Disclaimer: I don’t own Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D’s, only the Trap card Swarm is mine. This is an alternate version of the Dark Signers’ Saga.
Chapter One- Light or Shadows
Yusei’s eyes widened with fear as the Earthbound Immortal’s hand came closer. He had no way to avoid it. He had no cards on the field and his monsters wouldn’t be able to help as the Immortal could bypass them and attack directly. He heard his friends cry out his name and he closed his eyes as the hand came down and his life points went to zero. He waited to feel himself being swallowed by the shadows and sent to the Netherworld; in fact he waited to the point that he slipped off his rider and passed out.
Kalin watched in delight as his monster ended the duel and Yusei slipped off his rider. I did it! I got my revenge and Yusei’s going to the Netherworld! Kalin cackled in triumph, his eyes fixed on his old friend to see him disappear. Instead a purple light surrounded him and his rider, lifted both into the sky, and streaked off into the distance. Kalin blinked in surprise. He should have gone to the Netherworld; instead he seems to be headed for our headquarters.
“Hey, where’d Yusei go?” Crow demanded, snapping Kalin’s attention to him.
Kalin smirked as he suddenly had an inkling of what Roman had in mind. “Oh, don’t worry about him. Once my leader’s interrogated him, he’ll send Yusei to the Netherworld!” He revved his Runner and took off, cackling.
Crow exchanged worried looks with the twins before looking up at Jack. What was going to happen to Yusei and their fight against the Dark Signers?
Yusei awoke suddenly to a burning sensation on his arm. He sat straight up and gripped his arm. His mark. It was glowing and burning. A Dark Signer must be nearby; that would explain the burning feeling, he thought, staring at his mark. He then realized that he was on a bed and alone. He hopped off the bed and headed for the door with the intention of leaving. He grasped the knob and tried to turn it: Locked.
“Hey! Let me out!” he demanded, pounding on the door. He pressed an ear to the door to hear nothing. He knew he was a prisoner of the Dark Signers, but didn’t know exactly why, though he did have one idea: He was bait for the other Signers. He sat back on the bed and studied the door, but soon gave up. The hinges were on the other side and there was no keyhole to pick the lock. He was effectively trapped and could only wait for someone to come for him. He groaned and put a hand on his glowing, burning mark.
&&&&
“When will you interrogate him?” Kalin asked eagerly.
Roman didn’t reply immediately; he was running his fingers lightly over his glowing mark. “I do not intend to interrogate him. I intend to persuade him to join us.”
“Yusei? A Dark Signer?” Devack inquired. “You think he will join us?”
Roman smiled. “Oh with some bending of the truth and perhaps if I bond with him using my mark.” He put a hand on his arm. Yes, he thought. If I share my mark with Yusei, it will take control of him the way it did me, for I was a Signer before I chose the path of darkness. Roman stood. “Devack, head to New Domino City to pick up our comrade and maybe recruit two more people as Dark Signers.”
Devack nodded and left to head for the city while Roman headed for the room Yusei was in. He unlocked the door and slipped inside, closing it and leaning against it as he faced Yusei who had gotten up and faced the door.
Yusei got up from the bed and faced the door as it opened slightly, allowing Roman to slip in and close the door. He smiled down at the young man, his eyes glancing at Yusei’s arm for a moment. “Hello, Yusei. I am Roman, leader of the Dark Signers.”
“What do you want with me?” Yusei snapped. “Are you using me as bait?”
“Bait?” Roman laughed. “No, not at all. I want to talk to you that is all.”
“I have nothing to say to you.”
Roman was silent for a moment. “You fear me or at least the Earthbound Immortals.”
Yusei wanted to deny both claims, but his loss to Kalin still rattled him. The image of Ccapac Apu’s hand coming at him flashed through his mind. He turned away from Roman, determined not to let him see the fear in his eyes.
Roman grinned as Yusei turned away. Oh, yes. The Immortals scare him. I can use that to my advantage. “You do fear the Immortals. You’d rather not face them again. All you have to do in order to do that is walk away from all of this.”
“That would be the easy thing to do, but I can’t.” Yusei faced Roman. “I have to stop you and the other Dark Signers.”
“Why? Because Goodwin said so?”
“Yes.”
