Years ago in the Commons Districts
"Level 1 Tuning Magician tunes Gash the Dust Lord, whose level has been raised to 5! Synchro Summon!" Jack declared. "Celestial Wolf Lord, Blue Sirius attacks!"
Yusei fell to his knees in disbelief. Jack's shadow fell over him.
"Now do you see the power of one who will be King?" Jack spoke down to him. "But the gulf between our strength isn't the only reason you lost, Yusei! Your skill is untempered. A duelist needs to know the difference between being fearless and being reckless!"
Present
"The Duel Palace has been undergoing renovations ever since it was damaged in the final Friendship Cup and cannot yet host duels again," Melissa explained. "However, the Central Loop Line has been approved for use, allowing lucky citizens who are near enough to view the duel despite the short notice!"
"No! It's too far!" the glasses-wearing woman cried, as she, a blue-haired woman and a waitress who had come over burst into tears.
"We've just received word - get ready, everyone! Jack is about to arrive!" The crowds gathering under the track and around the city's big screens went wild and a moment later, Jack's unique white D-Wheel, the Wheel of Fortune, came into view. Stopping next to Yusei, he pointed into the air.
"THERE IS ONLY ONE KING!" The crowds cheered louder as Jack lowered his finger to point at Yusei.
"...And he is far from your league, Yusei Fudo. Rather than allow our Duel King to dirty his hands with a challenger who has done nothing to earn it, I will act as King's Champion and deal with you first."
"Always the showman, huh Jack?" came Yusei's unimpressed response. Jack smirked, and lowered his voice to a surprisingly even tone as he flashed a thumbs-down.
"Yusei… you're going to get dropped so hard you'll be feeling it in the morning."
The two field spells, Crossover Accel and Speed World - Street Race activated.
"An outlaw trash card for an outlaw trash duelist," someone called.
"Jack, crush that traitor!"
"QUIET!" Jack roared, silencing them all. "This is between me and him!"
"Why do they hate Yusei so much?" Yuzu asked.
"He went against everything they believed in," Aki replied. "He was a threat to the way they understood the world."
"So was I…" said Yuya.
"But you gained Jack's respect," Aki added. "Yusei doesn't care about that."
"So that you have one chance to prove yourself, challengers to the King's Champion take the second turn and get an attack! Then you will face my full fury!"
"Fine," Yusei replied. They focused their attention on the track and the countdown began.
"Riding Duel… Acceleration!"
"First, I Normal Summon Red Sprinter!" Jack announced. A flaming demon emerged from a burst of fire. "I use Red Sprinter's effect to Special Summon Red Resonator!" A second demon appeared, a small grinning imp with tuning instruments in its hands. "Red Resonator also targets Red Sprinter and gives me life points equal to its attack!" Jack's points increased to 5700. "Now, level 2 Red Resonator tunes level 4 Red Sprinter!
The crimson souls shall become one! All shall tremble before the champion's might! SYNCHRO SUMMON! Appear, level 6! RED WYVERN!"
As the burning dragon descended, boasting 2400 ATK, Jack set three cards.
"I end my turn."
"Jack's classic opening," Yuzu remarked. "I don't think he's taking Yusei that seriously."
"I summon Junk Forward!" Yusei said. "I can Special Summon this card when I control no monsters. I Normal Summon Junk Changer! Level 3 Junk Changer tunes level 3 Junk Forward!
Scared Spear that scorches the starry sky! Unleash your soul and awaken the world! Synchro Summon! Level 6, Stardust Assault Warrior!"
When Stardust Assault Warrior is Synchro Summoned, I can Special Summon a Junk monster from my graveyard." Junk Changer reappeared. "I activate Junk Changer's effect to lower their level to 2! Level 2 Junk Changer tunes level 6 Assault Warrior!"
Flashing ray that tears through the sea of stars! Roar throughout the world and shake our souls! Synchro Summon! Soar, level 8 Stardust Spark Dragon!"
"I activate Red Wyvern's quick effect!" Jack shouted as Spark Dragon materialized. "Once per turn, when a Synchro Monster with higher attack points is summoned, I can destroy it!"
"I chain Stardust's effect!" Yusei called back. "Sonic Barrier!" The whirlwind of energy deflected Red Wyvern's flames. "I set one card. Battle! Shooting Assault!"
"I activate Red Gem to prevent my Wyvern's destruction!" Jack shouted. His life points dropped to 5600.
"My turn! I summon Force Resonator! Level 2 Force Resonator tunes level 6 Red Wyvern!
