With a drive of 4, and attacks still on the way...I shouldn't toss my hand.

Drake thought to himself.

"No Guard!"

He declared.

"Quadruple Drive."

Ray said, as his top 4 cards revealed themselves.

[DRIVE CHECK - DeVoid BursT [G0 - Stand Trigger]]

"Stand Trigger. All effects to StryK."

He said, as the humanoid dark matter boy rose up.

[DRIVE CHECK - DeVoid PeaK [G1]]

[DRIVE CHECK - DeVoid BreaK [G0 - Critical Trigger]]

"Critical Trigger."

Ray said, as Drake looked slightly surprised.

"Critical to DioVeD. Power to NaZO."

He said, as the Grade 2 unit engulfed in golden energy.

[{POWER - 22000}]

[DRIVE CHECK - DeVoid BreaK [G0 - Critical Trigger]]

"Critical Trigger. Critical to DioVeD again, Power to KiERA."

Ray said, as Drake's eyes slightly widened.

[{POWER - 26000}]

[CRITICAL - 3]

At that, the vortex let loose a multitude of rays, that all burst on Drakon, who fell back, and Drake shielded his eyes with his arm from the flashing lights, as the top 3 cards of his deck revealed themselves.

[DAMAGE CHECK - Dragonslayer Blademistress [G1]]

[DAMAGE CHECK - Dragonslayer Deren [G2]]

[DAMAGE CHECK - Dragonslayer BURST [G0 - Front Trigger]]

"Looks like we're both lucky. Front Trigger!"

Drake called, as Drakon engulfed in a purple light.

[{POWER - 22000}]

"...KiERA attacks your Vanguard."

Ray then said, resting the unit as the lady composed of dark matter let loose her own rays of dark energy.

[{POWER - 26000}]

"Guard!"

Drake said, as he tossed a card.

[Dragonslayer, Fall - 5000]

[TOTAL - 27000]

"After KiERA attacks, her Manipulate activates."

Ray said, moving the girl to the soul.

"I add a Normal Unit that doesn't have 'Sentinel' from the Drop zone to my hand, then discard a card."

He said, before taking DeVoid Maiden 'HEART' from the drop zone, and then revealing a DeVoid NaZO and dropping it into the Drop Zone.

"StryK boosts. NaZO attacks your Vanguard. NaZO's Skill, activate. I place the Blademistress and Fall in your Drop zone on the bottom of your deck. Then, I have more Normal Units in the Drop Zone than you, add 5000 power."

He said, as the two cards engulfed in black mist before moving to the bottom of the deck.

[{POWER - 55000}]

Drake's eyes just slightly widened at the power, before reaching for cards in his hand.

"Guard..!"

He called, before tossing cards to guard.

[Dragonslayer BURST - 15000]

[Dracobud, Tamer Flare - 15000]

[Dragonslayer Soul - 10000]

[TOTAL - 62000]

While the three units got in the way to block the attack, there was still a large 'burst' that definitely made winds pick up, and Drake just shielded his eyes from the 'debris', The rest of the watchers doing the same.

"...I end my turn."

Ray said, simply.

[DRAKE] - [RAY]

[HAND - 4] - [HAND - 8]

[DAMAGE - 5/6] - [DAMAGE - 3/6]

[COUNTERBLAST - 0/5] - [COUNTERBLAST - 2/3]

[SOUL - 2] - [SOUL - 2]

[G ZONE - 0] [G ZONE - 2]

[FIELD]

[R] [R] [Dragonslayer, Drakon] [R] = [DeVoid NaZo] [DeVoid Enigma] [R]

[Dragonslayer, Deren] [R] [R] = [DeVoid StryK] [R] [R]

"...I wouldn't know what it feels like to be nothing? I guess I touched something sensitive. If I did, I apologize...The feeling of being nothing, I know that better than you'd think."

Drake said, drawing.

"I release the Generation Zone."

He said, revealing Dragonslayer, Soul.

"When using this to pay the cost of Stride, It gets Grade plus 2. Generation Stride."

He said, as Drakon engulfed in a pillar of flames, before coming out dual-wielding his blades.

"Dracomaster, Drakon 'Blade Force'."

He said, and looked Ray in the eyes.

"I don't know your circumstances, and I shouldn't have assumed anything, but...I've felt like nothing, but that's why I joined Azure Crimson. I can't claim to understand you, but If beating you in this fight is what it'll take to get you to join, and maybe have something more..."

Drake said, using the Stride skill, as he counterblasted and soulblasted, as Drakon stabbed their blade into the ground, and a pillar of flames engulfed NaZO as it was moved to the Drop Zone.

