Chapter 3

Ren walked toward Fukuhara feeling a little troubled. There was something about the atmosphere that disturbed him, but he couldn't quite pin point what it was. What was even stranger was Aichi felt it too. As he was cardfighting him, Aichi kept looking out the window in wonder. The others who were there kept bugging him to stay focused in the match and to "stop worrying about Kourin".

He looked up the dark, gloomy sky. "I don't like that sky," he muttered to himself.

"Hello Ren," Suiko's voice came from beside him. He looked at her with a friendly smile. "Suiko, long time no see. How's your work been?"'

She walked towards Fukuhara. "Come with me."

Ren frowned, but followed the Ultra Rare member. Something was strange with her demeanor. It has been a while since he last saw her, but he remembered her being more pleasant. "Suiko, something strange is happening lately. Do you know what's going on?"

Suiko kept her walking pace, but her heart fluttered in excitement. This was the day she will surpass Ren. And, like Asaka before him, she will give him a new life of Reverse. There was no way he was going to beat Link Joker...


Blaster Dark sat quietly in one corner of the caravan as he attempted to understand what just happened. The sight of the Reversed Luquier was an unpleasant one for all of them, but it affected him more horribly than he had thought. After the conversion, Schwarschild Dragon had tossed her to the ground. It was Blaster Dark who ran and caught her in his arms.

"Luquier! Are you all right?" he had hoped that she fought for her sanity. Perhaps if she heard his voice, she would come back. Luquier stared at him, seemingly innocent.

"Blaster Dark?"

For a moment, relief struck him. "I'm here, Luquier."

Her eyes glimmered and she smiled at him. "It's... it's you!"

He was shaken, but he forced a nod. It was a miracle that she was still herself. Blaster Dark caressed her red hair. "Yes... it's me."

Luquier's bright smile slowly turned into a menacing one. "It's you." Her red eye pulsated. Luquier pulled on her whip. Blaster Dark felt something tighten around his neck. She broke free from him and pulled once more. Blaster Dark gagged as he fell on the ground head first. He clutched on the tight silver thorn whip around his neck. He felt some thorns pierce through his skin and he struggled to get up. Luquier pulled, and he fell again. He heard her laugh.

"Still immune to me, handsome?" there it was again; her flirtatious voice. "After all, you told me to be stronger. Now I am." she cracked her whip and Blaster Dark's head hit the sandy arena.

"No," he growled, tilting his head up to look at her, "Not like this, Luquier."

Luquier gritted her teeth. She yanked her whip hard. Blaster Dark was dragged across the ground until he reached where she stood. Luquier grabbed him by his armor and tugged him up to stand. She neared her face to his, so close that she could feel the heat from his skin.

Blaster Dark stared directly at her, his expression showing no fear. Luquier narrowed her eyes. The red eye shone bright. Blaster Dark squinted but remained staring at her. Luquier observed him, but his stare showed nothing but a cold facade.

"Be with me, handsome," she ordered, "you and I are going to have a lot of fun."

Blaster Dark flinched. The statement struck a painful chord, but he kept his fierce gaze at her. "No."

She felt her anger rise. "No?" Luquier bellowed, her tattoos glowing savagely. "I'm stronger now! I'm better! You can't do this!"

Blaster Dark remained calm. "Stop it, Luquier."

She screamed again, and this time red marks under her wild eyes appeared. She pushed Blaster Dark to the ground. "You stubborn bastard!" she released him from the grip of her thorns, then raised her whip and struck him in continuous frenzy. "You're mine!" she screamed in between whips, "And if you perish, you will be mine!"

Mordred ran toward them and tackled Luquier to the ground. He turned to Blaster Dark. "Sir, are you all right?"

Luquier yanked Mordred by the collar. She stared at him angrily. "You stupid foolish elf!" Her violent red eye glowed.

Mordred's heart raced. His mind was suddenly bombarded with nothing but this beautiful elfen woman. He opened his mouth to talk but he was speechless. "M... Madame..." he muttered. Blaster Dark rushed toward them and slashed Luquier from behind with his sword. Luquier screamed, clutching on her now bloodied side. She fell on her knees. Mordred turned pale at the sight of her. "No! Madame Luquier!" He rushed to her side, but Blaster Dark yanked him away.

