[Dark Tuner Spider Cocoon, ATK 0]
This "Dark Tuner Spider Cocoon" looked like a ball of white silk. After being summoned, the silk split as if by a sharp blade, and a menacing black spider head emerged, as if the creature was stuck halfway inside the cocoon.
Dark Tuner, a special tuner used by Dark Signers—completely unprinted in the physical card game. All of this "negative level" Dark Synchro summoning was pure anime invention.
Still, the classic Tag Force game series did include these anime-original cards, along with the Meklord Emperor components and even the God cards with "non-existent" immunity. For duelists interested in experiencing the anime format, Tag Force games are a great option.
"Next, Normal Summon 'Dark Spider'!"
Rudger, the wielder of the Spider Mark, naturally used a spider deck. Dark Spider, a Level 1 monster, had a long green body with three pairs of six crimson eyes, all reflecting the state of the battlefield.
[Dark Spider, ATK 0]
"Once per turn, 'Dark Spider' lets me increase the Level of an Insect monster I control by 2 until the end of the turn."
He gestured to Dark Tuner Spider Cocoon.
"I increase the Level of Level 5 Dark Tuner Spider Cocoon by 2—to Level 7!"
[Dark Tuner Spider Cocoon: LV5 → LV7]
"Now, I tune Level 7 Dark Tuner 'Dark Tuner Spider Cocoon' with Level 1 'Dark Spider'—DARK SYNCHRO!"
[1 – 7 = –6]
"When darkness overlaps with darkness, the gates of the underworld open!"
Rudger raised his arms.
"Dark Synchro Summon! Emerge—Level minus six—
—Underground Arachnid!!!"
True to the "dark" theme, this monster was the stuff of nightmares—a massive rock-dwelling spider, barbed and menacing, supported by metallic legs like bronze pillars, plus a humanoid upper body resembling a demonic woman with predator's eyes.
[Underground Arachnid, ATK 2400]
Just as Rudger completed his Dark Synchro, the rumble of Duel Runners arrived from nearby.
After defeating their assigned Dark Signers, Yusei, Jack, Akiza, Luna, and her brother Leo had all converged.
The battles had been happening nearby, and any time a Dark Signer duels, the Signers' marks act like living radar, guiding them to the action. Not to mention, when Rudger began dueling, the burning Spider Mark appeared in the sky—impossible for any of the heroes to miss.
"Goodwin!?"
Yusei was the first to recognize the duelist fighting Rudger. Who else but the Director of Security, Goodwin?
The group didn't know Rudger yet, but recognized the spider-shaped Dark Mark. They all knew that the holder of the Spider Mark was the Dark Signers' leader—the strongest among them.
Akiza clutched her mark nervously, thinking, "He really is..."
Up to now, four Signers had appeared. Instinct told them the fifth was fighting close by.
As the saying goes, soldiers fight soldiers, generals fight generals. If each of them had faced a Dark Signer, then the leader with the Spider Mark should be facing the one with the Dragon Head Mark—the leader of the Signers.
Thus, in their eyes, Goodwin—the one who convened the Fortune Cup, awakened them, and fought the Dark Signers—seemed like the final and fifth Signer.
Yet, Akiza hesitated:
"Every time I meet a true Signer, my mark reacts… but why doesn't it do that with Goodwin?"
This suggested the Crimson Dragon gave no sign that Goodwin was an ally, but there was so much "evidence" that he was, all doubts were drowned out.
"So, all the Signers are here," Rudger chuckled. "Good. Saves me the trouble of tracking you down one by one."
His comment only reinforced their suspicions—if Goodwin was counted among the Signers by the enemy leader, surely he was the fifth, the Dragon Head Mark owner.
Yet, none of them knew: the reason Rudger said this is because he himself is the final Signer—the former owner of the Dragon Head Mark—having severed his own arm with the mark seventeen years ago. With himself not counting, only four true Signers remained—so to him, now they were all accounted for. Outsiders, of course, misread this as further proof that Goodwin was the missing fifth Signer.
"Battle!" commanded Rudger. "'Underground Arachnid,' attack the face-down monster!"
The spider woman opened her mouth, spitting sticky webbing to form a huge net and lashing out.
Kira's facedown monster flipped over, revealing a green bird, wings forming a sturdy shield.
[Shield Wing, DEF 900]
"Shield Wing's effect: up to twice per turn, it cannot be destroyed by battle," Kira explained.
Though only 900 DEF, its defensive power was outstanding. The spider's attack was held at bay, the little bird unmoved.
Yusei was stunned—this was just like the monster he used early on: Shield Wing, a favorite scavenged from the junk heap.
"A defensive monster, is it?" Rudger said coldly. "But after battle, Shield Wing is now face-up—allowing me to use Underground Arachnid's effect."
He announced:
"Once per turn, Underground Arachnid can equip a face-up monster your opponent controls to itself as an Equip Card—absorbing it."
…
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