Hidden Depths
The cafeteria had filled once more now, trainees seeping in like water through drainage, fiercely grabbing at food and flinging trays to and fro like crazed animals. Fortunately, Yomi had avoided the chaotic maelstrom, and was sitting at her usual table to the side, chattering amongst her newfound companions.
"So he waves this bar of chocolate in front of me," Yomi explained, mimicking the motion with a free arm. "And just keeps taunting me over and over and over again! While I'm doing push ups!"
"Sounds horrid," Ayame murmured from beside her as she sipped a cup of water.
"Right?"
"Ah," Miho said from her front, understanding glinting over her hazel eyes. She brushed a band of her short red hair to the side. "I know that Dog Trainer. Dark green hair, bright green eyes? Always sneering and being smug?"
Yomi nodded.
"One time I was mopping, and he 'accidentally' kicked over my bucket," the other girl continued. "Had to spend another hour mopping up that mess."
"Damn," Yomi said, munching on a slice of bread.
"And to think he's second-in-command," Miho sighed. "When I rank up high enough, he's definitely getting the boot. You know, I actually prefer his cousin over him."
"Cousin?" Yomi echoed.
She nodded. "Yeah. The one with the slightly softer face? Silver eyes? Lighter hair?"
"Oh. Sir Grumpypants. How am I not surprised his family is just as bad as he is?"
Miho half-laughed, half-choked. "Yeah, him. He may be cold, but at least he doesn't rub things in your face. Not always appreciated, but he gets the job done, I think. Besides, I've heard the girls talking, and there's rumors he's got this really soft, cute side to him!"
"You can't be serious," Yomi deadpanned. "Hell would freeze over before anyone would see that."
"Are we comparing Dog Trainer horror stories?" a masculine voice cut in. Taiki slid in beside Miho, tray stacked with food set in front of him.
Yomi shrugged. "Mostly just ranting, but yeah sure."
"I'm pretty sure his stories are only horrific for the Dog Trainers, though," Miho chuckled as she took another bite.
Taiki frowned. "That's not true!"
"Honestly, I aspire to be that level of frustration for them," Yomi added.
"Seriously? You too?"
"W-Well…t-they do seem to talk a lot about, er, drawing straws just to deal with you," Ayame mumbled nervously.
The redhead was slack-jawed. "You're all against me!"
"You brought this upon yourself, Big Bro," Miho said. "Sometimes I wonder just who is the older sibling here."
Taiki scoffed while the other two girls giggled. It was a nice thing to have company, Yomi noted. It brought a rather playful bit of shade to an otherwise overwhelming sheet of plain white, and she was all the better for it. It made her wonder what might happen when she'd eventually have to leave, hopefully with enough information in hand. Would she still be able to keep in touch with them? Did they have families outside? Why were they even here in the first place? She glanced at both Taiki and Miho, who had none of the lone ambition or hostility as most of the other trainees. Not even Ayame seemed like she belonged in a place like this.
Everyone has a reason for being here, she thought, echoing some of Tokoha's many words.
Once lunch was finished, there was nothing left to do but to part ways with her newly made friends, but not before Taiki made a low complaint about having to study the mechanics of rulebook loopholes. His energy was truly something, and after a while of getting used to it, was actually quite welcomed. There were even times when he had a particular perspective on things, somewhat beyond his years.
"They're human just like you and me. Hell, that guy? I think he's a lot more human than you or me, and I think that's awesome."
I suppose they are, Yomi mused, before retreating into the maze-like hallways of The Center. But they're not important. Kuro on the other hand, is.
She'd been waiting for an opportunity like this for a long time. The chance to wander off, do a little bit of sleuthing. The past week was just a whirlwind of events and routines one after the other; chores, training, helping Ayame, the Screening. At least now she had the energy and spare time to do as she pleased, thanks to her Beta status helping to ease up the daily process.
It occurred to her then that she never really knew where she was going whenever she was in the hallways. Not consciously, anyway. Yomi was always led from destination to destination, with only vague bearings on her exact point in the vast building. There were signs at various corners, but they were never quite clear. Rooms were always numbered, aside from lounges, shop areas and bathrooms. Even bedrooms were numbered, but at least they had a labeled area all for themselves.
Then there was a flash of black and gray.
Her! Yomi's eyes widened as her body instinctively pressed to the wall.
The de facto leader of the Dog Trainers had her back to Yomi, but she recognized those ash-gray curls and silken black dress uniform anywhere.
"Um, I-Irene Miyamoto. She's the leader of the Dog Trainers here, and as far as I know, she's probably the strongest fighter here."
