Max is undeniably frustrated. First, he allowed someone to steal the Gust Blaster Dragon card and it's copies his dad gave him, and now the dude is untraceable. What's worse, no one knows where it nor the perpetrator are. It's infuriating that this even happened. Max is ready to punch the next person he sees because of this.
Currently, Max is sitting at some sort of cafe, having a small drink of something while looking over his deck. He of course knows what the optimal build is for this deck, but he prefers it to be centered around Gust Blaster Dragon. The Dark Dictator is just a filler card until he gets it back.
"Excuse me." A woman's voice called.
Max turned to see a girl about as old as him with long orange hair that she seems to be hiding under a big hat, and striking blue eyes. She's wearing a trench coat. If she's hiding her appearance like this, it's obvious she's famous.
"What do you want?" Max asked.
"I heard rumors of a player who's looking for a thief who stole a card from him, would you be that player?" The girl asked.
"Yeah, so what?" Max asked.
"I want you to have a cardfight with me. If you win, my associates and I will help you in your search. If I win, you join Strike Shadow as part of their second string team." The girl explained.
"You're part of the Strike Shadow organization? That's a pretty pathetic joke, unless you want to get hurt, I suggest you leave." Max said sharply.
The girl sighed, and took her hat off just enough to confirm her orange hair. Max knew without a doubt who this was now.
"Oh, I see. You're Sakura Verde, the runner up in the single division of the national tournament." Max whispered, respecting her right to anonymity.
Without waiting for a response, Max cleaned his cards up, then left to pay for the drink, and give the cashier a good 40% tip on said drink. The barista seemed to cry in happiness from that. Max and Sakura left, and headed to a back ally. There's a table made for cardfighting there. Both participant took to opposite sides of the table
"If Strike Shadow is after this thief, there must be a special reason for it." Max said as he set his field up.
"Its dishonorable to steal someone else's cards. We're doing a very extensive investigation into this, and you're not the only target, just the most recent." Sakura explained as she did the same.
"Huh, I see." Max mumbled.
Max then activated his Psyqualia after both fighters did their draws and redraws.
"Stand up!"
"The!"
"vanguard!"
With that both fighters were transported to a dark arena within the United Sanctuary. The sky itself was dark with just a hint of red with a fading sunset.
"Crimson Lion Cub Kyrph (6000)!" Sakura revealed.
Sakura's vanguard appeared a boy in red and gold armor shaped like a lion's body, he carries a single blade
"Fullbau (6000)!" Max revealed.
Max's spirit transformed into a black dog in black armor, and wears a visor over it's eyes.
"I'll go first, ride Evil Slaying Swordsman Haugan (8000)!" Sakura declared.
Sakura's vanguard morphed into a knight wearing purple and gold armor. He carries a broadsword in a two handed grip.
"I draw a card and end my turn." Sakura informed.
Max - Sakura
5 - hand - 6
0 - damage - 0
0 - soul - 1
0 - counterblast - 0
Accel Circle: N/A
Empty, empty - empty, empty
Empty, Fullbau - Evil Slaying Swordsman Haugan, empty
Empty, empty - empty, empty
"Draw, and ride Blaster Javelin (8000)!" Max declared.
Max's vanguard morphed into a knight in black armor holding a javelin.
"Draw a card with Fullbau's skill, and call Blaster Dagger (8000)!" Max added.
"Blaster series is it?" Sakura thought.
"Blaster Javelin starts things off (8000)!" Max declared.
"No guard." Sakura decided.
[Drive check: Death Feather Eagle - critical trigger]
"Power to Dagger (18000), critical to the vanguard (2 critical)!" Max informed.
Blaster Javelin readied his weapon, then went in for the attack. Javelin struck Haugan with his weapon not once, but twice.
[Damage check: Waving Owl - no trigger]
[Damage check: Player of the Holy Bow Viviane - no trigger]
"Blaster Dagger attacks (18000)!" Max declared.
[Damage check: Evil Slaying Swordsman Haugan - no trigger]
"I end my turn." Max informed.
Max - Sakura
6 - hand - 6
0 - damage - 3
1 - soul - 1
0 - counterblast - 0
Accel Circle: N/A
Empty, empty - empty, empty
Empty, Blaster Javelin - Evil Slaying Swordsman Haugan, empty
Empty, Blaster Dagger - empty, empty
"Stand and draw, and ride Knight of Superior Skills Beaumains (9000)!" Sakura declared.
Sakura's vanguard morphed again, this time into a young man in armor reminiscent of a lion. He carries a sword and a shield that has the face of a lion.
