Welcome back to Legacy of the Star Princess. Sit back and enjoy the tag duel that is about to take place. You know the rest. Enjoy.
Rudger smirked when he saw an ivory dragon coming towards him. The sound of an engine was not to far off. He inserted his deck into his Duel Disk and stood at one end of the crater, ready to duel.
The dragon landed at the other end as Yusei caught up to them and disengaged his Disk from his Runner. Sidney recalled her dragon after Laura and Akiza quickly jumped off and found a nearby place to watch the duel.
"We'll be cheering you on." Laura mouthed. Sidney gestured that she understood.
"So, who do I have the pleasure of defeating first?" Rudger sneered. Sidney gulped. She had to face a real Dark Signer now. Chances were he was incredibly powerful compared to the Shadow Drone she fought before. It would be even more so, if Midori was correct when she recalled him as the leader of the Dark Signers.
Yusei stood across the crater, and put his hand over his deck.
"I'll go…" Before he could speak, Sidney grabbed his hand and took it in hers.
"So…Rudger, was it? You wouldn't find it unfair if we both took you on together?" She asked with a hint of sarcasm on the word 'unfair'. Rudger was amused by this and raised his hand.
"An irregular two on one is what you're suggesting, am I correct? I have no objection to this. But, what about your partner…"
"Sidney…I…" Yusei attempted to gently protest. But Sidney shook her head.
"As the Star Princess…and as someone who cares…I want to help any way I can. I may not be the best duelist, but it doesn't mean I can't bring it. If nothing else, I can make you stronger!"
Yusei looked away, still leaning against the proposal. But Sidney wouldn't give up. She forced herself to look him in the eye.
"I know you're supposed to protect me, but… who am I going to protect? I want to help you, not just stand and watch helplessly while you get clobbered…"
She remembered Yusei's duel with Kiryu and tried not to have an emotional spasm. Rudger rolled his eyes. Her passion could be both an asset and a disadvantage to her, he thought. He had seen it surface once in awhile in his captive, Cassandra.
Such is the flaw of being an adolescent girl.
Yusei cupped her cheek and tilted her head up so seeing eye to eye would be easier for her. A smile came and went in a split second.
"I didn't think it weighed so much on your mind. I was incorrect in that assumption," He paused for a moment, "But I would be more than happy to have you by my side as my duel partner."
Sidney's eyes sparkled. He slowly withdrew his hand as she triumphantly turned her attention back to Rudger. She took a few steps away from Yusei and activated her Disk. Everyone readied themselves. A purple streak formed around them as violet flames licked at the air. Rudger's arm glowed with the mark of the spider.
Yusei and Sidney were each at 4000 life points, while Rudger was given 8000 to compensate for the fact he was outnumbered. In addition, he was given the first move. Everyone's decks were shuffled and they each drew their hands.
Rudger drew his sixth card, starting his turn. He smiled as he revealed his first move, flipping his card around to show it to his two opponents.
"I special summon the Dark Tuner- Spider Cocoon from my hand!" A sickly mass appeared on the field. Sidney felt perplexed by the high level of his monster, but assumed that an explanation would follow. Yusei knew it could only mean one thing, and that was a Dark Synchro Summon.
(Dark Tuner- Spider Cocoon is a level five Dark attributed Insect Dark Tuner monster with no attack or defense points.)
"When nobody has a monster on their field and it's my turn, I can special summon Spider Cocoon without releasing a monster first. In addition, I summon Dark Spider from my hand." He placed another card next to Spider Cocoon. A spider about the size of a big dog emerged, with black fuzz and menacing red eyes. Rudger raised his hand and explained his next move.
(Dark Spider is a level one Dark attributed Insect monster with no attack or defense points.)
"My Dark Spider allows me to increase the level of one Insect on my field by two until the end phase, and so I use this to upgrade Spider Cocoon to level seven." The Cocoon seemed to grow in size. Sidney and Yusei watched as Rudger began his Dark Synchro summon.
"I tune my Dark Tuner- Spider Cocoon with Dark Spider, in order to perform my Dark Synchro Summon," He declared, "When shadows are swallowed by darker shadows, the eyes of the netherworld are opened to witness an act of its dark ruler! So I call from the abyss …my Underground Arachnid!"
A huge, midnight black spider emerged, with the head and torso of a sickly green human with pink hair. Two of its eight legs rose up, awaiting a command from Rudger. Akiza turned to see Laura's face turning pale.
(Underground Arachnid is a level [negative] six Earth attributed Insect Dark Synchro monster with 2400 attack points and 1200 defense points.)
"Are you ok, Laura?" She asked. Laura nodded slowly.
"Usually bugs don't bother me, or Sidney. But I was never a fan of spiders; that thing…is so gross!" Laura understated her feelings. She yelled to Sidney and Yusei. Akiza sighed and tried to keep her own composure.
"Yusei! Sid! Squish that bug! Ok? It's freaking me out!"
"Will do!" Sidney replied. Rudger pulled another card from his hand.