So she probably knows what goes on with the higher-ups, Yomi surmised, crouching low in the shadows, peeking just out of the corner of the hall. After a short glance to each side, Irene looked back at the wall before her, with one hand brushing the surface. But there's nothing there, Yomi protested silently.
Yet, as if to answer her, a translucent blue screen materialized under Irene's hand. It resembled a small keypad, and once Irene tapped in a few quick numbers, there was a soft click.
A hidden door? Yomi wondered, staring at the large pit of black that had now appeared in front of Irene. Her eyes followed the commander as she entered, slowly sucked up until there was no trace, and just as quickly, any trace of the door had vanished, whooshing closed as if by magic.
Yomi followed swiftly, each hand pressed onto the wall, where the door was, feeling, searching. It didn't take long until there was a slight bulge to the far right, right under her pinkie. The rest of her fingers moved in, until she was pressing with an outstretched palm. Soon enough, the faded blue keypad appeared under her hand.
Right…the password. Yomi dug into her belt pocket, fishing out one emerald scarab, one finger pressing on the teal button. "Time to get me out of this 'technical difficulty,' Kon."
"Can it wait?" the boy's voice rang back. "I just found a random player on Cardfight Area who hasn't immediately rage-quit and I'm winning."
"No, it can't," Yomi hissed. "Besides, if you do this quick, maybe they'll still be there. Or you can always just ask them to wait."
"Sure," Kon muttered back sarcastically. "Because we all know Area players are the most patient people on the planet."
"Now!" Yomi snapped, then swung her head around, making sure she hadn't called any attention towards herself.
"Fine," the boy relented, steering the scarab into flight, right before it attached to the keypad. "Alrighty…just a smidge of hackingu here…and a bit of mysterious plot device there…then a sprinkle of Kon's magical touch, sure to make anything, man or machine, tingle…"
Before Yomi could tell him to be more serious, she heard a soft click.
"And there we go," Kon said as the white panel slid to the side, revealing a gaping dark entrance in the wall. "Enjoy your journey into who-knows-where."
Yomi was stunned as the scarab dropped into her hand, but the shock was quick to fade, as she found herself stepping into the darkness, walking at a brisk pace, until all around her was a hazy black. She heard the door close behind her, and suddenly, she wished she brought a flashlight with her. Even her phone would have sufficed.
But there was light. A soft glow to the front, a faint epicenter of fluorescence at the end of the tunnel that helped guide her forward like a bird into the setting sun.
Or a moth to a fiery lamp, she thought grimly. Nevertheless, it was a quick journey downward, and at the end of the sloping, narrow corridor was…more corridors.
It was like moving through a maze, not quite unlike the rest of The Center building, and it wasn't long before Yomi found herself lost in the labyrinth. Where to next? Yomi thought, looking around. The only signs she saw only had room numbers. Should I get Kon to help again?
But before Yomi could fish out the scarab again, her body tensed at the sound of footsteps nearing her.
Crap.
Yomi glanced around. It was a large hallway, sure, but there were rooms situated across each side. But what if they're occupied? She shook her head. No time, she noted, before slipping through to the nearest door, wrangling it open with clumsy hands. It seemed like forever before she managed to get it open and snuck in. The door clicked closed right behind her, hiding her from the muffled voices on the other side. Her back was on the door for support while she listened, only gleaning the last couple of sentences exchanged between them.
"Miyamoto sure is one hell of a slave driver, pushing up testing and production even faster. Does she think we don't sleep?"
"Well, orders are orders. Especially if they're from The Ringmaster."
Then there was silence. No more footsteps. No more chatter. Just echoed noise that faded ever slowly but surely away.
Ringmaster… Yomi thought. So there's someone even higher up at The Center?
She slowly pulled herself from the door, where light trickled in through blurred glass. It was dark, she realized, searching for some sort of light switch. And come to think of it…what kind of rooms are these? It smells kinda…funky in here. Like… She found a switch and flicked it on, drenching the room in a minty luminance. The first thing she noticed was the large amounts of medical and scientific-looking equipment scattered across the place. Like a hospital.
Beyond the equipment, which was still buzzing with dormant life, there were cabinets placed next to the walls. Folders and papers were stacked neatly over them, and upon closer inspection, had colored tags and notes sticking out. There was a single file, multi-colored, that was laid away from the rest, as if it were recently used. Yomi picked it up, thumbing through its contents, slowly, with her amethyst eyes darting across the inked lines.
