The stadium was chaos. The crowd erupted into cheers, reporters were running around trying to grab a piece of this massive scoop, and in the middle of it was Wenslow.
'What did I see?' He wondered. 'I need to get to the bottom of this.'
21
Elsewhere a woman with long black hair stood with a digital camera, dressed in jeans, a blue and white striped sweater and a brown jacket. Her eyes were covered by glasses decorated strangely with hypnotic swirls, and if anything, she exuded an air of incompetence.
"I'm standing in the Kaiba Dome in New Domino City...uh, I mean, obviously the Kaiba Dome is in New Domino City." She stuttered before being pushed aside by an attractive looking blonde-haired woman in a red jacket over a white shirt, and a purple skirt. She seemed more professional than her.
"Angela Rains here, reporting for WGGK at the Fortune Cup finale!" The blonde-haired woman announced to her cameraman. "Today, Weslow has stolen Jack Atlas' title in front of a worldwide audience of fans."
"Angela, his name's Wenslow." The other woman said.
"Carly, I hate to break it to you, but a blogger is not a journalist." She said derisively. "How many hits a day is that pathetic little website of yours getting?"
"Thousands...of millions." Carly stammered. Angela laughed again.
"I seriously doubt that." She mocked. "I'd love to talk down to you some more, but I did enough of that in high school. See ya; I've got an interview to score!" With that, she and her cameraman dashed away, with Carly following them.
21
Wenslow watched as Jack was lifted onto a stretcher.
"Don't worry." One of them said. "Mr. Atlas is fine; we just need to run some routine tests at the clinic." They began to wheel the stretcher away. "Oh, and congratulations kid."
"Thanks." He nodded as Yusei came over to him.
"I don't know about you but we need to find out what that vision means and put a stop to it."
"I agree." Wenslow retorted.
Tanner, Yanagi, Leo, Luna and Dexter approached the two.
"Everyone okay?" Yusei asked.
"Yeah." Yanagi reported. "But Wenslow's about to contend with a new enemy. The media."
"There he is! Let's get that interview!" With that, the barricade was sent crashing down as the reporters all surged forwards.
"I'm outta here." Wenslow muttered in annoyance as fire enveloped his body and he was now in his dragon form.
"See ya." Flapping his wings, he lifted off the ground and flew away from the stadium.
The reporters groaned at their missed opportunity.
21
In a tunnel under the stadium Yusei, Tanner, Yanagi, Leo, Luna and Dexter walked, the former two wheeling Yusei's Duel Runner along.
"Where is this place?" Dexter wondered, looking around.
"It's an old service tunnel." Tanner explained. "No one uses it anymore, in fact, I only know about it because of Blister."
"Yusei..." Luna said quietly. "What was that we saw in that light? What was that spider in the Satellite?"
21
In the B.A.D., within the Dark Signers' lair, a drop of water fell into a pool. Roman stirred, as did the other Dark Signers sat at the table. Kelsey was sat at the opposite side of the table to the leader of the Dark Signers.
"Goodwin has assembled the Signers and summoned the Crimson Dragon." Roman mused. "The time for the curtain of shadows to descend upon this world has come. 'What a tangled web we weave, when first, we practice to deceive.'"
"The time of the Dark Signers has come," Roman said, raising his hand to reveal four spiders within it. "And soon, this world shall know only the darkness..." He, Kalin and Devack all began to laugh darkly. The four spiders scurried from his hand, shooting threads of web upwards and climbing them out of sight...
21
In Blister's hideout, Yanagi was sketching the Crimson Dragon's Seal on a piece of paper. Completing it, he held it up for the others to see.
"I'm not an artist and I only saw it the once, but this is what the Dragon's Seal looks like." Julian nodded, the seal seemed fairly accurate from what he saw of it in Peru.
"Right, Yanagi, not to be disrespectful, but I'm fairly familiar with the legend, so I'll tell them," he said. Yanagi nodded. "Yusei, Luna. Could you show me your marks please?" They rolled back their sleeves to bare the crimson Marks of the Dragon. "Yusei, your mark is the Tail, and Luna, yours is one of the Claws. According to the legend, the Crimson Dragon was divided into Head, Tail, Wings, Front Claw and Back Claw, and then it was sealed as the marks of the original Signers.
"We only have four Signers, though," Tanner mused. "Yusei, Jack, Akiza and Luna. How could it be summoned if only four Signers were there?"
