Ride 36: Edge of Decisions
Card of the Day: Enigman Nebula
Samuel watched in silence as Agatha won against Adam, dealing her final blow with Nightmare Doll, Alice. The sight stirred an ember of pride deep in the ice of his rage, but it lasted only a moment before his rage extinguished it. Even though she had won, Avalon would still fall, dragged into darkness by Charles and Robert. All for filthy greed and stained money. He clenched a fist, still angry.
"I'd have thought you'd be with your team, not watching this here."
The voice sent a shock through him, he remembered it all too well. The last time he had heard it spoken to him in person, it had been apologizing, telling him of how its owner had gotten a place with Celestial Dusk. Betraying him.
Samuel turned and there he stood. Black hair, hazel green eyes, dressed in a rich black coat over a more ordinary shirt and jeans, his gaze turned to the TV. He recognized his friend despite the months, despite the changes.
"Henry," he hissed. "What the hell do you want?"
"I've been looking for you all over the place," Henry said.
"Why? Did your owners have some message they wanted to taunt me with? Is that why they let you off the leash?" Samuel snapped.
"I'm here because I want to be," the young man replied. "Because I thought you were better than just walking out on your team."
"They betrayed Agatha and I, Henry," he muttered. "Just like you betrayed me. Don't you dare lecture me!"
"Do you even know or care about why Robert decided to accept Morgan's offer?" Henry asked, noting the surprise on his face. "We know already, Samuel. Everyone keeps tabs on everyone else here. We knew about Morgan's offer moments after he made it."
"Whispers and secrets, you make this place sound like some club for spies," Samuel said bitterly. "Why do you even give a damn? You didn't when you walked off to go join Celestial Dusk so you could go eat caviar in fancy parties and walk around with some model on your arm."
Henry barely reacted to the bitter accusation. "I cared back then, Samuel. I didn't want things between us to end how they did." He paused. "I get that you hate me. But don't take out your anger at me on your teammates. Especially not Robert."
"Why... why did he accept that offer, if you're so amazing and know everything?!" he demanded. "Why did he just decide to sell himself off to Morgan?!"
"I don't know," he admitted.
"So why do you think you can come down here and tell me not to judge him?!"
"Because you've just stormed away from your team when they needed you," Henry said. "It's not them you're angry at. It's me, because when you look at what they've done, all you see is echoes of what I did."
"They still made that choice! They still did their deal with the devil!" Samuel retorted. "Stop acting like if you just apologize for them, it'll wash everything away! Stop lecturing and patronizing me, Henry! You were my friend... my closest friend! You met my parents... my sister! We were going to make it together! Conquer the leagues and be champions! And then you went and threw it all away for cash! For their filthy money!" He stood up, deck in hand. "You turned on us when we trusted you most!"
Henry was silent for a moment. "Samuel... I never wanted to stop being your friend."
"So why did you do it?!"
He said nothing for a moment. "Your deck... Shadow Paladin. You use it because of me, don't you?"
"Why shouldn't I, when you taught me that lesson?" he said bitterly. "If you want to get anywhere in this world, you have to sacrifice things. Your money, your time... your integrity. Sacrificed at a moment for ambitions."
"Ambitions... no, that wasn't it," Henry said quietly. "But now... this whole time since I left, you've taken that deck and made its creed your philosophy. Give your lives to the cursed dragon... you think everything you do means you sacrifice something? What did you sacrifice to form that team, Samuel? To lead it here?"
"My happiness," he growled in answer. "Because I came back here and my past came back again."
Henry sighed. "You don't get it. You think you're tied to that belief now, that it keeps coming back again and again for you. That it always will. And because you're still so angry at me, you've never let yourself move on." He took a card from his deck, staring at it. "This is the pale, lone sword that cuts the world..." he murmured.
"You want to settle things? Then fight me!" Samuel demanded, holding up his deck.
"What will fighting me here do?" he asked. "It won't help your team. We can settle things later. Right now, your team needs you."
"My team's decided it can do fine without me," he snapped.
"No, your team's more committed to their decisions because you stormed off in a sulk rather than staying to tell them what they're giving up."
