Ride 21 – Companions of Justice
Card of the Day: Edel Rose
Robert took his position at the console, retrieving Justice Flag from his deck and setting it. Quickly shuffling his deck, he placed it down carefully, regarding his opponent as he did so. She was a teenage girl, fourteen or fifteen he guessed, dressed in a black dress, with black lipstick and eyeliner. She set down her starting Vanguard with cautious, deliberate motions, shuffling her deck and placing it on the appropriate space.
The two drew their opening hands, and the girl met his gaze. "You lost before," she observed, speaking quite softly. "I suppose that's why you took the last fight. Were you going to rely on your teammates to carry you through?"
Robert didn't answer for a moment, redrawing two cards. "I was hoping they'd both win, but... if I have to fight, I'll do my best and win." He looked over his hand, noting one card immediately "Cloud..."
"But still, you moved yourself to the last in the lineup," his opponent stated. "I think you don't feel you can win. Now I'm just wondering why you didn't let the alternate take your place, if that's so. Surely it would be better for the team to let him fight in place of someone with broken confidence from an overwhelming loss."
"You don't know me," Robert growled. "Don't pretend you understand my reasons!"
"If you have a reason to fight, then show me how resolved you are to win," she smiled. "After all, you'll need that strength to win here. I'm fighting in the name of my team's victory."
"So am I," he retorted. "I won't fail them now."
"The final battle between Team Avalon and Team Tri-Disaster will now start! From Team Avalon, Robert Macmillan! After his crushing defeat by Cynthia Gardner of Team United Spirit last round, can he find the confidence to stand strong and prevail here? Opposing him from Team Tri-Disaster is Lucy Rayne, who has not yet fought for her team! Will Lucy prove a powerful fighter for Team Tri-Disaster and snatch them victory now?"
"Dice roll!" the official declared. The two dice rolled, Lucy scoring a five, Robert a two. "The first turn goes to Lucy Rayne! Let the match between Robert Macmillan of Team Avalon and Lucy Rayne of Team Tri-Disaster... BEGIN!"
"Stand up, Vanguard!" the two recited in unison as the field erupted into light around them.
"Justice Flag!" As the field coalesced into a moonlit landscape of a dark gothic mansion surrounded by a great forest, the armored man appeared in mid-air above the castle courtyard, twirling his lance in hand [Justice Flag – 5000 Power]
"Trauma Queen!" Lucy answered, her voice still soft even when she raised it. Her own Vanguard coalesced from the shadows, a woman clad in a skimpy crimson dress adorned with spikes. Trauma Queen smirked, baring her fangs [Trauma Queen – 4000 Power]
"Trauma Queen... Dark Irregulars," Robert muttered. From what little he knew of them, Dark Irregulars were heavily offensive as a Clan, based around accumulating Soul and converting that into Power. In other words, if Lucy was skilled with her deck, this would be a difficult fight.
"Draw," Lucy said. "Ride, Alluring Succubus!" Trauma Queen vanished into shadows, which quickly faded to reveal a curvaceous woman dressed in a skin-tight black bodysuit. Smirking, Alluring Succubus hovered in mid-air, held aloft by small black wings [Alluring Succubus – 7000 Power]. "Succubus' skill, when she appears and my Vanguard is a Dark Irregulars, Soul Charge." She placed the top card of her deck into the Soul.
[Soul Charge – Aspiring Demon, Amon – No Trigger]
"Then, Trauma Queen's skill. Superior Call!" The scantily-clad vampire smirked as she reappeared [Trauam Queen – 4000 Power]. "Turn end."
Lucy
Hand: 5
Front Row: Empty/Alluring Succubus/Empty
Back Row: Empty/Empty/Trauma Queen
Damage: None
Robert
Hand: 5
Front Row: Empty/Justice Flag/Empty
Back Row: Empty/Empty/Empty
Damage: None
"Draw!" Robert announced. "Ride, Diamond Ace!" Evidently he was lacking another Grade 1 option, as Justice Flag reformed into the crimson form of the Dimension Police Omniguard [Diamond Ace – 6000 Power]. "Superior Call, Justice Flag! Call, Cosmo Claw!" The armored lance-bearer appeared once more [Justice Flag – 5000 Power], while the golden lion appeared directly behind Diamond Ace [Cosmo Claw – 3000 Power]
"With a boost from Cosmo Claw, Diamond Ace attacks! Claw's skill! Ace gains an extra 3000 Power!" Diamond Ace burst forwards, drawing back one arm [6000 Power + 3000 Power + 3000 Power = 12000 Power]
"No guard," Lucy replied.