"The fifth Signer must have been in that stadium somewhere," Julian murmured.
"So Yusei's a Signer, Jack's a Signer, Akiza's a Signer and Luna's a Signer," Leo said. "Who's the fifth one? Hey, maybe it's me!" He lifted his shirt and began looking for a mark. Julian laughed slightly at his antics, but underneath the laughter, he was thoughtful.
"Maybe he's right... after all, there's something about Power Tool Dragon..."
Luna suddenly seemed to faint, her knees buckling.
21
In a bleak, industrial area of New Domino City, crowds were gathered around two men in black cloaks similar to those worn by the Dark Signers.
"The Crimson Dragon has come to New Domino City!" One of the men shouted. "It has come to spread despair and oppression!"
"The citizens of New Domino must stand together!" added another man. "The Dragon will attempt to seduce you with promises of power and wealth! Ignore its whisper and follow us down the virtuous path!" As he spoke, spiders descended on threads of web, landing on the people in the crowds.
"Only by denying the Dragon's whisper can we be truly free!" the first speaker yelled...
21
Later that night, all was still. All was calm. The streets of New Domino were silent.
But that peace was stalked by shadow. Silently, a man walked the streets to Blister's hideout. He stopped outside, garbed in a black cloak, his face veiled by the shadows of his hood. He pulled back his sleeve to let the purple mark of the Spider shine on his forearm...
21
Above him, Yusei's mark burned and glowed as he stood beside the window. He looked down and saw the cloaked man, who stared back...
He ran downstairs and out through the door. He glanced round the alleyway to see the man running away, and he quickly followed. He chased the black-clad man through the streets and a construction site. Finally, they stopped within a parking lot and the man turned to face the Signer.
"Who are you?" Yusei asked. "Are you the Fifth Signer?" The man laughed.
"I am a Shadow Drone," he replied. "And if you want the truth, then ask the shadows, for they know all!" He activated his Duel Disk.
"Why aren't I surprised?" Yusei said, activating his own Disk. The Shadow Drone raised his arm, baring the Spider mark, and a ring of purple fire encircled them.
Yusei 8000LP/Shadow Drone 8000LP
"What is this?!" Yusei shouted, glancing at the purple fire.
"The shadows have marked us as chosen sacrifices, and now there can be no escape until the Duel ends," the Shadow Drone laughed. "I shall begin this Duel by placing one monster face-down." The reversed card appeared. "Now I throw out two face-downs and end my turn." The two face-downs appeared behind his monster.
Yusei 8000LP/Shadow Drone 8000LP
"I draw!" Yusei called. "I activate Tuning, allowing me to add a Tuner monster from my Deck to my hand so long as I send cards equal to its Level from my Deck to the Graveyard! I add the Level Three Junk Synchron to my hand!" Junk Synchron slid from his Deck and he placed it in his hand, before placing the top three cards of his Deck into the Graveyard.
"Now I summon Junk Synchron!" The orange-armored Tuner appeared (ATK: 1300). "And I use his effect to bring back Speed Warrior!" Speed Warrior appeared, crossing his arms (DEF: 400). "Now I Release Speed Warrior, to Special Summon Turret Warrior!" Speed Warrior dissolved into light that reformed into the towering cinderblock Turret Warrior (ATK: 1200 – 2100). "Now, I Tune Junk Synchron with Turret Warrior in order to Synchro Summon...!"
Junk Synchron pulled his ripcord and soared upwards, splitting into three glowing rings that descended and engulfed Turret Warrior, reducing it to five glowing stars. The stars aligned and crashed together as one, exploding with black energy...
"Clustering forces will form a path to a brighter future! Become the path its light shines upon! Synchro Summon! Open fire, Junk Destroyer!"
Junk Destroyer burst from the Synchro Summon with a roar (ATK: 2600). "Junk Destroyer, take out one of those face-down cards! Junk Arsenal!" Junk Destroyer opened fire, shattering one of the face-downs, Negate Attack. "Now, attack that monster! Scrap Barrage!" In a fusillade of missiles and machine gun fire, the Shadow Drone's monster, a knight-like figure made of ice, dressed in rounded plate armour, with a dark blue cape and wielding a dual-bladed lance (DEF: 1200), was shattered apart.
"What was that?" Yusei wondered.