"And what, exactly, did you give up?!" Samuel growled. "It didn't seem like a whole lot to me! Two friends you didn't give a damn about in exchange for a world of fame and fortune... for being a champion. That's why I didn't want to come back. That's the price of being a champion... to stand alone. To betray everyone and never let anyone get close."
"That's your anger talking," Henry replied coldly. "Your teammates deserve more than your grudge against me. Go and cheer them on, Samuel. Help them. Maybe... you'll make them see." With that, he turned to walk away.
"Why do you care?" Samuel asked. "It'd help you if my team got knocked out."
"Maybe I want to settle things between us," his former friend said. "And... just maybe, repair our friendship, Samuel. I didn't want things to turn out this way." With that, he was gone, walking away into the stadium.
"Henry... damn you..." he muttered. But still he stood up and walked away into the stadium. Perhaps his old friend was right.
VBH36
Robert slowly walked into the stadium. With every step, he focused on his mother. This was for her. Losing this on purpose was for her. Every step brought another memory of her collapsing exhausted onto her bed right after coming home. Of her trying to beg the bailiffs to just please give her another week. And of her crying late at night when she thought he wasn't awake to hear her. He could end that. All he had to do was lose.
And yet, with each step, other thoughts invaded his mind. Of fighting alongside his teammates at Regionals. Practicing with them. That first fight with Samuel all those weeks ago, the fight which had started this. He remembered his wins in the shop tournament, and celebrating with not just his teammates, but his friends the day after Regionals with a party in the shop.
And as he walked, his heart felt heavy, weighed down by the battle waging in his soul. What was he meant to do? Help his mother, or betray his teammates?
"Come on, Robert, you can do this!"
"Go on, Robert!"
"We believe in you!"
Alice, Richard and Leah. He recognized their voices tearing through the stadium, words of encouragement which only hurt. It wasn't just Samuel and Agatha he would be betraying by losing, it was them. And that just made him hurt more, because when his thoughts turned to his mother, even thought his heart screamed it was the right thing to do, now his conscience was talking too, urging him to think not just about her, but everyone else this would affect.
He was so engulfed by the turmoil in his head that he almost walked into the cardfight platform before stopping. He looked up, seeing his opponent, a woman dressed in tight black biker leathers. With her brown hair colored in streaks of white, red, black and pale green, she looked like some kind of rock band groupie.
"So, you're the last one," she said. "The name's Christine. You'd better be prepared to lose, boy, since I'm not holding back." She placed down her starter Vanguard, shuffling her deck and setting it down, while he silently did the same. "What's wrong? Cat got your tongue?" He didn't answer. "Just shy then. That's a pity. I was hoping for some drive out of you, but if you're just a spineless wimp, I'll run you down and get this done."
The preparations were quickly finished, and the referee made his declaration. "The fight between Christine Drover of Team Melody and Robert Macmillan of Team Avalon will now begin!"
"Stand up, Vanguard!" the two called.
"Justice Flag!"
"Synthesizer Nightmare!" A field took shape around them, a great concert hall made of dark stone, with torches burning in the stands and the walls decorated with skulls and bones. On one side of the stage, Robert's noble Vanguard formed, while on Christine's side, a pale young man with a twisted smirk appeared, wearing black leather clothes and holding some kind of panel in his hand [Justice Flag – 5000 Power] [Synthesizer Nightmare – 4000 Power]
"Synthesizer Nightmare... what Clan is that from?" Robert wondered.
"Armageddon," Christine replied, making a draw. "I Ride Backing Vocals, Vice!" Synthesizer Nightmare vanished into a wailing storm of shadows, from which emerged a red-skinned demon with leathery wings, dressed in black leather [Backing Vocals, Vice – 7000 Power]. "Nightmare moves to the Rearguard, and I activate Vice's skill, Soul Charge." Synthesizer Nightmare appeared behind Vice [Synthesizer Nightmare – 4000 Power], then she slipped a card into her Soul.
[Soul Charge – Black Witch, Persephone – No Trigger]
"I'll finish things there for now," she smirked.
