I would like to thank ronin warriors fanatic who I made a Docx connection with. He wanted to name this chapter King of Flames. I thought the chapter would be better if I just wrote this author's note and then let you read the chapter we worked on together. I would also like to thank candyfreak12 and BerryBlitz for their help in the last two chapters. Please read and review.
XXX
On the night after his fight with Misaki, Royce was on his bed, holding the tournament invite in his hand, uneasiness settling in him as he stared at the piece of paper.
"Do I really want to do this? I just started two days ago, and there's soo much I still need to learn." Royce thought as he fell asleep.
The dream he starts to have took him back to Cray, the same red and gold dragon was standing tall and proud over a barren battlefield. Royce saw the dragon's face, and it had an angry expression... Royce turned to look to see what this dragon was angry about. He saw it was battling a silver dragon with multiple red and black rings on it's body, and this dragon has a scythe.
"What the?" Royce thought.
The dragon's lips weren't moving, so it was impossible for Royce to determine what they were saying if they were saying anything at all. The silver dragon raised it's scythe, and struck... the ground beneath their feet gave way...then Royce woke up...sweat covering his forehead, and upper lip.
"What in the? A different dream...why is this happening." Royce thought as he wiped the sweat off of his face.
Royce got dressed, grabbed his Oracle Think Tank deck, then he headed out the front door.
"I wonder if Misaki would like to have another fight." Royce thought as started to jog.
It took Royce half an hour to make it to Card Capital, once he entered, he saw two boys at the counter. One has blond irregular shaped hair, and wears a navy blue school uniform. The other has irregular brown hair, and he wears a black sweater, with a red scarf around his neck, and grey sweatpants.
"Oh, Royce!" Misaki stated once she noticed he was here.
"Hey Misaki, what's up?" Royce asked.
"I was just telling Miwa here about you, and Kai seemed interested as well." Misaki answered.
"Well, I'm Royce, nice to meet you." Royce introduced himself, then shook Miwa's hand.
"For a deaf kid to be able to play vanguard...I want to test your potential." Kai informed.
"My potential?" Royce thought as he and Kai took the standing cardfight table.
The two fighter placed their starting vanguards on the vanguard circle, then drew 5 cards each.
"The pieces are in motion, the battle begins. Now picture it." Kai stated.
"Picture it?" Royce thought.
"The battle takes place on the planet Cray, a world much like our own. We arrive as spirits, and in this form, we have two powers available to us." Kai explained.
Their spirits traveled to Cray, the first thing they see is a beautiful landscape of green grass covering the plateau, a castle bright colored belonging to the Royal Paladins overshadows them.
"The first is to summon the creatures of this planet to battle for us, call. The second let's us posses a creature to fight with our forces, ride." Kai informed further.
Royce just stared at Kai, amazed that he's explaining things so clearly.
"He might be crazy, but he seems cool." Royce thought
"Yesh, Kai...don't go too hard on him." Miwa yelled.
"Now, are you ready?" Kai asked as he ignored Miwa's comment.
"Yes." Royce answered.
"Stand up the vanguard!" Both fighters exclaimed.
As the two of them stood their vanguards, the spirits on Cray took forms of the monsters.
"Lizard Soldier Fargo (5000)!" Kai revealed.
Kai's spirit transformed into an orange lizard. This lizard wears silver armor, and holds a bow and arrow in his hands.
"Battle Sister Eclair (4000)!" Royce revealed.
Royce's spirit transformed into a green haired nun. Like all battle sisters, this nun focuses with a certain weapon, and this weapon is a handgun held in her brown glove.
"Oracle Think Tank, huh?" Kai thought.
"Kai changed his deck again." Miwa stated.
"He used a Perdition Overlord Build in the Messiah Scramble, maybe he's experimenting with new units?" Misaki offered.
"Do you mind if I go first?" Kai asked.
"Go ahead." Royce answered.
"Draw, I ride Dragon Monk Gojo (7000), Fargo moves." Kai informed.