"I'll end my turn with a facedown. I believe it is now Yusei's turn."
Yusei drew a card, checking his hand carefully. Right of the bat, he would have to deal with a powerful monster, and chances were Sidney would do the same. The best he could do was prepare for a counter move.
"I start by summoning Quillbolt Hedgehog in defense mode."
A golden rodent with bolt and machine parts protruding from its back stared down the giant monster. It turned blue as it readied itself for an assault.
(Quillbolt Hedgehog is a level two Earth attributed Machine with 800 attack and defense points.)
Yusei finished his turn with a facedown card. For now, he could stall for time until he could get a stronger monster on the field to destroy Underground Arachnid. Sidney then drew a card from her deck. She placed on her Disk.
"I summon Fire Trooper in attack mode and activate its special ability!"
(Fire Trooper is a level three Fire attributed Warrior with 1000 attack and defense points.)
"When I summon Fire Trooper, I can send it to the graveyard to inflict 1000 points of damage to my opponent."
A roaring pillar of Fire formed around Rudger. He grunted as the heat tore at his cape. His life points dropped to 7000 and the pillar quickly disappeared. He smirked.
"You wasted a summoning for that?"
"I'm not finished. I'm going to activate the Ritual Spell Card, Doriado's Blessing! I'll tribute the level three Baby Dragon in my hand so I can special Summon my Elemental Mistress Doriado in attack mode!" She placed the card on the field. The elegantly robed magician stepped forward, her golden hair streaming from her rosy hat, covering her blue and white garments. She faced the opposing monster fearlessly.
(Elemental Mistress Doriado is a level three Light attributed Spellcaster Ritual monster with 1200 attack points and 1400 defense points.)
"I'll end my turn with a facedown as well. It's your move, Rudger."
"So, you play the same monster you used against the Shadow Drone. You seem to be counting on old tricks. Rest assured, they will only go so far. But I'm sure you know that. I draw." Rudger drew his card. He eyed Yusei, who was watching him intently.
"You really have grown to be the striking image of your father, Yusei."
Yusei's eyes widened. "You knew my father?"
"Back when he was working on the Momentum Project in the RRD, I was his assistant, working alongside him and my younger brother…Rex Goodwin."
Sidney wasn't sure what to say, but the words slowly came out.
"Rex is your brother…then your full name must be Rudger Goodwin. But, Goodwin had failed to mention this. But, I guess I shouldn't be surprised."
Rudger narrowed his eyes. He pulled a card from his hand.
"I'm sure there are many things he's chosen to keep to himself. Rex was always the quieter man of the two of us." He looked at his card.
"If you know my father…what happened? How did you become a Dark Signer?"
Yusei demanded. Rudger set another card facedown on the field.
"The whole story is much longer, but for now, I will give you the simple version. After some experiments, Professor Fudo realized that Momentum was dangerous and moved to terminate the project. The leaders of New Domino City had made a lot of investment in it. They tried to force him to continue," He explained,
"When he refused, they put me in charge. I continued, and then…Zero Reverse happened. Many people were killed in the explosion and several more were killed or injured by the split of the Satellite from the mainland.
…I was among the dead. But the Earthbound Immortals revived me as one of the first Dark Signers. Another Dark Signer by the name of Demak also became a Dark Signer by cause of the Zero Reverse incident…but that's neither here nor there, is it?"
Sidney grimaced.
"So you're like some sort of Vampire…or a Zombie?"
"Such nativity. I was reborn, entirely! I am not some undead monstrosity like something from a teen slasher you might have seen. Now, I think I know what your plan is, Star Princess, so don't assume I'm going to attack you just because you left yourself wide open!" Underground Arachnid set its sights on Yusei's hedgehog.
"Before you can enter your Battle Phase, I've got a surprise for you, Rudger! It's a trap card called Fuh-Rin-Ka-Zan!" Her facedown card was revealed.
"Yes, and I'm sure your monster's special ability grants you the ability to bypass the requirements of that trap card?" Rudger nonchalantly awaited her move.
"That's right! In addition to being a Light attribute monster, my Elemental Mistress is treated as a Fire, Water, Earth, and Wind attribute monster as well. My trap card requires I have a monster of each of these attributes, and since Doriado is all four, she is the only monster I need to meet that need!
The part is…I can choose to activate one of four effects. I can destroy your monsters or your facedown cards. I can make you discard two random cards from your hand, or I can draw two cards…I assume you know what I'm going to choose."
"You wish to destroy my Arachnid? Very well."
"Yeah, so I activate the effect that destroys my opponent's monsters. Go, power of Water! Wash away his Underground Arachnid!"
Elemental Mistress Doriado raised her arms high above her head. A tumultuous tsunami emerged from nowhere, crashing down on Rudger's spider and drowning it. It disappeared after displaying a horrible expression of suffocation.
"You wasted your precious card. I summon Ground Spider in defense mode!"
