This story was done in collaboration between me, Jriddle41 (Sodormatchmaker on DeviantART), and DaveMan1000 (both here and on DeviantART), and we own the OCs that are used in the story. AaronCottrell97 (known as stevecottrell on DeviantART) provided the Duel Layouts and additional ideas. Everything else belongs to their respective owners:
Thomas and Friends (c) Hit Entertainment and Mattel
The Railway Series (c) Rev Wilbert Awdry
Yu-Gi-Oh! (c) Konami
Gundam SEED characters, Orb, Blue Cosmos, M1 Astray, Strike Rouge, Murasame (c) Sunrise
Character of Lisa Drake (c) DaveMan1000
Character of David Xadashi (c) DaveMan1000
WARNING: Once again, this story is rated T for violence, some blood, suggestive themes, and some language. Reader discretion is advised.
WARNING 2: If you haven't read "Yu-Gi-Oh! The Sodor Chronicles Season 2", "Yu-Gi-Oh! The Sodor Chronicles Season 4", "Yu-Gi-Oh! The Sodor Chronicles (Pyramid of Light", "David Xadashi", "Lisa Drake", or "Team 4D's", you might want to do so before reading this story
On a stage inside the Orb Duel School, five face-down cards were lined up on a large blackboard. On cue, only David Xadashi showed up and began speaking to the audience.
"It's that time again, everyone!" began David, "Have we got an exciting segment of 'This week's noteworthy cards' for you, this evening!"
The audience cheered in response, although a few members were puzzled over the fact David said 'we' instead of 'I' since he was alone on the stage.
"Well, Lisa-chan, shall we reveal the cards for this segment?" continued David. He waited, and waited, but got nothing, "Err… Lisa-chan? Where are you?"
"Sorry, Dave, I'm afraid she's not available to help at this time," The voice of Carlie responded, before she walked onto the stage as the crowd cheered once more, "She instead asked me to fill in for her."
"Izayoi-san?" blinked David, before smiling after a few seconds, "You know what, having a guest host from time-to-time isn't a bad idea."
"So, what do we do?" asked Carlie, having never done this before.
"We showcase to the crowd here five cards and then we describe the one that catches our attention the most," David explained, "It's pretty simple to do," He and Carlie looked towards the blackboard, "Now, let's see what the cards are going to be."
The five face-down cards on the blackboard all automatically turned over and revealed themselves to be:
-'Black Rose Dragon' (Synchro Monster Card)
-'Sorciere de Fleur' (Effect Monster Card)
-'Red-Eyes Zombie Dragon Lord' (Synchro Monster Card)
-'Pennant of Revolution' (Trap Card)
-'Red-Eyes Zombie Necro Dragon' (Synchro Monster Card)
"It can't be!" cried Carlie in shock, staring at the middle card ('Red-Eyes Zombie Dragon Lord'), "Dave, I recognize that card!"
"You mean 'Red-Eyes Zombie Dragon Lord'?" pressed David.
"Yeah, and it's dangerous," said Carlie, before reading the card's first effect, "During your opponent's turn (Quick Effect): You can target 1 Zombie monster in your GY, except 'Red-Eyes Zombie Dragon Lord'; Special Summon it."
"Yikes," winced David, "That basically allows the opponent to resurrect almost any Zombie monster during the opponent's turn. And the second effect is nothing to sneeze at either, since if you have a GY full of Zombie monsters, you can basically revive 'Red-Eyes' once per turn should it be destroyed."
"That's pretty much the sum of it," agreed Carlie, before she and David turned and addressed the crowd, "That monster will really give Sherry and I a run for our money in addition to another monster in this display. Can Sherry and I work really put aside our differences and work together?"
"The answer to that question is in the duel," David added in, before he and Carlie started waving goodbye, "(さようなら、みんな!) Sayōnara, min'na! (Goodbye, everyone!)"
The audience cheered and clapped in response.
Title: Undead Red-Eyes
Opening up inside Hartford's local animal shelter, Matt, Michael, Zack, Ms. Simmons, Shelter Owner, and the two volunteers all were very quiet after what they saw from the security footage regarding Ashima. As Shelter Owner explained, Ashima had gone into the basement of the building to check out what happened to the lights when they suddenly went out. When she started to look over the fuse box, she was attacked by two Dark Signers—one being Vincent Stevens—and got knocked out before being taken away. Sure enough, nobody was happy that their friend was kidnapped.
"Ashima…" thought Zack.
On the other hand, in a moment of him not being so stoic or calm, Matt was downright angry and frustrated over the fact he couldn't go out and save Ashima since, as Zack told him, it was something the Dark Signers were counting on to happen. As a result, he felt completely helpless to do anything at this time.
"Dammit!" swore Matt, slamming his right hand on the wall again.
(elsewhere…)
Somewhere in the eastern part of Hartford, three M1 Astrays and Strike Rouge were driving down the road in search of Ashima. The drivers had been searching and searching, but were not having any sort of luck.
"Dang… They aren't around here, either," mumbled Asagi.
"Ashima just has to be around here someplace," mused Juri.
"Stupid Dark Signers…" thought Lisa, "Where the hell are you hiding?"
Soon, the four Duel Runners stopped at a set of traffic lights.
(elsewhere…)
Somewhere in the western part of Hartford, David, Mr. Kisaka, Sean, and Janice all were on foot in their search. Soon, they stopped at a bench to take a quick breather before resuming the search.
"Hartford's not a very big city," recalled Sean, "We should have found Ashima by now—yet we're not having any sort of luck in finding her."
David was not happy about the search being unsuccessful. While looking around the area for perhaps a clue or something, he spotted something on one of the roofs of an old apartment complex. Adjusting his glasses and squinting his eyes, David tried to get a better look at whoever was on the roof. The person wore what appeared to be a cloak, and didn't have his hood up. From a far distance, David couldn't tell who it was, but the person did seem very familiar to him.
"Dave? What are you staring at?" pressed Janice.
"Huh? Oh, sorry, Janice," apologized David, shaking his head, "I thought I saw someone familiar standing on the roof of an apartment building, but I guess I was mistaken."
On the rooftop, the shadowed young man was really Vincent, who narrowed his eyes and then slipped away before anyone else could spot him.
(elsewhere…)
On another street, Carlie and Sherry both were still in the middle of a Dark Duel with Gwen (possessed). Currently, the standings were as followed:
-Gwen (possessed) (LP: 4000): Controlled 'Immortal Dragon' (Level: 6/ATK: 500/DEF: 2400), 'Red-Eyes Zombie Necro Dragon' (Level: 7/ATK: 2400/DEF: 2000), and 'Zombie World' (Field Spell), and it was still her turn.
-Carlie (LP: 4000): Controlled 'Periallis, Empress of Blossoms' (Level: 7/ATK: 1600/DEF: 2400), 'Lonefire Blossom' (Level: 3/ATK: 500/DEF: 1400)', 'Talaya, Princess of Cherry Blossoms' (Level: 8/ATK: 2800/DEF: 1200), and one Set card.
-Sherry (LP: 4000): Controlled 'Chevalier de Fleur' (Level: 8/ATK: 2700/DEF: 2300), 'Necro Fleur' (Level: 1/ATK: 0/DEF: 0), and two Set cards.
"I activate the effect of 'Glow-Up Bloom'!" announced Gwen (possessed), "If this card is sent to the GY: I can banish this card from my GY; I must add 1 Level 5 or higher Zombie monster from my Deck to my hand…" She drew a card ('Red-Eyes Zombie Dragon') and looked at it long and hard, "…or, if 'Zombie World' is in a Field Zone, I can Special Summon it from my Deck instead, also, in either case, I cannot Special Summon monsters for the rest of this turn, except Zombie monsters."