VBH35
"Huh... Samuel?"
The black-clad young man slumped into a seat next to his sister, gazing down at the arena.
"Where the hell have you been?" Richard demanded. "And why are you here, not down with them?"
"I was... convinced to come and watch," he muttered, mind still dark with thoughts of Henry. "Because someone thinks I can make a difference." He gazed at the field. "That Clan... Armageddon..."
"What are Armageddon about?" Alice asked. "What do they do?"
"They're like all Dark Zone Clans... based around the Soul," Samuel said, glad for the distraction. "They're a little like Pale Moon in that it's not how much Soul you have that really matters, but what's in your Soul. The aim is to get three specific Grade 3s into your Soul, with a fourth as the Vanguard... manage that, and you have a powerful force in your hands. That's the standard gameplay of that Clan, anyway."
VBH35
Christine
Hand: 5
Front Row: Empty/Backing Vocals, Vice/Empty
Back Row: Empty/Synthesizer Nightmare/Empty
Damage: None
Robert
Hand: 5
Front Row: Empty/Justice Flag/Empty
Back Row: Empty/Empty/Empty
Damage: None
"I draw," Robert said. "I Ride Justice Trumpeter." His Vanguard reformed in a flare of light, the noble trumpeter appearing from the radiance [Justice Trumpeter – 6000 Power]. "Then, Flag moves." His original Vanguard reappeared behind Trumpeter [Justice Flag – 5000 Power]. "With a boost from Flag, Justice Trumpeter attacks!"
The trumpeter struck forwards in a flash of light [6000 Power + 5000 Power = 11000 Power]
"No guard," Christine replied.
"Drive Check... no Trigger," he murmured.
[Drive Check – Masked Police, Grander – No Trigger]
Justice Trumpeter struck Vice with a burst of light, knocking the demon back across the stage. "Damage Check," Christine smirked, holding up the card. "Not a Trigger."
[Damage Check – Demon Bouncer – No Trigger]
"I end my turn..." Robert said softly.
Robert
Hand: 6
Front Row: Empty/Justice Trumpeter/Empty
Back Row: Empty/Justice Flag/Empty
Damage: None
Christine
Hand: 5
Front Row: Empty/Backing Vocals, Vice/Empty
Back Row: Empty/Synthesizer Nightmare/Empty
Damage: Demon Bouncer (U)
"Why don't you speak up, kid?" Christine smirked as she drew. "I Ride Advertising Director Gator!" Her Vanguard reformed into a hulking man-crocodile, dressed in black leather, and bearing a microphone more like a club, adorned with bones [Advertising Director Gator – 10000 Power]
"Next, I activate Nightmare's skill. I move it to the Soul and check the top five cards of my deck," she picked up the cards, scanning them, "and then move a Grade 3 Armageddon from those cards into my Soul." She slid a card into the Soul.
[Soul Charge – Lead Guitarist, Rider Pestilence – No Trigger]
"Then, the rest get shuffled into my deck," she continued, shuffling the deck. "I call Lyricist Megachaos and Graphics Director Barbatar." A black demon appeared behind Gator, with twisted insect-like wings shimmering with iridescent colors, its black leather clothes adorned with red, white and pale green stripes [Lyricist Megachaos – 6000 Power], while on the left, a stern-looking demon holding some kind of electronic device took form [Graphics Director Barbatar – 8000 Power].
"Barbatar attacks your Vanguard!" Barbatar offhandedly held up a claw, loosing a spark of lightning from it towards Trumpeter.
"No guard," Robert replied, allowing the spark to strike his Vanguard. "Damage Check... no Trigger."
[Damage Check – Cosmo Siege – No Trigger]
"With a boost from Megachaos, Gator attacks!" The figure tore forwards in a streak of shadows, drawing back a mighty claw [10000 Power + 6000 Power = 16000 Power]
"No guard," Robert repeated quietly.
"Drive Check!" Christine called out. "No Trigger!"
[Drive Check – Lead Pianist, Rider Famine – No Trigger]
She smirked viciously. "Perfect! It's all falling into place... for the solo which'll smash you into nothing, kid! The grand finale is coming together!"