"Mordred, let's go." he ordered.

"But... the madame!"

"She'll be fine. Now snap out of it and let's go!" Blaster Dark dragged him out of the arena, just in time to sneak inside a caravan about to exit the circus.

The owner of the caravan patted his horse. "Alright boy. I hope you're prepared to travel to United Sanctuary." The horse neighed in response.

...

The caravan ride was a bumpy one. Blaster Dark looked out the small window, his mind wandering back repeatedly to the moment Luquier turned. How would things play out if he hadn't let her go? If he exerted an extra effort to persuade her, would she abandon her performance for the sake of her safety? No, perhaps he had no control over that. Luquier valued her hobby a great deal. But... if he had ran a little faster, could he have reached Luquier in time to stop the blasted dragon from turning her?

"Sir..."

Blaster Dark snapped out of his thoughts. "What is it, Mordred?"

"I think... the charm is starting to wear off."

Blaster Dark nodded. "Good."

As Mordred's head slowly cleared up, he finally realized how badly injured the dark knight was. "Blaster Dark... your wounds... you need help-"

"- I'm fine," Blaster Dark said sternly. "These wounds mean nothing."

Mordred was reluctant, but thought it was best not to mention it again. "That... Luquier..."

Blaster Dark looked at him. "What?"

The Phantom furrowed his eyebrows and had a puzzled look. "She... seems to have a personal vendetta against you. As Reverse, I mean."

"Yes," Blaster Dark agreed, "she does. But all who are Reversed are not themselves any more."

Mordred nodded. "I know that," he said, "but even as Reverse, what they say stems from some underlying truth, doubt, or... hatred. What is usually kept bottled up inside now becomes out in the open."

Blaster Dark smirked. "You're sharp, Phantom," he crossed his arms. "It is true that there was something between us."

The phantom knight looked at him curiously. "Which is what, exactly?"

Blaster Dark shook his head. "Nothing. It was a long time ago, before the time of the Revengers. I had just been unsealed from the power of Void, along with Blaster Blade and Dragonic Overlord. The first thing I did was to search for my good friend. Then I met her along the way. That's it." he stared out the window and refused to say more.


Years ago.


Blaster Dark made his way through the forest at the border of United Sanctuary. He had searched around the nation, asking the few people he knew from other clans if any of them had seen his friend. Most of them had no inkling, but the selected few who had seen him pointed to this forest. He walked around the area. How long had he really been in captivity by Void? Time and space as he knew it did not exist there, so it was difficult to tell. Has his friend been searching for him all this time?

He walked further into the forest until he saw a stream. Blaster Dark knelt down and gathered some water in his hands. As he leaned over to drink, he noticed a shadow steadily looming over him. Pretending not to notice, he wiped his mouth and slowly reached for his sword.

Blaster Dark spun sharply as he drew his sword and attempted to attack the person behind him. It was a woman, an unfamiliar face. She evaded his sword gracefully. She wore a black top paired with long dark gloves and tight black pants and boots. Her ebony hair was incredibly long and elegant, topped with a black crown. A black satchel hung over her shoulder. The woman smiled at him mischievously, the eye behind her monocle glowing red.

"Hey there, handsome," she greeted, flinging her silver whip at him. Blaster Dark ran to avoid her attack, but he fell hard on the ground. He looked and saw that his right leg was caught on the woman's whip. She walked leisurely at him, her eye still glowing. Blaster Dark struck the whip continuously with his sword.

"It won't work, dear," the girl said as she walked toward him, "Silver thorns are a tough material."

Blaster Dark pointed his sword at her threateningly. "Stay back," he ordered. The woman's smile looked alluring but deadly. The woman grabbed both his wrists and pinned him down. Blaster Dark grunted as he lost grip of his sword. The woman was on top of him, grazing carefully over his face. Her red eye kept glowing.

"You're a cute one," she remarked flirtatiously. She was daringly close to him, as if she thought he was suddenly powerless. Blaster Dark couldn't help but get a little offended.

"Be with me, handsome," she drawled, "you and I are going to have a lot of fun."

Blaster Dark's expression was deadpan, but on the inside, he was starting to lose his cool. What exactly was this woman doing? "No."