"So far, you have 'Zombie World' on your Field Zone," remembered Carlie, "This means you can Special Summon a powerful Zombie monster without Tribute."
"You catch on quickly enough," smirked Gwen (possessed), before holding her added card ('Red-Eyes Zombie Dragon') out, "Appear now, 'Red-Eyes Zombie Dragon'!"
The ground started cracking apart, releasing Hellish flames as a dragon's claw started emerging. Very quickly, the full body of the new monster came out; it was a zombified-looking 'Red-Eyes Darkness Dragon' (Level: 7/ATK: 2400/DEF: 2000).
"Just when we thought things couldn't get any worse for our friends, another powerful monster is Summoned," said James R. grimly.
"Another dragon-like Zombie monster, that is," reminded Shinji.
"And there's also the first effect of my 'Red-Eyes Zombie Necro Dragon'!" declared Gwen (possessed), before looking at her GY. As she spoke, several cards were shown emerging from the abyss (GY) and lining up in rows, "It gains 100 ATK/DEF for each Zombie monster on the field and in the GYs!"
Outside the flaming ring…
"There shouldn't be that many," assumed James R..
"Not true," cut in Shinji, making a few corrections, "Thanks to 'Zombie World' still being face-up on the field, all monsters on the field and even in the GY are treated as the Zombie-Type."
"Nuts, I forgot about that."
Back inside the flaming ring, several monsters used by Gwen (possessed), Sherry, and Carlie at some point started erupting from the ground.
"How many are there?" pondered Sherry.
"Hmhmhm… Let's see… normally there should not be that many," teased Gwen (possessed), briefly letting out a sadistic giggle, "However, I still have my Field Spell, 'Zombie World'!" As she spoke some more, the five monsters that emerged all let out zombie-like howls, which caused 'Red-Eyes Zombie Necro Dragon' to let out a zombified groan/roar as it grew stronger (ATK: 2400 → 3500/DEF: 2000 → 3100), "Since your monsters are also zombies, they count towards making my 'Necro Dragon' even stronger!"
"3500 ATK?!" recoiled Carlie, "And that's from having eleven Zombie monsters on the field and in the GY!"
"Not only that, I'll also activate the second effect of the 'Return of the Zombies' in my GY!" continued Gwen (possessed), before holding her right hand up as a card ('Necroworld Banshee') rematerialized in-between the index and middle fingers. She then added the card into her Deck as it automatically shuffled itself, "If this card is in my GY: I can shuffle 1 of my banished Zombie monsters into the Deck, and if I do, Set this card, but banish it when it leaves the field."
A face-down card then appeared on the field.
"Our odds are not looking so good," grumbled Carlie.
"Hmph! That's one of the few things you and I can agree on," deadpanned Sherry.
"Then I'll activate the second effect of 'Haunted Zombies'!" interrupted Gwen (possessed), once again making a card ('Tatsunecro') appear in her right hand before shuffling it into her Deck, "If this card is in my GY: I can shuffle 1 of my banished Zombie monsters into the Deck, and if I do, Set this card, but banish it when it leaves the field."
A second face-down card appeared on the field, right beside the first Set card.
"'Return of the Zombies' and 'Haunted Zombies'!" exclaimed Sherry.
"She has both of them Set again!" added Carlie.
"Once more I'll activate the first effect of 'Immortal Dragon'!" As she spoke some more, Gwen (possessed) took a card ('Tatsunecro') from her Deck, held it out, and then and sent it to her GY, "During my Main Phase: I can send 1 Zombie monster from my Deck to my GY, and if I do, this card's Level becomes the difference in the original Levels of that monster and this card."
"Not again!" complained Shinji, "By sending 'Tatsunecro' from the Deck to GY, 'Immortal Dragon' becomes a Level 3 monster!"
"And with another Zombie monster in the GY, 'Necro Dragon' gains 100 more ATK and DEF!" reminded James R..
While 'Immortal Dragon's' Level changed again (Level: 6 → 3), 'Red-Eyes Zombie Necro Dragon' instead grew stronger (ATK: 3500 → 3600/DEF: 3100 → 3200).
"It's finally time…" murmured Gwen (possessed), as she raised both arms up in triumph, "My Level 3 'Immortal Dragon' dark tunes Level 7 'Red-Eyes Zombie Dragon'!"
"Dark tuning, did you say?!" cried Sherry.
"Here we go again," frowned Carlie.
'Immortal Dragon' let out a groaning-like roar before turning itself into two balls of darkness. They then were absorbed into 'Red-Eyes Zombie Dragon', causing the dragon-like zombie to growl in pain before exploding into a total of ten balls of darkness, which then began spinning together in a circle above as Gwen (possessed) echoed what was to be her most dark-sounding Summon Chant yet.
"King of the undead dragons! Step down from the dark throne and rule over those who question the ways of the damned!" chanted Gwen (possessed), as the symbols 7 + 3 = 10 were shown briefly just before a massive beam of darkness exploded from within the ten dark stars, "Dark Synchro! Appear! Level 10! 'Red-Eyes Zombie Dragon Lord'!"
When the beam of darkness died down, there, standing on the field, was a huge black dragon with fiery cyan-colored wings and razor sharp claws that looked like they could cut through nearly anything (Level: 10/ATK: 2800/DEF: 2400). With one Zombie monster being truly gone ('Immortal Dragon' got banished due to its second effect), 'Red-Eyes Zombie Necro Dragon' lost some of its gained power (ATK: 3600 → 3500/DEF: 3200 → 3100).
"This is another monster I've never heard of before," realized James R..
"Damn! Sherry and Carlie both are in deep trouble," complained Shinji, "What are they gonna do?"
"And they will be in deeper trouble once I play this card," insisted Gwen (possessed), which caused Shinji to ease up. She then held her next card ('Zombie Necronize') out, "I activate a Spell, 'Zombie Necronize'!"
"'Zombie Necronize'?" wondered Carlie.
"Merde! Not that!" exclaimed Sherry.
"If a Level 5 or higher Zombie monster is on the field: I must target 1 monster my opponent controls; I must take control of it until the End Phase," explained Gwen (possessed), "I need to possess the strongest monsters available if I want to win! So, Sherry," She pointed forward, "I'll take control of your 'Chevalier de Fleur'!"
Sherry and Carlie both watched helplessly as 'Chevalier de Fleur' went from being the former's monster, to temporarily serving Gwen (possessed). All three monsters, 'Red-Eyes Zombie Dragon Lord' (ATK: 2800), 'Red-Eyes Zombie Necro Dragon' (ATK: 3500), and 'Chevalier de Fleur' (ATK: 2700) were ready to attack and possible eliminate one of the two heroine duelists.
"Battle!" announced Gwen (possessed), entering her Battle Phase, "'Chevalier de Fleur', you attack first!" 'Chevalier de Fleur' drew her sword as the command continued to be given, "Strike down 'Lonefire Blossom'! Fleur de Orage!"
With a cry, 'Chevalier de Fleur' slashed 'Lonefire Blossom' with her sword and caused it to explode from destruction. The attack was so powerful that everyone felt the aftershock from it. From there, emerging from the ground was none other than 'Red-Eyes Zombie Dragon'.
"What?!" gasped Shinji.
"Seriously?!" put in James R..
"What's 'Red-Eyes Zombie Dragon' doing back here?!" demanded Carlie.
"The answer is quite simple; I activated the second effect of my 'Necro Dragon'," replied Gwen (possessed), "When another Zombie monster is destroyed by battle: I can Special Summon 1 Zombie monster from either player's GY to my field."
