Vanguard: Acceleration
Chapter 37
Locking the Skies
Author Note: In future chapters should I use Link Joker with the turn by turn statistics I'll put the symbol "(L)" next to unit names should they be locked. Also I hope you all have enjoyed the recent fast updates as they are the result of me not sleeping much the past few days.
The time for the final hurdle separating the members of Team Destiny Breaker from making it past the preliminary round. When it comes to team matches official ones or not Dalette is sure to have everyone be punctual, however in the last arena late in the evening she's the only one missing from this five-man group causing some hysteria with the other members.
"Any response yet?" Kiba asked.
"No Dalette still hasn't responded to any of my texts." Raphugio answered.
"Dam….. okay Virgil keep trying to call her." Kiba suggests.
"Alright man, but this isn't like her to be so late. I hope nothing bad has happened to her." Virgil responds.
"Please show up big sis. I want to show my dad how we all stand together." Sade thought in a quite prayer.
"Where are you going man?" Virgil asked as he noticed his friend suddenly put on his jacket.
"Isn't it obvious what I'm doing? You three can fight while I go look for Dalette. Even if my name does come up again, there's still the official rule about alternates." Kiba answered.
Just as Kiba was about to run out the door of their team's dugout while zipping up his jacket, that door slip open with Dalette walking through. Our ignorant to the feelings of woman hero was just barely able to avoid accidently running into Dalette.
"Dalette where have you been all this time? We've been freaking out over you?" Kiba asked with serious worry in his voice.
"Well….." Dalette was saying.
And as Dalette was speaking she quickly thought back to the events of the last few hours, so yes it is indeed time for another flashback segment. Since their next fight wouldn't be for several more hours and everyone was tense enough as it were, Dalette decided to let everyone cool their heads by exploring the city for a while. So long as everyone gathered together in time for their next fight of course, of which Dalette decided to simply walk around the city for a bit before deciding to take a break in a coffee shop she happened to walk by. There she sits near the window waiting for her drink while people stare at her.
"Excuse miss here's your French Vanilla Cappuccino with extra sugar, chocolate flavored creamer, and a lite shot of whip cream." The waitress said as she placed the drink in front of Dalette.
"I said a shot of lite whip cream mam." Dalette informed.
"Oh I'm terribly sorry about that. I'll take that back and we'll get the order fixed right away." The waitress said.
"No it's alright… I'm not in the mood to be particularly picky about that anyway." Dalette said to reassure the waitress.
Dalette continued to sip on her drink for several minutes until a little boy got Dalette's attention by pulling on her pants leg.
"What is it?" Dalette asked as she puts on a kind expression for the young boy.
"I saw your fight against Sakura and it was super-duper awesome. I was wondering if you could please take a look at my deck and tell me what you think?" the young boy asked.
"Alright." Dalette answered as she started looking through the boy's deck.
"What do you think? It's really awesome right?" the young boy asked after several minutes went by.
"It's important to try and be ready for every situation, but this deck won't function well. It's built as if you were trying to be able to use every possible build of the clan at once. My advice to you is that you find the strategy you like the most in this deck, and rebuild it around that strategy." Dalette explained as she passed back the young boy's deck.
"Okay thanks. I'll be sure to work on it as soon as I get home." The young boy said as he happily ran off.
"Ha ha… what the…. An earthquake?" Dalette mumbled as the ground suddenly shook.
Dalette' eyes were suddenly drawn to a swirl of back and red energy steadily moving towards her, to which the rest of the coffee shop customers seemed completely unaware of it.
"Arghh!" Dalette screamed as once this colored swirl consumed her it felt like she was being burned alive.
Right at the moment where Dalette thinks she's seriously about to die, she shoots awake realizing it was a dream.
"What the? When did I fall asleep?" Dalette thought.
"You say you're nothing like her, but all I see is a big hypocrite tied to the similarity of appearance more than she's willing to admit." A mysterious person said.
"Who are you? And what do you mean a hypocrite?" Dalette asked as she turns to face this mysterious person who happened to be wearing a black cloak.