"Project Miracle," she read the file name aloud. "Creating the ultimate fighter…the ultimate weapon…" She flipped through more pages, where more strange and unrecognizable terms seemed to pop out; Imagnum, condensed substance, conduits, none of this makes sense. Then she flipped to a new section, filled with images of ancient relics and ornaments, along with pictures of figures and planets. "An investigation into the capabilities of the Creators of Cray," she read aloud, unable to believe what she was reading. The file was insane. These people were insane. "Wait, what? Cray can't exist…it's just…imaginary…and – wait, what's PSYQualia? And…" There were four tags jutting out from further sections of the file. Four Creators, the words came, seemingly out of nowhere. But there was also a fifth, just to the end, its tag clear, different from the rest, near invisible. She pulled it out, stifling a gasp when she found Kuro's photo staring right back at her. The same spiked bronze-colored hair, pale, innocent face, and round gray eyes, all situated top and center. She found herself brushing her fingertips over the photo, and across the bold red letters below it: OPTIMAL CANDIDATE.
Then there was a shivering weight on her shoulder.
Yomi spun around with a start, her eyes widening as the person behind her came into focus. "You!"
Cropped brown hair, lifeless dark eyes. The boy from her first day stood before her now, but there was something odd. He was deathly pale, for one, and his gaze, though fixed on her, wasn't quite on her. It seemed to bounce between reality and empty space, flickering like a wild light, yet without a single ounce of life. He wasn't even dressed properly, only wearing an over-sized white shirt and dark pants.
"H-hey," Yomi said, unexpectedly shakily. "You okay? It's me, you know, the girl who wiped the floor with you back before?"
He didn't respond. His eyes only flickered more vividly. It was then that Yomi noticed a name tag on his shirt.
"N-Nao, right?" she said, glancing at it. "Look, they…they did something to you," she wasn't quite sure who they were, or if they really were to blame, but something definitely happened. "And I'd like to know what, but maybe we should get out of here first."
He was motionless.
Yomi frowned. "Alright then. Well, you can stay here, and I'll–" but he moved to intercept her, stopping her from getting away.
Finally, he produced a deck of cards, first looking at his palm, then at her. "Fight me."
"I really don't have time for this," Yomi said, trying her best to remain firm, trying to maneuver around the boy, only to be walled off each step she took. Dammit, I wish I had Taiki here. He can probably toss this guy aside.
"Fight me," Nao repeated ominously.
He's almost like a zombie, Yomi thought. But it couldn't be helped. It was either stay here until she was inevitably caught, or fight. She pulled out her own deck, just as a fight table, or rather, fight screen materialized between them. "How…?" she started, only to stop. Nao clearly wasn't going to answer her, and she surmised that technology was probably advanced enough for these kinds of shenanigans, especially in a place like this. "Nevermind. Let's do this. I've beaten you before, I can do it again."
They wasted no time beginning the match.
"Stand up! Vanguard!"
Entangled vines of metal twisted and turned around them, as steel walls rose up above, veined and ridged like mechanical trees, caging both combatants in on all sides. Light shone down from above, bathing them in a faint blue glow.
"Reflector Angel!" [Reflector Angel – 6000 Power]
"Battleraizer." [Battleraizer – 6000 Power]
"I ride Raizer Custom," Nao stated plainly as he went through his beginning motions. "Then draw."
His deck doesn't seem to have changed much, Yomi thought. This should be easy. And now it should be my turn–
"I activate Custom's ability," he said, sliding a card into the soul. "And he'll be attacking your vanguard. Drive minus one."
Yomi's eyes widened. "What?"
A robotic fist slammed into her vanguard, prompting her to yelp in pain as she was flung into the air.
[Damage Check: Battle Maiden, Kukurihime (Critical Trigger)]
Yomi was still in shock. An attack on the first turn. Already he's setting the pace for the match on his terms. For some reason…I have a feeling that, he's gotten better. A lot better.
"Turn end."
Nao
Hand: 5
(Empty) – (Raizer Custom) – (Empty)
(Empty) – (Empty) – (Empty)
Damage: 0
Yomi
Hand: 5
(Empty) – (Reflector Angel) – (Empty)
(Empty) – (Empty) – (Empty)
Damage: 1 – [Battle Maiden, Kukurihime] (U)
But even if he's gotten stronger, he's still a normal player. He's still beatable, Yomi thought, drawing. "Ride! Goddess of Union, Yuno!"
She was now wrapped in gleaming white fur, peacock feathers catching the light like teardrops in her hand. To her side formed a carbon copy of her vanguard, smiling serenely, even as her hand was brought forward, delivering a ferocious blast of pure mana. [Goddess of Union, Yuno – 8000 Power]
"Damage check," Nao said, revealing no trigger.