"Four powerful monsters…" realized Carlie.
"Three of which have yet to attack," added Sherry.
"Now, Carlie Izayoi, the cold embrace of death will come for you first," warned Gwen (possessed), before taking a card and slotting it into her Duel Disk, "I activate a Quick-Play Spell, 'Zombie Power Struggle'!" The mentioned card materialized face-up on the field, "I must target 1 Zombie monster on the field; until the end of this turn, it gains 1000 ATK or loses 1000 ATK."
'Talaya, Princess of Cherry Blossoms' found herself decaying and losing power (ATK: 2800 → 1800).
"I target your zombified 'Talaya, Princess of Cherry Blossoms' and choose to lower her ATK by 1000!" The voice of Gwen (possessed), as the above scenario played out, went on.
"This isn't good at all," thought Carlie, before casting a glance at her remaining Set card, "I know my 'Rose Blizzard' can negate an attack, but since Gwen now controls 'Chevalier de Fleur', she'll be able to negate the activation of whatever Spell or Trap Sherry or I try to activate next," She then looked up towards 'Red-Eyes Zombie Dragon', "And then if 'Red-Eyes Zombie Dragon' manages to destroy a Zombie monster in battle, she will be able to Special Summon that monster onto her field, giving her another monster to attack with," The brown-haired young woman finally looked towards Sherry's two Set cards as well as Sherry herself, "Since Sherry has two Sets cards, at least one of them will probably be able to protect herself, but the biggest concern I have is whether she will be willing to use up her cards to protect me once we don't have to worry about the effect of 'Chevalier de Fleur'."
"My Battle Phase is ongoing!" reminded Gwen (possessed), "'Necro Dragon', attack 'Periallis, Empress of Blossoms'!" As she announced her monster's attack name, 'Red-Eyes Zombie Necro Dragon' opened its mouth, "Deadly Flame Bullet!"
A powerful fireball was fired from 'Red-Eyes Zombie Necro Dragon's' mouth.
"I activate a Trap, 'Rose Blizzard'!" announced Carlie, as her remaining Set card flipped face-up and revealed itself to be… "When a monster I control is targeted for an-"
"It won't work!" declared Gwen (possessed) aggressively, as she then explained her stolen monster's effect as 'Chevalier de Fleur' raised and slashed her blade across the face-up 'Rose Blizzard' Trap Card, "'Chevalier de Fleur'! Once per turn, during my turn, when my opponent activates a Spell/Trap Card (Quick Effect): I can negate the activation, and if I do, destroy that card!"
The face-up 'Rose Blizzard' Trap Card was destroyed instantly. The ball of fire then struck and destroyed 'Periallis, Empress of Blossoms' in a massive explosion. Carlie tried her hardest to resist the attack's backlash, but was not able to and, with a scream, ended up being thrown across the area until she hit the invisible walls of the flame ring before falling onto her chest.
"Carlie!" James R. and Shinji both called out.
Once the aftershock wore off, Carlie struggled to get to her hands and knees as her LP took a decent hit from the battle (LP: 4000 → 2100).
"That really…hurts!" panted Carlie, before looking up at Sherry, "Sherry, I need you to listen to me!" When Sherry didn't say anything back, she continued with her words, "If I'm defeated in this duel, there's a good chance even you won't be able to stand up to the power of Gwen's Deck!" There was an absolutely pleading look in her eyes, "Please, Sherry, I'm begging you! We absolutely need to work together if we want to save Gwen and ourselves!"
Still, Sherry said nothing; she simply glared for a few more seconds before resuming her focus on the duel at hand.
"If you two are done arguing, I have a Signer to take down!" huffed Gwen (possessed), "Once 'Red-Eyes Zombie Dragon' takes down the weakened 'Talaya, Princess of Cherry Blossoms', I'll Special Summon her onto my field and finish you off, Carlie!" She gave the command, "'Red-Eyes Zombie Dragon', attack 'Talaya, Princess of Cherry Blossoms'! Dark Zombie Shot!"
'Red-Eyes Zombie Dragon' obeyed, charging a fireball in its mouth and firing it off not once, not twice, not thrice, but four times in total. Realizing that Sherry was not going to help her, Carlie shut her eyes and waited for the end to come to her. Dark Zombie Shot connected with 'Talaya, Princess of Cherry Blossoms' and caused another massive explosion to ensue.
"'Talaya, Princess of Cherry Blossoms' has been vanquished," acknowledged Gwen (possessed), "She will now be Special Summoned onto my field!"
But as the smoke started to clear away, Gwen (possessed) started to see something. When the smoke was semi-cleared, there was a swarm of white rose petals serving as a shield of sorts. Gwen (possessed) gasped, and it only got worse for her when, as the smoke fully cleared away, 'Talaya, Princess of Cherry Blossoms' was shown to have survived.
"WHAT?!" yelled Gwen (possessed).
James R. and Shinji both were surprised, too. Carlie looked up, just as surprised, wondering if…Sherry somehow helped her in some way. Sure enough, there was a face-up Trap Card known as 'Floral Shield' on Sherry's field.
"My Trap Card, 'Floral Shield'!" declared Sherry, "When an opponent's monster declares an attack: I must target the attacking monster; I must negate the attack, and if I do, draw 1 card."
"That's not possible!" protested Gwen (possessed), "I thought you hated your teammate? Why would you help her out if you hate her?"
"You want to know why?" frowned Sherry, "It's because 'I' will be the one to defeat Carlie in a duel, and I will not allow anybody else to take that honor from me!"
Gwen (possessed) gritted her teeth, while outside the flame ring, James R. and Shinji both were very, very relieved.
"I guess she does have a heart hidden somewhere in her grudge," sighed James R..
"Sherry always had a heart," corrected Shinji, "As much as you don't see it, I know it's there."
Back in the flame ring, Carlie could not help but stare at Sherry with admirement for the rescue. Sherry, meanwhile, was not finished…
"Next, I'll activate a Continuous Trap, 'Pennant of Revolution'!" As Sherry said that, her final Set card flipped face-up and revealed itself, "If another card(s) I control is destroyed by battle or card effect: I can add 1 'Liberty at Last!' from my Deck or GY to my hand."
"Tch! I'm still not done with my Battle Phase!" growled Gwen (possessed), before issuing a command to one of her other monsters, "'Red-Eyes Zombie Dragon Lord', kill 'Talaya, Princess of Cherry Blossoms'!" While announcing her monster's attack name, 'Red-Eyes Zombie Dragon Lord' opened its mouth and charged an attack, "Deadly Mega Flare!"
A powerful fireball was unleashed.
"I activate the second effect of 'Pennant of Revolution'!" proclaimed Sherry, as her face-up 'Pennant of Revolution' Trap Card started glowing, "At the start of the Damage Step, if a Synchro Monster battles a monster: I can destroy my opponent's battling monster."
A rose red colored beam fired from the face-up Trap Card, striking 'Red-Eyes Zombie Dragon Lord' and destroying it in a massive explosion of fire, resulting in another aftershock that everyone else felt.
"How dare you!" snarled Gwen (possessed), once the after shock wore off, "I activate 'Red-Eyes Zombie Dragon Lord's' second effect!" As she spoke, 'Red-Eyes Zombie Dragon Lord' emerged from the ground (Level: 10/ATK: 2800/DEF: 2400), "If this card is in my GY: I can banish 1 Zombie monster I control; I must Special Summon this card."
To pay for the cost, 'Chevalier de Fleur' collapsed and sank underground. And with another Zombie monster banished, 'Red-Eyes Zombie Necro Dragon' lost some more power (ATK: 3500 → 3400/DEF: 3100 → 3000).
