Ride 34: The Wicked Wings
Card of the Day: Stil Vampir
Agatha sat in an office with the suited man, the two running through paperwork.
"If you could sign here, please..." She signed her name on yet another sheet of paper, utterly frustrated with this process now.
"How much longer will this take?" she asked. "My team needs me... we're one down already."
"It will take as long as it takes," he replied, shuffling through yet more sheets of paper. "I'm sorry for this inconvenience, but we simply have to ensure this is sorted, Miss Gladstone."
"Right," she murmured. "Come on, guys... just hold out."
VBH34
"My turn, then," Robert said.
"Yeah, seeing as Agatha's not back yet," Charles noted.
"There's still time," Samuel cut in. "They'll give us another minute."
"Why are you so desperate for her to get back?" Robert asked. "Do you think I can't do this, Samuel? That I have no chance of winning?"
"No."
"Then what is it?" he said. "Why are you stalling so much for Agatha? If you think I'm capable of beating Alistair, then let me go out there and do my best. Even if I lose and we lose this round, there's still next round, right?"
"I guess..." the Shadow Paladin user murmured. "Go on then, Robert. Do everything you can to keep us in this." Robert turned to walk away. "And whatever you do, if you can stop him using Stil Vampir's skill, then stop him. That Megablast is deadly if you let him use it."
"Don't worry," Charles smiled. "I know you can do it, Robert."
"Right," he nodded, walking away with deck in hand. It was time to play his part.
VBH34
"Excellent, Gerard," Alistair commented, leaned back against the wall. "I see he went down without much trouble." His hands were held at his lapels in a strangely dignified way, his dark brown hair neatly combed back.
"I didn't expect him to honestly do all too much," Morgan said softly. "They're trying to lose."
"I don't see why Blake's going to the trouble of paying off these guys," Alistair said dismissively. "The team's abysmal in any case. Beating one pathetic little group like Four-Leaf Clover doesn't make them any sort of threat to us."
"Does it really matter?" Gerard smiled hazily. "If Mr Blake sees a need to pay them off, then we go along with it. It's his money, after all."
"Exactly," the leader said. "Blake obviously sees something about this bunch which he thinks means they need to be paid off. So we run with it, right?"
"Got it," his second-in-command nodded, hiding his obvious distaste. "Well, then. Time to finish this stage of things." He took his deck from its deep purple case, gazing at it. "Darkness... the fall of night. What we named this team after... the shadow beneath which we bury our opponents." He smirked. "I'll make sure to show him that, at least." With that, he stalked forward, clutching the lapels of his coat in a dignified way at odds with the dark expression on his face. His deck was still at hand, in view as he strode forwards like some dark gentleman.
VBH34
The two took their positions, Alistair's hands falling from his lapels to set down his starting Vanguard and shuffle his deck.
"So, now you're facing me," he mused. "I'll just tell you now. I won't be defeated as easily as that brat Keegan. Don't expect to win this."
"I'll do my best," Robert answered him quietly.
"Good, even though it won't be enough," Alistair said, drawing his opening hand and scanning it, before redrawing three cards. "You're still just a new player competing against someone on the team ranked second the country. The odds are against you, boy. And I'll show you just what it means to compete on this stage... the stage where champions are made."
"The fight between Robert Macmillan of Team Avalon and Alistair Bardon of Team Eternal Nightfall will now... begin!"
"Stand up, Vanguard! Justice Flag!"
"Stand up, the Vanguard! Vermillion Gatekeeper!"
The battlefield took shape around them, a pitch-dark castle under a moonlit sky, surrounded by a bleak forest. Their Vanguards appeared atop the ramparts, Justice Flag on Robert's side, a pitch-dark figure with a pale face and stark crimson hair on Alistair's side. [Justice Flag – 5000 Power] [Vermillion Gatekeeper – 5000 Power]
"I draw," Robert called, having won the Rock-Paper-Scissors. "I Ride Magical Police, Quilt!" Justice Flag reformed into a young blond-haired girl, wielding a staff and clad in an ornate green and white dress and stockings [Magical Police, Quilt – 6000 Power]. "Justice Flag moves, and I end my turn." The lance-wielding figure reformed before Quilt [Justice Flag – 5000 Power]
Robert
Hand: 5
Front Row: Empty/Magical Police, Quilt/Empty
Back Row: Empty/Justice Flag/Empty
Damage: None
Alistair
Hand: 5
Front Row: Empty/Vermillion Gatekeeper/Empty
Back Row: Empty/Empty/Empty
Damage: None
"Draw," Alistair said curtly. "I Ride Prisoner Beast!" His Vanguard was engulfed in shadows, from which emerged a hulking gorilla-like beast with demonic horns [Prisoner Beast – 8000 Power]. "Vermillion Gatekeeper's skill activates – Soul Charge." He placed the top card of his deck into the Soul, dismissing it with a mere glance.
