Yugioh 5D's: Konami/Kazuki Takahashi
Yusei: "I knew Goodwin was a snake from the start. First he gathered us to defeat the Dark Signers who've take over Satellite; and just when we reached the forth generator, time already ran out on us. The Crimson Dragon had us sent back to Goodwin's mansion, where a giant condor was lit. Turns out Goodwin's gone Dark Signer on us while we were out saving the world. Now he's offering us up as sacrifices to the King of the Netherworld by strong-arming me, Jack, Magic and Crow into a 4-on-1 turbo-duel! And just when things got dicey, Goodwin took all the marks of the Crimson Dragon to complete his plan: to destroy this world so he can be ruler of another! Just what we need, a world-conquest-seeking maniac with an identity crisis!"
YuGiOh 5D's
Reverse of Arcadia
Ride 56: Signs of Doom
Part 2: The Strongest Earthbound
Goodwin laughed as he accumulated all five of the Signer's marks, "It's only a matter of time before I defeat you Signers! I'll stop at nothing to rule all!"
"Then I guess it's up to us to stop you!" Crow said, "Magic! You done with your turn?"
"Sure am!" Magic replied, "Who's up next?"
Jack dodges around the other three riders and moved to the front of the pack, "Me! So get set, Goodwin, because I have a few surprises in store for you, and not the kind you wrap up with a bow! No, they're the sort that put power-mad megalomaniacs like you in their place! Here goes!" he drew his next card, "First, I place a face-down! Second, I summon forth (1) Magic Hole Golem(4/ATK: 0/DEF: 2000) in DEF mode!" a stone, gladiator-styled statue with a hollowed-out chest appeared (DEF: 2000), "Next I'll use Golem's special-ability. Now once per turn, I can cut half the ATK points of a monster on my field, and then use that monster to wage a direct attack on you! And this turn, the monster I'm choosing is Mad Archfiend!" Mad Archfiend soared through Golem's big central ring (ATK: 900), "There's no time like the present; let 'im have it, Mad Archfiend! Bone Shard Shower!" the archfiend smashed the skull on its abdomen and stat its shards at Goodwin.
Yusei: 4000 (8)
Jack: 4000 (8)
Magic: 4000 (8)
Crow: 1900 (6)
Goodwin: 14500 (5)
"Hey, I wanna get in on this fun!" Crow announced, "And thanks to one of the face-down cards I played last turn, I'm happy to report that I'm *about* to! I play the trap card, Shadow Dance!" one of the reverse-cards opened, "See, if a monster attacks you directly, Shadow Dance then activates, and you take an additional one thousand points of damage!"
"What?!" Goodwin gasped as he was shrouded in a crimson aura.
Yusei: 4000 (8)
Jack: 4000 (8)
Magic: 4000 (8)
Crow: 1900 (6)
Goodwin: 13500 (4)
"Ya see?! I tried to give you fair warning before, Goodwin!" Yusei informed, "You may have both the power of the light and the dark, but it's still no match for what we have: the power you get for fighting for what's good and right."
"Alright, Yusei; you take it from here." Jack concluded.
"My turn," Yusei drew his next card, "And first I'll tune level-3 Junk Synchron with level-4 Max Warrior!" the two warriors rose and combined as Yusei chanted:
"Gathering roars turn into an echoing arrow which tears through the sky! Become the path its light shines upon! Synchro Summon!"
"Show yourself, (5) Junk Archer(7/ATK: 2300/DEF: 2100)!" a new warrior rose from the light vortex in plates of white and orange armor. His left arm was equipped with a green metal bow (ATK: 2300), "And now I'll use his special-ability. With it, I'm allowed to remove a monster of yours from play until the end-phase of the round; so let your arrow fly, Junk Archer! And take out Moon Dragon Quilla with Bullseye Banishing!" Junk Archer pulled back an arrow and shot it from the bow, causing the moon dragon to be sucked into nonexistence on direct contact.
"Direct hit! Yes!" Magic cheered.
"Yeah! That's whatcha get when you go one-on-three, Goodwin!" Jack boasted.
"And there's a whole lot more to come, too!" Crow said, "Isn't that right, Yusei!"
"You'd better believe it! Now, Junk Archer, let 'im have it! Attack Goodwin directly!" the archer fired another arrow.