"Then I'll activate the second effect of the 'Zombie Power Struggle' in my GY!" As Gwen (possessed) spoke, she once again made a card ('Immortal Dragon') appear in her right hand, "If this card is in my GY: I can shuffle 1 of my banished Zombie monsters into the Deck, and if I do, Set this card, but banish it when it leaves the field."
The possessed gothic young woman then inserted the retrieved card into her Duel Disk's Extra Deck feature, causing a third face-down card to appear on the field along with the other two Set cards.
"And with that, I'll end my turn here," finished Gwen (possessed) in frustration.
Still weak, Carlie slowly and carefully returned to her feet before limping back to her spot beside Sherry.
"Sherry… thank you," she said gratefully, "Thank you for protecting me."
Sherry looked over and glared for a few seconds, before a small, genuine smile appeared on her face before she looked away.
"Whatever," scoffed Sherry, still smiling, "I simply wouldn't get any satisfaction if you were to be defeated in a duel again before I could do it," She cast another quick glance back at Carlie, "As I just said, the only one who will defeat you will be me."
Rather than get upset, Carlie simply smiled back after guessing accurately that Sherry didn't mean any of that 'somewhat' negative stuff—at least this time. From there, Sherry resumed her focus on the duel.
"The real battle begins here!" declared Sherry, drawing a card, "Draw!"
Turn Six: Sherry LeBlanc (LP: 4000)
Deck: 51
Current Hand (2): "Synchro Dilemma" and "Demise of the Land"
Her drawn card was a Spell Card called 'Demise of the Land'. Nodding, she added the card into her hand, took another out ('Synchro Dilemma'), and held it out.
"Continuous Spell, 'Synchro Dilemma', activate!" continued Sherry, "I can activate 1 of the following effects."
These were the effects written on the Spell Card in-question:
-"I must send 1 'Synchron' monster from my 'and or face-up field to the GY; I must Special Summon 1 monster from my hand."
-"I must target 1 other card I control; I must destroy it, and if I do, Special Summon 1 'Synchron' monster with a different original name from my hand or GY."
"I choose to use the second effect to target a card I control and destroy it—being my 'Necro Fleur!" Sherry pointed out. As expected, her 'Necro Fleur' shattered into shards of glass, "Resurrect, 'Fleur Synchron'!"
Reappearing on the field in the place of 'Necro Fleur' was 'Fleur Synchron' (Level: 2/ATK: 400/DEF: 200).
"There's more!" reminded Sherry, while drawing a card ('Liberty at Last'!) "From the effect of 'Pennant of Revolution', since another card(s) I controlled was destroyed by battle or card effect, I'll add 1 'Liberty at Last!' into my hand. Then I'll activate the special ability of my destroyed 'Necro Fleur'!" She held a card up, taken from her Deck, "If this card is destroyed by card effect and sent to the GY: I can Special Summon 1 'Sorciere de Fleur' from my Deck."
"What?! 'Sorciere de Fleur' is what you said?" wailed Gwen (possessed).
"Vous avez raison," said Sherry in French, before placing her added card ('Sorciere de Fleur') onto her Duel Disk, "Come forth, 'Sorciere de Fleur'!"
Appearing onto the field was a human woman wearing a peach-colored dress with a rose-like headdress and a rose-based scepter, before she too was zombified (Level: 8/ATK: 2900/DEF: 0).
"Your monster might be powerful, but it pales in comparison to my own!" bragged Gwen (possessed), "100 more ATK and DEF are added to 'Red-Eyes Zombie Necro Dragon'!"
'Red-Eyes Zombie Necro Dragon' once again got stronger (ATK: 3400 → 3500/DEF: 3000 → 3100).
"There's also the matter of Gwen's three face-down cards," remembered Shinji, "You know, the ones she got back from her GY?"
"Knowing her, she's probably saving them for when Carlie's turn comes up," figured James R., "That way when Gwen's turn comes, Carlie most likely won't have much to defend herself with unless Sherry helps her."
In the flaming ring, Sherry still had a few tricks left, and they were tricks that would hopefully even the playing field.
"The monster effect of 'Sorciere de Fleur' activates!" began Sherry, as her monster raised her scepter and started casting a spell of sorts, "If this card is Normal or Special Summoned: I must target 1 monster in my opponent's GY; I must Special Summon it to my field," She held her right hand up slightly and made the L sign using her index finger and thumb, "but it cannot attack my opponent directly, and is destroyed during the End Phase of this turn."
"So which monster of mine will you choose?" frowned Gwen (possessed).
"Actually, it's not 'your' monster I want."
"What?!" The possessed gothic young woman recoiled, "You're not gonna target one of my monsters?"
"No, I'm not," explained Sherry, before looking towards her teammate's side, "I'm gonna target a monster in Carlie's GY," She smirked as Gwen (possessed) looked like she was about to object to such a course of action, "It's part of the rules of this duel, you know."
"She's right," agreed Carlie, "This is a battle royale-styled duel, and even though Sherry and I are working together in the duel, we're still technically opponents," Nearby, Shinji and James R. both listened to the explanation with excitement, "That means she can use her 'Sorciere de Fleur's' effect to Special Summon a monster from my GY," She then looked at Sherry and nodded, "Go ahead and do it."
Sherry nodded back, "Here I go!" she announced, making her decision, "I choose to Special Summon my teammate's 'Periallis, Empress of Blossoms'!"
Reappearing onto the field was 'Periallis, Empress of Blossoms' (Level: 7/ATK: 1600/DEF: 2400). Without wasting another second, Sherry thrust her right fist forward and issued the main command.
"My Level 2 'Fleur Synchron' tunes Level 7 'Periallis, Empress of Blossoms'!" shouted Sherry, "The revolution begins!"
'Fleur Synchron' once again turned itself into two Synchro Rings, which overwhelmed 'Periallis, Empress of Blossoms' and turned her into seven orbs of light as a whole new Summon Chant from Sherry echoed throughout.
"The highest emperor! Train your blades with the flames of glory and burn the shadows of injustice!" chanted Sherry, before the seven orbs of light turned into a massive beam of light, "Synchro Summon! Descend, 'Infernoble Knight Emperor Charles'!"
As the beam of light stayed in place, a sword made out of blue flames slashed out, causing the beam to fade away and reveal, now on the field, an orange-haired young man wearing black armor and red cape (Level: 9/ATK: 3000/DEF: 200).
"It doesn't matter how strong the monsters you Summon are!" exploded Gwen (possessed), "My 'Necro Dragon' still grows stronger the more Zombie monsters that appear on the field or enter the GY!"
Growling fiercely, 'Red-Eyes Zombie Necro Dragon' once again got stronger (ATK: 3500 → 3600/DEF: 3100 → 3200).
"I don't know what it is you plan to do, but it's useless to fight!" Gwen (possessed) raged on, "Just hurry it up with your damn turn!"
Carlie, on the other hand, cast another glance towards Sherry, hoping that her rival truly knew what she was doing with her turn. Suddenly, Sherry, as though she knew what she (Carlie) was thinking, looked over and shot a sly wink. Getting the hint, Carlie nodded and silently agreed to watch. From there, Sherry resumed focus on the duel and made her next major play, which was the Battle Phase.
"Go forth, 'Sorciere de Fleur'!" ordered Sherry, "Attack 'Red-Eyes Zombie Necro Dragon'!"
'Sorciere de Fleur' obeyed, holding out her scepter and firing a yellow beam towards the enemy monster.