[Damage Check: Jetraizer (No Trigger)]
The blast burst into tiny clouds of smoke and debris as the robot staggered back. "Now it's my turn," Yomi announced, herself firing another volley of teardrop-shaped conflagrations.
"Guard." [8000 + 15000 = 23000 Power]
She grimaced as a pink-clad woman whipped the showers away, raining them upon the metal walls instead. "Drive check,"
[Drive Check: Regalia of Wisdom, Angelica (No Trigger)]
"No trigger," Yomi frowned as her opponent put away his guardian. But at least she'd dealt one damage and cut down a bit on his available resources. It was as good a start as any. "I end my turn there."
Yomi
Hand: 6
(Goddess of Union, Yuno) – (Goddess of Union, Yuno) – (Empty)
(Empty) – (Empty) – (Empty)
Damage: 1 – [Battle Maiden, Kukurihime] (U)
Nao
Hand: 4
(Empty) – (Raizer Custom) – (Empty)
(Empty) – (Empty) – (Empty)
Damage: 1 – [Jetraizer] (U)
"Ride," Nao said as his vanguard fractured into pieces of light, only to reform again into azure metal. "Hi-powered Raizer Custom." A red and white mecha appeared right behind him in an instant, just as another mecha formed to the side, fist radiating green. "I superior call Battleraizer from the soul behind my vanguard, then call Burstraizer from hand."
[Hi-powered Raizer Custom – 9000 Power]
[Battleraizer – 6000 Power]
[Burstraizer – 9000 Power]
"Burstraizer attacks."
"I'll guard that with Chamomile." [8000 + 5000 = 13000 Power]
"Hi-powered will attack next with a boost." [Hi-powered Raizer Custom – 9000 + 6000 = 15000 Power]
"Then Burstraizer will stand back again," Yomi noted with a frown, remembering her previous experience with the card.
Her opponent gave a brief nod before paying the cost and rotating the card back upright.
"No guard."
"Drive check,"
[Drive Check: Turboraizer (Front Trigger)]
"Front Trigger," he said, barely even looking at the card. Almost as if he knew what it was beforehand.
That's impossible, Yomi thought as her vanguard was blown away, smashing straight into the far wall, brushing the suspicion aside. But she couldn't help feeling a slight nagging at the pits of her chest, screaming in spite of logic telling her otherwise. "Damage check, no trigger."
[Damage Check: Regalia of Wisdom, Angelica (No Trigger)]
"Burstraizer attacks." [Burstraizer – 9000 + 10000 = 19000 Power]
[Damage Check: Witch of Frogs, Melissa (No Trigger)]
My triggers really aren't helping here, Yomi thought. Come on…
"Turn end," her opponent announced, staring dully into the void.
Nao
Hand: 4
(Burstraizer) – (Hi-powered Raizer Custom) – (Empty)
(Empty) – (Battleraizer) – (Empty)
Damage: 1 – [Jetraizer] (F)
Yomi
Hand: 5
(Goddess of Union, Yuno) – (Goddess of Union, Yuno) – (Empty)
(Empty) – (Empty) – (Empty)
Damage: 3 – [Battle Maiden, Kukurihime] (U), [Regalia of Wisdom, Angelica] (U), [Witch of Frogs, Melissa] (U)
"Three damage…" Yomi murmured. "But now it's my turn. Stand and draw," she drew a card, smiling. "Alright. Ride! Broom Witch, Callaway!" With a single swipe, her fan of feathers had morphed into a wooden broom, complete with a midnight hat and glittering cloth. [Broom Witch, Callaway – 10000 Power] "Cider, to the rear!" she continued, placing another card behind her vanguard. "And with her skill, I'll move Chamomile to the soul from my drop zone. Plus three-thousand!" [Apple Witch, Cider – 8000 + 3000 = 11000 Power]
Nao looked on without so much as a blink.
"Yuno moves to the front," Yomi said. "Then I'll have Callaway attack the vanguard, with a boost from Cider!" [Broom Witch, Callaway – 10000 + 11000 = 21000 Power]
"No guard," came the reply.
Good. The attack'll hit, which means I get to activate a whole slew of effects, Yomi thought, grinning. "Drive check!"
[Drive Check: Goddess of Trees, Jupiter (No Trigger)]
"Damage check," Nao said, letting the card fall. "No trigger."