"Why thanks! You just set off my trap, Offering to the Immortals!" Goodwin's reverse-card opened, "You see, if one of your monsters declares a direct attack, and I have no monsters on my field, that attack is negated," the arrow vanished into thin air, "Then I get to summon two Cerimonial Tokens!" two stone idols appeared in front of the altar (1/ATK: 0/DEF: 0x2), "And there's more! I also get to add an Earthbound Immortal to my hand!" after adding it from his deck he showed it to their opponents.
"You what?!" Yusei gasped.
"He negated the attack, summoned two tokens, and got that Immortal, all just because he played that one trap card?!" Crow muttered, "...This duel might be tougher than we thought.
"Beating a Dark Signer is never easy when they bring out their Earthbounds like that..." Magic groaned.
"And that Immortal's gonna be on the field soon." Jack cursed.
"I place 2 cards face-down and end my turn!" Yusei concluded.
"You know what that means; Moon Dragon Quilla returns to the field!" Goodwin laughed as the moon dragon returned.
"My turn, now!" the Dark Signer drew his next card, "First I'll release my two Ceremonial Tokens! Because you were right, Jack; my Earthbound Immortal will be on the field soon! 'Soon' being 'right now'. Come forth, (4) Earthbound Immortal Wiraqocha Rasca(10/ATK: 1/DEF: 1)!" the alter shone a ball of light, slowly expanding until even the tokens were consumed. Soon many familiar purple lights were pulled into the earthbound's seal!
"Their spirits... he's taking them!" Jack grimaced.
"No," Yusei grimly corrected, "He's using them; to power up that monstrosity!"
The seal shell exploded, erupting into a small sun. From out of the bright light appeared a pair of black wings, glowing with pinkish designs. A set of talons, veined through with pink light. A head with glowing yellow eyes, a dark black beak like a vulture's. And Wiraqocha Rasca takes the field, its wingspan 3/4 as wide as the geoglyph's itself. The opposing duelist did not even think little of it despite its near-nonexistent ATK point (ATK: 1).
Meanwhile, the King of the Netherworld was still lurking towards the city.
"More bad news; that thing's getting closer!" Jack warned.
As they watched, little drops shot out from it and turn into big, ugly birds made of the same gray slime.
"An' it looks like he's invited some friends!" Crow gasped. The flock of nasty birds swooped down on the duel.
Goodwin chuckled as the beasts flew an aerial formation around the Immortal, and dove toward the three turbo-duelists. "I hope you're all enjoying my reinforcements! Sure, it may be a bit unfair to attack you with monsters that aren't from my deck; but when you have such powers as I it would be a shame to not use them! And besides, it's not like you can stop me!" the Dark Signer laughed.
"You snake!" Yusei cursed. Suddenly a really huge bird hovered over Yusei ready to attack. Just then, a sharp, thorny vine stabbed the bird through, and it dissipated. Yusei gasped as he saw Black Rose Dragon swatting more birds down with her vines. "Whoa, that's Akiza's dragon!"
"And there's Luna's Ancient Fairy Dragon!" Magic added. A short distance away, Ancient Fairy Dragon was at the center of another swarm, smacking at them one by one. "Looks like they're lending a helping hand!"
"Ancient Fairy Dragon, attack with Eternal Sunshine!" Luna cried. The fairy dragon radiated light from her body, every nasty black bird within a twenty-foot radius turned to dust.
"Black Rose Dragon, Black Rose Gale!" Akiza ordered. The blood-red dragon commanded the sky with a breath of violet fire. "If he's gonna play dirty, then he's gonna have to answer to us!"
"Yeah! Don't worry, we've got your backs!" Luna announced with Leo and Rico cheering.
"So do I, all the way!" Mina called.
"We've got you guys covered!" Trudge added.
Magic grinned, "That what are we waiting for? Let's win this!"
Goodwin chuckled as he watched their futile effort. "Why do you fight when your fate is sealed?"
"Sealed, huh?" Yusei said, "Sorry, Goodwin, but I believe that we make our own fate."
"As did I, but that was before I knew the power you see before you; the power etched into my very being! You're right, fate is made! But now that I rule both the light and the darkness, it's made only by me! Hahaha!"
"You're wrong!"
"If you still refuse to believe me, Yusei, then I'll demonstrate, with Rasca! You see its special-ability lets me lower your life-points to one simply by skipping my battle-phase."
"It can drain all but 1 of our life-points?!" Magic gasped, "But that would mean we'd be one attack away..."
Goodwin chuckled, "That's the point! I tried to warn you! It is decided! You're done for! All of you!"