"Damage Check." He slowly moved the card to his Damage Zone.
[Damage Check – Diamond Ace – No Trigger]
"You're like a zombie, kid," Christine said scornfully. "Try and be a little alive, eh? You're gonna bore the crowd."
"Is it my turn?" he asked softly.
She frowned. "Yeah, whatever. Sheesh. You're just boring."
Christine
Hand: 4
Front Row: Graphics Director Barbatar/Advertising Director Gator/Empty
Back Row: Empty/Lyricist Megachaos/Empty
Damage: Demon Bouncer (U)
Robert
Hand: 5
Front Row: Empty/Justice Trumpeter/Empty
Back Row: Empty/Justice Flag/Empty
Damage: Cosmo Siege (U), Diamond Ace (U)
"Stand and draw," Robert said. "I Ride Twin Order." His Vanguard reformed into the crimson android, drawing its beam sabers [Twin Order – 10000 Power]. "And next to it, I call Dailady!" The pink angelic figure appeared next to Twin Order, readying her batons [Super Dimensional Robo, Dailady – 9000 Power]
"Now, Dailady attacks Barbatar!" Dailady soared forwards with a baton at the ready.
"I guard with PR Agent Domina!" Christine retorted. An attractive succubus with vibrant red hair, dressed in a tight-fitting gray suit appeared in front of Barbatar [8000 Power + 5000 Shield = 13000 Power], shattering as Dailady's baton struck.
"With a boost from Justice Flag, Twin Order attacks your Vanguard!" Twin Order leapt forwards, drawing back its blades to strike [10000 Power + 5000 Power = 15000 Power]
"No guard," Christine replied.
"Drive Check... no Trigger," Robert mumbled, holding up the checked card.
[Drive Check – Galaxy Convoy – No Trigger]
"Damage Check," Christine answered. "Get, Draw Trigger!"
[Damage Check – PR Agent Domina – Draw Trigger]
She made a draw as Robert spoke. "I end my turn."
"Still dead?" she asked, irritated. "Man, you're just boring. I'll just finish this mess off quickly, so everyone doesn't die from your dullness."
Robert
Hand: 5
Front Row: Super Dimensional Robo, Dailady/Twin Order/Empty
Back Row: Empty/Justice Flag/Empty
Damage: Cosmo Siege (U), Diamond Ace (U)
Christine
Hand: 4
Front Row: Graphics Director Barbatar/Advertising Director Gator/Empty
Back Row: Empty/Lyricist Megachaos/Empty
Damage: Demon Bouncer (U), PR Agent Domina (U)
"Stand and draw," she continued, holding up a card. "I looked and there before me was a red horse!" As she spoke, a loud beat became apparent, like a thousand drums beating at once, or a horde of horses stamping their hooves in perfect step. "Its rider was given power to take peace from the earth and to make men slay each other! To him was given a large sword! Ride... Lead Drummer, Rider War!"
The beat struck a reverberating note, shaking the field, and her Vanguard was engulfed in burning blood-red flames. From the flames, he emerged, a towering figure in crimson armor, astride a blood-red horse with a mane of flames. In his hands he held two monstrous drumsticks, shaped like swords and swathed in flames. As he appeared, the stands in the virtual world burst into cheers [Lead Drummer, Rider War – 11000 Power]
"Now, I move Barbatar back, and call Persephone, Costume Designer Valentine, and Lead Pianist, Rider Pestilence!" In front of the moved Barbatar, an woman clad in a tight black leather dress appeared, while on the opposite side a succubus in a deep red form-fitting suit appeared behind a second horseman, this one dressed all in black, his horse the same dark shade and a keyboard shaped to resemble a pair of scales gripped in his hands [Black Witch, Persephone – 7000 Power] [Costume Designer Valentine – 6000 Power] [Lead Pianist, Rider Famine – 11000 Power]. "Valentine's skill activates! I move Famine to the Soul and call Gator from it!" Famine vanished into the shadows, and from them re-emerged the brutal Advertising Director [Advertising Director Gator – 10000 Power]. "Also, Persephone's skill. I discard a card," she placed a Backing Vocals, Vice into her Drop Zone, "to search my deck for a Grade 3 Armageddon and add it to my Soul." She quickly retrieved a Unit from her deck, sliding it into the Soul.