"Drive Check!" Robert declared, turning over the card. "No Trigger!"
[Drive Check – Galaxy Convoy – No Trigger]
"Damage Check," she answered. "Likewise, no Trigger."
[Damage Check – Succubus of Decadence – No Trigger]
"Succubus of Decadence... that card really benefits the Dark Irregulars strategy. It's good that she's lost one copy, at least." "I end my turn, so Claw returns to my deck."
Robert
Hand: 5
Front Row: Empty/Diamond Ace/Empty
Back Row: Justice Flag/Empty/Empty
Damage: None
Lucy
Hand: 5
Front Row: Empty/Alluring Succubus/Empty
Back Row: Empty/Empty/Trauma Queen
Damage: Succubus of Decadence (U)
"Draw," Lucy said. "I saw you smile when I Damage Checked... were you happy to see part of my strategy lost?" She smiled, plucking one of the cards from her hand. "You were mistaken."
"She had one already?"
"Ride, Succubus of Decadence!" Alluring Succubus was wreathed in shadows, transforming into an older, even more curvaceous and beautiful succubus also clad in a black bodysuit, with crimson hair and small dark wings [Succubus of Decadence – 9000 Power]
"I Call Doreen the Thruster!" With a vicious smirk, a black-clad elf appeared beside Succubus of Decadence, wielding two serrated daggers [Doreen the Thruster – 6000 Power]. "Succubus' skill activates when a Dark Irregulars appears as a Rearguard. Soul Charge." She placed a card into the Soul.
[Soul Charge – Blitz Ritter – Critical Trigger]
"Due to Doreen's skill, each time I Soul Charge and have a Dark Irregulars Vanguard, she gains 3000 Power that turn," the black-clad girl continued. Darkness writhed around Doreen as the elf's smirk grew wider and more sadistic [Doreen the Thruster – 9000 Power]. "I call a second Doreen the Thruster!" A second copy of the dark elf appeared, drawing her blades [Doreen the Thruster – 6000 Power]. "Once more, Succubus' skill – Soul Charge!" She placed another card into her Soul, with a slight smile at its identity.
[Soul Charge – Werewolf Sieger – No Trigger]
Both Doreen the Thrusters smirked even more as dark power seethed around their lithe bodies [Doreen the Thruster – 12000 Power] [Doreen the Thruster – 9000 Power]. "Trauma Queen's skill! I move Trauma Queen to the Soul," she slipped the Unit into her Soul, causing the vampire to burst into shadows, "and Superior Call Werewolf Sieger from it!" With a savage howl, a jet-black wolf-man with a muscular frame and vicious claws appeared [Werewolf Sieger – 10000 Power]. "Since another Dark Irregulars Rearguard appeared, Soul Charge!" She took yet another card from her deck and placed it into the Soul.
[Soul Charge – Alluring Succubus – No Trigger]
With the addition of two more cards to Lucy's Soul, both of her Doreen the Thrusters smiled, terrifying, savage predator smiles which promised pain and blood [Doreen the Thruster – 18000 Power] [Doreen the Thruster – 15000 Power]
VBH21
"Scores that high on a Grade 1 Unit..." Leah murmured. "That's scary."
"Dark Irregulars can get Doreen the Thruster to incredible power when you play them right," Richard said. "Of course, that level of power is hard to sustain without Succubus of Decadence, but even then that Clan has some incredibly powerful Units, like Demon World Marquis Amon." He paused. "So the question is exactly what strategy Lucy's using, and whether Robert can hold out against it."
VBH21
"Now, Doreen the Thruster, attack Diamond Ace," Lucy ordered. The empowered elf leapt from the roof she was perched on to a side wing of the mansion, racing along the roof before leaping sideways and slashing with her blades into the Omniguard.
"No guard," Robert said. The blades ripped a vicious gash across Diamond Ace's chest, and Doreen kicked off of it, landing on the opposite roof and racing back along it to the Dark Irregulars side of the field. "Damage Check." He revealed the card. "No Trigger."
[Damage Check – Cosmo Siege – No Trigger]
"With a boost from Doreen the Thruster, Succubus of Decadence attacks," his opponent continued. Succubus of Decadence soared forward in a blur of shadows, burning with energy [9000 Power + 15000 Power = 24000 Power]
"No guard," he retorted immediately. An attack of that power was too strong for him to afford to guard it so early.
