Chapter 20: The Truth From Seventeen Years Ago! Dark Signer's Hidden Trap!
The Mark of the Spider is reflected against the clouds over the duel, which is taking place in a bowl made of spider webs
Aki looks over at Jun and Mitchan, both of them petrified with fear.
Rudger's life points stand at 3400.
Yusei's at 1600. "When four counters are lit, the Earthbound Immortal appears, and their souls will be absorbed. I have to finish the duel before that happens." Yusei says.
"Hmhm! My turn!" Says Rudger. He draws. "I activate 'Altar of the Bound Deity's' effect! For every monster in defense position on the field, one Earthbound Immortal Counter lights up." Rudger says. One torch lights. "I summon Ground Spider in defense position!" Says Rudger.
Ground Spider has 1500 defense points and is a Level 4 monster.
"This is bad. It's another monster in defense position. At this rate, he'll have three Earthbound Immortal Counters on his next turn." Yusei thinks to himself.
"Heheheheheh!" Rudger laughs. He throws a face down. "I set one card and end my turn!" Rudger says.
"Yusei..." Says Aki.
"My turn!" Yusei says. He draws. "I have to decrease the number of monsters in defense position before his Standby Phase. But even if I attack and destroy, my monster will be caught in this 'Spider Web' and switch to defense position. Even so..." Yusei thinks to himself. "I activate Road Warrior's monster effect! Once a turn, I can summon a Level One or Two monster from my deck! Come, Speed Warrior!" Says Yusei.
Speed Warrior has 900 attack points and is a Level 2 monster.
"Ground Spider's effect activates!" Rudger says.
"What?" Asks Yusei.
"When Ground Spider is in defense position, it can switch a monster summoned in attack position to defense position!" Rudger says.
"Huh!" Says Yusei.
"Spider Hold!" Rudger says.
Speed Warrior is webbed, and forced into defense position, 400 defense points. Yusei grits his teeth, his plan backfired, and there are three defensive monsters now in play!
"If this situation doesn't change, all counters will be lit on the opponent's turn." Aki thinks to herself. She looks at the boys.
"I activate the spell card 'Advance Draw' from my hand! By releasing one Level Eight-or-above monster on my field, I get to draw two cards." Says Yusei.
Aki gasps, that was his biggest monster.
Yusei draws, he got the 'Iron Resolve' trap card and Turret Warrior.
"Huh! You're willing to sacrifice Road Warrior in order to have fewer monsters in defense position. But one monster won't change anything!" Rudger says.
"Then I release a Warrior-Type monster on my field to Special 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 monster's attack points!" Yusei says. Turret Warrior's new attack point bonus is 2100.
"Now only one counter will light up next turn!" Aki thinks to herself.
"Ground Spider's effect can only be used once per turn. Turret Warrior remains in attack position!" Says Yusei.
"Hmmmm." Rudger laughs.
"Turret Warrior attacks Ground Spider! Revolving Shot!" Yusei says.
One of Turret Warrior's turrets swivels and launches two fireballs, it lands, and Ground Spider is destroyed.
"Due to 'Spider Web's' effect, the monster that attacked switches to defense position. And it can't change battle position until your second turn." Says Rudger.
Turret Warrior has 2000 defense points. "I set one card and end my turn!" Yusei says.
"Yusei managed to prevent him from summoning an Earthbound Immortal on his next turn. Yusei is amazing." Aki thinks to herself.
Martha and Ushio run along the side of a building and at last the wall of purple fire-mist is in view. They stop to catch their breath. "This is... I get it. This is the flaming geoglyph that Yusei was talking about!" Says Ushio. "Huh, where are the children?" Martha asks. They go upstairs in a building with punched-out windows, only the bars that held the glass in place remain. They look out the window and down on the duel, and can finally spot the duel, and Yusei. "Yusei..." Says Martha. She sees Jun and Mitchan. "There they are!" Martha says. "This is bad. The kids are inside the geoglyph." Says Ushio.
"Martha! Ushio!" Aki says.
"Huh?" Asks both Martha and Ushio.
"An Earthbound Immortal may be summoned soon! If it does, those children will be sacrificed!" Aki says.
"What?" Asks Ushio.
"That's horrible!" Martha says.
Jun and Mitchan are cowering on the sidelines of the duel.
"Yusei!" Says Martha.
"Huh?" Yusei asks.
