Chapter 10

Raptor Rampage!

Toby here! Almost there! Just another 100 Points and I qualify! Let's see if I have what it takes!

"Alfred, attack! Let's go!"

My opponent then countered. "Guard!"

"Twin Drive!" The first card was Blaster Blade Liberator. The second card was Liberator of Hope, Epona. "All effects are going to Blaster Blade! Let's go!"

"Damn! I don't guard..."

Blaster Blade slashed Mr. Invincible.

The monitor then showed I was the winner and I got 49 Points. My opponent got 27.

Leaderboard Room

Tyrell was waiting at the door. "Way to go, dude!"

"Just 51 points and I'm going to New York!" We high-fived.

Sophie ran to us. "Hi! Did you win?"

"Yep!"

"So, you only need a handfull to get in?"

"Yep. Just one more fight and I'll get in. Who haven't I fought yet?"

Tyrell then said: "Let's check."

We went to the signup booth.

"Hey, Andrew. Who's left for Toby to face?"

Andrew then said: "Hm... Let's see." He took out an electronic notepad. "According to this, Toby has yet to face... Um... Wow! He's finally qualified to face are in Arena E's top 50! Just fighting one of these guys guarantees you high points!"

"You're kidding!"

"Nope. In fact, might I reccomend one of my best?"

"You have a team, Andrew?"

Tyrell then explained: "He's the Captain of Team Awesome, one of Capital City's veteran teams."

"That's right." Andrew said.

"Cool. So, who do you think I should fight?"

"I would suggest fighting Terry. He's one of my best."

"Sign me up, then!"

"You got it. Just give me a while to set it up."

"Sure."

During the wait

"So, Tyrell, what can I expect from a Team Awesome player?"

"They use Tachikaze. It's a powerful clan that not many players can master. And its tactics are very brutal. When used right, it's practically unbeatable."

Sophie then said: "Yeah! My daddy played against someone with them once! He barely made it out with only five damage! I couldn't beliee how powerful they were!"

"I'm starting to think my chances of winning are pretty much zero."

Claire appeared behind me. "You really need to work on that self-confidence of yours, Mr. Gentleman."

I jumped. "Geez! Try warning me when you do that!"

She chuckled. "I'm sorry! I just wanted to see the look on your face! It was worth it too!" She kept laughing. "But, seriously, just relax. You only need to fight at your best. That's all anyone can expect. Besides, you're only one match away from getting into the New World League."

"...I guess you have a point. Is there anything you're not right about?"

"Well, at first, I thought you were going to be like any other skateboarder, always yelling and being rude. Turns out you're pretty sweet."

I blushed.

Andrew came back. "Okay, Toby. Terry is waiting on you in Arena E."

"Thanks, Andrew."

I headed for the door marked E.

"Well, hopefullly, I'll get the points I need."

"Andrew said that even if you lose, you'll rack up high numbers. Just try your best." Tyrell said.

Sophie then exclaimed: "Go get 'em, Toby!"

I took a deep breath and went through the door.

A guy with black hair, wearing a black headband and vest was waiting. "Ah. You must be Toby. Congrats on getting this far."

"Thanks. But, to be honest, I couldn't have done this without Tyrell or Sophie. They're the only reason I'm here."

"Regardless of who helped you get here, you're here. Since this match pratically gave you a one way ticket to New York. Let's try to have fun. Ain't that right, Chibi Rex?"

A robotic dinosaur in the shape of a tyrannosaurus came in. "RAWR!"

"Cool! Just like Chibi Tigre! A companion type!"

"Yep. This guy's been through all my fights here. He's my friend. I wouldn't be here if not for him. You ready?"

I took out my board. "More than you know!"

"Then, let's begin! Chibi Rex, activate!"

It's tail perked up.

LET'S STAND UP.

"Blaster Board, activate!"

ANTI GRAVITY GENERATOR, INITIATED. LET'S STAND UP.

We set our starters and drew our hands. Mine had Phallon, Alfred, Josephus, Escrad, and Gallatin.

"Alright! Stand Up, Vanguard! Military Dragon, Raptor Soldier!"

"Wingal Liberator!"

"I'll take the first turn! Draw. Then, I'll ride Military Dragon, Raptor Sergeant! Then, with Raptor Soldier's skill, I look at the top seven cards for Raptor Colonel or Raptor Captain, reveal it and add it to my hand!" He found a Raptor Captain. "When Raptor Soldier in the soul, Raptor Sergeant gets 1000 Power (7000+1000). That's my turn."