"Simply put the one who thinks you two are exactly alike aren't the everyday folk that make that mistake, but you who would go to her grave claiming otherwise." This mysterious person pointed out.
"Just what makes you think you can say that?" Dalette asked.
"I'm only staying the obvious, but if you want people to stop making that mistake just follow me." This mysterious person revealed as he starts to walk towards the coffee shop's front door.
"I have nothing better to do, so why not." Dalette thought as she stood up a few seconds after this mysterious person left.
Since he didn't have much of a head start, it didn't take Dalette very long to pick up this mysterious person's trail and catch up with him. Dalette followed this mysterious person or this mysterious person led Dalette which ever you prefer to a vacant lot hidden between several buildings in a random Miami suburb, with the only lights in that vacant lot coming out of a variety of building windows. As Dalette enters this vacant lot, the 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 two 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.
"Link…. Joker? I've never heard of that clan." Dalette said more confused than surprised.
"I can't blame you…. there are few users left nor has there been anyone worthy of wielding them either." this mysterious person explained.
"Take of your hood. I want to see the face of who I'm fighting!" Dalette demanded.
"That's a reasonable enough request so very well." the mysterious person said as he took off his hood.
The moment he took off his hood, this mysterious person was revealed to be…. Raze only the normally kind expression on his face has been replaced with a stern dark expression, red lines that run along his eyes then partway down his face suddenly appear, and his eyes are glazed over and blank yet they are still able to have a menacing presence as well.
"Just what happened to you Raze?" Dalette asked now surprised to see him here.
"I used to be just like you refusing to take the cheap way to anything no matter what, but after that person showed me the way I realized that all that matters is to gain power through any means necessary to accomplish your dreams. Once I'm done here… my friends will learn how glorious this power feels swelling up inside you." Raze said like a high drug addict.
"Then why challenge me to a fight?" Dalette asked.
"That person said he'd give me even more power if I made you like us. He said that with your defeat our kind would rise again in this time." Raze explained.
"Our kind? Just what are you?" Dalette asked.
"I'm something called a 'Reverse Fighter', so again that person said once I break you, that you'll become the very first 'First Generation Reverse Fighter' of this time." Raze answered.
"First Reverse fighter?" Dalette mumbled in a surprised awe.
"I was told to tell you that you Dalette Grayson…. or should I say Dalette Verde are perfect for the role." Raze explained.
"How do you know that I changed my last name?" Dalette asked.
"There's very few things that person doesn't know about. He even knows something about your sister and your secret love you or even they know about themselves, but you'll understand everything once I turn you about how wonderful this feeling is." Raze said threateningly.
"Like hell I'm going to let you turn me!" Dalette yelled.
"Stand up, Vanguard!" Raze yelled.
"Stand up the vanguard!" Dalette yelled.
Even though they're in space or maybe it's because this is merely an illusion of deep space, the normal swirling of wind around these two vanguard fighters still occur.
"Star-vader, Dust Tail Unicorn [Power: 5000]!" Raze revealed.
Once the sudden burst of a black/red aura disappears it's replaced by the remnants of what was once a beautiful creature with white fur, now covered with an inorganic white shall with a dark purple/red underside, its horn has lost its warm luster replaced with a fearful red glow, and surrounding all four of his legs are 4 black rings.
"Starting Sky Rider, Eilethya [Power: 5000]!" Dalette revealed.
Dressed in a pure white robe the and with a powerful enchanted magic dagger, the goddess of childbirth stands in this battlefield first to end it quickly because she understands more than most the value of life.
"That's Link Joker?" Dalette asked with clear surprise on her face.
"Your reaction is very understandable. This should be the first time you've ever set your eyes upon this clan, correct? It's been over two and a half decades since anyone's seen this clan." Raze explained again.
"Just hurry up and take your turn." Dalette counters.
"That's right…. we did come here to fight after all. I ride the Hollow Twin Blades, Binary Star [Power: 8000] and my Unicorn moves behind him." Raze explained.