"Don't mess around! Rescue the children!" Says Martha.
Yusei nods, and turns back to Rudger.
"Hmhmhmhmheheheheh. My turn! There's one monster in defense position on the field." Rudger says. Another torch lights up. "You survived using various strategies, but it's all over." Says Rudger.
"Ah!" Yusei says.
"I flip over my trap card! I activate 'Offerings to the Bound Deity'! By halving my life points, I can light up two Earthbound Immortal Counters." Says Rudger. His life points decrease to 1700.
"What?" Yusei asks.
"No way! After he did all that work to prevent it from happening!" Says Aki.
The last two torches are lit. "Now there are four Earthbound Immortal Counters!" Rudger says.
The 'Altar' streams purple light and explodes, shooting a column of purple fire into the air, near the top of which appears, the clenched fist that summons an Earthbound Immortal, pulsing with purple light. Little rivers and streams of black fog pour into the top of it.
"What's that fog?" Asks Yusei.
"The black cloud wraps around Satellite, absorbing many souls. I sacrifice those souls!" Rudger says.
"Huh?! Oh!" Says Yusei. He turns.
Jun and Mitchan are starting to glow purple, acting as though it's suddenly difficult to breathe.
"No!" Aki says.
"Jun! Mitchan!" Says Martha.
"I couldn't do anything against an Earthbound Immortal again!" Yusei thinks to himself.
Just then, Wheel of Fortune comes soaring over the top of a building. Jack's leaping to the rescue.
"Earthbound Immortals are nothing special!" Jack says.
"Jack!" Says Yusei.
"Huh?" Aki asks.
"Jack!" Says Ushio. Martha cups her hands. "Jack, the children!" Martha says, shouting.
"Leave it to me! Jack Atlas never betrays his young fans!" Jack keeps hurtling, right through the wall of purple fire-mist, which rises to stop him. He lands and spins once, snaps up the side bar, jumps off of his D-Wheel and lunges to reach the boys.
By now, both of their souls are starting to drift free of their bodies as purple wraiths hanging above them.
Jack hugs both of them close, and his sign flares, their souls come back to their bodies. They're safe under his protection.
"Oh, Jack, thank you!" Says Martha. "That was close." Ushio says.
A black and red portal suddenly appears behind Jack. Sakura soon comes walking out from it, with Aurora directly at her side, and as soon as they step out of it, the portal closes up behind them. The additional markings, symbolic designs, Seal of the Crimson Dragon and her sign are all burning, brightly. Sakura's irises and gradation half of her hair are flaring in bright red and fiery red, respectively, and her scleras are black, with glowing red veins across her eyes.
"Oh! Sakura's here, too!" Says Aki.
Yusei's still looking over his shoulder, with a huge grin of relief. He turns back to Rudger.
"Hmhmhmhuhuh. What a joke. Now descend, Earthbound Immortal Uru!" Rudger says.
The fist shines, and they can no longer see it. The column of light vanishes, and the ground begins to shake.
"What is it?" Asks Ushio.
Down on the ground. Jack stands up and weathers the shock, with Jun and Mitchan clinging to each of his legs. "Jack!" Both Jun and Mitchan say, crying. Sakura has joined Jack at his side, with Aurora standing alongside her.
Out of the flames rises Uru, the first thing they see are its eyes as they flare to brilliance, piercing the dust kicked up by its appearance.
"It's here." Says Yusei.
"This is... Earthbound Immortal..." Aki says.
Uru is a massive spider, dwarfing the nearby buildings, black with glowing red designs. A bright beacon shines below each of its 'knees', and as each of its eight eyes. It stands at Rudger's back, it's so big, he would fit in one of the eyes if he sat down. Earthbound Immortal Uru has 3000 attack points and is a Level 10 monster.
Minako, who's holding Jace in her arms, Usagi, Saiga, Kakyuu, Hotaru, Velvet, Subaru, Lua and Luca run out onto the top of a nearby building, gasping with awe at the scene below them. "Ahh! That's..." Says both Lua and Luca.
"Yusei! Hurry up and crush that Dark Signer!" Jack says.
"I will, no matter what." Says Yusei, confidently.
"Huh! That's easier said than done. How will you crush an Earthbound Immortal? Its effect is the greatest. Hmhmhmhmhahaha! Just like Moment, the ultimate energy." Rudger says.
"What are you talking about?" Asks Yusei.
