Chapter 302

When people meet and become friends, they influence and grow with each other.

Crow and Shinji had known each other since they were very young. He was the first "kid from the outside" Crow met besides Yusei and Jack. Because both of their decks were called "BF," the two got along quite well.

As people from the bottom, both loved dueling, and their duels were very detailed, so they often exchanged ideas, sparred, and grew together.

The fork in their life paths perhaps lay in the fact that while Crow was busy dueling with Kiryu, Yusei, and Jack in the lower city, searching for the meaning of his life, Shinji chose to strive to become a professional duelist and then challenge the duelists of the upper city.

However, because he wasn't strong enough at the time, he lost to an upper-city duelist, and was insulted by that upper-class duelist who used rare, powerful cards: "Your cards are trash; you don't deserve to duel at all."

The one thing a duelist cannot accept is for their cards to be insulted!

He could not accept those words no matter what!

Already troubled by the massive gap in living standards between the upper and lower levels, and already extremely dissatisfied with the upper city, Shinji grew to genuinely despise the upper city even more from then on.

He couldn't stand that while people in the upper city could enjoy themselves and squander cards at will, the children on his side could only rummage through trash to survive.

He couldn't accept that the upper city could live a life of leisure, while they in the lower city didn't even know where their future lay.

He couldn't accept that his beloved cards were no different from trash in the eyes of the upper-city people.

His future was perhaps decided at that very moment.

A rift in a relationship can often be caused by just a short moment of separation.

Even friends who grew up together might have long since "stopped knowing" each other when they look back. Because their respective aspirations, character, and skills were enough to make them trust each other, combined with years of friendship, they assumed the other was still the familiar person they remembered, with the same interests and the same philosophy, so they often stayed together, spending their days side-by-side.

But as time passed, they gradually discovered that they had more and more disagreements in life and dueling, more and more friction over details, and more and more small conflicts arose as a result.

One day, a relationship that was already not so harmonious would develop a complete crack, and conflicts would erupt entirely.

And at that time, they would ask the same question—why couldn't the other person understand them? Why had the other person changed?

Perhaps they had never changed.

It wasn't them who had changed.

But regardless—

The duel had already reached this point!

"I activate the Spell Card, Magic Removal! Destroy your Blackwing Whirlwind!" Crow thought for a moment and still activated the card, reducing the number of cards Shinji could search next turn.

"Then, I set one card and end my turn!"

"My turn, draw—"

Shinji drew a card.

"Crow, I have always considered you my best friend."

"I consider everyone my friend!"

"No matter what, I will defeat you. I will lead our people to resist the upper class and let everyone live a better life, even if I die, I don't care—" He raised his left hand. "Come on, take my life away, whoever it is!"

He shouted madly: "You are angry too, aren't you? You are dissatisfied too, aren't you? As the 'God' of the lowest level, as the 'God' who has suffered so much!

Take all of my soul away; as long as I can resist, nothing else matters!!"

His eyes flashed with a scarlet light, and the shadow of a monster, which appeared extremely short and powerless compared to other Earthbound Immortals, emerged behind his D-Wheel.

"Let's go, Crow!"

"Activate the effect of Blackwing - Zephyros the Elite!"

He shouted.

Another deployment.

"Here it comes again, that monster!"

"Are they going to do it again?"

A group of police officers watched in surprise.

That's right—

Do it again.

Blackwing is that kind of deck; for the sake of final victory, they resist one after another.

A moment later, two Synchro Monsters appeared on his field again.

Blackwing - Chidori the Rain Sprinkling, Level 6, WIND, Winged Beast, ATK 2400, Synchro Tuner.

Blackwing - Armed Wing, Level 6, WIND, Winged Beast, ATK 2500.

"Crow, your Blackwing Dragon and Zephyros the Elite on the field are in Attack Position. As long as the attack goes through, I win!"

That's right.

Many police officers nodded.

At this moment, as long as Shinji chose to attack, he should have won.