"Draw." It was Pomergal. "I'm gonna ride Josephus! Then, I'll move Wingal back and call Pomergal. Josephus attacks, boosted by Wingal (7000+5000)!"

"I don't guard."

"Trigger Check." It was Liberator, Gwydion. "5000 to Pomergal (7000+5000) and I draw." It was Liberator, Flare Mane Stallion.

His damage check was Sonic Noa.

"Now, for Pomergal (12000)!"

"Matriarch's Bombardment Beast will guard (8000+10000)!"

"I'll end my turn there."

"Draw... Time to show you what the Tachikaze can do. I ride Raptor Captain. With Sergeant's skill, if I have Raptor Soldier in the soul, I get to call a Sergeant from my deck! Get on out here, maggot! Then, I call Megarex, Beamptero, Pachyphalos, and Sonic Noa!"

"You're going to risk your defense foe an early offense?"

"A squadron must make sacrifices in order to achieve victory. A little lesson you're about to learn the hard way. Megarex is charging in, with support from Beamptera (10000+7000)!"

"I don't guard!" My damage check was Gancelot.

"Now, the Captain's comin' in, with some backup from my Sergeant! Thanks to his skill, he gets 1000 Power when Sergeant is in the soul (9000+1000)(10000+7000)!"

"I don't guard!"

"Drive Check." It was Slashptero.

My damage check was Josephus.

"Noa will support Pachyphalos for a final attack this turn (8000+8000)!"

"I don't guard." I need to keep hand advantage against him. It was Elixir Liberator. "I'll give 5000 to Josephus and recover one damage."

"I'll end my turn there."

"Stand and draw." It was Liberator Marron. "I ride Liberator of Silence, Gallatin. Then, I move Pomergal back and call Phallon, Marron and Escrad. He'll attack with support from Pomergal (9000+7000)."

"I don't guard." His damage check was Ironclad Dragon, Steelsaurus. "I'll give the power bonus from the heal trigger (10000+5000). Too bad I can't heal."

"Better hope for a second one! Gallatin, supported by Wingal, is charging in (10000+5000)!"

"Megarex will intercept (15000+5000)!"

Gonna need a trigger. "Drive Check." It was Liberator Mark. "I can still have Phallon attack (9000+3000)! Let's not forget about Marron (12000+7000)!"

He sighed. "I'll let that one pass." It was Ancient Dragon, Spinodriver.

"I end my turn."

"Stand and draw. I ride Raptor Colonel. With his skill, I call Raptor Captain from the deck and have it attack with Beamptero's support (9000+7000)!"

"I don't guard." It was Liberator Alfred.

"Now, Colonel will attack, with Sergeant's support (10000+1000)(11000+7000)!"

"I don't guard." Even if he gets a trigger, I'll survive with this hand.

"Twin Drive. First Check." It was Noa. "Now the second" It was Bombardment Beast. "A stand trigger! All effects to the Captain (9000+5000).

My damage check was Blaster Blade Liberator.

"He'll attack next (14000)!"

"Gwydion guards (10000+5000)!"

"Pachyphalos, with Noa's support is comin' at ya (8000+8000)!"

"I don't guard." It was Gwydion Liberator. "Draw." It was Liberator Marron.

"I'll end my turn. Let's see if you can finish this." He smiled.

He's right. There's no way I can finish this without a trigger or two... But I'm not giving up! "Let's stand and draw!" It was Liberator Gancelot. "Enter the fray! The king of the United Sanctuary is coming in! Let's go, Liberator of the Round Table, Alfred!"

A cloud of smoke appeared on the field and was cut through by his sword.

"Now, in place of Escrad and Wingal, I call Gancelot and Flare Mane Stallion. With Alfred's Limit Break, he gets 2000 Power for every Liberator I have in rear-guard (11000+10000). I'm going to kick things off with the king, supported by his steed (21000+6000)! Let's not forget about Stallion's Soul Blast (27000+5000)!"

"Now that is an attack! But, Archbird is going to guard it!" He discarded Noa for the effect.

"Twin Drive!" Come on... The first card was Gallatin. The second one was Gancelot. That's bad.

"Tough luck, kiddo."

