Disclaimer: I do no own YGO 5Ds
Sometimes, things just work out.
The Zephyrs have never been so divided and occupied. Yusei and Luna left to stop Ara from leaving the Satellite, Galen and Greiger followed soon after. Yuki and most of the Zephyr's fledgling security team is currently interrogating Trudge. Akiza and the remaining members is on red alert tracking Devack as he makes his way across Domino City straight towards the Development.
"Domino official business," Mina flashed her badge coldly at the guard, the woman stepped aside without question, just as she would have in Domino City.
The Zephyrs is too new to have erased all influence of Neo Domino City, Mina's badge still holds power here. Of course, it also has something to do with the limited training time and borderline-literate population in the Satellite from which the Zephyrs recruit. The Zephyr's employee even offered her a map to their building- and that's when Mina Tresdale understood the importance of a well-trained workforce.
In Yuki's defense, there was a tiny detail regarding Mina that's very easy to overlook in the anime, but remains glaringly clear in this world- She's the secretary of the Director of Security of Neo Domino City, read: third in command to the dictator of a military-controlled local government. That's right, Rex Goodwin isn't the 'mayor' of Domino, he's technically the leader of its security force. He just 'needed' to control its economy and government when the city was 'in a state of emergency' ten years ago, a state from which it apparently never emerged.
Personal secretaries hold a lot of power, when you're the personal secretary of a militant dictator, both in this world and the last.
Also, it was really, really hard to find an applicant who isn't, and wasn't likely to become a spy for any of the major corporation or global powers. So Mina continued unhindered.
Director Goodwin has requested that Mina destroy the Momentum in the Satellite. For the greater good, he had said, because no rogue insurgent group should control a weapon like the Momentum, and she agrees. She's not as convinced by the 'it's the best way to force them to duel the Dark Signers' angle. She's convinced the Dark Signers are real, she'll even believe they can summon real monsters, but claiming they can cause the destruction of the world seems a bit of the stretch, considering this 'terrifying evil organization' never left the Satellite in the past 17 years.
Rex Goodwin's true concern, of course, was that the Zephyrs might activate the Momentum if they were defeated by his big brother, in a suicidal move to prevent the Ruler of the Netherworld from crossing over, thereby ruining Rex's plans in the process. Mina didn't know that, she might not have believed him if she did.
She stepped inside the Momentum storage facility, letting the door close behind her to shut the chaos out, looking confident enough that nobody stopped to question her. Yep, they definitely need a well-trained workforce and a reliable, thorough management system. Nervin usually controls this area, but he is otherwise occupied at the moment. So she walked unhindered into the control room.
She could see the Momentum Core on the monitor, heavily guarded and well beyond her reach, still buzzing with energy that now fuels this city. But the rest of the machine is another story. If the Core of the Momentum is the engine, the machines in this entire building is the rest of the car. On its own, the Core of the Momentum is useless.
"Sorry Jack," Mina muttered before snapping off the neck of her Red Dragon Archfiend pendant and propping open his belly to retrieve the small bomb inside. She pasted the bomb to the underside of the control panel and quickly retreated. It took less than three seconds before she heard the muffled explosion. The Momentum whirled to a stop. It'll take the Satellite weeks to rebuild the damaged accessories, given Director Goodwin enough time to contain the situation in a much more practical fashion.
Devack took one last look at the duel tower which he was supposed to guard, then turned around sharply, making his way towards the heart of Satellite commercial district and the Zephyrs headquarters.
Roman had asked him to stay with the duel towers, wait for the Signers to show up, and play the Destined Game. So their Fated Duel would decide the outcome of this world, a Battle of their skills and the powers of their respective gods. A Battle he should patiently wait for, and let it decide his Fate.
There was only one problem with that plan, he could lose.
Though he had the wholehearted support of his entire deck, it hadn't been enough. Duel monsters can't even decide the results of their own gladiator games, the realization was devastatingly depressing.
But he has to accept reality, especially since he had lost once before. Greiger was right, he wasn't the duelist that he thought he was. Maybe none of them were. Greiger also cautioned him against duels against non-Signers, and he was right about that also. Tono and her croonies have no respect for the game, willing to do whatever it takes to win. The Dark Signers had already suffered many losses for their barbaric ways. He had no intentions of being its next victim.
While Devack had never taken his own life too seriously, he was the only one fighting for the future of Duel Monsters. He cannot bear the thought of them being trapped for another five millennia, being used as fodder in humanity's games. Instead, he would choose the game this time. Zephyrs are excellent duelists, but none of them could withstand a true attack from his immortal!
