This story has been awsome. I cant believe u have kept it going for over a decade!

Cant wait for the final 2 chapters of this masterpiece.

Keep up the great work!

I found this little gem around the time I was 18? 19, maybe? That was roughly five, six years ago. I'm 24 now, and not much has changed since. But for you? It's probably been quite a journey. Almost eleven years. That's a long time. Especially to write a story. After working on something for so long I'd imagine one would feel relief that you've finally finished something that took so long to create, but also a sense of "what happens now?".

So in this version, Rex was the fifth Signer, not his brother? Neat. I know that before it was revealed in the anime that Rudger was the last Signer before becoming a Dark Signer, there was a lot of speculation and was perhaps even hinted at in the show that Rex might have been the last Signer.

Not really surprised that Rex's monster bested his brother's. Wirqashca Rasca (I think that's the spelling) is often considered as the most powerful Earthbound Immortal/God, at least in the anime (it's effect IRL is rather underwhelming). And realistically speaking, unless it's one of those freakishly huge spiders from Australia, Spider vs Condor usually ends up with the spider getting eaten.

In my opinion, I don't think Rudger is dead. I'm not entirely sure what normally happens to a Psychic Duelist's monster if its master dies, but I don't think it would scurry away licking (or in this case webbing?) it's wounds.

Although, I don't know how they're going to win with just the two of them. If this version of Rex's monster has the same effect as it does in the anime, and considering a Psychic Duelist's monster has all of the powers and properties of it's actual card (unless Rex's monster is like the Winged Dragon of Ra version of the Earthbound Immortals/Gods where not all of its effects are actually written on the card), technically speaking, Rex could
have his monster power literally reduce Yusei and Aki to the brink of death.

So unless... either Yusei or Aki are able to evolve their monsters, or one of them sacrifices themselves to sort of "Kamikaze" Rex, I don't see how they can win. I'm very looking forward to seeing how they get out of this one, and what's going to happen to the city and it's people once the storm finally blows over.

I don't think that there's much of anything that needs to be said at this point. Yusei has finally come into his own, Aki, though I'm sure she still has some lingering doubts, has sided with Yusei and has come to reconcile with him (Or rather, they hopefully reconcile, if they survive). Jack's finally been able to unleash his true potential, and Kiryu, well, here, he's the perfect example of someone who can't/doesn't want to be saved.

As for the Goodwin Brothers, their views on Momentum and Psychic Duelists in general are similar to the views shared by Magneto and Apocalypse. Like Magneto, Rex believes one class of people is obviously above the other, whereas, Rudger, like Apocalypse couldn't care less about what class you are; all that matters to him is whether he believes you're strong or weak. As the saying goes, "The weak perish, only the strongest will survive".

And in this situation, it isn't about a right side; here, there is no such side. It's about trying to find a different solution to two pretty crappy evils of which there is no lesser of. How, will they do that without the city's destruction is the question, one I don't know the answer to. Not without sacrifice anyway. There's also the matter of what Rex has done with the twins, since I don't think that was ever resolved.

It's been a wonderful ride, but alas, everything has its end, and this one is coming to a close. But we're not at the end just yet. Here's to an amazing finish.

Oh my god, I am so happy! I love this story, and I was sad to see it seemingly abandoned!

Good luck with the rest of this story, I'll be waiting eagerly for it!

Wow. I was checking the dates and from what I can tell, in a couple of months, this would be a decade old. That's a long time, now that I think about it. Probably hasn't felt that way though. Or maybe it has.

Anyway, last chapter was the calm before the storm, and this one, I guess would be the breath before the plunge? I mean, they are quite literally on the cusp, or edge of the final battle. I'm eager to see how it all comes together. I know they're really not in a position at the moment, but would Rua and Ruka be in the fight too? Wait, can Ruka call upon Ancient Fairy Dragon? Or is her powers strictly to speaking to Spirits?

Rudger made it seem like not all Psychic Duelists are capable of actually Summoning their beasts. He alluded to the possibility that Jack's Psychic powers had more so to do with finding other Psychics, than having powers of his own. I wonder if Rua might develop powers of his own. Supposedly, Rua was supposed to become a Signer in the anime much sooner than he actually was, and Crow wasn't meant to be a Signer at all.

Also, is it possible for a Psychic Duelists' Monsters evolve? For example, Yusei's Stardust Dragon isn't that much stronger than Aki's Black Rose, but isn't a match for any of the Earthbound God's. But if it was to evolve into Majestic Star Dragon, it should have more than enough power to take on Rudger's Uru and I'm suspecting Rex's Wirqasha Rasca.

In any case, I'm glad this is still ongoing. I know I joined late in the party, and the story feels like it's in its final act, but I'm glad to have been on the journey. That sounds really cheesy...
It's also very cool to see everyone sort of come together as a team, and though they all have different reasons for why they're fighting, they all essentially want the same outcome. It was also nice to see the characters grow, especially Aki.

She used to be so full anger and hate (understandable and relatable, but not necessarily justified), but after her battle with Yusei, and after seeing the truth of his and Jack's and Crow's words, she doesn't feel the need to hold on to all of that hatred. After all, like it was said, if she did continue down that road, what would she become? And maybe I'm just seeing things, but I remember at one point, when Aki watched Carly and Jack at an earlier time, there was some part of her that wished things could have been the same between her and Yusei. Maybe she'll get that chance, if they all make it out alive, that is.

Thanks for the awesome chapter. I can't wait to find out what happens next. Keep up the great work.