"I'm having fun. After five thousand years, my dueling opponent is Professor Hakase Fudo's son." Rudger says.
"Professor Hakase Fudo... You know my dad?" Asks Yusei.
"I do. Seventeen years ago, I was with your dad at MIDS, the Moment development section that he was in charge of. I was Professor Hakase Fudo's assistant." Rudger says.
"What?" Asks Yusei.
"And there was one other assistant. That was my younger brother, Rex Godwin." Rudger says.
Yusei can hardly believe his ears. Grim growls at Rudger, as he stands at his side.
Aki gasps.
Kakyuu has a hand to her mouth, appalled. Usagi clutches at her arms, holding at herself, in complete shock. "You mean, you're my uncle?" Asks Kakyuu.
"Oh, you're Kakyuu, Rex's eldest and legitimate daughter, right? My how you've grown from the little girl who never strayed from her dad's shadow. Look a lot like your mom, too, I see." Rudger says.
Kakyuu scoffs, and turns away from him.
Rudger then turns his attention to Usagi. "And by your reaction, you must be his youngest and illegitimate daughter, Usagi. You're a Godwin by blood, but you bear your mother's surname, I believe its Tsukino, correct? Shame that he thinks so little of you. I don't see things in quite the same way as my brother, the way one is conceived isn't the fault of the kid, it's the parents of said kid. I should know, I have an illegitimate child of my own, too." Says Rudger.
Usagi falls to her knees, holding at herself, in despair. Kakyuu goes over to her, crouches down beside her and holds her, consolingly.
"I'll tell you one last thing. Hakase proposed stopping development on Moment. He was worried that a terrible accident might occur because Moment frequently spun backwards. However, sponsors and Neo Domino City wouldn't allow him. So development was passed down to me. And then Zero Reverse occurred." Rudger says.
"What?" Asks Yusei.
"Are you saying that the explosion was intentional?" Sakura asks, her voice echoic and menacing.
"Maybe. Huheheheheheheh." Says Rudger.
Minako, Kakyuu, Lua and Luca are agape. Usagi, Hotaru and Velvet look sad and scared. Saiga and Subaru look upset.
Aki looks surprised and sad. "No way..." Aki says.
"Rrrghhh!" Jack growls under his breath. "Answer me! Why would you do that? What happened between my step-father, Godwin and you?" Asks Sakura.
"Is that anyway to address your uncle? Better yet, speak to your father in that way, Sakura?" Rudger asks.
Sakura's eyes suddenly cease glowing, returning to their natural dark-crimson red hue, her scleras shift back to white and the glowing red veins vanish from across her eyes. The gradated half of her hair also goes dim, as it fades back to its usual shade of red.
"What did you just say?" Asks Yusei.
"That's right, I said it. I'm your father, Sakura. You're my illegitimate daughter." Rudger says.
"You're lying, your just saying it to shut her up and scare her." Says Jack.
"Then why isn't she saying anything, lover boy?!" Rudger asks.
Jack looks over at her. "Sakura." Says Jack. "No, it isn't true. Your not my father, you can't be." Sakura says.
"She's right, no one as evil and demented as you can be the dad of someone like her." Says Yusei.
"It's been seventeen years since the last time I saw you. After I seduced your mother right under Hakase's nose and she became pregnant with you, and his son at the same time. Your mother thought she could hide you from me and married his father, just to keep you safe from me. So, Professor Hakase Fudo became your stepfather and adopted you, caring for you and treating you as if you were his own. You and Yusei are fraternal twins, and you're maternal half-siblings. But, you are my daughter, while Yusei is the son of Hakase Fudo. I also know that you and Yusei are a day, two hours and twenty-five minutes apart. And I know about that familiar and guardian spirit of yours, too. They appeared to you not long after your birth and they've been with you ever since, serving you as your loyal protectors and faithful companions for life. Now, how would I know all of that if I wasn't your father?" Rudger asks.
"I don't believe you!" Says Sakura.
"Despite bearing your mother's surname, you're a Godwin by blood. By my blood. You can deny it all you want, but what I'm telling you is true." Rudger says.
"Leave her alone!" Says Jack, warning him. He wraps his arms around Sakura's shoulders, hugging her from behind. Aurora's fur is standing on edge, as she moves to stand in front of her, with her teeth bared and her mystical blue eyes fixed on Rudger, snarling at him.