"Then I'll do what I can. I'm sure Azure would be doing the same if he were the one fighting."

He continued, moving Deren back forward, and calling Cian to the Accel Circle, and Aalis to the last front row spot.

"Drake..."

Azure said, slightly concerned.

...His family's expectations DID make him feel like nothing, I know that much, but...I don't know about Ray, I barely know him...and even then, he looks like he's just hiding how he really feels...

He thought, as Drake counterblasted, and flipped up another Blade Force, as Drakon gained their drive, and the front row engulfed in Red energy.

[{Drakon - 30000}]

[{Deren - 12000}]

[{Aalis - 12000}]

[{Cian - 22000}]

"So if something's hurting you, You don't have to feel that pain alone!"

Drake said, resting Drakon, who rushed forward with blazing blades.

[{POWER - 30000}]

"...I don't want someone to relate to me..."

Ray said, not even looking Drake in the eyes, before tossing a card to guard.

[DeVoid HoPE - 0]

He then just dropped a card from his hand as the Dark matter being protected the Vanguard.

At that, Drake's eyes slightly widened.

"Quadruple Drive..."

[DRIVE CHECK - Dragonslayer, Cian [G2]]

[DRIVE CHECK - Dragonslayer, Ichor [G1]]

[DRIVE CHECK - Dragonslayer BURST [G0 - Front Trigger]]

"Front Trigger..!"

[DRIVE CHECK - Dragonslayer, Wyrmsieg]

"He stopped Drake's attack cold..."

Azure said, as Drake just rested Deren next.

"Deren's Frontier..! add 4000 power!"

[{POWER - 26000}]

"...Guard."

Ray said, as a dark matter kitten suddenly formed a barrier.

[DeVoid BursT - 15000]

[{TOTAL - 28000}]

"Aalis..!"

Drake said, resting the unit.

[{POWER - 22000}]

"No Guard."

Ray said, as the Enigma took the hit.

[DAMAGE CHECK - DeVoid KiERA [G2]]

"Cian..! With his skill, my opponent can't intercept, so add 5000 power, and you can't guard him with just one unit!"

[{POWER - 37000}]

"...No Guard."

Ray repeated, as he took his 5th damage.

[DAMAGE CHECK - DeVoid Maiden 'HEART']

"...I end my turn..."

Drake said.

[DRAKE] - [RAY]

[HAND - 7] - [HAND - 5]

[DAMAGE - 5/6] - [DAMAGE - 5/6]

[COUNTERBLAST - 2/5] - [COUNTERBLAST - 2/5]

[SOUL - 1] - [SOUL - 2]

[G ZONE - 2] [G ZONE - 2]

[FIELD]

[Dragonslayer, Cian] [Dragonslayer, Deren] [Dragonslayer, Drakon] [Dragonslayer Caring Heart, Aalis] = [R] [DeVoid Enigma] [R]

[R] [R] [R] = [DeVoid StryK] [R] [R]

That look of pain...Is...is this what Ray REALLY feels? What happened..? Who hurt him?

Azure wondered, and Drake had similar thoughts...before Ray just...put on his regular 'smile', which was obviously fake, now that they had seen what he was really hurting about.

"...So, guess it's my turn then, huh."

Ray said, drawing.

"...What's the point in hiding it now, Ray?"

Azure asked, and Ray just looked back at him.

"Well, like I said. I don't want anybody to relate to me, because while sharing the pain can be a noble thing...It also just adds to the number of people in pain."

He said, before tossing another DeVoid Enigma into the Drop Zone.

"I release the Generation Zone."

Ray said, before picking up a card in his G Zone, before looking slightly confused.

"...Eh? I don't remember putting this card in my G Zone...I don't think I've even seen it before..."

He said out loud, and Azure just looked confused.

...Someone put a new card in his G Zone?

Azure wondered, before Ray decided to just Stride it anyways.

"Rescued DeVoid, Enigma 'Angel's Child'. Stride Skill."

Ray said, as Cian was suddenly moved out of the Accel circle, and put behind Aalis.

"Call."

Ray then said, as he dropped cards from his hand down, calling DeVoid Maiden 'HEART' in front of StryK, DeVoid Marionette in the back row of his empty column, and DeVoid PeaK in his last Front Row spot.

"Enigma's Skill."

He then added, before flipping up another copy of it.

"I choose a Rear Guard circle for every face-up Enigma in the G Zone, and move it somewhere else. I force Deren to go behind your Vanguard."

Ray said, as Deren was engulfed in the mist and forced to move as well.

