YuGiOh 5D's: Konami/Kazuki Takahashi
Magic: "After traveling through a major thunderstorm, I've finally managed to come back home! I was able to see Martha again. But even a happy reunion didn't last long as Roman came by and crashed the party! Yusei and I lead him away and faced him in a duel. We managed to get the upper hand; but now a couple of kids got caught in the crossfire as Roman plans to sacrifice them! Now how are we gonna get out of this sticky situation? We'll find out, now!"
YuGiOh: 5D's
Reverse of Arcadia
Ride 25: Mark of the Spider
Part 2: Sins of the Fathers
We now return to where we last left off, where Yusei and Margaret were caught in a desperate predicament; two children were in danger of being offered up to Roman's trap, Alter of the Bound Deity. "I sense a few more rats have snuck in," Roman sneered, enjoying how the two boys were petrified in fear, "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!"
"Nobody's going anywhere but you, Roman!" Yusei exclaimed.
Roman laughed, "I wouldn't be so sure. You see the moment my altar's four counters are lit, your fears will be realized!"
"That alter will be a big pile of debris before that happens!" Magic exclaimed.
"I invite you to try!" Roman started his next turn, "I activate the effect of the Altar of the Bound Deity! Now, for every monster that's in DEF mode during my standby-phase, I light an Earthbound Immortal counter!" one of the giant torches atop of the structure lit on fire (CTR: 1), "Next I summon (2) Ground Spider(4/ATK: 0/DEF: 1500) in DEF mode!" a brown spider with a small abdomen a red ornament on its head appeared.
"Great, This is just what I needed," Yusei trembled, "I mean, is it just too much to ask for you to summon a creature that only has 2 legs?"
"Like that would actually make a difference!" Roman chuckled as he concluded with a reverse-card.
"It's my move!" Magic started her turn, "I summon Cold Enchanter in ATK mode!" the frosty magician appeared, wielding her crystal scepter (ATK: 1600), "Let's see your ground spider handle this!"
"Let's not. Because when Grand Spider is in DEF mode, its special-ability puts any monster normally summoned to DEF mode as well. Now back off, Cold Enchanter!" Roman's monster ensnared the sorceress in webbing (DEF: 1200), "And now we have a total of three monsters on the field; meaning on my next standby-phase, all four counters will be lit," Roman showed a sadistic grin, "And you know what that means...!"
"Then I guess I'll have to improvise! I activate the spell Gift of the Yuki-Onna!" Magic discarded one of her WATER monsters before drawing two cards, "And since there's already a water-attribute monster on my field, Yuuki the Ice Maiden is also summoned!" the lilac-haired Yuki-Onna appeared (ATK: 800), "And now I tune her with Cold Enchanter to synchro-summon White Glacier Dragon!" the two monsters aligned with each other as Magic chanted:
"The cold whispering winds fills the land with their song, gaze upon the form of purity it creates. Synchro Summon! Chant, White Glacier Dragon!"
The white-furred ice dragon appeared (ATK: 2750), "And when summoned using Yuuki as synchro-material, I can activate her special-ability, letting me add a water-attribute monster from my deck!" Magic showed her opponent Blizzard Princess before adding her to her hand, "White Glacier, attack that Ground Spider! Go, Sub-Zero Blaze!" the dragon destroyed the enemy's arachnid with a frosty fire-breath, "Don't you know that spiders and the cold don't mix? If you did then maybe you'd think twice before messing around in my home!"
"That's quite sweet of you trying to be act brave," Roman teased, "But now my spider webs will trap your monster in DEF mode," the field-spell then ensnared White Glacier Dragon in webbing, "The binds only last a couple of rounds, but I've a feeling by that time it will all be over!"
"We'll see about that!" Magic concluded her turn.
Meanwhile, Martha and Trudge arrived at the scene near the flaming geoglyph as they continued to look for the three missing boys.
"Check it out, Martha," Trudge marveled with unease, "That purple wall of mist looks like it goes on forever and ever."
"Where are the boys?" Martha wondered, worried.
The two went upstairs in a ruined building. They looked out the window looking around and saw Yusei and Margaret dueling Roman with Akiza next to them. Trudge then noticed something below. "Look down there!" Trudge said pointing. They saw John and Mitch.
"My boys! They're trapped!" Martha cried.
"They'll be fine; once the duel's done, they'll both be free."
"No! You're wrong!" Akiza called out to them, "If Roman summons an Earthbound Immortal... they'll be lost! Their spirits taken! Please help!"
"I'll help! Yusei! Magic!" Martha called. The two duelists looked up to see Martha and Trudge at the abandoned building they're in, "Yeah, up here! Don't even think about losing this duel!"