"Check," Lucy said, turning over the card. Robert's eyes widened as the golden icon on the card glowed. "Get, Critical Trigger! I give the Critical to Succubus of Decadence, and the Power to Sieger."
[Drive Check – White Dust – Critical Trigger]
Blazing with dark golden flames suddenly [24000 Power, Critical 2], Succubus of Decadence slashed with her sharp nails, ripping into Diamond Ace.
"First check," Robert muttered. He held up the card. "No Trigger."
[Damage Check – Karenloid Daisy – No Trigger]
"Second check," he turned over another card. "No Trigger."
[Damage Check – Cosmo Roar – No Trigger]
"Now, Sieger, attack!" Lucy called. The vicious werewolf burst forward, racing over the rooftops towards Diamond Ace [10000 Power + 5000 Power = 15000 Power]
"Guard, Justice Rose!" Robert barked. The pink-clad alien appeared in the werewolf's path [6000 Power + 10000 Shield = 16000 Power], and was slashed in twain by a single blow of its claws, shattering but leaving Diamond Ace unharmed. Growling, Sieger withdrew along the roof.
"Turn end," Lucy smiled. Clearly she was satisfied by the turn, having brought Robert swiftly to three Damage. "Due to Trauma Queen's skill, Sieger returns to my Soul." She slipped the Werewolf's card back into her Soul.
Lucy
Hand: 4
Front Row: Doreen the Thruster/Succubus of Decadence/Empty
Back Row: Empty/Doreen the Thruster/Empty
Damage: Succubus of Decadence (U)
Robert
Hand: 4
Front Row: Empty/Diamond Ace/Empty
Back Row: Justice Flag/Empty/Empty
Damage: Cosmo Siege (U), Karenloid Daisy (U), Cosmo Roar (U)
"Stand and draw!" Robert called. "I Ride Twin Order!" Diamond Ace blazed and reformed, transforming into the crimson android [Twin Order – 10000 Power]. "Come forth, Masked Police Gurender!" He threw down his card, and the armored superhero appeared before Justice Flag [Masked Police Gurender – 8000 Power]
"Now, Twin Order, attack Succubus of Decadence!" The android charged across the rooftops, drawing its blades.
"Guard, Cursed Doctor!" Lucy retorted. A black-clad old man appeared, clutching a dark tome in his hands [9000 Power + 10000 Shield = 19000 Power]. "I know the power of a Dimension Police deck. By empowering your Vanguard, you grant it access to new abilities, extra Criticals in particular. So I'll blunt your attack later by defending myself here!"
"Drive Check!" he muttered. "Get, Draw Trigger! I give the Power to Gurender!" He made a draw.
[Drive Check – Army Penguin – Draw Trigger]
Twin Order struck Cursed Doctor and slashed with its blades, cutting down the old man, before drawing back. "Now, with a boost from Justice Flag, Gurender attacks!" The superhero leapt upward, shooting across the mansion courtyard [8000 Power + 5000 Power + 5000 Power = 18000 Power]
"No guard," Lucy said. Gurender hurled a vicious kick into her Vanguard, smashing Succubus of Decadence into the rooftop, before leaping away. "Damage Check." She turned over the card, and placed it down gently. "No Trigger."
[Damage Check – Werewolf Sieger – No Trigger]
"Turn end," Robert concluded.
Robert
Hand: 5
Front Row: Masked Police Gurender/Twin Order/Empty
Back Row: Justice Flag/Empty/Empty
Damage: Cosmo Siege (U), Karenloid Daisy (U), Cosmo Roar (U)
Lucy
Hand: 3
Front Row: Doreen the Thruster/Succubus of Decadence/Empty
Back Row: Empty/Doreen the Thruster/Empty
Damage: Succubus of Decadence (U), Werewolf Sieger (U)
"Stand and draw," Lucy said. "In the blackest nights, let your hearts be consumed in the shadows of fear and despair! Ride, Demon Eater!" Shadows consumed her Vanguard's form, bursting to unveil the Grade 3. An elf clad in a plain white dress, Demon Eater hovered over the field, her long black hair spreading eerily as she smirked a chilling smile [Demon Eater – 10000 Power]
"At the start of my Main Phase, Demon Eater's skill activates – Soul Charge," she said, taking a card and sliding it into the Soul.
