Vanguard: Acceleration
Chapter 36
A Borrowed Kaiser
Though disappointed in their defeat at the hands of Team Strike Shadow, Virgil and Raphugio were happy at the fact they performed better than they originally anticipated against them. Rest assured next time they fight they'll pay them back with interest. Still after some much needed and short lived sulking they went to a different tournament site in Miami for their next preliminary match. That place happens to be one of the four large rooms inside the Miami Beach Convention center, of which is already filled to capacity with several vanguard fans.
"Good afternoon Vanguard fans you all know me as Dr. O's co-announcer Sara. The original commentator for this site caught a case of food poisoning so I've been called in to replace him until his stomach has been pumped, but I'm sure my colleague can handle the remaining fights at Sun Life Stadium." Sara explained.
This time around Team Destiny Breaker and whoever their opponents happen to be are waiting inside a simple dugout made from a combination of a canopy and a curtain attached to it.
"Are you all ready? Kiba you don't need to go to the bathroom do you?" Dalette asked.
"No I'm good this time around, so I hope as such I actually get to fight." Kiba answered.
"I want to redeem myself after getting beat by that arrogant prick Preston, so I fight as well should I be chosen." Virgil followed.
"I don't mean to be sexist when I say this either, but getting beat by a girl stung so I want a chance to make up for it as well." Raphugio said.
"I um… want a chance to fight as well so I can really see if I belong here." Sade tells her friends.
"Good…. and I'd like to tell you all I'm sorry for how impulsively I acted earlier." Dalette tells her friends.
"Now it's time to get this next match of the US National tournament preliminary round underway. Unfortunately for both these teams they're both at 1 loss each, so if they want to keep their dream of winning Nationals alive both parties will have to fight like their lives depend on it." Sara explained to the crowd.
"It's still early in the competition, so talk about bad luck to be in this position this soon." One random vanguard fan tells his friend.
"No kidding… I feel sorry for whoever these two teams are." That friend retorts.
"Still stinging from frost bite after being destroyed by Team Star Ocean we have to Beetlez an al Mega Colony Team. Their opponents wishing to make up for their defeat by Team Strike Shadow a couple hours ago we have Team Destiny Breaker." Sara announced.
For some reason the moment Sara said that Team Destiny Breaker's opponents, Kiba suddenly kicked the chair he was sitting on with the back of his foot.
"Is something wrong big bro?" Sade asked.
"Oh that's right you still haven't seen it yet. You see Sade, Kiba here seems to almost always have horrible luck against Mega Colony users." Virgil explained.
"The first fight of this match will be a tag-fight between Virgil Hernandez and Raphugio Gomez of Team Destiny Breaker versus Julie Cartigan and Brad Siegler. This is a perfect chance for the fighters to atone for their defeats in the two team's previous matches." Sara explained.
"Well that's our cue. Come on Virgil let's show them what we can do together." Raphugio explained.
Having to fight against two Mega Colony users in a tag-fight was certainly a daunting experience for Virgil and Raphugio, but they most definitely have what it takes to move past this obstacle.
"It's my turn, so stand and draw." Virgil said.
"Please… unless you beat us this turn.. which I doubt you will the two of you will loose on my next turn." Julie said with some arrogance in her voice.
"Awaken necromancer of the deepest depths! I break ride Ice Prison Necromancer, Cocytus! Through his and my break ride skill I superior call Nightstorm and Romario, of which one will boost the other to attack!" Virgil declared.
"No guard….. damage check…. no trigger." Julie revealed.
"This fight is over. The winners are Virgil and Raphugio of Team Destiny Breaker." The judge announced.
"I have to admit that fight was far closer then I originally expected, but I won't go on talking like my colleague Dr. O. Fighting to put the final nail in Team Beetlez coffin the vice-captain of Team Destiny Breaker Kiba Nakashima. His opponent will be fighting especially hard to stay alive the captain of Team Beetlez Raze Alburn." Sara announced.