"What happened to you, Goodwin?! You used to believe in helping others, not just yourself!" Crow shouted, taking the lead, "When you tried to build that bridge for us Satellite kids, I looked up to you! You were my hero; an' I know deep down you've still got that in you!"
"You're wrong. I'm simply not that man anymore..."
"Yes you are! Look, I know it didn't work out the way you wanted; but you gotta realize... Just you trying changed all of our lives; it gave us all hope!" Goodwin remained silent, Crow's words somehow affecting him, "Look, Goodwin; if you're not gonna be the legendary man we thought you were, then I guess I'm just gonna have to step up and fill those shoes for you! Because Satellite needs its heroes!" suddenly he was knocked aside by one of the strayed birds, sending him off-balance.
"That will teach you to dare talk back to me! Now, then; where were we again exactly? Ah, yes, I remember now; about to rout Yusei's life-points!" Rasca began to glow.
"Don't think so! I play, my face-down card: Life Exchange!" Crow's reverse-card opened, "With this trap, if life-points change due to a card-effect, I become the new target of that effect."
"But that means..." Magic gasped, and Goodwin scowled.
I told you I'd be filling those shoes! Yusei's our best shot at winning this, and I'm not letting you take 'im out; even if it means me putting it all on the line to keep 'im out here! Face it, Goodwin, the power we get for fighting for what's right will always be stronger than what you got! Now let's do this!"
"But he'll be-!"
"Flattened...!" Jack finished Yusei's sentence.
Goodwin chuckled, "It's easy to be brave when you're a fool! Wiraqocha Rasca, reduce Crow's life-points to one!" Rasca breathed a rain of purple fire. Crow rides into the inferno, his runner lifting from the track.
"Crow! No!" Magic cried.
Crow sailed over the side of the track, still covered in Rasca's fire and plummets toward the water below. He winces as his life-points dropped and the fire dissipated, "Sorry, Goodwin. But if I'm goin' down... you better believe I'm goin' down swingin'!" Crow's runner's wings activated and fold into position. "'Cause guess what, Life Exchange has another effect. When my life-points decrease, one of your monsters is destroyed!"
Goodwin grimaced, "But that means-"
"That means all I gotta do is pick. And I pick your Moon Dragon Quilla!" The flying engines on the back of Crow's runner light up, and he went flying back. Eliciting a battle-cry, Crow rams Moon Dragon Quilla head-on, and it shattered around him.
"You fool. When Moon Dragon Quilla is destroyed, my Sun Dragon Inti is resurrected!" Sun Dragon Inti reappears on Goodwin's side of the field.
"And last, I release Armor Master, to activate the trap Blackwing - Anchor!"Crow's reverse-card opened and Armor Master disappeared into it, "That's it, you guys. I'm afraid that you're gonna have to take it from here on out! I know you guys can do it! I know you can be Satellite's new heroes!" even though Crow still glide through the sky, he was falling and falling fast, "Uh, boy. This is gonna be one rough landing...!" Crow landed on his back-wheel fairly smoothly on the glowing track, then his runner leaned to the side snapping off the right-wing. The damage threw Crow off-balance and tossed him off his runner. The Blackwing duelist crashed right on his stomach.
Yusei: 4000 (10)
Jack: 4000 (10)
Magic: 4000 (10)
Crow: 1 (5)
Goodwin: 13500 (6)
"Crow! Crow, are you okay?!" Magic pleaded from her communication screen.
Crow raised his head up and looked through the screen, "Don't you worry about me... Just focus on beating Goodwin..." that was all he could saw before he fell unconscious.
"CROW!"
"I'm afraid if Crow can't ride, then he can't duel, either," Goodwin chuckled, "I hope that being a hero was worth it; it very rarely is. Now then, back to the duel. I activate the speed-spell version of (5D's) Card of Demise! Since I have 6 speed-counters I can draw 5 new card from my deck, so long as I discard my entire hand on my fifth standby-phase," Goodwin drew five cards.
"You just gave Tower of Babel another spell-counter (CTR:4)!" Magic announced, "Not only that, since you were the last person to activate a spell this turn, Tower of Babel's destroyed, and you take 3000 points of damage!" the trap card shattered and a beam of light slammed against Goodwin.
