Timely Malfunction
"Vanquish! Eternal Purgatory!"
Crimson darkness ripped across the earth, consuming everything, sparing nothing as it spiraled in an unending loop of chaos and destruction. It would seem like eons before the wrathful raze ended, dissipating into leaf-like fragments of charred earth and fiery sparks.
"Damage check…" Yomi said, her hand warily placed on top of her deck. "First check."
[Damage Check: Goddess of Adherence, Kibitsuhime (No Trigger)]
The smoke continued to pour out from the giant crater, a veil of dust to mask the faint silhouette of a motionless body.
"Second check," Yomi bit her lip. She thought about losing. She wondered if any of this mattered at all. Even if she lost here they would move on to Regionals. However one looked at it, it was clear that the match had no impact whatsoever on what came next. And maybe…it would be nice to let herself lose sometimes.
Her eyes opened slowly, then her gaze rested on the card she'd drawn.
[Damage Check: Teabreak Angel (Heal Trigger)]
She didn't know what to make of it. "Heal Trigger," she said, mostly to herself, baffled, but the rest of the crowd roared into disbelief.
"I don't believe it!" one exclaimed.
"She actually got a sixth Heal! Whoa!" another gasped.
Matt just grinned. "Looks like your deck wants you to keep going."
Yomi moved a face down card from her damage zone into her drop zone, slowly, like she was still registering the fact that she was still in the game.
"But I'm not done yet either," he said. "I discard Raging Form and Slay Hex, retire Dylan and Esras, and then…" he flicked another card onto the vanguard circle. "Superior Stride!"
[True Revenger, Raging Rapt Dragon – 26000 Power]
"Smash em, Raging Rapt!"
Well, at the very least, what I can do is win this game. "Goddess of Adherence, Kibitsuhime!"
Tile-like blue screens manifested before Amaruda, taking the brunt of the blow, allowing her enough time to recover from the previous attack.
"Revelation. To the soul," she slid the card in. "Then I discard to nullify the attack."
[Revelation Soul Charge: Goddess of Adherence, Kibitsuhime]
"Aw," he frowned. "Guess that's that then. Twin drive,"
[Drive Check: Cherishing Knight, Branwen (No Trigger)]
[Drive Check: Ferocious Attack Revenger, Dylan (No Trigger)]
"Not even a heal," he sighed. "That sucks."
"At the end of the battle, I can Soul Charge two more cards."
[Soul Charge: Battle Maiden, Kukurihime]
[Soul Charge: Detect Angel]
"Grah. I really wanted to finish it like a badass," Matt groaned. "It was my big chance!"
"You're still doing alright!" Estelle shouted from behind him. "Just beat her the next turn!"
"And focus for crying out loud!" Luke added.
"Turn end," Matt muttered.
Matt
Hand: 9
(Empty) – (Revenger, Raging Form Dragon) – (Empty)
(Empty) – (Empty) – (Empty)
Damage: 5 – [Revenger, Darkbless Angel] (F), [Detecting Revenger, Aife] (F), [Howl Owl] (F), [Revenger, Slay Hex Dragon] (F), [Revenger, Detonate Heat Dragon] (F)
Yomi
Hand: 1
(Empty) – (Prime Beauty, Amaruda) – (Goddess of Abyss, Ereshkigal)
(Deemed Angel) – (Tinkling Angel) – (Goddess of Transitory, Awanami)
Damage: 5 – [Prime Beauty, Amaruda] (F), [Prime Beauty, Amaruda] (F) [Battle Maiden, Kukurihime] (U), [Goddess of Adherence, Kibitsuhime] (U), [Teabreak Angel] (U)
She survived it, Eric thought in disbelief, gazing at the match from behind Yomi. Even though he'd hoped for victory, probably wanted it a lot more than either of the two members on his team, there was a little part of him that had believed Yomi would lose. Was it hope? Probably not. Was it faith? Perhaps, but not quite, either. Matt was an idiot, sure, but when it came to Vanguard, he was something else. That much he respected about him from the time they'd known each other.
"Here, let's do this. I'll teach you how to play, and...you can help me with school stuff! That way we're both helping each other, yeah? Like a dynamic duo or sumthin'!"
He smiled softly at the memory.
"Stand and draw," Yomi declared. "Unleash the power locked behind the final epoch, Stride! Goddess of Settlement, Pallas Athena!"
[Goddess of Settlement, Pallas Athena – 26000 Power]
That unit…I've never seen it before. Does that mean she still has more tricks up her sleeve?
"The conditions for Generation Break 8 are met," Yomi smiled. "Stride skill, I Soul Charge. Draw. Then, Ereshkigal and Deemed gain four-thousand."