"But!" Shinji suddenly changed his tone and said, "Based on my understanding of you, your set card must be a card used to protect other monsters!"

"..." Crow didn't speak, but just by not refuting this point, Shinji was convinced that his guess was indeed correct.

"Sure enough..." Shinji's face was gloomy. "You must be thinking that a card like the ultimate decisive weapon only exists once in my deck, right—"

"But, everything is different now!

I am going to launch the final revolution!"

"I will tune the two monsters on the field!"

What?

Crow widened his eyes and looked back.

"Gathering wings of companions, gather together!"

"Unite the power of resistance and become the spearhead that raises the flag of revolution!"

"Synchro Summon!"

"Level 12, Blackwing - Full Armor Master!"

Click, click, click.

Countless gun barrels began to load, and a huge deep-blue bee piloting a massive airship flew above Crow.

Its existence was like a massive fleet constantly bombing, aimed at everything on the ground!

Blackwing - Full Armor Master, Level 12, WIND, Winged Beast, ATK 3000.

"ATK 3000..."

Crow frowned.

Although it was a card he didn't recognize, its ATK was the same as Blackwing - Full Armor Master. If that was the case, there was no need to fear.

"Full Armor Master's effect: Insect-Type Synchro Monsters on the field gain 200 ATK for each of your banished Insect-Type monsters. I have 6 banished insects, so its ATK is 4200!"

Blackwing - Full Armor Master, ATK: 3000 -> 4200.

"The ATK actually reached 4200?!" Ushio wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. He had no way to deal with this level of ATK.

"Because this effect doesn't need to be activated, Crow, your Blackwing - Full Armor Master has no way to activate its effect either!"

"With that, I'm attacking—"

"Wait, activate Trap Card, Provocation! During the opponent's Main Phase 1, select 1 monster on your field. As long as the selected monster is on the field, the opponent must target the selected monster for attacks this turn!"

Crow looked at the armed Blackwing - Full Armor Master. The monster nodded at him and raised the great sword in its hand.

"I choose Full Armor Master!"

"...Crow, why not choose your token? It's a monster in Defense Position. You could have easily gotten through this turn just by choosing it!" Shinji questioned Crow.

Crow didn't reply. His meaning was already obvious.

Even if he was covered in wounds, he didn't want to give up his final bottom line as a human.

"Then let's battle! Full Armor Master attacks your Full Armor Master!"

His Duel Runner was knocked away, and the massive impact threw him directly against the track's guardrail. But just like when he had "flown down" from a higher track relying on a glider, the track, which had had a large portion of its guardrails destroyed by the Fusion Army, could no longer protect the rider.

Crow, LP: 3800 -> 2600.

"...End turn."

Crow closed his eyes.

His heart was thundering. He could feel the power of the Earthbound Immortal nourishing his body madly.

That was the power brought by the ultimate Earthbound Immortal, and his cards began to become increasingly radical under these circumstances.

The power of the Earthbound Immortal would amplify the darkness and ruthlessness in one's heart.

He slowly opened his eyes.

He saw it—

"My turn!" Crow drew a card madly. He took a look, gritted his teeth, "Activate Spell Card, Allure of Darkness, draw two cards, and banish Blackwing - Zephyros from my hand."

He looked at the card he drew, and his pupils contracted sharply.

He had drawn the card that would bring this duel to its conclusion.

"I will tune the Level 4 Blackwing - Zephyros and the Level 2 token!"

"Come, the crow that brings demonic energy."

"Blackwing - Boreas the Sharp Wind."

This is?

Shinji was a bit confused.

"The special effect of Blackwing Whirlwind, Special Summon Blackwing - Zephyros from the Graveyard!"

"The effect of Blackwing - Boreas the Sharp Wind, activate when this card is Synchro Summoned."

The crow, which looked a bit evil, waved the weapon in its hand.

"Send a Blackwing monster from the deck to the Graveyard, and this monster's level becomes the same as that monster's level. I send the Level 10 Blackwing - Aurora from the deck to the Graveyard."