Roman shook his head. “Have you forgotten what Goodwin did to get you to duel in the Fortune Cup? He captured your friends. He manipulated you to seek out the Dark Signers. You can’t trust him.” Roman reached out with his right hand and grasped Yusei’s left arm. “My friends and I are not the enemy. Goodwin is the one who needs to be destroyed, to pay for what he did to you. I can help you to get back at him.” Roman’s mark glowed brightly and Yusei cried out in pain. His left arm was burning. Roman released him and Yusei grasped his arm. He looked at it and gasped. There, visible through his glove, was a purple spider mark on his arm that was glowing! “Why is there a purple mark on my arm that’s just like yours?”
“I am sharing my mark with you. You see, I am the fifth Signer. I had the mark of the dragon and the mark of the shadows. You and I are now alike. We both have two marks. However, I have chosen the shadows and distanced myself from my dragon mark.” Roman removed his left glove to reveal a metal hand and arm! He replaced it and headed for the door. “I will leave you to consider your options.” He opened the door, left, and locked it.
Yusei removed his gloves and pushed back his jacket sleeves to examine the marks. Both weren’t glowing now, but still visible, which made sense. He looked at the left; he hated bugs and he now had a spider mark- a mark of the shadows as Roman put it. He claims we’re the same, but he’s wrong. I will not choose the path of darkness. Maybe my dragon mark can cancel out and destroy the other. Yusei placed his mark on top of the spider.
Red and purple energy crackled around the room and Yusei cried out before separating the marks. The energy ceased and Yusei winced slightly. Okay, bad idea. But, I will fight back anyway. He laid back on the bed, closed his eyes, and drifted off to sleep, believing he would have more energy to fight back and defeat the dark mark.
Roman sat alone at the table, Kalin having gone to spy on the Signers to see what they were doing. They are most likely working on a rescue plan, Roman thought. Well, we can’t have that. Yusei will be a Dark Signer. Our bonded Mark will influence his thoughts as he thinks on what I said and it will influence him more quickly if he sleeps. I know there’s fear in his heart and I hope anger takes root as well.
Yusei awoke again to a burning sensation. He sat up and saw both marks were glowing. He sensed a connection through the dragon one. A Signer was dueling a Dark Signer…and it was in the city! Whoever it is, I hope they don’t meet an Immortal. He shuddered as his last duel went through his mind again. He pushed it asked and he dwelled on Roman’s words. He chose to be a Dark Signer. I will not do that.
He knew how I ended up in the Fortune Cup, what Good win did. Yes, he did hold my friends captive to gain my cooperation, but he knew what was to come. I don’t trust Goodwin, but he had the information the Signers needed. Yusei saw the marks stop glowing. The duel was over, but who won? I hope our side did or that the duel was interrupted.
Our side. Which side am I on? I have two marks. I can’t be on both sides as they’re in opposition to each other. He put a hand on the dragon mark. I’ve had this one since I was baron and it only recently became visible. The other one was forced on me. My birth mark is a sign of light and hope while the other is darkness and shadows. It is clear which one is desirable. Yes, it’s…
The spider mark glowed softly and Yusei’s blue eyes darkened slightly and his brow furrowed. Or is it clear? After all, how can I believe Goodwin will keep his word to complete the bridge? He’s manipulated and threatened me in the recent past. He manipulated others to achieve his own ends. Anger at Goodwin filled his heart and mind alongside his fear. He wanted Goodwin to pay for his deeds and the shadows would give him the power to do so. He just had to turn his back on the Crimson Dragon and accept the King of the Netherworld. An image of the world under the control of the king and the Dark Signers appeared in his mind and he found that he actually liked it. The spider glowed brighter as it fed on his anger and fear. A cruel smile came to Yusei’s face, his two marks switched places so that the spider was on the right and the dragon on the left before the latter vanished. A pillar of dark energy erupted around Yusei and when it ceased, he was dressed similar to Roman, his Facility mark had turned red, and when he opened his eyes, the whites were black. Yusei laughed softly in a dark tone. He was now a Dark Signer.
