Chapter 14: Regionals Await!
Hey, guys! Well, it was a long wait, but Regionals have now begun. My deck is ready and I am fired up! Everyone else is ready too. We even have our first match set. I'll go first, with Trevor fighting afterward, followed by Abbey, if either of us can't finish the job. Trevor, in fact, chose this line up. During our drive to the stadium in Kotetsu's van, we talked about our strategy."
"I believe that saving our strongest player for last will keep our opponents in the dark. This will allow us to go without being seen as a threat." Trevor explained.
"You think I'm that strong?" Abbey asked.
"Yes, you were able to push me to my limits, which cost me our match. You have to be one of the strongest fighters I have ever faced."
"What about me?" I asked.
"You are also a great player, but you still have a long way to go."
"Why can't Sai fight?" Lupa asked.
"Because we only need 3 players in the line up. But, I promise he'll play after the first round, Lupa."
"Okay, I trust you."
"Are you worried your not gonna be able to see your boyfriend play?" Jerry asked with a ridiculous grin.
Lupa then smacked his head. "What is with you people and those words?!"
"Lupa, please calm down. They're only kidding with you." Sai explained.
"Hmph." She did as Sai said, but she wasn't happy about it.
The van suddenly stopped. "We're here!" Kotetsu said.
"About time!" Lupa added.
Everyone got out of the van and proceeded inside the stadium.
"Isn't this where we fought?" Sai asked Lupa.
"Yeah. It was the closest place with a hologram projector." Lupa answered
There was a series of projectors surrounding the central area of the stadium. The one at the fountain area showed a guy with a Microphone. "Sup, dudes! This is your commentator, MC Mark! And Mister E!"
A guy in a black cloak appeared out of nowhere on the screen. "Good evening, valiant cardfighters! I welcome you to the Nevada Regional Championship!"
Mark continued: "Please head to you seats! 'Cuz the first match is about to start!"
"Our first match up is Team Eternal Dreamers and Senbon Strikers!"
"Senbon Strikers?" Kotetsu asked.
"You heard of them?" I asked.
"They go around the country challenging fighters just to test their worth." Kotetsu explained.
"Why enter a Regional competition?" Abbey asked.
"Probably to test their own worth." Trevor said.
"We'll head for our seats. You guys go get ready." Jerry said.
"I want in the front row, shrimp" Lupa demanded.
"We were going in the front row anyway, you she-wolf!"
"Will you two please keep it down?" Sai asked. He made a barrier in between them so they wouldn't go too far.
After that, they headed to the bleachers. We headed for the locker room.
"Mason Shepard, to the arena #1 please. Your fight is about to commence." The intercom told me.
"Good luck out there, Mason!" Sai high-fived me.
"We're counting on you." Trevor said.
When I was about to head out, Abbey stopped me. "Wait."
"Yeah? What is it?"
She hugged me. "This is your first true competitive match. Are you sure you're up for it?"
"You don't have to worry about a thing, Abbey. This guy's gonna get a can of woop-ass for dinner!"
"Alright, I'll hold you to that. Now get out there, asshole!"
"You got it!" I ran out into the arena. My opponent was waiting for me.
A guy in what looked like black pajamas, wearing a hood was on the other side. "It's about time." He said.
We both set our starting vanguards, then drew our starting hands. I got Turboraizer, Perfect Raizer, King of Sword, Brutal Jack, and Asura Kaiser. No Grade 1s...I redrew Asura Kaiser and Brutal Jack. Then, I drew again, getting 2 Raizer Custom. Both of our hands were set.
MC Mark then shouted: "Cardfighters, ready?!"
"Yeah!" We both answered.
"Then you may begin!"
"Stand Up, The Vanguard! Battleraizer!"
"Lizard Runner, Undeux!"
So, he uses Kagero. That means he'll be able to get rid of my rear-guard...But, why do I feel there is more to his deck than that.
"I'll take the first turn, hombre! I Draw. Now, I Ride Embodiment of Armor Bahr! That ends my turn."
Meanwhile, in the bleacher area
"Boss! We're here! Did we miss anything?" Mike, Brock, and Ron asked.
It's been a while since we've seen them.
Yes it has, Sai. Yes it has.
"No, you guys are just in time." Jerry said.
"Alright! I can't wait we're gonna be watching Mason fight!" Ron shouted.
"Yeah, this will be more epic then when the Boss beat that one guy on the football team!" Mike said.
"Yeah, he was able to take that guy down in one turn! I didn't know you could do that! The Boss is amazing!" Brock said.
"Hey, Boss. Who that girl in the wolf skin?" Mike asked.
