Cardfight! Vanguard – Override
Sendou Aichi is a timid student whose life is changed by the card game, Vanguard. But as Aichi and his friends reach new heights, the dark and troubling side of the game, combined with a war on Cray, threatens to destroy the players and their new world.
Contains violence, language, character death.
-Hitsue City: Card Capital-
Although spirits were high ahead of the final match in the Card Capital tournament, Emi couldn't shake the feeling that Aichi's had been quashed by his defeat at Kamui's hands. A small break had taken place ahead of the last battle, and in the space of a couple of minutes, she had been separated from her elder brother, losing him in a sea of enthusiastic spectators. The redheaded child slipped her way through the bustling crowd, struggling to make her way from one side to the other. Her efforts were interrupted by the collision of a white-haired man and the young girl's body, almost toppling her.
The man turned and adjusted his squared spectacles, realizing the youngster had been the one he had knocked into. He leaned over, offering the girl an apologetic smile.
"I'm sorry; I never meant to bump into you like that," Osamu Kishida spoke.
Emi smiled back at him, brushing off the side where the two had met. Kamui was slipping through the crowd much easier, his louder tone dealing with the troublesome obstacles much more effectively with Eiji and Reiji quickly behind him. The youngster froze upon recognizing Emi standing beside Kishida, reading the towering stance the latter had resumed over the girl. Her expression suggested that she was concerned about having encountered the man who had competed to keep Aichi from entering the tournament. Was he after revenge by picking on the younger sister?
The boys behind him gasped, coming to a similar, if not the same, conclusion. Kamui rolled his sleeves and stomped forward, proceeding with no trouble as though his furious demeanour had forced the path open. Emi smiled up at Kishida, about to speak when Kamui appeared beside her, glaring up at the man in front.
"Oi, you better not be giving Emi-san any trouble," he barked.
"H- Huh?" Kishida sounded, standing straight. "No, I merely bumped into her and we got to talking".
"So you're still bitter that Onii-san beat you so you're trying to take it out on Emi-san?" Kamui snapped. "That's despicable".
"Yeah, you can't upset the goddess," Reiji added.
"CU," Eiji growled afterwards.
A drop of sweat trickled down Kishida's brow; he had no problem with the three kids and their tirade against him. It was the sheer power that their voices boomed with that unnerved him; the very nature of the accusations launched that painted him as a villain after a mere accident. He had been about to respond when Emi shot a glare towards the boy by her side.
"What he's saying is true," she insisted irately. "We accidentally knocked into one another while I was looking for Aichi and he brought up that Aichi had beaten him to get into the tournament. It was just a conversation about how well Aichi did, nothing bad happened".
"E- Emi-san," Kamui stammered. "But you looked scared".
"I was saying how hard Aichi is on himself. I didn't want his losing to you to weigh too much on him," Emi retorted. "I was telling Kishida-san about how experienced you are so it would be natural that Aichi struggle in a fight against you".
A blush blossomed across Kamui's face; the indirect compliment sent him into a world of fantasy where he berating was replaced by praises of his unbeatable strength and the giggling of the love smitten youngsters. Eiji and Reiji exchanged looks, unsure what to make of the scene; Kamui dazed with daydreams of affections addressed by the frustrated Emi whose large azure eyes had hardened into a glare. His drifting off angered her further, drawing her hands to her hips.
"Kamui-kun, this isn't funny," she pouted.
Kamui shot back, shaking away the blush lighting his cheeks. "Y- Yeah, of course, Emi-san," he answered rapidly. He followed by immediately turning to Kishida and bowing. "I apologize for accusing you of something that wasn't true".
Emi, Reiji, Eiji and Kishida were all taken aback by the sudden transformation and obedience the boy displayed. Watching from the crowds around, Miwa smirked and shrugged his shoulders lightly.
"Looks like she's got him trained pretty well already," he chuckled.
Ride 4: To The Heights Beyond
[Sono Saki Ni Aru]
-Hitsue City: Card Capital-
By the chart displaying the tournament's brackets, Shin took his place and raised the microphone in his possession, weary of Morikawa, who had attempted to steal the instrument over the course of the break a number of times to challenge the two finalists. The green-haired shopkeeper determined the location of the troublesome student before clearing his throat and moving the microphone into place.
"Alright, everyone, this is it – the final of the Card Capital bi-annual tournament," he reported into the device.
The chatter amongst the spectators died down, dozens of heads turning to the stage where the battlefield was set ready for the match. Misaki strode to Shin's side, standing between him and the scarlet paths marked out on the chart, naming the participants.
"The first finalist is our regular strongest grade school fighter – Katsuragi Kamui-kun," Shin declared, moving his free hand in the direction of the short player beside his companions and Emi.
The dark-haired combatant grinned and raised signs of victory, twisting his body sharply to face his companions. "Don't worry, Emi-san, I'm going to win this," he insisted. "And when I do, I'd like to ask you to ma- m-"
He began to shake his head furiously, followed by a bout of slapping his cheeks to steel himself. Eiji and Reiji chuckled uncomfortably, lost for words, though Emi seemed curious by the display and tilted her head with bemusement.
"Kamui-kun?" she uttered. "Is everything alright? Are you sure you're going to be able to fight?"
"Y- Yes!" Kamui cried suddenly. He cleared his throat in a poorly disguised means of calming himself, speaking with a much more composed tone. "Of course, so long as you're here".
Emi blinked; it was still a mystery to her as to why her presence was required, just as Kamui's invitation to the tournament days before left her wondering. But she said nothing and allowed Kamui to move proudly towards the table and climb onto the step pulled out from the base. Shin nodded as a sign that the first combatant was in place and he was free to move forward.
"His opponent has proven himself a deadly force to be reckoned with," he bellowed. "The relentless king of Kageros – Kai Toshiki".
Kai stepped forward from the opposite side of the clearing, his eyes closed to shut out the unimportant faces admiration and attempts at intimidating glares from his opponent. There was no sign of Miwa from the space where the brunette had departed, but he proceeded as normal, ignoring the absence of his childhood companion. He strode up to the table and paused, only opening his eyes once he was in place to meet the scolding glare of his opponent.
"It's time we settle this," the youngster barked. "Once I beat you, you'll learn to respect me as a strong fighter. You need an attitude transplant and I'm just the one to do it".
Kai shrugged off the banter and set his deck in place. His calm demeanour in the face of Kamui's vow to win irked the youngster further, his teeth grinding furiously in stark contrast to Kai's plain expression. A droplet of sweat clung to Shin's cheek, aware of the tension radiating from the table, while Misaki stood with a downcast gimmer in her eyes.
Across the room, the crowds were thinning out around the tables that were left in place. At the very table that Kai had been watching earlier matches from, Aichi was seated with his head hanging between his shoulders, looking down with disappointment. No matter what he tried, he couldn't shake the heavy feeling of disappointment that he had been knocked out of the competition, not least because one more victory would have ensured the rematch with Kai that he strived for. The reality of how close he had come only dragged his heart down further and the boy let out a discreet sigh.