Yusei: 4000 (10)
Jack: 4000 (10)
Magic: 4000 (10)
Crow: 1 (5)
Goodwin: 10500 (0)
"Do you know there's a story behind your trap, Margaret?" Goodwin asked as he recovered, "The people of Babylon built a structure to attempt to reach the heavens. But in an act of divine wrath, not only was the tower destroyed, the people were separated into different languages and cultures. But look what that accomplished now. We've long since broken the language barrier and our lands are all but reunited."
"And that's relative because...?" Magic questioned.
Don't you see? The divine authority as it is now is flawed. That's why there is war. That's why there is poverty. That's why there's hatred among humanity. That's why someone must step up to take the throne! And that someone is me!"
"Just because you got power doesn't mean you're God!" Magic argued.
Goodwin chuckled, "We'll see. I place all five cards face-down and end my turn."
"It's my move!" Magic drew her next card.
"And I activate the trap card known as Battle Mania!" one of Goodwin's reverse-cards opened.
"What?!"
"That means you have no choice but to attack and from what I can see, none of your monsters have nearly enough ATK points to defeat my sun dragon. But don't worry, I'll give you a fighting chance. That's why I activate the trap card Destruct Potion! This destroys my Sun Dragon Inti and grant me life-points equal to its ATK points!" the sun dragon was then destroyed.
Yusei: 4000 (11)
Jack: 4000 (11)
Magic: 4000 (11)
Crow: 1
Goodwin: 13500 (1)
"And you know what that means; when Sun Dragon Inti's destroyed, Moon Dragon Quilla rises back from my graveyard!" the moon dragon rose back up from the clouds on Goodwin's side.
"He must be aiming to use that dragon's ability!" Jack remembered, "Every time its attacked those ATK points the attacking monster has go straight to Goodwin's life-points!"
"But if I destroy it with a stronger monster it won't make a difference! I summon the tuner-monster, (*) Counselor Lily(3/ATK: 400/DEF: 1500)!" a pink-haired angel appeared wearing glasses and nurses' attire (ATK: 400). But first thing's first! Since Silent Magician's on this field, he gains spell-counters every time you draw, either on the draw-phase or by a card-effect! And so far, she's got 2! Now I use Tempest Magician's ability and put those counters to use!" Tempest and Silent Magician crossed their wands together, and fired an orb or magic energy at Goodwin.
Yusei: 4000 (11)
Jack: 4000 (11)
Magic: 4000 (11)
Crow: 1
Goodwin: 12500 (0)
"Now I tune level-4 Silent Magician with my level-3 Counselor Lily!" the two monsters merged 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 frigid dragon appeared in the sky (ATK: 2750), "And when Counselor Lily's used in a synchro-summon, I can pay 500 life-points in order for White Glacier Dragon to gain 1000 ATK points (ATK: 3750). Now Explosive Magician attacks your Mood Dragon Quilla!" Explosive Magician soared towards the moon dragon, "You may gain some life-points, but they won't be of any use once that dragon's gone!" the magician fired away at the dragon, but Quilla was protected by a barrier as it glowed. "What just happened?!"
"What just happened is that I activated my third trap card, Waboku!" another one of Goodwin's reverse-cards opened, "So not only is my monster protected in battle, but my life-points are protected as well!"
"But you shouldn't have been able to do that! My dragon prevents any spells or traps from activating in battle!"
"Oh, didn't I say?" Goodwin sneered, "I played Waboku right before you attacked with Explosive Magician, outside the battle-phase. I knew perfectly well of White Glacier's ability; after all. I was the one who scattered them across the city and Satellite. And speaking of your magician, I'm afraid he won't be around much longer." the moon dragon fired from all four heads and destroyed Explosive Magician. "One down, and two to go."
Yusei: 4000 (11)
Jack: 4000 (11)
Magic: 4000 (11)
Crow: 1
Goodwin: 15000 (0)
Magic growled, "Tempest Magician, attack!"
"You really must be a glutton for punishment. Moon Dragon Quilla, counterattack!" the dragon then destroyed the second magician.
Yusei: 4000 (11)
Jack: 4000 (11)
Magic: 3700 (11)
Crow: 1
Goodwin: 17200 (0)
"White Glacier Dragon, attack!" the dragon fired and icy flame that was absorbed by Quilla's barrier.
Yusei: 4000 (11)
Jack: 4000 (11)
Magic: 3700 (11)
Crow: 1
Goodwin: 20950 (0)
"There's nothing else I can do right now...," Magic held her head low, "I end my turn."