[Soul Charge – Main Vocals, Rider Death – No Trigger]
"Death..." Robert murmured as she shuffled her deck.
"You'll see," Christine smirked. "Now, with a boost from Valentine, Gator attacks your Vanguard!" Gator burst forwards, drawing back a claw [10000 Power + 6000 Power = 16000 Power]
"I Intercept with Dailady and guard with Army Penguin!" Robert cried in response. Dailady soared forwards and was joined by the robot, defending Twin Order [10000 Power + 5000 Shield + 5000 Shield = 20000 Power]
"Well then... with a boost from Megachaos, War attacks your Vanguard! I activate Megachaos' skill, when it boosts a Vanguard which has no base Critical, it boosts for an extra 4000 Power!" she cried out. War charged his horse forwards, combining his drumsticks into a great, burning sword [11000 Power + 6000 Power + 4000 Power = 21000 Power]
"No... base Critical?" Robert echoed. "You mean, if this hits, it won't do any Damage?"
"That's right, kid," Christine said. "You gonna guard?"
"No... no guard," he said.
"Twin Drive!" she called out. "Got it, Stand Trigger! I give all the effects to Gator!"
[Drive Check – MC Doomsday – Stand Trigger]
"Second check!" she continued. "Not a Trigger! But still..." she smirked. "You're already in trouble, kid!"
[Drive Check – Demon Bouncer – No Trigger]
War's sword tore a burning arc across Twin Order's chest, knocking the android back. "War's skill activates! When his attack hits, I stand one of my Rearguards! Stand up, Valentine!" Valentine rose to a battle-ready position. "And then, I activate War's other skill! When his attack hits a Vanguard, I Counterblast one, and Superior Ride a Grade 3 Armageddon from my deck at rest!" She went through her deck, finding the card, and throwing it onto her Vanguard Circle.
"I looked, and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death! And Hades was following close behind him!" Christine chanted, shouting the words into the stadium. As she spoke, a loud rock beat shook the ground, before exploding into words shouted too loudly to be understood as the crowd cheered. A burst of pale green engulfed her Vanguard, and the sound of hooves beating on the ground rang out. "Come forth... Main Vocals, Rider Death!"
Then he appeared, a rider astride a pale green horse, clad in robes of the same sickly color. He raised his head, revealing that beneath his hood, his face was merely a skull with burning white novas for eyes. A shadow hovered just behind Death as he threw back his head and let out a loud rock wail, shaking the field [Main Vocals, Rider Death – 9000 Power]
"Death... what does that do?" Robert murmured.
"Death's first skill, first of all," she smirked. "If I have Pestilence, War and Famine in my Soul, he gains 2000 Power and 2 Criticals!" The spectral images of the other three Riders appeared around Death, pale white, bloody red and midnight black [Main Vocals, Rider Death – 11000 Power, Critical 2]
Robert frowned. That made things a bit more awkward, and at the same time, a bit easier.
"Now, with a boost from Barbatar, Persephone attacks your Vanguard!" Christine continued. Persephone raised her hand, casting a bolt of darkness from it towards Twin Order [7000 Power + 8000 Power = 15000 Power].
"I guard with Justice Cobalt!" Robert answered. The blue wolf-man appeared in the attack's path [10000 Power + 10000 Shield = 20000 Power], and was shattered as it hit.
"With a boost from Valentine, Gator attacks again!" Gator burst forwards, blazing with dark power [10000 Power + 5000 Power + 6000 Power = 21000 Power].
"No guard," her opponent said, allowing Gator to smash Twin Order into the ground with a blow of his monstrous fist. "Damage Check... no Trigger."
[Damage Check – Magical Police, Quilt – No Trigger]
"Take your turn, kid," Christine said. "Just make it a good one... chances are it'll be your last."
Christine
Hand: 2
Front Row: Black Witch, