Alex: 1600 LP
Roman: 3600 LP
Alex's field: Evil HERO Raging Tornado, Evil HERO Lightning Golem
Roman's field: Spider Web, Altar of the Bound Deity
"It appears some flies have gotten caught in my web. Shall we continue our duel Alex? I'm looking forward to the moment you join our ranks," Roman said. "Well, I wouldn't hold your breath waiting for that. It's your move," Alex conceded. "Very well, I draw. And during my standby phase, since there's one monster on the field in defense mode, my Altar of the Bound Deity gains one Earthbound Immortal counter," Roman explained as one of the torches on his altar erupted in flames.
Altar: 1 EIC
"I summon Ground Spider in defense mode," he continued.
Level 4/EARTH/Insect
ATK 0/DEF 1500
"Next, I place one card face-down and activate the Fissure spell card to destroy your Lightning Golem," Roman declared as the ground split open underneath Lightning Golem and he fell into the crevice. "Just great," Alex commented, just having lost one of his best monsters.
"It's your move," Roman concluded. "Fine, I draw," Alex said before he looked over his hand and assessed his options. "With the field as is, Altar will gain 2 more counters on Roman's next turn, and he'll be that much closer to summoning his Earthbound Immortal. The problem is, even if I summon a monster, Spider Web will force it into defense mode after it attacks," he thought to himself. "I play the spell Monster Reborn in order to summon my Evil HERO Voltage from my graveyard in attack mode," Alex declared.
Level 4/Light/Fiend
ATK 1600/DEF 1400
"Not good enough Alex. I activate Ground Spider's special ability. Since he's in defense mode, I can change the monster you just summoned into defense mode as well," Roman explained as threads sprung up from the ground and pulled Voltage down. "Maybe, but I can still use Voltage's special ability. So by revealing the Evil HERO Malicious Fiend in my extra deck, I can add Evil HERO Malicious Edge to my hand," Alex explained.
"So you add some strong monster to your hand, big deal," Roman commented. "It is a big deal for me. Your Ground Spider can only use its effect once each turn, so any monster I summon now won't be affected by it," Alex pointed out. "Way to go Alex! Stick it to him!" Yusei shouted.
"And as much as I hate to throw my friends to the wayside, I sacrifice my Evil HERO Raging Tornado to play the Advance Draw spell card. This card can only be activated by sending a level 8 or higher monster on my field to the grave, and in exchange, I can draw 2 cards," Alex explained as Raging Tornado vanished from the field.
"You must be truly desperate to sacrifice one of your best monsters. You're only delaying your defeat," Roman mocked. Alex drew his cards and looked at them. "Thanks for your sacrifice Tornado, I promise it won't have been in vain," he thought to himself before pulling a card from his hand. "Since there's a monster on your field, I can summon Edge with only one tribute," he explained.
Level 7/Earth/Fiend
ATK 2600/DEF 1400
"Now Malicious Edge, attack Ground Spider with Needle Burst!" Alex explained as Malicious Edge launched spikes at Ground Spider, some of them bouncing off and striking Roman. "I'm not gonna lie, I enjoyed that," Alex admitted.
Roman: 2500 LP
"But now my field spell's effect activates, so your monster is forced into defense mode," Roman reminded as Malicious Edge was pulled down. "I place one card face-down and end my turn," Alex conceded. "Keep this up Alex. a few more shots like that and this duel is over," Yusei thought to himself.
Meanwhile, Martha and Trudge had just arrived at the geoglyph. "Martha, I don't see any of them, do you?" Trudge asked. "No, let's get up higher and try to find them," Martha suggested. They climbed up one of the buildings and saw Alex dueling Roman. "Looks like Alex is holding his own against that Dark Signer," Trudge commented.
Martha looked to the edge of the duel field and saw John and Mitch outside the geoglyph. "There they are!" she shouted. Yusei heard Martha's voice and turned to her. "Don't worry Martha, once the duel is over they'll be free," Trudge assured. "You're wrong!" Akiza shouted, drawing Martha's and Trudge's attention.
"What do you mean?" Martha asked. "If Roman summons an Earthbound Immortal, their spirits will be taken. Please help!" Akiza shouted. "Alex, you have to win this duel!" Martha yelled. "I will. I won't let you have your way any longer Roman," Alex assured as he turned to face his opponent.
"We'll just see about that. Since it's now my standby phase, Altar of the Bound Deity gains one counter for every monster on the field in defense mode, so it gains one more counter," Roman explained as another torch on his altar became lit.
Altar: 2 EICs
"A shame you need two more to summon your Earthbound Immortal," Alex said sarcastically. "And I'm about to get them. I play the trap Offerings to the Bound Deity! By giving up half my life points, I can place two more counters on my altar," Roman explained.