Red light encased itself around the lizard, and it evolved into a man with red robes. This man has long brown hair, and a skull necklace hangs from his neck. The orange lizard appeared behind him.
"I end my turn." Kai informed.
Royce - Kai
5 - hand - 5
0 - damage - 0
0 - soul - 0
0 - counterblast - 0
0 - drop zone - 0
Empty, empty - empty, empty
Empty, Battle Sister Eclair - Dragon Monk Gojo, Lizard Soldier Fargo
Empty, empty - empty, empty
"Alright, stand and draw." Royce declared.
"Early game predictions, who do you think will win?" Miwa asked nonchalantly.
"You're saying that like Royce doesn't stand a chance!" Misaki countered.
"Kai might be testing changes to his deck, or he actually wants to see this guy's strength. There's just no telling with him." Miwa sighed.
"I ride Battle Sister Taffy (7000)! Eclair moves." Royce declared.
Royce's vanguard evolved into a younger looking nun wielding a red machine gun. This gun has a green blade sticking out the front, and her dress is big and poofy. The more serious nun appeared behind her.
"I call Dark Cat (7000), and he att-" Royce started to say.
"Dark Cat's skill activated, since you have an Oracle Think Tank vanguard, we both draw 1 card." Kai interrupted.
Next to the little Nun, a black cat with a ruby in it's forehead appeared on the field.
"Oh...right." Royce said solemnly as he and Kai both drew 1 card each.
"Wasn't that the same mistake Emi made when she fought you that one time?" Miwa asked.
"Yeah, but it's easy to forget how cards work when you're new." Misaki answered.
"Dark Cat attacks Gojo (7000)!" Royce declared.
"I don't guard." Kai informed.
The cat leapt in the air, and struck the monk on the chest.
"Damage check (Burning Horn Dragon - no trigger)." Kai revealed.
"With support from Eclair, Taffy attacks (12000)!" Royce declared.
"I don't guard." Kai informed.
"Drive check (Battle Sister Gelee - no trigger)." Royce revealed.
The young nun raised her gun, and started shooting a load of bullets at the monk, who grunted in discomfort from said bullets.
"Damage check (Dragon Dancer Maria - no trigger)." Kai revealed.
"I end my turn." Royce informed.
Royce - Kai
6 - hand - 6
0 - damage - 2
0 - soul - 0
0 - counterblast - 0
0 - drop zone - 0
Empty, empty - empty, empty
Battle Sister Eclair, Battle Sister Taffy - Dragon Monk Gojo, Lizard Soldier Fargo
Empty, Dark Cat - empty, empty
"Stand and draw." Kai declared as he drew.
"With this grade 3 unit, I know I can win." Royce thought.
"I ride Dragon Knight Nehalem (10000)!" Kai declared.
Red light enveloped Kai's vanguard, and it evolved into a blue armored knight riding a brown scaled dragon. This knight holds a full length mirror sized shield, and a metallic spear in his hands, and the dragon wears blue armor over his scales.
"I call Eternal Bringer Griffin (7000) and Dragonic Burnout (9000)!" Kai declared.
Griffins are the most beautiful creatures to look at, and this one is no exception as it stretches it's red feathered wings, and takes to the skies. This unit has multiple colored feathers on its neck, and has 3 talons on each claw. The other unit that appeared is a big black dragon that walks on two legs, It's legs, back, wings, and arms are spiked with yellow light, and protected by gold armor.
"I called 2 units at the same time, so I get choose the order of their effects. First, I discard Overlord The End from my hand, and search for Dragonic Overlord to add to my hand. Burnout follows up with a soul blast, I return The End to my deck, and retire Eclair!" Kai explained.
The armored dragon opened it's mouth, then shot a big blast of fire at the serious looking nun. She dissipated as she was bathed in the flames of said dragon.
"With support from Fargo, Nehalem attacks Taffy (15000)!" Kai declared.