"Don't worry! We wan handle it!" Margaret assured her.
Roman the chuckled, "How touching. But you don't have a choice in the matter. You've tried your best to delay the inevitable; but I'm afraid that it's just too late, young fool!" he then drew his next card, "I play my trap card, and activate Offerings to the Bound Deity! Now, if I take my life-points and cut them in half, my alter gains two more counters! of course, with the third already lit on my field during my standby-phase, I only need one!" the last torch then suddenly lit.
Roman: 1700
Yusei/Magic: 1600
"That's all four!" Yusei exclaimed.
"Oh no!" Akiza cried.
"The four counters are ablaze! Let the summoning begin!" Roman rejoiced; the Altar streamed purple light and exploded, shooting a column of purple fire into the air, near the top of which appeared the stone seal an Earthbound Immortal, pulsing with purple light. Little rivers and streams of black fog poured into the top of it.
"What's that black smoke?" Yusei demanded,
"Those are all the captured souls that are needed to fuel my Earthbound Immortal. And it's time I provide it with more!" the black fog continue to get sucked up and while that was going on, John and Mitch started to turn into purple light.
"Oh no!" Akiza cried.
"John! Mitch!" Martha cried.
This was the scenario Yusei feared the most. He felt foolish to allow this to pass. It seemed a miracle would be in order save those children now.
"So who here ordered a miracle!" suddenly, Jack Atlas arrived riding on his Phoenix Whirlwind!
"Jack!" Yusei and Margaret said surprised.
"Jack! My boys!" Martha cried, "They need you!"
"Who doesn't! I won't let a couple of my youngest fans get sucked into some giant hunk of rock; heads up!"
Jack kept hurtling, right through the wall of purple fire-mist, which rose to stop him. He landed and hit the brake, jumped off his runner and lunged to reach the boys; by now, both of their souls were starting to drift free of their bodies as purple wraiths hung above them. Jack held both of them close as his Sign flared. Their souls came back to their bodies, safe under his protection.
Martha sighed, "Oh, Jack, you saved them!"
"I guess the guy's not all bad after all." Trudge said with relief as well.
Yusei and Margaret turned their attention back on the duel with Roman laughing, "It makes no difference. I still have him! (3) Earthbound Immortal Uru(10/ATK: 3000/DEF: 3000)!" after the seal vanished, the ground began to shake. Out from underground came giant crimson orbs, piercing the dust kicked up by a dreadful appearance. A giant spider erupted from the earth, dwarfing nearby buildings, black with glowing red designs. A bright beacon shined below each of its 'knees', and as each of its eight eyes. It was so big, Roman would fit in one of the eyes if he sat down (ATK: 3000).
Meanwhile, Jason, Kenichi, Mina, Blister and the twins arrived at the scene watching the duel from a high building.
"Look at that!" Luna said pointing at the Earthbound Spider.
"That's one of those Earthbound Immortals Goodwin was talking about?" Kenichi asked nervously.
"Yusei! Magic! How 'bout you squash that thing so we can go home!" Jack called.
"Right," Yusei said, confident, "That spider's done for!"
"It's going nowhere by back down to earth; I guarantee!" Margaret assured.
"Are you sure you want that, Margaret?" Roman asked, "After all, it's practically family."
"What are you talking about?"
"Are you telling me you don't know the truth?" the Dark Signer laughed, "Your own mother helped free the Shadow Army!"
"You're lying!" Magic snapped, "My mom would never do that!"
"But you know it's the truth, Margaret. Ekaterina started the first Ener-D project; without her, none of this would be possible."
"What about my father?" Yusei demanded, "He was in the project too, wasn't he? How did he get involved?"
"I was getting to that, Yusei. You see, your father, Professor Fudo was quite the genius concerning physics and machines. Eventually Ekaterina sought his expertise and convinced him to assist her in create a generator housing the ultimate source known as Ener-D. It was only a matter of time before it all backfired. If you think about it, none of this would be possible without her."
"That's not true!" Margaret cried out in disbelief, "All my mom ever wanted was to help make a better world!"
"More like help engorge her bank account," Roman grinned, "You see, your mother didn't care about all the safeguards or security precautions; all she wanted was to take Professor Fudo's work and see how fast it would make her a millionaire! And I should know; after all, I was there with her!"
"But how exactly?"