Roman: 1250 LP
Altar: 4 EICs
"No way!" Alex shouted. "The four torches are lit, let the summoning begin!" Roman shouted as a stone heart appeared in the air. "No! Not this again! I failed them," Alex mentally berated himself. "It'll take a miracle to save those kids," Yusei said, not being able to reach them.
Suddenly, an engine could be heard close by. Just then, Jack's duel runner jumped off a hill and went sailing through the air. "Did someone order a miracle?" he asked. "Jack, protect the kids!" Yusei shouted.
Jack landed near the kids and ran over to them, a red sphere growing out from Jack and enveloping him and the boys, protecting them from being absorbed. "Thank goodness, he saved them in time," Martha said, relieved. "I guess he's not such a bad guy after all," Trudge commented. "Makes no difference. I still have the almighty Earthbound Immortal Uru!" Roman shouted as his monster emerged from its prison.
Level 10/Dark/Insect
ATK 3000/DEF 3000
"You really have a thing for spiders don't you?" Alex asked. "Hey Alex, why don't you squash that pest so we can go home?" Jack asked. Alex turned and nodded before responding "No problem." "For someone who's faced two Earthbound Immortals before, I would think you should know the danger you're in," Roman commented.
"And I would think by now that you know I'm not afraid of you or your eight legged freak," Alex responded. "Well, let's see if you're scared of this! Uru, attack Alex directly!" Roman ordered as Uru launched a stream of dark energy at Alex. "You can't survive a blow from a monster this strong. It's time for you to join us!" Roman exclaimed.
"I'm afraid I'm gonna have to turn you down. I play the Rising Evil trap card! When you attack me directly, I can use this trap to revive an Evil HERO from my grave ignoring any summoning conditions, and then you're forced to attack it instead of me," Alex explained.
"Say what?!" Roman asked in shock. "I'm bringing back my Evil HERO Raging Tornado in attack mode!" Alex declared as Raging Tornado reappeared on the field and put himself between Alex and Uru's attack. The attack hit and a massive dust cloud was kicked up as the ground shook.
Alex: 1400 LP
"So you saved yourself, but your monster is still destroyed!" Roman shouted before the dust cleared and revealed Raging Tornado was unharmed. "What, he should've been destroyed!" he exclaimed. "Except due to his special ability, he can't be destroyed by battle," Alex explained.
Roman placed a card face-down and ended his turn, rather annoyed. "Looks like I'm still standing," Alex condescended. "Perhaps, but let me remind you all the damage in this duel is real," Roman responded. "What's he talking about?" Alex asked himself before he heard a loud rumbling sound coming from behind him. He turned around and saw the building Martha and Trudge were in was starting to collapse.
"No!" Yusei shouted as he saw the building beginning to crumble. Martha and Trudge then heard Taka shouting from above them. They rushed to the roof to try and help him. Martha started to walk towards him, but lost her balance and almost slid off the edge. "Martha!" Yusei shouted, powerless to help.
"Akiza, catch!" Alex shouted as he tossed Akiza a card through the barrier. Akiza had just enough time to catch the card Alex threw her, seeing it was Yubel's card. "Why did-" Akiza began to ask before Alex explained Yubel could create rose vines to save them. Akiza pulled out her duel disk and summoned Yubel, begging for her help.
Yubel nodded before flying to the base of the building, creating three large rose vines which snaked their way up the building before reaching the roof. "Make your way to the vines and they'll lower you to the ground!" Akiza shouted. Martha nodded and helped Taka get over to them, while one of the vines made its way to Trudge.
Once everyone was in reach, the vines wrapped around their waists before lowering them to the ground safely. Once they were on the ground, the vines wrapped around the building, crushing it inwards so the falling debris wouldn't hit anyone. "Is everyone alright?" Trudge asked once the building went down.
"I'm okay," Taka assured before Martha grabbed him, pulling him close, tears in the corners of her eyes. "I'm glad you're safe. Please don't ever run off like that again," Martha pleaded. Taka realized how worried Martha had been and apologized, promising he would never run off again.
"I forgive you. I know you were just trying to help," Martha said before she turned to face Yubel, who had flown over to them to ensure they were okay. "Thank you," Martha said to the spirit. Yubel smiled and said "Mention nothing of it," before vanishing. Alex breathed out a sigh of relief that everyone was okay before turning back to face Roman.
"I'll make you pay for that Roman. First I'm going to flatten your Earthbound Immortal like the worthless insect it is, and then you're going down," Alex promised. "Let's see if you actually can. It's your move," Roman responded. "Alright, I draw! Raging Tornado, attack!" Alex ordered.