Chapter Two- The Dark Signers Gather
He pulled up the hood of his cloak and held up his arm at the door. He heard the click of the lock. He opened the door and walked out to see Roman alone at a table. The Dark Signer leader smiled and stood. It was clear from Yusei’s attire and escape from a locked room that he had given himself to the darkness. “Welcome to the Dark Signers, Yusei. The mark of the Spider belongs to you as well as me and as such, I give you these cards as symbols of your loyalty.” Roman handed over three cards: A field spell, a trap card, and Earthbound Immortal Uru. Yusei accepted them and shuffled them into his deck. Roman gestured to a chair to his left, indicating that Yusei should sit there. He did so and Roman also sat. “Devack is picking up a comrade from the city and hopefully another one or two members. Kalin is trying to learn what the Signers are doing."
“It’s obvious they’ll want to rescue me,” Yusei said before smirking. “I say they are the ones who need to be rescued.”
“Perhaps they can be- after they are defeated.”
Yusei was thoughtful for a moment. “I want to defeat Goodwin. He must pay for what he did to me.”
“He will, my friend. But first, the Signers must be dealt with.”
Yusei knew Roman was right. In order to get to Goodwin, the Signers needed to be eliminated. He wonder if he would get to duel one of the three remaining Signers.
&&&&
“We need to find out where these Dark Signers are hangin’ out so we can save Yusei,” Crow said firmly. Luna, Leo, Jack, and Akiza whom Jack picked up along with his runner stood silent and thoughtful.
“Easier said than done, Crow,” Jack finally said. “It’s not like one of them is going to walk up to us and hand us a map or lead us there.”
Suddenly Jack, Akiza, and Luna’s signs glowed and Crow grasped his arm. Everyone looked on in surprise as a dragon mark appeared on Crow’s arm- a very familiar mark.
“That’s Yusei’s mark,” Akiza gasped.
“Does that mean that Yusei’s been sent to the Netherworld,” Luna asked, voice trembling at the thought.
“I don’t know,” Jack admitted. “But, it seems Crow’s a Signer now.”
Crow stared at his arm. His friends was in trouble and the mark transferred to him. Was Yusei really in the Netherworld and lost to them? No, I refuse to accept that. He’s gotta be all right.
&&&&
Yusei revved the engine of his runner which was now black with red markings to go with the Immortal he had received. He raced his vehicle around the crater of the energy reactor, delighting in its new speed. The shadows were indeed powerful and rather generous with their followers. His runner never looked or ran better. He ran it up and over debris, and between the piles of trash. He was speeding down one path and saw another runner coming at him at incredible speed. At the last second, Yusei slid his runner sideways to a halt as did the other rider. Yusei looked over to see Kalin.
Kalin grinned as he took in Yusei’s face and clothes. He laughed. “So, you’re a Dark Signer, too. Roman said you were, but I had to see for myself.”
Yusei grinned as well. “I had time to think and realized that giving in to the darkness and shadows was the right way to go.” He held up his arm to show the spider mark. Suddenly, it glowed as did Kalin’s. Yusei sensed that Roman was summoning them. They stored their runners in a safe place before taking a secret shortcut to the meeting table. Roman was there as was Devack and a woman. Kalin and Yusei took their places and Roman said, “Yusei, this is Misty.” He waved a hand at the woman.
Yusei nodded at her and she seemed to be studying his face. Then she spoke. “The Fortune Cup winner. Yes, you have come into your true destiny and if you desire to continue on this new path, you must discard everything and everyone you have known.”
“What?” he said.
Misty smiled. “I dabble in fortune telling just by looking at peoples’ faces.”
“Ah.” Interesting, he thought. So, she was telling me that I must leave my old life behind to embrace my true destiny. That includes my friends. They want to stop us from bringing forth the King of the Netherworld. The King will bring the vision of the world I saw to life. A vision that greatly appeals to me.
“Misty brought us a new member as has Devack,” Roman said. “We are ready to take on the Signers or rather we will be when your friend truly accepts her destiny, Misty. It won’t take too long as a new card in her deck will enlighten her.”
Yusei wondered what card that was and where these new Dark Signers were. He wanted to deal with the Signers so that he could go after Goodwin. Footsteps sounded and everyone looked to see a young woman come forward, sporting the same cloak and hood as them, the latter pulled up. Her eyes were as black and evil as theirs.