Standing at the entrance of the Zephyrs building, Devack took out his deck, laughing violently at a joke only he could understand. He ignored the Zephyr Security Agents who rushed out to gawk at the cloaked maniac (their training manual does not yet include what to do when somebody laughs maniacally in front of the building) and selected one of his favorite monsters, Fighter Ape (lv5, 1900/1200) as well as three copies of Mad Dogs of Darkness (lv4, 1900/1400). He placed the cards almost reverently into the unseen space in front of them, the cards circled him as though protecting their master.
Four duel monsters appeared in a flash. Three dogs the size of lions stood in front of Devack pawing at the cement, leaving marks several inches deep every time. Fighter Ape was not King Kong sized, but at 11 feet, the beast still towers over mere mortals, the fire radiating from his fur flew off in flecks with movement, decorating the entire yard with scorch marks.
Zephyrs Securities scattered and ran as fast as they could, screaming as they did so. That was part of their training manual, in fact that was in the first chapter, highlighted and bolded: 'run and scream if you see real duel monsters'. The things to which we've had to resort.
Devack walked firmly towards the entrance, his canines (from hell) clearing everything in his path. Alarms blaring as he passed while mortals scrambled for their lives. Like rats scrambling to safety before an earthquake. He let them flee. He had no interest in destruction, only to defeat the Signers and fulfill his duty to the Duel Monsters. As long as he physically destroys every Signer and their decks, the Dark Signers cannot lose.
"Stop!" Akiza ran out of the compound, dressed in the red dress and high-heeled combat boots that have become the trademark of the Black Rose.
"I'm glad you made it, I've been looking for you." Devack nodded graciously at the opponent he selected. Izinski is the only person within the Zephyrs capable of inflicting actual damage, after he destroys her, nothing in the rest of the Satellite would be able to stand up to his powers!
"Well, you found me, let's duel!" Akiza stood her ground despite the screaming monkey and screaming humans around her. She tried to activate her duel disk before realizing Devack had none.
"I do plan on playing a game with you, as is appropriate for the Battle between a Signer and a Dark Signer, though I thought we might do something a little different." Devack waved and his monsters pulled back to gather around him. "A real Shadow duel, one of which you are fond, if your reputation is to be trusted."
"A real Shadow duel? With real monsters?" Akiza repeated. The request wasn't entirely unexpected, though everybody had been hoping it didn't have to come to this.
"Indeed," Devack agreed, "Let's free our Shadow Realm allies from the lines and grids of the field, and instead release them freely into this world for an actual fight of their desires."
Akiza understood. There would no rules in this game, no draws, no graveyards, no limitations except as limited by their respective powers and deck.
She pulled out her own deck in response, "Blue Rose Dragon (lv4, 1600/1200), emerge!"
The blue feathered reptile the size of an SUV appeared at her human's orders, hovering at about two-story high, baiting the dogs on the ground with her vine-like tail. The old (aka first series, first season), abandoned dueling myth of flying monsters having an inherent advantage over land monsters is revived here, as the Mad Dogs of Darkness leaped up into the air, just failing to reach Akiza's dragon.
"Beast Fangs," Devack said, reaching for the card inside his deck. The teeth in one of Devack's pet dogs seem to have given it super strength grew another three inches, giving it an even more blood-thirsty look. The dog faked a left, and when Blue Rose Dragon dodged right, fell into waiting paws.
The rest is basically what you'd expect when a pack of wild dogs catch something edible. Without the dueling field , the defeated monsters were not turned into light. Blue Rose Dragon's blood spattered onto the dented courtyard. Akiza looked sick, turning around from the gory sight.
"If you throw your monsters into these fights, pay them the respect of looking at their pain." Devack commanded.
Akiza turned back, Devack was right, she can't admit defeat. Her loss would be the first Domino (no pun intended) that brings down the whole of Satellite and possibly the rest of the world.
"I summon Twilight Rose Knight and Black Rose Witch, and tune them to synchro summon, Black Rose Dragon!"
Two humanoid monsters barely entered into the real world before their forms faded out, merging into a 5 meter tall dragon. Akiza petted her synchro monster, her namesake and her pride. The dragon stretched her wings, accidentally knocking down two balcony and a flagpole in the process. She rained fire onto Devack's monsters without being commanded, the three dogs squealed in pain as they were burned to a crisp.