"That right, I'm the little girl whose father started what came to be the Dadelus Bridge," Gabriella said, "I don't know if this is related, but Goodwin lost an arm on his way to the city. I don't know how I managed to survive. Fifteen years cooped up in a foster home and still remembered that day like it's yesterday. Now then let's have Darkness Paradisio take its effect; and with 17 soul-counters on my field; and with 17 soul-counters on my field..."
Gabriella: 43200
Jason: 2800
Gate of Revelation: (CTR: 2)
"It's your turn now."
Jason drew his next card, 'Only 2 turns left and that Lilith Temptation effect runs out. If I want to last that long I have to take better care of my life-points!' "I activate the spell card Supremacy Berry! And since I have fewer life-points than my opponent I get 2000 life-points!" Jason was then surrounded by a white aura.
Gabriella: 43200
Jason: 4800
"Finally I end my turn with a face-down card!" a reverse-card appeared.
Lilith Temptation: 1
"I guess it's my turn now," Gabriella drew her next card, "I activate the special-ability of my Lustsworn Dragon Overfiend! Now he gains Lucy's ability! And with my Crown of Vices equipped to my Overfiend, he gains the power of Pride Fragrance!" the dragon then flared with a crimson aura, "Now not only does my Overfiend remains in my control, he's also immune to your spell and trap cards! Now, my dragon, attack and destroy the Colossal Fighter with Purgatorial flame!" the Overfield spewed its infernal breath once again, burning Colossal Fighter into mere ashes, "And let's now forget Lucifer's special-ability. Remember, whenever my Overfiend destroys a monster, you take damage equal to its ATK points! I just wished I could repeat the same scenario as last time; but seeing as that pesky mark's protecting you, I'll take what I can get." dark energy crashed into Jason's barrier trying to break it. The Dark Signer's life-points increased as Colossal Fighter returned.
Gabriella: 44200
Jason: 100
"And now you're down to 100 life-points. In case you can't tell I've had you on the ropes and I'm not even trying. Aren't you going to try something at least worth my time? I thought Goodwin made you to be the perfect Signer!"
Gabriella: 49300
Jason: 100
"Oh, and one more thing. I activate my face-down card, Pyro Clock of Destiny!" a stone sundial with a blazing hand appeared. The hand turned once clockwise before vanishing.
"Pyro Clock..." Jason growled, "That means..."
"I'm sure you know what it does, right? I'm using my clock's effect to move my Lilith Temptation's turn-count by one. And since it's supposed to be sent to the graveyard during the seventh end-phase of your turn, Lilith Temptation can stay on the field. Finally I'll end my turn with a face-down." a reverse-card appeared, and the Lustsworn symbol of Sloth lit.
Gate of Revelation: (CTR: 3)
"It's my turn!" Jason drew his next card, 'So much for waiting seven turns. Now because of her Pyro Clock of Destiny, my next end-phase will be the 8th. But I can't worry about that now! I have to get rid of that overfiend!' "I activate the spell card Synchro Blast Wave! When I have a synchro-monster on my field, I can destroy 1 monster that's on your field!" a green aura surrounded Colossal Fighter as he was relieved from Lilith Temptation's effect. The warrior lunged forward and reeled in an energy-infused fist, "Say goodbye to your overfiend!"
"Actually, let's not. I activate my face-down, the trap card (5D's) Core of the Earthbound!" as Gabriella's reverse-card opened, dark energy began to channel between the Overfiend's claws until it formed into a black orb. The Colossal Fighter was phased through the Ovefiend's body when it tried to attack it.
"No!"
"Oh, yes. Once I equip it to a sole Lustsworn Herald on my field, or in this case, my Lustsworn Dragon Overfiend, he becomes immune to an opponent's spell/trap cards; and he can't be selected as an attack target. And all at the cost of my draw-phase. Now my Overfiend's invincible!" the colossal masked dragon roared.
'I don't believe it!' Jason silently growled, 'No matter what card I play or move I make, she always seemed to have a back-up plan! Now she's bot me backed up to an even tighter corner!'
"I think you're beginning to realize how hopeless your struggle really is," Gabriella smiled, "Just look at the field. With my Lilith Temptation, all your monster are unable to attack. With my Crown of Vices equipped to my Overfiend, he can duplicate the power of any Lustsworn Herald and Fragrance effect, which I can use over and over again thanks to my Imperial Iron Wall. And with Core of the Earthbound added to his arsenal, it can't be touched by any spell, trap or monster attack. And lastly, my Gate of Revelations continues to count down to your end. Who knows, I might end this duel before then. That's why I'm giving you one more chance to quit your feeble struggling and surrender with at least some dignity. I'll make sure your dreams will be as heavenly as possible. Why should you throw your life away when you know I'll win in the end? Trust me, it's not worth the humiliation."