From the crowds, Miwa slipped out, brushing off the jacket of his school uniform and strode over towards the blue-haired boy, smiling despite the low mood of his target. He pulled away a chair, falling onto it sideways and leaned against the edge of the table with his left arm.
"Hey, why're you back here instead of up front cheering them on?" he asked with a wide grin.
"Uh… I'm sorry," Aichi mumbled. "I should really".
Miwa's beaming expression slipped a degree, eyeing the boy curiously. It hadn't dawned on him how much the match with Kai meant – he had been the first person Aichi had fought just weeks before. The boy had emphasized on how he hadn't played the game before in the hopes that Kai would be his first opponent, finally grasping that dream. But a rematch without something important on the line was what he wanted. Having had that snatched away so close to the perfect opportunity must have set him back to the timid person he had been with no confidence in himself. Miwa had overheard Emi's suggestion that Aichi would be hard on himself; that was just the type of person he was, but with that, he inherited the argument the redhead made.
"Hey, don't get so down about it," he said. "Kamui's got a lot more experience than you. You did well for your first tournament".
"But doing well isn't going to convince Kai-kun that I'm strong enough to fight him".
Miwa's smile dripped into a frown, quickly rewritten back into a positive form for the sake of converting his troubled company to see things more clearly. Aichi's head, meanwhile, sank lower, his eyes brimming with despair falling further and threatened to vanish under his bangs.
"I need to be stronger if I'm to get Kai-kun to acknowledge me as a Vanguard fighter," the boy insisted, his form shivering with the battle not to break down ignited. "It feels like... if I can't get any stronger and face him again, I won't be able to see myself as strong, like he told me to. Until he can see me as strong, I'm Kai-kun's shadow".
"Shadow?" Miwa murmured.
"I won't be able to grow as anything else unless I can do more than exist as Kai-kun's shadow," Aichi continued. "I want to be able to prove to him that I've grown like he wanted, that I can envision myself stronger so that he can as well. So I can show I kept our promise".
Miwa's hand moved forward, dropping onto Aichi's shoulder and drawing the boy's eyes up to the blonde's neutral gaze. Miwa was baffled; he had never considered how important the fight would be to the blue-haired student, never thinking how it could relate to their past meeting. He was aware that Blaster Blade was a card that tied to two fates together, but never expected it to have such an impact on Aichi. Aichi locked eyes with the blonde, the shaking subsided, but his heart was pounding furiously from the feelings of disappointment and naivety that floated around inside of him.
"You don't have to prove yourself to anyone," Miwa insisted. "There would have been times when Kai felt he was weak, but he wouldn't have fought to impress someone else. That's how he and Kamui look so confident; they have their moments where they doubt themselves, but they're strong because they don't have to prove anything. You're a strong kid too, Aichi. You've just got to believe in yourself – once you think you're strong, Kai will just follow".
"Miwa-kun," Aichi exhaled.
"Stand Up, Vanguard!"
"Stand Up, the Vanguard".
The simultaneous shouts came from the other side of the crowd, followed by a brief wave of cheering. Miwa and Aichi both peered in the direction of the fight, the blonde reverting back afterwards to Aichi, who shrugged his shoulders and returned to looking at the table. A sigh escaped the blonde and he leaned forward, his pose matching Aichi's.
SECOND TURN – KAMUI
"I ride Tough Boy," Kamui yelled, throwing down the card over his former Vanguard. "Battleraizer's skill moves it to the Rear-Guard".
In the space of his leading unit stood the steel machine sporting circular defences fixed to its body [POW 8000]. Meanwhile, the machine made of grey coasted in armour of scarlet, white and a glass chest paced backwards, allowing its comrade, but his alignment placed him in a separate column [POW 3000]. Kamui smirked, throwing down an additional card in front of the relocated machine.
"I call Death Army Guy, [POW 7000]" he barked.
A blue aura burst from the ground in front of Battleraizer, igniting the summoning of the humanoid shape opening up on the front line. The figure straightened his body, the gleam from his cornflower blue and grey armour persisted despite the grim, dusty arena set up in the rocky landscape of the Dragon Empire. Kamui's fingers didn't rise from the card, but shifted it horizontally immediately after it's summoning, followed quickly by Battleraizer.
"Battleraizer boosts Death Army Guy, [POW 10000]" Kamui commanded, glaring towards the lone card on Kai's side of the field. "Attack Flame of Hope, Aermo [POW 6000]".
Kai's reaction was minimal; the standard eye-closing and exhaling his plain response. "No guard".
The armoured-man launched himself forward, swinging his arms wildly and pounding the small red-skinned salamander placed as the head of Kai's otherwise-empty field. The brunette was unfazed by the attack launched and reached for his deck, transferring his Embodiment of Spear, Tahr to the Damage Zone. Its arrival instigated a golden glow that ignited once passing over the assault card.
"Critical Trigger, get," he spoke bluntly. "I give the power to Aermo".
"Tsk," Kamui sounded. His hand shot forward, slamming down on his standing Vanguard and twisted it to initiate a second wave of battle. "Tough Boy attacks Aermo".
"Alone, it doesn't have the power to beat the opponent," Emi highlighted.
"But, if Kamui-san can pull a Trigger, than it'll be enough to break through," Reiji quipped, brushing the tips of his fingers against his round glasses.
"BT," Eiji chirped.
"I'll smash down whatever you put up to stop me," Kamui roared. "Drive Check".
The boy reached for his deck, throwing his hand down heavily and dragged the top card away. His determined expression melted away once he examined the card and released a sigh.
"You're lucky this time," he grunted. "It's not a Trigger".
The machine crashed into Aermo, attempting to throw it down with the shields attached to its arms, but to no avail. Aermo growled, pushing its enemy back and breaking loose of the assault. Defeated, the Nova Grappler reluctantly retreated back to its lines, plotting revenge for its failure. Kamui hissed, glaring at Kai venomously in stark contrast to the brunette's composed state, unyielding in holding the stoic mask to his face. That factor only riled the younger competitor further – there was nothing that Kai would be passionate about, he wasn't going to show if he truly believed anyone was worthy in the name of keeping up his unemotional front, whereas everyone else abided by the usual guidelines of socializing.
KAI - KAMUI
1 -DAMAGE- 0
Kamui wasn't the only one to pick up on Kai's persistence in keeping up the attitude. From the tables beyond the crowds, Aichi and Miwa could narrowly make out the fighters whilst playing their cards. The blonde smirked, amused by Kamui's rising frustration and how he drastically contrasted Kai, who, in turn, differed wildly from the boy he had known back in elementary school. Miwa's cheek sank into the palm of his hand, watching the battle continue along his shoulder, though the boy in front of him what the main reason of his hanging back. Aichi watched solemnly, the bitterness of having lost at such a crucial state was evident across his face, in spite of the pair's conversation. But there was something about Aichi, even depressed, that brought back memories of the way Kai had been in their childhood; small quirks that he missed in the reformed adolescent that had returned in his place.
"I wonder what made you turn out like this," the blonde discreetly, his words barely loud enough for Aichi to make out. "You've become stronger, but you're less interactive".
The blue-haired boy blinked whilst contemplating the observation and redirected his sights to the table where Kai picked up the next card from his deck, examining it carefully.
