Chapter 26: Soaring To New Heights!
MC Mark started his announcement: "Alright! Let's get started! Time to shuffled the team cards for the first round match-ups!" The cards on the screen began to shuffle. "And-" Mark pressed the red button on the remote. "Stop!" We were matched up with Tiger Toe, those four little kids from forever ago Aviation to Quixote. I also saw GS4 paired up with Golden Blaze.
"Phew...We don't have to fight THEM again." Sai was relieved.
"Yeah, I don't think I could handle it a second time..." Abbey said.
In the bleachers
Ron was still under Jerry's seat. Raiden and Kazu were still chomping down on popcorn.
"Ron...Get out here, the bugs are gone..."
"You sure, boss?" Ron asked.
"Yeah..."
Ron went back to his seat. "Sorry, I just can't stand them. Even the thought of a bug near me freaks me out."
"No problem..."
"You okay, boss?" Brock asked.
"No, that last match... Something was off. It's almost like that guy wasn't even trying..."
Lupa asked: "You saw it too?"
"Yeah. I mean, he could have finished off Sai in that last turn. But, he just used a Megablast and weakened his offenses. Why not just finish it?"
Kazu explained: "He was analyzing Sai's power..."
"He can do that?" Raiden asked.
"That boy may seem unruly. But, in reality, he's cold and calculated."
"That, and he has information that even the three tribes couldn't make record of." Lupa said.
"Hmm... Well, let's just hop that They're able to handle this first round..." They all went back to watching.
In the VIP room
Trevor came in.
"Yes?" Shiro asked while swiveling in his chair.
"I haven't come here to reminisce about how you made me quit. I've come here to ask you something." Trevor said.
"Well, ask away."
"You made my father insist on me quitting, didn't you?"
"..."
"Are you not going to answer?"
"I have a proposition you'd probably like to hear..." He got up from the swivel chair.
"What?"
"Come back to GS4."
"Excuse me? You're the very reason I quit in the first place. Why would I ever come back?"
"Anna and Charley, of course. Anna especially misses you."
"Hmph. I'm afraid I'm going to have to decline."
Shiro went back to sitting. "Suit yourself. Oh, and to answer your question: I might have persuaded him..."
"That's all I needed to know." Trevor walked out. Edwin was waiting by the door. "You know what to do."
"Yes, sir." Edwin charged in, heading straight for Shiro.
Once he was in range, Shiro held out his hand, revealing an ancient mark. "Chew on this!" Edwin was forced to the wall by an electric shock from Shiro's hand. "Nice try. Now, get out of here."
Edwin ran out of the room. "Master, I'm afraid his powers have grown stronger."
"You fool. That wasn't his Psyqualia. Don't you remember the name Jucheng?"
"Hmm... Oh yes, the priest family."
"He's seemed to have mastered his powers without his house's approval. Many of them had to go through 20 years of training."
"Could it be he's the one who hired-?"
"Let's not worry about it right now. I have a match to watch."
"Of course, sir."
Trevor went back on his way to the bleachers.
"And the first match will be Team ED4 vs. Team Tiger Toe! Wow, that's a weird name!"
Eni threw a small rock at Mark, causing him to fall over.
"Let's begin! First is Sai vs. Miney!"
The little boy said: "You're going down!"
"Bring it, twerp!"
One cardfight later
Pellinore swooped down with his swords and slashed Miney's vanguard, Barking Manticore.
"And Sai is the winner of the first round!" Mark announced.
Miney was crying. Sai walked to him. "Nice job!" Miney wiped the tears from his eyes and shook Sai's hand.
"In the second round, it will be Mason vs. Moe!"
Moe went to the dividing line and said: "We've worked too long and hard to lose now! Come on!"
"Sorry, but I can't lose either."
Another cardfight later
Cosmo Lord blasted Dragon Monk, Goku.
"And the winner is Mason! Team ED4 will be advancing to the next round!"
Moe fell down to his knees. "I...lost..."
"Hey, kid! Don't take it too hard! There's always next year!"
Mark continued his announcement: "Next up will be Team Aviation vs. Team Quixote!"