[Soul Charge – Werwolf Sieger – No Trigger]
"Prisoner Beast, attack Quilt." The beast roared, tearing across the field and drawing back one monstrous claw.
"No guard!" Robert cried in response.
"Drive Check... no Trigger," he said coldly.
[Drive Check – Devil Blade, Berith – No Trigger]
Prisoner Beast's claw struck, making Quilt cry out in pain as it tore across her. Robert quietly took a card from his deck, placing it onto his Damage Zone. "No Trigger."
[Damage Check – Masked Police, Grander – No Trigger]
"Turn end," Alistair concluded.
Alistair
Hand: 6
Front Row: Empty/Prisoner Beast/Empty
Back Row: Empty/Empty/Empty
Damage: None
Robert
Hand: 5
Front Row: Empty/Magical Police, Quilt/Empty
Back Row: Empty/Empty/Empty
Damage: Masked Police, Grander (U)
"I draw," Robert declared. "Now, I Ride Super Dimensional Robo, Dailady!" Quilt reformed into the pink angelic figure, drawing her batons [Super Dimensional Robo, Dailady – 9000 Power]. "And now, I call Justice Sentinel!" Next to Dailady, the shield-bearing robot appeared [Justice Sentinel – 8000 Power].
"Justice Sentinel attacks your Vanguard!" The robot erupted forwards, drawing back its beam saber to strike.
"No guard," Alistair replied, allowing the blade to slash into his Vanguard without a hint of concern. "Damage Check... no Trigger."
[Damage Check – March Hare of Nightmareland – No Trigger]
"Now, with a boost from Flag, Dailady attacks!" Dailady raced forwards, batons crackling with energy [9000 Power + 5000 Power = 14000 Power]
"Once again, no guard," his opponent said, just as coldly and calmly as before.
"Drive Check... no Trigger!" Robert called out, revealing the card.
[Drive Check – Cosmo Beak – No Trigger]
The baton struck, Prisoner Beast convulsing as electricity ripped through its body. Alistair silently revealed a card, keeping his composure even as a crimson icon shone in its corner. "Got a Draw Trigger." He made a draw.
[Damage Check – Hysterical Shirley – Draw Trigger]
"I end my turn," Robert concluded.
Robert
Hand: 5
Front Row: Justice Sentinel/Super Dimensional Robo, Dailady/Empty
Back Row: Empty/Justice Flag/Empty
Damage: Masked Police, Grander (U)
Alistair
Hand: 7
Front Row: Empty/Prisoner Beast/Empty
Back Row: Empty/Empty/Empty
Damage: March Hare of Nightmareland (U), Hysterical Shirley (U)
"Stand and draw," Alistair said stoically. "I Ride Decadent Succubus." The purple-skinned temptress emerged from the shadows, smirking cruelly as she ran her tongue across her lips in an alluring manner [Decadent Succubus – 9000 Power]. "Now, I call Devil Blade, Berith." Next to the succubus, a true demon appeared, clad in a black bodysuit which was all barbs and blades, wielding two wickedly barbed scimitars in his hands, horns and talons sharpened to lethal points. His wings spread, their edges shining from the blades sewn into them, and Berith smirked a murderous leer across the field [Devil Blade, Berith – 8000 Power]
"Decadent Succubus' skill activates – Soul Charge," he continued, sliding a card into the Soul. "Then, on top of that, Berith's skill. When I Soul Charge and I have a Dark Irregulars Vanguard, he receives 3000 Power for the turn." An aura of darkness began to flare around Berith, empowering the demon [Devil Blade, Berith – 11000 Power]
[Soul Charge – Doreen the Thruster – No Trigger]
Alistair threw down three more cards. "Call, Doreen the Thruster, Prisoner Beast, Hysterical Shirley." Behind his Vanguard, the blade-wielding elf appeared, while to Succubus' right, the hulking beast appeared. Finally, behind Berith, a stark white-haired girl in a tight black and white bodysuit appeared, wailing in pain [Doreen the Thruster – 6000 Power] [Prisoner Beast – 8000 Power] [Hysterical Shirley – 4000 Power]. "And now, Decadent Succubus' skill activates three times." He took three cards from his deck, placing them into the Soul.
[Soul Charge – Cursed Doctor – Heal Trigger]
[Soul Charge – Stil Vampir – No Trigger]
[Soul Charge – Flirtatious Succubus – No Trigger]
"Now then," he said. "Doreen and Berith's skills activate." The two blazed with darkness, empowered by the cards sent into his Soul [Doreen the Thruster – 15000 Power] [Devil Blade, Berith – 20000 Power] "To business. Prisoner Beast, attack Justice Sentinel." Howling, the beast erupted over the field, a claw drawn back to strike down the shield-bearing robot.
