Me: Oh hey, look at that. My muses are finally updating Blue Sky.
Sky: They didn't throw in some horrid twist, did they? I mean, you haven't updated this for half a month…
Me: For once, you're all lucky. Other than the Infinity Symbol causing real damage, there are no evil parts in this chapter. At all.
Sky: Are you sure?
Me: Yes, I'm sure. In fact, for the first good chunk, you get to listen to the humor that is Aurelia not being able to pronounce the letter r.
Aurelia: *Mumbles something*
Me: *Pats her head* At least I did it with r and not th. That would have been even funnier.
Aurelia: Fine…
*A loud crash echoes from upstairs*
Me: *Sigh* Here, I have the chapter typed up. I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh 5Ds, but I do own my OCs. Enjoy? …Now I need to see who caused that crash.
Chapter 53
With Primo down, Jakob comes out on his Duel Runner. Actually, scratch that statement. For one, Jakob's 'Runner' doesn't even look like one, more like one of those electric scooters mall cops ride around on. Secondly, he's not even on it. Instead, he's running along after it!
"What in the world…?" I say, standing up to get a better look.
Turns out, Jakob can also do the weird fusion-thing with his Duel Runner. 'That means he's also an android,' I think. 'Just another of my unanswered questions…'
"Since it was during Primo's turn that you defeated him, it seems that I cannot do anything," Jakob notes. "Take your turn, Jack Atlas. You better make it count."
"Hmph! You don't tell me what to do," Jack retorts, drawing his card.
Sydney S.C. 10, Jakob S.C. 8, Jack S.C. 8, Aurelia S.C. 11
Jack narrows his eyes and smirks a little. He mutters something and then says, "I Summon Magic Hole Golem to the field in Defense Mode, set two cards face-down, and end my turn."
Magic Hole Golem ATK: 0, DEF: 2000, Level 3
"I don't call that making it count," Aurelia taunts. "'S my tuwn! I dwaw!"
Sydney S.C. 11, Jakob S.C. 9, Jack S.C. 9, Aurelia S.C. 12
"Staw Paladin of Fire has a weally awesome ability! I can release it and bwing two mowe to weplace it! Come out, Staw Paladin of Light and Staw Paladin of Dawkness!"
Star Paladin of Light ATK: 0, DEF: 0, Level 4; Star Paladin of Darkness ATK: 0, DEF: 0, Level 4
Unlike the other times her monsters appeared, these two wind around each other and create the shape of a star, alternating between orange and purple light.
"All six!" she shouts with glee. "All six have been used!"
"All six what?" Sydney asks.
I stare at her monsters, and the answer hits me. The six Attributes of monsters… each of these 'Star Paladins' has represented one of them! No, wait, there is one more Attribute, but as far as I know, only the Egyptian Gods were of it… Aurelia couldn't possibly…!
"I activate my face-down, Divine Staw Witual! I wemove all six of my 'Staw Paladins' from play, and I can Summon my best cawd to weplace them! Come out, Divine Staw Paladin!"
Divine Star Paladin ATK: ?, DEF: ?, Level 10
Ghost forms of all six of the elemental creatures Aurelia has used appear on her field—this time, the light and dark ones separated. They all turn into columns of different colors—white, black, red-orange, blue, green, and brown—and twist together. Bright light envelops the field for a few moments. When it dims, a new monster hovers in the air. It is a knight, face and all, in silver armor, with gemstones set in the colors of the six elements in it. He holds two swords, both of which glow red.
"He's not my best cawd fow nothing! Divine Staw Paladin's ability activates! He absowbs the owiginal ATK and DEF of a monstew in someone's Gwaveyawd as his own!" Aurelia exclaims. "I like Xewneas, Westowew of Life's powew!"
Divine Star Paladin ATK/DEF: 4000
"That's not all!" she continues. "Divine Staw Paladin can fowce a monstew to battle him! What makes it even bettew is that no effects can be activated duwing the battle!" Aurelia points at my friend's wolf-man and declares, "Bye-bye, Fang of Night!"