[Soul Charge: Goddess of Favorable Wind, Ninnil]
[Soul Charge: Goddess of Deep Sleep, Tahro]
[Goddess of Abyss, Ereshkigal – 11000 + 4000 = 15000 Power]
[Deemed Angel – 7000 + 4000 = 11000 Power]
"Generation Break 8?" one person shrieked.
"That was so friggin fast! What the hell?" another onlooker yelled.
"Hoo boy, this'll be fun," Matt said excitedly.
Eric could imagine it. A golden-clad goddess in all her battle-ready glory, bearing down on all that opposed her. Generation Break 8…and they still have the luxury of fighting freely like that.
He could feel the bracelet on his hand pulsating in agreement.
"I call Kotonoha to rearguard," Yomi stated. "Revelation, to the soul."
[Revelation Soul Charge: Goddess of Deep Sleep, Tahro]
"Ereshkigal's Soul Blast!" she went on. "I Soul Blast three Awanami's to Charge six cards!"
[Soul Charge: Goddess of Abyss, Ereshkigal]
[Soul Charge: Dreaming Dragon]
[Soul Charge: Goddess of Favorable Wind, Ninnil]
[Soul Charge: Goddess of Favorable Wind, Ninnil]
[Soul Charge: Prime Beauty, Amaruda]
[Soul Charge: Deemed Angel]
"Oh holy…"
"Kotonoha will gain a thousand for every card that went into the soul. In total, six thousand."
[Battle Maiden, Kotonoha – 9000 + 2000 + 6000 = 17000 Power]
She's amassing power at breakneck speed, Eric observed. But can she break through those nine cards in his hand?
"Ereshkigal attacks with a boost from Gelgja." [Goddess of Abyss, Ereshkigal – 15000 + 7000 = 22000 Power]
"I'll guard that with Detonate Heat and Undead Angel!" [11000 + 10000 + 5000 = 26000 Power]
"Kotonoha!" [Battle Maiden, Kotonoha – 17000 + 11000 = 28000 Power]
"Grim Revenger, Howl Owl and Darkbless!" [11000 + 10000 + 5000 + 5000 = 31000 Power]
"This will end it. Pallas Athena's GB8! I'll Soul Blast all of the cards in my soul, and grant two thousand power to all of my rearguards for each card Blasted out. That's a total of thirteen cards!"
[Goddess of Abyss, Ereshkigal – 15000 + 26000 = 41000 Power]
[Shackle Fetter, Gelgja – 7000 + 26000 = 33000 Power]
[Battle Maiden, Kotonoha – 17000 + 26000 = 43000 Power]
[Deemed Angel – 11000 + 26000 = 37000 Power]
[Tinkling Angel – 5000 + 26000 = 31000 Power]
"But all of her rearguards are done attacking."
"That power is wasted."
"Man, what a whiff."
No…Eric thought. There's more to it.
"Tahro's skill," Yomi said. "When she's taken out of the soul, I can return her to my deck," she shoved all three to the bottom of the pile. "And stand a rearguard. Eresh, Kotonoha and Deemed will stand."
The crowd just did a double take.
"And that's not all. Since I Blasted more than three cards, Pallas Athena will gain ten-thousand and an additional critical."
[Goddess of Settlement, Pallas Athena – 26000 + 31000 + 10000 = 67000 Power, Critical 2]
"I ain't goin' down that easy," Matt smirked. "Perfect guard with Esras!"
Neither side is backing down…
Soon enough you'll be the same, Eric looked down at his arm, feeling the static buzz through his wrist in an ecstatic frenzy. Do you feel it? The power coursing through your veins. I can give you more. So much more. Soon you'll rise above them, and they'll have no choice but to look up to you, their light.
And then there was another rush of adrenaline through his body. He couldn't get enough and it was all he could do to not break down right there.
"Triple drive!" Yomi's words brought him back to reality. "First check,"
[Drive Check: Battle Maiden, Senri (No Trigger)]
[Drive Check: Shackle Fetter, Gelgja (No Trigger)]
[Drive Check: Goddess of Adherence, Kibitsuhime (No Trigger)]
"Here I go," she murmured. "Kotonoha attacks once more!"
"Then no guard!"
It's over then, isn't it?
[Damage Check: Healing Revenger (Heal Trigger)]
"Heal Trigger! I'll heal one point and give the power to Raging Form!"
Still? That's…it's unbelievable… Eric clenched his fist.
"Ereshkigal attacks!"
"Too much power..." he gaped. "Dagnabit, still can't guard that, either. Damage check,"
[Damage Check: Dragsaver, Esras (No Trigger)]
Just like that, the game was over. Yomi had prevailed by the skin of her teeth.