[Damage Check: Asura Kaiser (No Trigger)]
"The attack hit," Yomi said. "I'll Soul Blast three cards and draw. Then, I'll superior call the Soul Blasted Chamomile to rearguard. And on top of that, Yuno will gain three-thousand points, and attack the vanguard!" [Goddess of Union, Yuno – 8000 + 3000 = 11000 Power]
[Damage Check: Shining Lady (Critical Trigger)]
"Critical Trigger," he stated, moving the card over his vanguard. "Power to the vanguard."
Doesn't matter, she thought. Was going for his rearguard, anyway. Guess some lessons just aren't learned. "Chamomile will attack Burst!" [Witch of Ravens, Chamomile – 10000 + 3000 = 13000 Power]
"I guard that with Turboraizer," he countered, as the mecha smacked the witch's staff away, whirring as it faded into bright motes. [9000 + 15000 = 24000 Power]
"Over to you," Yomi said. Our damage is tied, and my handsize is double that of his. Smooth sailing, smooth sailing.
Yomi
Hand: 6
(Goddess of Union, Yuno) – (Broom Witch, Callaway) – (Witch of Ravens, Chamomile)
(Empty) – (Apple Witch, Cider) – (Empty)
Damage: 3 – [Battle Maiden, Kukurihime] (F), [Regalia of Wisdom, Angelica] (U), [Witch of Frogs, Melissa] (U)
Nao
Hand: 3
(Burstraizer) – (Hi-powered Raizer Custom) – (Empty)
(Empty) – (Battleraizer) – (Empty)
Damage: 3 – [Jetraizer] (F), [Asura Kaiser] (U), [Shining Lady] (U)
"Ride," Nao said, slapping a card down. "The pinnacle of warrior spirit and peak of perfection. Perfect Raizer!" His imaginative figure was now draped in a furious storm of metal parts, clamping and clinging to its miniature body, congregating and lumping like cells until it formed a larger, crimson-plated robot. [Perfect Raizer – 12000 Power] He held a Gift Marker up, before placing it down, followed by a new card. "Imaginary Gift: Accel. I summon Maximum Raizer to the Accel Circle."
"Perfect Raizer…that's new," Yomi remarked.
"A new form. A new me," he replied, almost religiously. "Reborn as perfection itself. I'm stronger now. I have far more power than you can even imagine."
She cocked an eyebrow. "O…kay? You sure you're feeling alright?"
"Never better," he replied. "Raizer Custom to the rear. Then, Burstraizer attacks Chamomile."
"No guard," Yomi answered, frowning as the red-clad witch was shattered into pixels, her scream filling the air in echoes. "At least I get to put her into the soul. Then Soul Charge with Cider."
[Soul Charge: Battle Maiden, Mizuha]
"Maximum! With his skill, he gains a further ten-thousand." [Maximum Raizer – 12000 + 10000 + 10000 = 32000 Power]
"Protect me, Kukurihime! Melissa!" [10000 + 15000 + 10000 = 35000 Power]
"Perfect Raizer attacks the vanguard," he said, rotating his next card. "On-attack, I can pay the cost of two Counter Blasts, and stand Maximum and Burst. Then with Custom's skill, that's another unit stood."
All Yomi could do was look on in momentary shock as his units stood back up, ready for another round of attacks. She looked at her hand. He'd definitely gotten better since the last time. The match's tempo was completely in the palm of his hand, and the more she admitted to it…the more…she felt herself slightly slipping away.
"N-no guard," she said, trying to steady herself.
Then Nao flashed a brief smirk. At last, something not a monotonous slit of a mouth, but not much better. This wasn't smug or confident, it was…malicious, and his eyes seemed to burst into eerie glow.
Before she knew it, in one blink her hands felt cold steel, and the ground under her was rugged and ridged. The only light poured down from up above in streams, illuminating her newfound environment in a harsh sheen. Then she felt the crash of something large behind her, causing her to yelp as she fell to her knees, looking up to see a giant robot. She'd always found them amusing, but to be this close…to be this close to being crushed, it made her heart palpitate.
"P-Perfect Raizer?" she choked.
The mecha looked down, and as the light glimmered over the pilot window, Nao looked down upon her with dulled eyes. Dulled, glowing eyes. "This is the power United Sanctuary's given me," he said with a raised fist, his UniSan bracelet sparkling even from the long distance. "The power to wipe my sins away. To beat you, to eliminate you." As he said so, the mecha's arm was outstretched, and in spite of the girl's frantic attempts to scramble away, she was swept up, the metal coiling around her, clenching, crushing.
She let out a scream as she felt her bones beginning to crack, beginning to give way like a nut to a hammer.
"L-let me go!" she cried. "Please!"
"You haven't felt enough yet," he went on, her pleas falling on deaf ears. "Feel it!"