Descending now is a massed produced warrior created from the data of three legendary heroes, he wields two reverse crescent wing like blades, covered in a red aura along with black rings, and again those black rings surround his shoulder sticking through his shoulder pad.
"Let me give you a little history lesson about this clan… just as every card fighter has their own avatar card….. this entire clan is that person's avatar. They are an army of great destroyers whose power that's always at its pinnacle with their only purpose to bring the serenity of the Void to all that exists." Raze explained.
"An army that has power always at its prime, right?" Dalette asked.
"Ha ha ha yes that's exactly what I've been saying." Raze answered.
"Then this is exciting….. I'll get to see just how much power that really is! I ride Skyward Messenger, Iris [Power: 8000], Eileithya moves, and I call Summoning Sky Rider, Aether [Power: 7000]!" Dalette declared.
With an atypical burst of a faded orange light Dalette transforms into a feminine warrior with bright blue eyes, a light violet dress with a blue trim, in one hand is a sword, in the other hand a red lance, and her normally long blue hair becomes as orange as Dalette's is normally. Then right behind her is an armored knight riding a blue dragon.
"Iris attack [Total Power: 15000]!" Dalette declared.
"No guard." Raze said.
"Drive check [Celestial Sky Rider, Tisiphone – No Trigger]." Dalette revealed.
Having to get through these strangely designed blades are a bit of a challenge to Iris initially, but thanks to the tactical support from Aether she's able to take advantage of an opening in Binary Stars right flank creating a bit of a light show as her weapons become temporarily embedded in his rib cage.
"Damage check [Unrivaled Star-vader, Radon – No Trigger]." Raze revealed.
"I end my turn." Dalette informed.
Dalette - Raze
5 – Hand – 5
0 – Soul – 0
0 – Damage – 1
0 – Counterblast – 0
Empty, Empty – Empty, Empty
Summoning Sky Rider Aether, Skyward Messenger Iris – Hollow Twin Blades Binary Star, Star-Vader Dust Tail Unicorn
Starting Sky Rider Eilethya, Empty – Empty, Empty
"Draw. I ride Star-vader, Mobius Breath Dragon [Power: 9000]!" Raze informed.
Suddenly an evil black rainbow colored aura covers Binary Star replacing him with a white chaotic dragon with a large black ring around his wings, those wings have yellow tip, red scales on his hind legs, and his long tail alone is enough to smack away cars.
"Call Niobium [Power: 9000]. Now…. with the boost from Dust Tail Unicorn, Mobius Breath Dragon attacks Red River Dragoon [Total Power: 14000]!" Raze declared.
"No guard." Dalette said.
"Drive check [Star-vader, Infinite Zero Dragon – No Trigger]." Raze revealed.
Three black rings appear in front of Mobius Breath's mouth each smaller than the one before forming a funnel to which this dragon channeled the same malevolent energy that these very rings are made out of in a concentrate beam.
"Damage check [Dawning Sky Rider, Eos – No Trigger]." Dalette revealed.
"Oh did you need that card? Well regardless I already know what you're thinking right now." Raze informed.
"What would that be?" Dalette asked refusing to let his mind games get to her.
"Its 'Just show me what that clan can do already. The faster I find a way to defeat it the better'. Well another history lesson is that there was another fight involving this very same clan years ago where the person unlucky enough to fight against it had the same thoughts." Raze answered.
"Since you already know what I'm thinking, just stop talking and show me already." Dalette said slightly irritated by what she considered another pointless history lesson.
"I forgot for a moment as we are here to fight after all, so forgive me. Now I'll show you… But can you even imagine just how scary this power is? It's time for me to reveal Mobius Breath's skill!" Raze said as he became covered in the same malevolent aura as his units.
"Here it comes. Whether its stun, draw, retire, bind, freeze, or toolboxing I can handle it." Dalette thought as she mentally prepared herself for what's to come.
"I target Aether… Lock!" Raze yelled.
As Raze pointed his left index finger at Aether two small black rings crisscrossing one another appeared in front of it, those rings expanded to a larger size as it flied around him, and caused him to squirm around in pain as those very rings began to shrink around him.
