Chapter 12

Olivia Pounces!

The Blaster Board's True Power

My match with that little brat was about to start.

MC Mark, on the monitor, began to say: "The first match in the final round of the Nw York Division is Olivia Stronghold of ADT versus Toby Rampart of Eternal Dreamers!"

Osamaru then added: "Fitting names for two very talented fighters!"

"Hey, Mister E, I have a question."

"Yes, what is it?"

"What does ADT stand for?"

"Well, it's definitely not that home security service."

Everyone but the ADT members laughed.

Osamaru continued: "From what I've heard, it stands for the Apostles of Despair and Turmoil."

"Scary name."

"Names aren't everything in a cardfight. All that matters is strength, strategy, and imagination!"

"Well said, Mister E! Now, why don't we get this show on the road?!"

Olivia exclaimed: "Great Cleaver, activate!"

"Blaster Board, activate!"

We both set our starting vanguards and drew our starting hands. Mine had Liberator Marron, Alfred, Blaster Blade, Josephus, and Epona.

We both then shouted: "Stand Up, Vanguard!"

"First Aid Celestial, Penuel!"

"Wingal Liberator!"

"I'll take the first turn! Ride, Underlay Celestial, Hesediel! Then, Penuel moves back! That's my turn."

I drew Gallatin. "I ride Josephus! I'm moving Wingal back and call Marron! Josephus is attacking your vanguard (7000)!"

"I don't guard."

"Checking for a drive trigger." It was Liberator, Flare Mane Stallion.

Her damage check was Zerachiel.

Oh, great! Now, she'll be able to use that damn Limit Break later. "I'll have Marron attack, with Wingal backing him up (7000+3000)(10000+5000)."

"I don't guard." It was Raguel.

Locker Room (Jerry)

"This is unexpected."

"What is?" Katherine asked.

"They're having a rookie fight that monster."

"Jerry, she's a little girl. How bad could she be?"

Mike then said: "She's scary!"

Ron added: "Yeah! She threatened to cut boss up."

"Brock, is that true?" she asked.

He nodded.

I continued: "I sure hope that kid knows what he's facing. Otherwise,..."

"Otherwise what, Boss?" Ron asked.

"...His avatar's going to be taken away..."

Arena (Toby)

"I end my turn."

"Draw. I ride Essence Celestial, Becca! Then, I call two Yeqon and Sariel! Using her Counter Blast, I get to send one Angel Feather from my deck to the damage zone and send a face up card from there to the drop zone." She sent Prophecy Celestial, Ramiel to the drop zone and got rid of Raguel. "Now, I'll send Penuel to the soul and call Ramiel from the damage zone."

She called from the damage zone. That's bad.

"Sariel attacks, with Yeqon's support (8000+7000)!"

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

"Now, my vanguard coming at ya (10000)!"

"I'll have Epona stop that (7000+10000)!"

"Checking the top card for a drive trigger." It was Marking Celestial, Arahabaki. "I'll have Ramiel attack, with support from my other Yeqon (10000+7000)!"

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

"Over to you."

"Stand and draw." It was Liberator Gallatin. "I ride Blaster Blade Liberator! Then, I'll use his Counter Blast! Sariel, time for you to go bye bye!"

Sariel retired.

"Now, I'll retire Marron andcall two Gallatin and a Flare Mane Stallion. The first Gallatin attacks Ramiel (10000+5000)!"

"I don't guard." Ramiel retired.

"Blaster Blade attacks, with added support from Flare Mane (9000+6000)!"

"I don't guard!"

"Checking for a trigger." It was Strike Liberator. "Critical trigger! The 5000 Power goes to my remaining Gallatin (10000+5000) and my avatar's going critical (1+1)!"

Blaster Blade swung his sword at Becca, making her shriek.

Olivia's damage checks were Adamantine Celestial, Aniel and Celestial, Landing Pegasus. "I give the 5000 to Becca (10000+5000) and draw."

"I attack with Gallatin (15000)!'

"Arahabaki guards (15000+5000)!" This guy's better than I thought. I might actually have fun cutting him up.

"I end my turn."

"Stand and draw. Ride, Prophecy Celestial, Ramiel! Then, I call Hesediel! She attacks with Yeqon's support! Thanks to her skill, Hesediel gets an additional 3000 Power during my turn (6000+3000)(9000+7000)!"

"Strike Liberator guards (9000+10000)!"

"Ramiel attacks! Since she's attacking you vanguard, she gets another 2000 Power (11000+2000)!"

I don't want to get rid of my interceptors this late in the game. "No guard!"

"Twin Drive! First Check!" It was Healing Celestial, Ramiel. "A heal trigger! I give the 5000 to Hesediel (9000+5000) and recover the facedown damage from Penuel's skill! Second Check!" It was Punishment Celestial, Shamihaza.

