Chapter 3: 5Ds Era
Welcome to New Domino City, where dueling has evolved into a pedal to the metal way of life, a life lived in the fast lane, and no one lives it faster than our third Duel Monsters legend, one who would ride his way to a better, brighter future. Yusei Fudo, son of the late scientist Doctor Fudo, dedicated himself to ensuring that his future shone as bright as the sun for the citizens of New Domino City through Turbo Dueling, a special method of Dueling performed on special motorcycles run powered by a special form of energy. Orphaned during an incident known as the Zero Reverse that separated New Domino City from Satellite, Yusei Fudo, Jack Atlas, and Crow Hogan all grew up in a foster home, oblivious to the fact that destiny had much more in store for these three. And then later discovered he was one of five Signers, linked by destiny to uncover the secrets of the Crimson Dragon. With the power of the Crimson Dragon and unwavering support from his friends, there was no stopping Yusei, even though there were those who tried, like the Dark Signer Roman and his Earthbound Immortal.
(Flashback: Yusei vs Roman)
"I am gonna make you pay for all the damage you done!" Yusei pleaded
"I now summon Earthbound Immortal Uru! Unleash your Web of Destruction! Attack!" Roman commanded his Immortal to attack
"I activate my Trap, Stardust Flash! I can use this Trap card to summon Stardust Dragon!" Yusei sprung his Trap as Stardust Dragon emerged. "And now he's going to attack with Cosmic Flare!"
It took a single blast from Stardust Dragon to destroy Uru.
…And Director Rex Goodwin, who wanted to destroy the world and rebuild it in his image.
(Flashback: Signers vs Rex Goodwin)
"We will duel on the Crest of the Condor. There, I will crush you Signers." Rex spoke with malice in his voice.
"So let's go!" Yusei, Jack Atlas and Crow Hogan ride onto the Crest on their Duel Runners.
"Now may be a good time to say goodbye. Unleash your fury, Rasca!" Goodwin ordered his monster to attack Yusei.
"I Synchro Summon the Majestic Star Dragon!" Yusei chanted as Majestic Star Dragon emerges. "Earthbound Immortal Rasca is going down! Go, Majestic Star Dragon! Star Shine Shred!"
"I've lost. It's over." Rex spoke with fear as Majestic Star Dragon pierces through Rasca's body, causing the giant condor to evaporate.
He then faced the relentless Paradox, a survivor of a dark, desolate future destroyed by Duel Monsters. Paradox vowed to destroy Duel Monsters by destroying its source. Luckily, with Yugi and Jaden's aid, Yusei put a stop to his twisted time crusade.
(Flashback: Domino City, Past)
"These desperate moves change nothing!" Paradox said.
"I disagree. You had two monsters and now you have none!" Yami Yugi countered.
"And I thank you for that. You see, all that you have done is clear the way for something else! Something grand! Something almighty!" Paradox maliciously told them.
"Spit it out!" Jaden told him.
"I activate the Trap Malefic Paradigm Shift! With Malefic Paradox Dragon destroyed, I can summon my most wicked beast: MALEFIC TRUTH DRAGON!" Paradox screams as he summons his true monster.
"I hate to interrupt good trash talking, but here, this is worth it! The Trap Neos Spiral Force! This doubles the Attack Points of one monster on the field!" Jaden sprang his trap as Stardust Dragon's Attack power rose to 5000.
"I also play a Trap: Dark Spiral Force! And due to this force, I can select a monster out on our field and double its Attack points once again!" Yami Yugi added as Stardust Dragon's Attack points skyrocket to 10000.
"10000 attack points?! NO!" Paradox yelled in total shock.
"That's right!" All three heroic duelists spoke in unison as their ace monster jettison into the sky.
"Dark Magician, ATTACK!" Yami Yugi yelled as Dark Magician readied himself to attack.
"Elemental HERO Neos, ATTACK!" Jaden yelled as Neos prepared to attack.
"Let this be proof the light will always overcome the dark! Go, Stardust Dragon! ATTACK!" Yusei yelled as all three monsters fired an attack that combined into a single cosmic beam.
"NOW GO, DARK COSMIC WAVE!" The heroic Duelists chant in unison as the beam destroys Paradox's monster.
"N-NO! NO!" Paradox screamed as the attack destroyed him.
Although with Paradox defeated and the future saved, his colleagues were on the hunt to destroy Duel Monsters. First was the heartless Aporia, who used the flow of the World Racing Grand Prix to complete the Grand Design.