Am I going to die? Yomi wondered. The pain was unbearable. It shouldn't be real. None of it should be, and yet, she was experiencing it firsthand, being crushed by a robot warrior from another planet, for god's sake. No, she protested. No! I don't want this! Let me go!
LET ME GO!
And suddenly she was back in the room, stumbling back. She had to hold on to the cabinet beside her to not fall over. What just…?
Even Nao was surprised. The glow in his eyes had faded, along with the bracelet's sparkle on his wrist. "Wha…how did you…"
Even if you ask me, I couldn't tell you, Yomi thought, still in shock. But she at least had the strength to direct her newfound anger on him. "And what was that? How did you do that? What did you do?"
He returned to his composure, choosing to ignore her. He revealed the two cards he'd drive checked earlier.
[Drive Check: Hi-powered Raizer Custom (No Trigger)]
[Drive Check: Shining Lady (Critical Trigger)]
"A Critical Trigger," he said. "Critical to Perfect and the power to Maximum."
Yomi, once her legs ceased to tremble, made her own damage check.
[Damage Check: Apple Witch, Cider (No Trigger)]
"No trigger. Second check,"
[Damage Check: Witch of Big Pots, Laurier (Heal Trigger)]
"Heal Trigger," she smiled, eliciting another surprised grunt from her opponent. "Guess things aren't going your way, huh?"
"Impossible," he hissed. "It…the power…you shouldn't have gotten a Heal."
"Power?" she questioned as she discarded a damage. "What power? Does it have something to do with your eyes? Your bracelet? What's so different about it now?"
He shook his head. "No, this match is still mine. One trigger can't decide the outcome, not now. I'll erase you, no matter what it takes. Perfect's on-hit ability: I Counter Charge and grant five-thousand power to Burst. Attack!" The mecha charged forward, fist ablaze, only to make contact with a wall of trees. [Burstraizer – 9000 + 5000 + 8000 = 22000 Power]
"Jupiter!" [10000 + 10000 + 5000 = 25000 Power]
"Maximum Raizer will attack," he continued, as the remaining robot lunged at her vanguard, this time hitting home, launching her skidding across the ground with a yelp.
"Damage check," Yomi said, holding up an icon-less card. "No trigger."
[Damage Check: Regalia of Wisdom, Angelica (No Trigger)]
"…turn end," he said.
This turn was definitely…something, Yomi thought, still hugging herself, and feeling none of the pain, only phantom sensations, as if it were a dream. I…that…that thing. Illusion. Image. Whatever it was, what was that?
Nao
Hand: 3
{Maximum Raizer} – (Burstraizer) – (Perfect Raizer) – (Empty)
(Raizer Custom) – (Battleraizer) – (Empty)
Damage: 3 – [Jetraizer] (F), [Asura Kaiser] (F), [Shining Lady] (U)
Yomi
Hand: 3
(Empty) – (Broom Witch, Callaway) – (Empty)
(Goddess of Union, Yuno) – (Apple Witch, Cider) – (Empty)
Damage: 5 – [Regalia of Wisdom, Angelica] (U), [Witch of Frogs, Melissa] (U), [Apple Witch, Cider] (U), [Witch of Big Pots, Laurier] (U), [Regalia of Wisdom, Angelica] (U)
I could've sworn an arm broke, and yet… she drew a card nonetheless. I'm…fine. Does that mean that wasn't real? But…if those files are right, and Cray is real. And somehow…they did something to him to make him…this. And give him a power like that…
She shuddered to think what had happened to Kuro.
Once she steeled herself, she looked back at her opponent with a fierce flair. That just meant she had to win this and get out. She had to, so she could continue to look for clues, to find Kuro before it was too late. She held up her avatar card. "Everything begins here. Everything ends here. And she sees it all. Ride! Regalia of Wisdom, Angelica!" She was bathed in a radiant lavender light, before it opened up like a flower, blooming and unfolding to reveal the administrator of the Regalia in all her glory, her scepter spinning and blazing with a renewed ferocity.
[Regalia of Wisdom, Angelica – 13000 Power]
"Soul Blast and draw," she said, plucking a card from her deck. "I'll superior call Chamomile to the side once more. Then I'll place my Force Gift under Yuno, and call Edesia. Counter Blast," she turned over a card in her damage zone. "Soul Charge."
[Soul Charge: Apple Witch, Cider]
[Soul Charge: Goddess of Banquets, Edesia]
[Soul Charge: Goddess of Trees, Jupiter]
Now my field is set, she thought. Three cards. Even if I can't get through that, at least my own defenses are stable enough. I think I can hold out next turn.