“Welcome, Carly,” Roman said as he gestured to a seat beside Misty. She took the seat and he added, “Now, while we believe our decks to be unbeatable, it would be best to know the decks of the Signers. Yusei, perhaps you could give us some ideas on the subject?”
“Yes. Jack depends heavily on his dragon, so locking down his ability to Synchro Summon would be a good idea, but he can adapt. Best to take him out as quickly as possible. Akiza, she also depends on her dragon, but her plant cards are trouble by themselves. I’m afraid I don’t know much about the little girl, Luna.”
“No matter,” Devack said. “I insist I duel her as I have something she wants.” He held up a card.
“Ancient Fairy Dragon,” Yusei said. He thought of his own dragon. Would Stardust still serve him? I can try and if it won’t, I’ll dismiss it from the field and turn to Uru for victory. On second thought, I’ll put my full trust in Uru.
“Very well, Devack. The girl is yours,” Roman said.
Misty rose. “I demand to face Akiza again. She knows something about my missing brother and I want answers.”
Yusei was surprised at Misty’s reason to duel Akiza. Did she really know something about Misty’s brother? He didn’t really know Akiza all that well, so it was possible. So, who will face Jack? I defeated him once before and I’m certain I can do it again.
Carly raised her hand. “I ask to duel Jack,” she said.
“Do you?” Roman rumbled.
Misty smiled at Carly before looking at Roman. “She defeated the leader of the Arcadia Movement who was quite the strong duelist. I’m unclear as to why but I believe Jack has some small part in her rebirth.”
“Very well,” Roman said. He looked over at Yusei. “As I promised, Goodwin is yours once the Signers are gone.”
Yusei nodded, but his thoughts were on Carly. He met her briefly when he dueled that Shadow Drone, but hadn’t given her much attention. So, what was her connection to Jack? Was he really a part of her rebirth? My rebirth was the vision of the world under the control of the King of the Netherworld and my desire to make Goodwin pay. Misty’s fortune is true; by being reborn as a Dark Signer, I have left my previous life behind.
Roman broke up the meeting so that Devack, Misty, and Carly could track down their opponents and duel them. Yusei looked at Kalin. “What would you say to a friendly duel or a race?”
“Oh, I would like to see how fast your runner can go now.”
“You got it.” As they headed after their friends, Carly stood off to one side and as he passed, she said, “Yusei.”’
He paused and looked at her. “Yes?”
“How were you reborn?”
“Goodwin’s threatened and manipulated me in that tournament and the shadows have granted me the power to get revenge. Carly, what’s your story with Jack?”
“Revenge for most part. I know Jack will want to ‘save me’ and that will be his downfall. I would like for him to join us.”
“Defeat him, then. You can share your mark with Jack like Roman did with me.” Yusei exposed his mark.
Carly nodded as Yusei left for the surface. He suspected that Carly might have a crush on Jack and that was why she expressed a desire to make him a Dark Signer. If that’s the case, fine with me; it will insure that our side will win. He climbed the stairs leading upwards. He had a race with an old friend and was eager to see how fast his runner could go now.
Chapter Three- Two Down
Yusei pushed down on his pedals and the throttle, making his runner gain more speed. The nose of it met up with Kalin’s and he looked over at his friend who cackled and Yusei laughed as well. It was almost as if they had never parted- almost. They didn’t have runners back then, but now they did and they could race each other as they pleased. It was pure freedom that Yusei had never really known and he savored it.
Kalin came to a stop and Yusei did the same. “I’m impressed,” Kalin said. “It seems the shadows made your runner even better.”
“I have to agree. I’d love to use it in a turbo duel.”
“Too bad Jack’s already taken,” Kalin commented and several minutes later, a hummingbird glyph appeared in the sky. “Hmm, Carly found him.”
Yusei grinned; as long as Carly played her cards right, Jack would fall and become a Dark Signer like him. Kalin and I will be sure to get him to accept his destiny if Carly cannot. &&&&
Carly laughed as she raced Jack. He had accepted her conditions of the duel and thanks to her deck and Yusei’s advice, Jack would become a Dark Signer. Her Fortune Lady Earth attacked, taking Jack’s life points to 1600. One more attack and it’s done. Jack’s runner had come to a stop and she turned hers around and stopped a few feet from him. “Soon, you’ll be one of us, Jackie, just like your friend, Yusei.”
