The first match of the first round, Team Trade Market vs the regional champs, Frozen Flame, reaches the penultimate match: team Leaders Hugo and Sora stare each other down, sizing each other's power level.
"I never expected the regional champions to be pushed to the brink of defeat." Greg said.
"I know, this match will be interesting." Tom said.
Megan kept her eyes on the ground, watching with anticipation to see how this will play out. Sora began setting her field up, then preforming a redraw.
"To think Brian and Dragan would lose to someone other than that team. I have to say, I'm impressed." Sora said.
"'That team'?" Hugo thought.
"But now, it doesn't matter. I'll beat you right here, right now." Sora said.
"Let's see what you've got, then." Hugo replied.
"Begin the match!" The referee called.
"Stand up"
"True"
"Vanguard"
With that, both fighters revealed their first vanguards, the motion figure system took both fighters back to the football stadium that Hugo and Dragan fought in, but this time there's snow and ice all over the place.
"Mecha Trainer (6000)!" Hugo revealed.
Hugo's vanguard appeared as an android in a coach's uniform.
"Icicle Princess Neva (6000)!" Sora revealed.
Sora's vanguard appeared as a young maiden in a blue dress, she carries two short swords.
"Cold Soldiers!? That clan's as rare as the first two we've seen in this game!" Harold exclaimed.
Richard just ignored Harold, like he always does which again, annoyed Harold.
"Draw, and I ride Wonder Boy (8000)!" Hugo declared.
Hugo's vanguard transformed into the young lad in a green football uniform.
"I draw a card and end my turn." Hugo informed.
Hugo - Sora
6 - hand - 5
0 - damage - 0
1 - soul - 0
0 - counterblast - 0
0 - bind - 0
Empty, empty - empty, empty
Empty, Wonder Boy - Icicle Princess Neva, empty
Empty, empty - empty, empty
"Draw, and I ride Snow Knight Kay (8000)!" Sora declared.
Sora's vanguard morphed into a knight in crystal blue armor, he's holding a single spear in a two-handed grip.
"Draw a card with Neva's skill, then I call Dragon of Frosts (8000)." Sora informed.
"Cold Soldiers, what kind of powers does that clan have?" Tom thought.
"Kay starts things off, attack Wonder Boy (8000)!" Sora declared.
"No guard." Hugo decided
[Drive check: Black Ice Reaper - no trigger]
Kay raced up towards the football player, and stabbed him with said spear.
[Damage check: Gyro Slinger - no trigger]
"Dragon of Frosts attacks (8000)!" Sora declared.
[Damage check: Treasured Black Panther - no trigger]
"I end my turn." Sora informed
Hugo - Sora
6 - hand - 6
2 - damage - 0
1 - soul - 1
0 - counterblast - 0
0 - bind - 0
Empty, empty - Dragon of Frosts, empty
Empty, Wonder Boy - Snow Knight Kay, empty
Empty, empty - empty, empty
"Draw, and I ride Treasured Black Panther (10000)!" Hugo declared.
Hugo's vanguard morphed into an anthropomorphic panther wearing football armor.
"I call Highspeed Brakki, add 10000 power with his skill (20000). Next, call Spike Bouncer (10000), with a counterblast and a soul blast, I check the top 2 cards of my deck, and call 1 from those 2. I call Wonder Boy (8000) with the skill, then Wonder Boy lets me return Mecha Trainer to the deck for a 5000 power bonus (13000)." Hugo informed.
"Not a bad set up right there, it gives him options for the mid and late game." Harold thought.
"With support from Wonder Boy, Panther attacks Kay (23000)!" Hugo declared.
"I don't guard." Sora informed.
[Drive check: Cheer Girl Marilyn - draw trigger]
"Power to Bouncer (20000), and I draw." Hugo informed.
Panther moved in a lightning fast pace, body slamming Kay to the ground.
[Damage check: Snow Knight Kay - no trigger]
"Spike Bouncer attacks Dragon of Frosts (20000)!" Hugo declared.
"What!? No guard!" Sora decided as she sent the card to the drop zone.
"Spike Bouncer's counterblast: I send it to the soul, and draw a card. Finally, Highspeed Brakki attacks Kay (20000)!" Hugo declared.