As both fighters emerged from their dugouts, Kiba saw that his opponent a light brown haired man was dressed like one of those insect type trainers from the Pokemon games compared to his more casually dressed teammates.
"It's a shame we had to meet under such circumstances. Something tells me that we would have been good friends." Raze said as he shook hands with Kiba.
"There's nothing preventing that after the fight is over regardless of who wins this one." Kiba pointed out.
"Maybe you're right, but right now we have to treat each other as enemies regardless. Still good luck my…. ha ha friend I guess." Raze said in turn laughing slightly.
"Are the two of you ready?" the judge asked a little early as these two had only just walked to the fight tables closest to their respective team's dugout.
"What the…. this isn't my deck." Kiba thought as he hurriedly searched through the one in his hands.
"Changing decks literally right before a fight? That's a bit unusual." Will said as Kiba heard his voice on a large TV screen in the room that happened to have been randomly showing the matches going on all over the city.
It's nothing too serious. It just seems that a certain someone accidently absconded with my deck." Isaac explained as he and Will were shown talking on the big screen before their fight.
"Of all people to have my deck it has to be him." Kiba thought.
"Are the two of you ready?" the judge asked.
"Yes." Raze answered.
"Huh? Oh… yeah I'm ready to go." Kiba said as he snapped back to reality.
"Then let the second fight of this match begin!" the judge ordered.
"Stand up, Vanguard!" both fighters yelled.
This time the battlefield takes the form of a place other than where the actual cardfight is going on. Suddenly both the fighters and the fans find themselves inside a giant bee-hive, with golden honeycombs, ambrosia as bright as the sun oozing out of them, and several of the drones seem to be interested in the life or death battle about to occur before them.
"Lizard Soldier, Saishin [Power: 5000]!" Kiba revealed.
Kiba is turned into a small young dragon with orange and white armor, a small dagger charged with a spark of lightning, and two horns are grafted onto the armor so as to serve as a conductor for lightning to empower his attacks.
"Saishin? Then Kiba decided to majorly change up his deck after all." Virgil said surprised to see the tiny dragon.
"Now we'll see just how well he's mastered those changes." Dalette followed.
"Machining Worker Ant [Power: 5000]!" Raze revealed.
Now this apparent insect loving you man is transformed into a human sized black mechanical ant, with green colored glass robotic eyes, and a couple of laser guns for feelers implanted on his head.
"I ride Red River Dragoon [Power: 8000] and Saishin moves to the back row." Kiba explained.
The tiny dragon now takes the form of a dragon knight, clad in red light armor, with a lance as his choice of weapon, and the tiny dragon standing behind him to act as support in this serious battle.
"I ride Phantom Black [Power: 8000] and call behind him Machining Mosquito [Power: 7000]." Raze informed.
Raze's mechanical ant transforms into an organic one, standing on two legs, with yellow/orange eyes, proudly smoking a cigar, and has a whole no-nonsense attitude about the whole thing. Still the meld of the cyber and the organic has its advantages as a black machine mosquito appears behind him with a long gun barrel for a nose.
"Before I attack Machining Mosquito's skill allows me to soulcharge the top card of my deck." Raze explained.
[Soul Charge – Machining Mantis – No Trigger]
"With the support Phantom Black is swinging in at Red River [Total Power: 15000]!" Raze declared.
"I'm not guarding." Kiba said.
"And now I'll check for a drive trigger [Machining Mantis – No Trigger]. That's ironic in its own way, but that drive check certainly helps." Raze revealed.
Rarely is it seen now a days in Vanguard where when a unit attacks he does it in the form of simple hit and run punch, as is the case with Phantom Black's choice of offense.
"Damage check [Storm Bring Dragon –No Trigger]." Kiba revealed as he placed the card in the damage zone.
"Kind of reminds me of….. nahh he must have just used it as a reference point." Raphugio thought after seeing Storm Bring Dragon revealed in Kiba's damage check.
"I end my turn." Raze said.