"I discard a card from my hand and call Gareth to rearguard (8000), counterblast: add 10000 power (18000)!" Sakura declared.
"Now she has 2 counterblast uses left." Max thought.
"With Beaumains and Gareth on the field as a vanguard and rearguard respectively, I soul blast Kyrph, I superior ride: Incandescent Lion Blond Ezel (12000)!" Sakura declared.
Sakura's vanguard morphed once again, this time becoming a man wearing copper colored armor with silver armaments. This man has long blond hair, and wields twin sickle swords.
"Imaginary Gift: Accel, I create a new rearguard circle!" Sakura declared.
"Doing something like this this early, she wants to end the game quickly." Max deduced.
"I call Tornus to the Accel Circle (19000)!" Sakura added.
"This is going to be interesting." Max thought.
"Ezel attacks Blaster Javelin (12000), with his skill: call Viviane to rearguard (9000), I counterblast and soul blast: check the top 3 cards of the deck, and call Dindrane (7000) to rearguard, add 3000 power to Viviane (12000) and Tornus (22000)!" Sakura added.
"Is that all?" Max asked.
"No, with Dindrane's soul blast: I draw 1 card. Now that my soul is empty, that 3000 boost turns to an 8000 boost for Tornus (27000)." Sakura informed.
"I don't guard." Max informed.
[Drive check: Halo Shield Mark - draw trigger]
"Power to Viviane (22000), and I draw." Sakura informed.
Ezel launched himself into an immediate attack, and struck Javelin despite the black knight putting up a defense
[Damage check: Blaster Axe - no trigger]
"Counterblast: after a battle where my grade 2 or higher vanguard attacks, I superior call Lop Ear Shooter, and add 5000 power (14000)!" Sakura added.
"So, this is how you corner opponents." Max thought.
"Tornus attacks your vanguard (27000)!" Sakura declared.
"No guard." Max decided
[Damage check: Black Sage Charon - no trigger]
"With support from Dindrane, Viviane attacks Javelin (29000)!" Sakura declared.
[Damage check: Blaster Rapier - no trigger]
"With support from Gareth, Lop Ear Shooter attacks your vanguard (32000)!" Sakura finished.
[Damage check: Abyss Healer - heal trigger]
"Power to Javelin (18000), I recover 1 damage." Max informed.
"I end my turn." Sakura decided.
Max - Sakura
6 - hand - 4
3 - damage - 3
1 - soul - 0
0 - counterblast - 3
N/A - Accel Circle - Knight of Heroism Tornus
Empty, empty - Lop Ear Shooter, Knight of Elegant Skills Gareth
Empty, Blaster Javelin - Incandescent Lion Blond Ezel, empty
Empty, Blaster Dagger - Player of the Holy Bow Viviane, Listener of Truth Dindrane
"Stand and draw." Max declared.
"My pressure attack worked for the most part, now I can win next turn." Sakura thought.
"Bring the light down, and drag it to darkness, I ride Blaster Dark (10000)." Max declared.
Max's vanguard changed into the black knight variant of Blaster Blade.
"Greediness Shadow: Choose a rearguard to retire." Max ordered.
"Lop Ear Shooter." Sakura decided.
"I move Dagger back, and call Blaster Rapier (9000), Blaster Axe (10000), and Blaster Javelin (8000), counterblast: I draw 1 card, add 3000 to Javelin (11000). With support from Dagger, Rapier attacks Ezel, Rapier gets 5000 power with her skill (22000)!" Max declared
"I don't guard." Sakura decided
[Damage check: Battlefield Storm Sagramore - no trigger]
"Rapier's counterblast: choose a rearguard and retire it." Max ordered.
"Gareth." Sakura said simply.
"Blaster Dagger moves to the soul, choose a rearguard and retire it." Max ordered.
"Dindrane." Sakura decided again.
"Blaster Dark attacks the vanguard (10000)!" Max declared.
"Haugan guards (10000)!" Sakura countered.
[Drive check: Darkside Trumpeter - critical trigger]
"All effects to Blaster Axe (20000, 2 critical)!" Max informed.
Blaster Dark raised his sword to attack Ezel, but was blocked by Haugan's own sword.
"With support from Javelin, Blaster Axe attacks Ezel (31000, 2 critical)!" Max declared.
"Mark will nullify that (perfect guard)!" Sakura countered.
"I end my turn." Max informed.
Max - Sakura
5 - hand - 1
3 - damage - 4
3 - soul - 0
2 - counterblast - 3
N/A - Accel Circle - Knight of Heroism Tornus
Blaster Javelin, Blaster Axe - empty, empty
Empty, Blaster Dark - Incandescent Lion Blond Ezel, empty
Empty, Blaster Rapier - Player of the Holy Bow Viviane, empty
"Stand and draw." Sakura declared.