"Wouldn't you just love to know?" The Shadow Drone laughed.
"I'll end my turn with a face-down." The Star of Satellite finished. The face-down appeared.
Yusei 8000LP/Shadow Drone 8000LP
"I draw," the Shadow Drone said with a laugh. "I activate Call of the Haunted to revive that monster you destroyed last turn, my Ice Knight!" In a flicker of darkness, the icy warrior reappeared, spinning his lance (ATK: 1300). "Now I activate the Quick-Play Spell, Inferno Reckless Summon! Since I brought out a monster with 1500 or less attack points while you had a monster, I can Special Summon all copies of my monster from my hand, Deck and Graveyard, and you can do the same with your monster!" In flashes of ice, two more Ice Knights appeared (ATK: 1300x2).
"He's clever... I can't use Inferno Reckless Summon because I only have one Junk Destroyer," Yusei mused.
"And here's the best part!" the Shadow Drone laughed. "My Ice Knights gain 400 points for every Aqua-Type monster on the field! Since all three are Aquas that gives them..." The three Knights all glowed (ATK: 2500x3).
"They still aren't strong enough to beat my Junk Destroyer!" Yusei pointed out. The Drone laughed as he played another card.
"How simple you are, Yusei. I activate the Field Spell Card, A Legendary Ocean, downgrading the Levels of all Water monsters on our fields and in our hands by one, and also granting the Water monsters on the field 200 more attack and defense points!" His Ice Knights glowed more as the area around became a dark, underwater city, though the ring of purple fire remained (ATK: 2700x3). "Luckily for you, I don't have any other monsters in my hand! Ice Knight, attack!"
One of the Knights charged for Junk Destroyer, but Yusei's face-down lifted up. Scrap-Iron Scarecrow shot from the card and knocked the icy monster back.
"Nice try!" The Drone laughed as he gestured. The second Ice Knight charged and impaled Junk Destroyer with its lance before striking Yusei.
(Yusei 7900LP)
"Now, Ice Knight number three, direct attack!" The Ice Knight charged and stabbed Yusei with his lance, making him cry out in pain as blood dripped from the shallow wound.
(Yusei 5200LP)
He looked down in shock at the gash from the ice lance.
"How..." he wondered.
"In this Shadow Duel, all the monsters and the damage are real!" the Shadow Drone laughed. "And when you lose, your loss will equal your death, Yusei Fudo!" He laughed insanely. "And with that, I'll end my turn!"
Yusei 5200LP/Shadow Drone 8000LP
"I draw!" Yusei shouted, pulling the card from his Deck and smiling slightly as he saw it. "I place one card face-down!" The face-down appeared. "Now I activate Double Cyclone, destroying that face-down to destroy your Call of the Haunted!" The face-down shattered, as did the Call of the Haunted card. "And since I got rid of Call of the Haunted, you lose your Ice Knight!" The central Knight shattered and the others weakened (ATK: 2300x2).
"And that face-down was Limiter Overload, so I get my Speed Warrior!" Speed Warrior appeared in a flash of energy (ATK: 900).
"It doesn't matter," the Shadow Drone said. "No matter what you do, the shadows will consume you eventually, Signer!"
"You're wrong about that!" Yusei retorted. "I activate the Double Summon Spell Card, giving me another Normal Summon this turn, so I bring out Shield Warrior and Road Synchron!" The bare-chested warrior bearing shield and spear (ATK: 800) and the golden robotic Tuner (ATK: 1600) both appeared. "Now I'm Tuning Road Synchron to Speed Warrior and Shield Warrior...!"
Road Synchron rose into the air. "When Road Synchron is used to Synchro Summon a monster other than Road Warrior, its Level is reduced to two!" Yusei called as the Synchron dissolved into two glowing rings. The rings descended and encircled Shield Warrior and Speed Warrior, reducing them to five glowing stars that crashed together and exploded with golden light...
"Clustering forces will create a bright freedom! Become the path its light shines upon! Synchro Summon! Strike now, Lightning Warrior!" Yusei chanted.
In a flash of lightning, Lightning Warrior descended, landing before his master (ATK: 2400). "Lightning Warrior, take out one of his Knights! Lightning Punisher!" Lightning Warrior roared and charged, smashing one of the Ice Knights with a fierce punch. The Shadow Drone winced slightly as the punch struck him.