THIRD TURN – KAI
The demonic dragon he claimed as the star of his deck was gazing back amidst the circling flames painted around its towering form. Its power, however, was presently out of his reach, so he slipped it into his hand, removing another in its place and raised it above the field.
"I ride Dragon Knight, Aleph, [POW 9000]" he declared sternly, throwing the card down over the previous figurehead of his forces.
Aermo became surrounded by a ring of light piercing through the ground, rising up and shrouding its small red-skinned body in its aura. The sheet of light ascended into the skies, dissolving seconds after taking over the small creature's presence to reveal another not much taller. A boy standing atop his burgundy dragon, grasping the reins tightly in one hand whilst wielding a curved sword matching its fiery hairstyle.
"Furthermore, I call Embodiment of Armour, Bahr and Embodiment of Spear, Tahr," Kai added, throwing the two cards either side of the leading unit.
To the right of the short knight, the frequent black and scarlet-armoured soldier materialized, white flames waving from the crown of his blue head. The monster's long blade curled over his shoulder, resting against the thick plates of the armour, suggesting that battle wasn't the primary intention of its appearance on the battlefield [POW 8000]. On the opposite side, a man wearing an Arabian attire stood clutching the spear referred to by its title. Wrapped around his dark hair was an orange turban, pinned into place by a crimson oval, a white feather sprouting from behind the jewel. The man sported a sleeveless black shirt over his muscular torso and a jacket over that; the majority a shade of royal blue, whilst a rectangular area around his collar and shoulders retained the orange of his headgear. Thick grey boots shielded his calves, tucking in the bottoms of the man's baggy white trousers, their top shrouded by the blue band wrapped around his waist and the orange cloth dangling diagonally from it. His brawny arms rose, clutching a large spear larger than himself, sporting a curved blade at the top with two small holes carved into the bottom of the steel [POW 5000].
"H- Huh?" Kamui sounded, baffled by the brunette's choice of soldiers.
"Did he mess up?" Reiji wondered aloud. "Tahr is a Grade 0, there's not much he can do, especially on the front line".
"NM," Eiji added, also as curious.
"Ah, so he's pulling that trick," Miwa chuckled from the outskirts of the audience.
Kamui struggled to catch onto any strategy; failing to do so pushed him into a fit of confident laughter, tilting his head back and boasting towards the ceiling, the backs of his wrists pinned to his hips.
"And people actually thought you were strong," he taunted. His head fell , and with it, his blazing eyes. An emptied hand shot up, pointing accusingly towards the brunette, who displayed no reaction to the amusement. "What are you thinking, throwing a Grade 0 on the front line? Are you that desperate to lose? How could someone like you have beaten Onii-san?"
At the table he had hidden at, Aichi's hand tightened themselves into fists, shivering with frustration and eyes narrowing gently into a half-hearted glare towards the child. Miwa picked up on the subtle responses and smiled carefully, laying a hand onto Aichi's nearest fist, snapping the boy out of his silent temper and back towards his company.
"It's fine, the kid's just trying to show off," he spoke gently. "He doesn't mean anything by it. Besides, Kai'll just thrash him before long".
Aichi's expression reverted to normal, the vague chances eradicated immediately. He wasn't sure what had come over him – it wasn't like him to react in such a manner; the hollow taunt hadn't even been directed at him, but at Kai. He had suffered years of bullying and never once physically revealed his feelings about the appalling treatment, so why had that been the case this time? The youngster shook his head, trying to clear his mind of the distracting thoughts, they could wait, for he was eager to watch Kai's tactics on display. Nevertheless, Kamui was persisting with his brutal words.
"If this is the best you've got, then there's no way you're going to beat someone like me," Kamui boasted arrogantly.
His laughter resumed, quietly supported by Eiji and Reiji from behind. Although the crowd around appeared to side with Kamui in believing that Kai's tactics were less than intelligent, the brunette remained stone-faced and didn't react whatsoever to Kamui's boisterous chortle. When it dawned on the younger fighter that his words were being wasted, his head fell down, shooting an aggravated glare at the elder student opposite.
"Hey, it's no fun if you just stand there and take it," he barked. "You're supposed to fight back".
"I will fight back," Kai answered. "But with my cards. Aleph's Counterblast".
"W- What?" Kamui quivered.
"By turning over a card in the Damage Zone and transferring both Bahr and Tahr from the field to the Soul," Kai spoke, completing the actions as he iterated each. "I can search my deck for Embodiment of Victory, Aleph. Superior Ride The Vanguard".
The card slammed down over its predecessor, engulfing the younger variation in a fiery plume of energy that began to morph his features. The dragon by the knight's side had become black form the charring experience, whereas Aleph had grown taller, his face deformed into demonic eyes and an unnerving expression held between various segments of his armour attached to his head. The boy's clothing had become a suit if armour, much like Bahr's, although with a rose shade as opposed to the latter's crimson. The knight stretched the muscles across his body, clenching his right fist whilst holding onto the spear inherited from Tahr in the other and unleashed a shrieking cry [POW 10000].
"N- No way," Kamui yelped, raising his arm in front defensively whilst witnessing the feat in horror. "He's already got a Grade 3 Vanguard".
"That means he's jumped ahead of Kamui-kun," Emi muttered. "He's strong".
"Maybe, but not as strong as me," Morikawa boasted.
"But he's in the Final and you went out in the first round," Izaki reported.
"The stars weren't right," Morikawa protested.
On the other side of the clearing, Misaki also observed the scene with a melancholic mood to her. Kai hadn't needed to advance to such a degree whilst fighting her – he had defeated her whilst they played on the same level. She was left with a bitter taste in her mouth at the calling of a higher power in the face of Kamui's gathering army; was this supposed to be a message that Kamui was the closest to the undefeated brunette who simply appeared mere weeks beforehand? Was he sending a message to the lilac-haired woman, or even advice? Or was it his way of telling her the distance between the two was far too great for her to even be considered competition? The young woman exhaled softly, her eyes falling towards the floor. Shin picked up on Misaki's unusual depression, pulling a frown at the sight of his assistant so disappointed. Although she had masked it well, there was no denying that she cared for the game, she was eager to get as far as possible and show off her talents, but had unexpectedly come up short, damaging the mask she had been holding in front of her face.
At the table in the centre of the clearing, Kai snatched two cards from his hand, shooting an icy gaze towards his adversary whilst throwing the pair into their places on the front line.
"Call; Vortex Dragon. Dragonic Overlord," he snapped.
Two twisters erupted from the ground, flooding the area with the ominous howling of the coming battle. Kamui's forces paled in comparison to Aleph's enhanced form, but when the shriek of a dragon, followed by the appearance of grey dragon, drove home out overpowered their enemies were in comparison to their low-level state [POW 10000]. A column of flames spiralled vertically, unleashing the dark-red armoured dragon that Kai was known for, growling whilst stretching the muscles in its thick arms curled either side of its torso [POW 11000].
"He's got a field of Grade 3s already?" Izaki gasped.
"Yes! This is what a fight should be like," Morikawa cheered. "Beloved Grade 3s".
"Kamui-san, watch out," Reiji cried.