In the bleachers
"So you had to quit because of Shiro, huh?" Jerry asked.
"Regrettably, yes. I don't see how my father could listen to a rival team's leader..." Trevor said.
"What do you think their odds of winning the tournament are?" Lupa asked.
"...Do you really want me to answer?"
Lupa nodded.
"Less than 1 percent is my guess."
"They'll win." Jerry said.
"How can you be so sure, boss?" Ron asked.
"They've been preparing for weeks! Their decks aren't anything like they use to be." Jerry answered.
"I must admit, you're right. Mason especially has gone a long way." Trevor said.
Back to the arena
"On to the second match-up! Team Aviation vs. Team Quixote!"
"We finally get to see what the real competition can do." I said.
"From what I've read, they use the Angel Feather clan." Sai told me.
"Yeah, I've heard of it. They're one of the most unusual clans in the game." Abbey said.
"Why's that?"
Sai explained: "Many of their effects deal with the damage zone. Switching out from the hand or even getting Power from cards being sent there."
"Sounds boss to me."
Mark continued: "And for the first match, it's Gustav Griffin vs. Donny!"
Gus and Donny went to the diving lines. The holo-mats appeared in front of them. Gus and Donny had their gloves ready.
"Mister E, your turn."
"Why, thank you, Mark! Cardfighters, ready?!"
They both nodded.
"Then you may begin!"
They both shouted: "Stand Up, Vanguard!"
"Hope Child, Turiel!"
"Turnip Musketeer, Kira!"
I was surprised when I saw Donny's vanguard. "A new Neo Nectar?"
"Yeah, it came from the 8th set." Sai explained.
"Team Quixote must be using the Musketeer series." Abbey added.
Hey, guys! *falls down* I'm okay! Anyway, this is Gustav! I'll be taking over as narrator for the cardfight.
Donny went first. "En garde, loser. I draw. Next, I'll ride Tulip Musketeer, Mina. Then, with Kira's skill, I'll move her to the back and end my turn."
It was my turn next. My hand had Love Machine Gun, Nociel, Burst Shot, Bethnael, Doctroid Micros, Thousand Ray Pegasus, and Core Memory, Armaros. Guess I'm gonna have to wait for a grade 3 to show up. "I draw." It was Clutch Rifle Angel. "Looks like my bad luck is affecting ME this time. I'll ride Burst Shot Bethnael. Then, I'll move Turiel to the back and call Thousand Ray Pegasus. I'll have Bethnael attack first (8000)."
"I don't guard."
"Checking for a drive trigger." It was Bouquet Toss Messenger. "Draw trigger. I'll give the 5000 Power to Pegasus and I draw." It was another Core Memory, Armaros.
Donny's damage check revealed Black Lily Musketeer, Hermann.
"Next is Pegasus, supported by Turiel (12000+5000)."
"I don't guard." His other damage check revealed Maiden of Blossom Rain.
"I'll end my turn."
"I draw. Now, I ride Lily of the Valley Musketeer, Kaivant. Using his skill, I Counter Blast: retiring Kira, so I can look at the top four cards of my deck for another Musketeer to superior call. I choose Musketeer of the Water Lily, Ruth. I'll then call Cherry Blossom Musketeer, August and have him attack. With his skill, he gets 3000 Power if I have a Musketeer vanguard (12000).
"I don't guard." My damage check revealed Circular Saw, Kiriel. "Dang it! I could have used that."
"Too bad for you. I'll have Kaivant attack next (9000)."
"I'll guard with Clutch Rifle Angel and Bouquet Toss Messenger (8000+10000)."
"Driver trigger check." It was Lily of the Valley Musketeer, Rebecca. "I'll have Ruth attack next. Her skill grants her 3000 Power, just like August (10000)."
"I don't guard." My damage check revealed Gatling Shot, Barbiel.
"Hmph. Looks like the bad luck battler's luck has betrayed him."
"Aw well. This battle might be interesting if my opponent actually has a chance." I laughed.
"You got a mouth on ya. Let's see if your cardfighting backs it up."
