Chapter 2: Darkness That Engulfs Everything! Invincible Dark Signer!

Open on a night sky, with patchy clouds. A tan-colored moth flies down a hole and into the lair of the bad guys. "We caught our prey." "Which of the two is it?" "Yusei Fudo. The new King." These three cloaked and hooded men are seated alone at a table, the room is dark except for a candelabra at either end. "Let's witness his power." Across the room and in the foreground, against the view of the three, the moth gets trapped in a spider web and a spider prepares to eat it.

A car goes by the building, in which Yusei continues to duel the drone.

His life points stand at 3700.

The drone has a full 4000.

Carly comes running up the stairs and pauses to regain her breath. She then sees what she's just walked in on. "Huh? What is that? A hologram? Like I thought, it's Yusei Fudo! Why is he dueling here? Alright…" Carly says. She holds up a camera and clicks it on, she is recording what is in front of her. "The new King suddenly left the stadium, and no one knew where he went! He's secretly having a street duel! What a scoop!" Says Carly. Her camera focuses on Yusei, then pans over to the drone. "That light is glowing again! And the opponent has one, too!" Carly says.

"Dark Tuner Catastrogue's monster effect. When this monster is used to Synchro Summon, one card on your field is destroyed!"

Catastrogue vanishes and appears in front of Junk Warrior.

"What?" Asks Yusei.

It blasts Junk Warrior and destroys it.

"Junk Warrior!" Yusei says.

Carly is still filming. "I never heard of a Dark Tuner before! I've never seen that other monster, either." Says Carly.

"Frozen Fitzgerald attacks you directly. Go! Blizzard Strike!"

"I activate my trap!" Yusei says. He just attempted to activate 'Descending Lost Star' and it froze up. "What?" Asks Yusei.

"When Frozen Fitzgerald attacks, you can't activate spell or trap cards until the end of the Damage Step."

"Hah!" Yusei says. He's hit with the full direct attack, lifted off the ground and slammed into the back of the fiery ring. Yusei falls to the ground on his face with a moan, his life points go straight from 3700 to 1200.

Carly is still recording. "What was that? No way! This isn't a hologram?" Asks Carly.

Yusei stands up again, gritting his teeth. "There's an invisible wall." Yusei thinks to himself.

"Until the end of the duel, you cannot escape from here."

"You're also a Signer?" Yusei asks.

"I end my turn."

"My turn!" Says Yusei. He draws, his card is Turret Warrior. "No matter who you are, all I have to do is believe in my cards and fight! I activate my trap 'Descending Lost Star'! I Special Summon a Synchro Monster from my graveyard in defense position! Come, Junk Warrior!" Yusei says.

Junk Warrior reappears on the field, 1300 defense points and is a Level 5 monster. "Then, I release Junk Warrior to summon Turret Warrior!" Says Yusei.

Turret Warrior has 1200 attack points and is a level 5 monster. "Turret Warrior gains attack points equal to the released Warrior-Type monster's attack points." Yusei says. Turret Warrior's total is 3500 attack points. "Battle! Attack Frozen Fitzgerald!" Says Yusei.

Turret Warrior opens fire on Frozen Fitzgerald with lasers.

It explodes, big-time, creating a huge gust of wind that blows a van end-over-end toward Carly. She yells and braces herself, the car collides with another car behind her and she crawls out of the wreckage, barely saved from getting crushed, reaching blindly for her glasses, still recording. "No way..." Carly says.

The drone's life points decrease to 3000. "Frozen Fitzgerald's monster effect. When I have no monsters on my field, if the monster was destroyed in battle, then it is Special Summoned in defense position."

Frozen Fitzgerald has 2500 defense points and is a Level -5 monster.

"What?" Asks Yusei.

"At the end of the Battle Phase, all monsters that attacked this monster are destroyed."

"Ugh... Turret Warrior! What an incredible monster effect! Even if I destroy Frozen Fitzgerald, it keeps resurrecting back to his field, and I continue to lose my monsters." Yusei thinks to himself.

"A Dark Signer will never be defeated. Along with my black symbol, I will continue to resurrect."

"Dark Signer?" Yusei asks.

"The time for us to swallow your red marks in darkness is approaching."

"What do you know?" Asks Yusei.

"This duel is telling you."

"What?" Yusei asks.

"Everything you cling to in this world will vanish. Just like the monsters on your field."

"Stop messing around! The spell card 'One For One'! I send a monster card in my hand to the graveyard to Special Summon a Level One monster in my hand! Come, Sonic Chick!" Says Yusei.