"KW," Eiji followed.
Misaki eyed the field with awe; although Kai was supposed to be only one grade ahead of Kamui, he had managed to advance his forces at a rapid pace, allowing his strongest soldiers onto the front line well before their time was due. They had come to deal with Kamui's mere Grade 1s with brutal force. It hurt simultaneously with the relief she felt; the cards had proven themselves deadly alone, but together, one would imagine an almost unstoppable force. She gazed intensely at the battle, catching Shin's attention, who smiled at the young woman's interest in spite of her defeat. At the table situated at the back of the crowds, Aichi, like, was awestruck by Kai's advanced tactics, while Miwa smiled, resting his left chin against the palm of his hand, standing from the elbow planted on the table's surface.
"My, my, he went overboard," he chuckled.
"Kai-kun…" Aichi breathed, ignorant to Miwa's relaxed murmurings.
"Y- You bastard," Kamui growled, hunched behind his overshadowed units.
"The weak will be left in the shadow of the strong and the craters of their destructive force," Kai recited. "At the top of the world, there is no need for those who fall apart so easily".
Kamui's jaws were clenched tightly, eyes twitching with growing frustration; he was playing a game, it was supposed to be fun. He was spouting banter, the opponent was meant to retort in a similar manner. But this was Kai he was fighting; there was no chance of a friendly match. But his lack of a response to Kamui's tactics grated against the boy, whose rage was beginning to surface in the form of physical signals. Reiji and Eiji observed their idol anxiously, exchanging worried faces over the idea that Kamui could explode in front of Emi, thus further damaging his chances of swooning the redhead with his impressive fighting ability. Regardless of his adversary's furious shaking, Kai pressed on and pinned down Vortex Dragon, twisting it horizontally.
"Vortex Dragon attacks Tough Boy," he declared.
Kamui growled; he hadn't planned for a Grade 3 assault so early, forcing him to examine his hand. There were plenty of guards, but it was perfectly normal to take damage early, he couldn't waste his resources so quickly; it would make more sense to save the shields for a later point, when his back would be assumed against the wall. His red eyes jumped up, locking with those opposite, appearing much calmer.
"No guard," the boy grunted.
The dragon's fiery stream made contact with Tough Boy, punishing the machine heavily with the wide league of power separating them. Kamui scowled, drawing the top card of his deck and turning it over, transferring the second Tough Boy to the Damage Zone. Kai reached forward once more, targeting the card in the centre of his forces.
"Aleph also attacks Tough Boy".
The newly-evolved dragon knight lunged forward, tugging on the reigns of his companion, who spread its wings and shot into the sky above the Nova Grappler force. Tough Boy watched the scene whilst crouching on one knee, still trying to recover from the blow the previous Kagero dragon had dealt it. Kamui growled, once more signalling that he was going to refrain from guarding, freeing Kai to move to the deck and proceed with the double Drive Check.
"Twin Drive," he declared. In quick succession, he turned over the two cards – Iron Tail Dragon and Dragon Knight, Aleph.
Neither were triggers, to Kamui, Eiji and Reiji's relief. Nevertheless, Aleph jumped from his dragon, plunging furiously at the target below, whose arms were folded in front of its chest, aware it was already being targeted once more. Aleph's stretched face intensified with wide eyes hungry for battle and fangs lips inching further apart, thrusting its steel spear forward. The weapon pierced the first of Tough Boy's shields, cracking it tremendously, though failing to break through it. The machine grunted and crouched deeper in its weak struggle to stay alive. Mercy was granted only when Kai's sight moved to the final dragon on his front line, signalling for Aleph to retreat. The knight slid the blade from Tough Boy's shields, leaping onto the back of his dragon as it soared by and moving back to the Kagero side of the field.
"Damage Check," Kamui growled, reaching for his deck. He turned over the card, igniting a green glow from Ring Girl, Clara. "Heal Trigger. I'll heal once and give the power to Death Army Guy".
"Huh?" Reiji yelped. "The power to Death Army Guy? But with that power, Tough Boy could stand against Dragonic Overlord".
"SA," Eiji cried.
Kai appeared unfazed by the blunder, moving his hand towards the final standing card and twisting it to match its comrades. "Dragonic Overlord, attack Tough Boy" the brunette commanded tonelessly.
"A third attack!" Reiji gasped.
"TA!" Eiji moaned.
Kamui growled; his scatter-brained focus on Kai's conduct during the fight in comparison to his own had left him blind to the mistake. His eyes scanned over the hand – with Clara's appearance, there was no danger in taking an additional token of damage. There was no extra Critical, no threat of a Drive Check; the risks were presently minimal. The dragon's flames rolled forward, blanketing the field with a scorching wave, the Nova Grappler stood no chance, already battered by the previous assaults. Nevertheless, the warrior raised its shields, managing to protect the majority of its body, but the heat alone worsened the damage already sustained from the series of attacks. The machine dropped down onto one knee, exhausted by the battle from which it had barely survived. Dragonic Overlord towered over the beaten enemy, returning to its territory. Kamui frowned deeply whilst turning over the next card, unveiling a third Tough Boy, moving it into the Damage Zone where Ring Girl, Clara remained alone.
KAI - KAMUI
3 -DAMAGE- 2
"Turn end," Kai stated, dropping his right hand by his side.
FOURTH TURN – KAMUI
"Tsk, you think you're so great," the youngster opposite scowled. "Just because you got a little ahead. But that won't be enough to stop me, it's my turn!" He immediately tore the next card from his deck, sliding it into his hand, exchanging it with another, which he lifted about his head. "I ride Genocide Jack!"
A column of light consumed Tough Boy, relieving it of its place at the head of the Grapplers squad. Its stout body was replaced by a towering monster made of various metals; an armoured creature with various ominous elements about its construction, glaring with piercing red eyes at the dragons gathered at an equal level, looming over the battlefield [POW 11000]. Kamui, however, was far from done, raising two additional cards and pressed down on the other active unit with the middle finger of his right hand.
"I'll move Death Army Guy to the back and call both Battleraizer and another Genocide Jack," the boy yelled, throwing the cards into their designated spaces.
A replica of the central unit emerged beside the leader, its colour scheme vaguely fainter in order to distinguish the two from one another. Death Army Guy leapt back, moving out of the machine's space and landing skilfully behind the new arrival to the field. By the humanoid's side, a copy of the glass-chested machine materialized in the Vanguard Genocide Jack's shadow, clenching its thick fists and grunting readily.
"Genocide ordinarily can't attack because of its Restraints, but by Counterblasting twice, I can lift that restriction on both of them," Kamui barked, flipping over the two cards resting along the Damage Zone column. "First the Rear-Guard Jack attacks, boosted by Death Army Guy [POW 18000]".
"No guard," Kai answered plainly.
The lizard-like machine craned its head back, setting the miniature cannon in its jaws onto the knight situated between the three front-line dragons. A scarlet beam of light shot out, piercing through Aleph's armour, forcing the fiery-haired man to crouch onto one knee, clutching the afflicted area. Kai reached for his deck, turning over the card – Wyvern Guard, Barri.