Her opponent just looked on, scanning the field, then returning to viewing the empty space in front of him.
"I'll attack with Angelica first," she announced. "Boosted by Cider!"
"No guard," he answered.
"Drive check,"
[Drive Check: Shield Goddess, Aegis (Draw Trigger)]
"Draw Trigger," she announced with glee. "Power goes to Yuno. Then I draw. Second check,"
[Drive Check: Witch of Frogs, Melissa (No Trigger)]
"No trigger."
Her weapon slammed into the robot, causing it to buckle over, sparks beginning to dance dangerously across its dented surface.
"Damage check," he stated. "Draw trigger. Power to Perfect and I draw."
[Damage Check: Twin Blader (Draw Trigger)]
Two open damage. Giving him more will just give him enough resources to overwhelm me with a triple restand, Yomi thought. "Yuno will attack Burstraizer!" [Goddess of Union, Yuno – 8000 + 3000 + 10000 + 10000 = 31000 Power]
Teardrop meteors showered down, felling the mecha with ease. "So that's it? Targeting my rearguards to soften the blow?"
"I don't see anything wrong with it," Yomi retorted. "Chamomile will attack Maximum now." [Witch of Ravens, Chamomile – 13000 + 11000 = 24000 Power]
Her opponent held up a guardian. "I guard with Shining Lady." [12000 + 15000 = 27000 Power]
Yomi frowned. "I end my turn."
Yomi
Hand: 6
{(Goddess of Union, Yuno)} – (Regalia of Wisdom, Angelica) – (Witch of Ravens, Chamomile)
(Empty) – (Apple Witch, Cider) – (Goddess of Banquets, Edesia)
Damage: 5 – [Regalia of Wisdom, Angelica] (F), [Witch of Frogs, Melissa] (F), [Apple Witch, Cider] (U), [Witch of Big Pots, Laurier] (U), [Regalia of Wisdom, Angelica] (U)
Nao
Hand: 3
{Maximum Raizer} – (Empty) – (Perfect Raizer) – (Empty)
(Raizer Custom) – (Battleraizer) – (Empty)
Damage: 4 – [Jetraizer] (F), [Asura Kaiser] (F), [Shining Lady] (U), [Twin Blader] (U)
He's got me against the wall, Yomi thought. I'm not even sure if I can survive this next onslaught.
"I call Hi-powered Raizer Custom, Raizer Custom and Iron Killer to rearguard," Nao said, as all three units appeared on either side of his vanguard.
[Hi-powered Raizer Custom – 9000 Power]
[Raizer Custom – 8000 Power]
[Iron Killer – 9000 Power]
Great. More units. Just lovely, Yomi thought with a grimace.
"Hi-powered attacks Chamomile." [Hi-powered Raizer Custom – 9000 + 8000 = 17000 Power]
Yomi took the card off the field, only to slip it back into her soul, along with another from her deck.
[Soul Charge: Shield Goddess, Aegis]
"Iron Killer, boosted by Raizer Custom." [Iron Killer – 9000 + 5000 + 8000 = 22000 Power]
"Guard," Yomi countered, as a cluster of frogs moved, sending the assailant stumbling back. [13000 + 10000 = 23000 Power]
"Maximum Raizer." [Maximum Raizer – 12000 + 10000 + 10000 = 32000 Power]
"Laurier!" she yelled. This time a smiling cook appeared, taking the brunt of the blow with one of her many pots. [13000 + 20000 = 33000 Power]
"Well blocked," Nao said as his units began to rev back up. "But you forget, I can stand as much as I like. Perfect Raizer will attack, and with his skill, stand both Killer and Maximum. Not to mention, by his own merit, Custom will stand as well."
Not good, Yomi thought, glancing at her remaining cards. In any case, I have to protect myself here. She threw down a card. "I guard with Cyber Tiger."
"One trigger to pass," Nao noted as Yomi bit her lip.
"You're right. That is, if you can get that one trigger."
"Except I've seen it. The power's predicted it. This is the deciding point of the game."
"Cut the crap," she snapped. "And check already."
But even she was beginning to waver. If the power really was as absolute as he made it sound…did she even have a chance here?
"Twin drive, first check," he said, turning over the card.
[Drive Check: Perfect Raizer (No Trigger)]
"No trigger," he frowned slightly. Yomi held her breath as he moved to turn over the next card. It seemed like eons before he finally flipped it over.
[Drive Check: Burstraizer (No Trigger)]
Nao gasped. "No…it can't be."
Yomi heaved a sigh of relief. "I'm safe."