"I don't guard." Royce informed,
"Drive check (Blueray Dracokid - critical trigger) the power to Burnout (14000) the critical to my vanguard (2 critical)!" Kai revealed.
Nehalem raised the spear he was holding, and pointed it at Taffy. The energy gathered in the staff, surged as purple lightning, and zapped the young woman.
"Damage check (Battle Sister Macaron - no trigger), second check (Dark Cat - no trigger)." Royce revealed.
"With support from Griffin, Burnout attacks Dark Cat (21000)!" Kai declared.
"What!? No guard." Royce informed.
The armored dragon opened its mouth once more, then fire surged, and engulfed the cat. the cat meowed as it was bathed in flames.
"I end my turn." Kai informed.
Royce - Kai
6 - hand - 5
2- damage - 2
0 - soul - 0
0 - counterblast - 0
2 - drop zone - 1
Empty, empty - Dragonic Burnout, Eternal Bringer Griffin
Empty, Battle Sister Taffy - Dragon Knight Nehalem, Lizard Soldier Fargo
Empty, empty - empty, empty
"Stand and draw!" Royce declared.
"Interesting...looks like Kai's not holding back at all." Miwa speculated.
"Burning the rearguard, not only does it force your opponent to summon more units, but it simultaneously decreases their guard capacity." Misaki added.
"And since Fargo is Kai's starting vanguard, and The End is in his deck as well, looks like Kai is ready to cause a great fire." Miwa finished
"I ride Battle Sister Pudding (9000)!" Royce declared.
Royce's vanguard evolved once more, but this time into a blue haired nun with elf like ears. The dress she wears is long and black with gold trim in the sleeves, her weapon of choice is a cross between the gattling gun, and the machine gun.
"I call Battle Sister Macaron (9000), and Maiden of Libra(9000)!" Royce declared.
Two more brilliant bright lights appeared on the field, the first revealed a pink haired nun who loves machine guns, and the other revealed a woman wearing a toga. She carries a bronze scale, and her hair is in pigtails.
"Macaron attacks Burnout (12000)!" Royce declared.
"I guard with Violence Horn Dragon (5000)!" Kai countered.
The pink haired nun raised her machine gun, then fired multiple bullets, but a red dragon with orange horns appeared, and took the hit for the intended target.
"Battle Sister Pudding attacks Nehalem (9000)!" Royce declared.
"I don't guard." Kai informed.
"Drive check (Hexagonal Magus - no trigger)!" Royce revealed.
The blue haired nun fired her gattling gun, and several thousand bullets took the air. In response to this, Nehalem raised his shield, and blocked every single bullet with no problem.
"But... how?" Royce asked.
"Your power is far too low to even hit me, and even if Libra attacks, I'll be able to guard that as well." Kai informed without taking his eyes off of Royce.
"I end my turn." Royce decided.
Royce - Kai
5 - hand - 4
2 - damage - 2
1 - soul - 0
0 - counterblast - 0
2 - drop zone - 1
Empty, Maiden of Libra - Dragonic Burnout, Eternal Bringer Griffin
Empty, Battle Sister Pudding - Dragon Knight Nehalem, Lizard Soldier Fargo
Empty, Battle Sister Macaron - empty, empty
"Now I stand and draw!" Kai declared.
"Kagero...it's strong, or is the player strong...Kai Toshiki...is he a demon?" Royce thought.
"Ride the Avatar, burn everything in this world to ash with apocalyptic flames, Dragonic Overlord (11000)!" Kai exclaimed.
Crimson flames engulfed Nehalem, and he evolved into the Crimson Reaper. Wings made of flames took most of the air around him, it's body was made of armor like scales, and this yellow eyed dragon wields a sword of flames.
"Dragonic Overlord? Did he say Avatar?" Royce thought.
"I call Burning Horn Dragon (9000)!" Kai added.
An orange scaled dragon with red horns appeared on the other side of the Overlord.