Sonic Chick has 300 defense points and is a Level 1 monster. "I end my turn!" Yusei says.

"That monster can't be destroyed when it battles a monster with one thousand nine hundred-or-more attack points."

"The bond with my sister, my friends and my hope for victory will never vanish from my field! That's how I duel!" Says Yusei.

"Then, I'll blow away your life points! My turn! I switch Frozen Fitzgerald to attack position." Frozen Fitzgerald has 2500 attack points. "Then I equip 'Drain Strike'. When it attacks a monster in defense position, if my monster's attack points are greater than your monster's defense points, you take damage equal to half the difference, and I regain the same number of life points."

"Ugh!" Yusei says.

"Battle! Attack Sonic Chick! Blizzard Strike!"

Frozen Fitzgerald's attack is shards of ice.

Yusei actually falls and hits the ground on his shoulder blades, flips over entirely and hits the wall of the arena back first. He's down to 100 life points and has to stay down for a moment.

The drone's life points shoot back up to 4100. "Ha ha ha ha ha! As soon as you're out of the way, your precious sister will be for the taking."

"Only one hundred life points left? If the new King loses… Only I'll have the scoop! Incredible!" Says Carly.

Yusei gasps for breath, as he gets back to his feet, steadily.

"Your remaining life points symbolize your fate."

"What are you trying to say?" Yusei asks.

"The time for Satellite's destruction is near."

"What?" Asks Yusei.

Flashback again to the Signers' vision of a fiery spider destroying the Satellite landscape. The flashback ends.

Back to the present. "What I saw back then… You do know something!" Yusei says.

"Ha! You will not be around to witness that moment! I end my turn!"

"Ugh! I won't let you do whatever you want! My turn!" Says Yusei. He draws, his card is Nitro Synchron. "I summon Nitro Synchron!" Yusei says.

Nitro Synchron has 300 attack points and is a level 2 monster. "Since a Tuner Monster is on my field, I can Special Summon Quillbolt Hedgehog from my graveyard!" Says Yusei.

Quillbolt Hedgehog has 800 attack points and is a Level 2 monster. "The Continuous Trap 'Graceful Revival'! I can summon a Level Two-or-below monster from my graveyard! Appear, Speed Warrior!" Yusei says.

Speed Warrior has 900 attack points and is a Level 2 monster. "Nitro Synchron tunes the three monsters Sonic Chick, Speed Warrior and Quillbolt Hedgehog!" Says Yusei.

Nitro Synchron squeaks and its pressure meter moves over to full… then it practically explodes into two stars that go soaring upward, swirling around to form green rings.

"The wishes come together to form a new power! Become the path that lights the way!" Yusei says.

Sonic Chick, Quillbolt Hedgehog and Speed Warrior each transform into golden outlines, their stars shining brightly, the green rings around their heads like halos.

"Synchro Summon! Burn up, Nitro Warrior!" Says Yusei.

Nitro Warrior has 2800 attack points and is a Level 7 monster. "Due to Nitro Synchron's monster effect, I draw one card! I equip 'Junk Barrage' on to Nitro Warrior! Since a spell was activated this turn, Nitro Warrior gains one thousand attack points once when it battles." Yusei says.

Nitro Warrior's new attack point total is 3800. "Battle! Attack Frozen Fitzgerald!" Says Yusei. Nitro Warrior destroys Frozen Fitzgerald, its fists glowing bright green with power.

The drone's life points now read 2800.

"'Junk Barrage's' effect. When it destroys a monster in battle, you take damage equal to half that monster's attack points!" Yusei says.

The drone's life points are now 1550. "Ugh...! However, Frozen Fitzgerald keeps on reviving!"

Frozen Fitzgerald returns to his side of the field, 2500 defense points and is a Level -5 monster. "I was waiting for that!" Says Yusei.

"Huh?"

"When Nitro Warrior destroys a monster, your monster in defense position switches to attack position and the battle continues!" Yusei says.

Frozen Fitzgerald has 2500 attack points.

"The flames of anger don't falter even against thick ice walls! Nitro Warrior, attack! Dynamite Knuckle!" Says Yusei.

"Huh? Uuuuugggghhhh!" The drone's life points are now 1250.

"Take 'Junk Barrage's' effect again!" Yusei says.

"Uuuuugggggghhhh!" The drone's life points fall straight to 0.

There's a huge flash of blinding light.

Carly is still recording. "Whoa. That was the duel of the new King. I did it! Only I have this incredible scoop!" Says Carly.