Blackwing - Boreas the Sharp Wind, Level: 6 -> 10.

What does this mean?

Shinji didn't understand at all why he would raise it to Level 10. Even for a transition Synchro, shouldn't he change to a different level?

"Field Spell Card—Earthbound Geoglyph!"

Suddenly, Crow took out a card and inserted it into the Field Spell zone of his Duel Disk.

Shinji widened his eyes sharply.

Is it coming!?

Shinji clenched his fists.

It doesn't matter. Crow still has plenty of monsters on his field that can attack. Even if he summons an Earthbound Immortal, it's no big deal!

"It's coming, Shinji—Quick-Play Spell Card, Swallow's Nest!"

"Swallow's Nest?" Shinji looked at Crow's field. "At this point, what can Swallow's Nest Special Summon..."

He shook his head and said, "I admit, your monster effects are indeed strong enough, but high ATK is high ATK. In a duel, even being 1 point higher in ATK can keep you invincible, and Full Armor Master won't even be destroyed by effects—"

"I will Tribute the Level 10 Boreas the Sharp Wind!"

"Level... 10?" Shinji muttered to himself. "Could it be..."

Screech—

Everyone seemed to hear a screech.

Tierra was startled, looked around, and exclaimed, "What the hell."

Because a situation she couldn't have predicted had occurred.

The next moment, the "Geoglyph" in the sky seemed to come alive, and a massive bird that shrouded the entire lower city slowly spread its wings.

It was pitch black, with deep purple patterns on its body. Spreading its wings, it felt as if the sun, moon, and stars were rising and setting.

Its massive body made even the Full Armor Master, which was capable of bombing the ground, look extremely small, like a bee facing an eagle.

"What... is that?" Shinji stared wide-eyed.

He didn't seem to be looking at a monster, but at a phenomenon, a natural change!

"Special Summon!"

"Earthbound Immortal Wiraqocha Rasca!"

Earthbound Immortal Wiraqocha Rasca, Level 10, DARK, Winged Beast, ATK 1.

"ATK 1???" Shinji was shocked.

"ATK 1?" Ushio was also dumbfounded.

How could a monster have such an ATK value?

As the saying goes, when things are abnormal, there must be a reason.

1 point of ATK is as bizarre as it gets.

Ask any normal duelist, who would think it's normal to summon "1" in front of 4200 ATK?

Crow was clearly not the type to surrender.

What's more, it was such a massive, majestic monster that made people feel "divine power"?

While he was thinking this, he saw the huge Earthbound mark on Crow's back begin to glow.

Crow picked up the Blackwing Dragon on the field.

This card was left to him by the previous owner of his D-Wheel, a card symbolizing freedom and protection.

He had always firmly believed in this.

The next second, the Earthbound Immortal's mark appeared on the card, and a brand new form began to emerge slowly under the blessing of darkness.

Behind Crow, pitch-black wings seemed to spread, pulling him into the darkness.

"Banish the Blackwing Dragon on my field and the Boreas the Sharp Wind from the Graveyard to Special Summon from the Extra Deck—"

"Black gale! Turn hidden feelings into a torrent of assault!"

"Spread your noble wings!"

"Black-Winged Assault Dragon!!"

The wings of the Blackwing Dragon exploded with a bang, and the massive wings seemed to be nested with a layer of steel, appearing sharp and powerful.

But compared to the previous Blackwing Dragon, the current one had lost some softness and instead appeared aggressive, not hiding its malice at all, as if it wanted to devour everything.

Black-Winged Assault Dragon, Level 10, DARK, Dragon, ATK 3200.

"Black-Winged Assault Dragon—Hmph, has your monster evolved too?" Shinji saw this monster and braced himself. Although he didn't know what the Earthbound Immortal's effect was, if the ATK was only 1, he should still be able to hold on. "But, in terms of ATK, mine is still higher!"