Kiba – Raze
5 – Hand – 5
0 – Soul – 2
1 – Damage – 0
0 – Counterblast – 0
Lizard Soldier Saishin, Empty – Empty, Empty
Empty, Red River Dragoon – Phantom Black, Machining Mosquito
Empty, Empty – Empty, Empty
"I ride and call Demonic Dragon Berserker, Garuda [Power: 9000]!" Kiba informed.
Kiba's vanguard transforms into an orange armored dragon, with a snake-like tail, and two large cannons that are facing forward attached to his back. Then the same dragon appears right next to him only with a darker orange armor.
"My vanguard Garuda will attack first [Total Power: 9000]!" Kiba declared.
"No guard." Raze said.
"Drive trigger check [Photon Bomber Wyvern – No Trigger]." Kiba revealed.
The two sets of cannons attaches to these Garudas backs aren't just for show, of which is a point proven even further by the two cannon ball like lightning volleys fired by the vanguard Garuda.
"Damage check [Raider Mantis – Draw Trigger]. I give the power to my vanguard and draw a card." Raze decided.
"Alright, but can you stop my boosted rear-guard Garuda's attack [Total Power: 14000]?!" Kiba asked as he attacked again.
Now the rearguard Garuda gets a chance to prove the cannons attached to his back aren't just for show either.
"Damage check [Paralyze Madonna – No Trigger]." Raze revealed.
"I guess it's back over to you insect master." Kiba said sarcastically as he signaled the end of his turn.
"Oh ha ha very funny." Raze said only slightly amused by Kiba's joke.
Kiba – Raze
5 – Hand – 6
1 – Soul – 2
1 – Damage – 2
0 – Counterblast – 0
Lizard Soldier Saishin, Demonic Dragon Berserker Garuda – Empty, Empty
Empty, Demonic Dragon Berserker Garuda – Phantom Black, Machining Mosquito
Empty, Empty – Empty, Empty
"I ride Machining Mantis [Power: 9000], and while I have a 'Machining' unit in the soul my Mantis gets a +3000 power bonus for the turn." Raze explained.
This organic 2-legged insect now transforms into a 4-legged mechanical one, with two sharpened metal blades used for more than just cutting vegetables, and oh let's not forget the wings attached to his very large lower body.
"I call two Tail Joes [Power: 8000], and my left Tail Joe attacks first with a +3000 power bonus thanks to all of your rearguards being at rest [Total Power: 11000]!" Raze declared.
"I guard with Red River Dragoon [Total Shield: 5000]." Kiba said.
"Now my Mantis will continue to bring up the heat [Total Power: 12000]!" Raze declared again.
"I'm not going to guard that." Kiba said.
"Drive trigger check [Machining Worker Ant – No Trigger]." Raze revealed.
With a reasonable amount of speed, Machining Mantis is able to use his large scythe like blades to leave two very big scythe like gashes in the dragon's orange armor.
"Damage check [Rising Phoenix – No Trigger]." Kiba revealed.
"My other Tail Joe will bring up the rear [Total Power: 11000]!" Raze declared for yet a third time.
"Damage check [Hex Cannon Wyvern – No Trigger]." Kiba revealed.
"Now it's over to you dragon master." Raze said with a bit of sarcasm.
"Oh is that your way of paying me back for what I said earlier?" Kiba asked as he was slightly amused by the statement.
"Pretty much yeah." Raze asked as he was equally amused.
Kiba – Raze
4 – Hand – 5
1 – Soul – 3
3 – Damage – 2
0 – Counterblast – 0
Lizard Soldier Saishin, Demonic Dragon Berserker Garuda – Tail Joe, Empty
Empty, Demonic Dragon Berserker Garuda – Machining Mantis, Machining Mosquito
Empty, Empty – Tail Joe, Empty
"Stand and… draw." Kiba said apparently having been surprised by whatever card he drew.
"What's with that face big bro made?" Sade asked.
"That's the face someone makes when they have to do something that they really don't want to, so that means whatever Kiba just drew is a card he really doesn't want to play right now, but he knows he has to." Dalette answered.
"Well hurry up and play the card so I can see what it is." Virgil said as if his friend could actually hear his words.