The brunette deposited the card into the Damage Zone swiftly under the watchful gazes surrounding the pair. Misaki's heart was in her throat; she was unwittingly excited about the fight taking place in front of her, losing herself to the tense conflict and automatically putting her disappointment over not advancing to the final behind her. Shin smiled at the sight of her swift recovery, scanning the audience for Aichi to check if he had made it to the same stage as the lilac-haired girl. His beaming faltered when he couldn't find any sign of the blue-haired boy amongst the spectators and begin to examine each minute space between the collected bodies.
"Battlerizer boosts Genocide Jack [POW 14000]. Attack Aleph!" Kamui barked in the centre of the stage.
"No guard," Kai answered.
"Drive Check," Kamui declared, raising Death Army Lady from the deck. He turned over the card, matching the scarlet light shining from Kai's previous check. "It's not a Trigger. But it's enough to break through".
In a repetition of the recent attack, the right-side Genocide Jack raised its head, gathering energy swiftly for the barrel locked in its throat and unleashed a similar beam of light that pierced through the wounded knight, further injuring him. Kai showed nothing from falling behind the youngster and stoically drew an additional card, turning over Tahr, who began to glow.
KAI - KAMUI
3 -DAMAGE- 2
"Critical Trigger, get," he reported. But it had come too late, the boost that could have prevented another strike against him
The card fell into the Damage Zone, bringing a confident smile to Kamui's face. The boy appeared much more relaxed than moments before, even prior to coming under attack from a similar onslaught; he had taken the lead, even if Kai's units were made of Grade 3s. Proud of his achievement, Kamui pressed his empty hand on his hip, projecting a smug pose.
"Alright then, since I'm out of attacks, I'll let you off here," he claimed.
FIFTH TURN – KAI
"Draw," Kai sounded, swiftly removing the top card of his deck and adding it to his hand. Another was immediately grabbed and removed, keeping the collection's size the same as he threw it onto the central space of the back row. "Call Iron Tail Dragon".
Behind Aleph and his draconic companion, a new creature emerged; stretching the tangerine-coloured skin hanging between the bones of its dark red wings. The creature's violet scales were visible, however, exposing weak points, though safe due to its position among the squad [POW 7000].
"Tsk, he's backing up his Grade 3s now," Kamui scowled.
"Dragonic Overlord, attack the Vanguard Genocide Jack," Kai commanded, pointing towards the targeted card.
Kamui clenched his teeth; an attack would surrender his lead, but he was wary of guarding, especially with the Vanguard yet to attack. That, coupled with Kai's reputation of pulling the right Trigger at the right time, left him reluctant to spend cards in order to defend against the early attack. Droplets of sweat clung to the boy's head, raising his eyes from the group in his grasp to the opponent looming over the battlefield.
"I won't guard," he confessed begrudgingly.
The dragon stretched its neck, throwing the skull forward and unleashing a storm of flames that lunged over the field, descending like a deadly rain over the Nova Grapplers' representative, screeching mechanically and shuddering under the force of the scorching attack. Kamui grunted, grasping the top card of his deck and revealing it as Twin Blader. Already frustrated, Kamui's eyes tapered sharply at the appearance of his perfect guard, forced to discard it to the column where his damage was beginning to stack up, threatening defeat should he allow Kai even the slightest window of opportunity. Kai, meanwhile, adjusted the cards in his central line, setting both horizontally, with his sight set firmly on the damaged target ahead.
"Iron Tail boosts Embodiment of Victory, Aleph," he announced. "Who attacks Genocide Jack as well".
Kamui hissed, finally snatching a card from his hand and presenting it to the field by throwing it into the blue oval between the two Vanguards.
"I won't let you," he snapped. "Guard with Shining Lady".
Aleph raised his spear regardless of the defence erected, the blade gathering the energy from his comrade behind [POW 18000]. Meanwhile, in front of Genocide Jack, a slender woman materialized, resting on one knee defensively. Her fair skin was clothed in a pink suit that stretched across her entire body, leaving only the lower half of her face revealed when combined with the white segments of her armour. Curved shoulder pads and a breastplate covered the woman's sensitive areas, gloves clinging to her forearms bore narrow spikes similar to those sprouting from her shoulders. Reinforced plates were fitted over her legs similar to trousers, a slit open at the bottom for her legs to show their narrow form. Salmon-shaded hair curled out from the white helm that sat atop the woman's head, concealing her eyes and brow, two yellow wings standing out above the style [SLD 10000].
"Twin Drive," Kai called, reaching for the deck immediately. He striped the stack of the top card, turning it to find a green light resonating from the image. "Heal Trigger, get. I'll grant the power to Aleph and heal one damage".
"That makes Aleph strong enough to go through," Reiji whimpered.
"Kamui-san!" Eiji hollered fearfully.
The second draw followed, though lacking an aura about it. Heatnail Salamander was added to the hand. Kamui clenched his jaws, flooded with frustration over the pointless sacrifice his Shining Lady had endured. The spear, brimming with power inherited from the two sources, sliced through her body with ease, immediately dismissing her from the field, while leaving the knight more than enough power to deal with the leader whom she had volunteered to defend with her life [POW 13000]. With a sinister grin, the knight lunged up, swinging its weapon erratically and inflicting several further wounds against the grand machine. Kamui hissed, pulling another card from his deck, met with the shining reminiscent of the Trigger Kai had pulled. He turned it around, not with a smile, but glaring firmly as though its arrival had revived a spark within him.
"Battleraizer – Stand Trigger," he announced, laying the card into the Damage Zone. "I give the power to Genocide Jack. Now he's too strong for any other attack you want to try".
KAI - KAMUI
3 -DAMAGE- 4
Kai cast a cautious eye over the field – the disappointment in his inability to attack meant that Kamui's Rear-Guard Jack would also escape unharmed. Vortex Dragon had not the power to tackle either alone, so he would be forced to bide his time and prepare the forces for their next opportunity, regardless of what the Nova Grapplers would throw whilst they had the chance. Kai lifted his sharp green eyes from the cards in his possession, unfazed externally by the strategy that prevented any further advance.
"Turn end," he declared calmly.
SIXTH TURN – KAMUI
"It's my turn! Draw!" the black-haired boy yelled, tearing the new card from his deck and slotting it into his hand. He moved another away immediately, raising it above his head whilst aiming for the scarlet circle marked out around his leading unit. "I ride Mr Invincible!"
Genocide Jack crouched, submitting to the glow encircling it swiftly after the declaration and vanished behind the veil that rose. When the light faded, the towering machine had been replaced by the muscular blue-skinned man standing with the appearance of a superhero. A scarlet cape waved behind him, his large chest naked and goggles over his eyes above a wide grin, chortling confidently [POW 10000].
"Mr Invincible's skill Soul-Charges from the deck and allows me to unflip a card in the Damage Zone," Kamui barked, fulfilling the actions; slipping Fighting Battleship Prometheus into the Soul. He grasped another card, throwing it down beside the leading figure. "Call, Death Army Lady".
In the emptied space on the front line, a pillar of light burst from the ground, a metallic woman stepping through of steel with bronze shins and ribs. Red markings encircled and connected her eyes with a small strip, blue tentacles waved her the back of her helm to resemble hair [POW 9000].