Akiza stared at the ashes on the ground, mixing with the flesh and blood of what's left of her Blue Rose Dragon. Akiza thought the dogs had looked like Great Danes she owned as a kid. She panted heavily, trying to suppress the waves of nausea washing over her, from exertion and the sickeningly appetizing stench of burnt meat in the air.
"They will return unharmed to the Shadow Realm, though you'll still pay for the pain you incurred. I play the spell Dark Wave to change the level of my Fighter Ape to -1. Next I bring forth Dark Tuner Dark Ape (lv2,0/0). I dark tune these two monsters to dark synchro summon, the one born from the darkness who will become the supreme ruler to lead all of creation into the negative world! Zeman the Ape King (lv-7, 2500/1800)." Devack selected the cards from his deck, pressing each card into space as he activated their powers.
The creature that appeared was barely Akiza's height, hovering overhead and dressed in human clothes (armor and a cloak, so what passes for human clothes), its staff radiating an eerie green light. Zeman looked frail yet even mortals could sense he was ostentatiously more powerful than the dragon ten times his size.
"Now my old friend, destroy Black Rose Dragon!" Devack commanded.
"Activate trap," Akiza allowed her powers to spread out, linking to and triggering the trap she had set earlier, "Widespread Ruin!"
Black Rose Dragon lifted the tip of her wings to support Akiza before she collapsed. Actions cost real magic in this fight, every spell, trap and monster further drains Akiza's limited strength. Though Akiza had been in the habit of raining devastation onto mortals, she was not experienced in fighting with an equal.
That's not to say Devack was her equal. Even with a few moves, Akiza could feel Devack's magic overwhelming her own. In a real fight, this meant he could summon more monsters, activate more spells and traps, and do so much faster than she could.
"Then I have to play Guard Mines," Devack had the leisure to explain the card. "When one of my monster would be destroyed by a card effect, I can negate the effect and deal you 500 damage." He pointed to the card he had set earlier as the mines hurling towards Akiiza. There was no life point counter in this fight, instead, the explosion manifested as physical, bone-crushing pain that almost brought her down to her knees.
Zeman floated ever closer, his staff pointed in Akiza's direction.
"Hey! You looking for a Signer?" A rock bonked the monkey over the head. A non-magical, run-of-the-mill rock. Anger radiated off of the monkey, as much as is it possible for anger to radiate off of monkeys clad in Renaissance gear.
Jack sat on his motorcycle, with one leg on the ground for support, "Well, here I am, come and get me, you stupid human-wannabe!" He threw another rock. This time, the monkey didn't even use any magic, he looked at the rock and it evaporated. A wave of his staff sent a bolt of lightning Jack's way, Jack was already racing at 80 miles per hour, just fast enough to evade the duel monster.
The monkey turned away from Jack, pointing his staff in Devack's direction. A purple light shot out of his staff just before a gun shot rang out, shielding Devack in a mist of light before Crow's bullet hit the magical shield and fell in vain.
"How pitiful," Devack shook his head, "Did you think a Signer with no magical strength would tilt this duel in your favor? I expected such underhanded schemes from the likes of you, so I had been prepared. Nothing in the physical realm may cross this barrier my duel monster had erected. Black Rose's defeat by mundane anaesthetic gases is well-known among those of us with real power."
Crow nodded to Akiza, who signaled her understanding of the situation. Crow promptly ran towards the outside, Jack followed on his duel runner, leading Zeman in another direction. Akiza retreated as well, towards the empty warehouse complex close-by.
"Now, it's time to unleash the Gods onto this world. I play the spell, Fires of Doomsday! To bring two Doomsday Tokens into this world! I sacrifice these tokens to my Lord! When Shadows are swallowed by even darker Shadows, the curtains open, to reveal, a world without light! Accept my tributes my Immortal, come forth and claim your rightful crown!"
Yuki has a habit of mocking Dark Signer chants, a habit had influenced her team as well. However, as Devack spoke, Akiza could feel souls of duel monsters and humans alike being drained into the gap in the sky, until the air thickened with magic, until every breath weighed down her lungs. Devack's Monkey god, Earthbound Immortal Cusillu (lv10, 2800/2400) crawled out from the gap and into this world.
Black Rose Dragon cawed at the new monster, looking at her opponent as a parrot might look at King Kong. Nonetheless, the bird (dragon) flew in front of Akiza, trying to protect her human, trying to summon the courage to even mount an attack.
"It's no use. Your human is as weak as you are, and her mortal friends won't last much longer." Devack said firmly.