The drone's duel disk goes flying and he hits the ground not far behind. "Agh!"

The fiery ring fades, as Yusei runs across the field and grabs the drone by the shirt, pulling him to a sitting position. "Hey, wake up!" Yusei says. The guy shakes his head, dazedly, and his hood slips off, the drone doesn't look too sinister anymore. "What's going to happen to Satellite? Answer me!" Says Yusei. "Satellite?" Yusei lets go of his shirt and the guy rubs his shoulder, clearly in pain. "Ouch! Why am I hurt? Where am I?" "You don't remember anything?" Yusei asks. He looks, the spider sign has completely vanished, as though it was never there. "The mark has vanished?" Yusei thinks to himself.

Carly joins them, awkwardly. "Dick? Aren't you Dick Pit? What's a street duelist doing here?" Asks Carly. "Who are you?" Yusei asks. "Oh, I'm Carly, a newspaper reporter. Umm…" Carly holds a portable microphone up to Yusei. "What happened in this duel? There were real explosions, a-and… Dick, why are you here?" Asks Carly. A spider crawls off of Dick's neck and disappears in a puff of purple magic, which looks just like the strange haze also appearing around his deck. "I really don't remember." Dick says. Yusei reaches over and picks up the deck, the slot in the duel disk slides shut, automatically. He's looking through the deck, glimpsing Chaosrider Gustaph, Karate Man, Tactical Espionage Expert, 'Jar of Greed' and 'Exiled Force'. "Just one quote." Says Carly. "I really don't know! Stop pushing me!" Dick says. "Dick, you're a street duelist, right?" Asks Carly. "The Dark Tuner and Dark Synchro Monster have also vanished." Yusei thinks to himself. "I really don't know what's going on." Dick says. "Are you sure? Search the thread of your memories." Says Carly. "Thread? Come to think of it, I think I saw a thread." Dick says.

Flashback. Dick's standing around in front of tumbledown buildings, a shining thread descends behind him and he reacts. The flashback ends.

Back to the present. "Afterwards, I instantly lost consciousness." Says Dick. He suddenly winces, as though overcome by a sudden headache. Sirens can be heard. "Augh...!" "Hang in there!" Carly says. She hears the siren. "Security?" Asks Carly. "It seems they found out about this duel." Yusei says. "What should we do?" Asks Carly. "I'll leave the rest to you." Yusei says. He turns and runs for the edge of the building.

"Wait a second! We're still in the middle of an interview!" Says Carly. She moves to follow, but Dick grabs her by the ankle. "Wait!" Dick says. "Waaaaaahhh!" Once again, Carly falls spectacularly on her face, the camera flying out of her hand.

Meanwhile, Yusei's vaulting over a support beam, nimbly, and jumps down a story to the alleyway below. He manages to get away.

Carly is flat on her face, with Dick clinging to her ankles. "Don't leave me behind." Says Dick. "What are you doing? Let me go!" Carly says. She kicks a foot, Dick cringes back and shields his face. "My scoop!" Says Carly, wailing.

Her camera, flung aside by her fall, clatters across the ground and is caught under the boot of the leader of the squad of Security that just arrived. He picks it up, looks around and points an accusing finger. "Did you do this?"

Carly looks behind her at the cars she nearly got crushed under. She shakes her head, frantically. Carly and Dick both throw their hands up in the air, wailing in terror.

In the darkness, a glowing spider sign's two back right legs vanish, then one reappears. The scene lights, slightly, seeing that this mark belongs to the Dark Signer, wearing black with red trim. He covers the mark again, with the glove that he had rolled up to bare it. "We let one of our prey escape." "This was just an introduction. We're like opposite poles on a magnet. In time, they will follow the thread and come here."

Jack's lying defenseless in his hospital bed, as a spider descends on a thread outside his window. "But more importantly, what's going on with the other one? Hmhmhmhahahaha!"

A truck roars through outside, as Yusei returns to Saiga's hideout in the earlyish morning. Himuro looks up from the computer screen. "Where've you been all morning?" Himuro asks. "I was dueling against a man who had a mark on his arm." Says Yusei. Himuro stands up. "What? Was it the sixth Signer?" Himuro asks. "No, he said he was a Dark Signer." Says Yusei. "Dark Signer?" Himuro asks. "That mark… They may be the real enemy that we're supposed to fight." Says Yusei.