"What's going on?" Dalette thought as Aether continued to scream in pain.
Dalette's eyes were blinded once more by these shrinking rings leaving only those crisscrossing rings and a darkened sphere with a grayed silhouette of Aether in card form on the inside.
"Why is Aether turned face down?!" Dalette asked as she turns back to her field.
"Whenever one of your units are locked through the effect of a Link Joker, Niobium gains +2000 power for the turn and he'll use that strength to attack [Total Power: 11000]!" Raze declared.
Niobium's bright purple energy claws are covered in another force, something that is the same as the black ring on his back before giving Iris several gashes with them along with tearing of pieces of her clothing.
[Damage Check – Supportive Sky Rider, Anemoi – No Trigger]
"Turn end." Raze said clearly signaling the end of his own.
Dalette - Raze
5 – Hand – 5
0 – Soul – 1
2 – Damage – 1
0 – Counterblast – 0
Empty, Empty – Empty, Empty
Summoning Sky Rider Aether (L), Skyward Messenger Iris – Star-Vader Mobius Breath Dragon, Star-Vader Dust Tail Unicorn
Starting Sky Rider Eilethya, Empty – Furious Claw Star-Vader Niobium, Empty
"It's your turn to make a move Dalette." Raze informed.
"Ouch… what the? I can't turn Aether back over?" Dalette said with surprise as she was shocked by a black lightning for attempting to do so.
"The seal placed upon a locked unit continues until the end of its owner's turn. That means he can't boost whatever you ride into now…. that is if you have something to ride into at all." Raze explained.
"That can't possibly be fair." Dalette retorts.
"I already told you that their power is far greater than even the darkest things you can imagine. Before this fight is done, I'll bind you to this power!" Raze continued to explain.
"I'll admit this 'Lock' is a completely unexpected skill, but I'm not just going to roll over and die for you! I ride the Celestial Sky Rider, Tisiphone [Power: 10000]!" Dalette declared.
"Please don't do that at all. It wouldn't be fun for me otherwise." Raze retorts.
"I call another Tisiphone [Power: 10000] and Dark Sky Rider, Chaos [Power: 9000]!" Dalette informed.
"Like I said, please try and make this challenging for me. Otherwise, how else do you expect me to master this clan?" Raze said as he continued to provoke Dalette.
"Rearguard Tisiphone, boosted by Eilethya attack Niobium [Total Power: 15000]!" Dalette declared.
Tisiphone takes full advantage of the duel-wielding principal she's taken up and the lessons she's received from Iris to slice an X shaped cut into Niobium rendering him nothing more than the same kind of particles that make up those black rings.
"Now Chaos attacks, and gains +3000 power thanks to my Sky Rider vanguard to attack yours [Total Power: 12000]!" Dalette declared again.
"Damage check [Star-vader, Dark Band Dragon – No Trigger]." Raze revealed.
"My vanguard attacks [Total Power: 10000]!" Dalette declared for a third time.
"I'm not guarding." Raze said.
"Drive check [Northern Sky Rider, Boreas – Critical Trigger] I give all effects to my vanguard Tisiphone [New Total: 15000 2crit]." Dalette informed.
"That's fine, so feel free to continue struggling for just a bit longer." Raze said.
"You still have two damage triggers to check, so get to it!" Dalette yelled as she failed to realize that Raze's mind games are starting to get to her.
[Damage Check – Star-vader, Stellar Garage – Heal Trigger]
"Power to Mobius Breath and Dark Band is moved to the damage zone." Raze informed.
[Damage Check – Barrier Star-vader, Promethium – No Trigger]
"I end my turn." Dalette said.
Dalette - Raze
4 – Hand – 5
1 – Soul – 1
2 – Damage – 3
0 – Counterblast – 0
Empty, Dark Sky Rider Chaos – Empty, Empty
Summoning Sky Rider Aether, Celestial Sky Rider Tisiphone – Star-Vader Mobius Breath Dragon, Star-Vader Dust Tail Unicorn
Starting Sky Rider Eilethya, Celestial Sky Rider Tisiphone – Empty, Empty
"Like the number zero, descend empty dragon hiding infinite potential! Ride Star-vader, Infinite Zero Dragon [Power: 11000]!" Raze yelled.