Grim's fur is standing on edge, with his teeth bared and his blazing red eyes fixed on him, snarling at him. "If it's true, and you are her dad, then I'll make sure she's safe from you." Yusei says.
"There's not enough time remaining for you to answer that question. Earthbound Immortal Uru! Huagh! Earthbound Immortal Uru can attack you directly! You'll be defeated in a single blow, Yusei! Take this! Hell Thread!" Says Rudger. Uru looses an ocean of web.
"I flip over my trap card! 'Iron Resolve'! By halving my life points, battle damage becomes zero, and the Battle Phase ends!" Yusei says. His life points decrease to 800, and a shield of red fire surrounds and protects him, the web ricochets off it and crashes into a building behind him.
It's the one Ushio and Martha are standing in, and it shakes. "Ugh!" Ushio and Martha scream.
"I set one card and end my turn." Says Rudger.
The building is beginning to tilt to one side, clearly unsound after taking that hit. "What? Ugh!" Martha says. She nearly falls over and Ushio grabs her arm. "Martha!" Says Ushio. "Thank you!" Martha says.
"Aaaaah!"
"That's Takuya's voice!" Says Ushio. "Takuya is on the roof?" Martha asks.
As the red glow fades from around Yusei, he hears Takuya scream.
"Aa-aaaa-aaah!"
"Huh?!" Asks Yusei.
Takuya's hanging onto the lip of the rooftop, which is pitching sideways as the building keeps shaking.
"Oh, no!" Yusei says.
Martha and Ushio run to the rooftop doorway. "Takuya!" Says Ushio, yelling. "Takuya!" Martha says.
"Martha! Ushio!" Says Takuya.
"This is bad!" Ushio says. "I'm coming!" Says Martha. She starts forward, edging along the side of the rooftop building.
"Uh? Martha!" Ushio says.
"Martha!" Says Yusei, yelling.
"Martha!" Sakura says, yelling.
Martha reaches Takuya and kneels beside him. "Takuya!" Says Martha. "I'm sorry. I just wanted to help." Takuya says. Martha is just relieved that he's okay. "It's fine. You can't join Security if you don't have courage. Let's go!" Says Martha.
"Martha!" Ushio says.
They crawl toward Ushio and the safety of the doorway.
"Martha!" Says Ushio. He reaches his hand out to Martha and Takuya. "Go, Takuya!" Martha says. She pushes Takuya forward and Ushio pulls him up.
Just then, the building shakes again and Martha slides back down to the edge.
"Martha!" Says Sakura.
Martha slowly tries to drag herself up, grabbing for a handhold on the rooftop. "Ugh! Augh!" Martha says.
"Martha!" Says Takuya. Ushio reaches for Martha. "Martha!" Ushio says.
Martha reaches out, but then slides back again.
"Martha!" Says Ushio.
Martha looks at him, and shakes her head.
"Don't give up!" Ushio says.
"Take care of Takuya. Because you're his hero." Says Martha.
"I'm no hero. I... I... I looked down on you and everyone else in Satellite." Ushio says.
"Martha!" Says Yusei.
"Martha!" Jack says.
Martha looks down at him, Sakura and Yusei. "You were good kids. You'll become the bridge that links Satellite with the City." Says Martha. She slips even further.
"Martha!" Yusei, Sakura and Jack all say, yelling.
Martha falls over the side of the building, facing upward, arms gently outstretched, not unlike an angel.
Sakura moves to summon forth one of her glyphs, only before she can complete it and save her, she winces, in pain, the burning sensation in her arm has started up. "No... Not now..." Says Sakura, pained.
As Martha nears the purple flames, she seems to glow blue.
"Ahh!" Lua and Luca scream. "Martha, no!" Hotaru says.
"Martha!" Says Aki.
Despite the burning sensation she's feeling in her arm, Sakura tries summoning forth her glyph again and nearly completes it, only for the pain to intensify, enough to bring her to her knees.
And with that, the glyph fails and Martha falls straight down into the flames, turning into a ball of purple light before she hits the ground. Her soul soars upward, right into the pincers of Uru, gleams, and disappears.
Hotaru falls to her knees and hides her face away with her hands, as she starts crying. "Martha." Hotaru says, through tears. Luca runs over to her. "Oh, Hotaru." Says Luca. She goes down to her knees next to Hotaru and places her hands on her shoulders, consolingly.