The grand knight float over to Fang of Night, and with a quick slash of one of his swords cuts the wolf-man in two. The red glow then strikes Sydney, hard.
Sydney's Life Points: 1600
"H-Hey, why'd I take that much damage?" Sydney demands, wincing a little.
"Well, when Divine Star Paladin battles, the damage is doubled," Aurelia says. "Hehe, I also fowgot to mention that, while he can't attack diwectly, after he destwoys a monstew in battle with his effect, Divine Staw Paladin gets a second attack! This time, I choose Magic Hole Golem!"
The knight goes for a second takedown, but Jack smirks. "This is where I make it count! I activate my Trap Revenge Twin Soul! Now, I remove Red Nova Dragon and Red Dragon Archfiend from play, and my Magic Hole Golem gains 100 DEF for each of their combined Levels!"
Magic Hole Golem DEF: 2000 to 4000
"So, youw monsterw suwvives this tuwn! It doesn't make a diffewence!" Aurelia says.
"It will once I activate a second Trap, Resonator Shield!" he retorts. "Now Dark Resonator joins my dragons as being removed from play, and Magic Hole Golem gains an extra 500 DEF!"
Magic Hole Golem DEF: 4000 to 4500
Aurelia frowns, "So, that means… my monstew's effect backfiwes, and I lose, huh?"
"Not only that, but the second part of Revenge Twin Soul activates," Jack continues. "It destroys any monster who battles Magic Hole Golem that has less ATK than Golem's DEF."
"Ah?!"
Divine Star Paladin continues towards the now-glowing ring-like monster. He swings his second sword, but it shatters upon impact. The knight explodes, surrounding the four Duelists in smoke for a few moments.
Aurelia's Life Points: 0
The girl shakes her head. "Two tuwns. I only got two tuwns. Oh well, I can still pass Dusk something. When Divine Staw Paladin is destroyed in battle, the monster that destroyed it also gets destroyed, and the owner of that monster loses 1000 Life Points. Then, I activate the second effect of Divine Staw Witual in my Graveyard! I can banish it to bring Divine Staw Paladin back to the field in Defense Mode!"
'All that, and she gets to keep her monster?' I think. 'Correction, Dusk gets it? Still… and it looks like he loses.'
The pieces reform into the knight again, and he swipes at Magic Hole Golem, this time successfully destroying it. Bright light flashes, and I can't see Jack any more.
Jack's Life Points: 0
The mind-link I have with Yusei suddenly flares up with the transmission of pain. Whatever just happened, I think it hurt Jack. The Infinity Symbol? Psychic Abilities? A combination of the two? It doesn't make sense because Shoshan is perfectly fine… rattled a little but fine. No wait, it does make sense. Their goal is to activate that Circuit of theirs, and the Signers give off a whole lot more energy than normal people, especially when they're angry…
'Yusei, is Jack okay?' I think.
'Ngh, he's unconscious and being sent to the infirmary. Crow's vowed to make Dusk pay for what Aurelia did,' he replies. 'I just hope he doesn't rush in unprepared…'
I know what he means. Crow's Deck is one of the most Synchro-geared ones there are. If Jakob brings out his Meklord… We don't know what it does, but I'm sure it'll be much stronger than Wisel and Skiel.
I turn my attention back to the field. Dusk and Crow have taken the field, and I don't let the sight of Dusk's Duel Runner to shock me. It looks exactly like mine, with the only difference being that the base color is black rather than gold. In all likelihood, that is my Duel Runner, or the future version of it.
Dusk's Life Points: 4000; Crow's Life Points: 4000
"Well, with you guys here that means it's my turn!" Sydney shouts, not letting the loss of her ace get to her. She makes no facial expression upon seeing her card, meaning she's either got something planned, or she has one heck of a bluff.
Sydney S.C. 12, Jakob S.C. 10, Crow S.C. 10, Dusk S.C. 12
"I Summon Black Fang to the field in Defense Mode and… use the 7 Speed Counter effect of Speed World 2 to draw a card."