"Her Gold Paladins seemed to have run out of steam here." Max thought.
"Ezel attacks Blaster Dark, I won't use his call effect." Sakura decided
"Death Feather Eagle guards (15000)!" Max countered.
[Drive check: Listener of Truth Dindrane - no trigger]
[Drive check: Elixir Sommelier - heal trigger]
"Power to Viviane (19000), I recover 1 damage." Sakura informed.
Ezel launched his attack, but was immediately stopped by a black eagle.
"Viviane attacks (19000)!" Sakura declared.
[Damage check: Nightmare Painter - no trigger]
"Tornus attacks (27000)!" Sakura declared.
"Blaster Axe intercepts (10000) and Trumpeter guards (15000)!" Max countered.
"I end my turn." Sakura informed.
Max - Sakura
3 - hand - 4
4 - damage - 3
2 - counterblast - 2
3 - soul - 0
A/N - Accel Circle - Knight of Heroism Tornus
Blaster Javelin, empty - empty, empty
Empty - Blaster Dark - Incandescent Lion Blond Ezel, empty
Empty, Blaster Rapier - Player of the Holy Bow Viviane, empty
"I stand and draw." Max declared.
"I have 4 cards in hand, and I have a good lead, I can do this." Sakura thought.
"Descend further into darkness, I ride The Dark Dictator (13000)!" Max declared.
Dark clouds swarmed above the stadium as lightning clashed. Javelin and Rapier bowed down as the black king of Knight's appeared from the stadium. This knight looks like Alfred, but wearing dark armor.
"Imaginary Gift: Force, apply it to the vanguard circle (27000)!" Max declared.
"What the, how'd his power jump to 27000?" Sakura thought.
"Counterblast: call Charon (8000), retire one of your rearguards, add 5000 to Charon (13000)." Max informed.
"Viviane." Sakura stated.
"Soulblast Fullbau, Countercharge and add 3000 to Charon (16000), call Blaster Dark (10000): Greediness Shadow: retire Tornus!" Max declared.
"Even with a board wipe, I can still survive this turn." Sakura thought.
"Call Blaster Javelin (8000), counterblast: draw 1 card, add 3000 power (11000). The Dark Dictator now sits at 33000 power." Max informed.
"What the!?" Sakura thought.
"Javelin boosts, the Dark Dictator attacks your vanguard (44000)!" Max declared.
"I don't guard." Sakura informed.
[Drive check: Death Feather Eagle - critical trigger]
"Power to Rapier (19000), critical to my vanguard (2 critical)." Max informed.
[Drive check: Darkside Trumpeter - critical trigger]
"Power to Blaster Dark (20000), critical to my vanguard (3 critical)!" Max decided.
The power of darkness erupted from Dictator, and became a black whirlwind that swallowed Blond Ezel. The Dictator went into the Whirlwind, striking Ezel three times in three different places.
"If she draws a damage trigger, she'll be able to guard my remaining attacks with no problem." Max thought.
[Damage check: Incandescent Lion Blond Ezel - no trigger]
[Damage check: Lop Ear Shooter - no trigger]
[Damage check: Elixir Sommelier - heal trigger]
"Power to Ezel (22000), and I recover 1 damage." Sakura informed
"He's pressed me to 5 damage, but I still have a chance, I can block both of his remaining attacks thanks to the damage trigger I pulled." Sakura thought.
"With support from Javelin, Blaster Dark attacks the vanguard (31000)!" Max declared.
"Gareth guards (10000)!" Sakura countered.
"With support from Charon, Rapier attacks, add 5000 power with her skill (40000)!" Max declared.
"Sommelier guards (20000)!" Sakura countered.
"I end my turn." Max informed.
Max - Sakura
4 - hand - 2
4 - damage - 5
4 - counterblast - 1
3 - soul - 0
N/A - Accel Circle - empty
Blaster Javelin, Blaster Dark - empty, empty
Blaster Javelin, The Dark Dictator - Incandescent Lion Blond Ezel, empty
Black Sage Charon, Blaster Rapier - empty, empty
"I stand and draw." Sakura declared.
"Show me what you got." Max smirked.
"I call Waving Owl to the Accel Circle (19000), Halo Shield Mark (5000), and Gareth (8000)!" Sakura declared
"A full frontal assault, and called a sentinel, huh?" Max thought.
"Waving Owl attacks Dictator (19000)!" Sakura declared
[Damage check: Dark Shield Mac Lir - draw trigger]
"Power to Dictator (23000), and I draw." Max informed.