Robert looked at his hand. He could guard this, of course, but with Enigman Nebula in his hand as his only real Grade 3 option, leaving Justice Sentinel in play was a risk, especially since guarding either of Alistair's other attacks would take a large amount of shield. "No guard." The beast's claw ripped into Sentinel, tearing the robot apart until it shattered into motes.
"With a boost from Shirley, Berith attacks your Vanguard," Alistair continued. Blazing in shadows, Berith erupted forwards with a sadistic laugh, scimitars drawn to strike [20000 Power + 4000 Power = 24000 Power].
"No guard!" Robert repeated. The scimitars struck, screaming as they ripped into Dailady's armored form, before Berith frowned and drew away. "Damage Check... no Trigger."
[Damage Check – Karenroid Daisy – No Trigger]
"And now, with a boost from Doreen, Decadent Succubus attacks your Vanguard," Alistair said with a chilling note of finality. Decadent Succubus raised a hand, casting blades of shadow from it over the field [9000 Power + 15000 Power = 24000 Power].
"No guard!" Robert called for the third time that turn.
"Let's see... Drive Check," he said. "Get. Critical Trigger. I give the effects to Decadent Succubus." Robert's eyes widened at the sight of the golden glowing icon on the card.
[Drive Check – Blitz Ritter – Critical Trigger]
The blades slammed into Dailady, ripping through her armor to tear into her core, sending sparks flying. The robot slumped down as Decadent Succubus gave a cruel, sadistic smile [24000 Power + 5000 Power = 29000 Power, Critical 2]
"Damage Checks," Robert said. Though outwardly he maintained a look of worry, inwardly, he was more relaxed. Things were going according to plan. He held up the first card. "Critical Trigger."
[Damage Check – Justice Cobalt – Critical Trigger]
"Second check. No Trigger."
[Damage Check – Pulsar Enforcer – No Trigger]
"Is this how simple it will be?" Alistair mused, unconsciously bringing his hands to his lapels once more. "Already, you're on four Damage, while I'm on half of that. I knew this wouldn't be difficult, but you're less of a problem than I thought you'd be, and believe me, I set that bar very low for you. Oh, well. I suppose I shouldn't raise my expectations at all so early into the competition. Not when I'll only meet trash like you."
The insults stung his pride, trying to claw into his heart and draw out his fighting spirit, but Robert forced it down, thinking of his mother. All the days she had come home and collapsed into her bed, exhausted. All the sadness and pain in her eyes. He could end that. All he had to do was play along.
"I'm sorry to disappoint," he said, forcing himself to keep his voice level. "I guess I'm not quite up to your level, Alistair."
"That's exactly what I was thinking," his opponent replied coldly. "But in all honesty, you're just mediocre. Just like the rest of your team. I kind of wish I could've fought Samuel. From what I saw last time we met, he has some pride and skill. Enough to challenge me even a little bit." He paused. "I end my turn."
VBH34
"What the hell are you doing, Alistair?" Morgan snapped under his breath. "Why are you trying to goad him out?"
"You know he never liked bribing our opponents," Gerard observed hazily. "I guess that's just turned into this little speech."
"He needs to keep his mouth shut," the leader growled. "Before he says too much and gives the game away."
VBH34
"Robert's taking a beating out there," Alice murmured.
"This strategy Alistair's using is pretty powerful," Richard observed. "Dark Irregulars specialize in converting the Soul in brute strength, but he's taken it almost to an artform. Doreen and Berith in tandem, gaining Power from every card he sends there, letting him overwhelm the opposition with immensely powerful attacks. That's what this is, and if Robert doesn't start an effective counterattack, this'll just be a massacre."
"Can he even fight back?" Mrs. Gladstone asked. "I mean... these Dark Irregulars look powerful... do they even have a weakness?"
"Soul Charging that many cards means you can lose ones you need," Leah noted. "Triggers, and other key cards. That's the downside to Dark Irregulars. That, and Soul Charging too much can lead you into a deckout loss."
"We'll have to hope Robert gets some good luck," Alice said. "Come on, Robert..."
VBH34
Alistair
Hand: 4
Front Row: Prisoner Beast/Decadent Succubus/Devil Blade, Berith
Back Row: Empty/Doreen the Thruster/Hysterical Shirley
Damage: March Hare of Nightmareland (U), Hysterical Shirley (U)
Robert
Hand: 5
Front Row: Empty/Super Dimensional Robo, Dailady/Empty
Back Row: Empty/Justice Flag/Empty
Damage: Masked Police, Grander (U), Karenroid Daisy (U), Justice Cobalt (U), Pulsar Enforcer (U)
"Stand and draw!" Robert called. "I Ride... Enigman Nebula!"
