die."
"I'm already dead David; there is simply nothing else to do. I don't want to hurt and kill people. I don't want to kill you. Please David I beg you."
David hesitated he couldn't bring himself to think of it, if he had been there for her all that time ago. He would have protected her and none of this would be happening, though now he knew there really was no choice. "Alright. If this is what you wish, I will send you back to the afterlife. Forgive me, it was my fault that you died in the first place. I will never be able to take that sin away from myself. So this is my punishment."
"No, you are saving me. I will be free from this, and you need to live." Mana slowly walked away from him, a dark cloud surrounding her. "Sayonara, David, my love..." and just like that she was gone.
David left the church, crestfallen and broken but he had a promise to keep. He saw the spider in the sky and sighed. "So it begins huh? Let's walk down this broken road together, Mana. And soon, you will be led back into the light. I promise you that."
Meanwhile…
Out in an abandoned street, Yusei, Margaret and Roman prepared to duel, while Rico and Akiza
at a relatively safe distance behind.
"Come on, it's time to begin." Roman said activating his Dark Signer duel disk. Yusei activates his and Margaret activated her Arcadia Disk. All duelists participating drew their starting hand. Misty purple fire erupted midway across the dueling field and spreads, surrounding everyone in the area. It darted back and forth and appears out of the ground at other points to connect, forming the shape of a spider around the environment.
"It's begun." Jack glared at his glowing Mark.
"I'm scared..." Luna whimpered seeing her own Mark glowing. Martha then guided party into a room.
"Alright, everyone in here." Martha said. Two young girls then noticed that something was missing.
"But Taka's not with us." One girl said.
"Neither are John and Mitch." Another girl said.
"Where are they?" Martha wondered, shocked. Martha and Jack dash outside and spotted the spider mark in the sky. "Ah? That's-" Martha began, but there was no time for that and Martha suddenly ran to look for the boys dashing to its direction.
"Martha! Come back!" Jack called.
"I'm on it." Trudge said as he went after Martha.
Roman: 4000
Yusei/Magic: 4000
"I'll make the first move!" Magic drew her sixth card, "I play the spell Cost Down! By sending 1 card from my hand to the graveyard, I can downgrade the level of every monster in my hand by 2 stars! So by discarding Ice Master, I can summon the now-level-4 Neo Aqua Madoor to the field in DEF mode!" the cloaked ice master appeared in front of Margaret; his masked crimson eyes flashed a fog of frost loomed around him (DEF: 3000), "Now I place one card face-down and end my turn!" a reverse-card appeared.
"An interesting first move..." Roman admitted as he drew his next card, "But much too easy to disarm. I'm activating the Spider Web field-spell!" spider webs suddenly spread across the field, blanketing the ground and crisscrossing through the air around them like a very thin net.
"This could get sticky..." Yusei muttered.
"You have no idea! Now I summon the (2) Dark Tuner-Spider Cocoon(5/ATK: 0/DEF: 0)!" a spider with eight legs with a spider cocoon as its abdomen appeared (ATK: 0), "And the reason I'm able to summon this monster is because my field is empty and you have one monster in play. With that done I'm summoning (1) Dark Spider(1/ATK: 0/DEF: 0)," another spider-like creature appeared, this one carrying a green hump-like abdomen (ATK: 0), "Now, until the end of my turn, Dark Spider can harness the power of the shadows in its web, and grant the power to an insect-type monster on my field. Which means Spider Cocoon grows in power by two levels!"
Dark Tuner-Spider Cocoon: (Lv: 7)
"And now, Spider Cocoon will return the favor by giving Dark Spider a tune-up!" Spider Cocoon faded into seven glowing stars that stabbed into Dark Spider, sending darkness gushing forth into a sphere as the non-tuner dissolved into a framework containing a single glowing star. Six dark stars burst from the Dark Synchro Summon and circled it, crackling with power as dark lightning connected them to the orb…
When the shadows are devoured by even darker shadows, the curtain pulls back and reveals...a world without light! Come forth (3) Underground Arachnid(-6/ATK: 2400/1200)!"
A column of dark light descended on the ground for a few seconds. When it dispersed. A huge spider with a woman attached on top appeared (ATK: 2400).
"Oh, great, another insect duel..." Yusei cringed.
"Good thing it's not strong enough to crawl past my monster," Magic said.
"Whoever said that I wanted to 'crawl past' anything? I just plan on taking your Neo Aqua Madoor for my own! Go, Twine Thread!" the spider-woman blasted a net of webbing from her insectoid maw and ensnared Magic's monster, before pulling him to her side by the net.
"Hold on! That's my monster!" Magic argued, "It's not yours to take!"
"Pardon me, Miss Spires. My Arachnid could be a bit restless. You see, due to her insatiable nature her special-ability permits her to snag any monster on the opponent's field and use it as her own equip-card. And now that you have nothing to protect you, Underground Arachnid can attack you directly!"
"Don't think so! I activate my trap!" but strand of webbing struck from underground and tied Magic's reverse-card down, keeping it set.
"I'm afraid not! Underground Arachnid let's no spell or trap stand in the way of her assault!" the attack continued in the form of a tube woven of thick spider webs, its adhesiveness solidifying as it slammed into Margaret's stomach with enough force to throw her against the threads of the Spider Web field-spell. She fell about ten feet to the ground, face-first.