Sydney S.C. 5; Black Fang ATK: 2000, DEF: 1600, Level 4
The wolf appears, but curls up into a defensive position.
"I set two cards face-down and end my turn," Sydney says.
'I wonder why she didn't destroy Divine Star Paladin instead,' I think. 'Unless she figures the monster has an anti-destruction by card effects? It would make sense since it was technically destroyed in battle, and it's supposed to have power equivalent to a God Card…'
"Hmm, I was expecting you to take advantage of my lack of monsters or face-down cards," Jakob says. "Nevertheless, it is my turn!"
Sydney S.C. 6, Jakob S.C. 11, Crow S.C. 11, Dusk S.C. 12
He looks at the card and smiles. "Because I have 4 Speed Counters, I activate my Speed Spell-Take Over. Now I destroy a card that has any counters on it—like my Infinite Aura—and for every counter it had, I gain 100 Life Points."
Wait a moment, with 80 counters because of Primo and Lester's losses…! That's going to put him at a very high advantage, at least with Life Points.
Jakob's Life Points: 12000
"Then I Summon Grand Core in Defense Mode, but thanks to the effects of Speed World 2, it won't be here for long," Jakob continues. "I destroy Grand Core to Special Summon the five parts of Meklord Emperor Granel Infinity!"
Jakob S.C. 1; Meklord Emperor Granel Infinity ATK: 0, DEF: 0, Level 1
A burst of electricity from his Duel Runner makes the Grand Core explode, and with it the five pieces of Granel gather on the field. This robot is orange and bulkier than the other two… yet its power doesn't prove that.
"Zero Attack Points?" Crow asks, utterly shocked. "That can't be right…!"
"Oh, it's not," the Emperor of Yliaster states. "Unlike the other two Meklords, Meklord Emperor Granel Infinity does not draw its strength from the individual pieces—instead, its base ATK and DEF are equal to my Life Points!"
"What?!" I shout, looking at the card stats.
Meklord Emperor Granel Infinity ATK/DEF: 0 to 12000
"No wonder they wanted to increase his Life Points," I mutter. "That card… if he pulls of piercing damage… or even just a direct attack…" I stare at Crow's field—no monsters and only one card face-down.
"They'll be fine," Shoshan says. "Especially Sydney—she still hasn't used the second effect of Life Aura…"
"Even so… Crow might not even get a turn…"
It seems that Jakob does go for the OTK, having Granel attack Crow directly. But Crow just swerves to the front of the pack and declares, "When I'm selected as the target of a direct attack, I can Special Summon Blackwing-Ghibli the Searing Wind from my hand!"
Blackwing-Ghibli the Searing Wind ATK: 0, DEF: 1600, Level 3
A small black bird with a large red mane appears in front of Crow. The bird has six black wings, all with red stripes on them. The bird curls his wings in front of him and turns blue.
"As I suspected," Jakob says. "No matter, attack Ghibli instead!"
The orange robot shoots a pulse of energy out of one of its arms, incinerating the small bird. At least Crow doesn't take any damage…
"I set a card face-down and end my turn," he finishes.
"Finally, it's my turn!" Crow declares, drawing his card.
Sydney S.C. 7, Jakob S.C. 2, Crow S.C. 12, Dusk S.C. 12
"Heh, I'll start things off with my Speed Spell-Black-Winged Strafe!" Crow says. "By removing 4 of my Speed Counters and discarding a 'Blackwing' monster, I can destroy one monster that's in Defense Mode! Sure, your Granel is five monsters, and the one I want to destroy is in Attack Mode, but your Granel Guard fits the bill!"
Crow S.C. 8
"That is where you are wrong," Jakob says. "I activate the Continuous Trap Divergence, so now the effect is directed to a different Machine-Type monster I control, like Granel Carrier, instead."
Instead of blasting apart the one arm, the robot's lower half is destroyed by a phantom version of Blackwing-Gale the Whirlwind.
"Works for me," Crow shrugs. "Now, since you control a monster and I don't, I can Normal Summon Blackwing-Sirocco the Dawn without having to sacrifice a monster."