"Useless!" snapped Gwen (possessed), "Your monster's ATK is much too low to take on my 'Necro Dragon'!"
"C'est ça en quoi tu crois?" uttered Sherry in French, causing Gwen (possessed) to ease up and wonder what was just said, "You seem to have forgotten about my Trap Card, 'Pennant of Revolution'."
"Crap! I did!" panicked Gwen (possessed), "Seeing as a Synchro Monster is battling, you can destroy my battling monster at the start of the Damage Step once per turn!"
On cue, another rose red colored beam fired from the face-up 'Pennant of Revolution' Trap Card, striking 'Red-Eyes Zombie Necro Dragon' as it prepared to counterattack and destroying it in a massive explosion of fire, resulting in another aftershock that everyone else obviously felt. After it ended, Gwen (possessed) looked up with a deranged look on her face, just as the ground opened up as a claw emerged.
"This is 'Red-Eyes Zombie Dragon Lord's' first effect," realized Carlie.
"Correct," confirmed Gwen (possessed), "During my opponent's turn (Quick Effect): I can target 1 Zombie monster in my GY, except 'Red-Eyes Zombie Dragon Lord'; I must Special Summon it," She held both hands out in triumph, "Resurrect, 'Necro Dragon'!"
Once more, 'Red-Eyes Zombie Necro Dragon' fully emerged from the ground and onto the field, as powerful as it was before being seemingly destroyed (Level: 7/ATK: 3600/DEF: 3200). After a few seconds of snickering quietly to herself, Gwen (possessed) let out a long, demonic laugh over how she was able to keep bringing her monsters back.
"No matter what you simpletons try, you'll never defeat my undead monsters!" proclaimed Gwen (possessed), "Just give it up before you end up in a worse predicament!"
"I'd like to activate one more card before I end my turn," offered Sherry, holding up a card for a few seconds before turning it over and revealing it to be… "Quick-Play Spell, 'Demise of the Land', activate!"
(elsewhere…)
Back inside the animal shelter, everyone still there continued to remain on the quiet front. All of a sudden, a powerful blast of wind burst through the windows and shattered the glass, causing some brief yells to ensue.
(elsewhere…)
Inside one of the areas containing the animals, they were sleeping peacefully when they heard the loud noise and started panicking in their own way.
(elsewhere…)
"What the hell was that?" cried Zack.
"Is everyone okay?!" Shelter Owner call outed, which caused the two volunteers to nod, "Oh, that's good…"
"I think I hear the animals panicking in one of the rooms," said Ms. Simmons, looking at the three innocent civilians, "You'd better go and see them."
"We'll go and check out what's going on outside," offered Matt.
The owner and two volunteers nodded and ran for one of the rooms, while Matt turned towards the window and wondered who was here.
(outside…)
Outside the shelter, a cloaked man was standing in the middle of the road waiting for his targets to show up. Sure enough, Matt and the rest of his team emerged from the building to confront the cloaked man, who uttered an evil chuckle.
"I've been looking for you for some time," he greeted darkly.
(elsewhere…)
Back on one of the streets, Sherry was still holding her last card ('Demise of the Land') out, and Gwen (possessed) was not thrilled with seeing it.
"When my opponent Special Summons a monster(s): I must activate 1 Field Spell directly from my Deck," explained Sherry, "Thanks to you bringing 'Necro Dragon' back, you've given me the opportunity to activate this card…" She took a card ('Noble Knights of the Round Table') from her Deck and held it out, "…and change the whole duel around!"
The face-up 'Zombie World' Spell Card shattered into shards of glass, and Gwen (possessed) let out a loud, shrill scream of anger as the whole area went from a graveyard into a setting more suited for Medieval Knights and the like.
"With 'Zombie World' destroyed, all monsters Sherry and I possess are no longer rendered the Zombie-Type," acknowledged Carlie, "Your hold on them has ended here!"
With that said, all of her and Sherry's monsters went back to the Types they originally were. Worst of all for Gwen (possessed), since there were fewer Zombie monsters on the field and in the GY, 'Red-Eyes Zombie Necro Dragon's' stats fell to much lower levels (ATK: 3500 → 2800/DEF: 3100 → 2400).
"Our monsters are back to normal!" smiled Carlie. "And since 'Talaya' is now a Plant again, her effect kicks in. She gains 100 ATK for each Plant monster I control!"
'Talaya, Princess of Cherry Blossoms' grew stronger thanks to her own presence (ATK: 2800 → 2900).
"And now Gwen can't use them for targets for her three face-down cards," rejoiced Sherry, "We now have the advantage!"
Gwen (possessed) seethed, "Damn you…!"
"My Battle Phase is ongoing!" continued Sherry, "'Infernoble Knight Emperor Charles', slay 'Red-Eyes Zombie Necro Dragon'!"
'Infernoble Knight Emperor Charles' obeyed, slashing 'Red-Eyes Zombie Necro Dragon' with his flaming sword and destroying it. The destruction of her monster finally caused Gwen (possessed) to take some damage (LP: 4000 → 3400).
"ALRIGHT!" James R. and Shinji both cheered, turning and high-fiving in happiness.
Back inside the flaming ring, Sherry slotted one final card into her Duel Disk, causing a face-down card ('Liberty at Last!') to materialize on the field near her feet.
"I Set one card and finish my turn," The blonde-haired young French woman concluded, "Now, Carlie, end the duel on your turn!"
"Leave the rest to me," accepted Carlie, drawing a card with a Destiny Draw, "It's my turn!"
Turn Seven: Carlie Izayoi (LP: 2100)
Deck: 50
Current Hand (2): "Red Rose Dragon" and "White Rose Dragon"
Upon seeing her drawn 'White Rose Dragon' Effect Monster Card…
"It's here!" declared Carlie, before readying her card for a few seconds and placing it onto her Duel Disk, "Come, 'White Rose Dragon'!"
Appearing onto the field was a small black dragon with white roses around the collar area and white wing-like arms (Level: 4/ATK: 1200/DEF: 1000).
"'White Rose Dragon's' first effect!" continued Carlie, "When this card is Normal Summoned: I can Special Summon 1 'Rose Dragon' monster from my hand or GY, except 'White Rose Dragon'," She immediately placed another card onto her Duel Disk, "I Special Summon, from my hand, the Tuner monster 'Red Rose Dragon'!"
Appearing onto the field was a small, dragon-like creature with red roses on its back (Level: 3/ATK: 1000/DEF: 1800).
"My Level 3 'Red Rose Dragon' tunes Level 4 'White Rose Dragon'!" added Carlie calmly.
'Red Rose Dragon' flew into the air and turned into three Synchro Rings, which hovered and overwhelmed 'White Rose Dragon' and turned it into four orbs of light. The Symbols 4 + 3 = 7 were shown as a Summon Chant from Carlie followed…
"Chilling flames engulf the entire world. Pitch-dark flower, set into bloom!" Carlie chanted in a surprisingly chilling tone, as the symbols 4 + 3 = 7 were shown briefly. From there, the four orbs of light within the three Synchro Rings turned into a massive beam of light, which slammed down onto the field around her, "Synchro Summon! Appear now, 'Black Rose Dragon'!"
When the beam dimmed, there, on the field, was the huge dragon made of rose petals (Level: 7/ATK: 2400/DEF: 1800).
"'Black Rose Dragon'…" thought Sherry, before closing her eyes and smiling to herself, "Maybe my Set 'Liberty at Last!' won't be needed, after all."
