Chapter 26
Cimmerian
(Trevor)
I got up, got dressed, and met the teams' core members, along with Anna and Charley at the entrance. "Are we all ready to meet with Bloodlet?"
Every one of them said "Yes."
We then headed out and went in the limo.
I told Edwin "To Bloodlet Manor."
He responded with "As you wish, sir."
We got there in only a few minutes.
Everyone else headed in.
Before going, I told Edwin "Watch the others while we're gone."
"You can count on me, sir."
I went in.
Alexander was in a chair in the middle of the room. "Welcome to my humble abode, Trevor Holtzworth and co."
I asked him "You wished to see us about the changes to the NWL. Well, out with it, Alexander."
"Ah, yes... About the competition... There's been a slight change in plans." He pressed a button on the ight armrest.
A metal capsule appeared from out of the floor.
Everyone was shocked at its presence.
Jerry asked "What the hell's that?!"
Mason took out his Nitōichi and pointed one of the blades at Alexander. "Just what is that thing, Bloodlet?!"
He laughed. "The question isn't What, it is Who?"
Charley exclaimed "There's a person in there?!"
Anna followed that up with "Just what are you trying to pull?!"
Bloodlet answered "Oh, I assure you, I am most serious. You see, I know that you know of those attacks on the Foundation and HFH, due to my team's incompetence, along with the fact that those who were attacked reported their avatars, i.e. their favorite and/or most powerful cards, missing. However, you have no idea why I would want the spirits of other-worldly beings, do you?"
Everyone was silent.
"What if I were to tell you I have found away to bring the dead back to life?"
I called him on his bluff with "You seriously expect us to believe such an outrageous claim? Even if we did, why go to all this trouble for one person?"
"...Have you ever done something you regretted so much that you would do almost anything to make up for it?"
"..." My eyes widened. "No... You mean you- You did this to her?!"
"...I don't know how it happened... I just... lost control... And I..." He put his hand on the capsule. "I took her life away... How I did it... I don't wish to relive."
"You mean you sponsored the NWL in order to ressurect someone you-"
"She's not just someone! I loved her! I would have gladly walked throughout the burning fires of Hell just to make her smile! My beloved Sandra!"
"But your and ADT's actions have caused many to suffer! Why can't you see that?!"
"ENOUGH! Surround them now!"
Once he said that, various ADT members encircled us. There was no way out.
Jerry then said "If you punks want a fight, you got!"
Brock grunted.
A young woman, with long black hair came down from the stairs. "Brother, what's going on?"
Shiro looked away.
Bloodlet told her "Go back upstairs. I have some business to take care of with these Foundation members."
"Foundation? ...That means Shiro's here!"
"You three, take her back to her room!"
Surge, Allen and Olivia came out and said "Yessir!" They then proceeded to sending the girl back upstairs.
She was persistent though "Shiro! Shiro, please talk to me! Shiro!"
Charley cracked his knuckles. "Looks like we got ourselves a fight." He then cracked his neck. "I've been waiting for this! Let's go, Beetle-Borg!" A medium-sized, robotic beetle emerged from his backpack.
Everyone began to fight with the members except me.
Alexander then said to me "It would appear we're the only ones left. Allow me to start things off! Cloak of the Shadow Earl, activate!" He took of his tattered cape and it became a table-shaped structure.
"Devil's Coattails, activate!" My coattails extended and sharpened, pointing at each other. A field then emerged between them.
We shuffled our decks, set our starting vanguards and drew our starting hands. Mine had Dark Knight of Nightmareland, Alluring Succubus, Dimension Creeper, Emblem Master, and Cursed Doctor.
"Shall we begin?"
"Let's!"
We both exclaimed "Stand Up, The Vanguard!"
I shouted "Werfuchs Hexer!"
He then said "Shadow Hunter, Apex."
"(This must be a unit from Great Nature... But how come I'm not familiar with it?) I'll take the first turn! Draw!" It was Doreen. "I ride Dimension Creeper! Then, I move Hexer back. That's all for now. (Time to see what he has up his sleeve)."
He smiled and drew. "Temptress of Twin Knives, ride!"