"Rain down your roaring violent red thunder! I ride Dragonic Kaiser Vermillion [Power: 11000]!" Kiba yelled.
"Wait what the…. since when did he get that?" Virgil asked surprised to see that legendary dragon in Kiba's hands.
"Forget that why is he even using that?" Raphugio followed.
"Oh so that explains it." Dalette said as if she came to a sudden realization about something.
"Do you have any ideas boss?" Raphugio asked.
"Kiba told us earlier that he literally bumped into Isaac, and Isaac just said on the big screen not too long ago that someone accidently took his deck, so it doesn't take much to piece the two together." Dalette explained.
"Then we just have to see if he can use it like a pro on his first try." Virgil pointed out.
"I haven't felt… this sensation of power swelling up inside me since I first rode Abraxas all those years ago. Is this what it feels like when you know you're getting stronger? Does Isaac feel this every time he rides Vermillion?" Kiba thought as he stares at the hand that rode Vermillion.
"Is something wrong? It's still your turn." Raze asked.
"Huh? Oh right….. I call Dragon Monk, Ginkaku [Power: 6000] and his skill allows me to add the top card of my deck to the damage zone." Kiba explained.
"I wasn't expecting to have to deal with that, but at least it opens up room for what I have planned." Raze thought as he braced himself for the coming onslaught.
"Dragonic Kaiser Vermillion's Limit Break! +2000 power, and he gains the ability to attack your front row for the turn [Total Power: 19000]!" Kiba declared.
"No guard." Raze said.
"Twin drive check [Thunderstorm Dragoon – No Trigger]. Second check [Thunderstorm Dragoon – No Trigger]." Kiba revealed.
Channeling his immense power through his weapon, Vermillion releases a single lightning bolt that suddenly breaks off into three.
"Damage check [Machining Armor Beetle – No Trigger]." Raze revealed as he placed the card in the damage zone.
"Garuda attacks next [Total Power: 14000]!" Kiba declared again.
[Damage Check – Machining Stag Beetle – No Trigger]
"I'll use Garuda's skill to unflip a card in my damage zone, and at the end of my turn I shuffle another card from my damage zone back in my deck." Kiba explained as he performed those mentioned actions.
Kiba – Raze
5 – Hand – 5
2 – Soul – 3
3 – Damage – 4
2 – Counterblast – 0
Lizard Soldier Saishin, Demonic Dragon Berserker Garuda – Empty, Empty
Dragon Monk Ginkaku, Dragonic Kaiser Vermillion – Machining Mantis, Machining Mosquito
Empty, Empty – Empty, Empty
"I ride the Machining Stag Beetle [Power: 10000]!" Raze yelled.
"Kiba better brace himself because he's about to deal with another unit capable of amassing a great deal of attacking power down the center line." Sara announced.
"Stag Beetle's skill allows me to superior call the two Machining Mantises [Power: 9000] at rest, they gain +3k through their own skills, and Stag Beetle's power goes up by +18000 for the turn." Raze explained.
"It's too bad your rearguards aren't standing. Otherwise that would have been a pretty scary formation to deal with." Kiba slyly points out.
"What do you think these two Machining Worker Ants [Power: 5000] are for? Their combined skills allow me to stand the two Machining units directly in front of them." Raze retorts with equal slyness.
"Uh oh." Kiba said with a water proof seal placed around his foot in mouth.
"Now Sade part 2 of the reason he hates Megacolony is that for some reason he seems to have trouble remembering all of their effects." Virgil explains to Sade.
"With the support of my Mosquito, Stag Beetle attacks your vanguard [Total Power: 35000]!" Raze declared.
"I'm not going to guard that." Kiba responds.
"Checking the twin drive [Machining Stag Beetle – No Trigger]. Second check [Sharp Nail Scorpio – Critical Trigger]. I apply the Critical to Machining Stag Beetle and the power to my left Mantis [New Total: 35000 2crit]!" Raze decided.