Matt whimpered. "Guess today's not my day."
The rest of the crowd on the other hand, was ecstatic. They oohed. Then the oohs turned into claps, then raging cheers as everyone began to get emotional beyond belief.
"You fought well," Yomi said, extending out her hand.
"Of course I did," his hand clapped onto hers, causing the girl to flinch. "You're pretty good yourself. Like, really good."
"I-it was nothing," she mumbled, still clearly stunned by the brute force of his hand. "If it wasn't for that Heal, it could've easily been your win. I got lucky."
"Well, luck is a part of skill, or so they say."
With one final cheer of admiration from the crowd, the two fighters parted, only to be replaced by the remaining members of their respective teams. Matt had tagged his teammate in, though neither Eric nor Yomi shared the same courtesy with each other. Both players faced off against each other from different ends of the table.
"Luke," Eric regarded the blonde.
"Yo," he smiled. "To think that you've come all this way and it's only been a short while since you've started."
"I've been through a lot."
"I'm sure you have. So," they had both drawn their starting hands by now. "Ready?"
Eric closed his eyes, and though it was only for one moment, once they glimpsed the light once more, everything seemed far clearer. He felt more power than his measly human body could possibly know what to do with and he relished in it.
"Let's do it."
"Stand up! Vanguard!"
A deep cavern rose up around them, enveloping them like a giant stone tent. Shadows intertwined with little specks of illuminated dust. Layers on layers of aged moss covered the earthen walls, ending in trails of green vines that hung high around, like tight ropes coiled around that which had to be sealed away. It wasn't much of a battlefield. It had an archaeological atmosphere to it, emphasized by the looming dragon statue that stood proud even in the face of erosion and wear in centuries past.
These were ruins of a time long past, of a dimension not known to many.
The ruins of Gear Chronicle.
"Chrono Tigar!" at the foot of the single monument in the cavern rose a small tiger-like being, plated in geometric red plates that glowed with a cybernetic energy. [Chrono Tigar – 5000 Power]
"Dreaming Jewel Knight, Tiffany," Eric himself donned the original armor and clothing of the female knight, his hair even extended into a large pony-tail. However, that was all. His features still remained masculine and his eyes burned an intense silver as he gripped a longsword clearly near double his shrunken size. [Dreaming Jewel Knight, Tiffany – 5000 Power]
###
Gear Chronicle, Yomi narrowed her eyes. To think that the once unique, one-of-a-kind clan had begun to be used more and more, now a lot mainstream than it was almost a year or so ago. It was almost surreal.
"G-g-go Eric! Y-you can d-do it!" Caitlin hollered. Though, to most people it was barely audible.
"Beat the living crap outta him, Ric!" Matt boomed from the other side, earning him a resounding slap from his younger sister.
"You idiot! You're supposed to cheer for our team, too, at least!"
Yomi looked at Eric. He was determined, but at the same time, he was calm. She wondered how he was now. If she was just imagining things before.
But he still looks so much like a caged bird.
###
Eric had wasted no time using the bracelet's power. From the moment the match began, it had given him glimpses into the future, hints, clues, actions to work towards. That feeling of absolute certainty filled him with joy. It was better than anything anyone could have ever given him.
It gave him that sweet taste of victory.
"Stand and draw," Eric smiled. Swordmy had never ceased to disappoint him, even before he'd gotten the bracelet. Though this time, with the two damage that'd been guaranteed to him, it seemed he could have quite a bit of fun. "I ride Kymbelinus."
[Pure Wind Jewel Knight, Kymbelinus – 9000 Power]
Enforce your ranks first.
"Then I'll call Bartram and Swordmy."
Beside the elven knight, a burst of light revealed a battle-ready snow leopard, gripping a glimmering blade of sapphire in its jaws. Its tail lashed with anticipation. Behind the knight stood another one: smaller, lither warrior, brandishing a red-hot blade of fiery glamor.
[Straight Jewel Knight, Bartram – 4000 Power]
[Jewel Knight, Swordmy – 9000 Power]
Now summon Christine, the voice growled, not unlike a humanized beast.
"Swordmy's skill," he turned a card over in his damage zone. "I superior call Christine."
Almost immediately, another burst of light appeared behind the leopard.
[Calling Jewel Knight, Christine – 7000 Power]
And now bring forth your avatar.
"With Christine's skill, I reveal the Ashlei in my hand and call Yvain from the deck."
Like a chain of blinding explosions of light, magic circles had begun to amass beside Eric's vanguard, before yet another radiant pillar of silver yielded a knight with hair of birch wood, and armor of glittering blue jewels.