The heavens and earth shall tremble before the king's might! Let the power of the one and only ruler be carved into your soul! SYNCHRO SUMMON! Level 8! The savage soul, SCARLIGHT RED DRAGON ARCHFIEND!"
The demonic dragon erupted into flames, orange light radiating off his body.
"Once per turn, Scarlight can destroy all monsters you control with lower attack and inflict 500 damage to you for each one! ABSOLUTE POWERFLAME!" A wall of fire blew towards Yusei and his monster, covering them from view. When the flames cleared, an angel with cyan pigtails was revealed in front of Yusei's field.
"By discarding Effect Veiler during your Main Phase, I can negate the effects of one monster you control until the end of turn!" Yusei called.
"In that case, to battle!" Jack continued. "Scarlight attacks Spark Dragon! CRIMSON HELL BURNING!"
"Spark Dragon's effect!" Yusei shouted. "Sonic Barrier!" Scarlight's flaming fist slammed into the barrier, but the flames licked at Yusei as his life points dropped to 3500.
"Draw! I summon Jet Synchron! I can now add one Junk monster to my hand. I add Junk Dragonlet and, since I control a Synchro Monster, I Special Summon it. Level 1 Jet Synchron Tunes Level 5 Junk Dragonlet!
Sacred wings that command the meteor shower! Ride the wind of souls around the world! Synchro Summon! Level 6, Stardust Charge Warrior!
When Charge Warrior is Synchro Summoned, I can draw a card. Battle! Stardust Spark Dragon attacks Scarlight! When a Synchro Monster battles, I can banish Junk Dragonlet from my graveyard so it gains 800 attack!" The dragon's ATK increased to 3300. "Shooting Assault!"
"I activate my Trap! King Scarlet!" Jack shouted. "Scarlight is protected from destruction by this battle!" His life points dropped to 5300 as a flaming shield materialized in front of Scarlight to take the hit. Then it reappeared in its own spot on the field. "Afterward, King Scarlet also summons a token!"
"Stardust Charge Warrior can attack every Special Summoned monster my opponent controls!" Yusei shouted. "Attack the token! Shooting Crusher!" Charge Warrior shot forward, shattering the token to pieces.
"It's too bad attacking again would be suicide," Jack called back.
"Guess again!" Yusei threw his hand forward. "Attack Scarlight!" Scarlight and Charge Warrior flew towards each other as everyone watched in shock. "I send Rush Warrior from my hand to the graveyard during damage calculation, and Charge Warrior's attack points double!" Charge Warrior knocked Scarlight's claw away, and soared upward with an uppercut and an afterimage of Rush Warrior behind him. "Shooting Rush Crusher!"
Jack surged forwards and reached for an action card, now that he had three Speed Counters.
"I activate Damage Banish!" Charge Warrior's fist caught Scarlight in the midsection and launched him upward before he exploded. Gasps and cries of surprise rang upward from the crowds below and Jack looked back at Yusei furiously.
"I activate my trap, Stardust Flash! I Special Summon Stardust Assault Warrior from my graveyard!" Yusei shouted, and it became clear that he hadn't summoned that monster just to get to Spark Dragon more quickly - he'd been planning to bring him back as soon as possible. "Attack! Shooting Driver!"
"I activate my third trap, King's Consonance! When you attack directly, I banish monsters from my graveyard to use as Synchro Materials! I banish Force Resonator and Red Wyvern!
Rend the obsidian darkness! Scorch Heaven and Earth! SYNCHRO SUMMON! Isolated, absolute king! Glare at all creation and display your ferocious might! Level 8, HOT RED DRAGON ARCHFIEND!"
Everyone watched in disbelief. A second ace, a new demonic dragon, descended.
"My turn!" Jack announced. "During Main Phase 1, Hot Red can destroy all other monsters in attack mode! ABSOLUTE JUDGEMENT!"
"Spark Dragon's effect protects themselves! Sonic Barrier!" Spark Dragon blocked the wall of flame, but Charge and Assault Warrior were swept away and destroyed. "Sorry, guys," Yusei winced.
"Do you think that's the worst you have to worry about?" Jack said. "I can activate Normal Spells now. I activate Red Reborn! Resurrect, SCARLIGHT RED DRAGON ARCHFIEND!"
"Hot Red Dragon Archfiend attacks your Spark Dragon! RED-HOT HELLFIRE BURNING!" Stardust was finally destroyed, and Yusei's life points dropped further to 3000.