(Flashback: WRGP Finals)
"Now, since I believe I've gotten just about as much use out of that Trap as possible, I'll play a brand-new Trap. Meklord Emperor Creation! I can now summon the all mighty Meklord Astro Mekanikle." Aporia shouts as Meklord Astro Mekanikle is summoned.
"Time to end this! Go, Shooting Star Dragon. Attack with Stardust Mirage!" Yusei commanded his monster to attack. The attack resulted in the titanic Meklord's destruction.
And finally, there was Z-one, the leader of the time traveling cyborgs, who schemed to destroy New Domino City and everything in it.
(Flashback: Yusei vs Z-one)
"Now I summon Lazion the Timelord!" Z-one chanted as his monster is summoned.
"I Synchro Summon Black Rose Dragon!" Yusei and Akiza chanted as the latter's best monster is summoned.
As Yusei used the power of his friends' dragons one by one, Z-ONE's face mask cracked and what it revealed shocked everyone watching, Yusei the most.
"Z-one, just who... or what are you?"
"As much as I want to refuse to answer such a question, I'm afraid that I must provide the answer. Yusei Fudo, I am you from far in the future."
"TIME TO REV IT UP!" Yusei yelled at the top of his voice.
"I now summon Sephylon the Ultimate Timelord!"
"I activate Clustering Wishes! Stardust Dragon, attack Sephylon and end this duel! Cosmic Flare!" Yusei chanted as Stardust Dragon destroyed Sephylon in a single blast.
"Impossible! I... lost?" Z-one groaned as he fell to earth.
And now we cut to the present day. We find our favorite Signer dreaming of the day his life completely changed.
The red alert lights across the facility glowed crimson.
An automated voice urged the people to evacuate the quaking building.
White jacketed employees scrambled all over the halls to find the exit.
In the center of it all was a sealed cylinder. Inside it, illuminating discs spun at an alarming and catastrophic speed, creating a chain reaction that affected the seismic activity in New Domino City. The more the Ener-D Reactor spun, the more unstable the energy grew, eventually reaching the point where it was unable to contain the negativity. Dr. Fudo, the previous head of the Ener-D Research warned the council that the reactor would cause a major accident that could change the history of New Domino City, but his desperate pleas were ignored. And it was thanks to the council's foolish decision that the new head of research doomed the city. With a press of a sealed red button, the reactor became unstable.
With no other choice, he had to stagger from the wound of the agents' ray guns as he carried his baby to an escape capsule. Dr. Fudo carefully strapped the baby inside the capsule and pressed the "Eject" button. The class capsule closed and contained the crying baby as the boosters launched him into the most distant part of New Domino City. He knew it seemed wrong to abandon his son, but this was the only to save his son from the grim fate that befell him and the others. Once the reactor's unstable energy reached its peak, it exploded and evaporated everything and everyone within a quarter mile radius, creating a deep crater that reached underground. The ground cracked and divided in two due to the explosion. People who were unfortunate not to escape fast enough fell into the maw of the splitting ground. The split land drifted off miles into the sea and to their final demise. This incident, dubbed Zero Reverse, left the world at a standstill and changed forever with the creation of the desolate remains of New Domino City.
The Satellite.
Yusei gasped as he awoke from his nightmare. Once again, Yusei Fudo was cursed with a memory that would forever haunt him. As much as he would feel elated that he stopped Iliaster from destroying New Domino City a month ago, he didn't feel it in his heart, as the lives of their members was a high price to pay, including fellow Team 5D's member Bruno. Later in the morning, he got onto his Duel Runner and rode across the city, trying to clear his mind. He stops at a lookout over a section of New Domino City. He stared out to the city with a deep sigh.
He heard engines approaching and Yusei's friends Jack, Crow, Akiza, Luna and Leo saw him staring out into the city.
"Does anyone know what's wrong with Yusei?" Akiza asked.
"Beats me, Akiza. All me and Jack know is we saw Yusei's bed empty and his Duel Runner gone." Crow shrugged. "It could be that he had that dream again, but I think it's something else…"
"Well, whatever it is, I think it's best we give him some space." Jack suggested.
"If he is this somber, maybe there is a way we could cheer him up." Luna thought aloud. They start to think what could cheer Yusei up. And it's when Leo had an idea.
"That's it!"
"So you have an idea, Leo?" Luna asked.