(Shadow Drone 7900LP)
"Now Lightning Warrior's effect hits you with 300 points of damage for each card in your hand!" Yusei called. "Lightning Ray!" Lightning ripped from the warrior's hand and struck the Shadow Drone, who winced.
(Shadow Drone 7000LP)
"I'll end my turn there." Yusei finished. The final Ice Knight's glow faded slightly (ATK: 1900).
Yusei 5200LP/Shadow Drone 7000LP
"I draw!" the Shadow Drone yelled. "I summon Nightmare Penguin!" A man-sized penguin wearing a smart tuxedo and top hat appeared, his orange eyes glowing with rage (ATK: 900 - 1100). Ice Knight glowed with energy again (ATK: 2300). "While Nightmare Penguin is on the field, all of my Water monsters gain 200 more points!" Nightmare Penguin (ATK: 1300) and Ice Knight (ATK: 2500) both glowed with icy aura.
"Ice Knight, attack his Lightning Warrior!" Ice Knight charged...
"I activate Scrap-Iron Scarecrow!" Yusei called, but the Drone smirked, playing a card.
"I activate the Quick-Play Spell Instant Freezing, which locks that Trap Card face-down until the end of your next turn!" Scrap-Iron Scarecrow froze over and Ice Knight impaled Lightning Warrior, shattering the Synchro. Yusei winced as the lance slashed across his chest.
(Yusei 5100LP)
"Nightmare Penguin, direct attack!" Nightmare Penguin charged and slapped Yusei with his flipper.
(Yusei 3800LP)
"I'll finish my turn with a face-down card." The Drone finished. The reversed card appeared behind Ice Knight.
Yusei 3800LP/Shadow Drone 7000LP
"I draw!" Yusei shouted. "I activate Spellbook Inside the Pot, allowing us both to draw three cards!" They each drew three times. Yusei smiled as he saw his cards.
"I activate Demotion, which equips to your Ice Knight and reduces its Level by two!" he called. Ice Knight glowed with malevolent aura (Level 1). "Now I play The Warrior Returning Alive to bring Junk Synchron back to my hand!" The card slid from his Graveyard and he placed it into his hand. "I summon Junk Synchron!" The orange-armoured Tuner appeared once more (ATK: 1300).
"Junk Synchron," the Drone mused. "And that means you're planning a Synchro Summon again..." He chuckled, as if he knew something Yusei didn't, glancing at the Extra Deck slot of his Duel Disk...
"Alright, chuckles, I use Junk Synchron's effect to bring back my Speed Warrior!" Yusei shouted. Speed Warrior appeared as Junk Synchron raised a hand (DEF: 400). "And now I'm Tuning my Junk Synchron to my Speed Warrior...!"
Junk Synchron pulled his ripcord again and soared upwards, splitting into three glowing rings that descended and encircled Speed Warrior, reducing him to two glowing stars. The stars crashed together and exploded with dark purple energy...
"Clustering stars will call upon a new force! Become the path its light shines upon! Synchro Summon! Show yourself, Junk Warrior!"
Junk Warrior descended with a roar (ATK: 2300). "And when Junk Warrior is Synchro Summoned, he gains attack points equal to the combined attack points of all Level Two or below monsters on the field!" Yusei called.
"What!" the Shadow Drone exclaimed as Junk Warrior glowed with energy.
"Power of Fellows!" Yusei commanded. Junk Warrior roared again (ATK: 4800). "Junk Warrior, take down his Ice Knight! Scrap Fist!" Junk Warrior roared, igniting his jet pack and soaring forwards. He smashed Ice Knight with a fierce punch before throwing another that knocked the Shadow Drone to the ground.
(Shadow Drone 4700LP)
"I activate the Trap Card, Damage Condenser!" the Shadow Drone roared. "Using this, I can discard once!" He tossed a monster called Blizzard Lizard into the Graveyard. "To bring out a monster with attack points equal to or less than the damage I just took! I summon... Dark Tuner Catastrogue!"
A bizarre monster appeared in a flash of energy. It was a fiendish creature, split at the midriff by a space containing only an orb of pure darkness, its lower half clad in flared dark crimson furs, its upper half consisting of what seemed to be an immense wingspan extending out to axe-like blades, with slender black arms attached to the wings. Its hands were gloved in white, and its upper face was covered by a bronze mask adorned with a horn and a single crimson eye. Its head was crowned by a shock of black hair and its visible skin was white, its mouth filled with fangs (ATK: 0).