[Prevail Jewel Knight, Yvain – 11000 Power]
"Wow," Luke remarked. "A full field already. Making use of the Counter Blast you got from my Critical and pulling out an aggressive formation almost out of thin air."
Eric shrugged. It wasn't enough. Not yet. He had to surpass Angus, and not just play catch-up either. He had to be faster than that.
"Yvain attacks Hegald."
"I'll guard that with Gear Tabby," Luke responded, as the knight's blade was refracted back by a ferocious storm of claws and teeth.
"Kymbelinus."
The elegant knight shot forward like a bullet, his blade slicing through wind and dust to reach the opposing unit before him. [Pure Wind Jewel Knight, Kymbelinus – 9000 Power]
"No guard."
"Drive check," Eric held up the card, his expression unchanging even as it yielded no result. "No trigger."
[Drive Check: Blowing Jewel Knight, Altgaro (No Trigger)]
"No trigger here, either," Luke said, letting the card slide into his damage zone.
[Damage Check: Chronofang Tiger G (No Trigger)]
"Swordmy attacks the vanguard," Eric commanded. The hefty beast launched forward, cleaving the opponent with ease.
[Damage Check: Pulsar Tamer, Annem (Heal Trigger)]
Two damage. Eric thought as he surveyed the field. "I'll return Bartram to the deck and draw. Then, I'll return Yvain and discard…"
Rachelle. She's not needed now.
"…Rachelle."
Just keep listening to my commands and everything will be fine, the voice cooed. And even their so-called leader will kneel before you.
Okay, let me be clear. I don't want anyone to kneel before me. I just want their approval.
Well, who says you can't have both?
Eric's mind grew silent, and there was a long pause before he said anything.
"Turn end."
Eric
Hand: 5
(Empty) – (Pure Wind Jewel Knight, Kymbelinus) – (Jewel Knight, Swordmy)
(Dreaming Jewel Knight, Tiffany) – (Empty) – (Calling Jewel Knight, Christine)
Damage: 2 – [Jewel Knight, Prizmy] (F), [Jewel Knight, Noble Stinger] (F)
Luke
Hand: 5
(Empty) – (Pulsar Tamer, Hegald) – (Empty)
(Empty) – (Chrono Tigar) – (Empty)
Damage: 2 – [Chronofang Tiger G] (U), [Pulsar Tamer, Annem] (U)
"Swordmy, huh…" Luke mused as he drew for the turn. "I ride Steam Tamer, Nanni."
[Steam Tamer, Nanni – 9000 Power]
"What about it?" Eric asked.
"It's the linchpin of your strategy, isn't it?" Luke wondered aloud. "All of your explosive early plays come from that one card. And it always finds its way to you. Pretty cool if you ask me. It's not even your avatar card, is it?"
"No, it isn't," Eric said. "But…it's something I can depend on when I need it most."
"That's good," he smiled. "I call another Nanni to rearguard."
[Steam Tamer, Nanni – 9000 Power]
"Matt gave you that card, didn't he?"
"So what if he did?"
"Just wondering what your thoughts are on it."
"Well, I'm grateful for him teaching me how to play and getting me cards even when I can't afford them-"
"No, no," Luke cut in. "I was asking you how much it means to you. The rearguard Nanni attacks the vanguard."
"I'll guard that with Tracie," Eric said. "I don't see how that's any of your business."
"Well, he's my best friend," Luke chuckled. "Besides, why not have a bit of small talk while we're at it?"
"It's just a fight. We don't necessarily have to."
"But isn't that the charm of Vanguard? Getting to know other people by fighting. And last time I checked, communication is an important part of getting to know someone. The vanguard attacks."
"I won't guard that," Eric said. "And if you must know, the card is important to me. It's got sentimental value to me, since it was the first Jewel Knight I ever pulled from a pack."
"There it is again," Luke said. "You're deflecting."
"So? I thought I was playing a Vanguard game, not at a therapist's talking about my feelings."
"You know what I think?"
"I don't, nor do I really want to."
"I'm pretty sure that the fact that you've held on to that card for so long goes to show just how much you care."
"About?"
"You know what I'm talking about."
There was a momentary pause, where all there was in Eric's mind was a blank shadow, and nothing else. Just a shadow. Once he regained his composure he just closed his eyes in exasperation. "…nonsense. Just continue."
"Alright," Luke relented. "I won't push any more. Drive check,"
[Drive Check: Forward-pressing Gear Tiger (No Trigger)]
"No trigger," Luke announced.
"Damage check," Eric said as the red-and-gold-clad warrior slashed at his vanguard, barely raising his own sword to take the brunt of the blow.