"Martha!" Yusei says, devastated. Grim lowers his head to the ground and closes his eyes, in his own sorrowful way.
Jack closes his eyes, pained. Aurora lowers her head and closes her eyes, whimpering, she almost looks to have tears running down her face. Sakura's keeping her head bowed, as she continues to kneel on the ground, grasping at her arm, trying to cease the burning sensation that she's feeling from it. "He's here, isn't he?" Asks Jack, angrily. Sakura doesn't answer him, even refusing to look up at him. "Sakura, answer me!" Jack says. She still remains silent. Jack, out of frustration, grabs her and pulls her up to her feet, she continues to keep her head lowered, her bangs shadowing over her eyes. He grips at her face, only for his to soften, seeing that she's just as downhearted as ever, a stray tear sheds down her face, as well. Jack loosens his grip on her and clears it away from her face, gingerly. "Sakura." Says Jack, pained. Sakura suddenly places herself against his chest. Jack's shocked by this at first, but eventually wraps his arms around her, hugging her close to himself, trying to console her, but fighting to show his own emotions.
"Martha..." Ushio says. "Martha!" Says Takuya. Suddenly, the building shakes again and both of them slide downward.
"Ushio!" Aki says.
Ushio skids hard on the ground and curbs their momentum, Takuya clinging to his lapel. "Damn!" Says Ushio.
The kids clinging to Jack's legs are crying. "Martha." Jack isn't, but it's a hard-fought battle, as he still holds Sakura close to himself. "Yusei! Hurry up and defeat the Earthbound Immortal!" Jack says, enraged. Sakura's irises and gradated half of her hair start flaring in bright red and fiery red, respectively, and her scleras fade to black, with glowing red veins across her eyes.
"Yusei, Ushio and Takuya are in danger!" Says Aki.
"Yusei, we'll be fine! So hurry up and win the duel!" Ushio says.
Grim shifts into a defensive stance and lifts up his head, with his blazing red eyes fixed on Rudger, his teeth bared and snarling, viciously. Yusei lifts his head to face him. "I'm counting on you, Ushio!" Says Yusei.
"You provide entertainment in unexpected ways." Rudger says.
"I won't forgive you... I'll never forgive you!" Says Yusei, furiously. He draws. "My turn! I summon Junk Synchron!" Yusei says.
Junk Synchron has 1300 attack points and is a Level 3 monster. "Since Junk Synchron was successfully summoned, I can Special Summon Turbo Booster from my graveyard!" Says Yusei.
Turbo Booster has 0 defense points and is a Level 1 monster. "Level Three Junk Synchron tunes Level Five Turret Warrior!" Yusei says. Junk Synchron revs its motor, and its three stars dissolve out and form into three green rings. Turret Warrior soars through them, aligning its five stars with the rings. A column of green light bursts through them. "The wishes come together to form a new shining star! Become the path that lights the way! Synchro Summon! Soar, Stardust Dragon!" Says Yusei.
His monster appears, its whole body glittering, scattering shimmering specks from its wings. Stardust Dragon has 2500 attack points and is a Level 8 monster.
"Stardust Dragon! All right, let's go." Ushio says. He and Takuya crawl back up the rooftop.
As Stardust sets down to Yusei's side of the field.
"Uru has three thousand attack points. Your low attack points aren't enough." Says Rudger.
"My feelings towards Martha, my family and my friends are part of this duel! I will defeat you!" Yusei says.
"Well, why don't we make this a little bit more interesting then, shall we?" Asks Rudger.
"What do you mean, Rudger? What are you planning?" Yusei asks.
"You'll see, momentarily." Says Rudger.
What Yusei doesn't notice, from behind him where Aki is standing.
From behind her ankles, a black shadow version of a web, wraps around her ankles, she feels it and looks down towards her feet. The shadowed web suddenly brings Aki's feet together, almost causing her to fall over, but before that happens the same things wrap around her wrists and then she's restrained. "Yusei!" Aki says.
Yusei turns to look behind him.
Aki suddenly vanishes in a stream of shadows.
"No, Aki!" Says Yusei.
Then, on the side Jack and Sakura are standing. She is standing at his side now. From underneath Sakura's feet, the same shadowed webs wrap around her ankles, as well. Sakura then looks down towards the ground, as they start bringing her underneath the ground. "Jack!" Sakura says. Jack turns around and sees what's happening. "Sakura!" Says Jack. He's too late to help her, Sakura's already vanished in shadow.