It took Akiza a while to understand Devack was speaking to Black Rose Dragon, she ran her fingers through the feathers of her dragon.
Black Rose Dragon took off to pick Jack up before he was hit by Zeman's attack, then flew directly towards Devack, no doubt hoping to attack him directly.
"I won't give up," Akiza activated her facedown trap , "Activate, Metalmorph!"
Devack watched, amused as the metal armor materialized and flew towards Black Rose Dragon. Earthbound Immortal Cusillu swept her tail towards Black Rose Dragon, forcing the dragon to dodge out of the way before the magic of Akiza's trap reached her. Cusillu grasped the red dragon by the feathers on her tail, and with a casual twist, broke off the dragon's neck.
The metal armor continued on its course, encasing Devack inside its protection instead.
Devack allowed the magic to wash over him, enjoying the strength it granted. He had recognized the protective nature of the trap, therefore did not bother to flee from its confines.
"Time to finish this battle!" Devack's voice boomed from inside his armor, "Zeman-"
"I can't agree more."
Devack heard a slightly nasal voice coming from of the the further buildings within the complex.
"Ah-choo!" Nervin sneezed, completely ruining his attempt to look cool (he's beginning to think it'll never happen), "Whatever." He hung his head, discouraged as he pushed down on the button.
Devack felt an invisible force pulling him back, until his back rammed against the building, his arms immobilized at his side by forces unseen, stopping him from even reaching his deck.
"Activate trap, Solemn Judgement!" Acutely aware the of threat, he immediately activated the trap he had set. As his last line of defense this costly trap can negate the effects of spells, traps and monsters, rendering him immune to any tricks up Izinski's sleeve. Yet the force on his body did not waver. "What magic is this?" He demanded, just before Jack's motorcycle crashed into the wall beside him, its rider running after it and into the courtyard.
Crow sighed in relief, Akiza sighed in disappointment.
"You guys gonna be okay?" Nervin ignored him, shouting across the courtyard to Akiza, "Not much more I can do at this point."
"You've done your part," Akiza laughed, "Now let me do mine!"
"You wanna do that some time today?" Jack demanded as he narrowly escaped another attack from Zeman.
"No problem, I summon Queen Angel of Roses (lv7, 2400/1300), and equip her with Thorn of Malice. Now my angel, destroy Zeman the Ape King!" Zeman fell as an arrow pierced through his throat, falling onto the ground and showering Jack in his blood.
"Cusillu, attack!" Devack commanded despite his imprisoned state.
"Activate trap, Threatening Roar!" Akiza countered.
Whatever Devack chooses to call his monsters, he is their master, at least for the duration of the duel. Without their human's assistance, even Earthbound Immortals don't stand a chance against a duelist.
"Now my Queen Angel of Roses' special ability activates to destroy the weakest monster on the field, Earthbound Immortal Cusillu!" Akiza announced victoriously. An arrow from Queen Angel of Roses hit the Earthbound Immortal in the head, its powers trickling down the Immortal, finally breaking it into innumerable pieces, all of which retreated back into the Shadow Realm.
"Whose magics are you relying on?" Devack struggled in vain against his invisible bonds, refusing to give up even after the defeat of his Earthbound Immortal. The dark designs on his face faded, signaling the eradication of Earthbound Immortal's influence on him, yet he appeared no less adamant. His deck contained some of his closest friends, and he never needed to be persuaded to fight for their cause.
"It's an electromagnetic field," Nervin explained wearily as he made his way down to the pile of rubble that used to be a factory complex.
"What?" Devack obviously thought Nervin was mocking him, "There's no such card!"
"Ah..." Nervin scratched his hair with a half sigh, obviously not the first time he got this reaction, "So when electric charge is accelerated through a field, it generates magnetic force proportional to the current-"
"Don't worry about it," Crow chimed in, "We don't get it either. It's just a bunch of wires inside the building that somehow acts like a giant magnet when we turn it on. When Akiza put you inside this giant metal armor..."
"It's science," Akiza summarized succinctly, "The magic of humanity."
A/N: Random epiphany: In the original YGO, Seto needed to defeat the Big 5 etc. It occurs to me that Big 5 more commonly refers to the 5 permanent members of the UN security council. It's funny if you're into that kinda thing XD
A/N 2: For those of you no longer familar with physics, moving eletrons (ie current) creates a magnetic field and moving magnetic fields creates currents. Or something like that. I'm pretty sure it was one of the middle schools science projects. XD