[Damage Check: Fellowship Jewel Knight, Tracie (No Trigger)]
"Well that was a largely uneventful turn," Eric remarked.
"Such is the problem with a Generation Break-focused deck build," Luke shrugged. "I'll end my turn there."
It's just as predicted then.
That's right, we'll plow straight through him before he can even react.
Luke
Hand: 5
(Steam Tamer, Nanni) – (Steam Tamer, Nanni) – (Empty)
(Empty) – (Chrono Tigar) – (Empty)
Damage: 2 – [Chronofang Tiger G] (U), [Pulsar Tamer, Annem] (U)
Eric
Hand: 4
(Empty) – (Pure Wind Jewel Knight, Kymbelinus) – (Jewel Knight, Swordmy)
(Dreaming Jewel Knight, Tiffany) – (Empty) – (Calling Jewel Knight, Christine)
Damage: 3 – [Jewel Knight, Prizmy] (F), [Jewel Knight, Noble Stinger] (F), [Fellowship Jewel Knight, Tracie] (U)
"Unyielding light of courage, shine forth. Ride, Prevail Jewel Knight, Yvain."
A swirl of light trailed up and around Kymbelinus's lithe figure, enveloping him in a cocoon of shining light, only to dissipate into scattered shards of crystalline fragments, leaving glowing new armor that gradually dimmed into a polished silver metal, adorned with crystals the color of the heavens above. In hand was a single sword, spiked with even more jewels and trimmed with gold.
[Prevail Jewel Knight, Yvain – 11000 Power]
"I'll call Altgaro to the left," Eric said, holding out a hand, where a runic circle formed. A pale blue-clad knight was called forth in a burst of silver, holding his sword horizontally, his sapphire cape billowing in the cavern's updraft.
[Blowing Jewel Knight, Altgaro – 9000 Power]
Is this…going to work? Eric wondered silently.
Of course. It's a foregone conclusion. Almost as if on cue, a slew of images flew through his mind; of Altgaro's blade striking down the opponent's vanguard; of an archer being summoned to the battlefield and sending a storm of arrows flying down from above; of his sword being eventually held up in a victorious shine of glory.
"Yvain will attack the vanguard." [Prevail Jewel Knight, Yvain – 11000 + 2000 = 13000 Power]
"I'll two-pass that with Gear Cat," Luke smiled as he held up the card. [9000 + 10000 = 19000 Power]
"Twin drive," Eric said. But he'd already known, no, he'd glimpsed what he'd draw a turn ahead.
[Drive Check: Blazing Jewel Knight, Rachelle (Critical Trigger)]
"Critical Trigger," he said. "All effects to Altgaro."
[Drive Check: Jewel Knight, Swordmy (No Trigger)]
"No trigger."
With one deft flick of his wrist, his bejeweled blade swerved into the opposing vanguard's flank, only to be stopped by an orange metallic feline, who had managed to take the weight of the slash. However, that left the warrior's other side wide open.
"Swordmy will attack the vanguard."
The beast moved to the rhythm of its companion, slashing and cutting with steel edge and diamond-tipped claws. They'd always attacked in unison, coordinated like two halves of a whole. [Jewel Knight, Swordmy – 9000 + 7000 = 16000 Power]
"I guard with Thruster Bison!" [9000 + 10000 = 19000 Power]
And that leaves the center vulnerable.
"Altgaro."
The knight was quick to act, piercing through Nanni with the speed of a rushing hurricane, sending him hurtling back into one of the cavern walls, causing a great deal of dirt and dust to crumble down onto the ground. [Blowing Jewel Knight, Altgaro – 9000 + 5000 + 5000 = 19000 Power, Critical 2]
[Damage Check: Steam Lynx, Adadoapura (No Trigger)]
[Damage Check: Vainglory-dream Gear Cat (Stand Trigger)]
"The power will go to the vanguard," he coughed.
"Altgaro's Soul Blast," Eric said. "I superior call Shellie to the right. Then she'll attack the rearguard Nanni."
Just as he'd imagined it, a volley of scarlet arrows rained down onto the earth, blowing the rearguard into a storm of scattered orange motes. [Stinging Jewel Knight, Shellie – 7000 + 3000 = 10000 Power]
"Turn end."