"What?! That unit doesn't look like it belongs to Great Nature?! What's going on?!"
"Oh? Perhaps I'm using a mixed deck, or even a new clan altogether! Apex moves to the front, and I call Dusk Spirit Valkyrie! With her skill, I bind the top card of my deck!"
"What in blazes!"
"Bind!" He shot the top card, Kanabō Warrior of the Never-ending Abyss, to the bind zone.
"What clan are you using?! I demand to know!"
He snickered. "They reside within the shadows. When there's even a small glimmer of light, it is immediately extinguished by their hatred. They are the outcasts! They are... Cimmerian!"
"Cimmerian? ...I've never heard of this clan."
"Only a select few are able to control them. The Bloodlet family has mastered this clan for countless generations. Allow me to show you just how deadly it can be! With a boost from my Valkyrie, Apex attacks (5000+7000)!"
"I don't guard!" My damage check was Dantarian.
"Now, Temptress attacks (8000)!"
The young woman, with her knives, swooped in and went after Creeper.
"Check the drive trigger." It was a card by the name of Agent of Vengeance.
The Temptress slashed Creeper.
My damage check was Prisoner Beast.
"I'll end my turn."
"Draw." It was Blue Dust. "I'll start things off by riding Emblem Master! Then, I call Blue Dust, Doreen and Alluring Succubus! Her skill allows me to Soul Charge!" I sent Werwolf Sieger to the soul. "With Doreen's skill, she get's 3000 Power whenever a card is placed in the soul (6000+3000)! I'll have Emblem Master attack, with a boost from Hexer (9000+4000)!"
He snickered. "I'll humor you. No guard."
"Time to check for a trigger!" It was Hysteric Shirley. "Draw trigger, active! I'll give the 5000 Power bonus to Blue Dust (9000+5000) and draw!" It was Dantarian.
His damage check was a critical trigger by the name of Dark Flare, Xaphan. "I'll give all effects to my vanguard (8000+5000)(1+1).
"...When Emblem Master hits, I Counter Blast, sending three cards from my deck to the soul! Soul Charge!" They were Blitzritter, March Rabbit, and Creeper.
"Ah. That worked out well for you, didn't it? You already have five cards in the soul. Oh, what to do..." His smile really frustrated me.
"Blue Dust attacks, with Doreen's support (14000+9000)!"
"I don't guard." His damage check revealed Black Skull Psychopomp.
"With Blue Dust's skill, I Soul Charge." It was Master of Fifth Element. "That ends my turn."
"Stand and draw. I ride Black Skull Psychopomp. Then, I use Apex's skill, sending him to the soul and searching my deck for a grade 2 or lower Cimmerian, binding it. I choose Beauty of the Red Mist. Her skill grants one of my Cimmerian units 2000 Power until the end of this turn. My vanguard shall be given the power bonus (9000+2000). I then call Dragonic Supremist and Agent of Vengeance. When a Cimmerian is called to the rear-guard, Psychopomp allows me to bind the top card of my deck for each." He sent Agent of Vengeance, as well as another Red Mist to the bind zone. "Well, would you look at that. Thanks to Red Mist's skill, I'll give my vanguard another power bonus (11000+2000)."
"Grr... (These Cimmerians... They seem as if they belong to other clans... But... their strategy seems so dark...)"
"Agent of Vengeance attacks (10000)."
"I don't guard." It was Werwolf Sieger.
"Next shall be my vanguard (13000)."
"I don't guard."
"Drive trigger check." The name of the card he drew was Lord of Madness, Aleister.
My damage check was Cursed Doctor. "Heal trigger! I'll give the 5000 Power to my vanguard (9000+5000) and recover one damage."
"Supremist, with a boost from Valkyrie, attacks (8000+7000)!"
"I won't allow this to hit! Guard!" I slammed Shirley into the guardian circle (14000+5000).
"That ends my turn."
"Stand... and draw." It was Gwynn the Ripper. "I ride King of Masks, Dantarian!" I then held up Gwynn into the air. "Sharpened your blades and sink them into your enemy's flesh! Cut them into so many pieces, they'll be destroyed beyond recognition! Call, Gwynn the Ripper!"