"What's wrong with me? Just from seeing him ride this dragon, why am I…." Dalette is thinking.
"Feeling such fear? The answer to that is quite simple. Though your mind refuses to acknowledge it, your heart already knows it cannot defeat Link Joker." Raze said finishing her thought.
"Then I'll cut it out if that's what it takes to beat you, so just stop wasting my time and just take your turn!" Dalette yelled.
"Call Niobium [Power: 9000] and Lanthanum [Power: 7000]. With the support of Lanthanum's boost, Niobium attacks Dark Sky Rider, Chaos [Total Power: 16000]!" Raze declared.
"I could block, but I'll need the room to deal with whatever a Link Joker Limit Break does." Dalette thought as she placed Chaos in the drop zone.
"Now Infinite Zero Dragon attacks your vanguard [Total Power: 18000]!" Raze declared.
"I'm not guarding that.
[Drive Check – Barrier Star-vader, Promethium – No Trigger]
[Drive Check – Star-vader, Vice Soldiert – Critical Trigger]
"All effects go to Infinite Zero Dragon [New Total: 23000 2crit]!" Raze informed.
A large black sphere starts to take shape in Infinite Zero Dragon's hand, and all that power is fired at Tisiphone like a super Kamehameha wave.
"Damage check [Storm Sky Rider, Zeus – No Trigger]. Second check [Astral Sky Rider, Pleiades – No Trigger]." Dalette revealed as she placed the two cards in the damage zone.
"I end my turn, but you only have 2 left." Raze informed.
Dalette - Raze
4 – Hand – 5
1 – Soul – 2
4 – Damage – 3
0 – Counterblast – 0
Empty, Empty – Empty, Empty
Summoning Sky Rider Aether, Celestial Sky Rider Tisiphone – Star-Vader Infinite Zero Dragon, Star-Vader Dust Tail Unicorn
Starting Sky Rider Eilethya, Celestial Sky Rider Tisiphone – Furious Claw Star-vader Niobium, Demonic Claw Star-vader Lanthanum
"What do you mean I only have two turns left?" Dalette asked.
"It means as it sounds…. You only have your next coming turn, and depending on my next drive check the turn afterwards before you experience baptism by lock." Raze explained.
"Father to the hero of the skies descend! I ride Storm Sky Rider, Zeus [Power: 11000]!" Dalette yelled.
Standing equal in height to Infinite Zero Dragon is the king of gods Zeus wearing a dark purple toga, with a symbol for Mt Olympus printed upon a medal that's pinned to his outfit, and is holding in a bag made of the finest silk are several of his most finely crafted lightning bolts.
"We'll see just how much time is left in this fight right now. My rearguard Tisiphone is swinging in at your vanguard [Total Power: 15000]!" Dalette yelled.
"Krypton will stop that [Total Shield: 5000]!" Raze countered as he placed the card on the guardian circle.
"With the support of Aether, Zeus attacks your Infinite Zero Dragon [Total Power: 20000]!" Dalette declared again.
"No guard." Raze said.
[Drive Check – Evening Sky Rider, Hesperus – No Trigger]
[Drive Check – Northern Sky Rider, Boreas – Critical Trigger]
"All effects go to Zeus [New Total: 25000 2crit]!" Dalette informed as she tapped the king of gods with the critical trigger.
"Damage check [Soaring Star-vader, Krypton – No Trigger]. And second check [Star-Vader, Infinite Zero Dragon – No Trigger]." Raze revealed.
"I end my turn." Dalette said.
"That means you only have 1 turn left before you're bound to the power of nothingness." Raze informed.