[Soul Charge – Demon Eater – No Trigger]
"Then, Demon Eater gains 2000 Power," she continued, shadows swirling around her Vanguard, but also around both her copies of Doreen the Thruster [Demon Eater – 12000 Power] [Doreen the Thruster – 9000 Power] [Doreen the Thruster – 9000 Power]
"You powered them up again?" Robert exclaimed.
"This is the power of my Dark Irregulars deck," the black-clad girl said in a chillingly soft tone. "As I build my Soul, the power of my Units rises, creating a force you cannot hope to stop! Call!" She played a card, and the form of Werewolf Sieger rose up beside Demon Eater with a ferocious howl [Werewolf Sieger – 10000 Power]. "Doreen the Thruster, attack Masked Police Gurender!" The vicious elf raced across the rooftops, drawing her blades to strike down the hero.
"Guard, Army Penguin!" Robert countered. The blue robot appeared [8000 Power + 5000 Shield = 13000 Power], and was swiftly cut down with a slash of Doreen's blade. Disappointed, the elf withdrew to her allies.
"With a boost from Doreen the Thruster, attack, Demon Eater!" The dark elf raised her hands, and shadows gathered around her, coalescing into vicious blades. She threw her hands forward and a storm of blades shot towards Twin Order [12000 Power + 9000 Power = 21000 Power]
"No guard!" Robert replied.
"Check," she held up the card. "No Trigger."
[Drive Check – Edel Rose – No Trigger]
"Second check," she revealed another card. "No Trigger."
[Drive Check – Alluring Succubus – No Trigger]
The blades slammed into Twin Order, eviscerating its armor and tearing into it before shattering back into shadows. "Damage check," he said, holding up his card. "No Trigger."
[Damage Check – Diamond Ace – No Trigger]
"Now, Werewolf Sieger, attack Twin Order!" Howling, the dark werewolf rushed forwards, drawing back its claws.
"Guard, Justice Cobalt!" Robert declared. The blue-armored wolf-man took form [10000 Power + 10000 Shield = 20000 Power] and was swiftly cut down by a blow of Sieger's claws.
"Turn end," Lucy concluded.
Lucy
Hand: 4
Front Row: Doreen the Thruster/Demon Eater/Werewolf Sieger
Back Row: Empty/Doreen the Thruster/Empty
Damage:Succubus of Decadence (U), Werewolf Sieger (U)
Robert
Hand: 3
Front Row: Masked Police Gurender/Twin Order/Empty
Back Row: Justice Flag/Empty/Empty
Damage: Cosmo Siege (U), Karenloid Daisy (U), Cosmo Roar (U), Diamond Ace (U)
"Stand and draw," Robert said.
"Doesn't your position look bleak?" Lucy said. "I'll soon finish this, and leave you defeated. My team will advance while yours will fall."
"You can't decide that in advance," he retorted. "This isn't over yet."
"But my position is much stronger than yours," she said. "While you try to fight back, I'm breaking through your defenses and leaving you unable to stop my attacks. And look at your Vanguard. Standing so alone on that field. You can't succeed in this fight without your allies."
"I have allies," Robert said, expression hardening. "Let me show you their strength!" He held a card aloft. "Those who follow Justice are never truly alone! With the courage in your heart, bring forth your allies to stand at your side! Descend... Enigman Cloud!"
Brilliant light consumed Twin Order, and the majestic wings spread from the radiance as a ray of sunlight broke over the distant horizon of the battlefield. Enigman Cloud emerged, shining with energy, stood proud over the field of battle [Enigman Cloud – 10000 Power]
"I call Galaxy Convoy!" The white dove mecha appeared behind Cloud, shining brightly into the night [Galaxy Convoy – 6000 Power]. "Convoy's skill! Cloud gains 2000 Power this turn!" Enigman Cloud glowed with energy [Enigman Cloud – 12000 Power]. "Now, with a boost from Justice Flag, Gurender attacks Demon Eater! Gurender's skill – Cloud gains another 2000 Power!" As Gurender leapt skyward [8000 Power + 5000 Power = 13000 Power], Enigman Cloud glowed even more brightly [Enigman Cloud – 14000 Power]
"No guard," Lucy said simply. Gurender's kick hammered into Demon Eater, who snarled in pain but was otherwise unaffected by the superhero's attack. "Damage check." She held up the card, which glowed with blue light. "Get, Stand Trigger. I give the Power to Sieger, and he stands."