"Lupa. She's Sai's-"
"Say it and you're dead..." Lupa threatened.
The trio then sat down to watch the match.
Back to the arena
"I Draw." It was Tough Boy. "Now, I Ride Raizer Custom. Next I'll move Battleraizer and Call Tough Boy. And He'll attack first (8000)!"
"I don't guard." His damage check revealed Dragon Knight, Nehalem.
"Next is Custom, and due to his skill: his Power doubles since Battleraizer is in the same column (12000)!"
"I don't guard."
"Trigger Check." It revealed High-Powered Raizer Custom.
"Damage Check." It revealed Dragon Dancer, Monica. "I'll Draw one card due to the trigger."
MC Mark then commented: "This match has only begun, and Mason is already pulling off some sick power plays!"
Mister E then explained: "The Raizer series shouldn't be underestimated. They hold a reputation of being the most aggressive units out of the Nova Grappler clan. But when they have Perfect Raizer as their vanguard is when they are really feared."
"Well, I can't wait to see that!"
"I Draw. Hope you like your vanguard well done, 'cuz I'm bringin' the heat, man. I Ride, Cross Shot, Garp!"
Great, what's he gonna do next?!
"Now, I Call Stealth Beast, Chigasumi and Stealth Dragon, Dreadmaster."
Murakumo mixed with Kagero? That's weird...
"Now I'll have Chigasumi attack, with support from Dreadmaster (8000+7000)!"
"I don't guard." My damage check revealed Wall Boy. "I'll give the 5000 Power to my vanguard!"
"Since the attack hit, I'll activate Dreadmaster's Counter Blast!"
What?!
"Since my Nubatama's attack hit with Dreadmaster's boost, and you have more in your hand than me, you now have to discard one card."
"Nubatama?" I asked.
"They are the forgotten ones. They could have been a powerful clan, but their allies defected into the Murakumo. Mostly because of their hand shrinking tactics."
That why I thought his deck was hiding something! He's using a clan that specializes in depleting the opponent's Shield.
"I'll discard..." The decision was difficult, but I had no choice. "Perfect Raizer..."
In the bleachers, Jerry complained about my choice: "What the hell?! If he loses that one, he won't be able to ride to grade 3!"
Lupa then explained: "A Grade 3 is unable to defend. He can draw another one later. It's better to keep as much Shield as possible until that happens."
"Next, is Garp (10000)!"
"Battleraizer guards (11000+10000)!"
"Drive Check." It revealed Dragon Monk, Genjo. "I'll heal one damage. That's my turn."
Well, at least now I know what I'm dealing with. The question is: How do I counter?"
"I Stand and Draw." The card I drew was Turboraizer. "Now, I Ride High-Powered Raizer Custom. Next, I Call King of Sword and Raizer Custom. I'll switch Tough Boy and King of Sword. Next, he'll attack, with Tough Boy's support (10000+8000)!"
"Genjo guards (10000+10000)!"
"Next is my vanguard, with it's skill (16000)!"
"I don't guard."
My drive check revealed Kirara. His damage check revealed Chigasumi.
"I'll end my turn."
"I Stand and Draw. Mighty shinobi of shadows, lead your enemies into never ending darkness! I Ride Stealth Dragon, Voidmaster!"
Wonder what this one does...
"Now, I Call Nehalem and Bahr. Then, I'll have Chigasumi, supported by Dreadmaster attack (8000+7000)!"
"Turboraizer will guard that (8000+10000)!"
"Then, Voidmaster (9000)!"
"I don't guard."
"Twin Drive! First Check!" It revealed Stealth Beast, Hagakure. "Second Check!" This time, it was Embodiment of Spear, Tahr. "I'll give the Critical to my vanguard and the 5000 Power to Nehalem."
My first damage check revealed Tough Boy. The second revealed Asura Kaiser.
"That ends my turn. Let's see you get out of this, man."
Jackass...
"I Stand and Draw." When I saw the card I drew next, I could hardly believe it. "Say hello to the ultimate fighting machine. May your fist teach him not to mess with us! I Ride, Perfect Raizer!" I slammed it on the vanguard circle. He then appeared and said: "I'll shall win this fight for you, my vanguard!"
MC Mark then commented: Woah, Perfect Raizer looks even awesomer as a hologram!"
Mister E then added:
"Now, with his skill: When he is placed in my vanguard circle, I put all of my Raizer rear-guard."
"Hmm, you're gonna have to do more than that, homes."
"How about this: He may lose 2000 Power when there is no other Raizer in my rear-guard, but he gets 3000 for each in my soul to compensate. And since I have four, he gets 12000 along with a Critical effect."
He then realized the danger he was in.