"She was our boss, you fool. I worked her and the Professor with my brother... one Rex Goodwin!" Roman explained; Yusei, Akiza, even Margaret gasped at this revelation, "It all began when you and Yusei were barely infants. My brother Rex and I worked for Professor Fudo, who in turn, worked for you mother, at the original Ener-D Reactor site. The professor feared that should the reactor suddenly spin in reverse, the abrupt change in revolution would cause it to release a massive burst of negative energy; which is just what she- I mean, I wanted. He tried many times to warn her, but she was just too obsessed with success to listen to reason. It was only a matter of time before she decided ascend the generator past its limit. And then, boom... it all fell down... the reactor Yusei's father worked so hard to create was a means to an end."
"So this whole mess started..." Margaret whispered, her tone drowned in sorrow, "The meltdown, the separation of the two cities, everyone who had ever been orphaned and alone on the streets... All because of what my mother did...?"
"Who else?" Roman giggled sickeningly.
"It couldn't be what happened!" Yusei exclaimed, "Did you put her up to this, Roman? Was all of this your idea?"
"I wish we could stand around and chat all day, but the netherworld is waiting. Earthbound Immortal Uru! Attack!" Roman laughed as the Immortal spewed an ocean of webbing, the large clumps around the brim acting as guided missiles, "It's time for you both to suffer the sins of your mother, Margaret!"
"Forget it! I activate the effect of the (1) Miracle Glacier Egg(2/ATK: 0/DEF: 0) that's in my hand! When summoned to the field, it can negate any direct attack!" a snow-white egg decorated in crystal ice appeared; the new monster created a barrier and deflected Uru's attack, making it ricochet across the area. Part of the attack hit the building where Martha and Trudge were.
"While I end my turn with a face-down, I should remind you...the damage in this duel is real." Roman said as the building began to tilt to one side, clearly unsound after taking the hit. They suddenly heard a little boy scream from above them and ran up to the roof where they found Taka hanging on to the lip of the rooftop.
"Taka!" Trudge called.
"Martha! Please, help me!" Taka cried, "I'm so scared!"
"I'll save you!" Martha as he slowly made her way to Taka.
"Martha!" Yusei called.
"Get back!" Jack called as well.
"Please, Martha! Be careful!" Margaret cried. Soon, Martha was able to reach to Taka.
"Sorry Martha, I just wanted to help everyone out…" Taka apologized.
"Don't worry; but whaddaya say we try and help from downstairs, on the ground. Martha assured him." Trudge reaches out his hand and helps Taka into the doorway, but Martha slipped and slide to the other end of the roof. She tries to climb back up, but another tremor pull her down again. Martha slowly tried to drag herself up, grabbing for a handhold on the rooftop. Trudge reached for her, and she reached out, but then slid back again.
"Hold on!" he called, "I'm coming for you!" Martha looked at him, and just shook her head. "Martha, keep trying!"
"Promise me one thing... Please, watch over my kids when I'm gone."
"You're not going anywhere! Got that?" Trudge pleaded, "Your kids... your kids need you, Martha, you can't give up!"
She then looked at Yusei, Jack and Margaret and called, "It warms my heart to see you together again! One more thing. Win this, beat this darkness, and make it quick 'cause I'll be waiting for you!" Martha slipped even further.
"Martha!" Yusei called.
"Don't you dare!" Margaret cried out.
Martha then fell over the side of the building, arms gently outstretched, not unlike an angel. As she fell straight down into the purple flames, her body transfigured into a blob of light, which was then consumed into Uru.
"Martha..." Margaret stood frozen stiff. What she just witnessed had ripped a gash through her heart. The closest thing she ever had to a mother had just became the first casualty of war; and right before the war even began. Martha now joined all those taken to the abyss. Margaret dropped to her knees and let the tears flow from her eyes, "MAARTHAAAAAAA!" Her whole spirit reeled with shock. She just could not apprehend the idea that Martha was gone, not after how she had been a mother to all those people she had taken in. And the echos of Roman's laughter only fueled Margaret's anguish to overfill. "How could you..." she whimpered, then screeched, "HOW COULD YOU LAUGH AT SOMETHING LIKE THIS?"
"I find irony very humorous." Roman stiffed his laughing.
"What?"
"Oh, don't try to deny your heritage, Margaret. Like your mother, you hold concern for no one you put in harm's way as long as you can excel."
"It... It's not my fault..."