"Why don't we have Jack duel Yusei? After all, it's been a while since we saw them duke it out." Leo suggested.
"You gotta admit - it has been a while since my duel with him in the Fortune Cup." Jack agreed. He then proceeded to walk up to Yusei. "Oy, Yusei!"
"Yeah, what is it, Jack?"
"Listen, I know how much that Zero Reverse haunts you, but it's over now. Had we failed to defeat Z-one, the world would have been obliterated!" Jack reminded him. Yusei then looks at the city. Jack sighs.
"Alright, hear me out, will ya? How about we have a duel? Maybe that will cheer you up."
Yusei then looks at Jack, who had a smirk. Yusei responds by putting his helmet back. "Okay, Jack, you're on!"
"Now there's the Yusei I know! Let's ride!" Jack grinned.
The two got their Duel Runners ready for their matchup while Crow was recording the duel from behind. Crow's Duel Runner broadcast the duel to Akiza's Duel Runner so that Akiza and the twins could watch the duel.
"Alright Yusei, hope you're ready!" Jack smirked.
"Don't worry, I'm always ready. I now activate the Speed World 2 Field Spell!" Yusei said as he pressed a button on his Duel Runner.
"Duel mode engaged. Auto-pilot standing by." A thin circle outline expanded from Yusei's Duel Runner and in response, the duel lane prepared for the duel. "A Turbo Duel is about to begin. All non-dueling vehicles must vacate the combat lane immediately."
"You know you're free to throw in the towel if you're not sure about this!" Jack suggested.
"Sorry Jack, but once a duel starts, there's no turning back! You know that!" Yusei countered.
"That's the spirit, Yusei! And for showing such heart, I'll let you lead off." Jack grinned.
Yusei and Jack got their Duel Disks ready.
"This duel isn't about winning or losing, it's about me looking to a brighter future like I always have with the people with New Domino City and all of my friends in order for this to happen, so I'll need to go all out!" Yusei's thoughts echo in his head.
"Okay, Jack, hope you're ready! Let's rev it up! Here we go!"
"Let's ride!" Both duelists shout as they began the Turbo Duel.
A few turns have passed and an explosion rocked the highway. Emerging from the smoke, Yusei had Shield Warrior (3/800/1600) on defense while Jack had Twin-Sword Marauder (4/1600/1000).
"Yeah! Knock his lights out, Yusei!" Leo cheered.
"This is a duel, not a boxing match, Leo." Luna sweatdropped.
"Oh, I-I knew that." Leo sheepishly chuckled.
"Of course you did." Luna countered with a roll of her eyes.
"Quiet. Jack's ending his turn." Akiza shushed the twins.
"I place two cards face down and end my turn. You're up, Yusei." Jack said as he passed things on to Yusei.
Turn ?: Yusei
"Alright then, Jack! I draw!" Yusei draws his card.
(SPC: Yusei: 6→7 | Jack: 7→8)
Yusei looks at the card and smirks at it. "And I'll summon Debris Dragon!" Debris Dragon emerges with a roar (4/1000/2000). Jack's smirk turned to shock.
"Debris Dragon!?" Jack gasped.
"That's right, and thanks to Debris Dragon's ability, I can summon Sonic Chick from my Graveyard, since its Attack Points are 500 or less." Sonic Chick flutters its wings as it was summoned (1/300/300).
"Why Sonic Chick? Surely it doesn't stand a chance against my Marauder." Jack told him before he realized something. "Unless you're planning to Synchro Summon Stardust Dragon, aren't you!?"
"You took those words right out of my mouth, Jack! Level 4 Debris Dragon, tune with Level 1 Sonic Chick and Level 3 Shield Warrior!"
Debris Dragon became four green energy rings and Shield Warrior and Sonic Chick entered the gates, turning into white motes of light and a pillar of white light covered the scene.
"Out of three come one and out of one comes great cosmic might! I Synchro Summon Stardust Dragon!" Yusei chanted as his best monster roared in glory as it was summoned, its wings shimmering in the sunlight (8/2500/2000).
"All right! That's what I'm talking about!" Crow cheered.
"That can't be good." Jack sneered.
"Now your Twin-Sword Marauder's a goner! Stardust Dragon, attack with Cosmic Flare!" Stardust blasted Twin-Sword Marauder lowering Jack's life points by 900.
"All right! That's more like it!" Crow cheered.
"I place one card face down and end my turn." Yusei said as a face-down materialized.