"With support from Gareth, Ezel attacks Dictator (20000)!" Sakura declared.
"Death Feather Eagle guards (15000)!" Max countered
[Drive check: Dantegal - front trigger]
"All my front row units power up (Ezel: 30000, Mark: 15000, Owl:29000)!" Sakura declared
[Drive check: Incandescent Lion Blond Ezel - no trigger]
Ezel readied his swords to attack, but a black feathered eagle in some type of armor blocked the attack.
"Mark attacks Blaster Rapier (15000)!" Sakura declared.
"No guard." Max decided.
"I end my turn." Sakura informed.
Max - Sakura
4 - hand - 2
5 - damage - 5
4 - counterblast - 1
3 - soul - 0
N/A - Accel Circle - Waving Owl
Blaster Javelin, Blaster Dark - empty, empty
Blaster Javelin, The Dark Dictator - Incandescent Lion Blond Ezel, Knight of Elegant Skills Gareth
Black Sage Charon, empty - Halo Shield Mark, empty
"I stand and draw, and now the envoy of despair, launch this world in absolute darkness, I ride: Phantom Blaster Dragon (13000)!" Max declared.
A black vortex covered the black armored Alfred, and from the vortex, a black dragon with heavy armor and a single double sided spear appeared in his place.
"Imaginary Gift: Force, apply it to the vanguard once more (33000)." Max informed.
"A second gift on the vanguard?" Sakura thought.
"Now go, Damned Charging Lance!" Max declared.
Phantom Blaster Dragon looked towards Charon and the two Javelin Knight's, and struck them down, then black mist appeared where his allies fell.
"Shadow erosion! Three of your rearguards are retired." Max informed.
The black mist swallowed up Ezel's allies like they were nothing.
"Add 15000 power and 1 critical to my vanguard (48000, 2 critical)!" Max declared.
"Such power!" Sakura thought.
"Fly now! Phantom Blaster Dragon, attack Ezel (48000, 2 critical)!" Max declared
"No guard." Sakura decided
[Drive check: Phantom Blaster Dragon - no trigger]
[Drive check: Darkside Trumpeter - critical trigger]
"Power to Blaster Dark (20000), critical to my vanguard (3 critical)!" Max revealed.
Phantom Blaster Dragon launched it's attack against Ezel, stabbing him 3 times with it's lance.
[Damage Check: Battlefield Storm Sagramore - no trigger]
With that final attack, Ezel faded from the battlefield as Phantom Blaster Dragon raised it's lance in victory. With the victory, Max deactivated his Psyqualia. Thanks to the power, Sakura stood no chance against him, however praise did need to be shown.
"Well, you've shown me a weakness in my deck. So, thanks for that." Max stated.
"As part of the deal, Strike Shadow will support you in finding that card thief. Here, take these." Sakura said as she passed something to Max.
Max examined the objects in question, two pairs of fighter gloves. What's the deal with these?
"Vanguard Fight Gloves?" Max asked.
"These are special, instead of bonding to Motion Figure Systems or dealing damage to the fighter when a card is sent to the damage zone, these gloves have an entirely new effect. It wouldn't be wise to use them in a casual fight, and these gloves are illegal in tournaments." Sakura said as she left.
Max just stood there looking at the gloves, and chuckled. These gloves were similar to the other two kinds, but they felt and looked different than them. Sakura however walked all the way to a van that was parked near the cafe Max was at earlier. Once Sakura sat down inside the van, she was greeted by a boy with blond hair and purple eyes, wearing a jacket with a dragon pattern on the back.
"So, you gave the recent victim the destruction gloves?" The boy asked.
"Yeah, it wasn't an easy fight. In fact, he got critical triggers during each of his drive checks. In addition to that, My deck couldn't keep up with his normal plays." Sakura answered.
"Your deck focuses on an all out attack during during the early game to force the opponent into submission. However, skilled players or even those with the power of Psyqualia can counter that with ease." The boy said.
Sakura contemplated Isaac's words for a bit, then decided to ask "So Isaac, are we entering the national tournament this year?"
"As I've told Preston and Teresa before, I'm considering it for now." Isaac said.
The van drove away as Max returned to the cafe. The red haired boy sat down, and started looking over his deck once more.
"I'm one step closer to getting my Gust Blaster Dragon back. However, even though Blaster Axe is a strong card on defense, his offense is lacking.. may as well replace him." Max mumbled as he began editing his deck.
Max: I will get that card back!
Tom: so, Max finally enters the shop.
Megan: why.. why does my head hurt?
Greg: next time: Psyqualia Showdown
Tom: a duel between Psyqualia users, this should be interesting.