"C'mon, handsome," she continued, the red glow on her eye was much more prominent now. "You know you want to. Don't you feel it? Your heart yearns for me, doesn't it?"

How ridiculous, he thought, for her to think I'd be so shallow. "What's your name?" he asked.

"Luquier."

Blaster Dark smiled. "Well Luquier, sorry to disappoint you, but it's still a no." he charged his head on to hers. She shrieked as she fell back, while Blaster Dark got up and grabbed his sword. He untangled the whip from his ankle then stood.

Blaster Dark placed the sword in front of Luquier's chest. She stared at him in shock as the glow in her eye subsided.

The dark knight glared at her. "You are not from this land," he declared, "State your origin, temptress."

Luquier looked visibly shaken. "I... I don't understand. You don't feel... anything?"

"Your origin, temptress!" he demanded.

"You don't feel any allure?" Luquier asked. Blaster Dark pressed the tip of his sword on her neck.

"I am not here to play games with you," he decreed, "and I will not hesitate to chop your head off if I have to. Now, state your origin. And while you're at it, tell me why you're here. I have given you fair warning."

Luquier fell silent. She stared at him as if she was trying to search for something. Finally, she sighed. "The Dark Zone, sir. That is where I'm from."

"And your business?"

Now, it was Luquier who looked offended. "I am from the clan of Pale Moon! We have a show here tonight. Didn't you get any of our flyers? I'm one of the most famous acts!"

Blaster Dark deepened the tip of his sword on her neck and her talking ceased. "Why are you away from your clan?"

Luquier's face suddenly looked as stern as his. Her lips were kept sealed. He stared at the satchel she carried. Using his sword, he tossed the satchel over her head and caught it with his free hand. Luquier hissed. "Give that back, that's mine!"

She attempted to rise, but Blaster Dark kept his sword pointed at her neck. "One move and my sword will pierce through you," he warned.

Luquier frowned. With a swift movement, she evaded his sword and got up. Blaster Dark swiped his sword at her. Luquier bent backwards. The sword's blade barely missed her. She placed her hands firmly on the ground, and when the swing passed, she leaped and kicked Blaster Dark on the stomach. Blaster Dark grunted. Luquier pushed herself and let the momentum carry her weight backward, gracefully landing a few inches further from her enemy after performing a successful somersault. Her face had a look of satisfaction.

Blaster Dark chuckled. "You really are from the Pale Moon clan," he said, knowing full well of the clan's notorious acrobatic abilities. He unbuttoned the front of her satchel. Luquier gritted her teeth. She aimed her whip at the satchel, but Blaster Dark caught the end of her whip with his hand. Luquier pulled hard, but the dark knight won't budge. Blaster Dark opened the satchel and found a hoard of microchips. He took one out and examined it closely.

"Strange," he said, "Didn't take you for a technology collector." he read the license carefully and saw the words: "Oracle Think Tank Enterprises". He nodded. "A thief. Now that's more fitting."

Luquier grumbled as Blaster Dark finally released his grip from her whip. "Can I have them back now?"

Blaster Dark looked at her. "This belongs to CEO Amaterasu. I'll be returning these to her."

Luquier rolled her eyes. "She has a million more sitting in storage. She won't cry over the few that I took." she walked toward him. "Now give me back those chips. We are on short supply of them for our dolls."

Blaster Dark closed the satchel and wore it over his shoulder. "Regardless of your motives, robbery is a felon. I will take you to CEO Amaterasu immediately."

Luquier arched an eyebrow. "Says the man from the rouge clan of Shadow Paladin. Right." She whistled a few notes. Blaster Dark looked at her suspiciously. Suddenly, there was a rustle in the bushes. He pointed his sword threateningly at the direction of the noise. A skeleton dog jumped out of the bushes and pounced at him. Blaster Dark struck him with his sword. The dog fell, but it got up again and growled. The dog barked ferociously at him.

Blaster Dark's eyes widened. "No... it can't be," he said, dropping his sword in shock. He observed the skeleton dog with a ridiculous black party hat on his head and a tacky looking yellow and navy clown collar. For days, he had been searching for his dear friend, and now he refused to believe that he had found him. With an almost breathless whisper, Blaster Dark called him. "Fullbau?"