"Not bad. I knew you've still got it Yusei, and I was starting to worry if you weren't feeling good." Jack smirked.
"Don't worry about me, Jack - I'm still standing and waiting for your move." Yusei said.
"Careful what you wish for Yusei." Jack warned his opponent as his turn began.
Turn ?: Jack
"I draw!"
(SPC: Yusei: 7→8 | Jack: 8→9)
"First, I activate the Trap Powerful Rebirth!" Jack's Trap is revealed. "With this, I can bring back Twin-Sword Marauder with some extra power." Twin-Sword Marauder emerges from the card's artwork. "I'm sure you remember that my Powerful Rebirth's effect grants my Marauder an extra 100 Attack and Defense Points as well as an extra Level." Twin-Sword Marauder glowed red as it grew stronger (4→5/1600→1700/1000→1100).
"Next, I summon the Flare Resonator Tuner monster!" Jack chanted as a flaming sharp-toothed fiend wielding a tuning fork and red-tipped metal wand emerged (3/300/1200)
"I've got a feeling where this is heading."
"That's right, Yusei. Now my Level 3 Flare Resonator tunes with my now Level 5 Twin-Sword Marauder!" Flare Resonator transforms into three rings of green energy that surrounds Twin-Sword Marauder, transforming it into five motes of light. A pillar of light shines above. "Prepare to witness why I am known as the true King! I Synchro Summon Red Dragon Archfiend!" Red Dragon Archfiend lets loose a mighty roar as it emerges from a ring of flames (8/3000/2000).
"No way! Jack just summoned Red Dragon Archfiend!" Luna gasped.
"Awesome! Red Dragon Archfiend's always looking so awesome as always!" Leo cheered.
"And thanks to Flare Resonator, Red Dragon Archfiend's getting 300 attack point boost!" Jack added as Red Dragon Archfiend's body glows red as it got stronger (8/3000→3300/2000).
"Even so, Red Dragon Archfiend still doesn't have enough attack points to wipe out my Life Points." Yusei pointed out.
"I had a feeling you'd say that, Yusei. That's why I always have a plan B. I activate the trap Overgain! This card gives Red Dragon Archfiend the power boost it needs, to the tune of 1000 points!" Jack said as he activated his trap.
"Oh no!" Yusei yelled as Red Dragon Archfiend's attack points jettisoned even more (8/3300→4300/2000)
"Aw man! Now it's stronger than Stardust!"
"I'll guess I'll have to match that! I activate the Trap card Synchro Strike! It gives Stardust Dragon an extra 1500 attack points, 500 for every Synchro material I used to summon it." Yusei sprang his trap, raising Stardust Dragon's Attack power (8/2500→4000/2000).
"Sorry, Yusei. I'm afraid it's not enough. Red Dragon Archfiend, destroy Stardust Dragon! Go, Absolute Powerforce!" Jack commands his dragon to attack. Red Dragon Archfiend shot a flame from its mighty maw.
"You're right, it is not enough. But this is! I banish Skill Successor from my Graveyard to activate its effect! Now Stardust Dragon gains 800 Attack Points for the rest of the turn." A red aura surrounds Stardust Dragon, raising its Attack power (8/4000→4800/2000).
"4800 Attack Points!?" Jack gasped
"More than enough to destroy Red Dragon Archfiend and end this duel! Stardust Dragon, counter with Cosmic Flare!" Yusei gave his orders. On its owner's command, Stardust Dragon blasts its own attack from its mouth. The attacks collide. The force of the collision causes the Crimson Dragon Marks to react, causing an abrupt jolt of pain in their owners' arms.
"What the!?" Yusei winced.
"What's going on with our Marks!?" Jack asked.
And it wasn't just Yusei, Jack and Crow. The Crimson Dragon marks also shined on the arms of Akiza, Leo and Luna in the stands.
"Whoa! What's happening!?" Leo asked.
"I-I don't know! But I have a feeling something bad is about to happen!" Akiza said as she quickly contacted Crow from her Duel Runner. "Quick, Crow! Tell Yusei and Jack to call off the duel! The attacks are causing a chain reaction that could destroy the city!"
"You heard the lady, guys! We need to bail right now!" Crow called out. "Otherwise, the city could go ka-boom again!"
"Too late!" Yusei said, knowing what's about to happen next. "Brace yourselves!"
As the two dragons clashed, a strange white light blinded the Signers and then enveloped them along with all of New Domino City causing it to be captured by the white light.