"Finally, you reveal your true self! Now the fun can truly begin!"
"...Gwynn's Counter Blast allows me to retire one of your rear-guard! Gwynn, take down his Agent of Vengeance now!"
Gwynn released his blades onto the fallen angel.
"He now attacks, with a boost from Alluring Succubus (9000+7000)!"
"I don't guard." His damage revealed Temptress of Twin Knives.
"Now, my vanguard, supprted by Hexer,attacks next (11000+4000)! His skill allows me to Soul Charge and grants him 1000 Power until the end o the battle (15000+1000)!" I soul charged Alluring Succubus.
"I see... Hm... I'm at 3 damage... Yet no heal triggers have come up yet... I don't guard."
"...Twin Drive check." The first card was March Rabbit. The second card was Master of Fifth Element.
"I'll check the damage." It was Dusk Spirit Valkyrie.
"With Hexer's skill, since he boosted a successful attack by a Dark Irregulars with Limit Break, I get to send him to the soul and draw." It was Dark Knight. "Now, with some support from Doreen, Blue Dust attacks (9000+6000)!"
"I don't guard." His damage check revealed Twilight Witch, Natalie. "A Heal Trigger? Perfect timing. I'll recover one damage."
"Blue Dust's skill has me Soul Charge!" It was Sieger. "That ends my turn."
"Stand and draw. I ride Aleister. Then, I call Scourge of the Sky, Ala. He'll attack Blue Dust (9000)!"
"I don't guard." I retired Blue Dust.
"Next, Aleister (11000). With his skill, I bind the top card of my deck and give him 1000 Power until the end of battle (11000+1000)." It was Psychopomp.
"March Hare will put a stop to that!" I discarded Cursed Doctor for the effect.
"I still have the Twin Drive." The first card was Xaphan. "All effects to Supremist (8000+5000)(1+1). Now, the second check." It was a card called Shadow Preistess of the Netherworld. "In that case, I'll have Valkyrie support an attack from Dragonic Supremist (13000+7000). With his skill, when I have a unit with Limit Break on my side, he gets 3000 Power (20000+3000)!"
"I don't guard!" I shielded myself for the blow.
Supremist slashed Dantarian. The force almost blew me away.
My damage checks were Prisoner Beast and Doreen.
"And that ends my turn. Let's see what you've got."
"...This... is the final turn!"
"Oh? Is that a fact?"
"Stand and draw!" It was Emblem Master. "Mercy... A false prospect for a warrior and a ruler of a ruthless inhabitance! May the very idea of it be destroyed along with the hope of victory for my enemies! Breakride! Master of Fifth Element (11000+10000)! Not only does Fifth Element get a power boost! Three of my rear-guard gain an additional effect, granting them 1000 Power for each card in the soul until the end of this turn! Doreen, Gwynn, Alluring Succubus, unleash the full power of the Dark Irregulars (6000+11000) (9000+11000) (7000+11000)!"
"Interesting."
"That's not all! I call Emblem Master, and use the skills of both the Dimension Creepers in my soul, increase my soul by four (17000+2000) (20000+2000) (18000+2000)! And since cards were sent to the soul during my main phase, that gives Doreen an additional 12000 Power (19000+12000)!"
"Ah, yes. This will definitely a most interesting fight. But I take it you're not finished yet."
"Not even close! With my Limit Break, I grant all my Dark Irregulars get 3000 Power, so long as my soul has at least ten cards! (9000+3000) (31000+3000) (21000+3000) (22000+3000) (20000+3000)! Now, Fifth Element attacks (24000)!"
"I don't guard."
"(WHAT?! He's insane! He's only moments away from losing, and he's just going to take the hit?! ...He must have something up his sleeve...) I'll check the Twin Drive! First!" It was Blade Wing Reijy. "And the second!" It was Gwynn. "No... trigger..."
"Aw... And after all that effort. What a shame." He laughed.
"You're not out of the woods yet! Emblem Master goes for the hit (12000+34000!)
"Hm... I'll nullify it."
"You'll what?!"