“You…lie,” Jack panted. “Yusei would never…”
“Oh, but he would and he did. I saw him myself, Jackie. Now, to end this duel and show you your destiny. I play the trap card, Enlightenment!”
&&&&
Yusei was going through his deck, particularly the cards Roman gave him when said man appeared. Yusei looked up to see him holding out more cards. “These might come in handy,” he said.
Yusei accepted them. “Thank you. I promise I’ll use them well.”
“I know you will.” He went to Kalin and presented him with cards too before leaving. Yusei gleefully examined his new cards. They were spiders of course, but that didn’t bother him anymore. His fear of bugs was his past and he had let go of his past; furthermore his Immortal was a spider as was his mark.
The hummingbird glyph overhead faded, catching his attention as well as Kalin’s. “Hmm, I wonder if Carly won,” he commented.
“We could either wait here for her to return or check the candles,” Kalin said. “We all have one and if we lose, the light on it goes out.”
“Really? That’s interesting.”
The roar of a runner sounded and both looked in the direction the glyph had been; surely Carly would come from that direction. The roar grew louder and suddenly a black and yellow runner soared over Yusei and landed directly in front of Kalin before the rider took off the helmet to reveal that it was Crow!
“Hey, Kalin!” Crow yelled. “I’m here to duel you and if I win you’ll tell me where Yusei is.”
“He doesn’t have to,” Yusei said. “I’m right here.”
Crow whirled around, joy and relief evident on his face. “Yusei! We were so worried-.’ He broke off his sentence and gaped at Yusei’s appearance. “What the-? You’re a Dark Signer!?”
Yusei smirked. “I am. I’m being given the opportunity to get even with Goodwin.”
“Goodwin? Isn’t he working against the Dark Signers?”
“He is.” Yusei headed over to Crow. “But he threatened my friends in order to get me to participate in the tournament. He manipulated me to see if I was a Signer.”
“Yeah, about that. I guess this explains…this!” Crow pulled off his glove to reveal a glowing dragon mark! His old mark!
Yusei didn’t bat an eye. “So, the Crimson Dragon’s chosen you.”
“That’s right and I’m thinking a duel might bring you back to your senses.”
“You believe I’m not thinking clearly? Then, let’s turbo duel and I’ll prove that I know what I’m doing.”
Yusei and Crow climbed onto their runners and Yusei activated his mark’s powers. A spider shaped barrier appeared and the glyph appeared overhead before the Speed World spell card was activated. Yusei was ready for his first duel as a Dark Signer and more than willing to send Crow to the Netherworld. “Let’s ride!” they exclaimed.
&&&&
Jack yelled as his life points hit zero. He couldn’t believe it. He had lost, just like Yusei and as per the conditions of the duel, he would become a Dark Signer. His head slumped forward as Carly drove up beside him.
“Come now, Jackie. This was meant to be.” She exposed her mark and put it beside Jack’s own. The dragon mark glowed before vanishing and a copy of the hummingbird appeared in its place. The world Jack had seen in the vision flashed in his mind and it greatly appealed to him. He opened his eyes to show that they were black and he shared evil grins with Carly. He had been reborn.
&&&&
Crow couldn’t believe what he was seeing. Yusei played his usual cards, but not in the usual way. He also had some spider cards and Crow knew Yusei hated bugs. He’s playing differently; it’s harsh and cruel. Now he’s played a trap that gains a counter for every defense monster. Crow played a face-down and ended his turn.
Yusei felt great satisfaction. He had Altar of the Bound Deity in play and was now only two counters ways from summoning Uru. He had chipped away at Crow’s life points with his spider Synchro monster and once Uru stormed the field, Crow would lose. “My turn,” Yusei declared drawing a card and his speed counter went to five while Crow’s went to three. “Now that there are two defense monsters, my altar gains two more counters.” Two more offering plates lit up. “Now I can add an Earthbound Immortal to my hand.” A card poked out of his deck and he took it, eyes glittering with triumph. “I send my altar and counters to the graveyard and summon Earthbound Immortal Uru!”
Crow watched in horror as the Immortal appeared as an object that pulsed and glowed before streaks of lights flowed into it. He knew those lights were people being absorbed by the Immortal. I can’t believe Yusei would do this! He’s completely on the side of the Daric Signers!