Blinding light consumed his field, and from it rose Nebula, spreading its four brilliant wings. Glowing with power, the Enigman hung in the air [Enigman Nebula – 11000 Power]. "Now, I activate Nebula's skill! I Counterblast 2 to have it lose its Restraint, and gain 10000 Power and a Critical!" He turned over the two cards, and Nebula shone with fiery energies, blazing like a beacon into the darkness [Enigman Nebula – 21000 Power, Critical 2].
"It's funny," Alistair said. "I thought the idea of Dimension Police was that your heroic Vanguard fought with the support of the Rearguards. Not alone, like your Vanguard fights."
"Sometimes... heroes have to fight alone," Robert said softly. "Because there are things their allies don't know... that they can't accept. There are burdens heroes have to take on their shoulders alone. That's... what Nebula is. A lone hero, bearing his own burden. With a boost from Justice Flag, Nebula attacks your Vanguard!" The points of light formed around Nebula, before flaring through the air towards Decadent Succubus [21000 Power + 5000 Power = 26000 Power, Critical 2]
"What a sad idea," his opponent said. "A hero fighting alone is nothing but one, fighting many. In the end, no matter how hard he fights, he is but a single person, and he will fall as a single person. No guard."
"Twin Drive... first check. No Trigger," Robert said quietly.
[Drive Check – Galaxy Convoy – No Trigger]
"Second check..." There was a brilliant flash of emerald. "Heal Trigger. I give the Power to Nebula, and heal one Damage!"
[Drive Check – Justice Rose – Heal Trigger]
As he moved the face-down Grander from his Damage Zone to the Drop Zone, the bolts of light smashed onto Succubus, exploding into radiance which burned over the field. Succubus screamed, caught in the heart of the exploding light. Paying it no mind, Alistair placed two cards onto his Damage Zone, both dull.
[Damage Check – Alluring Succubus – No Trigger]
[Damage Check – Fallen Seraphim, Samael – No Trigger]
"I... end my turn," Robert said softly.
Robert
Hand: 7
Front Row: Empty/Enigman Nebula/Empty
Back Row: Empty/Justice Flag/Empty
Damage: Karenroid Daisy (F), Justice Cobalt (U), Pulsar Enforcer (U)
Alistair
Hand: 4
Front Row: Prisoner Beast/Decadent Succubus/Devil Blade, Berith
Back Row: Empty/Doreen the Thruster/Hysterical Shirley
Damage: March Hare of Nightmareland (U), Hysterical Shirley (U), Alluring Succubus (U), Fallen Seraphim, Samael (U)
"Stand and draw," Alistair said softly. "Now, I'll show you. How pitiful you truly are. These wicked wings which spread with the falling of dusk... take to the heavens and cast terror over the night! I Ride... Stil Vampir!"
Darkness swathed his Vanguard once more, transfiguring into a swarm of bats. The bats flew to the pinnacle of the castle's keep, and there they coalesced. An ominous figure took shape, with deathly pale skin, clad in a kimono, wielding a katana and wakizashi in his hands. The man smirked, baring his fangs, his hair jet black and shining in the moonlight [Stil Vampir – 10000 Power].
"Stil Vampir's skill activates," Alistair continued coldly. "Soul Charge, and Vampir receives 2000 Power." He slipped a card into the Soul, causing the shadows to coil around his Vanguard [Stil Vampir – 12000 Power]. "And then, Doreen and Berith's skills activate." The two blazed with dark power [Doreen the Thruster – 9000 Power] [Devil Blade, Berith – 11000 Power]
VBH24
"8000 Power off a single Soul Charge..." Charles mused. "So this is what he's like... it's impressive."
"He's more powerful than that, when he wants to be," Samuel replied, remembering. How Alistair had beaten him in the past, crushing him with the raw might of Demon World Marquis, Amon. "But right now, he's just toying with Robert. Nebula's a powerful card, but it's a massive risk too. Especially if Robert leaves Flag exposed..."
"He'll be fine," his teammate dismissed.
VBH34
"I move Prisoner Beast back, and call Fallen Seraphim, Samael," Alistair continued, playing a card. Prisoner Beast flickered back in shadows, and then a dark form appeared before it, a six-winged angel, his wings pitch-black, his eyes a smoldering, bloody red. An aura of hellfire blazed around his form, scythe-like talons extending from Samael's fingers, a pale bodysuit attached to his form [Fallen Seraphim, Samael – 10000 Power]. "And now, with a boost from Shirley, Berith attacks your Vanguard."
Berith raced forwards [11000 Power + 4000 Power = 15000 Power], but Robert was prepared. "I guard with Army Penguin!" The robot appeared in Berith's path [11000 Power + 5000 Shield = 16000 Power], and was promptly cleaved into four shards with two sweeps of the demon's scimitars. Growling, Berith retreated.