[Damage check: Duke of Ice Paladin - draw trigger]
"I draw a card and add the power to my vanguard (18000)!" Sora informed
"I end my turn." Hugo informed.\
Hugo - Sora
7 - hand - 7
2 - damage - 2
2 - soul - 1
2 - counterblast - 0
0 - bind - 0
Empty, Highspeed Brakki - empty, empty
Wonder Boy, Treasured Black Panther - Snow Knight Kay, empty
Empty, empty - empty, empty
"I stand and draw!" Sora declared
"The game is tied, but Hugo's setting up his ace card again." Brian thought.
"I ride General Ice Giant of Golems (10000)!" Sora informed.
At the declaration, the Earth began to shake as multiple columns of ice began to encase Kay, changing him into a giant ice Golem with a mace in his right hand.
"My golem can't attack while in the vanguard circle, but I call Black Ice Reaper (10000) and Elite Soldier Thetis (8000)!" Sora informed.
"This should be an interesting turn." Hugo thought.
"With support from Thetis, my reaper attacks (18000). Using Thetis' skill: I soul blast, you must bind the top card of your deck. Then, Thetis gets 5000 power (13000, total power: 23000)!" Sora informed.
[Bound card: Juggernaut Maximum - no trigger]
"When a card from your deck is bound during my turn, my reaper gets 2000 power (25000)." Sora explained.
"I guard with Silence Joker, Brakki intercepts (20000)!" Hugo declared.
"I end my turn." Sora informed.
Hugo - Sora
6 - hand - 5
2 - damage - 2
2 - soul - 1
2 - counterblast - 0
1 - bind - 0
Empty, empty - empty, empty
Wonder Boy, Treasured Black Panther - General Ice Giant of Golems, empty
Empty, empty - Black Ice Reaper, Elite Soldier Thetis
"Stand and draw!" Hugo declared.
"The countdown to Sora's victory has begun." Brian stated.
"Yeah, her deck really goes off when the bind zone accumulates cards." Dragan agreed.
"It's time to take the touchdown to victory, I ride General Seifried (13000)!" Hugo declared
Hugo's vanguard changed once again, this time into a cyclops wearing purple colored football armor.
"Imaginary Gift: Force, apply it to the vanguard (23000), then Wonder Boy's skill: it goes to the soul, and call a second Wonder Boy, return Silence Joker to the deck, and add 5000 power (13000)!" Hugo informed.
"Since he guarded Reaper's attack, he can't pay the cost to use his abilities." Sora thought.
"I call another Black Panther (10000), then Panther attacks your vanguard with Wonder Boy's support (23000)!" Hugo declared
[Damage check: Duke of Ice Paladin - draw trigger]
"Power to my vanguard (20000), and I draw." Sora informed.
"General Seifried attacks your vanguard (23000), soul blast 2 cards to stand Panther!" Hugo declared.
"If Seifried hits, Sora will have to retire a rearguard.", Brian thought.
"I guard with Duke of Ice Paladin (perfect guard)!" Sora countered.
[Drive check: Silence Joker - critical trigger]
"All effects to Panther (20000, 2 critical)!" Hugo revealed.
[Drive check: Funky Bazooka - no trigger]
Seifried rushed in to strike down the golem, but was blocked by a knight in crystal blue armor.
"Panther attacks your vanguard, I soul blast to add 15000 power to this attack (35000, 2 critical)!" Hugo declared.
[Damage check: Throne Keeper Dragon - no trigger]
[Damage check: Black Ice Reaper - no trigger]
"I end my turn." Hugo informed.
Hugo - Sora
7 - hand - 4
2 - damage - 4
1 - soul - 1
2 - counterblast - 0
1 - bind - 0
Wonder Boy, empty - empty, empty
Empty, General Seifried - General Ice Giant of Golems, empty
Empty, empty - Black Ice Reaper, Elite Soldier Thetis
"I stand and draw." Sora said calmly.
"Hugo has 7 cards in hand and only 2 damage, he hasn't revealed a heal trigger yet. Sora will be hard pressed to deal 4 damage this turn assuming she gets a critical or two, none of those heal triggers get revealed, and none of her attacks get guarded." Tom said.