Eric
Hand: 5
(Blowing Jewel Knight, Altgaro) – (Prevail Jewel Knight, Yvain) – (Stinging Jewel Knight, Shellie)
(Dreaming Jewel Knight, Tiffany) – (Empty) – (Calling Jewel Knight, Christine)
Damage: 3 – [Jewel Knight, Prizmy] (F), [Jewel Knight, Noble Stinger] (F), [Fellowship Jewel Knight, Tracie] (U)
Luke
Hand: 3
(Empty) – (Steam Tamer, Nanni) – (Empty)
(Empty) – (Chrono Tigar) – (Empty)
Damage: 4 – [Chronofang Tiger G] (U), [Pulsar Tamer, Annem] (U), [Steam Lynx, Adadoapura] (U), [Vainglory-dream Gear Cat] (U)
"I ride Chronofang Tiger," Luke declared. "I bind Gear Tiger from my hand and send Shellie to the bottom of your deck."
I see. He's aiming for my grade 1's so that it's a hard minus. But it's okay, the power will find a way around it, just like all the matches before…
It was then that he realized the vibrating pulses emanating from his wrist had ceased.
Wait, when did…how…
Sure enough, he felt nothing now. No familiar charge running through his veins. No mystic weight on his hand. Even his mind had grown numb.
The power had left him.
He was scared.
"Gear Tiger's skill. I bind the top card of my deck and Soul Charge."
[Deck Bind: Steam Lynx, Enme]
[Soul Charge: Steam Maiden, Arlim]
"Then I'll discard another Chronofang to Stride. Chronotiger Gear Glare."
[Chronotiger Gear Glare – 26000 Power]
"Call. Adadoapura. I'll Counter Blast and bind Chrono Tigar and a card from the top of my deck."
[Deck Bind: Steam Hunter, Emen-bara]
"Then I'll draw. Adadoapura gains three-thousand. Then I'll have you return one of your rearguards to the bottom of the deck."
I…I don't know…I don't know what to do.
"Christine," he blurted.
"I call Emen-bara from the bind zone and remove Tiffany from play. Then I'll move Enme to the drop zone and bind. Three-thousand to Adadoapura and Emen-bara."
[Deck Bind: Night-barking Gear Tabby]
[Deck Bind: Steam Tamer, Nanni]
[Steam Lynx, Adadoapura – 9000 + 3000 + 3000 = 15000 Power]
[Steam Hunter, Emen-bara – 7000 + 3000 = 10000 Power]
I don't know how to handle this, Eric thought, panicked. He'd relied so much on the power that he'd completely forgotten all semblance of independent intelligence.
"Gear Glare's skill," Luke announced. "I'll return Altgaro to the bottom of your deck."
And just like that, all of his rearguards had been sucked into a gaping wide vortex of nothingness.
"Whoa!" the onlookers gaped.
"He cleared that field like it was nothing!"
"Adadoapura attacks the vanguard."
In his paralyzed state, he did nothing as a great golden flare exploded onto his body, hurling him into the cavern wall behind. The impact had knocked the air out of his avatar's body, as well as charring bits of his armor.
[Damage Check: Flashing Jewel Knight, Iseult (No Trigger)]
No. This is bad. I'm at four damage. I should've guarded. Shit!
"Gear Glare attacks the vanguard!"
"Perfect guard, Iseult!"
Then for the cost…I…I discard…if I discard Rachelle I can go in for a Stride next turn…but…I might not be able to protect myself…Swordmy? I should get rid of him…but…no I don't have any rearguards. I'm alone. He's too important. So then…
Without thinking, he tossed his one grade three into the drop zone.
"Alright then," Luke grinned. "Triple drive."
[Drive Check: Steam Battler, Ur-watar (Stand Trigger)]
"Stand trigger," he grinned as he turned the card over. "All effects to Adadoapura."
[Drive Check: Pulsar, Thruster Bison (Critical Trigger)]
"Critical Trigger. All effects to Adadoapura."
[Drive Check: Steam Lynx, Nadine (No Trigger)]
Red steel smashed against a glowing barrier of cyan light, sending waves of dust clouds rippling across the air, ripping the vines down from the walls and tearing cracks through the earth.
"At the end of the battle," Luke stated. "I can call Nanni from the bind zone. Attack!"
[Steam Tamer, Nanni – 9000 + 3000 = 12000 Power]
The blade ripped across Yvain's chest, eliciting an exclamation of pain from the knight.
[Damage Check: Prevail Jewel Knight, Yvain (No Trigger)]
"And finally, Adadoapura will attack the vanguard." [Steam Hunter, Emen-bara – 15000 + 5000 + 5000 = 25000 Power, Critical 2]
"I guard that with Rachelle and Shellie!" Eric retorted. [11000 + 10000 + 5000 = 26000 Power]
"Turn end. Not bad," Luke remarked. "That was a nice defense."
Eric, on the other hand was panting. He should not be panting this hard, but it felt as if his strength had been sapped entirely. He even felt slightly light-headed, hungry, starved, hollow. Worse yet, he had no idea what to do to come back from his situation.