"Now, Burning Hirn attacks Maiden of Libra, he gets 3000 because I have an 'Overlord' vanguard (12000)!" Kai explained.
"I don't guard." Royce informed.
The orange scaled dragon opened its mouth, then fire raced and burned the scale holding woman alive.
"With support from Fargo, Overlord attacks Pudding, and gets 2000 for doing so (18000)!" Kai declared.
"Battle Sister Chocolat will nullify that (perfect guard)!" Royce countered.
"Twin drive check (Gattling Claw Dragon - draw trigger) adding 5000 to Burnout (14000), and I draw. Second check (Blueray Dracokid - critical trigger) the power and critical both go to Burnout (19000, 2 critical)!" Kai exclaimed.
"Double trigger... no way!" Royce exclaimed.
"Well, this is Kai we're talking about, he always pulls doubles." Miwa sighed.
Overlord opened its mouth, and deep red flames raced from it, but a nervous looking elf appeared, machine gun in hand, and shot rapidly and randomly in the air, then fell flat on her face. All the units sweatdropped as the elf gave a thumbs up signaling that she was okay.
"Griffin boosts, go Burnout (26000)!" Kai exclaimed.
"I still have 2 damage...I don't guard." Royce admitted.
The armored dragon opened its mouth, and flames burned the nun alive, however she barely survives, hanging on to the machines for support.
"Damage check (Battle Sister Taffy - no trigger), second check (Battle sister Tiramisu - draw trigger) 5000 to my vanguard (14000), and I draw." Royce informed.
"This is your last chance to win, just so you know." Kai informed.
Royce - Kai
4 - hand - 6
4 - damage - 2
1 - soul - 1
0 - counterblast - 0
4 - drop zone - 1
Empty, Maiden of Libra - Dragonic Burnout, Eternal Bringer Griffin
Empty, Battle Sister Pudding - Dragonic Overlord, Lizard Soldier Fargo
Empty, empty - Burning Horn Dragon, empty
"Stand and draw!" Royce exclaimed.
At this moment, Royce's dad entered the shop, looking calm and worried at the same time.
"Welcome to Card Capital." A man's voice stated.
Royce's dad turned to look, and saw that this man has spiky green hair, wears an apron over a white business suit, and glasses over his eyes.
"Do you need anything?" Shin asked.
"No, I'm just here to pick up my son...but I see he's busy." Royce's dad informed.
"The match is almost over, considering his opponent, I'm surprised he's managed to last this long." Shin admitted.
"That brown haired guy?" Royce's dad asked.
"Yep, Kai Toshiki. He's the strongest player to ever use a deck... they call him the king of Dragons since he has no trouble using powerful dragon cards." Shin explained.
"I see..." Royce's dad trailed off.
"Ride Battle Sister Gelee (11000)!" Royce declared.
Royce's vanguard evolved once more, and became a nun with wild pigtails in her blond hair. Her eyes are gold and she has bat like ears, she wields one of the guns Pudding was carrying on her.
"Seek mate!" Royce exclaimed.
4 cards flew from Royce's deck, then a copy of Battle sister Pudding flew from the deck, and into Royce's hand.
"Legion (20000)!" Royce declared.
The blue haired nun reappeared next to the blond haired nun.
"Calling Psychic Bird (4000)!" Royce declared.
A small green bird appeared behind the two women.
"I activate Gelee's ability, counterblast, draw 2, and discard 1! Psychic bird goes to the soul, and I draw 1." Royce explained.
"Multi drawing, he's trying to increase his hand size." Miwa noted.
"But even with that, if Kai can get his ace out, this game is over." Misaki noted.
"I call Dark Cat (7000), Battle Sister Taffy (7000), Oracle Guardian Gemini (8000), and Battle Sister Pudding (9000)! Dark Cat let's both of us draw." Royce explained.
The black cat, blue haired nun, and young looking nun reappeared, then two stone babies appeared on the last spot. Both fighters drew 1 card.