At an official building somewhere in Neo Domino. A video screen plays footage from the duel. Godwin pauses the video, with a raised hand and speaks to the wall beside him. "They've showed up." Godwin says. A holoscreen appears, with a mysterious figure silhouetted on it. He appears to be wearing a black suit jacket over a lighter shirt. His head is bulky and squarish. "Are you sure that this is okay?" "I expected them to show up. Now that the Signers are awake and the Host has fulfilled her role by truly awakening the Crimson Dragon, it's destiny that they would also wake up." Says Godwin.

In several alleyways and streets of the Satellite, white-robed drones are speaking, drawing small crowds of bystanders. "Hope! Hope for Satellite!"

A very similar scene plays out elsewhere in the Satellite. "The Crimson Dragon that appeared above Neo Domino City is an evil god that will bring catastrophe to the world!"

Yet another. This is happening all over. "Will the evil god's anger fall on both City and Satellite, destroying them both?"

Yet another. "No! The Crimson Dragon chose the City, the land of fools!"

And still another drone in black robes, trimmed with white, draws a crowd of Satellite passersby. "The wise citizens of Satellite, keep hope alive!" "The people who join us will be saved from this curse!"

Above the crowd, that web appears again. Strings of web descend onto each person's neck and they gasp as one. "Hope." "Hope." The drone exhorts them once more. "Hope for Satellite!" The crowd responds, somewhere between a crowd of zombies and an actual angry mob, pumping fists into the air. "Hope for Satellite! Crimson Dragon, vanish! Vanish!"

"Stop it!" Rally says.

The drones turn one by one, surprised.

Rally and Blitz are carrying home some groceries. The former's carrying two bags, the latter one. Blitz looks none too happy that Rally just attracted the attention of the entire crowd, he's unabashed. "The curse of the Crimson Dragon? What are you basing that on?" Asks Rally. "Stop it, Rally." Blitz says. Rally takes a few steps forward, while he cringes behind him. "Don't you know that Yusei became the King? The Duel King is from Satellite!" Says Rally.

The crowds people, as one, turn to themselves and mutter. They seem conflicted between their new conviction that the Crimson Dragon is bad and what Rally's telling them. "The King is from Satellite?"

"Since the Crimson Dragon appeared during Yusei's duel, that means it brought hope!" Rally says. Blitz covers his mouth with a hand, anxiously. "You fool! Stop!" Says Blitz. Rally turns away from the hand. "What are you doing, Blitz?" Rally asks.

The crowd is now walking toward them, mumbling in ominous monotones about the Crimson Dragon.

"What's going on?" Asks Rally. "Ignore them. Let's go!" Blitz says. They back away, slowly. "It's true! If you think I'm lying, then check for yourself!" Says Rally.

Saiga peeks out from a side alley.

In the tunnel. "I don't believe it! They're saying that he's not really the King!" Rally says. He's reading Angela's article on their flat screen monitor, while Taka stands behind him, and Nerve and Blitz sit on the couch with mugs on the table. "Jack had zero life points! Yusei definitely won!" Says Taka. "Who wrote that horrible article?" Nerve asks. "Whenever the citizens of Satellite try to rise up, the City people always smash us down." Says Blitz. Rally scowls at the screen.

"I've been searching everywhere." Saiga says, in the background.

All four are startled, Nerve and Blitz stand up. "Who are you?" Asks Nerve.

Saiga steps into the light, inside the doorway. "A person who has a message of hope for you." Saiga says.

At a Security station somewhere. "What's this?" Asks Carly. She's reading the article on a holoscreen in the air, furiously. "Angela didn't even get a single quote from the new King! How dare she write such a careless article! How frustrating!" Carly says.

"Be quiet!"

"Huh?" Asks Carly.

The door opens, a guy in a suit speaks to her. "Stay quiet until it's your turn to be interrogated!" He closes the door.

"I'm sorry. It makes me want to cry." Carly says. She pulls out her deck. "By drawing this card, today's fortune is that I'll be in big trouble and that my rival will extend her lead over me. Therefore, I have to try harder. But, how am I supposed to try harder in a place like this?" Asks Carly. She's getting too noisy again.

The door opens again. "Be quiet!" He then slams it.

Carly's eyes turn into fountains of tears the moment the door closes.

Yusei types away, swiftly, even wearing his gloves, at a computer in Saiga's hideout. The sun is setting outside the window. Yanagi's watching from a corner, while Himuro walks over with two mugs and sets one on the table for Yusei. "Drink." Himuro says. "Thanks." Says Yusei.

Sakura is leaning against a wall, looking out the window. Grim's lying down at her feet, asleep.