"Doreen boosts, and Stil Vampir attacks your Vanguard," Alistair said, dismissing the failed attack instantly. Black bat wings exploded from Vampir's back, and the vampire dived from the steeple, his swords drawn back to strike [12000 Power + 9000 Power = 21000 Power]
"No guard!" Robert called out.
"Twin Drive, first check." He held up the card. "No Trigger."
[Drive Check – March Hare of Nightmareland – No Trigger]
Even though it wasn't a Trigger, it made Robert smile inwardly more than he should have. Now he had an excuse to allow Alistair the final setup for his finishing blow, without giving everything away.
"Second check," Alistair continued. "Also not a Trigger."
[Drive Check – Flirtatious Succubus – No Trigger]
The vampire struck in a flash of shadows and steel, his swords tearing across Nebula's chest. Before the Enigman could react, Stil Vampir was gone, retreating back to the high ground of the steeple. "Damage Check," Robert called, revealing a card and placing it into his Damage Zone. "No Trigger."
[Damage Check – Glory Maker – No Trigger]
"Now, with a boost from Prisoner Beast, Samael attacks." The fallen seraphim raced forwards, bladed talons raised to cut into Nebula [10000 Power + 8000 Power = 18000 Power]
"I guard with Justice Rose!" Robert called out, throwing down the card. The pink-clad alien appeared before Nebula [11000 Power + 10000 Shield = 21000 Power], and was brutally decapitated in a sweep of Samael's talons, the fallen angel retreating in deathly silence.
"Very well, then," Alistair said. "Take your last turn. And then I'll finish this."
Alistair
Hand: 5
Front Row: Fallen Seraphim, Samael/Stil Vampir/Devil Blade, Berith
Back Row: Prisoner Beast/Doreen the Thruster/Hysterical Shirley
Damage: March Hare of Nightmareland (U), Hysterical Shirley (U), Alluring Succubus (U), Fallen Seraphim, Samael (U)
Robert
Hand: 5
Front Row: Empty/Enigman Nebula/Empty
Back Row: Empty/Justice Flag/Empty
Damage: Karenroid Daisy (F), Justice Cobalt (U), Pulsar Enforcer (U), Glory Maker (U)
"Stand and draw," Robert said. "I call Galaxy Convoy, Cosmo Gunner, Twin Order and Enigman Cloud!" The four Units materialized around his Vanguard in flares of light [Galaxy Convoy – 6000 Power] [Cosmo Gunner – 8000 Power] [Twin Order – 10000 Power] [Enigman Cloud – 10000 Power]. "With Convoy's skill, I give 2000 Power to Nebula." Light shone around Enigman Nebula, empowering it [Enigman Nebula – 13000 Power].
"Robert Macmillan seems to have abandoned his strategy, now flooding his field with Units! This is presumably to get around the Perfect Guard Unit in Alistair Bardon's hand, but as a strategic choice, will it benefit him at all?!"
"Now, I activate Nebula's skill. I Counterblast one and Retire one of my Rearguards to remove Nebula's Restraint." He turned over the card, and reached out to move Cloud to the Drop Zone, but as he did so, he found himself looking at his ace in the holographic projection of the battlefield on Cray. The Enigman seemed to look at him with sorrow and pity in its eyes. And he found himself stopping, remembering all the fights Cloud had brought him victory in. From his very first victory with it against Kenneth oh so long ago, to his victory against Leah.
And he couldn't bring himself to take that card and move it to the Drop Zone, not after that. He couldn't force his arm to move forward, or his fingers to grasp the edges of Cloud's card, because when he wished it to happen, his memories screamed back.
"I retire... I..."
VBH34
"He... it's like he can't do it," Leah whispered.
"This is... not like him," Alice said softly. "This sort of thing... retiring his own allies... sacrificing them..."
"I... that card... I gave it to him..." Samuel's sister murmured. "Is this... what I did by giving him Nebula?"
VBH34
"What's wrong?" Alistair said coldly. "Unable to play? Had a sudden attack of inner conscience? Don't make me laugh, boy. It's just a card. Nothing more."
The cold words hit him hard, and suddenly, his fingers moved. "I Retire Cosmo Gunner to release Nebula's Restraint." He took the unit in hand, placing it into the Drop Zone, and it hit him again. What he had done.
"Oh my! This is something new from Robert Macmillan, who has just sacrificed one of his Rearguards, albeit not the one he seemed to intend to! In changing his mind, he's just lost 5000 Shield compared to the none he would lose for retiring his Enigman Cloud! So what influenced that decision, I wonder?"
"Cloud moves forward," Robert said, nearly inaudible. "With a boost from Flag, Nebula attacks the Vanguard." Enigman Nebula raised its hands, conjuring a swirling mass of cosmic fire into them, before unleashing the flames over the field as a volley of white-hot light [13000 Power + 5000 Power = 18000 Power]
VBH34
"He could have sacrificed Flag to release Nebula's Restraint and removed the target for Black Downfall," Samuel realized, frowning. "What is he doing...?"