Blackwing-Sirocco the Dawn ATK: 2000, DEF: 900, Level 5
A monster that seems to be half man, half raven appears next to Crow.
"Not only that, but since I control my 'Blackwing' monster, both Blackwing-Gale the Whirlwind and Blackwing-Gladius the Midnight Sun can be Special Summoned from my hand," Crow continues.
Blackwing-Gale the Whirlwind ATK: 1300, DEF: 400, Level 3; Blackwing-Gladius the Midnight Sun ATK: 800, DEF: 1500, Level 3
The first bird to appear is much smaller than the bird-man, and has dark-blue feathers covering his entire body; green feathers covering his head. The second is only slightly smaller than the bird-man. This one has silver armor and white wings, but his body and head feathers are black. He has two things like swords in each hand. Both of the new monsters bend down and turn blue.
"Alright, time for action! I activate the effect of Blackwing-Gale the Whirlwind to permanently cut the ATK and DEF of… Divine Star Paladin in half!" Crow declares.
Divine Star Paladin ATK/DEF: 4000 to 2000
Dusk frowns as a flurry of dark-blue feathers surrounds her knight, weighing him down.
"That's not all, I activate Sirocco the Dawn's ability as well!" Crow shouts, clearly on a roll. "Now Sirocco gains the ATK of my other two 'Blackwings' until the End Phase, but they can't attack."
Blackwing-Sirocco the Dawn ATK: 2000 to 4100
"Let's get rid of that Divine Star Paladin once and for all! Blackwing-Sirocco the Dawn, attack Divine Star Paladin!" Crow declares, pointing at the weakened knight.
From the computer screen, I can see Dusk's hand twitch, almost like she wants to play a card but needs to save it for later or something. If she really is the future me… then that sounds like something I would do.
The bird-man flies in front of the white-armored knight and strikes at a weak point. Despite being larger than Sirocco, Divine Star Paladin doesn't fight back and shatters into holographic pieces. The pieces strike Dusk, and I see a few tears open up in her Riding Suit.
Definitely the Infinity Symbol. Maybe it stayed unactivated until Jakob joined?
Dusk's Life Points: 1900
"Hmph, when I take Battle Damage in a battle where my monster was destroyed, I can Special Summon Fallen Star Knight-Ares from my hand and grant Ares half of that amount to his ATK," Dusk says.
Fallen Star Knight-Ares ATK: 2400 to 3450, DEF: 1000, Level 6
If I hadn't known her real identity, the appearance of Dusk's monster would have shocked me. Even so, it still bothers me, a lot. Her monster is a perfect replica of Celestial Knight-Mars, only this one boasts broken armor, no helm, and a scarred face.
Anger flickers across Crow's face, but he shakes it off and yells, "That's the end of my Battle Phase, so… I Tune my Level 3 Blackwing-Gale the Whirlwind with my Level 5 Blackwing-Sirocco the Dawn! Darkened gales, become the wings that soar from resolved hope! Synchro Summon! Soar, Black-Winged Dragon!"
Black-Winged Dragon ATK: 2800, DEF: 1600, Level 8
The smallest bird turns into three green rings, which circle around the bird-man. In a flash of light, the two disappear completely. In their place, Crow's dragon appears. His wing feathers are white with black stripes at the moment.
"Even with a Meklord on the field, you would dare Summon your Signer Dragon?" Jakob asks. "It seems the stories I've heard about you are true."
"Don't know what stories you've heard, but you should know that Crow 'the Bullet' Hogan isn't going to let your monster get ahold of Black-Winged Dragon," Crow retorts. "I end my turn."
"Correct, your dragon has to survive my turn first," Dusk says. "And I find that highly unlikely!" She practically rips her card out of her Deck.
Sydney S.C. 8, Jakob S.C. 3, Crow S.C. 9, Dusk S.C. 12
A smirk crosses Dusk's face. "Yes… perfect. I set two cards face down, and Summon Fallen Star Knight-Gaia to the field in Attack Mode! Then, when I control a face-up 'Fallen Star' monster, I can Special Summon Fallen Star Warlock from my hand!"