Himuro takes a sip from his own mug. "Sonny, have you been able to contact Saiga yet?" Yanagi asks, bracing. Yusei stands up. "I'm thinking of going back to Satellite. I'm worried about what that guy said." Says Yusei.

Sakura then takes her attention away from outside and now over to him. Grim wakes up and stretches himself, with a yawn. Sakura stops leaning against the wall and walks away from it. Grim gets up and follows after her.

"Go back?" Yanagi asks. "About Satellite being destroyed?" Asks Himuro. "Yeah." Yusei says.

"You're leaving?" Asks Luca.

Himuro and Yusei turn to her.

Luca is standing over by the door and Lua's standing next to her, protectively. "You're going home to Satellite?" Luca asks. "Yusei." Says Lua.

"There's something I need to investigate." Yusei says.

"But, isn't Satellite really dangerous? Don't go back there. Stay with us in the City!" Says Lua. "Yusei, you're the one who said that the Signers have to stay together!" Luca asks.

Sakura walks up from behind them, sort of startling them. Subaru and Velvet soon walk over and stop, standing on either side of her, staying close to their mother.

Yusei walks over and puts a hand each on Luca's right shoulder and Lua's left, looking them in the eyes. "Huh?" Asks both Luca and Lua. "Since we're both Signers, we'll definitely meet again." Yusei says. "Yusei…" Asks Luca, nonplussed.

Just then, several Security cars pull up in front of their building.

"Hm?" Himuro asks.

"Huh?" Asks both Lua and Luca.

Yusei stands up, turns and throws open the window, with Himuro at his shoulder.

In the middle of the circle of Security cars is one Security D-Wheel, with a familiar rider standing beside it. Ushio roars through a megaphone. "Can you hear me, you piece of Satellite garbage! There's no safe place for you in the City! I'm coming up right now, so prepare yourself!" Ushio says.

"Why does it have to be now?" Asks Himuro.

"It is perfect timing." Sakura says.

"Hmm?" Asks everyone, but Yusei.

He then walks over to Sakura, Subaru and Velvet. "Your not coming with me, are you, Sakura?" Yusei asks. "I'm sorry, Yusei. But no, I'm not. I have to… take care of some things. Besides..." Says Sakura. She glances down at Subaru and Velvet. "I have these two now." Sakura says. She places a hand each on Velvet and Subaru's heads, lightly. They both look up at their mother. "I have to do what is best for them." Says Sakura. Yusei nods, subtly. "I understand." Yusei says. Subaru and Velvet both run over to him and hug him. Yusei looks down at them, as they both look up at him, with tears in their respective eyes. "Is it okay if I start calling you Uncle Yusei from now on?" Asks Subaru. Yusei's eyes widen, slightly at this. "Me too?" Velvet asks. Yusei kneels down to one knee. "Of course you can." Says Yusei. He looks over at Subaru and places a hand on his right shoulder, meeting him in the eyes, royal blue meeting scarlet red. "Subaru, you're my nephew." Yusei says. Subaru has a small smile. Yusei then looks over at Velvet and places his other hand on her left shoulder, meeting her in the eyes, royal blue meeting amber. "And Velvet, you're my niece." Says Yusei. Velvet has her huge, innocent smile. "I may have just recently met you two. But, we're family. I promise, this isn't goodbye. We'll see each other again." Yusei says. He holds each one closer to him, hugging them. After a few minutes, Yusei breaks it and stands up, patting them each on the head, lightly. He then turns his attention to Sakura. "Keeping Subaru and Velvet safe, I can understand that. But, on top of that, you're basically saying that your job isn't finished here yet. If your mission is to bring all the Signers together, then what's mine?" Asks Yusei. Sakura places one of her hands on his shoulder, their eyes then meet, dark-crimson red meeting royal blue. "Yours is to defend the Satellite. As well as being at my side when the time comes." Sakura says. Yusei smiles and pulls her into a hug, she returns it back to him. "Good luck, brother." Says Sakura. "Same to you, sis." Yusei says. They soon release each other. Yusei then looks down at Grim, who's sitting next to Sakura. He leans down and pets him on the head. "Look out for her for me. Okay, Grim?" Asks Yusei. Grim barks, as if in acknowledgment to his words, and he stops petting him. Yusei then walks off and descends the stairs.

"Hmph!" Ushio says, upon seeing him. Slight tension, showdown in the air. Ushio raises an eyebrow, disdainfully. Yusei pauses and then breaks the silence. "I also need to speak with Godwin." Says Yusei, fearlessly.