Charles looked away, smiling out of view. "That's it, Robert. For your mother. Keep going until the end."
VBH34
"March Hare of Nightmareland, guard," Alistair commanded. "I discard Flirtatious Succubus, and completely guard the attack." The white rabbit in its dark waistcoat appeared, chuckling softly as it swung its pocket watch, deflecting the attack.
"Twin Drive," he called out. "First check." He held up the card. "No Trigger."
[Drive Check – Diamond Ace – No Trigger]
"Second check... Draw Trigger. I give the Power to Cloud and draw." He made a single draw, gazing at his hand, which now held five cards. This would normally be enough to protect him, he knew. Except for one thing... the skill he was about to enable.
[Drive Check – Army Penguin – Draw Trigger]
VBH34
"Come on... now just attack the Rearguards... cut down his edge," Samuel muttered. "Take Samael and Berith out and his attacking power gets cut down a lot."
Charles glanced at the battle going on. "You know what you're doing, Robert. Now just make that choice."
VBH34
"Enigman Cloud attacks... Stil Vampir!" Robert called out. Cloud slowly, hesitantly raised its hands, collecting light within them [10000 Power + 5000 Power = 15000 Power]
Alistair looked at him, smiling cruelly. "Oh, you fool. You don't even know what you've done. No guard."
"Yes... yes, I do," he thought. "And I have no other choice... mum... this is for you..." Again the image of his mother collapsing, sickly and exhausted, onto her bed came to him, and it hardened his resolve even more.
The light lanced through the air and struck Vampir, but even as it seared his form, the vampire was smirking coldly. Just as much as Alistair was, the vampire was amused and pleased, because Robert had just made a fatal mistake.
VBH34
"He... gave Alistair a fifth Damage?!" Alice exclaimed.
"No... that means he can use... Black Downfall!" Richard cried. "Why... why did he do...?"
Leah was looking on the field with horror. "I... did I do this... by giving him that card...? Robert... why... why...?" There was horror and despair in her eyes, a terrible foreboding of what was about to happen filling her mind. "Robert..."
"What's Black Downfall?" Mrs. Gladstone asked. "Why is it so bad to let Alistair use it?"
"Black Downfall is... Stil Vampir's Megablast skill," Richard explained quietly. "And Robert hasn't just opened the door for Alistair to use it... he's left the perfect target on the field." He gazed at Justice Flag in a state of numb shock. "Robert... how... why...?"
VBH34
The impact to Samuel was like a punch in the gut when he heard the fatal declaration of attack.
He suddenly felt his knees go weak, and shock filled him. He tried to understand what had been said and even though it was all too clear, he rejected it, too stunned and horrified by what Robert had done. This was the thing he had warned against. Don't give Alistair that fifth Damage. Don't give him access to Black Downfall. Not unless you're certain you'll win. But not only that, but Robert had left the perfect target languishing in the back of his field, ready to be targeted.
"That was... a big mistake," Charles commented.
The words should have been correct. He should have agreed, that Robert had simply made some catastrophic rookie error. The facts should've come back to him then, that losing to Eternal Nightfall wasn't the end, that they only had to defeat the next team and they would still have a place in the finals. But the words Charles had spoken just didn't fit. They weren't correct. And the pieces of some horrible jigsaw fell into place for him in that moment, as he gazed across the arena.
He knew.
"It wasn't a mistake," he said, and his voice was dangerously soft, because now all of his shock was slowly turning into cold anger. He had felt this before, this pain like a knife in his heart, to be betrayed by those he trusted utterly. The fury was freezing and burning in his veins as it had that day, the terrible way it had suddenly burst through his body before.
"Pardon?" Charles said, feigning surprise, but he wasn't fooled.
"You took him into that, didn't you?" There was a chill edge to his voice, an unstoppable, hard fury. "What I never wanted him to be involved in."
"I don't know what you're..."
"Don't lie to me!" he cried. "Don't you dare lie to me about this, Charles! You took him to them, didn't you?! And you let them make their offer, let them sink in their claws and whisper their poison until he gave in and betrayed himself! How dare you! How dare you!"
"You... you're so high and mighty," Charles retorted. "Did you ever think maybe there were things that mattered more than some card game?"
"It's not about the game," Samuel growled in answer. "It's about pride! About respecting your teammates, and not stabbing them in the back out of your own petty greed! The game isn't the thing, it's how you and Robert did this behind my back, behind Agatha's back, and just threw us out in the cold so you could get some bloated paycheck from the high-ups when you were done!" Charles opened his mouth to speak again. "Don't you dare say another word to me!" He fell silent, breathing deeply and furiously as he glared out onto the field.