The spider that appeared was half of Rudger's height and had red points on its legs. It rolled its plump body into a ball as it assumed defense position.
(Ground Spider is a level four Earth attributed Insect monster with 0 attack and 1500 defense points.)
"When my spider is in defense mode, I can switch one monster to defense mode once per turn, and I choose to switch your Elemental Mistress to defense."
A tight web formed around Sidney's monster, forcing it down it its knees, causing it to color blue. But, the expression on Rudger's face told her he wasn't done yet.
"I end my turn by playing the Field Spell, Spider's Web!"
A giant Spider Web Criss-Crossed over the crater and under everyone's feet. A field spell hinted that the possibility of his Earthbound Immortals arrival was close at hand. As Yusei drew his next card, he realized he and Sidney would have to act quickly.
"I start my turn by summoning Junk Synchron to the field in attack mode."
His orange, mechanical companion emerged, its white scarf fluttering in the wind. Yusei was ready for his own Synchro Summon. Rudger knew this and was unmoved.
(Junk Synchron is a level three Dark attributed Warrior Tuner monster with 1300 attack and 500 defense points.)
"I tune my Junk Synchron with my Hedgehog to Synchro summon Junk Warrior!" Yusei declared. Junk Synchron pulled a lever in its back. It melted away into three white orbs of light that surrounded Quillbolt Hedgehog. In a flash of light, it was gone, and a tall blue mechanical warrior in a scarf came charging forth. Its red eyes glowed with anticipation at the spider as it clenched its fist.
"I'll also equip my Junk Warrior with the Junk Barrage Equip Spell Card. So when I destroy your monster, you take half my Junk Warrior's attack points as damage!"
"Good move Yusei." Whispered Akiza.
"Now we're talking! But…what about Rudger's two facedowns?" Laura whispered back to Akiza. Akiza looked down at the ground.
"You're right. We don't know what he's planning to do with those two facedown cards. For all we know, he's planning a counterattack."
…
Back at Martha's house, Takaya had gotten together with two friends of his and the three of them decided to sneak off to go watch the duel. Rally saw them running away through the bushes. Worried that trouble might befall them; Rally grabbed his cap and ran after them, calling for them to come back.
"Wait! Takaya! All of you please come back! It's not safe!"
After a few minutes, Martha noticed their absence and immediately grabbed Officer Trudge. When he looked around for them, his face turned pale.
"They must've followed Yusei. We need to find them before something bad happens." Martha said firmly. Trudge offered to come with her, which she accepted.
In the meantime, Rally continued pursuing the children until the came upon an abandoned, two story building not far off from the duel. They ran inside up a winding staircase and opened a door that led them to the roof. Rally caught up to the three of them, tired and frustrated.
"What do you guys think you're doing? It's dangerous out here? Don't you know that? We need to go back to Martha's." Rally tried to pull one of them back, failing miserably. The kid, wearing overalls and a T-shirt, stood defiantly in front of Rally.
"We're not going anywhere. You're a kid like us, so you're not the boss. We want to stay here and catch some of the action."
Rally growled in his frustration. The other kid besides the other boy and Takaya was a little girl with blonde short, stubby ponytail wearing a faded pink dress.
"Please, Rally? We promise we'll be careful. We're sorry if we made anybody scared. Pretty please?" She pleaded with him. The little boy elbowed her.
"Rally's a boy, Tammy. There's no way he'll fall for that. You've got to be a tough customer. That's what us boys are best at." He proudly annunciated.
"You're so sexist, Hibiki." She muttered under her breath. He ignored her.
"Come on guys, let's just stop fighting and watch the duel already. Yusei just summoned his Junk Warrior and he's going to attack! That Dark Signer is about to take a beating." His two friends paused at look onward to the duel. They ran to the edge of the roof as they watched excitedly. Rally sighed.
"Martha's going to kill me when we get back, assuming this turns out to be ok in the end. There's a good chance something will go wrong." He sulked.
The wind picked up slightly, light the rise of a pounding drum. Yusei ordered his Junk Warrior to attack. Ground Spider was squished and sent to the graveyard. Due to the effect of his equip spell, Rudger took 1150 damage, leaving him with 5850 life points. He set a card facedown. But, before he could end his turn, the Dark Signer declared he was activating one of his facedown trap cards. Yusei readied himself for the destruction of his monster. But, instead, an ancient looking monument appeared behind Rudger. It looked like a staircase from a civilization of long ago, with a platform surrounded by four unlit torches. Sidney felt a sinking feeling inside of herself.
"I am activating my trap, Altar of the Bound Gods. It shall be the key to calling my great Earthbound Immortal to the field to put an end to you both. This way, I can make you demise quick and painless. Are you ready?"
The children gasped. What would Yusei and Sidney do now?
To be continued in the next episode! By the way, the name Hibiki is paying homage to the new games Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver that are coming out. Hibiki is the name of the boy companion in the Japanese version. Don't miss the exciting conclusion of Spider's web. Read, Review, and be here or be square!