"The third effect of 'White Rose Dragon' activates!" cut in Carlie, drawing a card and looking at it for a few seconds, "If this card is sent to the GY as Synchro Material: I can send 1 Level 4…" She sent her drawn card ('Staysailor Romarin') to the GY, "…or higher Plant monster from my Deck to the GY," The brown-haired young woman was far from finished, "Then comes 'Red Rose Dragon's' first effect! If this card is sent to the GY as Synchro Material: I can Special Summon 1 'Rose Dragon' monster from my hand or Deck, except 'Red Rose Dragon', then, if it was sent for the Synchro Summon of 'Black Rose Dragon' or a Plant Synchro Monster, I can also add 1 'Frozen Rose' or 1 'Blooming of the Darkest Rose' from my Deck to my hand."
Gwen (possessed) swore aloud, watching as her opponent drew a card and started looking at it.
"This is the 'Rose Dragon' I'll Special Summon," recalled Carlie, before holding her added card out, "Appear now, 'Blue Rose Dragon'!"
Appearing onto the field was a black dragon with rose thorns on the tail and blue rose buds around the collar area and both wings (Level: 4/ATK: 1600/DEF: 1200).
"By Summoning 'Blue Rose Dragon', I'll add 'Frozen Rose' into my hand," As she spoke, Carlie drew another card, "Then I'll activate the second effect of the 'Staysailor Romarin'!"
"Is that the Plant monster you sent from your Deck to the GY?" pondered Gwen (possessed).
"It is," confirmed Carlie, "If this card is sent to the GY by a card effect: I can send 1 Level 5 or lower Plant monster from my Deck or Extra Deck to the GY," A card ('Garden Maiden Rose') then ejected from the Extra Deck Zone on her Duel Disk, which she took, held out, then sent to the GY, "The card I'll send is 'Garden Rose Maiden'!" She then got down to the main event, "But, now, I'll activate 'Black Rose Dragon's' first effect!"
Gwen (possessed) looked pretty horrified when she heard the card explanation, while Sherry remained neutral-looking.
"When this card is Synchro Summoned: I can destroy all cards on the field," The voice of Carlie explained, before 'Black Rose Dragon' let out a fierce roar as it started creating a huge gale whirlwind, "Go forth, 'Black Rose Dragon'! Black Rose Gale!"
The wind from 'Black Rose Dragon' started sweeping across the field as it exploded into numerous rose petals, destroying itself and every other card (Monster, Spell, Trap, etc.) still on the field in the process. The aftershock of this attack was great, but not quite as great as the ones from the monsters used by Gwen (possessed).
"Dammit!" muttered Gwen (possessed), trying to resist the backlash of the attack (effect), "As they were Set from the GY and have left the field, 'Return of the Zombies', 'Haunted Zombies', and 'Zombie Power Struggle' each are banished via their second effects," Upon the wind ceasing, she looked up and smirked, "But now we all have a clean slate… The duel's still on, and won't end until we have a winner! Come my next turn, I'll find a way to get my best monsters back, and then I'll finish you off, Carlie, before I focus on your teammate!"
"I see…" mused Carlie, before putting a teasing smile onto her face, "Sorry, Gwen, but you're not going to see another turn."
"What?!" cringed Gwen (possessed), "What do you mean I won't see another turn?"
"Because I'm going to end the duel this turn, like I promised Sherry!" Carlie said, before holding her right hand out, "Resurrect, 'Talaya, Princess of Cherry Blossoms'!"
Reappearing onto the field was 'Talaya, Princess of Cherry Blossoms', who immediately grew stronger thanks to her own effect (Level: 8/ATK: 2900/DEF: 1200).
"It can't be! What's that monster doing back?" wailed Gwen (possessed).
"The effect of 'Blue Rose Dragon'," answered Carlie, "When this card on the field is destroyed and sent to the GY: I can target 1 'Black Rose Dragon' or 1 Plant monster in my GY; I must Special Summon that monster. Hence why I brought 'Talaya, Princess of Cherry Blossoms' back," She narrowed her eyes, "However, there's still one more monster yet to come back."
Gwen (possessed) flinched, "One more monster?"
"That's correct," nodded Sherry, "You remember 'Garden Rose Maiden' being sent from Carlie's Extra Deck to the GY, yes?"
"I'll take over the explanation from here, Sherry," agreed Carlie, before looking back at her opponent, "I'll use this chance to activate 'Garden Maiden Rose's' second effect," While speaking, a card ('Garden Rose Maiden') ejected from her GY before fading away into oblivion, causing one more card ('Black Rose Dragon') to eject from the GY, "I can banish this card from my GY, then target 1 'Rose Dragon' monster or 1 Dragon Synchro Monster in my GY; I must Special Summon it."
Reappearing on the field for the final battle was 'Black Rose Dragon', who let out a roar to signal its arrival (Level: 7/ATK: 2400/DEF: 1800). Gwen (possessed) was completely speechless that Carlie Izayoi managed to get two powerful monsters on the field just like that after using 'Black Rose Dragon's' Black Rose Gale effect to completely total the field of all cards.
"Battle!" announced Carlie, entering her Battle Phase, "The first monster to attack will be 'Talaya, Princess of Cherry Blossoms'!" She pointed forward, while 'Talaya, Princess of Cherry Blossoms' made a lunge, "Attack the opposing player directly!"
Gwen (possessed) was frozen with fear and made no effort to try anything to stop the attack (she couldn't, anyway). With a mighty cry, 'Talaya, Princess of Cherry Blossoms' spun about and used her fan to strike Gwen (possessed) as though she was using a sword. Speaking of whom, Gwen (possessed) clutched at her chest as her LP took a large drop (LP: 3400 → 500). Despite being initially afraid, currently wounded, and about to lose the Dark Duel, Gwen (possessed) looked up with a very dark smile on her face.
"Very impressive," remarked Gwen (possessed), causing Carlie and Sherry both to ease up, "Carlie Izayoi, I know now that you, indeed, are a very strong duelist worthy of being a Signer…" She then added in an ominous-sounding question, "But did you ever choose to become one willingly? Or were you forced to against your own will because of the cruel thing we all call fate?"
"Que diable?" frowned Sherry, puzzled.
"What do you mean by that?" pressed Carlie, sounding equally confused, "I'm a Signer because I feel it's something I must do; after all, this world is worth protecting from the likes of the Dark Signers!"
"Is that so?" grinned Gwen (possessed), amused by the sort of answer she expected to hear, "One day, you'll make a wonderful duelist…for the Dark Signers to use!"
"No, never!" refused Carlie, "If you think I'll magically join your side just by being told some words designed to confuse me, you're clearly untuned with reality!"
"It would seem I've been saying too much," Gwen (possessed) seemed to shrug, unbothered, before spreading both arms out in welcome, "I give you the honor of striking me down with 'Black Rose Dragon'! Go on, finish me off!"
Knowing that Gwen would be safe once the duel was won by her and Sherry, Carlie immediately jumped at the chance to gain victory.
"'Black Rose Dragon', direct attack!" ordered Carlie, as 'Black Rose Dragon' charged a blast of fire in its mouth, "Black Rose Flare!"
'Black Rose Dragon' obeyed, firing off the flame blast and striking Gwen (possessed), who, this time around, didn't scream or react, but rather laughed maniacally over being hit even as the attack hurt quite a ton. When Black Rose Flare stopped, Gwen (possessed) finally collapsed into a state of unconsciousness as the last of her LP got wiped out (LP: 500 → 0).
DUEL RESULTS: Carlie Izayoi and Sherry LeBlanc both win!