"Dark Tuner Catastrogue...?" Yusei murmured. "I end my turn with a face-down!" The face-down card appeared.
Yusei 3800LP/Shadow Drone 4700LP
"I draw!" the Shadow Drone yelled. "Let the dark shadows rise! I Dark Tune my Catastrogue to my Nightmare Penguin...!"
"Dark Tune?!" Yusei exclaimed as Dark Tuner Catastrogue dissolved into eight glowing stars that stabbed into Nightmare Penguin, making the monster scream in agony as it was forcibly reduced to an orange framework.
"The shadows control power like nothing you've witnessed before!" the Drone laughed. "Using that power, I can unleash a Dark Synchro Summon!" Nightmare Penguin's framework released three glowing stars that mixed with the eight from Catastrogue, the stars colliding at one single point and forming an orb of shadows. Then the orb split apart into five dark stars.
"Why'd those stars turn dark?!" Yusei cried out.
"By subtracting the Level of a Dark Tuner monster from the Level of a non-Tuner monster," the Drone said, "I can perform a Synchro Summon to create a monster whose Level is equal to the total! While your monsters combine to create positive energy, mine feed off of each other to form negative energy!"
"But a negative Level can't exist! It's impossible!"
"For the monsters of the Underworld, it is very possible!" the Drone laughed. "This monster is a negative Level Five!" Yusei gasped in shock.
"The Underworld?"
"The realm of the shadows and the place where you'll exist in eternal torment once this Duel ends with my victory!"
"I won't lose!" Yusei retorted.
"We'll see," the Drone chuckled darkly as black lightning connected the five dark stars before him, which coalesced around him. "When the shadows are devoured by even darker shadows, the curtain pulls back to reveal a world without light! Dark Synchro! Come forth... Frozen Fitzgerald!"
The man's laugher echoed as the Dark Synchro Summon broke, revealing a monster which seemed entirely made of ice. Its main body was formed of one immense icicle, its legs frozen together as the base of the icicle, and its arms made from immense lumps of ice. A skeletal mask formed its face, cold, empty crimson eyes gazing at Yusei through the holes in it, and ribbon-like streams of ice ran down its back, to either side of its legs. Its chest was covered by a dark brown robe, and Frozen Fitzgerald gave a dry, inhuman rasp as it descended to land before the Shadow Drone (ATK: 2500 - 2700).
"When Dark Tuner Catastrogue is used for a Dark Synchro Summon, I can destroy one card on the field!" the Shadow Drone laughed. "Goodbye, Junk Warrior!" A phantom of Catastrogue appeared behind Junk Warrior, gripping onto the Synchro's head. The warrior screamed and shattered like glass as Catastrogue vanished with a cackle.
"No!" Yusei cried out.
"Frozen Fitzgerald, attack him directly! Death Icicles!" Frozen Fitzgerald silently raised its ice ribbons, unleashing a flurry of icicle spears from them.
"I activate my Scrap-Iron Scarecrow!" Yusei shouted, but the card iced over before it could activate.
"When Frozen Fitzgerald attacks, you can't use Spell or Trap Cards until the end of the Damage Step!" the Shadow Drone laughed.
The icicle spears ripped across Yusei, tearing open cuts and making him scream in pain as he was smashed back into the flame barrier. His Mark of the Dragon burned as he stood weakly, blood staining his jacket and jeans.
(Yusei 1100LP)
"I'll end my turn there with a face-down!" the Drone laughed.
Yusei 1100LP/Shadow Drone 4700LP
"I draw!" Yusei called. "I activate Card of Demise!" He drew five times. "I discard Quillbolt Hedgehog to Special Summon Quickdraw Synchron from my hand!" He placed the monster in his Graveyard and the cowboy-themed Synchron appeared, drawing his pistol (ATK: 700). "Now I summon Sonic Chick!" The small, pink bird appeared beside Quickdraw Synchron (ATK: 300). "I Tune Quickdraw Synchron to Sonic Chick in order to Synchro Summon...!"
Quickdraw Synchron fired through the Turbo Synchron card, splitting into five glowing rings that encircled Sonic Chick, reducing it to a glowing star. The star exploded with emerald aura...
"Clustering bonds weave a greater force! Become the path its light shines upon! Synchro Summon! Roar engines, Turbo Warrior!"