"Now I flip back the damage for Jack's Restraint," the boy declared. "Death Army Guy boosts Jack".
Kai was quick to respond, snatching a card from his hand and pressing it against the blue oval in the centre of the field. "Guard with Demonic Dragon Mage, Rakshasa".
The snake-like Trigger materialized on the field; its chest, waist and head encase in golden armour with scarlet accents and a cloth hanging from the lower piece. Its teal-scaled body was coiled defensively around, preparing itself for the attack [SLD 10000]. The laser from Jack's barrel pierced through the serpentine creature, result in its immediate destruction and leaving the path clear to Aleph. But the enemy Vanguard's spear swatted away the beam, too weak to deal further damage after Rahskasa's interception. Kamui growled, his frustration rising with Kai's continuously calm attitude and easy defences in spite of his fierce efforts for victory.
"Fine then, Mr Invincible attacks," he snapped.
Kai, once more, reached for his hand, producing another guardian that descended into the central space. "Guard with Dragon Monk, Genjo [SLD 10000]".
The mage with robes of yellow, orange and white appeared, crossing the narrow sceptre in his possession diagonally across his form. Nevertheless, the blue-skinned Nova Grappler launched himself into the air, laughing proudly in the face of the enemy, rising proudly to resemble any superhero that the spectators could have read about.
"You're that desperate, huh?" Kamui scoffed smugly reaching for the deck. "Twin Drive".
The check produced Screamin' and Dancin' Announcer, Shout alongside another Mr Invincible – no Trigger, no power boost. Genjo's presence would drain the hero of his power, leaving him incapable of tackling the enemy behind. The presence of a Graded 3 in the draw pushed Death Army Guy to stand, but his female companion was already prepared for an attack. She, however, lacked the necessary power and without another Drive Check, she wouldn't be able to do anything in the face of Aleph. Kamui growled, glaring down at his field; Death Army Guy and Death Army Lady were at their strongest together, but as they stood, they couldn't have been further apart. His forces had been disorganized by his scatter-brained state; swinging between fawning for Emi and rage directed towards Kai. He wasn't focused on the fight and he was going to pay for it. With a grunt, he set his sights back on Kai, the brunette eyeing the field sternly as though plotting his next moves already.
"Turn end," Kamui growled begrudgingly.
SEVENTH TURN – KAI
"It's my turn," the brunette responded, pulling a card sharply from the deck. He reached for the field, grasping the left-side dragon. "I retire Vortex Dragon. And in its place, I call Nehalem, Bahr and Heatnail Salamander".
Vortex Dragon entered the Drop Zone, replaced by the knight standing atop his enormous dragon beside Aleph. Behind him, the scarlet and black-armoured warrior appeared, his fanged jaws grinning and the blade of his curved weapon glinting hungrily. The final unit was brought to life behind Dragonic Overlord, portrayed as a molten lizard amongst the flames and lava that surfaced from the cracks between its scaly skin [POW 6000]. Kamui growled, examining the enemy field – Kai's forces had failed every space available; they were at their strongest in comparison to his disadvantaged five-man collection.
"Bahr boosts Nehalem, who attacks Mr Invincible, [POW 18000]" Kai declared, shifting the pair to rest.
"Guard with Shining Lady," Kamui barked, throwing a replica of the pink-suited woman onto the field in front of the targeted hero, who grinned at her arrival [SLD 20000].
Kai merely brushed off the play, moving swiftly to the next round of battle. "Iron Tail Dragon boosts Aleph".
Droplets of sweat clung to the edges of Kamui's face; three attacks were going to drain him of resources, leaving him with no way to prepare for what could lie ahead following his next turn.
"No guard," he exhaled bitterly.
"Twin Drive," Kai called.
He turned over the two cards, unveiling Dragonic Overlord and another copy of Bahr. Like Kamui, despite two draws, he had produced no Triggers. However, that didn't matter to Kai; his attack was strong enough to make it to the enemy front lines. With no defence, Kamui's Vanguard was vulnerable and, as Aleph lunged with his spear, the muscular man flinched in terror of what was to come. The weapon slashed across his chest several times, inflicting various wounds that had the man yelling out in anguish. Kamui growled, picking the next card from his deck and depositing it into the Damage Zone, where it emulated a green light.
"Alright, a Heal Trigger," he cried.
"Yeah, hang in there, Kamui-san!" Reiji yelled.
"HT," Eiji cheered.
Kamui removed the first token of damage from the column, transferring it to the Drop Zone where his various shields had been taken to rest. An aura surrounded Mr Invincible, pooling the power into his wounded body from Ring Girl, Clara's admittance into the Damage Zone [POW 15000]. Kai quickly reached for the final column of his field, shifting the pair horizontally to match the majority of his forces.
"Dragonic Overlord attacks with a boost from Heatnail Salamander, [POW 17000]" he declared.
Kamui snatched a card, throwing it onto the central space of the field furious and smirked towards Kai, still a drop of sweat evidently sliding down the edge of his face.
"Guard with Fighting Battleship, Prometheus," he protested.
The massive hovering craft materialized above Mr Invincible and his allies, casting a grand shadow over the area and forcing Dragonic Overlord's flaring power to disintegrate before it had even been launched. The dragon growled tamely, disappointed that its attack had failed so suddenly, forcing it to remain in place, glaring up at the construction with its piercing yellow eyes.
"I shall end my turn there," Kai answered, his eyes closing briefly.
EIGHTH TURN – KAMUI
"Alright then, it's my turn," the boy opposite yelled fiercely. "I ride another Invincible".
From the rear of the crowd, Aichi and Miwa watched the match with fascination; the younger clearly moved by how the tide of battle swung back and forth, although Kai never appeared to lose control of the situation. Miwa smirked at the boy, remembering how timid and fearful he had looked when he first walked into the shop, doubting himself in every manner, only looking comfortable once he realized that he was fighting against the boy who inspired him to play the game in the first place. It made sense why he was so desperate to fight with the brunette again, Miwa himself had a suspicion that Kai had gone easy on him in order to give him back the card stolen. But he wouldn't dare bring it up, especially anywhere near Card Capital.
"It's amazing," Aichi muttered. "Their fight is so intense".
"Yeah, kind of like how yours with Kai was," the blonde chuckled.
"Eh?" Aichi sounded, whipping his head around to the elder student. "N- No, that's not true".
"Of course it is. And you had a great fight with Kamui too," Miwa continued.
"Y- You think so?" Aichi asked, a faint blush glowing across his cheeks.
"'Course, I wouldn't be saying it otherwise," Miwa answered with light laughter. "There's nothing stopping you from reaching Kai, it's just that Kamui's been playing for longer. Experience was on his side, you just got unlucky, being weak had nothing to do with it. I know that it won't be long before you and Kai have that fight and it'll be the best one ever".