"The odds are against her, that's for sure." Megan agreed.
"Appear now, my other self, and descend onto this frozen landscape, I ride Empress of Tundra Shiva (13000)!" Sora declared.
Cracks formed around the golem, then in an instant, it shattered, revealing a beautiful maiden wearing ice blue metallic and leather armor, holding twin halberds, one in each hand.
"Imaginary Gift: force, I apply it to my vanguard as well (23000), and I have several other effects that activate now." Sora informed.
"What effects?" Hugo asked.
"First, since Shiva's race is human and Noble, Black Ice Reaper gets 3000 power (13000), then General's skill: I draw a card and bind the top card of your deck." Sora explained
[Bound card: Gyro Slinger - no trigger]
"Black Ice Reaper gets 2000 power (15000), then I discard 2 cards from my hand. When a rearguard attacks, you must bind a card or you won't be allowed to guard my rearguard attacks. Finally, I call Knight of Crystal Ice (13000) and Snow Knight Kay (8000)." Sora added.
"She's guaranteed to deal him 3 damage without binding cards, but the potential heal trigger checks and lack of critical increase on her side will allow the game to go at least one more turn." Tom thought.
"With support from Kay, Knight of Crystal Ice attacks your vanguard (21000), I counterblast and discard 1 card from my hand. You must check the top 5 cards of your deck and bind all grade 0 cards among them, or you can't guard this attack." Sora informed.
"Well, to make sure I can guard your attacks in general, I'll bind the top card of my deck for Shiva's skill." Hugo informed.
[Bound card: White Tiger End - no trigger]
"Black Ice Reaper gets 2000 power (17000), Crystal Ice gets 3000 power (24000), and Kay's skill: I counterblast and draw 1 card, then since your have 3 cards in the bind zone, I countercharge 1, and countercharge 1 again for every card I drew with this effect." Sora informed.
"Next, I'll ensure that I can guard through your Knight's effect." Hugo informed as he checked the top 5 cards.
[Bound card: Cheer Girl Tiara - heal trigger]
[Bound card: Cheer Girl Marilyn - draw trigger]
[Bound card: Sonic Breaker - critical trigger]
"Add 3000 power to Knight of Crystal Ice (27000), Black Ice Reaper gets 2000 power for the 4th card bound (19000), then for the 5th card, he gets 2000 power like normal, but since you have 5 cards in the bind zone during this check timing, he gets 4000 power on top of that (25000), and for sixth card bound, add 6000 power once more (31000). Kay's skill: I counterblast 3 to draw 3, and countercharge the same amount that I drew through this effect." Sora explained.
"I guard with Silence Joker (15000)!" Hugo countered
"Empress of Tundra Shiva attacks your vanguard! Since there are 6 cards in your bind zone, you cannot use perfect guards to guard this attack, and I add 10000 power (33000)!" Sora exclaimed.
"I don't guard." Hugo informed.
[Drive check: Steadfast Messenger - critical trigger]
[Drive check: Snow Girl Nana - critical trigger]
"The power goes to reaper (51000), the critical to my vanguard (3 critical)." Sora informed
Shiva readied her halberds, and struck Seifried with them both once each, then threw both of them like boomerangs, hitting the cyclops at the same time, the weapons returned safely to Shiva's hands.
[Damage check: Treasured Black Panther - no trigger]
[Damage check: Juggernaut Maximum - no trigger]
[Damage check: White Tiger End - no trigger]
"With support from Thetis, Black Ice Reaper attacks your vanguard (59000). Using Thetis' skill: I bind the top card of your deck!" Sora declared
[Bound card: Highspeed Brakki - no trigger]
"Thetis gets 5000 power (13000), Reaper gets 6000 power (57000), I counterblast to draw 1, and countercharge 1 for each card I drew through Kay's skill. (Total power:70000)!" Sora explained.
"To get my ability to guard again, I'll bind the top card of my deck." Hugo informed.
[Bound card: Sonic Breaker - critical trigger]
"Kay's skill, let's me draw, and Reaper gets 6000 power (76000)!" Sora informed.
"I guard with Cheer Girl Marilyn (perfect guard)!" Hugo declared.