Jason tried to think up any kind of strategy he has left but cannot. Whatever cards he could come back with had been sent to the graveyard. His opponent has an unreachable lead in life-points, and controls an unconquerable monster protected by an unbeatable combo. At this point, it all seemed hopeless. Is there no other was to escape this Dark Signer's grasp? Could Jason's only escape be a world of illusions? Is he not strong enough to defeat this adversary? To rescue the friend he once knew? To keep a single promise...?
"Don't you listen to her!" a young and innocent voice broke Jason's dark there it was Katherine whom his attention was drawn, "I can't believe you would believe a word she's saying! I don't know who that is but that's not Gabe! She would never act like this! You can't give in to anything she says!
"Kat...?" Jason blinked.
"Don't you remember what you came here to do? It's to stop the Dark Signers and bring Gabriella back home to Domino City! You're the only one who can do it! Remember, you still have one more card, even stronger than that overfiend!" after moments of processing, hopelessness gradually became new determination. He did not know how Katherine had done it, but Jason found a new hope in winning.
"Are you through stalling?" Gabriella asked impatiently, "I'd like to finish this duel sometime today."
Jason stared down at his duel-disk in bewilderment. He had completely forgotten about that one card, the only thing to keep that demonic dragon at bay. The question is, can he draw it? "It's my turn!" Jason swiped the card from his duel-disk. And with a single glance at his card, his willpower did not falter, "I activate the spell card Monster Reincarnation! By sending 1 card from my hand to the graveyard, I can add a monster to my hand!" Jason swapped a card in his hand with a monster from his graveyard, "This is it. It's time to turn this duel around!" Jason shot the card over his head and the card itself glowed, before a beam of energy shot from it.
The energy then exploded life a big bang, expanding its light over the field. The Overfield shrieked as the light bathed over it, burning its hide. Even Gabriella had to pull her cloak over her to shield herself, "What's that supposed to be?!"
"Something to teach you a lesson in broad daylight: the (2) Consecrated Light(1/ATK: 0/DEF: 0)!" the light itself shone over the entire field like the sun, the core itself to bright to directly see. "And as long as it's face-up on the field, all dark-attribute monsters on the field can't attack, nor can any more be summoned to the field!"
"But you never used that card in your deck!" Gabriella protested, "The only one I knew even have that was..." she stopped herself for a moment to look down at the little girl clinging to Jason. The pieces then came together. "I should have known."
"Katherine's card is proof she's fighting with me in this duel!" Jason said, "And for her sake I'm not gonna lose!"
Gabriella concealed herself under her hood before lowering her cape, "You can't be serious. That thing's nowhere near any threat of my Overfield. Besides, you still can't attack with my Lilith Temptation card out. But its nuisance does keep my Overfield from attacking. And since I can't do my draw-phase, I'll just skip my turn and let my field-spell take over.
Gabriella: 54400
Jason: 100
Gate of Revelation: (CTR: 4)
"Quite ironic, Margaret, isn't it?" Goodwin said, "You rebelled against the Arcadia Movement who made you a pawn in their goals; and now your power's being used to strengthen my life-points! In a way, it's thanks to you that I'm able to consolidate my victory. I guess it's true what they say, a pawn will always be a pawn!"
"Sorry, guys..." Magic whimpered.
"Don't worry about it, Magic; I'll take it from here," Jack said and drew his next card, "First I summon Sinister Sprocket!" the tuning sprocket appeared (ATK: 400), "And then I'll tune my Sinister Sprocket with my level-4 Mad Archfiend, and level-3 Magic Hole Golem!" the sprocket bound the other two monsters in its wire and then attached to them, merging into one, "That's right, Goodwin; witness as great power is fortified into a single vessel! As might becomes even mightier! As I synchro-summon the Red Dragon Archfiend!" Jack's signature dragon appeared (ATK: 3000), "And with him out that makes him the strongest monster on the field!"
"Which would be a perfect time to activate the trap card, Destruction Ring!" Goodwin's reverse-card flipped open, "This card destroys a monster on my field, and then we both take 1000 points of direct damage!" the moon dragon exploded, and both Goodwin and Jack felt a red aura drain them.