"Then, if the opponent only has Grade 1 or less Rear guards, or No rear guards, in their front row, A drive is gained. In addition, for each unit moved, all DeVoid units get 2000 power."

[{Enigma - 40000}]

[{Maiden - 15000}]

[{PeaK - 10000}]

[{Marionette - 10000}]

[{StryK - 10000}]

"In addition, Maiden's skill. When one of your units moves, she gains 2000 power."

[{Maiden - 17000}]

At this point, Ray just reached to rest his card, but hesitated, and Drake raised an eyebrow.

"...What's wrong?"

Azure asked.

"...You asked about me, a total stranger, joining your team...why?"

Ray asked, mostly to Azure, who just started to open his mouth, before Drake spoke.

"Azure's usually a good judge of character, Ray. If he wanted to reach out to you, That just means he knows you're a good person at heart, and someone who could be a great addition to Azure Crimson."

He told Ray, who seemed to be silent for a moment.

"But...a complete stranger..? How can you be so sure if I'm a-?"

He started, and Azure just spoke up.

"A fight can say more about people than you'd think. You seem pained, but...you also seem like you really want to enjoy a fight. We feel the same, that's why Drake and I formed Azure Crimson. Sure, we want to hit Star Rank one day, but...we also just really want to enjoy cardfighting. I can't speak for Drake, Kyros, or Marisa, but...I want you to join us, Ray."

He told Ray, who's eyes just seemed to slightly widen.

...Geez...Disadvantage to my limited social circle...someone like him showing me any kind of sincerity is just...so surprising.

At that, however, the system suddenly stopped functioning, and the cards all went back to the decks, and the units disappeared, as the area went darker.

"Huh..?"

Drake asked, before an announcer came in.

"Attention civilians. Do not be alarmed by the Neo-Fight Systems in this area ceasing function. A minor power outage has occurred, and staff is working on it immediately."

They said, as civilians had been ready to panic, but for the most part, calmed down after hearing the announcer.

"Darn..! We didn't get to finish the fight!"

Ray said, pouting, as Drake just looked at the cards that were still in his hand.

...I hate to admit it, but...if that turn HAD continued...Ray had me beat, hands down. This is his win...

He thought to himself, sighing.

"Anyways...what's your answer, Ray? Are you going to join Azure Crimson?"

Azure asked, and Ray just sighed, before smiling again.

"Well, If you really want me on the team...Ah, heck...That fight WAS getting good. Sure, why not, consider me your newest member."

He said, and Azure just smiled.

"Ray...Thank you."

He said, and Kyros seemed to smile.

"This means...we have 5 members."

He said, and Marisa chimed in.

"Which means we can enter any kind of tournament to earn ranking points, even the ones that require the maximum amount of members, right?"

She asked, and then Azure just blinked.

"I...well, actually..."

He started, and Kyros looked confused.

"What's wrong? We have 5 members, don't we?"

He asked.

"We do, but...you see, there's still the Substitute spot. Some 5-Member tournaments require them..."

Azure told them, and Kyros sighed.

"Then we'll...have to find a sub. I'd ask Ezar, but...He doesn't have any interest in going up in ranks..."

He said, and Ray just started laughing.

"Ah, well, either way, there's still options...Besides, if we're lucky, maybe a substitute member will just show up to us."

He said, and Drake just rolled his eyes.

"Knowing YOUR luck, that actually has credit..."

He said, before Azure just started laughing as well.

"Yeah...You're right, Drake."

He said.

CARD TRIVIA

DeVoid DioVeD. Grade 4, 15000(Plus) Power, 0 Shield, Triple Drive Icon, Tenebris. Every time an opponent's R is forced to move, You can choose another Tenebris unit, and that unit and DioVeD will gain 2000 power! Then, by flipping up another copy of itself, You can have DioVeD gain a drive! However, once it's power starts to exceed 40000, It's power will be cut by 10000. Forceful manipulation can still make up for the lost power!

DeVoid Maiden 'HEART'. Grade 3. 13000 Power, 0 Shield, Twin Drive Icon. Tenebris, with a Force Marker. With it's Generation Break 1 Manipulate, When an opponent's R is moved, It gains 2000 power, but that's only the offensive capability it has. It also has a defensive capability with it's Generation Break 2, You can Counter Blast and Soul Blast when your Vanguard with 'Enigma' in it's name is attacked, and move this card from either your Hand or your R circle to the Guardian Circle, and it gains 5000 Shield, but then, If you have more Normal Units in your Drop Zone than the opponent, It gains 10000 more shield! Useful defense for a Grade 3.