VBH34
"With a boost from Convoy, Twin Order attacks!"
"Guard. Blitz Ritter." A crackling figure swathed in lightning appeared, and was cut down [10000 Power + 10000 Shield = 20000 Power].
He bowed his head. It was over. "I end my turn."
Robert
Hand: 5
Front Row: Enigman Cloud/Enigman Nebula/Twin Order
Back Row: Empty/Justice Flag/Galaxy Convoy
Damage: Karenroid Daisy (F), Justice Cobalt (F), Pulsar Enforcer (U), Glory Maker (U)
Alistair
Hand: 2
Front Row: Fallen Seraphim, Samael/Stil Vampir/Devil Blade, Berith
Back Row: Prisoner Beast/Doreen the Thruster/Hysterical Shirley
Damage: March Hare of Nightmareland (U), Hysterical Shirley (U), Alluring Succubus (U), Fallen Seraphim, Samael (U), Stil Vampir (U)
Silent, Alistair stood his Units, and drew a card. Then he looked up. "You made your fatal mistake. And now, suffer the consequences, boy. It's time I brought this farce to an end. Final Turn!" He silently slid a card into his Soul for Stil Vampir's skill.
[Soul Charge – Dark Queen of Nightmareland – Stand Trigger]
Auras of darkness began to burn around not only Vampir, but Doreen, Berith and Samael also [Stil Vampir – 12000 Power] [Doreen the Thruster – 9000 Power] [Devil Blade, Berith – 11000 Power] [Fallen Seraphim, Samael – 13000 Power].
"I activate Hysterical Shirley's skill. I move her to the Soul, and Soul Charge. Then, in her place, I call Alluring Succubus and activate her skill – Soul Charge, once more." Shirley vanished, and was replaced by the voluptuous white-haired succubus in the tight black bodysuit [Alluring Succubus – 7000 Power]
[Soul Charge – Devil Blade, Berith – No Trigger]
[Soul Charge – Decadent Succubus – No Trigger]
The auras around Doreen, Berith and Samael intensified, thickening and writhing furiously [Doreen the Thruster – 18000 Power] [Devil Blade, Berith – 20000 Power] [Fallen Seraphim, Samael – 22000 Power]
Alistair silently gazed up into the holograms, regarding Enigman Nebula in a chill silence before finally speaking. "Such a majestic Vanguard... a fighter as mediocre as you doesn't deserve to lose with such a Unit as your avatar. You deserve an avatar more fitting of your pathetic state. And now, I'll rectify that. I Soul Blast eight cards," he retrieved eight cards from the Soul, throwing them into the Drop Zone, "and Counterblast five cards," he turned over his entire Damage Zone. "Stil Vampir's Megablast, Black Downfall! I select one of your Rearguards and you must Ride that Unit!"
Vampir slowly crashed his swords together, causing the entire battlefield to ripple and distort. Cracks appeared on Nebula's form, spreading and connecting as the majestic Enigman screamed in agony. Finally, with a last scream, Nebula's form exploded into motes, leaving Justice Flag occupying the Vanguard circle [Justice Flag – 5000 Power]
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"No... no..." Leah whispered. "He's... he can't..."
"He can't guard," Richard said grimly. "Even with a Perfect Guard in his hand, since Flag is Grade 0, he can't use it or any other Grade 1 and higher cards in his hand. And that means... he's finished. With three attacks that powerful, against such a low-Power Unit... even a Heal Trigger can't save him in this situation."
"Robert... why..." Samuel's sister murmured. "Why did you... let this happen...?"
"It was just a mistake..." Alice protested weakly, but she couldn't truly believe it. She had heard her cousin's voice, the soft conviction there. He had entirely meant for this to happen.
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"No... no... way..." Agatha whispered. She had seen everything from Robert's attack with Enigman Cloud, having finally been released by the suited man. She stood in a gallery, watching the fight on a TV amidst a crowd.
"Poor kid... he really screwed up by letting Bardon use that skill..."
"Yeah... he's done for now..."
"Robert... why...?" she said, gripped by the action occurring on the screen.
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"Realize your mediocrity," Alistair said very coldly. "With a boost from Succubus, Berith attacks Justice Flag." Blazing in darkness, Berith erupted across the field [20000 Power + 7000 Power = 27000 Power]. His blades were ready to cleave into the opposing Vanguard with a brutal motion.
"No guard..." Robert said quietly. The blades swung, and Justice Flag's armor was rent asunder, broken by the force of Berith's assault. The armored figure fell to one knee, as a card fluttered to its owner's Damage Zone, dropped from his hand.
[Damage Check – Cosmo Beak – No Trigger]
"With a boost from Doreen, Stil Vampir attacks," Alistair continued. His Vanguard tore through the air, a demonic figure on wings of death, coming to end the game with one final stroke [12000 Power + 18000 Power = 30000 Power].