Yusei watched as Uru absorbed the life of the people. He felt none of Crow’s horror; instead he felt elated. Once it had absorbed enough energy, Uru would appear and his victory would be assured. His elation grew as his monster appeared and loomed over the two duelist. Crow stared in fear at the giant spider. He had felt fear when he first saw Kalin’s monster but this time the fear was far more intense as he was on the verge of experiencing its power firsthand.
“This is the end, Crow! Earthbound Immortal Uru, attack Crow directly and send him to the Netherworld!”
Crow shut his eyes as Uru fired spider silk at him, taking his life points to zero. He yelled in terror as his runner went spinning out of control and plunged into the barrier. He felt himself fade to dust, his life force sent to Uru before the spider and the barrier faded out. Yusei laughed loud and darkly as he brought his runner to a stop. He had won the duel and a Signer had been sent to the Netherworld. He felt joy at using an Earthbound Immortal, replacing the fear he had felt when he faced Kalin’s Immortal.
Chapter Four- Dark Victory
Kalin had followed Yusei and Crow along the outside of the barrier, watching his fellow Dark Signer duel in a new, cruel fashion and clearly enjoying every moment of it. Kalin had to admit it; despite the obvious signs of surrendering to the shadows and darkness, he thought Yusei was faking it. However, these cruel duel moves were putting those suspicions to rest. I wonder…will Yusei have the nerve to summon an Immortal or will he use his dragon? Kalin’s question was answered when Yusei activated his altar trap. Oh, he’s going for it. If I had to guess based on the spider cards, Yusei received Uru as his Immortal. He watched as he heard Yusei announce, “I send my altar to the graveyard and summon Earthbound Immortal Uru!”
Kalin grinned at that. Uru had not been summoned yet, so it had to absorb people to awaken. He watched his friend as Uru began absorbing and saw a demented look on his face. He didn’t mind that his monster was absorbing people to awaken. He truly is one of us. He watched Uru appear and Yusei ordering the last attack of the duel. Crow vanished into the barrier and Uru absorbed his life force before it and the barrier vanished.
Kalin and Yusei came to a stop and the former commented, “Very nice. That Signer didn’t know what hit him.”
Yusei chortled. Kalin was right. Crow thought Yusei would duel in his usual fashion but that was the old Yusei. The new one was cruel and had surrendered to the darkness within. A glow in the sky made both look up. A monkey glyph lit up the sky: Devack had found Luna.
“Devack will win,” Kalin said. “He showed me his deck and revealed his strategy. It’s a solid one.”
“We haven’t seen Misty’s lizard yet.”
“Yes. Perhaps Akiza is in hiding.”
“More like she keeps moving. She’s not afraid to duel anyone. She could be looking for Misty or heading toward Devack and Luna’s duel.”
“I have to agree,” an accented voice spoke up.
Two runners approached them and Yusei knew without looking that Carly had won and Jack was on their side now. Good; with Crow gone and Jack a Dark Signer like him, the Crimson Dragon wouldn’t be able to rise for another 5,000 years.
Carly and Kalin walked ahead of the other, chatting in low tones. “Well done, Carly.”
“Thanks, but it was too easy. I think he had feelings for me and thought he could ‘save me.’ Silly Jack; he was the one who needed saving.”
“Yusei said the same thing earlier; Roman told me so.”
Yusei and Jack were also engaged in their own conversation. Jack stared hard at Yusei’s face. “I didn’t believe Carly when she said you were a Dark Signer, but the proof is undeniable.”
“And you as well, Jack,” Yusei replied.
“It was a condition we made as we started the duel. If I won, Carly would return to the way she was. If I lost, I would become a Dark Signer.” Jack shook his head in amusement. “I was a fool to think of saving her. I was the one who needed to be saved.”
“Yes. The Signers need to be saved or defeated.”
“I agree. There are three left.”
“Two. I just defeated Crow and he’s in the Netherworld now.”
“Really? Did you use Stardust?”
Yusei shook his head. “I used my new Earthbound Immortal Uru.” He held up the card.
Jack arched an eyebrow. “A spider? But you hate bugs.”