After leaching a great deal of power from his fellow Machining Insects, Stag Beetle fires off a super concentrated energy beam possessing such strength that its able to push Vermillion back nearly 50-100 meters as he takes the brunt of the attack.
[Damage Check – Dragonic Kaiser Vermillion – No Trigger]
[Damage Check – Malevolent Djinn – Critical Trigger]
"I'll give all effects of the critical trigger to my vanguard." Kiba decided.
"With a boost, my weaker Machining Mantis will attack first [Total Power: 17000]!" Raze declared again.
"Thunderstorm guards [Total Shield: 5000]." Kiba countered.
"Now my stronger Mantis will once more bring up the rear [Total Power: 22000]!" Raze declared for a third time this turn.
"I'm afraid Seiobo will stop that attack [Total Shield: 10000]!" Kiba countered again.
"Guess that's it for me." Raze said signaling the end of his turn.
"I could continue to keep my formation as light as possible right now, but depending on my next twin drive this Raze guy won't even need his to beat me. Then that means… I have no choice, but to end this right now." Kiba thought as he took into account the fight's current circumstances.
Kiba – Raze
3 – Hand – 5
2 – Soul – 2
5 – Damage – 4
2 – Counterblast – 0
Lizard Soldier Saishin, Demonic Dragon Berserker Garuda – Machining Mantis, Machining Worker Ant
Dragon Monk Ginkaku, Dragonic Kaiser Vermillion – Machining Stag Beetle, Machining Mosquito
Empty, Empty – Machining Mantis, Machining Worker Ant
"I call two Red River Dragoons [Power: 8000] and Photon Bomber Wyvern [Power: 6000] to the back row. Next I'll call Thunderstorm Dragoon [Power: 10000] to fill in the empty spot at the front." Kiba informed.
"It seems Kiba Nakashima has decided to go all out in one turn in order to end it this turn, but Raze should have enough defensive strength left to block all these attacks. That would mean victory or defeat for Team Destiny Breaker depends on this next drive check." Sara announced.
"I'll play Vermillion's Limit Break again, and after being boosted by Photon Bomber Wyvern he attacks your front row again as well [Total Power: 23000]!" Kiba declared.
"I'll guard that attack with Scorpio and Raider Mantis [Total Shield: 15000]" Raze countered.
"Now I'll check the twin drive. First check [Dragonic Kaiser Vermillion – No Trigger]. Second check [Yellow Gem Carbuncle – Critical Trigger] I give all effects to Dragonic Kaiser Vermillion [New Total: 28000 2crit]!" Kiba decided much to his apparently good luck.
Once again Raze's front row is torn asunder by Vermillion Thunderbolt, and the defensive line he attempts to place in its way does little to nothing from stopping the reincarnation of the ancient Dragon Emperor from striking Stag Beetle. The resulting explosion had the effect of blowing off the top 2 cards of Raze's deck towards the damage zone.
[Damage check – Sharp Nail Scorpio – Critical Trigger]
"All effects to Stag Beetle, and now….. seconds check [Bloody Hercules – No Trigger]." Raze revealed.
Final Results
Kiba – Raze
0 – Hand – 3
2 – Soul – 2
5 – Damage – 6
5 – Counterblast – 0
Red River Dragoon, Demonic Dragon Berserker Garuda – Empty, Machining Worker Ant
Photon Bomber Wyvern, Dragonic Kaiser Vermillion – Machining Stag Beetle, Machining Mosquito
Red River Dragoon, Thunderstorm Dragon – Empty, Machining Worker Ant
"The fight's over. Winner: Kiba Nakashima of Team Destiny Breaker." The judge declared.
"And there you have it folks Team Destiny Breaker lives to fight another day with a 2-0 victory over Team Beetlez, but still give them a round of applause for how well they've fought today regardless." Sara announced.
"Ahhh critical triggers at the last minute are both fun and irritating depending on if you're on the receiving end or not, but still thank you for the game regardless." Raze said as he and Kiba shook hands.
"There's always next year man, so don't give up on your dream." Kiba said as he was trying to show good sportsmanship to Raze.