"No guard..." his opponent repeated. Two cards were checked and added to Alistair's hand, their identities meaningless now. All that mattered was the final blow. Vampir's swords struck, flashing steel through the twilight, and Justice Flag fell, cut down in a pair of artistic strokes too quick to be seen.
The final card fell.
[Damage Check – Cosmo Claw – Critical Trigger]
"The winner is Alistair Bardon of Team Eternal Nightfall! The match goes to Team Eternal Nightfall!"
"With a brutal Final Turn from Alistair Bardon, Eternal Nightfall has achieved a practically effortless-looking victory over Team Avalon! I sure wouldn't want to be Avalon right now, given how easily they got their backsides handed to them! With firm favorites Eternal Nightfall now practically certain to advance to the finals, all that remains is to see who will join them! With both Team Melody and Team Avalon at a single win and a single loss, whoever wins their confrontation next round will advance alongside Eternal Nightfall!"
"How pathetic," Alistair said cruelly. "You weren't even worth my time. I know why that is, of course. Your heart wasn't in winning at all. You let some other pitiful concern overtake you." He gazed at Robert with cold scorn. "That's why you'll never be a champion. Champions can focus only on the glory of the top." He turned away, deck in hand and hands at his lapels. "Pitiful souls like you get distracted and stay here, chained by your own weakness." And with that, he walked away.
Robert slowly gathered his own cards, turning back with his deck in its case. As he came to his teammates, he stopped, seeing the cold in Samuel's eyes.
"You... how could you?" the Shadow Paladin user said in a voice full of ice and rage. "Both of you... scheming behind my back! Setting it up so Agatha couldn't compete this round! All for money! You... how dare you!"
"I..."
"Why?!" Samuel demanded. "Why, Robert?! We promised one another, that we'd reach the top as a team! Why did you do this now?!"
"Because... I need that money," he said, staring Samuel in the eyes. "It's not greed. I don't want it for myself. But you... you wouldn't get it. Your life is so perfect... you can afford to get angry with us over this and act this way. You wouldn't understand why I accepted Morgan's offer, because you're too caught up in losing your old teammate this way to live up to the idea that maybe you're wrong!"
"Well, why?!" he snapped in return. "What reason do you have?!" The reminder of Henry stung him, chilling him even more.
"Forget it," Robert said. "Just know that Charles and I will do the same next round, Samuel. I have to do this, and I can't let you stop me."
There was a cold, unfriendly silence, in which Samuel gazed at Robert with a mixture of hurt and rage burning in his eyes.
"If you want to lose," he finally said in a voice like a frozen knife, stabbing into Robert with his anger. "Then don't expect me to stand by you while you betray your teammates and yourselves for filthy cash. Consider this my resignation from the team, both of you. And when Morgan hands you that cheque after you've done your part, you remember Agatha and I. How you broke her dream and my trust for that money." He turned, and stalked away, icy and vicious as he strode from the field.
Agatha stopped as he walked past her. "Samuel... Samuel! Where are you going?!"
"Ask them," he replied. "They have something to tell you anyway." And with that, he was gone. Agatha was left, glancing between the two in the arena, and the ace of the team retreating down the corridor.
"What... what is this...?" she said.
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Card of the Day:
Stil Vampir
Grade 3/Twin Drive!
Dark Zone – Vampire – Dark Irregulars
10000 Power/No Shield/Critical 1
Auto [V]: At the start of your Main Phase, Soul Charge 1. Then, this Unit gains 2000 Power until end of turn.
Activate [V/R]: [Soul Blast 8, Counterblast 5] Choose one of your opponent's Rearguards, and place it on your opponent's Vanguard Circle. At the beginning of the End Phase of that turn, your opponent chooses a card from their Soul and Rides it.
'Know your limits! Black Downfall!'
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Card Stats:
Devil Blade, Berith
Grade 2/Demon – Dark Irregulars/8000 Power/5000 Shield
Auto [R]: During your Main Phase, when a card is put into your Soul while you have a Dark Irregulars Vanguard, this Unit gains 3000 Power until end of turn.
Fallen Seraphim, Samael
Grade 3/Angel – Dark Irregulars/10000 Power/No Shield
Auto [R]: During your Main Phase, when a card is put into your Soul while you have a Dark Irregulars Vanguard, this Unit gains 3000 Power until end of turn.
(The above two cards were created by me.)
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Next time, with Team Avalon fractured and broken, the remaining three players must fight Team Melody. With Charles as resolved as ever to losing in order to receive the money from Morgan's sponsor, the fight goes against Avalon near-immediately. However, Agatha is determined to stay in the fight, and she mounts a determined resistance, trying to convince Robert that there is another way for him to take.
Witness her fight for Avalon to survive in Ride 35: For the Team!