Roman: 4000
Yusei/Magic: 1600
"Magic!" Yusei cried, "Are you alright?"
Margaret hacked a bit from having the wind knocked out of her, "I'm fine..."
"Though not for long. I'm placing one card face-down and ending my turn," a reverse appeared, "your move."
"It's my turn now," Yusei started his turn, "I summon the tuner-monster, (4) Road Synchron(4/ATK: 1600/DEF: 800)!" a tanish-yellow robot with black rollers as its legs appeared (ATK: 1600), "Next I activate the One For One spell card! So by sending one monster in my hand to the graveyard, I can use One For One to summon a weaker monster from my hand, like Tuningware!" the small robot with a frying pan on its head appeared as well (ATK: 100), "Not only that, but when I have a face-up tuner-monster on my field, I can instantly summon Quillbolt Hedgehog from my graveyard!" the frizzy metal rodent was summoned from the grave (ATK: 800).
"So there's a level-4 Road Synchron, a level-2 Quilbolt and a level-1 Tuningware," Akiza said.
"But that's just 7!" Rico added, "Does he have a synchro-monster with that level?"
"Next I activate Tuningware's ability; when it's used to synchro-summon, it can act as a level-2 monster!"
Tuningware: (Lv: 2)
Akiza: "Now Yusei has a total of eight-leveled monsters on the field!"
Rico: "That means only one thing!"
"Now I'm tuning Road Synchron with my Quillbolt Hedgehog and Tuningware for a synchro-summon!" Road Synchron turned into four synchro-gates while Tuningware and Quillbolt Hedgehog turned into two stars combining into four. The stars aligned in the tunnel of rings as Yusei chanted:
"Clustering hopes will evoke a new horizon. Become the path its light shines upon. Synchro Summon! Dash onward, (5) Road Warrior(8/ATK: 3000/DEF: 1500)!"
The torrent of light released a warrior in a loose black jumpsuit under majestic golden armor, armed with a pair of golden-clawed gauntlets. On its back mounted a large silver blade (ATK: 3000).
Akiza: "Now that's how we Signers like to do things!"
Rico: "I hope Yusei has an extra copy he can trade for!"
Since I used Tuningware to synchro-summon just now, I can activate its special ability!" Yusei drew a card from his deck, "Time to brawl! Road Warrior, crush his Underground Arachnid! Go, Lightning Claw!" Lightning then charged toward jurougumo, white-hot lightning enveloped over its gauntlets as it collided with its target. Roman braved it out as lightning was getting to him as well.
Roman: 3400
Yusei/Magic: 1600
But when the dust cleared, Underground Arachnid was still in one piece. Neo Aqua Madoor was forced to take the hit as his chest was bored through before breaking into pixels.
"What did you do to my monster?" Magic cried.
"Underground Arachnid used your monster in order to save herself from your attack," Roman explained, "And now, due to the effect of the Spider Web field-spell, Road Warrior is forced into DEF mode, and it's stuck that way until your next turn," strands of webbing ensnared the golden knight, forcing it to its knees (DEF: 1500), "If Underground Arachnid manages to weave her webs around another monster, then your field will be empty yet again. And when you take my direct attack, you will both dance the Dance of Doom."
"Thing is..." Yusei let out a small smile, "I don't dance. I activate Road Warrior's special-ability! Once a turn I can use its power to summon a level-one-or-two warrior-or-machine-type monster from my deck! So I'm summoning... Turbo Booster!" Road Warrior struggled to get its metal cape off of its back. It shot a light out that looked like a road and Rally's small yellow robot appeared (ATK: 0), "This one's for you, Rally!Now I activate Turbo Booster's ability! By releasing this card, I can pound Underground Arachnid into the dirt! Go! Twin Fists of Fury!" Turbo Booster launched its arms and obliterated the jurougumo.
"That takes care of that bug problem," Magic exclaimed, "And as soon as we summon another monster, there's nothing Roman could bring out that could stop us!"
"Over there!" a voice called out; two boys ran into view beyond the purple mist and webs. Everyone except Roman turned around, shocked to see them.
"What are those kids doing here?" Yusei asked surprised.
"Don't come any closer!" Akiza gasped as well, "Don't touch that barrier!"
"It's too late for your friends! I activate Altar of the Bound Deity!" the Dark Signer laughed, as Roman's continuous-trap manifested a large stone temple behind him, "Now, once a turn during my standby-phase, for every monster on the field in DEF mode, the altar gains one Earthbound Immortal Counter. When all four of the altar's counter-flames have been lit, the Bound Deity will grant me the power to summon one Earthbound Immortal from my deck."
"Earthbound Immortals..." Rico whimpered, "Those are the big ones, right, Akiza?"
"Those monsters absorb the essence of anyone that comes in contact with that purple geoglyph...!" Akiza said, "This was a big mistake!"
"I sense a few more rats have snuck in," Roman sneered, "That's too bad for them, since the only way to end this duel at this point is for one of us to suffer defeat. Now then, shall we finish this duel? The Netherworld is anxiously awaiting new victims!"
TO BE CONTINUED...