"No! Yusei, she's gone, too!" Jack says.
"What?! Her, too?! Rudger, what did you do with them?!" Asks Yusei.
"Relax, they're perfectly fine. For now, anyway. See for yourself." Rudger says.
The shadows then appear and Aki reappears, extended against the flame wall on his right side, tied back by black shadowed webbing. She is tied up by her wrists, waist, and around both of her thighs and her ankles, bringing them close together, being suspended as if she's crucified.
Sakura then reappears, extended like Aki, only on Rudger's left side. She is tied up by her neck, each wrist, waist, each thigh and each ankle, suspended almost in the crucified-style, albeit her legs and feet being spread apart, rather then tied close together like Aki's are.
Suddenly, some red colored electricity sparks above each of them and then comes down on them, shocking both of them, making them both scream out, in pain, only they can't do anything about it since they're tied up and being held in almost mid-air.
"Aki! Sakura!" Says Yusei. Grim suddenly collapses to the ground, whimpering, in pain, as he can feel the pain that's being inflicted on his mistress. Yusei looks down at him. "Grim!" Yusei says. He kneels down to one knee next to Grim, brushing through his fur.
Aurora, standing with Jack, Jun and Mitchan, lowers herself to the ground, whimpering, in pain, similarly to Grim, she can also feel Sakura's pain. Jack glances down at her and crouches down next to her, stroking her head, lightly. "Aurora!" Says Jack.
The electricity ceases and retreats, almost making them entirely knocked out. They're still very much alive, breathing and awake, they seem nearly winded and they're a little scratched up.
"If you surrender to me now, I'll release them with no further harm to either of them. If you continue to duel, then they'll pay the ultimate price. If you need a little help making your decision, I'll be more than happy to oblige! And of course, whatever happens to Sakura, well, happens to that familiar and guardian spirit, too!" Rudger says.
The same red electricity sparks up again and shocks them for the second time, they cry out, in pain, once more.
Neither Yusei nor Jack can stand seeing this happening to either of them.
Grim and Aurora are both cringing on the ground, whimpering, in pain, enduring all that's being inflicted on their mistress.
"Stop Rudger, just please stop it! Enough of this!" Says Yusei.
The electricity ceases again, and they're even more scratched up than before.
It's actually a miracle that Sakura's scars haven't opened back up.
Aki's close to tears.
Grim and Aurora are hardly moving, as they lay on the ground, heaving rather deeply.
Jack keeps petting Aurora, gently, and gets back up to his feet.
Yusei pets Grim's head, lightly, and stands back up to his feet. "Enough, I can't watch you do this to them anymore." Yusei says. He's about to deactivate his duel disk.
"No! Yusei, don't!" Says Aki, on the verge of tears.
Yusei stops and looks up.
"Finish him, Yusei. Don't stop this duel just because of us." Aki says, with tears now streaming down her cheeks.
"Aki's right. Don't worry about us, we shall be alright. Now, finish this Dark Signer, Yusei." Says Sakura, trying to fight off her own pain.
The shadow webbing suddenly slackens on both her and Aki, with a sudden much larger one encircling around each of them and with a lot of force, slam them straight into the ground below.
"Sakura! Aki!" Yusei says.
Sakura and Aki are barely moving, aside from their breathing, as they lay on the ground.
Jack's teeth and fists are clenched, he's angry.
Yusei's not far from him in emotions, he's just as furious as he is. "How dare you! I'll make you pay for hurting Sakura and Aki! Attack, Stardust Dragon!" Says Yusei.
Stardust Dragon soars into the air, swerving and darting and dodging around streams of web shot by Uru. Stardust dives, and passes right through Uru as though it's, yeah, just a hologram.
"What?" Rudger asks.
"You said that Earthbound Immortal has the strongest monster effect." Says Yusei.
"Hunh?!" Rudger asks.
"Its monster effect negates spells and traps, and it cannot be the target of attack." Says Yusei.
"You..." Rudger says.
"If it can't be the target of attack, then the only remaining target is you! You decided to hurt both Aki and Sakura, that was a mistake!" Says Yusei.
Sakura and Aki are both starting to show signs of movement, aided by groans of pain.
"Roar! Shooting Sonic!" Yusei says.
