"A whopping 5600 points of damage!"
Leo, moments ago worried, now looked like he could soar with joy.
"Awesome, Uncle Goodwin! As expected of you!"
After all, this was the uncle who had once smacked him across the face with a gigantic card draw—just as ferocious as ever.
Luna added,
"In a crisis that looked totally hopeless, he suddenly pulled off such a reversal…"
'The Big Saturn' started to tremble, its core boiling like magma, the enormous sphere swelling ominously. The moment this went off, Rudger would be defeated before his Earthbound Immortal could even arrive!
But Rudger was no ordinary duelist—he still had countermeasures.
"I activate my Set Card—Trap Card, 'Altar for Tribute!'" Rudger said.
"Release one monster on my field to recover Life Points equal to its original ATK!
I release 'Underground Arachnid!'"
A giant altar emerged. The spider-woman's body instantly dissolved into a red mist, sucked into the altar and then absorbed into Rudger, converting into life force.
[Rudger, LP 4000 → 6400]
Leo: "He has 6400 Life now!?"
"Not only that," said Yusei, "but by releasing 'Underground Arachnid' before Junk Destroyer could destroy 'The Big Saturn,' 'The Big Saturn' loses its equipped target and is automatically destroyed. When Junk Destroyer's effect resolves, 'The Big Saturn' is no longer on the field, so its effect doesn't trigger."
Akiza added,
"If it isn't destroyed by effect, Saturn's effect doesn't activate. Goodwin's finishing combo has been stopped."
Leo:
"Aw man! What a waste—it was such a beautiful play!"
Even though Saturn was gone, Junk Destroyer unleashed a barrage of punches, sending waves of energy that shattered the massive spider web in the air.
"Now your field is empty," Kira declared. "Junk Destroyer, direct attack!"
The steel colossus hurled four mighty blasts at Rudger, knocking him into the air. He spun 360 degrees before crashing to the ground.
For an ordinary person, that impact could have been fatal.
[Rudger, LP 6400 → 3800]
"I activate the Spell 'Dual Gate!'
By banishing another copy of this card from the Graveyard, I can draw two cards.
I banish the one sent last turn to draw two more cards!"
Kira drew again.
"I set two cards and end my turn."
Rudger, however, remained on his knees, dark smoke pouring from his body. He gripped his head, fingers digging deep into his hair, as if trying to crush his own skull.
In the flickering purple flames overhead, two phantom images could be seen struggling violently inside him: one the gaunt face of an ancient knight, the other Rudger's own, marked with the Dark Sign.
"Aaarrrgh!"
Rudger roared, his voice shredding into two tones.
The spectators recoiled in shock; Leo and Luna even retreated several steps in fear.
"What's happening to him?" Leo gasped.
"What's going on with this guy!?"
Kira frowned slightly.
"You're being fought over by two versions of yourself from different dimensions, aren't you, Rudger?"
Rudger struggled for a moment. Eventually, the two phantoms were sucked back into his body, and he regained control. Shakily, he got to his feet.
"It's none of your concern."
"That might not be true." Kira persisted.
"Tell me, what happened?"
Rudger hesitated, then spoke.
"As you saw, someone implanted another version of me into my body. Whoever accomplishes their goal first will seize this body—the loser will probably vanish forever."
"Who did this?" Kira asked.
Rudger shook his head.
"I don't know. Only that it was some higher existence far beyond us. For it, toying with our fates may be nothing but a game."
Kira suspected this was the mastermind he sought, and pressed further:
"And what goal must you accomplish? Did that being give you a mission?"
Rudger was silent for a few seconds, then nodded, then shook his head.
"If you had to call it a mission, it would be fulfilling our respective destinies."
He continued calmly.
"For me, the requirement is simple. As a Dark Signer, defeat every Signer, reverse the laws of the underworld onto the human world, plunge everything into chaos—and defeat you, specifically."
Kira raised an eyebrow.
"He mentioned me by name?"
"Yes. He said you're a major obstacle and must be eliminated.
In my opinion, though, that being's only real goal is to summon darkness and chaos. Nothing more."
Shaking his head and unwilling to say more, Rudger declared resolutely,
"But the reason doesn't matter. What matters is, I won't die here. I won't let myself be erased. I will win—no matter what!
My turn, draw!"
Though the others didn't understand what had just happened, it was clear the life-or-death duel would continue.
Leo noted,
"Now there's not a single defending monster left. That Earthbound Immortal altar can't gain new counters either!"
But Rudger merely sneered.
"I activate my Set Card—Trap Card, 'Offerings to the Bound Deity!'
Pay half my Life Points to place two Earthbound Counters on the Continuous Trap, 'Altar of the Bound Deity!'"
[Rudger, LP 3800 → 1900]
As the Life Points paid, two violet flames burst forth on the altar, as though Rudger was sacrificing his own life to feed the Earthbound God.
Everyone was shocked.
"Now the altar has four counters!" Jack exclaimed.
Akiza cautioned,
"But the field spell has been destroyed. Without it, the Earthbound Immortal…"
Rudger sneered,
"I activate the Spell 'Terraforming,' adding a Field Spell from my deck to my hand.
I add a second 'Spider Web' from my Deck, and activate it!"
Once again, the white, web-like structure enclosed the arena.
Yusei warned,
"Everyone, get ready! It's coming!"
The pressure from the Earthbound Immortal's descent was overwhelming, not just for the duelists but even for those nearby. Even protected by their dragon marks, the tension remained immense.
Sure enough, Rudger raised his arm high, the dark purple spider tattoo burning on his hand.
"I send the Continuous Trap 'Altar of the Bound Deity,' now with four counters, to the Graveyard and Special Summon the God from the Deck!
Descend—
—Earthbound Immortal Uru!!!"
…