[Damage Check – Dark Queen of Nightmareland – Stand Trigger]
"Power to Sieger? Demon Eater has a Megablast skill... she must be trying to focus my attack onto her to bring her to five Damage and open up that Megablast to her!" Robert realized. "Can I afford to attack her with Cloud?"
"Enigman Cloud's skill! Since my Dimension Police Rearguard hit the Vanguard, Cloud gains 2000 Power," he declared. "And now, with a boost from Galaxy Convoy, Enigman Cloud attacks Demon Eater!" The great angelic being raised a hand, motes of light coalescing in its grip [14000 Power + 2000 Power + 6000 Power = 22000 Power]
"No guard," Lucy said. "Show me this power of yours!"
"Twin Drive!" Robert called out. "First!" He revealed the card, and placed it into his hand. "No Trigger."
[Drive Check – Cosmo Beak – No Trigger]
"Second check!" Once again, his check revealed no Trigger.
[Drive Check – Cosmo Roar – No Trigger]
Cloud unleashed a burst of blazing light from its hand, and the blast struck across the field, slamming Demon Eater into the mansion and detonating. The explosion crashed through the building, sending cracks through the stonework and shattering the windows.
"Damage Check," Lucy said. "No Trigger."
[Damage Check – Aspiring Demon, Amon – No Trigger]
"Enigman Cloud's skill!" Robert called out. "Enigma Gate!" He retrieved a card from his deck. "Superior Call, Twin Order!" Cloud raised its hand, and from order a blazing light struck. Twin Order emerged from the impact, drawing its blades [Twin Order – 10000 Power]
"What will you do now?" Lucy smiled coldly as Demon Eater emerged from the mansion, a homicidal glare plain in her eyes.
"Twin Order attacks... Doreen!" Robert called. The android raced forward, and Lucy's smile slipped.
"I see... you're playing around Demon Eater's Megablast," she concluded. "No guard." Doreen cried out as the blades tore through her, shattering into motes.
"This is the power which brings out my allies," her opponent said. "Enigman Cloud... the Unit which brings my allies to the battle, no matter how far away they might be! Just as those allies won't fail me, I refuse to fail my team, Lucy! Throw the strength of your deck at me, but I won't fail, because my friends are depending on me to pull through! Turn end!"
Robert
Hand: 4
Front Row: Masked Police Gurender/Enigman Cloud/Twin Order
Back Row: Justice Flag/Galaxy Convoy/Empty
Damage: Cosmo Siege (U), Karenloid Daisy (U), Cosmo Roar (U), Diamond Ace (U)
Lucy
Hand: 4
Front Row: Empty/Demon Eater/Werewolf Sieger
Back Row: Empty/Doreen the Thruster/Empty
Damage: Succubus of Decadence (U), Werewolf Sieger (U), Dark Queen of Nightmareland (U), Aspiring Demon, Amon (U)
"Stand and draw," Lucy said. "Do you think you've changed things so much?" She took one of her cards in hand. "You thought I would depend solely on my Megablast to win? I have other strategies too, Robert. Let me show you the great power of this Dark Irregulars deck." She raised the card up. "Graceful and beautiful predator of the night... bury your fangs into soft flesh, and taste the sweetness of victory! I Ride... Edel Rose!"
A swarm of bats burst from the forest, shrieking as they utterly removed Demon Eater from sight. The swarm flew skyward to the great pinnacle of the mansion's tower, and burst into shadows, coalescing. From the shadows emerged a beautiful young woman with dark cyan hair perched atop the pinnacle, dressed in a pink dress and purple stockings. Smirking in a way which bared her fangs, Edel Rose spread her arms wide, revealing the vicious claws attached to her gloves [Edel Rose – 9000 Power]
"You talk about 'great power', but Edel Rose is weaker than Demon Eater," Robert observed.
Lucy smiled menacingly. "Only for now. I activate Edel Rose's skill. Counterblast!" She flipped over two Damage. "If there's a Werewolf Sieger sleeping in my Soul, he can lend his mistress some of his power for the turn! Rose's skill – she gains 5000 Power and 1 Critical this turn!"
"What?" Robert exclaimed as dark aura coated Edel Rose, a shadow of Werewolf Sieger rising behind her with a growl [Edel Rose – 14000 Power, Critical 2]
"And why use this only once?" she continued. "I activate Edel Rose's skill again!" The dark aura blazed even more fiercely, Rose laughing as power surged through her body [Edel Rose – 19000 Power, Critical 3].