He cursed under his breath.
Luke
Hand: 4
(Steam Lynx, Adadoapura) – (Chronofang Tiger) – (Steam Tamer, Nanni)
(Steam Hunter, Emen-bara) – (Empty) – (Empty)
Damage: 4 – [Chronofang Tiger G] (F), [Pulsar Tamer, Annem] (F), [Vainglory-dream Gear Cat] (F), [Steam Lynx, Adadoapura] (U)
Eric
Hand: 1
(Empty) – (Prevail Jewel Knight, Yvain) – (Empty)
(Empty) – (Empty) – (Empty)
Damage: 5 – [Jewel Knight, Prizmy] (F), [Jewel Knight, Noble Stinger] (F), [Fellowship Jewel Knight, Tracie] (U), [Flashing Jewel Knight, Iseult] (U), [Prevail Jewel Knight, Yvain] (U)
"Stand…and draw," Eric breathed. A Heal Trigger. Goddammit. He placed down his Swordmy and turned a card over in his damage zone. "I superior call Shellie. Then pay the cost to perform Legion."
[Jewel Knight, Swordmy | Prevail Jewel Knight, Yvain – 20000 Power]
"Ah, can't Stride," Luke frowned. "Unlucky draw there."
Eric grimaced. He was pathetic. He couldn't even amass the necessary four rearguards. "Legion attack with Swordmy and Yvain."
"Generation Guard," Luke stated. "Interdimensional Beast, Pandora Chimera. With his skill, I return your only back row rearguard to the bottom of your deck."
Shit. Shit. Shit. I'm an idiot.
"Then I'll intercept with Adadoapura."
[11000 + 15000 + 5000 = 31000 Power]
"Twin drive," Eric said. Come on. Give me something. Anything.
[Drive Check: Pure Heart Jewel Knight, Ashlei (No Trigger)]
Please…
[Drive Check: Prevail Jewel Knight, Yvain (No Trigger)]
He stared at the second card in a macabre mixture of disappointment and disbelief.
"Hey, sometimes people get unlucky," Luke assured. "But you're doing good. I would have lost had you been able to Stride. Pretty sure of that."
"Swordmy attacks Nanni."
"I guard that with Ur-watar."
"…turn end."
Eric
Hand: 3
(Empty) – (Jewel Knight, Swordmy | Prevail Jewel Knight, Yvain) – (Jewel Knight, Swordmy)
(Empty) – (Empty) – (Empty)
Damage: 5 – [Jewel Knight, Prizmy] (F), [Jewel Knight, Noble Stinger] (F), [Fellowship Jewel Knight, Tracie] (F), [Flashing Jewel Knight, Iseult] (U), [Prevail Jewel Knight, Yvain] (U)
Luke
Hand: 2
(Empty) – (Chronofang Tiger) – (Steam Tamer, Nanni)
(Steam Hunter, Emen-bara) – (Empty) – (Empty)
Damage: 4 – [Chronofang Tiger G] (F), [Pulsar Tamer, Annem] (F), [Vainglory-dream Gear Cat] (F), [Steam Lynx, Adadoapura] (F)
"Stand and draw," Luke murmured. "With Chronofang's skill, I discard Gear Tiger to Stride into Gear Glare."
Eric just watched silently as his opponent bound and Soul Charged as he needed.
[Deck Bind: Steam Maiden, Arlim]
[Soul Charge: Pulsar Tamer, Annem]
"I call Nadine. Nanni attacks Swordmy."
He was motionless as the big cat was slashed into silver particles.
"And Gear Glare attacks the vanguard."
The match had indeed come to a foregone conclusion. And Eric realized that as he left the final card slide into his damage zone, without a word, without even so much as a glance.
[Damage Check: Jewel Knight, Noble Stinger (Critical Trigger)]
"And victory goes to…Team Big Bang!" Mr. Ryder announced, attempting to rectify the sudden drop in intensity. It was natural. As a spectacle, it didn't hold a candle to the battle between Yomi and Matt that transpired just an hour ago. "And with that, the team gets a free carton of booster boxes of their choice! But don't worry, Team Everwood, you guys put up a great fight, and we'll still see you at Regionals, so do better, and hey, maybe you'll get your revenge!"
At that, the crowd roared, now eager to move on to seeing what sort of pulls their champion team would get, and what sort of trades they'd put up.
In the end, I couldn't win when I needed to. If this were against Angus at Regionals…
He shuddered at the consequences.
Luke looked across the fight table at his defeated opponent with a sympathetic golden gaze. "Hey, dude, it's alright. People get unlucky sometimes. You did good anyway."