"Attack is just one way to duel!" Crow shouted. "As long as Black-Winged Assault Dragon is on the field, each time the opponent activates a monster effect, place a Black Feather Counter on this card, and then inflict 700 damage to the opponent!"

What?

All the duelists watching were dumbfounded.

Compared to monster effect negation, this effect, while not as ruthless, was even more "vicious."

"This... doesn't look like a card Crow would use at all!" Yusei was shocked.

In the rough "history" he knew, Crow never had this card!

Crow was a smart, sharp, and adaptable person. Using various Blackwings to combine and cleverly defeat enemies was Crow's greatest characteristic.

And this card appeared too aggressive!

"And... the effect of Earthbound Immortal Wiraqocha Rasca—this card can attack directly, and the opponent cannot target it for attacks."

"Once per turn, skip the Battle Phase to make the opponent's LP 1!"

"Ah?"

"My god!"

"With these two effects combined, isn't it an ironclad win!?"

"Holy..."

Everyone watching this duel exclaimed.

"This, this, this, that person is so powerful!?" Serena opened her mouth wide.

Tenjou Hikari looked at the ultimate Earthbound Immortal, which was slowly aiming at Shinji and flapping its wings slightly, and couldn't help but frown.

"Ahhhhhh————"

Shinji was blown by the gale. His body swayed wildly, and he almost fell off his D-Wheel. Fortunately, Crow didn't have any real "killing intent," otherwise, he would have died instantly.

Shinji, LP: 1.

"Black-Winged Assault Dragon and the Earthbound Immortal. Next turn, even if Shinji destroys the Black-Winged Assault Dragon in battle, he will still have to face the Earthbound Immortal's direct attack next turn."

"The Earthbound Immortal is not affected by Spell/Trap effects. And if Shinji wants to activate an effect, he will have his LP deducted by the Assault Dragon."

"Wanting to battle directly won't work either because the ATK is insufficient. Using monsters for continuous Special Summons and then appearing with a monster capable of piercing attacks to win should be the best choice to try... but... Crow wouldn't have failed to think of this."

"Set one card, end turn."

Shinji wobbled as he caught up. He gritted his teeth and stared at Crow.

"My turn—"

"Activate Trap Card, Waboku."

!!!

Shinji widened his eyes.

"This turn, my monsters cannot be destroyed by battle, and battle damage I take becomes 0!"

Shinji looked at the Bee Force Nest he drew, his hands softening.

Waboku...

Waboku!!

Harmony...

Many past spars flashed through Shinji's mind, his friendship with Crow, and the arguments he had with Crow because of different strategies.

But what followed was the endless tragedy of the bottom-level people in this world!

He opened his eyes sharply.

"Crow!!!" He roared, "I don't know, I really don't know how our world can get better!"

"Shinji..."

Shinji didn't know where the future of the lower-level people lay, or rather, he had long seen the "future" of the lower city.

Dim, lightless, like trash, driven into a dirty and chaotic environment, without even a shred of mercy.

He didn't want, nor did he hope, that the people of the lower city in the future would be like him, forever in darkness.

But he also didn't know, didn't know what was right, didn't know how to change, he could only bump around like a headless fly.

He knew that even attacking children meant he no longer deserved to be called human, but he had no choice, he couldn't figure anything out.

"Crow, it's impossible for you and me to be 'harmonious' ever again, forever!!"

"Let's battle, go prove that your correctness, your justice is more correct and more just than mine!!"

"Bee Force - Full Armor Master attacks Black-Winged Assault Dragon!!"

The two monsters collided hard. Although this attack had no meaning at all, the two monsters still roared, venting their anger and their philosophy, venting the power and decisions of their holders.

And after all this attacking ended, in the sky, the majestic Earthbound Immortal, like a natural phenomenon, took a deep breath.

Then—

Boom!

A pillar of light that destroyed the world shot out, and everything dissipated in the duel.

Shinji LP: 1 -> 0.

As Shinji's LP hit zero, the drawing of the ultimate Earthbound Immortal was one-third complete.