“Not anymore. I was reborn when I gave in to the darkness, just as you were reborn when you lost the duel.”
“And I’m glad I did. I was shown a vision of the world upon the Dark Signers’ victory and I like what I saw.”
“I had a vision like that too and I liked it as well.”
The fading of light above made all four pause and look up: The monkey mark was gone; however in the opposite direction, the image of a lizard appeared. Devack’s duel had ended and Misty’s was beginning. The quartet resumed their trek, stored their runners, and took the shortcut to the meeting room. Roman was alone with chairs on either side of the table; a total of seven. Yusei was curious as to why there were seven chairs; even with Jack now on their side there need only be six chairs…of course. The person Devack brought back when he picked up Misty and Carly. I wonder who the seventh Dark Signer is. His eyes were drawn to the candles as they took their seats. There were eight and Yusei mentally counted: Roman, Devack, Misty, Carly, Kalin, Jack, himself, and the mystery Dark Signer. Eight candles and all are lit. The monkey glyph faded away as the duel ended and from the candles, it means Devack won.
Roman took in the group before standing and striding to Jack. “Welcome, Jack.” He examined the mark before tracing a finger around it. The mark glowed and shifted until it resembled another winged creature. “You now bear the mark of the condor and this is yours.” Roman produced a card to reveal it was another Immortal.
“Thank you. I will use it well.”
Roman resumed his seat and looked at Yusei. “I sense you just had a duel.”
Yusei nodded. “My dragon mark had transferred to someone who was a friend. He first challenged Kalin but decided on me when he saw me.”
“I assume he’s in the Netherworld.”
“Correct.”
“Good and I see that Devack has succeeded.” He nodded at the candles. “So, that leaves Misty.”
“What of the member Devack brought?” Kalin asked.
“I will initiate him in time. He also has a grudge against Goodwin. However I have already promised that Yusei will duel him first. In the unlikely event Goodwin wins, then I will send Greiger.”
“Greiger?” Yusei spoke up. “He’s the seventh Dark Signer?”
“He will be and he will bear the mark of the whale.”
Yusei nodded. He knew very well of Greiger’s hate for Goodwin, as did Jack. He does deserve to get revenge, but I will not lose. Goodwin will lose and be sent to the Netherworld.
Silence reigned for at least an hour, each person absorbed in his or her own thoughts. The sound of clicking heels was soon heard. Everyone looked to see Misty enter the room with Devack behind her. Both had satisfied smiles and presented Roman with two cards: Ancient Fairy Dragon and Black Rose Dragon!
“Excellent,” he said. “Yusei, Jack. If I could borrow your dragons. They will help activate the reactor and widen the doorway for the King of the Netherworld and aid in Greiger’s re-birth.” Yusei and Jack handed over their cards and as Roman left, Devack and Misty were asked about their duels as they sat.
“I ended up dueling the boy,” Devack said. “I believe the girl perished in the Spirit World.”
“Akiza finally admitted my brother’s fate,” Misty replied. “He was tested by Sayer, failed, and simply vanished. It turns out he was trained hard and he died in the midst of it.” She smiled at Carly. “Thankfully, he has already paid for his evil and been disposed of.”
A hum of power sounded from another room nearby followed by the sound of energy erupting upward. Everyone’s mark lit up brightly and Yusei felt the power of the shadows wash over him, increasing the darkness and evil within him. He was sure he wasn’t the only one who felt it. A yell was heard and everyone shared knowing looks. Greiger was being reborn as the seventh Dark Signer. Sure enough, Roman returned with Greiger who sat beside Jack and Roman returned the borrowed cards.
“Now that the Signers have been defeated or converted, the King of the Netherworld will be able to rule this world.”
“I’m afraid I will have to put a stop to that,” came a voice from the doorway. Everyone stood as their intruder entered: It was Goodwin!
Chapter Five- The Final Obstacle
“Rex,” Roman said calmly. “You never knew when to give up. You have lost, little brother.”
“Brother?” Jack gasped, voicing everyone’s shock.
Goodwin looked sideways at Jack. “Yes. Roman is my brother. He was the one who told me to gather the Signers to fight the Dark Signers.”
Roman laughed. “That’s what I told you, but I knew if at least one of them decided to join me, then the battle is won. As you can see, two of them joined me.”