Dalette - Raze
6 – Hand – 4
2 – Soul – 2
4 – Damage – 5
0 – Counterblast – 0
Empty, Empty – Empty, Empty
Summoning Sky Rider Aether, Storm Sky Rider Zeus – Star-Vader Infinite Zero Dragon, Star-Vader Dust Tail Unicorn
Starting Sky Rider Eilethya, Celestial Sky Rider Tisiphone – Furious Claw Star-vader Niobium, Demonic Claw Star-vader Lanthanum
"Erase everything from existence and turn what's left into nothingness! Break ride the vanguard, Star-vader, Dark Band Dragon [Power: 10000]!" Raze yelled.
"Here it comes… I just hope I'm ready." Dalette thought as she mentally readied herself for the coming onslaught.
"Infinite Zero's break ride skill! My vanguard gets +10000 power, the column on your right side is locked, and my left column gains +8000 attacking power." Raze explained.
Two sets of these crisscrossing black rings form on the side of Dark Band Dragon's evil blade. He swings his sword to throw one ring to lock Eilethya, and swings it again to lock Tisiphone with the binding force of the black rings. I only wish right now that I could come up with a Lord of the Rings reference that fits this current situation. I guess more than one ring is needed to rule them all….. hey there's a reference yay. Ahem….. back to business.
"Are you done yet?" Dalette asked as she puts up a brave face.
"No not even in the slightest. I call Radon [Power: 9000] to the front row, and now you're about to see it… just how scary a Link Joker Limit Break really is! Dark Band Dragon's Limit Break: Counterblast 1 Star-vader and get to lock Aether." Raze explained.
Once more Dark Band swings his blade to lock another of his units leaving Dalette's offense for her next turn in shambles…. That is if she should survive long enough for that to be the case.
"My left column gains +4000 more power, and they'll use all that extra strength to attack Zeus [Total Power: 28000]!" Raze declared.
[Damage Check – Dark Sky Rider, Chaos – No Trigger]
"Radon attacks next [Total Power: 12000]!" Raze declared again.
"I guard with Boreas [Total Shield: 10000]!" Dalette counters.
"Now with the support of Dust Tail, Dark Band Dragon will move in to try and slay the king of gods [Total Power: 28000]!" Raze declared for the third time this turn.
"Achelois[Perfect Defense]!" Dalette countered again practically throwing the card on the guardian circle like a cannonball out of a cannon.
"Ha ha twin drive check [Demonic Claw Star-vader, Lanthanum – No Trigger]. Second check [Keyboard Star-vader, Bismuth – Stand Trigger]. All effects to Niobium." Raze decided.
Using his own brand of Star War's dark side force lightning, Dark Band channels all that dark power through his gigantic blade though all that power still couldn't pierce Achelois's indomitable shield.
"Now Niobium attack again [Total Power: 20000]!" Raze declared.
"My other Boreas stops that [Total Shield: 10000]!" Dalette counters yet again.
"I end my turn. Ha ha an only one turn left." Raze evilly laughs again.
Dalette - Raze
2 – Hand – 5
2 – Soul – 3
5 – Damage – 5
0 – Counterblast – 1
Empty, Empty – Unrivaled Star-Vader Radon, Empty
Summoning Sky Rider Aether (L), Storm Sky Rider Zeus – Star-Vader Infinite Zero Dragon, Star-Vader Dust Tail Unicorn
Starting Sky Rider Eilethya (L), Celestial Sky Rider Tisiphone (L) – Furious Claw Star-vader Niobium, Demonic Claw Star-vader Lanthanum
"How does it feel knowing that you only have 1 turn left to live?" Raze asked.
"Don't act like you've already won this fight!" Dalette yelled.
"Well with how you've fought right now I'm quite confident I will. That power is nowhere near what you need for the two kinds of fights you want to have." Raze said.
"What are you talking about?!" Dalette asked.
"The person that gave me this power can see everything, and as such I can see everything as well." Raze said.
All of a sudden Dalette could no longer see the fight, and all she could see is some kind of space filled with the same energy that empowers the Link Jokers and a sort of ephermeral hallucination of Raze standing in front of her.
"The first fight you want the most is one where you can crush the person that denies you your right to exist. The second fight you want is one where you can show that person how you feel with no inhibitions." Raze said.