"The cards bound by Shiva's skill return to the bottom of your deck, and I end my turn." Sora informed.
Hugo - Sora
4 - hand - 8
5 - damage - 4
1 - soul - 2
2 - counterblast - 0
6 - bind - 0
Wonder Boy, empty - Knight of Crystal Ice, Snow Knight Kay
Empty, General Seifried - Empress of Tundra Shiva, empty
Empty, empty - Black Ice Reaper, Elite Soldier Thetis
"I stand and draw." Hugo declared.
"What the!? He let her do all of that!? That's ludicrous!" Harold exclaimed.
"Wonder Boy moves to the soul, call another one and return Marilyn to the deck, add 5000 power (13000), call Juggernaut Maximum (23000) with another 10000 power, and attack with Seifried (23000)!" Hugo declared.
"Snow Girl Nana and Steadfast Messenger guard (30000)!" Sora countered
[Drive check: Treasured Black Panther - no trigger]
[Drive check: Sonic Breaker - critical trigger]
"All effects to Juggernaut Maximum (33000, 2 critical)." Hugo informed
General Seifried moved in to attack, but was blocked by a knight in blue colored leather holding a spear and a girl wearing a white and blue dress made to blend in with the ice.
"With support from Wonder Boy, Maximum attacks your vanguard (46000)!" Hugo declared.
"Thetis, Throne Keeper Dragon, and Steadfast Messenger guard (35000)!" Sora countered.
"I end my turn." Hugo informed.
Hugo - Sora
6 - hand - 3
5 - damage - 4
1 - soul - 2
2 - counterblast - 0
6 - bind - 0
Wonder Boy, Juggernaut Maximum - Knight of Crystal Ice, Snow Knight Kay
Empty, General Seifried - Empress of Tundra Shiva, empty
Empty, empty - Black Ice Reaper, Elite Soldier Thetis
"I stand and draw!" Sora declared.
"I still have a chance to win, all I have to do is block all 3 attacks, and hope for a heal trigger." Hugo thought.
"I call Arc Angel (10000)!" Sora announced.
"Arc Angel?" Hugo asked.
"Using her counterblast and soul blast, I give your vanguard a new skill." Sora informed.
"A new skill?" Hugo asked.
"She's passing an effect to her opponent's vanguard?" Richard and Tom thought.
Snow and ice encased Seifried, draining power from him, and Hugo saw his vanguard's power decrease.
"What the!?" Hugo asked.
"Simple, the skill I gave your vanguard is a passive one. It takes 1000 power away for every card in your bind zone (General Seifried: 7000)." Sora explained
"A passive skill, that means if she does that combo again, Hugo's vanguard will get weaker if he pays the cost to guard. But, if he doesn't guard all 3 attacks, he'll lose." Richard thought.
"Shiva attacks your vanguard, you can't use Perfect guards to guard this (23000)!" Sora declared.
"I don't guard." Hugo informed
[Drive check: Snow Girl Nana - critical trigger]
[Drive check: Empress of Tundra Shiva - no trigger]
"The power to Reaper (23000), critical to my vanguard (2 critical)!" Sora informed
Shiva moved in and slashed Seifried with both of her halberds, striking down the cyclops
[Damage check: Silence Joker - critical trigger]
With the sixth damage revealed, the units faded, and the stadium returned to normal. Sora and Hugo shook hands, then Team Frozen Flame left the arena. With team Samurai Dragon.
"Holy crap. She demolished him." Greg exclaimed.
"To think we'll have a chance to fight her and the other two if we make it to the top 8." Megan added.
Tom however took another approach to this, she could have easily made top 4 in the singles division of the national tournament, but why didn't she enter?
When they noticed Tom in deep thought, Greg approached him, "you okay, dude?"
"Huh, oh yeah." Tom answered.
Meanwhile, at another venue within the stadium.
"End this, Perseus!"
A knight in cream armor carrying two Lance's struck down Dueling Dragon Zanbaku, signaling the end of this Cardfight.
The guy who wields this knight has short brown hair wearing a green tank top and tan jeans.
"Allen Marcus wins the cardfight!" The referee called.
"One step closer to the finals." The now identified Allen thought.
His teammates watched as Allen walked towards them in their dugout, then all 3 left the arena.