"It won't happen again," Eric stated, not looking up from his cards. He was anchoring himself with one hand on the table, the other gripping his other arm.
Matt had been tasked with carrying the boxes, and the crowd had already moved to watch. Some onlookers instead had taken to leaving the store. Caitlin was dragged off by Estelle, forcing Yomi to accompany them.
"Hey, no need to beat yourself up over it. You've got nothing to prove here."
Eric looked over at Yomi and Caitlin. His teammates. They knew nothing about his troubles. Couldn't understand. With Caitlin's inexperience, he knew full well that it was on him to ensure victory. But the way he was now…
"You're wrong."
"Huh?"
"I have everything to prove."
And with that, the green-haired teen pulled himself away from the table and left the shop, letting the door swing closed behind him.
###
"I assume the extraction of Iraedeus's host went well?" Irene asked in fluent Japanese, facing yet another of her screens. On the other side was yet another teenager, his face masked behind shadows, but clearly sitting atop a makeshift throne, a long cane in one hand and his cheek pressed against the other. What little light there was in the room managed to illuminate the purple tips of his hair and his ever-calculating, ruthless dark eyes.
"But of course," he spoke in a rather theatrical tone, with steep highs and deep lows. It was a distinctive tone. "How hard could it be to spirit away a comatose boy?"
"Fair enough," Irene mused. "I expect you'll be arriving in America soon?"
"In due time," he amended. "After all, I expect Yomi will come flying back once word of this gets to her. She'll want answers."
"And will you give them to her?" Irene raised an eyebrow.
"Well that depends on her performance," he twirled his cane. "Though I suspect a good taming will be necessary for my star performer. From what I've gathered, she's lost her touch."
Irene always thought his theatrical references and way of speech were too over-the-top for her. Regardless, it was also necessary for the girl to awaken her latent strength. "I'll leave it up to you, then, Genji."
Just as the screen blinked out of existence, she heard the sound of a small object clattering down at her feet.
"Diamond lamb!" she trilled. "What brings you here?"
The green-haired boy in question was standing, no, not quite, he was barely holding himself together, leaning on the edge of the door for dear life. He was like a feral animal that had been left starving, thirsting in a barren wasteland and had just now finally reached an oasis, only seconds away from getting its next meal. Irene frowned as she glimpsed the unconscious bodies of her loyal servants who had not so long ago stood guard to make sure nobody interrupted her. She'd have to reward them for their troubles later.
"I see you've met Bart and Jerry," Irene said.
"They were…" Eric panted. "…in the way."
She flicked her ash-gray hair back, then moved towards him. Such a sorry sight, she remarked. "And you're here because you've started feeling the after-effects of the bracelet, yes?"
"Just…what the hell…"
Irene raised a finger to silence him. "Hush. You see, this bracelet isn't a miracle worker. It feeds on the power of your imagination, imagnum, and in return it generates a sort of feedback loop. If you use it long enough, though, and once it runs out of juice, because it will, your body starts to depend on it. Think of it as like a sort of steroid."
He was panting uncontrollably now, his speech barely audible. His eyes were starting to fade as well, and sweat was pouring down his skin in streams. It was unbecoming.
"Here," she snapped a fresh bracelet onto the boy's wrist. Almost immediately, he drew in a sharp breath of air, like he was finally freed from tightly bound chains, and was now on his knees, gripping his wrist to stabilize himself. "Feel better now?"
He nodded.
"To think you'd use it all up in a day," she shook her head. "You truly are something."
He was still silent, still struggling to catch his breath.
But he's efficient. It may not be unlimited amounts of fuel, but the bracelets have a lot. Of course they would, all of that imagnum comes back to us. But this boy used it all up in a day. That just goes to show how much quantity and quality of the stuff he has. I'm surprised he doesn't have natural PSYqualia. But then again, just raw desire isn't enough to manifest it. Irene smiled before producing more bracelets, clasping them into the boy's hands. "Here're some more to last you in case this happens again."
Eric nodded gratefully.
"And if you need any more, just say the word. I'm usually here, and if not, you're already acquainted with Bart and Jerry over there."
"…thank you," Eric said, still not looking up, hugging the bracelets like they were the most precious things on this Earth.
"Any time," Irene replied, a devious grin planted across her face.
I swear, half the time I don't even know how to pronounce some of these card names. Adada-what now?
Any the who, a rather quick upload this time. I don't know, I just felt like writing and I had the time, so hope you liked that. And mmmmm some nice, juicy plot material too.
I don't like the angst, either, but it is what it is. Next chapter, though, will be a nice little reprieve from much of the deep end stuff we've had so far, so look forward to that.
As always, feel free to let me know what you think by leaving a Review, and, see you all next time!