Fallen Star Knight-Gaia ATK: 1900, DEF: 1000, Level 4; Fallen Star Warlock ATK: 1800, DEF: 1000, Level 4
Once again, her monsters bear resemblance to two of my own; this time in the form of Celestial Knight-Earth and Celestial Wizard. Gaia bears dark-green armor caked in mud and an almost worthless dagger in one hand. The other monster is an old man, his black robes scorched and torn in several places.
Wait… if Fallen Star Knight-Gaia is Celestial Knight-Earth's counterpart… wouldn't Gaia also be a Tuner, which leads to a Synchro, the monsters they've sworn to destroy? Unless she has a different plan…
Yeah, different plan it is. "My niece is not the only one with an Xyz Monster," Dusk says. "I construct the Overlay Network with Fallen Star Knight-Gaia and Fallen Star Warlock! Break the forces of night and day! Block out the sun and moon, and envelop all in never-ending darkness! Xyz Summon! Bring forth shadows, Fallen Nova Dragon!"
Fallen Nova Dragon ATK: 3000, DEF: 2000, Rank 4
I hold in a scream as the darker version of my favorite card appears on her field. The dragon's wings are still purple, and her eyes still blue, but the scales on her body are black and scarred with marks of many battles. Two orbs of light circle the dragon.
"Fallen Nova Dragon's ability activates!" Dusk says. "When she's Xyz Summoned, I can destroy a monster on the field and inflict damage to its controller equal to the destroyed monster's Attack Points! No hard feelings Sydney, but it's time I faced my past self! I choose to destroy Black Fang!"
The dragon curls her wings close and starts glowing. Then she whips them back out, and an arrow of light pierces the defending wolf… and Sydney. All I see is smoke.
Sydney's Life Points: 0
I jump off the seat and head to my Duel Runner. Sydney pulls up behind me, her Duel Runner badly damaged and I'm fairly certain that she's a lot more injured than she's letting on, but she passes me the baton and the few cards in her Spell and Trap Card Zone. "You… better kick their… asses…" she says before collapsing.
"Sydney!" I exclaim.
"Go, Sky!" Shoshan replies.
"I'll go with her to the infirmary and make sure Shoshan tells you her condition as soon as I know anything," Escolar adds.
I nod briskly, "Okay."
"Don't forget Life Aura!" Shoshan yells after me as I leave the pit.
Sky's Life Points: 4000
I glare at Dusk's dragon. 'Don't worry Sydney. The way I feel right now, I could take on all of the Meklords at once and they'd be begging for mercy.'
Dusk mutters something along the lines of, "One more piece…"
I ignore her comment and say, "Since Sydney lost during your turn, that means it's automatically my turn." I draw my card.
Sky S.C. 9, Jakob S.C. 4, Crow S.C. 10, Dusk S.C. 12
I quickly gaze over my hand and realize that I couldn't ask for a better one. But first… I read over the effects of Life Aura, so that I know how to use its second effect. I hold in a smirk, because it's the perfect defense against that Granel's Synchro absorption ability. "I'll start things off by Summoning Celestial Knight-Venus in Attack Mode!"
Celestial Knight-Venus ATK: 1700, DEF: 1000, Level 4
My knight appears, wearing orange armor and boasting a golden-orange dagger in her right hand. Blonde hair sticks out from under her helmet, which otherwise covers her entire face.
"I activate Fallen Star Knight-Ares' second ability! By sacrificing him when my opponent Summons a monster, the monster they Summoned is destroyed!" Dusk counters.
'Perfect, she took the bait,' I think as her red-armored knight destroys mine. "That's exactly what I needed! When a 'Celestial' monster I control is destroyed by a card effect, I can Special Summon Celestial Priestess from my hand!" I declare.
Celestial Priestess ATK: ?, DEF: ?, Level 4
A young woman in a ceremonial white dress appears in front of me. She holds a wooden staff. A white mask covers her face, and yet her black hair flows down her back anyways.