"What?! But Uru is stronger!" Jack shouted as Raging Tornado rushed Roman's monster but passed right through it and charged at Roman. "What? Why did Alex's monster go right through it?" Akiza asked.
"The Earthbound Immortals can't be attacked by other monsters, so since Uru is the only monster Roman has, that leaves me with just one other target: Roman himself. Now strike Roman down with Furious Twister Strike!" Alex shouted. "Not so fast, I play the trap Spider Egg! Not only is your attack canceled, but I get three spider tokens," Roman explained.
Level 1/Earth/Insect
ATK 0/DEF 0
"I'll win this duel yet Roman, I place two face-downs and end my turn. I'm not gonna let you take anyone else's spirit Roman," Alex vowed. Roman just laughed, responding "That's fine, I already have so many," before his body emitted a bright light, blinding everyone.
Once everyone could see, Roman had vanished, and Alexis was standing in his place. "Mom?" Alex asked, not sure if he could believe what he was seeing. "He didn't," Yusei said, realizing what was going on. Alex broke out in tears and ran towards his mother, but stopped when he heard Roman laughing. He looked up and saw Roman standing on top of the spider web around the field.
"Since you missed your parents so much, I freed your mother's spirit so she could duel you instead of me," Roman informed. "You can't! I won't duel her!" Alex refused. "You have no choice. You can either attack and win or be attacked and lose. So what'll it be? Sacrifice the life of your mother, or throw the duel and join the Dark Signers?" Roman asked.
"Alex, you have to win," Alexis reminded. "I can't! It was bad enough when I lost you and dad to Misty, I can't do that to you myself!" Alex shouted. "Alex, you have to. If you don't then your friends are doomed. You have to be strong," Alexis encouraged. "Roman, you coward! Fight Alex fairly!" Yusei shouted, wishing he could do something more than just spectate.
"Oh, but why do that when this is so much more entertaining?" Roman asked mockingly. "I'm sorry Alex. It's my turn," Alexis said as she drew a card. "Mom, please don't do it!" Alex begged. "Oh she will duel, even if it means turning her darling son into a Dark Signer," Roman said.
"I play the spell card Pot of Greed, so I draw 2 cards. Next, I play the spell Machine Angel Ritual, so by sacrificing Earthbound Immortal Uru, I can summon Cyber Angel Dakini," Alexis explained.
Level 8/Light/Fairy
ATK 2700/DEF 2400
It suddenly dawned on Alex what was about to happen. "Mom, please don't, attack me instead," Alex begged. "Alex, don't make this harder than it already is. Your father and I need you. Only you and the Signers can save us and everyone else that's been taken. I'm sorry. I activate my monster's special ability. When Dakini is summoned, her effect makes you choose one of your monsters to be destroyed," Alexis explained, although she knew what was really going to happen.
Alex could feel the tears building up in his eyes and just nodded before activating one of his face-downs. "I play the trap Return Marker. When a monster effect is activated that would deal damage or destroy a card, this trap negates that effect and deals damage to my opponent equal to the attack points of the monster that activated the effect," he explained.
"What?!" Roman exclaimed in shock. "This is for me and my husband Roman!" Alex shouted as Dakini launched an energy blast from her staff, the blast being reflected by Alex's trap back at Roman, subsequently knocking him off the web.
Alexis: 0 LP
Winner: Alex
Alex shouted for his mother before he ran to her and tackled her in a hug, crying. "Mom, please don't go," he begged, unable to bear the thought of losing her again. "Hey, it's okay. I know you'll save us. Be strong Alex. Your father and I love you with all our hearts and we believe in you," Alexis assured before her body turned to dust, fading away.
Alex dropped to his knees and slammed his fist on the ground. Akiza ran to Alex before she heard Roman laughing again. "Well, I certainly wasn't expecting that outcome. No wonder the human race is going extinct, no one has the sense to look out for themselves anymore," the Dark Signer commented.
He walked to the top of a junk pile and the other Dark Signers walked up beside him. "Be kind Roman, the boy did just lose his mother," Devack added. "Is she-," Akiza began to ask, not sure she wanted to finish the thought.
"Gone? She and her husband are ours, along with everyone else from this trash heap you call a town. Wanna get 'em back? Well we're right here Alex. Or are you afraid?" Kalin asked. Alex got up from the ground, and to say he was angry would've been an understatement.
"Yeah, but not of you. I'm scared of what I'm gonna do to all of you. If you thought I was aggressive before, just wait till you see how I duel now," he said, his irises turning a deep gold while darkness began to pool at his feet.