"At max, he'll have 4 cards in his hand +2 to intercept, think he'll be able to hold Kai off?" Miwa asked.
"It all depends on what Kai will do, plus if Royce gets a heal trigger, he'll be able to hold out a bit longer." Misaki answered.
"Sounds about right." Miwa noted.
"With support from Dark Cat, Pudding attacks Overlord (16000)!" Royce declared.
"I guard with Blueray Dracokid (10000)!" Kai countered.
The blue haired nun fired her machine gun, but a small blue dragon fired his gattling gun in response. Both side's bullets collided with each other, and exploded when they collided.
"With support from Gemini, Legion attack (31000)!" Royce declared.
"I don't guard." Kai informed.
"Twin drive (Battle Sister Ginger - critical trigger) the power to Libra (14000), and critical to my vanguard (2 critical), second check (Battle Sister Taffy - no trigger)." Royce revealed.
The two nuns fired multiple bullets at the dragon, and it roared in pain as it was pelted with the multitude of the iron cased shells.
"Damage check (Demonic Dragon Mage Kimnara - no trigger), second check (Dragonic Burnout - no trigger)." Kai revealed.
"With support from Taffy, Libra attacks (21000)!" Royce declared.
"Nullified with Maria (perfect guard)!" Kai countered.
"With that, Kai has 4 damage and four cards in the drop zone...this should be interesting." Miwa commented.
"I end my turn." Royce informed.
Royce - Kai
4 - hand - 3
4 - damage - 4
3 - soul - 1
3 - counterblast - 0
1 - drop zone - 4
Battle Sister Taffy, Maiden of Libra - Dragonic Burnout, Eternal Bringer Griffin
Oracle Guardian Gemini, Battle Sister Gelee/Battle Sister Pudding - Dragonic Overlord, Lizard Soldier Fargo
Dark Cat, Battle Sister Pudding - Burning Horn Dragon, empty
"This is the final turn!" Kai exclaimed as he drew.
"Final Turn, does that mean he thinks he'll win it this turn?" Royce's dad asked.
"Yeah, he doesn't just think it, he knows it...now it's just a matter of time before we find out what Kai's planning." Shin answered.
"Dragon of the alternate timeline, bring your power to this present, and reduce all to ash with apocalyptic flames, Break ride! Dragonic Overlord The X (11000)!" Kai exclaimed.
Flames erupted around Overlord, and he evolved into a dragon in paladin style armor..the sword he wields has a gold hilt, and the overlord's armor is gold armor.
"Adding 10000 power (21000), and when I attack a rearguard, I'll be able to stand my vanguard." Kai explained.
"Restanding the vanguard?" Royce thought.
"Seek the mate!" Kai exclaimed.
The four cards from Kai's drop zone moved back into the deck, then a copy of Dragonic Overlord The End flew from the deck, and into Kai's hand.
"Dragons that share the same past, merge your strength and bring forth the new age, legion (32000)!" Kai exclaimed.
Flames burst forth from the ground, and revealed a second Overlord. This one is also in armor, and has four arms. The top 2 hold guns, and the bottom 2 hold swords.
"The End gets 2000 power when Dragonic Overlord's in the soul (13000), The X searches for a copy of The End, and adds it to my hand." Kai informed as he took the card from the bottom of his deck.
"21000 and 13000 together, and why does he want the second copy of the end?!" Royce thought.
"I activate Fargo's ability, I send it to the soul, and The X gets a skill." Kai explained.
"When Fargo enters the soul, Overlord gets the ability to retire a rearguard." Miwa stated.
"And there's no telling what The X is capable of." Misaki added.
"I call Violence Horn (7000) behind Burning Horn, then The X and The End, Legion attack against Libra (34000)!" Kai declared.
"Libra...I don't guard." Royce informed.
"Twin drive (Embodiment of Spear Tahr- critical trigger) the critical to my vanguard (2 critical), and the power to Burning Horn (14000), second check (Dragon Dancer Maria- no trigger)." Kai revealed.