Aichi's head sank between his shoulders, the embarrassed glow growing brighter, spreading across his face. He was touched by the blonde's words, but also nervous about the idea of being arrogant enough to claim he was as strong as Kai. His eyes slid towards the blonde, who grinned and flashed him a thumbs-up; a sign of his confidence in the prediction and backing him to work in order to make that scenario a reality. Across the room, Shin smiled at the rising mood of the youngster, guided by Miwa's upbeat words. He trusted the blonde immensely, showing he had a good heart despite the stereotype of students his age, preparing to move onto the next stage in their lives, but Miwa was still a child. He would always be a child at heart and that made him easier to confide in. Easier to use. Beside him, Misaki glanced away from the battle, catching sight of the pair; it was clear to her that Aichi had been just as depressed as her when the two of them were ejected from the tournament; he had been just as eager to fight Kai as she had been to simply make it through to the final round. He had a motive behind him, she didn't. Her faint smile reverted into plainness, would that mean finding inspiration to play the game would make her stronger? Or was it sheer misfortune that she had been paired against Kai, who seemed ignorant to failure? Her sight slipped back towards the fight, watching as Kamui rested the first of his units.
"Shout boosts Death Army Lady," the boy snapped. "Attack Aleph".
"No guard," Kai coolly answered.
The tentacles of the woman's hair wiggled vibrantly as she threw herself into battle, inheriting the power of his companion whose arms also waved in a similar manner [POW 16000]. The woman swung her body, using the momentum of her dive to flip her body vertically, stretching a leg that crashed down against Aleph's chest, still bruised from the penetrating lasers that Jack had fired. Aleph growled, sinking onto one knee and clutching the afflicted area. Kai picked up the card from his deck, finding a blue aura emitted.
"Stand Trigger, get," he stated, moving the card to its destination. "I'll give the power to Aleph [POW 15000] and stand Dragonic Overlord".
The dragon growled, picking itself up and towering over the other forces from either side of the field. The muscular Nova Grapplers' leader hissed, though not surrendering the grin perpetually on his face; he would be ready, regardless of what the Kageros would throw. Kamui reached for the column on Invincible's other side, twisting the pair to lie horizontally.
"Death Army Guy boosts Genocide Jack," he barked.
"Guard with Bahr," Kai answered, holding up the card.
Streams of light linked the two units together, transferring Death Army Guy's power to Jack [POW 18000], who straightened himself, unleashing a wide ray of energy that crashed against the blue-skinned warrior that appeared in the final seconds, taking the attack for his superior behind [SLD 20000]. The beam began to cut through the armour, searing the plating that began to burn. Bahr's blank eyes dropped to the beam penetrating his chest, breaking through the armour and protruding his back. The warrior vanished from the field, dissolving into a shower of pixels that descended to the floor, vanishing before they could touch the ground. Kamui found – with the boost from the Stand Trigger, it was highly unlikely that Mr Invincible would be able to break through Aleph's defences. Impossible if Kai were to call upon a shield. His red eyes scanned the front line, searching for any alternative target to exact his frustration. His attention quickly fell upon Nehalem; a Grade 2, capable of intercepting, a threat even during the younger fighter's turn. A glimmer signalled a plan formulating a scheme to weaken the Kagero force. He reached for the remaining cards in the central column, twisting them to match those either side.
"Invincible attacks Nehalem," he yelled.
"Nehalem, huh?" Izaki mused. "So he's realized that he won't break through".
"Pfft, don't doubt the power of Grade 3s," Morikawa scoffed, folding his arms over his chest.
"Loseumi" Reiji whispered scornfully.
"LU," Eiji added.
"What was that?" Morikawa roared, clenching his fist tightly.
"Guard with Rakshasa," Kai declared, sliding the card into the central space.
"Such a large shield for a Rear-Guard," Izaki muttered. "He must really want to keep Nehalem".
"Big mistake using up a shield that big. Twin Drive," Kamui yelled, drawing twice from the deck.
The cards revealed themselves as the final copy of Tough Boy of Kamui's deck and Death Army Guy. Both Grade 1s; no Triggers, but shields for the next round. But without Triggers, there wasn't enough power to break through the guard, reducing Invincible to nothing once the shield disintegrated. Another turn had passed and damage remained the same, proving how tense and high-octane the battle had become, though at the expense of Kamui's best chance for victory. His hands pressed themselves against the edge of the table, cards face-down and glared across at his adversary.
"End turn," he growled.
The scene grew quiet; only the chattering of spectators discussing the recent turn and the state of the fight. Kai's eyes were closed, sealing him off from the surroundings; the gazes of the audience and their discreet conversations. Aichi and Misaki watched with their hearts thumping as though they were fighting, taken in by the atmosphere of the fight, picked up by Miwa and Shin respectively. Kai's eyes snapped open, glaring sternly at the youngster opposite, who became curious of the look in the second before Kai opened his mouth.
"Final Turn!"
NINETH TURN – KAI
Kamui flinched at the declaration; as much as he despised the brunette, he hadn't failed in predicting a Final Turn before. Sweat slipped down the edges of his face, anxious that perhaps the end had come, but fearful that such a possibility would steal away his chance to propose to Emi. He had invited her to watch him win, to impress her with his skills and then declare his feelings whilst she was captivated by him. If he were to lose now, that dream couldn't take place. Kai drew swiftly from his deck and added the card to his hand. Misaki and Aichi observed with widened eyes, intrigued by what Kai planned to fulfil his prediction.
"Hmph," Kamui sounded hollowly, putting on an arrogant exterior to cover his doubts. "Even if you've got the advantage, I've only got four damage. I can guard against anything you can throw out. You're not going to win".
Kai shrugged off the comments by failing to respond. Instead, his attention was focused on the fight, twisting the first pair of cards. "Nehalem attacks with a boost from Bahr".
Kamui scowled; for all his boasting, he was waiting for the right moment to shield his Vanguard. Carelessly throwing something out to back his claims would only endanger himself later on. His head tucked between his shoulders, hunched as if to brace himself personally for the strike, he made the decision.
"No guard".
Kai hummed briefly, having expected such a response, more so following the boy's confident declaration. Nehalem raised his spear, gathering lightning that rained over the field until it was surrounded by bolts of power, throwing it forward and unleashing a sparking ray down towards the target. Invincible laughed through the assault, determined to put on a brave face for his comrades so they wouldn't lose heart, but the force was enough to throw him back, landing crashing against the charred land of the Dragon Empire. Kamui grit his teeth, drawing from the deck and checking the fifth card to enter the Damage Zone, finding another copy of Invincible.
Kai moved to the central line, turning Aleph and Iron Tail Dragon. "Embodiment of Victory, Aleph, with a boost from Iron Tail Dragon, attacks Invincible," the brunette declared.
"No way I'm letting that through," Kamui barked. "Guard with Tough Boy and Death Army Guy".
"But just one Trigger and Aleph's attack will go through," Izaki called.
"Could it be, he doesn't have enough shield left?" Reiji gasped.
"Kamui-san!" Eiji cried in unison with his partner.
Aichi and Misaki watched intensely, aware of Kamui's desperate situation – the cards had been those from his Twin Drive; Kamui had little left at the end of his previous turn, risking everything on the two. Death Army Lady's interception could aid the defences, but that would then leave Invincible vulnerable to Dragonic Overlord's attack. A single Trigger could put either over the maximum defences that Kamui could set up. The youngster clenched his jaws, glaring anxiously across the field while Kai towered over the field, reaching for his deck casually.