Turbo Warrior descended with a roar (ATK: 2500). "Now I equip Turbo Warrior with Synchro Boost, raising his attack points by 500 and his Level by one!" Turbo Warrior glowed with energy (ATK: 3000/Level 7). "Turbo Warrior, attack Frozen Fitzgerald with Accel Slash!" Turbo Warrior charged and smashed Frozen Fitzgerald with a powerful strike.
(Shadow Drone 4400LP)
"Frozen Fitzgerald's effect now activates!" the Shadow Drone laughed. "When it gets destroyed by battle and I have no monsters, I can bring it back in defence mode!" Frozen Fitzgerald reappeared with a chill hiss (DEF: 2500 - 2700). "And on top of that, I activate Frost Wall, stopping your monster from attacking until the end of your next turn!" Turbo Warrior instantly froze solid.
"I end my Battle Phase," Yusei murmured, and Turbo Warrior shattered like glass as Frozen Fitzgerald's eyes flashed.
"At the end of your Battle Phase, any monster that attacked Frozen Fitzgerald is destroyed!" the Shadow Drone explained.
"I end my turn with a face-down," Yusei murmured. The reversed card appeared.
Yusei 1100LP/Shadow Drone 4400LP
"I draw!" the Shadow Drone yelled. Yusei's Trap Card lifted up.
"I activate Graceful Revival to bring back my Speed Warrior!" he yelled. The grey-armoured warrior appeared (DEF: 400). The Drone grimaced.
"I switch Frozen Fitzgerald into attack mode!" Frozen Fitzgerald uttered a cold hiss (ATK: 2500 - 2700). Frozen Fitzgerald, destroy his Speed Warrior with Death Icicles!" Frozen Fitzgerald unleashed its hail of icicles, impaling and shattering Speed Warrior. "I'll end my turn there.
Yusei 1100LP/Shadow Drone 4400LP
"Give it up!" the Shadow Drone laughed. "I have four times as many Life Points as you do! You can't possibly defeat my Frozen Fitzgerald this turn, and even if you do, you'll lose your monster! Then you'll be wide open!"
"I wouldn't bet on that," Yusei said as he drew, smirking as he saw the card. "I activate Junk Dealer, and I'll use it to bring back Quickdraw Synchron and Speed Warrior!" Quickdraw Synchron (ATK: 700 - 350) and Speed Warrior (ATK: 900 - 450) both reappeared. "Now I'll Tune them together and bring this Duel home!"
Quickdraw Synchron fired through Nitro Synchron and split into five glowing rings that encircled Speed Warrior, reducing it to two stars that collided and exploded with fiery power...
"Clustering minds will now become a new force! Become the path its light shines upon! Synchro Summon! Blaze on, Nitro Warrior!"
With a roar of power and pride, Nitro Warrior crashed down in front of him (ATK: 2800). "Now I equip my Nitro Warrior with Junk Barrage, meaning that when it destroys a monster by battle, you take damage equal to half of the destroyed monster's attack points! Now, Nitro Warrior, attack Frozen Fitzgerald with Dynamite Crunch!" Nitro Warrior's jet engine ignited and it charged, roaring as its effect increased its power (ATK: 3800) before shattering Frozen Fitzgerald with a fiery punch.
(Shadow Drone 3300LP)
Then emerald energy tore into the Drone from Nitro Warrior's fists as Junk Barrage activated.
(Shadow Drone 1950LP)
"I bring back Frozen Fitzgerald with its effect!" the Shadow Drone yelled. The icy Dark Synchro Monster reappeared in a chilling burst of wind (DEF: 2500 - 2700). Nitro Warrior's attack decreased (ATK: 2800).
"I activate Nitro Warrior's special ability, switching your monster into attack mode and attacking it again!" Yusei retorted. Frozen Fitzgerald gave a scream of fury (ATK: 2500 - 2700) that was cut short as it was shattered by another punch.
(Shadow Drone 1850LP)
Then emerald aura smashed the Shadow Drone back again from Junk Barrage.
(Shadow Drone 500LP)
"So close, yet so far!" the Drone cackled as Frozen Fitzgerald reformed again (DEF: 2500 - 2700). Yusei closed his eyes and smiled as his face-down lifted up.