VBH21
"19000 Power, Critical 3!" Alice exclaimed, shocked.
"It gets worse," Richard muttered. "Lucy has at least two cards in her hand with skills which send a card to the Soul. If she uses them both, her remaining Doreen will gain 6000 Power, pushing Edel Rose to a total of 31000 Power. Robert's lost two of his Perfect Guards, and the chances of him having a third are..."
"And if that hits, he'll need to check two Heal Triggers to survive..." Leah said quietly. "Please, Robert... please have a Perfect Guard..."
VBH21
"Call, Alluring Succubus, White Dust, Blue Dust!" The black-clad succubus appeared behind Werewolf Sieger, while on the opposite side of the field, a boy clad in white wielding a large crystal scepter and a cruel-looking young man with icy blue skin and armor took form [Alluring Succubus – 7000 Power] [White Dust – 4000 Power] [Blue Dust – 9000 Power]. "Succubus' skill, Soul Charge!"
[Soul Charge – Cursed Doctor – Heal Trigger]
With a slight grimace at the loss of the Heal Trigger, Lucy continued. "White Dust's skill! White Dust moves to the Soul, and I unflip one Damage!" The boy vanished as the card slipped into the Soul, and she casually turned one of her Damage cards back over. "Of course, you see why I'm doing this, right? Doreen the Thruster's skill activates twice!" The dark-clad elf smirked as black power writhed around her form [Doreen the Thruster – 12000 Power]
"Now, Blue Dust attacks Gurender!" The man hurled a hand forward, unleashing a spear of glistening ice from it.
"No guard," Robert said. The spear impaled Gurender and he promptly burst into motes.
"With a boost from Doreen the Thruster... final strike! Go, Edel Rose!" Lucy commanded. The vampire leapt from the pinnacle, dark wings spreading behind her as she rocketed towards Enigman Cloud [19000 Power + 12000 Power = 31000 Power, Critical 3]
"I can't let you!" Robert countered. "Not with my friends counting on me! Guard, Diamond Ace!"
"What?" Lucy exclaimed in shock as the Perfect Guard appeared before him.
"I discard Cosmo Roar," he said. "And your attack cannot hit."
"Impossible..." the stunned girl said. "Twin Drive... first." She revealed the first card. "No Trigger."
[Drive Check – Demon Eater – No Trigger]
"Second."Once more, no icon. "No Trigger."
[Drive Check – Prisoner Beast – No Trigger]
Edel Rose lashed at Diamond Ace with her claws, trying to destroy the robot, but her attack was fruitless, and she ultimately drew away with a look of sheer disappointment.
"Sieger, attack!" Lucy growled, showing irritation for the first time. The werewolf tore across the battlefield with a howl [10000 Power + 7000 Power = 17000 Power]
"No guard!" Robert called out. The werewolf's claws ripped at Cloud, but to little effect, and it swiftly withdrew. "Damage Check." He revealed the next card. "No Trigger."
[Damage Check – Pulsar Enforcer – No Trigger]
"Turn end," Lucy muttered. "Next turn, I can use Edel Rose's Counterblast and attack again... then he won't be so lucky."
Lucy
Hand: 3
Front Row: Blue Dust/Edel Rose/Werewolf Sieger
Back Row: Empty/Doreen the Thruster/Alluring Succubus
Damage: Succubus of Decadence (F), Werewolf Sieger (F), Dark Queen of Nightmareland (F), Aspiring Demon, Amon (U)
Robert
Hand: 2
Front Row: Empty/Enigman Cloud/Twin Order
Back Row: Justice Flag/Galaxy Convoy/Empty
Damage: Cosmo Siege (U), Karenloid Daisy (U), Cosmo Roar (U), Diamond Ace (U), Pulsar Enforcer (U)
"Stand and draw," Robert said. "It's time to finish this... I have what I need, now."
"I call Cosmo Beak!" With a shriek, the crimson mecha appeared [Cosmo Beak – 8000 Power]. "Cosmo Beak's Counterblast! Cloud gains 4000 Power!" Enigman Cloud began to glow with brilliant energy [Enigman Cloud – 14000 Power].
"Twin Order, attack Blue Dust!" The android charged and made a slash with its beam-sabers, cutting down the icy blue figure.