"Twin Drive," he called, lifting the first card from the deck – Flame of Promise, Aermo. The card was quickly added to those in his possession and Kai reached for his deck quickly once more. "Second Check". He grasped the card, flipping it over sharply to reveal its golden glow, to Kamui's horror. "Critical Trigger, get. All effects will be applied to Aleph".
"A- A Critical? No way," Kamui yelped.
Aichi and Misaki were in awe at Kai's accurate declaration once more, coupled with his ability to draw Triggers at the right moment. Aleph's grin grew wider and more sinister, surrounded by the glow matching the Rakshasa that Kai had drawn [POW 22000]. The knight lunged forward, swiping his spear numerous times to inflict deeper wounds across Invincible, who yelled out and feigned laughter despite the onslaught. Sweat was thick across Kamui's brow when he drew from the deck.
"D- Damage check…" the first card turned, shining blue – Battleraizer. The other was the final copy of Invincible. Both slipped into the Damage Zone, filling the column, and with it, accepting defeat.
KAI - KAMUI
3 -DAMAGE- 7
FIGHT END
Kamui's eyes closed tightly, disheartened by the degree of his loss, his head hung. Eiji and Reiji watched with sorrowful expressions; they hadn't been able to do anything to aid Kamui, merely standing beside the girl he admired, seeing him annihilated dragged them down in contrast to her puzzlement. Emi appeared fine, feeling sorry for Kamui after such a brutal defeat, but otherwise unaffected by the result.
Shin stepped forward from his place beside Misaki and raised the microphone to his mouth. "That's it; we have our winner: Kai Toshiki!"
Cheers erupted from the crowds, joined with applause for Kamui's valiant efforts. The boy collected his cards, stepping down from the aid for shorter players to find himself standing in front of Emi. The redhead smiled at him gently and brightly.
"Well done, Kamui-kun," she chirped.
Kamui's face began to glow, a blush consuming his entire face before he fell back, collapsing onto the floor at the base of the table. Emi gasped, eyeing the boy with an inane smile cautiously while Reiji and Eiji were by his side on their hands and knees.
"Kamui-kun, hang in there," Reiji cried.
"IT," Eiji added.
"Everyone, I have an announcement," Shin continued, gathering the attention of the audience and participants. The green-haired man retreated towards the whiteboard. "I'd like our winner, Kai Toshiki-kun, to come here in front of everyone. While we're at it, let's have our runner-up, Katsuragi Kamui-kun, Sendou Aichi-kun and Tokura Misaki-san".
Aichi's head jumped up from between his shoulders, earning a playful smirk from Miwa. Kai strode across the room, heading towards the destination assigned to the four, while Kamui picked himself up, wondering if he'd heart correctly.
"Shin, what are you doing?" Misaki asked, turning towards the shopkeeper.
"You'll find out when you stand with the others," Shin quipped.
Misaki sharpened her eyes towards the man and moved into place, standing between Aichi and Kamui, who lined themselves up with Kai beside the former. Shin moved nearby, facing the audience, who had gathered around the tables curiously. Shin picked a sheet slotted behind the board, revealing the sheet as a small poster with various familiar Vanguard units locked in fierce combat under golden letter spelling out 'CHAMPSIONSHIP" beneath the Vanguard logo.
"Sub-Manager and I were impressed with the fights we saw today and thought that, with the talents of the four of you combined, we could create a successful team for the upcoming Regional Tournament," Shin explained.
"Regional Tournament?" Aichi echoed.
"Yes, as Card Capital's team, you could go up against all kind of teams from the area and the winner move onto the National Tournament to fight against the best in the country," Shin answered excitedly. "Together, the four of you could rise to great heights as our representing team".
Cheers of awe and pride, an applause coupled with the gasps and sounds emitted. Misaki and Aichi exchanged blushing expressions, neither prepared to be drafted into such a scheme and stood rigidly between a grinning Kamui and stone-faced Kai.
"Onii-san!" Kamui called from the edge of the line-up, flashing victory signs to his companions in the crowd. "We're going to get to be big. This is gonna be great!" His sight rotated back to the crowds where he discovered Emi between his companions and Aichi's classmates, clapping with a gentle smile, turning his face red. "Emi-san, watch us. We're going to go all the way to the top and win it. Th- Then wi- will you… ?"
Emi tilted her head, puzzled by what the boy was struggling to ask, glancing at Aichi, who chuckled nervously. The mood in the shop remained at its peak throughout the duration that the crowds remained, gradually trickling away with the participants until Misaki and Shin were left with a handful of customers while dusk drew near.
It was then that the door slid open and a shadow slipped into the shop, catching the Sub-Manager's attention, the feline twitching its ears and opening its large azure eyes whilst curled on the counter. Misaki was standing with her back to the arrival, laying a box on top of the counter, filled with packs that the shop had recently gotten in stock and finally ready to be put on the shelves after the successful day of business. She turned her head, peering over her shoulder to find the man with long, unkempt red hair flowing down his shoulders and back, standing with eyes that matched and a small smile. His attire was purely black with silver circles lining several of the edges and large black boots that clapped against the tiled floor as he moved forward.
"Hi~," he sounded, raising a pale hand.
"Welcome," Misaki murmured.
"I heard there was a tournament going on here today," the man spoke, leaning forward, his hair falling thicker over his shoulders.
"Uh… there was… earlier today," Misaki answered. "It finished a while ago. Did you think we were planning to hold it in the evening? The shop's closing soon".
"Aww, I missed it," the man lamented, straightening up and shrugging his shoulders. "I should have come earlier. I was hoping to meet someone".
"I see…" Misaki murmured.
"It's fine, it's fine," the man answered, waving a hand casually. "I'll catch up with him another time. Thanks for the help".
He strode out of the shop, leaving Misaki and Sub-Manager watching his departing form, exchanging puzzled looks. The young man stepped outside, allowing the doors to slide shut before his smile faltered briefly, restored a matter of seconds later while examining the area.
"So this is where you ran off to, is it, Kai?" he mused before moving on, strolling down the street. "It's a nice place. Oh well, I guess I'll have to meet up with you later".
PREVIEW
Kamui: I can't believe we're heading off to the Regionals!
Aichi: Yeah, I'm glad too.
Misaki: Aichi, is everything alright?
Aichi: Yeah, don't worry about me.
Kamui: Something seems up with Onii-san, even if he says it's nothing. Misaki, we should go detective on this.
Misaki: I won't play along with your childish games. Next time: "Cardfight! Vanguard Override, Chapter 5 – Building Courage". The road ahead is clouded with doubt and uncertainty…
Kamui: Urgh, you're making me nervous!
I'd been hoping to get this up earlier, but a new project in the works with my partner from The Neo-Domino Purge took up my attention for the past few days. The above fight was done with another friend through Byond - a practice I've decided to use for fights to avoid any mistakes after doing so with an RPG, which the fights will be used later on in this - so there should be accurate, but I'd like to thank him for helping and you, the readers, for hanging in there.
- CuteYami, 16th September 2012