The flaming ring died down, allowing James R. and Shinji both to run over and if their friends were okay. Over with Gwen (possessed), the little black spider on the back of her neck fell off and dissolved upon hitting the ground. The loss of the spider's power resulted in the birthmark of the spider fading away. Carlie soon ran over to see if she's okay; she knelt down, scooped Gwen into her arms, looked down, and noticed that the birthmark really was gone from the gothic young woman's right forearm.
"Thank goodness…" Carlie said to herself in deep relief, just as Sherry, James R., and Shinji approached, "Gwen's currently unconscious, but she'll be fine."
"That's something we're glad to know," acknowledged James R..
"Guys, what's going on?" asked Shinji, now bringing up one of the most important questions of them all, "What was that even all about, and who are these Dark Signers you've been mentioning throughout the duel?"
Carlie looked over when she heard that question, before looking back down in dismay without making the effort to answer it.
"That's gonna take some time for us to explain, I'm afraid," replied James R., before shaking his head, "Unfortunately, time is something we don't have at the moment, what with Ashima currently missing in this city."
Shinji and Sherry both listened, before nodding, agreeing that the explanation would have to wait until they found Ashima—wherever she was.
(elsewhere…)
Back outside the animal shelter, Matt, Michael, Zack, and Ms. Simmons all were facing the cloaked man, who, again, uttered an evil chuckle.
"Who are you?!" demanded Matt.
Finally, the cloaked man removed his hood and revealed his identity. He had white/gray hair, tanned skin, and markings on his face.
"My name is Rutger," The man, with Rutger being his name, introduced himself, "Yes, I am the Dark Signer with the spider's birthmark."
To prove it, he lifted up his right forearm and showed the spider-shaped birthmark. Matt gasped when he saw the birthmark, causing a flashback to ensue.
FLASHBACK
The group had flown away from the Incan pyramid and towards a familiar-looking American city set during the night.
"Hey, we're approaching Hartford!" realized Flashback Lisa.
"That's the city you live in, right?" asked Flashback Zack.
Flashback Lisa nodded, "Got that right, Zack. Maybe it means we're heading back to the real world?"
"Um… I hate to be the bearer of bad news…" gulped Flashback James R., getting Lisa's attention, "Lisa, you might want to take a look at something down below."
Flashback Lisa looked down at the city and gasped as she and her friends were witnessing a huge bolt of purple energy tearing through Hartford, causing her hometown to look more like a deserted mess than a proper American city.
"What the hell!" The pink-haired girl yelled out in horror, "What's happening to Hartford?!"
The purple energy down below continued to tear across buildings until it formed the geoglyph of a giant purple spider.
"That's…" whispered Flashback Carlie, "…a spider. There's a spider geoglyph in the middle of the city."
"Hartford is getting destroyed!" realized Flashback Matt, "Why are we being shown this?"
END FLASHBACK
The flashback ended.
"The spider's birthmark?" thought Matt, "Could that vision be coming to reality?" He spoke aloud, "What do you want here?"
"I've heard that some Signers have cropped up in the area, so I just came here to greet them," joked Rutger in a sick sort of way. He then held up his left arm (with a customized Duel Disk equipped), "The welcoming party, of course, being a duel with the leader of Team 6D's—you."
"Hold on, why not try me?!" dared Michael, stepping forward.
"Unfortunately, I'm only here to face Matt," refused Rutger, as the dark smile grew more creepy, "Besides," As he spoke on, Matt, Michael, Zack, and Ms. Simmons all listened carefully, "I might know a little something about where Ashima Nilgiri might be."
Once again, Matt gasped, but this time it was out of horror. Neither Michael, Zack, nor Ms. Simmons felt any better from hearing that statement.
"What did you do?" pressed Zack.
"My fellow Dark Signers came to this place in order to kidnap her," explained Rutger, "But I promise you that should Matt win the duel, she will be returned safely."
"Grrr! Fine, I'll accept your challenge!" yelled Matt, now sounding pretty angry. He was about to recklessly activate his Duel Disk when he stopped himself, "Wait, we can't duel here. The people in this area would get swallowed up by that flaming geoglyph… We'll need to duel in a place where there will be less people around," The dirty blonde-haired young man then started to walk away, "I know a good location where we can have our match."
"Very well," Rutger replied, nodding carefully, "Lead the way, friend."
With that said, everyone walked in the direction Matt was going in.
(elsewhere…)
After walking a few blocks, Matt, Michael, Zack, Ms. Simmons, and Rutger arrived at an abandoned junkyard. The area was far enough away that if the 'Earthbound Immortal' monster were to show up, the less people that would be involved and end up sacrificed. It would be better if no people got sacrificed, but Matt would have to win the duel before the 'Earthbound Immortal' monster was Summoned.
"Well then, it's about time to begin!" requested Rutger, activating his Duel Disk.
"Yes, I know," acknowledged Matt, activating his own Duel Disk.
As a gentle breeze blew in the area, a bolt of lightning suddenly struck the center of the field as the match finally commenced.
"Duel!" Matt and Rutger both announced at once (LP: 4000) x2.
When those words left their respective mouths, flames erupted from the ground—but did not create a ring of sorts. Instead, the flames started expanding all around, which Matt and his team noticed without fail.
(elsewhere…)
In the sky, the purple energy down below formed the geoglyph of a giant purple spider.
(elsewhere…)
In the junkyard, Matt and Michael both felt their respective Mark of the Dragons (Matt: Dragon's Head, Michael: Dragon's Wings) glowing and reacting strongly to the duel between Signer and Dark Signer.
"What the-?" winced Matt.
"This geoglyph isn't the same size as the one in our vision," came from Michael, "What could this even mean?"
Zack, meanwhile, was shown clutching the sides of his head in pain, while Ms. Simmons wondered if this was what Matt and the likes were warned about from Rex based on what she had been told.
(elsewhere…)
Somewhere in eastern Hartford, the three M1 Astrays and Strike Rouge all roared down another street when Lisa felt her Mark of the Dragon (Dragon's Hand) glowing and almost burning underneath her motorcyclist suit's sleeve.
"The friggin' hell?!" hissed Lisa in pain, having to stop her Duel Runner.
Seconds later, Asagi, Mayura, and Juri each realized that Lisa wasn't behind them and stopped their M1 Astrays, running over to see what the problem was.
"Lisa, what's wrong?" began Mayura.
"My birthmark is acting up again," complained Lisa, "But, this time, the pain is much greater than I ever felt before."
Juri was worried when she heard that. When she briefly looked upward into the night sky, she let out a horrified shout.
"Girls, look up there!" exclaimed Juri.
Lisa, Asagi, and Mayura each looked up, gasping at what they saw.
"What the heck?" began Mayura.
"Am I seeing things?" wondered Asagi.
"It can't be…" uttered Lisa, frowning deeply while seeing the geoglyph of the spider in the sky, "It's that freaky geoglyph from the vision."
(elsewhere…)
In western Hartford, David, Sean, Janice, and Mr. Kisaka had returned to their Duel Runners when David started experiencing the same glowing and pain from his Mark of the Dragon (Dragon's Heart). He clutched his right forearm and grimaced over it. The worst part was looking everyone into the sky and seeing the geoglyph of the spider forming.
"Is that what I think it is?" whispered Mr. Kisaka.
"Yes, Ledonir-senpai," answered David gravely, "An actual battle between Signer and Dark Signer is starting."
"Do you think Ashima might be there?" wondered Janice.
"At this current time, it is our only lead," David replied, managing to shake the pain off long enough to climb onto The Wild Card, "We're heading over there to see."
Sean, Janice, and Mr. Kisaka each nodded in agreement.
(elsewhere…)
Back in the junkyard, the duel finally began for real.
"I will go first!" requested Matt, drawing a card, "Draw!"