"Then, I Call Kirara! I'll have King of Sword attack, with Tough Boy's support (10000+8000)!"
"Grr... Hagakure guards (9000+10000)!"
"Perfect Raizer, show him what the Nova Grapplers can do (21000)!" Perfect Raizer went charging in.
"I don't guard..."
"Twin Drive! First Check!" It was Twin Blader. "Come on, Second Check!" Even if I don't get a trigger, I'll still have a chance.
The card revealed was: "It...it can't be..."
Battleraizer! "Stand Trigger activated. I'll give all effects to King of Sword!"
Both of his damage checks revealed Dragonic Overlord and Voidmaster.
"Now I'll have Kirara attack Chigasumi (9000)!"
"I don't guard." Chigasumi was retired.
"Now I'll have King of Sword attack Nehalem (15000)!"
"I don't guard." Nehalem was also retired.
"Now because of Kirara's Counter Blast, I get to draw one card." It was Asura Kaiser. "I'll end my turn."
Ron then asked: "Why attack the rear-guard?"
"Less rear-guard can be disastrous when you want to stay on offense, Ron."
"Plus, since they both were interceptors, that means less Shield." Brock said.
"And he'll have to use card in his hand to replace the units that were retired." Mike added.
"You guys must've been studying."
"No, it just common knowledge." Brock and Mike said.
"I hate you both..." Ron felt stupid after asking such a question.
"Just study the rules and you might actually know what's going on during a cardfight, Ron."
"Yes, Boss."
The pajama guy then took his turn: "I Stand and Draw. Then, I'll Call Tahr and Dragon Monk, Gojo."
"That all?" I asked knowing he couldn't do much else.
"Grr...Tahr attacks, with support from Dreadmaster (5000+7000)!"
I yawned. "Battleraizer will guard(11000+10000)!"
"Why, you-! I'll have Voidmaster attack with Gojo's support, next (9000+7000)!"
"Twin Blader guards." I discarded Asura Kaiser for the skill.
"T-twin Drive Check..." The first card was Voidmaster. "Second Check..." This one was Blue Ray Dracokid. "I'll...end my...turn..."
"Serves you right. What exactly did you expect from me in the beginning? That I was an idiot who wouldn't be able to counter your strategy?"
"Just shut up and take your turn!"
"Alright, then! I Stand and Draw! Then, I Call Shout. Now, Kirara attacks (9000)!"
"Blue Ray guards (9000+10000)!"
"Perfect Raizer, with Shout's support oughta finish this (21000+7000)!"
"I...don't guard."
"Twin Drive." The first card was Brutal Jack. The second one was High-Powered Raizer Custom.
"Damage check..." His first card was Hagakure. "Second..." That last card was Dreadmaster.
"I...lose?"
"Chavez Oscuridad's last damage is Dreadmaster! Mason Shepard take the first win for Eternal Dreamers!"
"Wait to go, Mason!" Jerry cheered.
"Yeah, the pinnacle of perfection!" The trio said.
"...It was close though." Their cheering stopped after Lupa mentioned that.
"Yeah, it could have went either way if Mason didn't catch on with that Chavez guy's plan." Jerry noted.
I went back in the lock room.
"Mason, that was great!" Sai said.
"Yeah, just one more and we can move on!" Abbey exclaimed.
"I'm up next..."
"Good luck, Trevor."
"I'll make sure your win wasn't wasted, Mason." Trevor headed out to the arena.
"This next match is Trevor Holtsworth vs. Ping Wang!" MC Mark announced.
Trevor's opponent was wearing the same get up as that Chavez guy. Their vanguards and hands were set.
"Cardfighters, ready?"
They both nodded.
"Then, begin!"
"Stand Up, The Vanguard!"
"Vermillion Gatekeeper!"
"Shield Seed Squire!"
Meeanwhile, outside the stadium
A girl with long, sky blue hair wearing a white navy uniform and a young man with a green buzz cut wearing a black biker vest and a white t-shirt underneath it were about to go inside. While doing so, they discussed why they were there in the first place.
"Charley, are you sure he's here?" The girl asked.
"Yeah, Shiro's intel doesn't fail. He's here alright." The guy said.
"You know he's not going to join us. What's the point of coming here?" She asked again.
"We aren't here to recruit him. We're here to survey his team." Charley explained.
"What kind of threat do they pose if Shiro's afraid of them?"
"They aren't a threat. One of their teammates has shown signs."
"Oh,...Yes, I see. He wants that member..."
"Yep. Funny how it has been 11 years since Shiro saw the guy. Who'd a thought he would get that power?"
The girl got out a sandwich of some kind and began to eat it.