"Oh, that monster," Dusk says. "Not one that I used too often, since her power was based on the number of cards in my hand. But when you have four cards… that puts her at 2000, if I remember correctly."
"You do," I reply. Geez, this is weird, fighting my future self. Won't she know all of my strategies? No, this Duel has never been fought before; anything I do here might be similar to others, but not the same.
Celestial Priestess ATK/DEF: 2000
"That wasn't my entire goal though, since I now activate one of the two face-downs Sydney never used that Shoshan left on the field! It's a Trap known as Crossed Paths: when I Special Summon a monster, I can bring one whose Attribute is the same from my Deck! I choose… Celestial Knight-Uranus!"
Celestial Knight-Uranus ATK: 1500, DEF: 1000, Level 4
This monster has blue-green armor, and a sword that's about as long as his forearm.
I stare at Fallen Nova Dragon. I'm sure that Fallen Nova Dragon has an anti-Synchro effect, since Hana's Chaos Rose Dragon did. But… Life Aura… I have nothing to fear. "I Tune my Level 4 Celestial Knight-Uranus to my Level 4 Celestial Priestess! As night falls and darkness rises, the stars gather together to form one mighty beast! Synchro Summon! Bring forth the light, Celestial Dragon-Quasar!"
Celestial Dragon-Quasar ATK: 3000, DEF: 2000, Level 8
My blue-green armored knight turns into four green rings, and my priestess turns into four stars. The rings circle the stars for a moment, before light flashes. The rings and stars are gone; in their place is a shimmering silver dragon with purple wings.
Dusk smirks, "When a Synchro Monster is Synchro Summoned, I can detach an Overlay Unit from Fallen Nova Dragon and remove it from play."
"Like I'll let that happen!' I shout. "My dragon's staying on the field, thanks to the second effect of Life Aura!"
"Ah?!" Dusk looks at the field. "Ah, I forgot about that card… his card…"
"If a monster is targeted by the effect of another monster on the field, and your effect certainly targets Quasar, I can send Life Aura to the Graveyard to Special Summon Xerneas, Restorer of Life from my Graveyard and negate the monster's effect… permanently," I say. "So your Fallen Nova Dragon can't use her effect ever again!"
Xerneas, Restorer of Life ATK: 4000, DEF: 4000, Level 12
In a burst of light, a tall deer appears next to me. His lower half is covered in black fur, with his top half and head covered with blue fur. Adorning his head are eight antlers—four on each side—that each have colorful gems at the base, and colorful spikes near the ends. To top it all off, Xerneas' pupils are shaped like the letter x.
Dusk's dragon absorbs one of the two lights circling it and tries to attack Quasar. However, Xerneas steps in and upon impact, Fallen Nova Dragon seems to lose its strength.
"Ah, I should have seen that coming…" Dusk mumbles. "But… you can't attack me! I activate Fallen Star Reflector, a Quick-Play Speed Spell! By removing two of my Speed Counters, this prevents any monsters from attacking a 'Fallen Star' monster this turn."
'Huh… that was what I was planning to do; get rid of Dusk so that the only person I had to worry about was Jakob…' I think. 'But now I can't do anything, because Divergence would make any attack I launch likely redirect to Meklord Emperor Granel, the part that has all those Attack Points…' I shrug. "Very well, I place two cards face-down and end my turn."
To be continued…
Me: *Walks back into the room* Oh good, chapter's done.
Sky: What was going on?
Me: Meri and Lucy were arguing about… something involving a future flashback in Crimson Feathers.
Sky: *Raises an eyebrow* Does this have anything to do with that girl you mentioned in the newest chapter? What was her name… Alice?
Me: Eh, kind of. But that doesn't matter right now. Did you like this chapter?
Sky: Compared to everything else you've been writing, this was a good chapter.
Me: Hehe, and probably the last one for a while. Everything else is going to be evil upon evil upon evil…
Sky: …That's what I was expecting.
Me: Same here. So, this seems to be it. Please leave a review! I love hearing what you guys have to say!