"Now, with a boost from Galaxy Convoy, Enigman Cloud, attack the Vanguard!" Cloud raised a hand, and let loose its power, hurling a blast of radiant light towards Edel Rose [14000 Power + 6000 Power = 20000 Power]
Lucy looked at her hand. Prisoner Beast, Demon Eater and Blue Dust. Not enough to guard Cloud safely, even with Sieger's Intercept. So better to just leave it and bet on no Critical Trigger appearing, she could guard anything else. "No guard."
"Twin Drive!" Robert called out. "First!" He turned over the card. "No Trigger."
[Drive Check – Super Dimensional Robot Daiyusha – No Trigger]
"Second," this time, a golden light shone brilliantly, and Lucy's eyes widened.. "Get, Critical Trigger! I give all the effects to Cloud!" Enigman Cloud began to shine brilliantly with golden aura [14000 Power + 5000 Power = 19000 Power]
[Drive Check – Cosmo Claw – Critical Trigger]
The radiance crashed into Edel Rose and buried her under the brilliance of a blazing star. She howled as she was buried under the sheer power of Enigman Cloud's attack [20000 Power, Critical 2]
The nova of light faded, revealing a blasted crater in the ground. Edel Rose lay in the bottom, crushed by the sheer power of Cloud's final attack.
"Damage Check, first," Lucy said, revealing the card. "No Trigger."
[Damage Check – Doreen the Thruster – No Trigger]
"Second," she continued, slowly turning it over. "Critical Trigger."
[Damage Check – Blitz Ritter – Critical Trigger]
She stared at the final card for a moment, then let it fall. "You win."
"The winner is Robert Macmillan of Team Avalon! Team Avalon advances to the finals!" As the official spoke and the field faded away, Robert was stunned. He had done it. He had won.
"So you were able to bring out some allies," Lucy mused. "And with those allies, you won."
"Yes," he said, gazing at his Vanguard's card. "Those who follow Justice are never truly alone."
"Now that you've won and your team are through to the finals," the girl said, "don't screw it up. Do your best to win, huh?"
"I... we'll try," Robert nodded. "I promise you." His thoughts turned to the leaflet in his pocket. "And not just for you.. .for Samuel, Agatha, and Charles... and for mum..."
He felt a hand on his shoulder, and glanced back to see Samuel and Agatha stood there.
"Laurel, eh?" Samuel said. "That's a good card."
"Yeah... I got a copy a while back," he answered. "And I guessed that if I had it, I might as well use it here."
"In any case, we need to move," Agatha said. "There's a half-hour break between now and the finals, so we may as well get something to eat and rest up a bit." She looked at his field. "That was a good fight. You did well, Robert."
"Thank you."
VBH21
Card of the Day:
Edel Rose
Grade 3/Twin Drive!
Dark Zone – Vampire – Dark Irregulars
9000 Power/No Shield/Critical 1
Activate [V]: [Counterblast 2] If 'Werewolf Sieger' is in your Soul, you may pay the cost. If paid, during this turn, this Unit gains 5000 Power and 1 Critical.
Activate [Hand]: [Place this Unit on top of your deck] Search your deck for 1 'Werewolf Sieger', reveal it and add it to your hand. Then, shuffle your deck.
'Dye yourself red for me! Scarlet Tear!'
VBH21
Card Stats:
Trauma Queen
Grade 0/Vampire – Dark Irregulars/4000 Power/10000 Shield
Auto [V]: When you Ride a 'Dark Irregulars' onto this Unit, call this Unit to a Rearguard Circle.
Activate [R]: [Send this Unit to your Soul] Select 1 'Werewolf Sieger' in your Soul and Call it to a Rearguard Circle. During this turn's End Phase, send that Unit to your Soul.
White Dust
Grade 0/Human – Dark Irregulars/4000 Power/10000 Shield/Critical Trigger
Activate [R]: [Send this Unit to your Soul] Unflip 1 card in your Damage Zone.
(Creative credit for the above two cards goes to Desgarroth)
VBH21
Next time, as the finals of Regionals approach, Team Avalon rest up and eat, reflecting on the fights which have passed, and the battles to come. With the shadow of Team Raging War looming, can Agatha overcome her loss to Edward and find the conviction to fight the one who introduced her to Vanguard and who served as her idol? Will Robert reaffirm his confidence and continue to fight on for his own aims?
It's Chapter 22 – Calm Before the Storm.