Turn One: Matt Fudo (LP: 4000)
Deck: 54
Current Hand (6): "Road Synchron", "Scrap-Iron Scarecrow", "Quillbolt Hedgehog", "Speed Warrior", "Cosmic Blast", and "Shield Wing"
Without even looking at his drawn card for more than a few seconds, he placed it ('Shield Wing') onto a Monster Zone on his Duel Disk (sideways).
"I Summon 'Shield Wing' in Defense Position!" The voice of Matt proclaimed.
Appearing onto the field was a green bird-like creature with shields on its wings (Level: 2/ATK: 0/DEF: 900). A face-down card materialized on the field behind 'Shield Wing' seconds after that.
"I Set one card…" finished Matt, entering the End Phase, "…and end my turn!"
"It's my turn!" began Rutger, drawing a card, "Draw!"
Turn Two: Rutger (LP: 4000)
Deck: 54
Current Hand (6): "Dark Spider", "Spider Web", "Altar of the Bound Deity", "Ground Spider", "Shadow Spider Cocoon"(!), and "Titanocider"
Adding the drawn card into his hand, he took another ('Spider Web') out and inserted it into the Field Zone on the Duel Disk, closing it up afterward.
"Field Spell, 'Spider Web', activate!" announced Rutger.
The ground suddenly started turning into a spider's web.
"A spider web?" wondered Ms. Simmons.
"What kind of field is this supposed to be?" added Zack.
Back on the field, Rutger still had plenty more cards to use before his turn ended.
"Come forth, 'Shadow Spider Cocoon'!" he commanded, holding his right hand out.
Appearing on the field was a large, evil-looking spider with an enlarged backside (Level: 3/ATK: 0/DEF: 2000).
"If a face-up Field Spell is in any Field Zone: I can Special Summon this card from my hand," explained Rutger, before taking another card from his hand and placing it onto his Duel Disk, "Then I Normal Summon 'Dark Spider' in Attack Position!"
Appearing onto the field was a green/brown spider with a big backside (Level: 1/ATK: 0/DEF: 0).
"'Dark Spider's' effect! Once per turn: I can target 1 face-up Insect monster I control; I must increase its Level by 2 until the End Phase," continued Rutger, just as, while he spoke on, 'Shadow Spider Cocoon's' Level went up (Level: 3 → 5), "By targeting my 'Shadow Spider Cocoon', its Level will rise from 3 to 5!" He then gave the main command to his two monsters, "Level 5 'Shadow Spider Cocoon' dark tunes Level 1 'Dark Spider'!"
'Shadow Spider Cocoon' turned itself into five balls of darkness. They then were absorbed into 'Dark Spider', causing the spider monster to explode into a total of six balls of darkness, which then began spinning together in a circle above as Rutger echoed a sinister Summon Chant throughout.
"When dark overlaps with dark, the doors of the underworld will be opened to the world without light!" chanted Rutger, as the symbols 1 + 5 = 6 were shown briefly just before a massive beam of darkness exploded from within the six dark stars, "Dark Synchro! Show yourself, 'Underground Arachnid'!"
Appearing onto the field, as the Dark Synchro Summon ended, was a huge female spider that was way more frightening-looking than 'Insect Queen' (Level: 6/ATK: 2400/DEF: 1200).
"'Shadow Spider Cocoon's' second effect activates!" declared Rutger, drawing a card, "If this card is sent to the GY as material for the Synchro Summon of an Insect monster: I must draw 1 card."
The drawn card was a Monster Card known as 'Relinquished Spider'. 'Underground Arachnid' let out a threatening hiss, while Matt stared at it in an uncomfortable-like way—partially because it was a Dark Synchro Monster, and also because he felt uneasy around insects and spiders.
"A Dark Synchro Monster…" murmured Matt, but recovered quickly, "But my 'Shield Wing's effect prevents it from being destroyed by battle twice per turn!"
In response to Matt's statement, 'Underground Arachnid' appeared to take some mild offense as she let out a threatening growl towards him.
"It says that it doesn't want to be underestimated," taunted Rutger, before holding his right hand out and becoming more serious, "'Underground Arachnid's' second effect activates!" As he announced his monster's effect name, 'Underground Arachnid' opened her second mouth near her midsection, "Twine Thread!"
'Underground Arachnid' released a web thread that wrapped itself around 'Shield Wing', much to Matt's shock, before his monster was forcefully dragged onto Rutger's field behind 'Underground Arachnid'. Rutger merely gave a sinister chuckle over the turn of events.
"'Shield Wing' is now on his field," worried Matt.
"Once per turn: I can target 1 face-up monster my opponent controls; I must equip it to this card. (I can only equip 1 monster at a time to this card)," Rutger explained, as the 'Shield Wing' Effect Monster Card materialized within one of his Spell & Trap Zones as an Equip Card before giving his next command (this time an attack) to the eager-looking 'Underground Arachnid', "'Underground Arachnid', attack Matt Fudo directly!"
From there, 'Underground Arachnid' opened her main mouth and fired another web thread—this time in the form of an attack.
"Face-down card, open!" cut in Matt, as his Set card tried to flip face-up. However, it sparked halfway through activation before returning to its face-down position, "It can't be! My card won't activate!"
"It's thanks to 'Underground Arachnid's' first effect," corrected Rutger, "If this card attacks, my opponent cannot activate any Spell/Trap Cards until the end of the Damage Step."
Michael, Zack, and Ms. Simmons each gasped. Before he knew what hit him, Matt got struck in the chest by the web thread and hollered in pain before getting sent flying a good distance in the air before hitting the invisible wall and falling onto the ground, injured, as he lost a large amount of LP this early into the duel (LP: 4000 → 1600).
"In just Rutger's first turn…" reeled Michael.
"Matt already loses a very heavy 2400 LP!" added Zack.
"Matt…" frowned Ms. Simmons.
Back on the field, Rutger took one more card from his hand and slotted it into his Duel Disk.
"I Set one card and end my turn," he concluded, as a face-down card materialized on his field.
Matt realized he was going to be in for quite the fight, more so than he initially believed.
(elsewhere…)
Somewhere else in Hartford, inside an old building, three cloaked Dark Signers were busy speaking to each other when they heard the door open and turned towards the doorway. Entering the building was Vincent.
"Where have you been?" questioned Dark Signer 3 harshly.
"I was just spying on robo-boy," answered Vincent, which earned him some disapproving glances from the other Dark Signers. He shrugged as though he did nothing wrong, "I'm sorta biding my time before it's time to get the jump on him, and he never even discovered who I am. Heh! What a moron he really is…"
The other Dark Signers said nothing back, but were originally going to when they felt their new birthmarks (Dark Signer 1: Hummingbird, Dark Signer 2: Giant, Dark Signer 3: Killer Whale, Vincent: Dog) on their respective right forearms beginning to glow and pulse all purple.
"Heh, I guess it's finally started," Dark Signer 2 remarked, looking up, "Our boss must be engaging with one of the Signers."
"Our boss?" snorted Vincent, disgusted and disappointed, "That's not fair! I want a crack at the Signers, namely robo-boy, first!"
"We want revenge, too!" snapped Dark Signer 1, "But as much as we don't like Rutger's plan, we have our orders to standby and wait."
"Tch! Fine…" Vincent grumbled, before changing the subject, "So, how's the Indian girl doing?"
"See for yourself," offered Dark Signer 3, smirking and standing aside, "She's actually coming around."
Seated on the chair and still unconscious, was none other than Ashima. All of a sudden, her eyes snapped open while glowing purple, and a spider birthmark appeared on her right forearm. Oh boy, this was bad. Really bad.