"It was your own actions that brought your nanny into the shadows," Roman continued, "You may think you are trying to help your friends and loved ones, but the truth is, you only help yourself. All you could think to do if fight until all you know and love is in ru-"
"Be quiet!" Yusei stepped in and shouted, "I have heard you talk for far too long! And someone needs to shut you up!" he drew his next card, "And it starts right here. I summon Junk Synchron, in ATK mode!" the octane-equipped tuner appeared (ATK: 1300), "Now whenever he's summoned, I get a little bonus: if there's a level-2-or-lower monster in my graveyard, that monster can be summoned immediately to help join the fight! So say hello again to Turbo Booster!" the small yellow machine appeared as well (DEF: 0), "But that's not all! I activate the spell Double Summon, which allows me to summon an extra warrior this turn; I play Speed Warrior in ATK mode!" the silver speedy warrior appeared (ATK: 900), "And I'm not done yet! I release my warrior to make room for something with even more firepower: Turrent Warrior!" Speed Warrior was replaced with the colossal stone soldier (ATK: 1200-2100), "Now, whaddaya say we do a little tuning! Junk Synchron, start your engines!" Junk Synchron revved its motor, and its three stars dissolve out and form into three Synchro-Gates. Turret Warrior soared through them, aligning its five stars with the gates. Yusei chanted in anger:
"Clustering wishes will become a new shining star! Become the path its light shines upon! Synchro Summon! Take flight, Stardust Dragon!"
With an almighty roar, Stardust Dragon rose up, its whole body glittering, scattering shimmering specks of stardust from its wings (ATK: 2500).
Roman laughed, "This is just as it was 17 years ago! At the brink of utter destruction your father was left to repair what Ekaterina had started; but to no avail. So what more could you do, Yusei Fudo?"
"I know I can't hurt your monster because of its special ability, but that's not what I plan on doing. Stardust Dragon, show 'im what I mean!" Stardust soared into the air, swerving, darting and dodging around streams of webbing shot by Uru. The dragon dove, and passed right through Uru as though it was an actual phantom.
"Defeating your monster was never part of my plan. And ya know why? If I can't attack Uru that leaves only one target; and I'm sure you can guess who that is! Stardust Dragon, take out the only target left: Roman!" Stardust fired Cosmic Flare at Roman.
"Not so fast! I activate Spider Egg!" Roman revealed his trap, "And with this in play, I can stop your attack and hatch three new Spider Tokens!" An egg appeared and blocked the attack. The force destroyed it, hatching three small spiders onto the field (DEF: 0). "I hope you didn't think I would let the rest of my life-points be destroyed by your dragon!"
"I'll get you yet, Roman!" Yusei growled and concluded his turn, "You're not getting any more spirits!"
"That's fine..." Roman chuckled as he glowed purple all of a sudden. Nobody could've prepared for they saw next. Everyone was shocked of who they now saw.
"Rally!" Yusei cried, starting to run over to his friend, but stopped as he heard Roman laughing. He looked to see the Dark Signer standing on the delicate threads of the Spider Web field-spell.
"Miss your friend?" Roman asked, "I freed his spirit so he could duel you instead of me."
"You can't! I won't duel my friend!"
"I'm afraid you don't have much of a choice," Roman said, "Now unless I'm mistaken, Margaret takes her turn after mine. Now she could follow her mother's footsteps and destroy her opponent without a second thought, or she can forsake the entire human race, all to save some insignificant little insect."
"You can't do this!" Margeret shouted.
"You don't understand his power," Rally whimpered, "Roman can do whatever he wants!"
"I won't duel!"
"You have to! You're the only hope left! Look at him! He's taken everyone! I'm sorry..." With that, he drew his next card.
"Don't do it, Rally!" Yusei begged him.
"Oh, he will duel," Roman grinned, "Even if it means destroying you both!"
" I use, Uru's ability!" Rally announced, "By sacrificing one of the monsters that's on my field, I get control of one of yours! Sorry, Yusei. "Uru shoots out a web and drags Turbo Booster over to Rally's field, "I summon the tuner (4) Turbo Rocket(2/ATK: 0/DEF: 0)!" A red machine with two rocket jets appeared (ATK: 0).
Yusei watches silently, then, too late, realizes what Rally's going for.
"Rally, no...!" Margaret cried, "I know what you're doing! You have to attack me!"
"Don't make this harder! Me 'n' Tank and everyone are trapped! We need you, and Yusei, and all your friends to save us! I'm sorry!"
"Don't do this! Please!"
"I know you'd rather get sent to the netherworld than to go through this; that's why I have to end this duel on my own terms! I tune Turbo Rocket with my Turbo Booster, so that I can synchro-summon, (5) Turbo Cannon(3/ATK: 0/DEF: 0)!" Turbo Rocket and Booster begin the dance of a synchro-summon. Turbo Rocket's two gates aligned with Turbo Booster's one star. When completed, a white machine with two cannons appeared (ATK: 0), "I activate my Cannon's V2 ability: I can destroy any monster on the field, and then, its ATK points count as damage to its owner(*). And no one said whose monster I have to choose."