"Spark Dragon…"
"So, Yusei!" Jack called. "You came all this way after all these years, now what do you have to say for yourself?" Yusei paused and closed his eyes in thought.
"Top… Common… I could never stand being called either. Everyone always wants to know, why choose fighting for survival every day when I had everything? Everything? What I gave up was worthless compared to what I'd already lost. No matter where I ended up, everything was always about getting ahead, be it taking or keeping something from someone else. This whole city has always been suffocating."
"Suffocating..?" Crow whispered.
"Whatever talk there ever was about friendship or bonds, it was always the same whenever someone else fell behind," Yusei cast an accusatory glance out at the watching crowds. "Your own friends and family suddenly became worthless!"
"Strong words… from a loser!" Jack shouted. "Scarlight attacks directly! CRIMSON HELL BURNING!" Scarlight surged forward, his fist ready to slam into Yusei. Yusei shot forward, feinted in one direction, and ducked past Jack at just the right moment.
"Action spell - Evasion!" he called, his D-Wheel jumping into the air over Scarlight's attack.
"You won't stay in front of me for long… I end my turn," Jack huffed.
"I activate Tuning!" Yusei announced. "I send the top card of my deck to the graveyard, then add a Synchron tuner monster to my hand! The top card of my deck is Graceful Reveival! I add Unknown Synchron to my hand! Since only you control any monsters, I Special Summon Unknown Synchron from my hand!" Yusei placed down the card, summoning a circular machine made from twisted scrap metal and a single sensor in its center.
"I Normal Summon Tuningware!" Yusei summoned a robot wearing a wok on its head. "Level 1 Unknown Synchron tunes level 1 Tuningware!
Gathering wishes will call out a new speed's horizon! Become the path its light shines upon! Synchro Summon! The power of hope, level 2! The Tuner Synchro Monster, Formula Sychron!"
Jack looked at the racer-based monster, unimpressed.
"Formula Synchron allows me to draw a card, and using Tuningware as Synchro Material also allows me to draw a card!" Yusei drew two new cards and studied them intently.
"Looks like you're placing a lot on those cards," Jack remarked, "you'd better make the most of them."
I have no choice but to place my faith in this card, Yusei thought as he set it. "I end my turn."
"If that card is all you have left, I'll obliterate you right now for wasting my time!" Jack shouted. "I'll prove to you that a duelist like you can't defeat my burning soul! I summon Chain Resonator! I can now Special Summon another Resonator from my deck! I summon Mirror Resonator!" A chorus of gasps and cheers rang from the streets and rooftops. "Level 1 Chain and Mirror Resonator tune level 8 Scarlight! DOUBLE TUNING!" Jack's D-Wheel was engulfed in fire, trailing behind as it launched up into the air.
"The king and devil cross over here! Call the soul of the Crimson Dragon, and raise the roar of creation itself! SYNCHRO SUMMON! Appear now, level 10, TYRANT RED DRAGON ARCHFIEND!"
Cheers exploded from the crowds as Tyrant descended.
"This monster will destroy everything you have left," Jack called to Yusei.
"I'm not just waiting around to let you!" Yusei yelled back. "I activate my trap, Descending Lost Star! Return, Stardust Spark Dragon!"
"Desperation!" Jack spat. "Your monster can't even protect anything with their effect negated! I'll destroy your field and you afterwards in an instant!"
"...is that so?" Yusei asked. "I activate the other effect of Formula Synchron: I can use him to make a Synchro Summon in my opponent's main phase!" People cried out in disbelief, but the Synchron and Spark Dragon rose into the air together.
"You were hiding an ability like that?" Jack called.
"There's no such thing as a useless card, right Jack?" Yusei asked, closing his eyes. "Level 2 Formula Synchron tunes level 8 Stardust Spark Dragon!
All thoughts spun by the tracks of falling stars! Join your bonds together and fill the world!"
Yusei accelerated, shooting forward at a speed even Jack looked shocked at before he could react, a red shockwave surrounding his D-Wheel.
"Accel Synchro!"
A sonic boom clapped over the highway as Yusei vanished. People looked around in astonishment when Yusei reappeared, somehow behind Jack again, now accompanied by a new dragon, shining with golden armor and wings of light.
"Descend, level 10! Stardust Chronicle Spark Dragon!"
AN: If anyone was wondering, Yusei can indeed Accel Sycnhro, with his upgrade from the manga, and that's what I was setting up back in chapter 19.
nightshroud96: I'm glad Aki made a good first impression.
Next time: Yusei and Jack step up the intensity in their duel, dredging up more personal demons.