"It will, believe me. I stand and draw!" It was Critical Hit Angel. "I'll ride Core Memory, Armaros! Then, I'll call Love Machine Gun, Nociel. Using her skill, I send Thousand Ray Pegasus to the damage zone and bring Kiriel to my hand."
"Of course. Angel Feathers are so predictable it isn't even funny."
"Since a card was sent to my damage zone, Pegasus gets a 2000 Power boost. I'll have her attack, with support from Turiel (9000+5000)."
"I don't guard." His damage check revealed Tulip Musketeer, Almira.
"Next is Armaros (9000)."
"I'll guard with Chestnut Bullet (9000+10000)."
"Drive trigger check." It revealed Happy Smile Angel. "Heal trigger. Giving the 5000 to Nociel. And she'll attack August (13000)."
"I don't guard." August was retired to the drop zone.
"I'll end my turn."
"I stand and draw." He didn't do anything for a while.
"Is something wrong?"
"I don't get it..."
"Hmm?"
"How can someone with your luck be able to get even this far in the past 3 years?"
"You wouldn't understand."
"Try me."
"Unlike many, I set my standards high..."
"What standards could a kid have?"
"Have you ever wanted something so bad that you would do anything to get it?" I asked.
"Nothing can be that important! But go ahead and tell me. I might get a laugh out of it."
"I want to fly."
Donny began to laugh. It could be heard throughout the stadium. "You idiot! People can't fly!"
"Not yet anyway..."
"Huh?"
"My dream is to create the perfect propulsion device. One that everyone could use on a daily commute. The only way I can do that is with the grant they offer to the winner of the World Championship."
"I've never heard of any grant!"
"You've only been to Nationals. That's why you've never heard of it. Every year, the World Champion gets a grant for almost 50 thousand dollars. They can use it for anything that would benefit educational or scientific projects."
"So, let me get this straight. You keep playing so you can get a huge check to make a jetpack or whatever for emergency use and so you can fly?"
"Yep." I said with a huge grin.
"That has to be the dumbest thing I've ever heard."
Seth got up and shouted: "Watch it, punk!"
"Excuse me, blockhead?!"
"You heard me! What right do you have to call his idea stupid?! Think back throughout history! And no, I'm not talking about a book about a guy who went crazy reading books about knights!"
Amelia stood up and said: "The Europeans, mostly France, were skeptical in the Wright Brothers' attempts to make the first flying vehicle."
I continued: "In fact, one Ernest Archdeacon was spiteful towards them for years, believing they were incapable of such a feat. Until in 1908, where the Wrights' flight demonstration at the Les Hunaudieres race course occurred. Archdeacon apologized after that, saying he showed them a disservice."
"I think it sounds cool that you wanna build a jetpack for everyone to use." Mason said.
"Flying to the shop could actually be faster and more cost efficient than driving." said ED4's manager.
Donny was getting irritated. "Whatever! I'm going to crush your dreams here and now for wasting my freaking time! I ride White Lily Musketeer, Cecilia!"
The image appeared and unsheathed her sword, pointing it at Armaros.
"Next, I call Rebecca. Using her Counter Blast: I retire Ruth to superior call from the top 4 cars of my deck. I choose Hermann. Then, I'll cal another Hermann and have him attack (10000)!"
"I don't guard." My damage check revealed Drill Bullet, Geniel.
"Next is Cecilia, supported by Rebecca (10000+7000)!"
"I'll guard with Critical Hit and Sunny Smile Angel (8000+20000)!"
"Come on, Twin Drive!" The first card was Almira. The second card was Queen of the Night Musketeer, Daniel. "Critical Trigger! All effects to my standing Hermann. Now, he'll attack (15000)!"
"I don't guard." Both of my damage checks were The Phoenix, Calamity Flame and Bethnael.
"Guess I'll end my turn..."
"Alright! Time for my big finish! I stand and draw!" It was Lightning Charger. "I ride Circular Saw, Kiriel!"
The image appeared stretching out its wings.
"Next, I'll use her Counter Blast. I choose one Angel Feather in my damage zone and call it to the rear-guard. That unit will be Drill Bullet, Geniel!" I retired Pegasus to make room. "Next, I'll call Lightning Charger and Doctroid Micros. Boosted by Turiel, Geniel is charging in! With his skill, he gets 2000 Power when attacking your vanguard (12000+5000)!"