"I flip over my trap card! 'Spider Egg'! This effect negates your attack! Then it Special Summons three Spider Tokens!" Says Rudger.
The Spider Tokens have 0 defense points and are Level 1 monsters.
"Rrrgh! I set one card and end my turn." Yusei says.
Ushio reaches the doorway and pulls himself and Takuya up, triumphantly. "We made it, Yusei!" Says Ushio.
Yusei nods, then brings his attention back to Rudger. "The only thing left to do is defeat you!" Yusei says.
"Hmhmhmhmhahahahah. Oh really?" Asks Rudger. He starts to glow purple, and his shape changes. He becomes shorter, and starts to look familiar.
The figure fades, left in its place, is Rally.
"Agh! Rally!" Yusei says.
Jack recognizes Rally, and knows well the kind of position Rudger just put him in. "Uh! Rally?" Asks Jack.
Aki is sort of lost, but knows that this isn't good. "What's going on?" Aki asks.
"Rally..." Says Sakura, softly.
Yusei starts to run to his friend.
"Hmhmhahahahaha!" Rudger laughs.
Yusei stops and looks up.
Rudger's standing on the edge of the spider web. "How ironic. You still have another friend that you need to save." Rudger says.
"How dare you control Rally!" Says Yusei.
Rally stands, silently bemused, the mark of the spider is glowing on his arm.
"I've just now freed him from my control. If he wants to win, then fight. If he wants to lose, then lose. However, surrendering is not allowed in this duel. Now kid, do whatever you want!" Rudger says.
"What do you mean?" Asks Yusei.
"Yusei, whoever loses this duel will be terminated." Rally says, his voice seems to echo a bit.
"What?" Asks Yusei.
"Because of him, Blitz, Taka and Nerve are gone." Rally says, angrily.
"How dare you!" Says Yusei, addressing Rudger.
"My turn!" Rally says. He draws, his hand is shaking.
"Don't do it, Rally!" Says Sakura.
"He has to fight if he wants to live." Rudger says.
"Earthbound Immortal Uru's effect! I release one monster on my field to gain control of one monster on your field." Says Rally.
Uru shoots out a web and drags Turbo Booster over to his field.
Rally steels himself. "Rrrgh, I summon Turbo Rocket!" Rally says.
Turbo Rocket has 0 attack points and is a Level 2 monster.
Yusei watches, silently, then, too late, realizes what he's going for. "Agh! Don't do it, Rally! Attack and defeat me!" Says Yusei.
"No! Yusei, you're Satellite's only hope! That's why..." Rally says.
"Don't, Rally!" Says Yusei.
"Rally!" Both Jack and Sakura say.
"Level Two Turbo Rocket tunes Level One Turbo Booster." Says Rally. Turbo Rocket's two rings align with Turbo Booster's one star. "Synchro Summon! Turbo Booster Cannon!" Rally says.
Turbo Booster Cannon has 0 attack points and is a Level 3 monster.
"Is he planning to..." Aki thinks to herself.
"Don't do it, Rally!" Says Sakura.
"Turbo Booster Cannon's effect. I destroy one monster on the field, and the controller of that monster takes damage equal to its attack points." Rally says.
"Rrrgh, Rally!" Says Yusei.
"I'm sorry, Yusei. This is all I can do..." Rally says. He takes a moment, then opens his eyes, all fight. "The monster I select is Earthbound Immortal Uru!" Says Rally. Turbo Booster Cannon prepares to fire, as he turns. "Final Shot!" Rally says. Turbo Booster Cannon fires, and Uru explodes, and is gone.
The wind from the explosion throws Rally off of his feet and he lands hard, rolling end over end to land on the ground across the field. His life points sink to 0, and the mark of the spider vanishes from his arm.
Sakura's irises return to their natural shade of dark-crimson red, her scleras shift back to white and the glowing red veins disperse from across her eyes. Her gradation also ceases glowing and dims down to its usual shade of red. Sakura then runs over to Rally.
"Rally!" Says Yusei. He runs over to Rally. Yusei kneels down near him, who lies in Sakura's arms, exhausted, his head almost cradled in her arm. Rally looks up at him, tiredly. "Yusei... protect Satellite..." Rally says. As he speaks, he turns gray all over, as though made of charcoal, or dust, or shadowy mist. With that, Rally evaporates, as though made of dust or shadows, and blows away in the wind, leaving Sakura's arms empty.