And so, everything builds towards the inevitable confrontation. You've done well with the setup, I have to say, though on that note, has someone been reading Dante's Inferno, lately? Should I be expecting the next chapter to be Malebolge? Either way, I'm looking forward to seeing how this wraps up. Perhaps we'll see another overload and the destruction of everything, wiping clean the slate?

Trainwreck, huh? That pretty much sums up Yusei's "talk" with his parents - well his father, really. I'd be particularly and understandably upset and honestly, pissed off, if I had to learn the truth from a totally, psychotic stranger, and be constantly lied to from the people I expected to tell me the truth, and instead, having to confront them, and have them confirm, that everything I once knew, and my whole life was practically a lie, so that they, and those in power could keep on living the way that they continue to live in.

Telling themselves that it is for "the best", or for "the good of the city and its people", when in reality, they'd rather live in a lie, then face up to the truth, and have everything that they've gained fall apart. "For every good reason there is to lie, there is always a better reason to tell the truth." - Bo Bennett.

Can't say that I completely understand, but I suppose I could relate, in a far off way. Being lied to, to protect me from the "truth". Small stuff, really. Still doesn't make it any easier, or any better. Good chapter. I was curious as why these last few chapters seemed to be counting down, and now it looks like everything is culminating to a head. The final confrontation. The final fight. It's going to be a shitstorm when the "pipe bomb" hits New Domino. Rex better be ready because here comes big bro, out of the asylum, and leading the convicts, all the while Yusei comes to terms to who really is, and what he wants to be. Not a puppet for the masses, not a disenfranchised, public lie, not a represantion of all the things that the city wants him to be; just himself, for what has probably been the first time in his life.

Another great chapter.

This keeps getting more and more interesting.

Keep up the good work!

Normally, I'd write back a long review, instead of just saying it's really good, but unfortunately, I don't. So... it's really good. For a while I thought that all of my favorite authors on this sight had died. Kidding, lol. It's best to take time off, and take a break every once in a while. Don't want to burn yourself out, trust me, that's never good.

Now that Yusei is all caught up on everything, I'd imagine he would have a lot of questions for his father, and possibly his mother if she knew what his father knew. I'm really interested to know what exactly his father has to say to him, since Yusei supposedly knows everything that Aki was told by Rudger, or I guess there is some details he had left out, and only told her what she wanted to know to fuel her revenge, and Yusei's pain, knowing that all of this pain and suffering was caused because of his father, intentional or not.

Look at that. I guess it was a long-ish review. I've been told writers like to read lengthy reviews, and I'm good at it. Apparently. Looking forward to what happens next!

THANK YOOUU! my favourite story has been updated.

I hope yusei wakes up.

Nice, well written. Final Volume, huh? I kind of regret not finding this sooner, but I wasn't into Fanfiction all that much back then. I didn't expect to get a PM or a reply, but thanks anyway.

Recap. Yusei's not dead, so that's a plus. When I read the title of the chapter, I was like, "Styx? As in the River Styx? Oh crap, shit Yusei's dead." , but it turned out to be that he's just unconscious. Jack managed to rescue Carly from her pod, and Aki feels envious of the way in which he saved her, and wished that Yusei would have saved her, or at least try to save her in a similar fashion. Crow thinks that she might get that chance or opportunity now that Yusei is here, and who knows, Crow might be on to something.

I'm sure Yusei is probably grateful that he isn't dead, but he probably has some questions for Aki; for instance why didn't she kill him? Other than the fact that she needed Stardust's help to "carry the load" as it were. Nonetheless, it will be interesting to see what happens next; given how far they have both come to understand the other, sort of.

Looking forward to the next chapter. Still wondering what Aki said to Rudger when Yusei blacked out for a moment, and didn't get to hear what was said...

Read this story back in January and gave a review saying,It's one of the best AU 5D's I've read." And I mean that. Also the meaning behind the story is great, and you've portrayed it very well in the characters, especially, with Aki, but also pointed it out with Yusei and his speech about how everyone in Tops is subjugated to the "system", and it's not just them.

The only thing I didn't really enjoy was the KalinxAki implication in the very early chapters, that part kind of grossed me outI'm also not a huge fan of CrowxAki either, or rather any pairings where Yusei and Aki aren't together. I've tried reading stories where they are paired with other characters, and for a lack of better words, they put me off. I'm just not interested in them, and I have no idea why I'm saying all of this; it seems to be a recurring theme anytime I bring YuseixAki, and I apologize for my ranting and rambling of it, but I suppose the reason why I'm so into Faithshipping is that I could see that actually happening in the show, or in post, and just can't see them ending up with anybody else other than each other. Again, I apologize for my rambling and ranting on the subject.I'm a hardcore YuseixAki or Faithshipping fanboy. But in terms of the story, I can see why she would turn to Kalin, especially after everything that had happened to her, and what Rudger had told her.

I'm not one for dramatic, angsty and depressive stories- I'm a big softy underneath, or I guess I'm just more in touch with my feelings and emotions than most guys- and there were certainly parts where I didn't want to continue, but thankfully I did because this is a masterpiece, and I'm not sure when you can update this, but hopefully you intend on continuing and ultimately finishing this story. It is simply epic.

PS: You have me hanging on the edge of my seat for what Aki told Rudger when Yusei lost consciousness for a split second, and what Aki's response will be to Yusei's, "Kill me then Aki... It's my due". Will she kill him? Save him?crosses fingersOr do you have something totally unsuspecting up your sleeve?

Cool story. Definitely one of the better AU Yu-Gi-Oh! 5Ds fanfics I've read. Can't wait to see what else you have in store for this story. Keep up the good work!

Noooo, cliffhanger!

I hope aki doesn't kill yusei! Now im dying to read next chapter.

Keep up the great work!