"No, Rally!" Yusei and Margaret cried.
"I destroy Earthbound Immortal Uru!" Turbo Cannon prepared to fire, as Rally turned and shouted defiantly, "Find a new pawn, Roman!" Turbo Cannon shone with energy as it blasted a single laser shot through Uru, which shrieked and exploded, the explosion hurling Rally over to land in front of Yusei Margaret…
Roman: 0
Yusei/Magic: 1600
Margaret ran over to the fallen boy and knelt down to him while Yusei followed. She then turned him over and gently pulled him into her arms. "Oh Rally, I'm so sorry..."
"Don't you worry about it..." Rally whispered tiredly, "You'll get us back... You and Yusei... I know you can..." he turned grey all over, as though made of shadowy mist. With that, he evaporated, as though made of dust or shadows, and blows away in the wind, leaving Margaret crying in empty arms. Yusei can hardly bear it himself; his eyes work and twitch with grief as he pounded the ground on his knees. The geoglyph faded away, the sphere of red light around Akiza and Rico fading away to allow the two to run to the two Satellites as Jason, Kenichi and David, Jack, the twins and Trudge also ran up to him.
A lively laugh and a steady clapping sound echoed through the area; everyone turned to a nearby plateau of rubble where the sound came. A woman under a pitch-black cloak appeared, followed by five other Dark Signers; Kalin, Misty, Devack, Roman, as well as an unknown Dark Signer in black-and-orange cloaks appeared.
"Well, I certainly wasn't expecting that outcome!" the one in black laugh as she resumed clapping, "The boy could have used the opportunity to save himself, but instead he wasted it 'trying' to help you save your precious Satellite. No wonder the human race is going extinct; no one is selfish anymore!"
"Now be kind, Milady," Devack replied in sarcasm, "They did just lose some friends to the shadows."
"Are they..."
"Gone?" Kalin interrupted Akiza, "Your pals're with us. And all the others lost from this trash heap you call a town! Wanna get 'em back? Well I'm right here, Yusei! Or are you scared?" the Dark Signer cackled.
"Yeah, I'm scared..." Yusei replied angrily, "'Scared' about what I'm going to do to you, Kalin! As far as I'm concerned... your dark decks are about to be destroyed!"
DUEL-MON DATABASE
(1) Miracle Glacier Egg
Stats: [Dragon/Effect] Level 2 ATK/0 DEF/0
Attribute: WATER
Description: When your opponent's monster declares a direct attack: You can Special Summon this card from your hand, then end the Battle Phase. You can tribute this card to Special Summon "White Glacier Dragon" from your graveyard. "White Glacier Dragon" is removed from play during the End Phase of the turn it was Special Summoned.
(2) Ground Spider
Stats: [Insect/Effect] Level 4 ATK/0 DEF/1500
Attribute: EARTH
Description: Once per turn, if you control this face-up Defense Position monster when your opponent Normal or Special Summons a monster(s), you can change that monster(s) to Defense Position.
(3) Earthbound Immortal Uru
Stats: [Insect/Effect] Level 3 ATK/3000 DEF/3000
Attribute: DARK
Description: "Earthbound Immortal" monsters cannot be Summoned while this card is face-upon the field. When there is no Field Spell Card face-up on the field, the following effects are negated, and this card is destroyed during the End Phase: ● This card can attack your opponent directly. ● This card is unaffected by the effects of your opponent's Spell and Trap Cards. ● Your opponent's monsters cannot select this card as an attack target. ● If this card is the only monster you control, your opponent can attack you directly. ● Tribute1 of your monsters to gain control of 1 face-up monster your opponent controls until the End Phase.
(4) Turbo Rocket
Stats: [Machine/Effect] Level 2 ATK/0 DEF/0
Attribute: WIND
Description: While attacking, this card cannot be destroyed by battle. If this card attacks, after damage calculation, inflict damage equal to half the ATK of the attack target to your opponent.
(5) Turbo Cannon
Stats: [Machine/Synchro/Effect] Level 3 ATK/300 DEF/300
Attribute: WIND
Description: "Turbo Rocket" + 1 or more non-Tuner monsters
Once per turn, you can destroy1 face-up monster on the field, and inflict damage to its controller equal to half of its ATK.
(*) In the anime, its effect could inflict damage equal to the total ATK of the monster it destroyed, rather than half of the ATK.
DUEL-MON TRIVIA-
Hey duelists! Did you know:
Turbo Cannon is the only Level-3 Synchro-Monster!
CFGX: "Sorry, readers, no preview this time. Just watch for my next chapter to see how this war continues. And Happy Holidays."