"Jason, Mat, we're leaving." Allen said.
Mat has black hair and sapphire colored eyes, wearing simple sweats, Jason wears a hoodie and black jeans, but looks like Allen to some extent.
"My brother's new deck really is a wonder." Jason thought.
"That power is dangerous, I need to free him from it." Mat thought.
Tom: so, now it's our turn, huh?
Megan: a group of ninjas, this is annoying.
Kyle: next time: clash of Ninjas and Knights.
Greg: I won't let the team down!
Cold Soldiers (v): created by Decode9, edited by me
Grade 0
Icicle Princess Neva
Power 6000
Shield 10000
Race: Human
Auto: when rode upon, draw a card
Duke of Ice Paladin (draw)
Power:5000
Shield:0
Race:Human
Cont:Sentinel
Auto: when this unit appears on gc: Cost: discard a card from your hand: select one unit on your vc that is being attacked, and it cannot be attacked for the rest of that battle.
Ice Elixir Rabbit (heal)
Power: 5000
Shield: 20000
Race: High Beast
Steadfast Messenger (critical)
Power:5000
Shield:15000
Race:Human
Snow Girl Nana (critical)
Power: 5000
Shield: 15000
Race: Elf
Grade 1
Throne Keeper Dragon
Power: 8000
Shield: 10000
Race: Frost Dragon
Auto rc: when placed Cost: cb1: look at the top three cards of your deck, select a unit the same grade or less than your vanguard, call it to rc.
Cont rc: During your turn this unit gets power +1000 for every card in your opponents Bind Zone
Dragon of Frosts
Power:8000
Shield:10000
Race: Frost Dragon
Auto: when a card is sent to your opponent's bind zone, countercharge 1
Elite Solider Thetis
Power:8000
Shield:10000
Race: Human
Auto rc: when this unit attacks or boosts a vanguard or rearguard: cost: sb1, your opponent binds the top card of their deck, and this unit gets power +5000
Snow Knight Kay
Power:8000
Shield:10000
Race:Human
Auto rc: when a card is sent to the opponent's bind zone: Cost: cb1, draw 1 card, and this unit gets power +5000. Then, if your opponent has 3 or more cards in the bind zone, countercharge 1 and countercharge 1 for every card you drew with this effect
Grade 2
Black Ice Reaper
Power: 10000
Shield: 5000
Race: Demon
Auto rc: when a card is placed in the bind zone, this unit gets power +2000, then If your opponent has 5 or more cards in the bind zone, this unit gets power +4000.
Cont rc: if your vanguard is either Human or Noble, this unit gets power +3000
Arc Angel
Power:10000
Shield:5000
Race: Angel
Auto rc: when placed: Cost: cb1/sb1: choose your opponent's vanguard, and it gets "Cont vc: this unit gets power -1000 for every card in the bind zone" until the end of your turn
Cont: this unit gets power +5000 for every card in your opponent's bind zone
General Ice Giant of Golems
Power:10000
Shield:5000
Race: Ice Giant
Cont vc: this unit cannot attack
Auto: when your grade 3 unit rides this unit: cost: cb1, draw a card, your opponent sends the top card of their deck to the bind zone
Grade 3
Empress of Tundra Shiva
Power: 13000
Race: Noble/Human
Gift Type: Force
Act vc 1/turn: Cost: discard 2 cards from your hand. For the rest of the turn when a rearguard unit attacks, your opponent must bind the top card of their deck. If they don't they cannot call cards to gc until the end of that battle.
Auto vc: When this unit attacks and your opponent has three or more cards in the bind zone, this unit gets power +10000, and your opponent cannot call sentinels to the guardian circle
Auto vc: cards bound by the effect of this card are placed at the bottom of the deck at the start of the end phase.
Knight of Crystal Ice
Power:13000
Race: Human
Gift type: Force
Auto vc/rc: when this unit attacks a vanguard: Cost: cb1, choose a card from your hand and discard it. Your opponent checks the top 5 cards if their deck, and must send grade 0 units to the bind zone. If they do not, they cannot guard with cards from their hand
Cont vc: this unit gets power +3000 for every 3 cards in your opponent's bind zone