Yusei can hardly bear it, his eyes work and twitch with grief. On his knees, he screams to the sky. "Rally!" Says Yusei, yelling. He then brings himself closer to Sakura and she wraps her arms around him, holding him close to herself, consolingly. "I-I'm sorry, Yusei." Sakura says, soothingly.
The spider webs and purple fire vanish.
Hotaru suddenly runs over to Yusei and Sakura. "Sakura! Yusei!" Says Hotaru. She goes down to her knees when she reaches them, her eyes full of tears. Sakura and Yusei hug Hotaru close to themselves.
Grim and Aurora run over to the three half-siblings, coming to a halt when they reach them. Hotaru hugs Aurora around her neck, burying her face in her beautiful, white fur.
Subaru and Velvet are the next ones to run up, the former collapses into Sakura's arms, burying himself into his mother's chest, in tears, while the latter goes to Yusei, crying into her uncle's chest. He wraps his arms around Velvet, hugging her close to himself.
Jack, Aki and Ushio run to Sakura, Yusei and Hotaru from different directions, Lua and Luca close behind. "Yusei!" Jack, Aki, Ushio, Lua and Luca all say.
From a nearby plateau of rubble. Rudger reappears, leading the other four Dark Signers. "That was interesting. The real battle between the Dark Signers and the Signers is just getting started." Says Rudger.
Sakura gets up to her feet, angrily, facing him, fearless of him if he is her father or not.
Rudger almost seems bewildered by what he sees in her. "You look so much like your mother. Except for your eyes." Rudger says. He then notices Hotaru, who's still kneeling next to Yusei, as she looks up at him. Rudger now looks like he's seen a ghost. "You resemble Keiko exactly. You have her eyes, too. Who are you?" Asks Rudger.
"M-My name is Hotaru." She then stands up to her feet. "Hotaru Tomoe."
"Ah, I see now. Your father was Professor Souichi Tomoe, the famous scientist who got himself blown up in his own laboratory over twelve years ago. I didn't know him as well as Hakase did, but from what I heard, he had the makings to be a great scientist. Unfortunately, he was thrown out of the scientific community for dodgy experiments. From what I heard in the news, after selling some of his findings, he purchased the area where he built his labs and continued with his research. But, a lightning strike caused a fire there, which ended up killing him." Rudger says.
Hotaru looks upset.
"Yea, you and Sakura defiantly take after Keiko." Says Rudger. He then glances over to Yusei. "Yusei, on the other hand, is exactly like Hakase. It's unfortunate that Hakase, Souichi and Keiko met their untimely deaths." Rudger says.
"Each battle will be determined by the star of destiny." Says Demak.
"Star of destiny?" Aki asks.
"Yusei, you shouldn't think that you conquered your fear of Earthbound Immortals. There's still plenty of fear remaining. Such as fear towards me. Ahahahahahahahahaha!" Says Kiryu.
"Daddy?" Velvet asks, innocently.
Kiryu brings his attention to her.
Velvet's still clinging to Yusei, looking up at him.
Subaru, who's clinging to Sakura's leg, pulls at her tailcoat, slightly. "Mother, is that father?" Asks Subaru.
Kiryu looks over at Subaru, noticing that the boy has the same facial shape and light blue hair as him, the only difference being his scarlet red eyes and slightly pale skin. He then looks back over to Velvet, seeing that she resembles Sakura greatly, except for her fair complexion, which is the same as his, and her amber eyes, which are similar to his chartreuse ones. Kiryu brings his attention over to Sakura, who is glaring at him. "Well, looks like you've been keeping secrets from me. Are they mine?" Kiryu asks.
Subaru and Velvet both look up at Sakura, who doesn't break her gaze from his. "Yes, Kyosuke. Biologically, they're yours." Says Sakura. Velvet and Subaru gasp, as they glance over at the man that has been revealed to them as their father.
"Ahahahahahahaha!" Kiryu laughs.
Yusei gets to his feet, standing on one side of Sakura, while Jack's on the other side of her. "Yeah, I'm scared. I'm scared of my own anger! I will defeat you!" Yusei says.
Showdown.
A huge bolt of blue lightning separates the two camps, Rudger, Demak, Kiryu, Misty and Carly, and on the other side, Yusei, Velvet, Sakura, Subaru, Grim, Jack, Ushio, Hotaru, Aurora, Aki, Lua and Luca.