He placed Shadow Preistess in the guardian circle and discarded Gothic Exterminator.
"Grr... Gwynn the Ripper, finish this (25000+23000)!"
"Two Undead Gunman and Xaphan will guard (11000+30000)! And I'll have Supremist and Ala intercept (41000+10000)!"
"My attacks... They've all been..." I couldn't believe it... I gave it all I had... and it wasn't enough. "I... end my turn..."
He began to laugh. It would seem your best just wasn't enough, Holtzworth. And to think... you were once an Eternal Dreamer... I'm sorry to say this, but this... is it! FINAL TURN! Stand and draw! The night has come, sinful son of the darkness! Destroy everything in your path in your never-ending quest for dominance! Breakride!" He slammed a card in the vanguard circle. "The king of the outcasts has come! Arise now, Lord of the Abandoned Estate, Vladimir!"
A vampiric man, wearing an eyepatch appeared on the field (11000+10000).
"The skill grants my newly appointed vanguard 10000 Power, as well as an additional ability! I'll move Valkyrie up and use Vladimir's Counter Blast four times, giving him 8000 Power (21000+8000)! He'll attack (29000)! Now for the new ability! Counter Blast! I send the top two cards from my deck to the bind zone. And since I have at least six cards there, I give Valkyrie 5000 Power (7000+5000)! What will you do now, Holtzworth?!"
"... (I have a total of 35000. I'm going to need 20000, at least. However, anticipating the possibility of two triggers, I'll need another 10000, for a grand total of 30000. If I can survive this though and get a heal trigger...) I... don't guard!"
"HAH! Still clinging for hope after I was able to stop you at your strongest?! You are a fool! Twin Drive!" The first card was Vladimir. And the second... "Gothic Exterminator, a Critical Trigger! I'll give the 5000 Power to Valkyrie (12000+5000), and Vladimir takes the critical (1+1)! This is where it ends! You and you're precious Foundation shall fall by my hand!"
Vladimir cut down Fifth Element. My final damage check was Blitzritter.
I just couldn't believe it. "I... lost..."
"Oh, I'm not done yet."
I realized what he meant. "NO!"
Gwynn materialized. He was then encased in a crimson cage and suddenly was pulled in Bloodlet's cloak.
He then put the cloak back on and said "And that, as they say, is that." He snapped his fingers and Sven just grabbed me, following Bloodlet in a corridor under his chair.
(Mason)
"Rutile, finish them off!"
About ten fighters were pushed back.
I then saw Trevor being taken away. "Hey, get back here!"
Bloodlet's voice then echoed throughout the room: "Stand down, my Apostles. I repeat, stand down. I have a little surprise for our guests." He began laughing.
All the ADT members then ran off.
We were the only ones left.
Suddenly, the doors locked and we were encased in some glass dome. We were then electrocuted, knocking us all out.
When I came to a few hours later, buzzers were going off and a bunch of ADT members said "He escaped!" "How can one person take down so many of our members on his own?!" "His deck had no avatar! We're in deep trouble if Bloodlet finds out!" "He went this way!" "After him!"
"What's... going on?" I realized I was in a cell. Everyone else but Brock was also locked up.
Jerry was sitting with his arms crossed.
"Jerry, where's Brock?"
"He broke out. Didn't you hear?"
"How?"
"I... don't know. But... his bars... They've been bent open."
"What?!"
"See for yourself." He pointed to Brock's cell.
The bars were bent out of place. It's almost as if a wild animal had broken free of it.
I then asked "...What's going on?"
"I don't know... All I know is that I woke up and I was stuck here. And my Dudley Emperor's gone."
"What?" I checked my deck and found that my Rutile cards were gone. "How is this possible? I thought our avatars could only be taken in a cardfight..."
If you wanna find out what happens next, you better catch the next chapter. Until then, here's a message from our sponsor.
Cardfight! Vanguard!
Come forth from the shadows! The outcasts of Cray shall now make a stand against the invaders!
The darkness that once was expelled by the light shall now give us hope!
Can you wield the almighty power of the Cimmerian?!
Special Set 2: Wrath of the Outcasts, in imaginary stores on Februrary 15th.
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