Yusei: 4000 (12)
Jack: 3000 (11)
Magic: 3700 (12)
Crow: 1
Goodwin: 19950 (0)
"And when Moon Dragon Quilla leaves the field, Sun Dragon Inti takes it place!" the sun dragon returned, "So even if you destroy my Sun Dragon, its ability will destroy your monster, and then you'll take damage equal to its ATK points.
"That's why I'm playing this: the normal-trap Half Straight," Jack's reverse-card opened, "This allows me to cut the ATK points of my Dragon Archfiend in half, until the standby-phase of my next turn (ATK:1500)! Why would I want to do that? Because if I have a monster with less ATK points than your strongest monster, I'm then allowed to attack you directly! And that means your Sun Dragon Inti won't get to use his special-ability against me! Now go, Red Dragon Archfiend! Attack with Scorching Crimson Flare!" the Archfiend attacks with a set of ignited claws.
"Not so fast; Inti has a V2 ability," Goodwin said, "One which makes its ATK points go down to zero (ATK: 0)!"
"It what?!"
"And that's not all. I also activate a trap of my own: Card of Last Will!" Goodwin's last reverse-card opened, "When a monster's ATK points fall to zero due to a card-effect, I'm then allowed to draw five new cards from my deck." he then drew five more cards, "And since Inti's the weakest monster on the field, you can no longer attack me directly. Instead you'll have to battle my Sun Dragon after all!"
"But then my Red Dragon Archfiend'll be crushed!" Jack growled.
"Oh no it won't! I play Scrubbed Raid!" Yusei opened his continuous-trap, "Now by sending a card on the field to the graveyard, you can end the battle-phase for this turn! Go, Jack; you just have to pick out which card!"
"Or do you," Goodwin interrupted, "After all, the Jack that I know, is not exactly one to take orders. No, the Jack Atlas that I know, was always a man who could make his own decisions, especially in a duel!"
"Quiet!" Yusei snapped, "Jack, don't listen to 'im! He's just trying to get into your head, tune 'im out!"
"Why would Jack ever want to tune out the truth?" Goodwin said, "The truth is what made him a champion! I say tune out Yusei, Jack. After all, it wouldn't be the first time you tuned out your so-called 'friends', would it. Remember, you wouldn't be the man you are today if you hadn't rode of to Domino City with Yusei's stolen duel-runner and Stardust Dragon. And you were wise to do so, if you ask me. You don't need them, Jack!"
"Stop it! You're just trying to wedge us apart! And it's not gonna work!"
"All I'm saying is this: once upon a time Jack Atlas was a great duel champion; and then he got caught up in all this silly 'friendship' business and became a big nobody! Come, Jack; you know that I am right, that now you're nothing more than a single spoke on a broken wheel going nowhere! A shell of the Duel Monsters legend you once were!" Jack remained silent as Goodwin continued his ranting, "But Jack, it's not too late you know! You still have time, to become the man you once were! To be the greatest duel champion of our time or any other! And all you need do is turn your back on your friends here and now!"
"...Goodwin's right. It's time I duel for me!" Jack finally spoke, "Go, Red Dragon Archfiend! Attack that Sun Dragon Inti! Go Scorching Crimson Flare!" the dragon's claws slammed into the sun dragon's face.
Goodwin did not flinch as his took the hit. After the attack, Inti shone brighter and brighter, "I'm quite proud of you, Jack! You have done it! You dueled only for yourself there... and now you'll pay the price! I activate Sun Dragon Inti's ability! Now not only is your Red Dragon Archfiend destroyed for taking down Inti, but you take damage equal to Dragon Archfiend's ATK points as well!" both monsters vanished from the field.
Yusei: 4000 (12)
Jack: 1500 (11)
Magic: 3700 (12)
Crow: 1
Goodwin: 19950 (0)
"How could you do it, Jack!" Magic argued, "We almost had him!"
"And now you have Moon Dragon Quilla, because he rises back up when Inti is destroyed." the moon dragon returned.
"I place 1 face-down to end my turn..." Jack concluded.
"Now, now. Don't get so down on yourself; it will take some time to bring you back to your glory days of yesteryear," Goodwin teased, "Trust me, I of all people know. After all, Jack, I had to go it alone for quite a long time to get where I am."
"I think I just realized something: I don't want to be like you!" Jack replied with Goodwin's surprise, "Being the best, it's nice. But not when you experience it alone. What really matters is having people to share your triumphs with!"