Two triggers?! Now she's got 20000 shield!

"I give all effects to my vanguard (12000+5000)(1+1)

Both of my damage checks were Escrad and Josephus.

"I'll end it there."

"Stand and draw." It was Pomergal. "Enter the fray, leading your forces to victory! I ride Liberator of the Round Table, Alfred!"

A beam of light surrounded Blaster Blade. Then, a sword cut through it, revealing Alfred.

"Now, I'll use his Especial Counter Blast!" The revealed card was Josephus. "Perfect timing! Superior Call! Now, with Josephus' skill, Especial Soul Blast! Draw!" It was Elixir Liberator. I may have lost a heal trigger, but I have more shield and I'll be able to use Alfred's Limit Break again next turn. "With support from Flare Mane and his Limit Break, Alfred comes charging in (11000+10000)(21000+6000)!"

"I'll have Aniel put a stop to that!" She discarded Landing Pegasus for the effect.

"I still have the Twin Drive!" The first card was Liberator Mark. The second was Liberator Epona. "Got a C\critical! All effects are going to Gallatin (10000+5000)(1+1). Now, he'll attack, with support from Wingal (15000+5000)!"

"Care Celestial, Tamiel will have to put a stop to that (11000+10000)!"

"I'll have my remaining Gallatin attack with support from Josephus (10000+7000)!"

"I don't guard!" Her damage check was Becca.

"I'll end my turn." I just have to survive next turn...

"Stand and draw." She looked at the card she drew and smiled. "An angel's heart that will cut through the enemy like a venomous dagger is about to enter this battlefield! Break Ride, Zerachiel (11000+10000)!"

A light blue aura surrounded Ramiel, transfoming into Zerachiel.

"Now, with the Break Ride's ability, I put Aniel in my hand and send the top card of my deck in the damage zone!" It was Yeqon. "Now, with Zerachiel's Limit Break, every Celestial gets 3000 Power when another Zerachiel is in the damage zone (9000+3000) (7000+3000) (21000+3000) (7000+3000)! Hesediel attacks, with support from Yeqon (12000+10000)!"

"I don't guard." It was Phallon.

"Now, Zerachiel is going to put an end to this (24000)!"

"Mark won't allow that!" I discarded Pomergal for the effect.

"WHAT?!"

"You obviously weren't paying attention during my Twin Drive. This was the first card that I checked. You're flawed memory just cost you the game!"

"I still have my Twin Drive!" The first card was Prophecy Ramiel. The second was Sariel. "No fair!... I end my turn." she said, pouting.

"Stand and draw!" It was Liberator Gancelot. "I call Gancelot in place of one of my Gallatin and have him attack, with support from Wingal (11000+5000)!"

She began to panic. "I'll guard Shamihaza (11000+10000)!"

"Hmph. Try this on for size! Alfred, with his Limit Break and Flare Mane's support is coming in (11000+10000)(21000+6000)! Now, for the steed's Soul Blast (27000+5000)!"

"Ah! A-Aniel will guard!" She discarded Ramiel for the effect. Please don't get a trigger!

"Twin Drive. The first." It was Alfred. "Now, the second." It was Liberator Gwydion. "Got a trigger! Giving 5000 Power to Gallatin and draw! He'll attack, with support from Josephus (15000+7000)!"

"I don't believe this!"

Gallatin swooped in and slashed Zerachiel.

A card flew in Olivia's damage zone. It was Raguel. "No fair, no fair, no fair! WAAH!"

Mark, on the monitor, then announced: "And the first match of the final round goes to Eternal Dreamers' own Toby Rampart!"

Olivia ran back in the locker room.

Osamaru then said: "The next match is Abbey Vulcan versus Brannigan!"

ADT Side (Surge)

If you haven't guessed, the guy in the red armor, with a psychotic smile is Brannigan, the dude in the black armor is Pierce, and the chick in black is Mellissa Smith.

Mellissa began: "Hah! What a joke! Sending a little girl to do a real cardfighter's job! Honestly! What's Alex thinking letting her have a PFS anyway?"

Allen then said: "That's not fair! Olivia works just as hard as any of us!"

I added: "Yeah! It ain't her fault she had an off day!"

Pierce then said: "If she lost, then it is her fault. There is no room on this team for weakness." He positioned his sword in my face. It was black, lined with cobalt around the blade. "If there is even a microbe of uncertainty, I will not hesitate to destroy the source. Understood?"

"Y-y-yes, Sir!"

ED4 Side (Toby)

As I was walking back, Mason said: "Hey, Toby, why don't you go explore the place while we finish this?"

"Really?"

"Sure. You've earned it."