"Shut up!" Dalette screamed.
"I'm sure that you've already realized that with your level of power you may be capable of defeating these people in a fight, but…. you'll never be able to have that kind of fight with them." Raze explained.
"I said shut up!" Dalette screamed again.
"That fight that happened a while ago….. I think I'll quote a bit from that day. Two alternate paths open up for those who recognize their limits… The first path is to just wallow in failure, just trying to get by with your meager strength. The other path is… surpassing the you of yesterday." Raze continued to explain.
"What?!" Dalette said as what Raze is saying is starting to get to her much to his dislike.
"Dalette Grayson! If you obtain this deck, you'll be able to surpass yourself as many times as you need….. So which path will you choose?... Picture yourself using yourself using Link Joker to fight Sakura Verde!" Raze yelled.
As serious as this fight is Dalette can't help to respond to the human instinct of blinking, and once she opens her eyes…..
"Dalette!" this illusion of Sakura yelled.
She saw that she hand the same field and possibly hand as Raze, and Sakura had….. what Ezel users would call their ideal field.
"…Sakura." Dalette mumbled.
"Now picture yourself….. using Link Joker against Kiba Nakashima!" Raze yelled.
Once again Sakura responded to the human need to blink, and found once she opened her eyes Link Joker still on her field….
"Dalette!" this illusion of Kiba yelled.
"…Kiba." Dalette mumbled.
This time Sakura saw that Kiba had what she knew he would call his ideal field with one of his decks.
"Right now this is my…." Dalette was saying as she glanced over her new field.
"…You last chance for victory. If you don't take the power now, you'll never be able to have the kind of fight you want with them. All you have to do is ride that unit in your hand to win." Raze said.
"I already know….. that I'll be filled with this same power if I use this card. I'll get the power I need to have the fight I want." Dalette thought.
"Now abandon your old ideals… and take up new ones with this almighty clan. Begin the infinite cycle of surpassing yourself." Raze said.
"Yes… it is time to make a choice." Dalette said as she comes close to accepting this power.
Dalette razes this mystery card over her head….. like how a card fighter would trying to make an epic comeback.
"What are you doing?" Raze asked as Dalette lowered the card and held it by the edge of one side with both hands.
Before I continue with the next few lines… there's one thing I must ask that you all absolutely have to do. Find a recording of "Believe in my Existence" through any means necessary and play it when I give the signal. Seriously if you have to look it up on an I-Pad, I-Pod, I-Tunes, Youtube, etc do it again seriously do it.
"How many times do I have to say it?! I won't sell my soul for power, and I'll prove just how much power I have by beating you right now!" Dalette screamed as she ripped whatever Link Joker Card is in her hand in half.
Now play that song! For the love of god play it now, play it now, play it now, and again for the love of god play it now! This illusion ends the moment Dalette rips that card, and she finds herself having already drawn for turn.
"Ensure victory as the sun stands in the center of the dark clouds! Break ride, Solar Sky Rider, Alectrona [Power: 11000]!" Dalette yelled.
"So you'll continue to fight until the better end? That's fine, but it won't change anything." Raze thought.
"Alectrona's power goes up by +10000, I bind the last two cards of my hand, search my deck for copies of them, and I superior call Eosphorus [Power: 9000] and Hesperus [Power 7000]. Through their skills they gain +3000 power each for the turn." Dalette explained.
"You still don't have enough power to win." Raze said.
"That's why…. Break over the limit! Alectrona's skill twice over! I empty my hand then Alectrona plus Eosphorus gains +10000 power! Alectrona's Awakening Sun Rise!" Dalette explained.
"Yes…. Show me everything you have, so I can render it all to nothingness!" Raze said as he broke off into an evil laughter.
"With Hesperus's support, Eosphorus attacks Dark Band Dragon [Total Power: 32000]!" Dalette declared.
"Lanthanum, Bismuth, and Soldiert guards [Total Shield: 25000]!" Raze countered
"Tch… fine then. Alectrona attack [Total Power: 31000]!" Dalette declared for the second time.