"I don't guard." His damage check revealed Ruth.
"Next is Kiriel, with support from Lightning Charger! Now I activate Kiriel's Limit Break! Giving her 5000 Power during her attack! Next is Lightning Charger's Soul Blast! Giving another 5000 Power to Kiriel (15000+11000)!"
"21000?! I don't believe this!" I don't have enough for the Twin Drive... But I still gotta pull through this! "I'll guard with Almira and Daniel (10000+15000)!"
"If Gustav doesn't get a trigger, it's not going to end well." Amelia said.
"He'll get one! I just know it! Come on, buddy!"
"You got it, Seth! Checking the Twin Drive! First Check, let's go!" It revealed Kiriel. "Now for the second check!"
"No freaking way!" Donny was just as surprised as I was.
"Rocket Dash Unicorn, a critical trigger! I'll give all the effects to my vanguard!That oughta be enough to break through your defenses!"
Kiriel's attack hit Cecilia, full force.
"Guess I'll have to hope for a couple of heal triggers..." The first card, however, wasn't what Donny expected. "A fitting final damage for the downfall of the White Lily Musketeer...Cecilia herself."
"And the winner of the first match if Gustav Griffin!" Mark announced.
"Woohoo!"
Donny took off his hat and bowed. "I guess you winning all the time isn't just by dumb luck. You have something to fight for. I commend you for that. I apologize for my previous tone."
"Don't worry about! I'm sure you have your own dreams, right?"
"Actually...No, it's stupid."
"Come on, I told you mine."
"I've always wanted to be a movie director. The thought of putting one of my ideas on the big screen just makes me want to work harder. Like I said, it's-"
"Awesome! I can totally seeing you direct! You could probably act!"
"Acting and directing? At the same time?"
"Yeah!"
"Hmm, now you've gotten me curious. Alright, Gustav Griffin, you've convinced me. I shall be a great movie director/actor! My name will one day be put in motion pictures across the nation!"
"Hope it works out. Oh, and when you make your debut, I wanna see it! What about you guys?!" I asked Seth and Amelia.
"We'll consider it." both of them said.
Mark continued: "Sorry to interrupt, but-"
"Whoops! Sorry, MC Mark." I went back to the bench.
"The next match will be Seth vs. Miguel!"
"This is gonna hurt." Seth cracked his knuckles.
"En garde, chump!"
In the VIP room
"So, Trevor knows about my family?" Shiro asked.
"Yeah. Apparently, he was looking into Beau-K's heists, along with that butler. Every theft was of technology and artifacts related to the game and others before it." Sol said.
"In other words, he has linked the hiring of the thief to one person. He believes it to be you." Luna added.
"Hmm, I knew he was surveying me. The question is, how is he doing it?"
"That's one thing we don't know at this point." Sol said.
"Perhaps I can answer that." Charley said at the door.
"Speak up, my friend."
"Trevor's bodyguard, Edwin, hacked into the intelligence system. He now knows what you know. Cardfighters, their decks, everything."
"I see." Shiro swiveled back to the window. "I say we let him look at my information."
"Why? Wouldn't that just further help him incriminate you?" Charley asked.
"Even if he's able to get everything on record, his father would simply destroy it. Isn't that right, Charles?"
Trevor's father came out of the shadows. "Of course."
"Alright, Shiro. What'd you get on him?"
"Just some collateral in case he goes all noble on me. Same goes for his son."
Charles was becoming impatient. "I did what you asked of me. Now please, delete it."
"I will in due time. But, I wanna see how far they can go without their little coach."
Shiro continued to look out the window, staring down at the stadium.
Mason, again! Crazy, huh? First, Edwin gets blasted by some weird mark on Shiro's hand. Then, Gus fights this guy whose team is a bunch of knight fanatics. Also, Trevor's dad is caught in the mix! These mysteries are giving me a headache. But, I can't spoil it for ya. If you wanna find out more, check out the next chapter!