"Sweet! Thanks, Mason!" I got on my board and rode through the locker room door. I reached the lobby to find a vending machine. "Ooh! Do they have Pepsi? I'm thirsty like a coyote in the desert! I love similes." I saw a Pepsi button. I got out a dollar from my pocket and inserted it in the machine. I pressed the button and out popped my drink of choice.

Arena (Abbey)

"Time to finish this with Magatsu Storm's Limit Break! Let's go! Shadow Multiplication Technique!"

Three Magatsu Storm were staring Armor Break Dragon down. Then, they began to attack it.

Ozzy then said: "And the second match goes to Abbey Vulcan! Eternal Dreamers win the New York Division!"

Cheering started to spread throughout the stadium.

Mark announced: "This was a great start for the New World League!"

Ozzy added: "And there is more to come! That's right, everyone! The next division will be in Kingston, Jamaica!"

More cheering started throughout the stadium.

I went back to the others. "Where's Toby?"

Mason answered: "I let him take a break and explore around."

"Are you sure that's safe?"

"Don't worry. Shiro's got Shen and Ling to watch him. If anything happens, they'll be there."

"...I guess it's okay. But, we need to keep that kid safe. Given he has Component X."

Shiro replied: "That's why I had those two keep an eye on him. I promise that he'll be fine."

"Alright. You've never steered me wrong before. Who knows? He might be able to unlock it's power if he gets himself in a jam."

"Exactly."

Shiro then said: "Come on, guys. We better get our trophy."

"Oh! Right!"

Lobby (Toby)

"I love Pepsi!"

(Olivia)

I was hiding behind the wall's intersection where he was about to pass. I had Great Cleaver ready to swing. Once I saw him, I jumped. "Take this!"

He jumped out of the way. "What the hell, you brat?!"

"I'm going to pay you back for making me look stupid! Yah!" I swung Cleaver again.

He moved out of the blade's way.

"Will you hold still so I can cut you?!" I picked it up.

He began to run. "HELP! I'M BEING ATTACKED BY A PSYCHOTIC TODDLER!"

(Ling)

We were hiding behind the plants.

"What do we do, Brother?"

"We wait until the right time. If Component X unlocks it's true power, we have to report it."

"But, what if it doesn't?"

"We take down the brat."

"Okay..." I just hope we're not too late to save him if Component X doesn't react...

(Toby)

I continued to run from the brat. I knew she'd be mad! But not this mad!

"Get back here, Danderhead!"

"Hey! I shampoo AND condition!"

"Just hold still so I can cut you!"

"You're off your rocker if you think I'll let you cut me!" I tripped.

She slowly began to approach me, raising her weapon. "This is fun. Let's see you run from this!" She began to lower it.

As soon as I thought I was going to be six feet under, my board began to glow.

She stopped as the light blinded her. "Ah! My eyes!"

"What's happening?!"

TRANSFORMATION PROCESS, INITIATED. SWORD MODE, ACTIVATE.

My board began to reform itself. When it was over... I couldn't believe it. "Whoa... It's a... sword!" It looked almost like the one Blaster Blade had. I was just dumbstruck. I then smiled and said: "It isn't so fun when someone can fight back, is it?!" I swung it, hitting her sword's blade.

It produced a ringing sound. "Hey! You made Cleaver cry! Yah!" She swung.

I blocked it and pushed her away.

"Wah!" She tripped, dropping her sword in the process. She began to cry. "WAAH! I'M TELLING!" She picked up her sword and ran off.

Shen and Ling came out of the plants. Shen then said: "That was remarkable!"

Ling added: "Yeah! That was awesome!"

PURPOSE SERVED. RECONVERSION, INITIATE.

It turned back into my board. "I still can't believe it!"

Shen said: "Toby, your PFS is the most extraordinary thing I have ever seen."

Mason and everyone else came over. He then replied: "Hey, Toby. Did we miss anything?"

"Yeah! I was being attacked by that brat! But, at the last second, my board transformed into a sword!... I hate it when I rhyme."

Everyone's eyes widened.

Tyrell said: "I gotta see this!"

Abbey asked: "Can we see?"

I scratched the back of my head and laughed nervously. "Funny thing about that... I don't know how."

Shiro then asked: "What do you mean?"

"Well... it happened just when I was being attacked."

Shiro began to ponder. He snapped his fingers and said: "Got it!" He collected electricity in his hand and discharged it at me.

"YOW!" I collapsed.

Everyone then yelled: "SHIRO!"

He then said: "What? I thought it would work."

Claire asked: "Is he okay?"

Shiro answered: "He'll be fine. I only gave him a smal jolt."

Gus came in and said: "Hey, guys! The plane's fixed. Ready to go home?"

Everyone replied: "Yeah!"

Well, we were able to win the New York Division. Next up is Kingston, Jamaica. Do we have what it takes? Guess you'll have to catch the next chapter to find out.