"Promethium nullifies [Perfect Defense]!" Raze countered again.
"Twin drive check [Northern Sky Rider, Boreas – Critical Trigger] I give all effects to Eosphorus." Dalette informed.
"If only your Tisiphone and Eileithya weren't locked… you might have been able to win this turn." Raze pointed out.
"I still have one check left, so shut up! Second check [Unlucky Sky Rider, Eurus – Stand Trigger] Power to Eosphorus and he stands again!" Dalette informed.
"What?!" Raze said with a legitimate look of surprise on his face.
"Now Eosphorus bring me…. victory [Total Power: 32000 2crit]!" Dalette declared…. hopefully for the last time for her sake.
"Damage check [Star-vader, Dark Band Dragon – No Trigger]." Raze revealed.
Final Result
Dalette - Raze
2 – Hand – 0
3 – Soul – 3
5 – Damage – 6
5 – Counterblast – 1
Evening Sky Rider Hesperus, Morning Sky Rider Eosphorus – Unrivaled Star-Vader Radon, Empty
Summoning Sky Rider Aether (L), Solar Sky Rider Alectrona – Star-Vader Dark Band Dragon, Star-Vader Dust Tail Unicorn
Starting Sky Rider Eilethya (L), Celestial Sky Rider Tisiphone (L) – Furious Claw Star-vader Niobium, Demonic Claw Star-vader Lanthanum
"Now… what do….. you think of my power?" Dalette said gasping for air as this fight ended.
"Harrhghh Arhghhh" Raze said as he suddenly started screaming in pain.
Raze started convulsing in pain for it was as if the same malevolent presence that filled this….. deck was being violently being purged from his body.
"Are you okay? What the…" Dalette was saying before being rendered speechless after running to Raze's aid.
The reason that Dalette was rendered speechless was because she saw his Link Joker deck spread across this vacant lot's floor suddenly and somehow even though there was no fire burn away to where not even ashes remained.
"Ow ow ow… where am I?" Raze thought as he suddenly had a severe headache.
"We're at an empty vacant lot next to a coffee shop not that far from the convention center." Dalette answered.
"You're…. Dalette right? Why am I here?" Raze asked as Dalette helped him stan up.
"Don't you remember? You brought me here, challenged me to a fight, and dissed my fighting in the process." Dalette explained.
"I did what? I would never do something like that, but for some reason I can't remember anything that's happened in the last few hours." Raze explained.
"Then what's the last thing you do remember?" Dalette inquired
"I remember… that just after I fought your friend Kiba someone approached me, but I don't remember who….. afterwards I was…. here." Raze explained.
"Do you think you can back to whatever hotel you're staying at by yourself?" Dalette inquired.
"I have no idea where my ride is, so I think I'll have to make a phone call." Raze answered.
"Then you can borrow my phone." Dalette said.
Dalette decided to stay until Raze's teammates came by to pick him up, but that took a while so afterwards she hurried over to her team's next tournament site hopefully not being top their next match which at last ends this flashback.
"… nothing just a really bad traffic jam is all." Dalette said as she finished that began just before the flashback started.
"I need to get picked for this fight." Sade mumbled as the pressure of this coming match was starting to get to her.
"Don't worry Sade… you'll convince your dad this is a dream worth pursuing." Kiba said in an attempt to cheer his unofficial little sister up.
Meanwhile somewhere mysterious Flynn and Quinn are holding a discussion in a dark room lit only by several floating screens.
"It seems the test was a failure." Flynn reports.
"Then the new method of creating Reverse fighters still need work." Quinn deduced.
"Yeah well no matter how much they fine tune the process, they'll never be able to hold a candle to we true blooded second generation Reverse fighters." Flynn said with an absolute confidence.
To Be Continued
Dalette: Just what is going on behind the scenes?
Quinn: You'll find out when the time is right.
Kiba: Don't worry Sade you'll do fine.
Sade: Next time on Vanguard: Acceleration "The Chunin Exams"
Kiba: Ninjas? Again….. seriously Ninjas? And what's with the Naruto arc for a chapter tittle?