"N-no. It…it was supposed to be a foregone conclusion!"
"No fight is a foregone conclusion," Yomi retorted. "Not if I have anything to say about it."
He cried in anguish. "Damn you! Iron Killer!"
"I'll guard that with Edesia!" [13000 + 10000 = 23000 Power]
"Maximum Raizer!" he commanded, only to pale when he saw Yomi's held up card, glinting in the light just as the mecha's arm was bounced back, cracking in waves from the impact on the goddess's upraised golden shield.
"Aegis. Perfect Guard," Yomi said, panting.
"Dammit…" Nao's fists were white at the knuckles. He gritted his teeth, and muttered, "Turn end."
With slow, steadying breaths, Yomi moved the last of her guard to her drop zone, scanning the field. Well I survived by the skin of my teeth. But now I have to end this.
Nao
Hand: 3
{Maximum Raizer} – (Hi-powered Raizer Custom) – (Perfect Raizer) – (Iron Killer)
(Raizer Custom) – (Battleraizer) – (Raizer Custom)
Damage: 4 – [Jetraizer] (F), [Asura Kaiser] (F), [Shining Lady] (F), [Twin Blader] (F)
Yomi
Hand: 0
{(Goddess of Union, Yuno)} – (Regalia of Wisdom, Angelica) – (Empty)
(Empty) – (Apple Witch, Cider) – (Goddess of Banquets, Edesia)
Damage: 5 – [Regalia of Wisdom, Angelica] (F), [Witch of Frogs, Melissa] (F), [Apple Witch, Cider] (U), [Witch of Big Pots, Laurier] (U), [Regalia of Wisdom, Angelica] (U)
"Stand and draw," Yomi declared. "I'll finish it here. I call Jupiter to the side!"
Her opponent was silent, but he had a look of apprehension plastered across his face.
Three cards in hand, with one of them being a grade three, along with two intercepts. As long as I get a trigger I can do it. It's do or don't now, so might as well go for it. Yomi touched her vanguard. "I'm counting on you. Angelica, attack!" [Regalia of Wisdom, Angelica – 13000 + 8000 = 21000 Power]
"N-no guard," Nao replied. "As long as you don't get a Critical…"
"As long as I get a Critical…" Yomi put a hand on top of her deck. "Drive check. First check!"
[Drive Check: Battle Maiden, Mizuha (No Trigger)]
"No trigger," she said, putting it into her hand. "Second check. Please…"
There was a moment before she turned it over, hesitant in the case that it wasn't the card she wanted. But then she gathered her resolve, and flipped it over.
[Drive Check: Battle Maiden, Kukurihime (Critical Trigger)]
"Critical Trigger!" Nao gasped.
"Yes!" Yomi exclaimed, eyes widening. "Power to Yuno, and the bonus Critical to Angelica!"
Perfect Raizer was helpless as the young woman raised her weapon, bringing it down with a determined battle cry as she pierced through its metallic armor, causing it to crunch down onto its knees, before bursting into a wildfire of flame and smoke, with nothing spared.
"This is the last," she murmured.
[Drive Check: Perfect Raizer (No Trigger)]
[Drive Check: Twin Blader (Draw Trigger)]
Nao head was down as he took his final two damage. Once Yomi collected her cards, the translucent board shimmered away, with no trace.
"I don't believe it," Nao said. "This power should be invincible…"
She felt a certain pity for him. Whatever they did to him, he was reduced to this. A zombie at best. A babbling maniac at worst. If any of her friends…if Kuro were to end up like this, she probably wouldn't be able to live with herself.
Yomi stuffed her cards into her belt pocket, then proceeded to walk past him. She contemplated taking him along, but that would just draw more attention to herself. She'd have to leave him here, as much as she didn't like it.
And then there was a coldness around her wrist. She was dragged back with a yelp and suddenly on the ground, head throbbing and–
"Nao, what the hell?" she gasped.
Before she knew it his hands were wrapped around her neck and she was staring into dark, lifeless pools once more. It scared her.
"Have to…eliminate…" he rambled. "Must cleanse my sins. Eliminate my weakness…at all costs. At all costs."
He's crazy, she thought in alarm. She was kicking now, struggling, but he'd pinned her down like icy stalactites. "Get off me!" she yelled as his hands tightened around her neck. Her breaths grew raspier by the minute, and her movements wilder, more desperate, until they began to slow.
"Must eliminate my weakness," he repeated, this time more desperate. It was almost funny, were she not being strangled to death.
"Help," she choked, her limbs falling limp to the floor one after the other.
Anyone? Please…
Save me.