"Yeah I know, however until then you guys have to carry our dream with you." Raze said.
"It's a deal." Kiba said as he and Raze share a fight bump.
Certainly when one ends up staring in the maw of death itself and comes back out alive that alone would be enough cause for celebration, but that will have to happen without Kiba as he has to return Isaac's deck. Isaac then made an attempt at thankful pleasantries after his deck was returned, of which just before Kiba left he offered him a bit of advice.
"For my team's last match I decided to use your deck. It certainly possesses great power, but I didn't use a certain one card in it because I could sense a malevolent force running through it. My advice is that if you want to retain who you are as a fighter, do not use that card…. ever." Isaac said placing great emphasis on the last card in the sentence.
After gaining a better understanding of Isaac's strength, Kiba knew he had to put great thought in the meaning behind his words. The battle that decides whether or not Team Destiny Breaker moves past the preliminary stage begins later this evening. Still there's a certain event unfolding sometime after the sun has set, in a vacant lot hidden between several buildings in a random Miami suburb, and the only lights in that vacant lot are coming out of a variety of building windows. That event is an unknown person for whatever reason through whatever method has managed lead Dalette here. This mysterious person stops at one end of the vacant lot while Dalette stands at the other, of which perhaps by chance or choice the distance between the two of them happens to be the same as to cardfighters about to duel in a vanguard arena.
"I thank you for coming here." this mysterious person tells Dalette.
"Just stop trying to beat around the bush. You said that I was chained down by the fact that I happen to look like he Sakura more than I'm willing to admit." Dalette aggressively tells this mysterious person.
"Your reaction just now only proves my point, however iconic to your team name there is a way you can break free from that chain and the destiny it's tied to. Aren't you curious as to what that may be?" This mysterious person asks Dalette.
"I'll admit I'm a bit curious, so just what are you trying to sell me?" Dalette answers this mysterious person with another question.
"A power that is both infinite and infinite potential depending on the wielder, so by using this power the world will have no choice but to acknowledge that your existence is one separate from that of Sakura's." this mysterious person explained.
"What would I have to do to supposedly obtain this 'infinite' power?" Dalette asked more curious then tempted about this person's words.
"It's really quite simple. I'll defeat you, and only by surrendering everything you have to nothingness will you obtain that power." This mysterious person said while taking out a Vanguard deck covered in dark ominous power.
"I'll never throw away a fight to obtain strength, but if a fight is what you want then I'll accept your challenge." Dalette retorts as she takes out her own deck.
"I'm quite confident that I can break your will, but you should know that the infinite power in which I speak is that of an almighty clan and…" This mysterious person was saying as their voice became ever more evil sounding.
Suddenly a dark crimson flame…. no that's not what it was, but it was an evil energy that took the appearance of flames. Regardless, this energy surrounded these two on all fronts and somehow manages to have the effect of temporarily blinding Dalette.
"What is going on here?" Dalette said in shock at the very moment her eyesight returned.
And when her eyesight returned no longer were they filled with this dark crimson red energy, but rather it was as if somehow these two were standing still in the depths of outer space as millions of stars circled around them like they were the center of the universe. Still this site didn't inspire Dalette with an explorer's wonder like it did for astronauts years ago, but a sensation of near paralyzing fear and absolute coldness as somehow two solid-hologram fight tables were just there right in front of both of them with their decks and starting vanguards already placed.
"Ha ha…. And the name of this almighty clan... is Link Joker!" this mysterious person said as they broke off into an evil laugh.
To Be Continued
Kiba: Just where did Dalette disappear to? Our next match is about to begin.
Mysterious Person: She will joint you in plenty of time, but… I can't say if she'll still be the same person.
Kiba: Next time on Vanguard: Acceleration "Locking the Skies".
Dalette: Rrghh just how much power does this clan have?!
Author Note: It's been a while since I've posted an update about the poll, so Sakura is still in the leads Vanguard fans and if you don't want her to win in the end I suggest you hurry and vote for the other candidates.