"I activate Synchro Overlimit!" he shouted. "Using this, my Synchro Monster can attack again at the cost of being destroyed at the end of the attack! Nitro Warrior, end this Duel with your Dynamite Crunch!" Nitro Warrior charged for the third time, shattering Frozen Fitzgerald for the final time before blasting the Shadow Drone with Junk Barrage again...
Yusei 1100LP/Shadow Drone 0LP
The circle of purple fire faded away along with the card images, the Shadow Drone collapsing weakly as his Duel Disk clattered to the ground. Yusei ran to the man, grabbing him by the collar. The Drone's hood fell back to reveal his shock of black hair and he groaned weakly.
"Wake up!" Yusei shouted. "You owe me some answers, so start talking!"
"Start talking about what?" the Shadow Drone said with a groan. Yusei let him go and he winced, clutching at his shoulder. "What's with these bruises? What happened?"
Yusei was about to speak again when something caught his attention, that strange spider mark was missing. Out of his sight, a spider crawled from the man's hair and exploded into black dust, and then his Deck glowed with dark purple light.
"Hey there!" Carly said, running up from behind holding her digital camera. "I'm Carly, and... hey, aren't you Grady?"
"Yeah..." the Shadow Drone groaned, holding his head.
"Why are you asking?" Yusei said.
"Well, I'm a world-class reporter and this is gonna be my biggest scoop ever!" Carly said proudly. "You, Grady, is this just some publicity stunt?" As Grady answered her questions with spluttering denials, Yusei took the man's Deck and opened it in a fan, looking through it.
"Command Knight, Marauding Captain, Reinforcement of the Army, The A. Forces... this is completely different," he murmured. "And where are Catastrogue and Frozen Fitzgerald...?"
Suddenly, Sector Security sirens wailed and he dropped the Deck back into Grady's Duel Disk, standing. "Sector Security... we should get out of here before they start asking questions." With that, he ran away, leaping out of sight.
"Hey, come back!" Carly yelled, starting to run after him, but Grady grabbed her legs, sending her crashing to the ground.
"Don't leave me behind!" he shouted.
"What are you doing?!" Her camera skidded out of her grip across the ground until it was stopped by a Sector Security standing on it. He glanced around, seeing the ripped up ground and smashed cars resulting from the Shadow Duel.
"Are you two responsible for all this property damage?!" he growled at them. "Put your hands up where I can see them!"
21
At the Sector Security building, Rex Goodwin watched the footage from Yusei's Duel, observing coolly as Grady summoned Frozen Fitzgerald. With a sigh, he turned the footage off and the screen faded to black.
"They've finally made their move." He murmured. On a display beside him, a man shrouded in shadow appeared.
"The Dark Signers may present a problem." He mused darkly.
"They could be, but I can handle this." Rex replied. "If they want to fight... then well, they won't get a battle. They'll get a war!"
21
Deeper in the building, Carly was angrily regarding a newspaper article. With a snarl of frustration and anger, the crumpled newspaper was tossed across the room.
"How dare she smear Wenslow like this!" She shouted. "Fake champ indeed! He won fair and square, we all saw it!"
"Be quiet!" someone yelled from outside the door.
She sighed, pulling out her Deck and drawing a card from the top. "Today's fortune... super pinch! So today's a bad day, duh! I lost my story, I'm stuck in jail and Angela's plastering the headlines with lies!"
"Shut up!" the voice from before yelled. "You need to be quiet!"
"I need a 'Get out of Sector Security for free' card!" Carly wailed...
21
Yusei typed at Tanner's laptop.
"I'm sure it was the same as the mark I saw in that vision." Yusei replied, scanning the text on screen. "But this isn't getting me anything."
"You're not leaving, are you?" Leo asked. He was standing by the door, staring at Yusei wide-eyed.
"I have to." Yusei said. "My home and my friends are in danger, and I need to help them."
"But what if some spider really is gonna destroy the Satellite?" Leo begged them. "You could get really hurt!"
"Please stay!" Luna added.
"I'm sorry." Yusei said. "But I have to help my friends. Don't worry; I've already got some backup." Sector Security sirens wailed outside and they all looked out of the window.
"I got your message, Yusei!" Trudge yelled. "Now get your Deck and get down here! I'm not gonna wait around just 'cause we're teaming up!"
"Trudge is your backup?" Tanner said incredulously.
"He's more." Yusei said. "If Trudge can help us, we may just have to start calling him one of the good guys..."