"Wow, Jack!" Yusei whispered. He had been waiting for him to say that for the last two years.
"All the people I've met and become friends with getting to this point have taught me that. Especially one very special individual. Now, Goodwin... I'll pay that individual back, as well as the rest of my friends, by giving up my loner ways for good! It's the least I can do after all they've done for me. From here on out, I'm going to risk everything that I have and everything that I am to do what's right- just like someone did for me, once..." 'This one's for you, Carly.' "Goodwin! You and your dreams of world conquest are going to be stopped!"
"That's just deep, Jack..." Magic muttered.
"You fool! Your sappy ideals can't win this contest for you!" Goodwin snarled, "Just face it: the trust you put in your friends is all wasted."
"We'll see about that, because now it's my turn to draw, Goodwin!" Yusei drew his next card, "Here I go! First, due to Junk Archer's special ability, Moon Quilla's removed from play!" Junk Archer's arrow pulled the dragon to oblivion, "And without that dragon protecting your life-points, Junk Archer can attack you directly!" Junk Archer launched another arrow, but it got intercepted by a poorly-dressed, wooden-and-metal scarecrow that was shattered by it. "What was that?!"
"Just a little something called (3) Swift Scarecrow(1/ATK: 0/DEF: 0)," Goodwin said as he showed him the card, "Whenever I'm about to be attacked directly, I can sent this little scapegoat from my hand to the graveyard to end the battle-phase. So much for the grand power of friendship, eh, Yusei? Anything else you'd care to try this turn?"
"I'm done," Yusei growled under his breath, "Your move."
"You peons, you fools! You struggle, you fight, and for what!" Goodwin boasted, "No matter what you do it will all just end the same way! I warned you that your fates were sealed. And they are, just as the fate of the entire world is sealed as well! All that you've said and done? It means nothing! Doomsday is finally here! Time is all but run out! The Signers have failed! Hahahahahahahahahaha!"
DUEL-MON DATABASE
(1) Magic Hole Golem
Stats: [Rock/Effect] LV: 3 (ATK: 0/DEF: 2000)
Attribute: DARK
Effect: Once per turn, you can select 1 face-up monster you control. Its ATK is halved until the End Phase, and it can attack your opponent directly this turn. During the turn you activate this effect, only the selected monster can attack.
(2) Consecrated Light
Stats: [Warrior/Effect] LV: 4 (ATK: 0/DEF: 0)
Attribute: LIGHT
Effect: Neither player can Normal or Special Summon DARK monsters or declare an attack with a DARK monster. This card cannot be destroyed by battle with a DARK monster, and you take no Battle Damage from that battle.
(3) Swift Scarecrow
Stats: [Machine/Effect] LV: 1 (ATK: 0/DEF: 0)
Attribute: EARTH
Effect: When your opponent's monster declares a direct attack: You can discard this card; negate that attack, then end the Battle Phase (this is a Quick Effect).
(4) Earthbound Immortal
Stats: [Winged-Beast/Effect] LV: 10 (ATK: 1/DEF: 1)
Attribute: DARK
Effect: While this card is face-up on the field, "Earthbound Immortal" monsters cannot be Summoned. If there is no face-up Field Spell Card on the field, destroy this card during the End Phase and the following effects are negated: ● This card can attack your opponent directly. ● This card is unaffected by the effects of your opponent's Spell/Trap Cards. ● Your opponent cannot select this card as an attack target. ● Once per turn, by skipping the Battle Phase, reduce your opponent's Life Points to 1.
(5) Junk Archer
Stats: [Warrior/Synchro/Effect] LV: 7 (ATK: 2300/DEF: 2100)
Attribute: EARTH
Effect: "Junk Synchron" + 1 or more non-Tuner monsters
Once per turn, you can select 1 monster your opponent controls. Remove that monster from play. During the End Phase of this turn, it returns to your opponent's side of the field, in the same Battle Position.
Magic: "I've just about had it with Goodwin and his puppetry! He thinks he can't get away with this because of all that power? Well, he hasn't met me! It's time I gave him a lesson he won't forget! And it's gonna take all the power I can get! Next time on Reverse of Arcadia! Signs of Doom: Part 3! Time to make some magic!"
DUEL-MON TRIVIA
"Hey, Duelists! Did you know..."
"Junk Archer looks strikingly similar to Eva Unit 00, from the series Neon Genesis Evaligeon."
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