The two dragons raised their swords, and struck the maiden with the scales. She screamed as the dragons attacked her.
"I activate Fargo's ability...since I knocked out a rearguard, Gemini is also retired!" Kai explained.
A pillar of fire engulfed the stone babies on jetpacks, leaving little but ash left.
"Break ride skill, counterblast, and discarding one card...I restand my vanguard, and they attack yours (34000)!" Kai exclaimed.
"And if this attack hits, Kai gets to stand again, and retire another unit." Miwa noted.
"This attack is also critical, so Royce will lose if it hits." Misaki added.
"In addition, he doesn't have the cards to guard this...game over." Miwa whistled.
"I don't guard." Royce decided.
"Twin drive (Dragonic Overlord - no trigger), second check (Dragon Dancer Barbara - heal trigger) power to Burning Horn (19000), and I recover 1." Kai revealed.
The roar of these dragons were ferocious as the struck the nuns with their blades, to add further punishment, The End blasted shot bullets at them with his guns.
"Damage check (Hexagonal Magus - no trigger)." Royce revealed.
Kai looked up from his hand, and saw the determination in Royce's eyes.
"He hasn't lost hope...but even if he does get it, my vanguard will stand up, and he loses one more unit." Kai thought.
"Second check (Battle Sister Chai - heal trigger) yes, 5000 to my vanguard (16000) and I recover 1." Royce revealed.
"Counterblast, and persona blast...I stand my vanguards. Fargo's ability is activated...say goodbye to Pudding!" Kai exclaimed.
A pillar of fire engulfed the blue haired blue haired nun, and she screamed as the flames scorched her body.
"I lost 3 units already!" Royce exclaimed.
"Kai increased the size of his hand as well, this is the final attack. Even if Royce survives, Kai has 2 attacks left." Miwa noted for the last time.
"The X and The End, legion attack (34000)!" Kai declared.
"I-I don't guard." Royce informed.
"Twin drive (Dragonic Overlord The End- no trigger), second check (Violence Horn Dragon - no trigger)." Kai revealed.
The two armored dragons roared to the sky, then raised their blades. The two of them swung their blades, and struck the two nuns.
"Two more heal triggers, please!" Royce thought as he checked the damage trigger
Damage check - Hexagonal Magus -no trigger
"Not bad, but Oracle Think Tank doesn't fit your play style." Kai informed.
"Doesn't fit my playstyle?" Royce thought.
As Kai and Royce cleaned their cards, Royce's dad turned to Shin.
"Is this game fun?" Royce's dad asked.
"Yes, and there's limitless possibilities, do you want to try a deck?" Shin asked.
"I'll give it a shot...what do you have to offer?" Royce's dad asked.
"Well, at half off...we have Dimensional Brave Kaiser, it features the Dimension Police clan." Shin informed as he placed the deck on the table.
The deck box was red in color, and had the card Super Dimensional Robo Daikaiser on the front of it. Royce's dad paid for the deck just as Royce finished cleaning up his deck.
"Dad?" Royce asked.
"I'm giving vanguard a shot too. I'm ready to go if you are." Royce's dad signed.
"Sure dad, I'll wait for you in the car." Royce said after bowing to Misaki.
The two of them left the store, went in Royce's dad's car, and drove back home.
"Well Misaki, I guess someone likes you." Miwa snickered.
"We're just friends!" Misaki countered.
"From what you've been telling us, it seems that you two are more than frie-" Kai started to say.
"Don't you dare finish that sentence! We're JUST friends!" Misaki exclaimed.
"Whatever." Kai and Miwa said at the same time, but in different tones.
Lets fast forward time to tonight as Royce lays in his bed thinking about today's events.
"Kai Toshiki, he's strong...really strong. Will there be more people around his level at the tournament? And what did he mean when he talked about Oracle Think Tank not fitting my playstyle? oh well, it can't hurt to try a different clan, could it?" Royce thought as he started to sleep.