Doom
"Where have you been? We were all worried about you!" Luna yelled as soon as she saw Mateo in the kitchen. She ran over and hugged him, squeezing the air out of him.
"Luna… Can't… Breathe…" Mateo gasped. She released him and slapped him. He looked up and saw that she had an angry look with tears streaming down her face. At the entrance way, the rest of the Signers were entering, hearing the commotion. As soon as they saw Mateo, they all rushed over to him.
"You vanished—"
"—missing for days—"
"—what happened to you, man?"
"Whoa, whoa, whoa." Mateo held out his hands, and everyone stopped talking. "I'll tell you, but you won't believe this."
"We embody the mystical powers of an ancient glowing dragon." Crow replied. "I think we can handle this."
Mateo sighed. "Fifteen years ago, back when I was still a child, and living alone in the streets, a woman approached me. Her name was Illeya. She taught me everything I know about Duel Monsters and about my destiny as not only a Signer of the Crimson Dragon, but also as a warrior of Light."
"Okay."
"She was forced to wipe my memories of my meeting her, however the Crimson Dragon was what informed me of my role as the Signer." Mateo explained. "After my duel with Phillip Vulcan and his subsequent death, I was feeling disillusioned by dueling. Realizing that it is my destiny to defeat the Darkness, she appeared, and took me to the Dimension of Light. There, she unlocked my memories of fifteen years ago, and we dueled. After the duel, I was witness to a duel between Shiho and Sasuke Nakahara—"
"The missing Japanese Ambassador?"
"Yes. He had challenged Shiho to a Darkness Duel and was playing unfairly by speaking Japanese while Shiho can only speak English." Mateo continued. "Illeya told me that by taking Shiho's place, she can put me in the middle of the battle. Since I do understand Japanese, I was able to defeat him with Shiho's cards. That was how I returned."
"And where is Shiho right now?"
"I asked him to bring the Ambassador to the NDCPD to keep him safe." Mateo answered. "The penalty for losing the duel tore his mind from his body. But that's not the main concern. I've challenged Anya to a duel."
"Anya?"
"She was the one who sent that man against me, as well as Vulcan, and the Ambassador. As far as I can see, Anya is the only one of those Darkness Duelers left. She told me to meet her in three days at the duel stadium." Mateo replied, causing everyone to look around, uneasy. "What?"
"You've already been through three Darkness Duels in a row." Yusei replied. "Do you really think you're ready for a fourth?"
"How many were you involved with when the Dark Signers attacked?"
"Well, I…"
"And, if I remember correctly, you were also severely wounded and refused to rest."
"Okay, I see your point. But you have to be careful out there. Whatever this is, it seems darker than the Dark Signers were." Yusei said. Mateo nodded. "Well, if you've got one more duel to have, I guess it's time for you to train."
DO YOU REALIZE THE AMOUNTS OF NEGATIVE ENERGY IT TOOK TO CONJURE YOU IN THE FIRST PLACE?
"Yes, master, I do!"
ALL THE ENERGY RELEASED FROM THE DEFEAT OF THE KING OF THE NETHERWORLD, AND IT STILL WAS NOT QUITE ENOUGH. SHOULD YOU FAIL IN YOUR BATTLE, I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO RESTORE YOU AGAIN. NOT THAT I WOULD WANT TO. YOU HAVE OVERABUSED MY PROTECTION.
"Yes, master I understand." Anya sighed. "Blah, blah failure, blah, blah, blah. What I want to know is how he defeated all your minions. Even Frelt was unable to defeat Yurigaya, and he is clearly the strongest of all the monsters you conjured."
HE IS INDEED FORMIDDABLE. ILLEYA TRAINED HIM WELL. EVEN THE DUEL BOT WAS UNABLE TO DEFEAT HIM.
"In the duel bot's defense, it isn't designed to face two opponents, and it almost defeated both Yurigaya and Fudo."
REGARDLESS. I AM GIVING YOU ONE LAST CHANCE, ANYA. HE IS NEAR TO DISCOVERING HIS BIRTHRIGHT AND UNLOCKING HIS POWER. YOU MUST STOP HIM BEFORE HE CAN ACCOMPLISH THIS, OR YOU WILL BE PERMANENTLY DISCHARGED FROM MY SERVICE. DO NOT FAIL ME AGAIN.
"I will not, master." Anya stood as the dark shadow vanished. "I suppose the final day is upon us. Whether or not it is Yurigaya's or my own, only time will tell."
Three days have passed. Mateo pushes the Piercing Light into the Duel Arena, followed by all of his friends. Anya stood next to a Duel Runner of her own and waited as Mateo's friends stopped by the pits. "Good luck."
Mateo nodded and gave them a thumb up as he walked closer to Anya. When she was within talking distance, Mateo spoke up. "Is this how you wanted the final battle to go, Anya?"
"Not particularly. I figured you were gonna die after Vulcan, but boy was I surprised." Anya replied. "But with your near-defeat at the hands of my duel bot a few months ago—"
"Hold on, that was you?" Mateo asked. Anya nodded, smiling. "I've got some pain to pay back then, because that damn thing hurts like hell when it hits you with electricity."
"Awww, you didn't like him? I thought he was inspired." Anya sighed again. "Then again, I always did want to fight you myself."
"They what are you waiting for?" Mateo mounted his Duel Runner, and Anya chuckled. "I've got a few new strategies that I'm dying to test, so let's kick this into overdrive!"
"You're so eager to die. Let's bring it on, then! But this time, the stakes will be higher!" Anya mounted her Duel Runner and turned it on, causing the black ink to seep off the Duel Runner, leaving it a crimson red, like blood. The ink slithered up the walls of the dome and covered the entire roof in the Dark Seal, causing the entire duel stadium to be trapped in the duel. "It's time to begin!"
"Agreed!" Mateo and Illeya revved and blasted down the track.
"Turbo Duel engaged. Autopilot, standing by." The computers spoke in a slightly distorted voice. "Activating the Speed World 3 field spell."
"Let's duel!"