"That isn't fish is it?"
"Yeah, why?"
"You know I hate the smell of fish, Anna."
"Deal with it, I'm hungry!"
"What did Trevor see in you?"
"Don't even mention that jerk's name. Why I even bothered to come along is beyond me."
"Yeah, yeah."
They continued inside. They were just in time to see the current match come to its end.
Back in the arena
Trevor had 3 cards in his hand and 5 damage. Only two were flipped. His opponent had 2 cards and 4 damage. All of them were flipped.
"Final Turn!" Trevor declared.
"It's official, Trevor believes he shall finish it this turn!" MC Mark announced.
"This should be fun." Mister E added.
"First, I'll Call Werwolf Sieger and Poet of Darkness, Amon. Then, I'll have Blue Dust supported by Prisoner Beast attack (9000+8000)!"
His opponent chose not to guard. His damage check revealed Iris Knight.
"Next is Beelzebub supported by Devil Child. And since I have over 6 Dark Irregulars in my soul, Devil Child's boost adds another 4000 (11000+10000)!"
"I'll guard with Maiden of Blossom Rain." He discarded Forerunner Battle Maiden, Laurel for it's skill."
"Like it matters. You have no cards to guard with. I'll activate Beelzebub's Counter Blast! Giving Sieger and Amon 3000 each!"
"That's overkill!"
"That's why you should never mess with the Lord of the Flies! Twin Drive Check!" His first card was Dark Soul Conductor. "Second Check!" This time: "Blitzritter! All effects shall go to Sieger."
"I give, I give! Just don't attack! I give up!"
"You should have ever underestimated me or my teammates. You put this on yourself. Werwolf Sieger now attacks, with support from Amon, along with it's skill (18000+12000)!"
"30000 Power?!" The trio exclaimed.
"Trevor isn't foolin' around!" Jerry said.
"I can't guard." The attack made contact. "I'm not done yet! I just need 2 heal triggers!"
"Like that's going to happen."
The first damage was Sweet Honey, a Heal Trigger. "I'll recover one and give 5000 Power to Trailing Rose."
The second card, however: "...I lose." It was Maiden of Trailing Rose.
"Ping Wang has been defeated! Victory goes to Team ED4!" MC Mark announced.
We all came out of the locker room.
"Trevor, you did it!" Abbey shouted.
"Now we can go to the next round!" I said.
"It's about time, I was getting worried." Sai added.
"Remember, Sai. You'll be up first." Trevor said.
"Why me?"
"Because I don't want that she-wolf of yours to tear me in half later." Trevor explained.
"I heard that."
"Lupa!" Sai yelled.
"Great job, guys." Jerry said.
"Yeah, you guys were great!" The trio added.
"What are you guys doing down here?" I asked.
"We wanted to warn you about those two in the stands." Lupa explained.
Trevor looked up and went into a rage. "Those two?! Why here?! Why now?!"
"What's up, Trevor?" Abbey asked.
"Those are members of Gaia Saviors! That's what's up!" Trevor has never been this mad.
"Do you know them?" I asked.
"You... could say that..." He began to regain his composure.
"Why are they here then?" Sai asked.
"They must want to recruit someone."
"Who exactly?" I was beginning to wonder what the actual problem was. I couldn't make heads or tail from his behavior.
"They don't want me, that's for sure. Listen, if they ask you to join them, don't. They are bad news." He went back in the locker room to prepare the next line up with Kotetsu.
"Well, what do we do now?" Jerry asked.
"We do as Trevor said, we don't talk to them. If they try to say anything to any of us, we look the other way." Abbey said.
"Yeah, from how Trevor acted, they probably aren't trustworthy." Sai said.
"Who are they wanting though?" I asked again.
"Who knows? We just have to keep our distance. If Trevor is that afraid of them, we have no choice but to." Abbey said.
Someone's stomach began to growl.
"Did...you hear that?" I asked.
"Oh, good, I'm not going crazy" Sai said.
"Sorry, I was to excited to eat this morning." Lupa admitted.
"I'll get you something before the next match starts." Sai insisted.
"Thanks. Because I'm starving here." She laughed.
Sai and Lupa headed for the fountain area to get something for her to eat. Jerry and his gang started heading back for the bleachers.
"Boss, what's going on?" Ron asked.
"I don't know." Jerry answered.
"Is ED4 in trouble or something?" Brock asked.
"I don't know that either." He then looked at the duo. "But, something tells me that they're not just here for a recruitment session."
Well, we got past the first round with 2 wins and 0 losses. Two new characters have entered the story and Trevor happens to be afraid of their intentions. Intensity is building. So, I hope to see you in the next chapter! See ya!