"I can still hit you with Gancelot (11000+7000)!"

"I don't guard." It was Raptor Colonel.

"Now, Phallon, Marron, let's go (9000+3000)(12000+7000)!"

"I guard with Bombardment Beast (11000+10000)!"

"I... end my turn..." I could only deal one damage... So,... this is the level of play I can expect in the New World League... No... It'll be greater... I can't wait!

"Stand and draw. Slashptero attacks, with Beamptero's support (9000+7000)!"

"I guard with Marron and intercept with Phallon (11000+10000)!"

"Don't expect this attack to be any better! Let's go, Raptor Colonel (11000+7000)! The dye has been cast! Unleash your true power with the sacrifice of your allies! LIMIT BREAK!"

"Limit Break?!"

"That's right! With the cost of a Counter Blast and two of my Tachikaze rear-guard, I get to give Raptor Colonel a Power boost equal to the discarded units' amount! That's a total of 16000 (18000+16000)! I told you that sacrifices are needed to achieve victory! But, remember not to let those sacrifices happen in vain! Both Slashptero and Beamptero's effects allow a 3000 Power boost to any Tachikaze I have on the field! The bonuses go to Pachyphalos, a grand total of 14000 (8000+6000)!"

Awesome... He gave his vanguard AND rear-guard a big bonus. No wonder he's a veteran...

"You gonna guard or what?"

"Huh? Oh! I nullify!" I slammed Mark in the guardian circle and discarded Gancelot for the effect.

"Twin Drive." The first card was Raptor Captain. The second card was Black Cannon Tiger. "All effects to Pachyphalos (14000+5000)(1+1). Now, he'll finish this, with Noa's support (19000+8000)!"

"I don't guard!"

Pachyphalos aimed its cannons at Alfred and fired. Once the blast hit him, he began to decintegrate.

My damage check was Blaster Blade Liberator. "I lost..."

"Hey, kid! Look up!" Terry told me.

I looked at the monitor and couldn't believe my eyes. I got 80 Points and he got 50. "I... I finally did it... I REACHED 70 POINTS! WOOH!" I jumped, arms extended.

"Nice job, Toby. You did great." He clapped.

Chibi Rex roared.

"Thank you! Thank you, thank you! I may havve lost. But, now, I can be recommended to Eternal Dreamers! WOOH!" I exited the arena. "Guys, I did it!"

"Way to go, Man!" Tyrell high-fived me.

"Yay! Now, we can go to New York!" Sophie exclaimed.

"Way to go, Skater Boy." Claire said.

"Thanks. I still can't believe I did it. It's unbelievebale. Can someone pinch me?"

"I'll do you one better! Chibi Tigre! Pounce!"

"Huh?" Before I knew it, her PFS jumped on me. "Okay... I'm not dreaming... I can't feel my ribs..." I grunted.

They all laughed.

"You're not... funny."

The Next Day

I was in the Leaderboard room, waiting for the announcement, along with everyone else.

Charley finally appeared on screen. "The recommendations have been made. Here are our lucky fighters. For Hookfang, we have Nemea, Shu, and Gregor. For CC Crushers, we have Sophie Johnson, Ron Rikki and Mike Haunter. And finally, for Eternal Dreamers, we have Tyrell Voltedge, Claire Greyson, and..."

Please, please, please! Say my name!

"What a surprise! We got us a newcomer fighting! The final recommended fighter for Eternal Dreamers is... Toby Rampart!"

"No way! Yes! I made it! I can fight with Eternal Dreamers!"

Claire then said: "Looks like we're going to be teammates. Think you can handle that?"

"Yeah! This is going to be sweet! Do you high-five?"

"I'll make an exception." She high-fived me.

Tyrell and Sophie ran by. He then said: "Toby, we did it!"

"I know, dude!"

Sophie replied: "It's too bad I can't be on the same team with you guys. But, at least we all made it. Right, Chibi?"

It roared.

Charley continued: "The New York Division will begin tomorrow. All of the recommended fighters must get ready ASAP. Your team's personal jets will be parked at the airport. Remember to bring your PFS. You cannot get on the plane without it. You also can't compete without it."

"What idiot would forget their PFS before the start of the biggest competitions in the Americas?" Tyrell asked in a sour tone.

"Beats me."

Well, guys. The New World League shall be starting tomorrow. The story continues! So, I'll be seeing you in the next chapter!