“Something tells me it wasn’t of their own free will,” Goodwin said.
Yusei felt his anger toward the director rise and he stood to face him. “I did choose to change sides. All you’ve done is threaten and manipulate me.”
“It was for a greater good, Yusei,” Goodwin insisted.
“If you had been honest about all of this, then maybe things would have been different. Instead, you concealed information and only told us what you thought we needed to know.”
Jack nodded in agreement. Goodwin had been selective and only revealed certain pieces of information. He was now glad he lost to Carly. Goodwin would never lie or trick him again.
“How could I convince you that I had good reasons for what I did?” Goodwin asked.
“You can’t. However, I intend to make you pay for what you did.”
Goodwin raised an eyebrow. “Are you suggesting a duel?”
“I am. Follow me.” Yusei exited the room with Goodwin behind him. Roman rose and followed them. He was curious about his brother’s deck and was eager to see him suffer from Yusei’s Immortal. Once Rex is gone, the war will officially be over.
Yusei retrieved his disk from his runner before leading Goodwin to an open area aboveground. His chance at revenge was finally here and he was ready to thrust Goodwin into a world of pain and eventually into the Netherworld.
Goodwin extended his left arm and a duel disk extended from his metal arm, shredding his glove and part of his jacket and shirt in the process. “Yusei, should I win, you will become a Signer again and fight to bring the others back.”
“Fine, but I don’t intend to lose.” He raised his right arm and the spider barrier sprang into existence and its glyph appeared in the sky. A rumbling sounded and the ground began to shakes. Both duelists staggered about slightly. “What’s going on?” he called to Roman as the dark man appeared outside the barrier.
“The king is coming through the door!” Roman exclaimed, delighted. “Soon he will arrive and with the Army of Shadows, he will rule over the world!”
Yusei’s eyes lit up happily at this pronouncement. The king was making his way to their world! The war was over and the Dark Signers had won! All that’s left is to crush the resistance, he thought, turning his attention to his opponent.
Several turns later with the ground trembling, both duelists were in the midst of a red-hot duel. Neither one had noticed that the other Dark Signers had come up to watch. Goodwin wad down to his last 1500 life points and panting hard. Yusei still had 2650 life points, but wasn’t breathing hard, though he was on a duel high. His revenge was coming along nicely. Yes, he had taken some damage, but that was all right with him. It would have been boring and unsatisfying if he hadn’t lost any life points.
Goodwin attacked Yusei’s defense monster and the Dark Signer smirked. “Thanks. I was hoping you’d do that. I activate my trap, Swarm. When a defense monster is destroyed, I get two spider egg tokens.” Said tokens appeared on the field with zero attack and zero defense points.”
Goodwin growled slightly. “I place a card face-down and end my turn.”
“Good. My draw.” Yusei drew his card and sensed it: He had drawn Uru. Perfect. I played my field spell card a couple of turns ago and I have two sacrifices needed to summon it. “I sacrifice my two tokens to summon Earthbound Immortal Uru!”
There was a roar from the crater as Uru appeared on the field and fixed its gaze on Goodwin whose eyes widened at the sight of it. It was at this moment that he realized that Yusei was truly lost. He had given in to revenge, anger, fear, and darkness; everything the shadows needed to convert one into a Dark Signer. I was right; defeating the Dark Signers is practically impossible.
“Uru, attack Goodwin directly and send him to the Netherworld!” Yusei declared.
Uru unleashed its attack and as Goodwin’s life points hit zero, Yusei saw something emerging from the crater and re-shaping itself. It has to be the king, he thought. He snapped his attention back to the duel in time to see Goodwin fade to dust. The barrier, cards, and glyph faded away as the duel concluded. Yusei stood there with a smug triumphant smile. He had done it! He defeated Goodwin and had gotten his revenge!
“Well done, Yusei,” Roman said before sweeping an arm at the crater. “I believe His Majesty enjoyed Uru’s appearance and attack.”
Yusei watched as the king fully emerged and began to sweep across the Satellite before heading for the city. Roman went to one knee to show his loyalty for the king and the others followed suit. The vision Yusei had received was at last coming true. The world would be ruled by shadows and darkness for the next 5,000 years and all because of a change in destiny.
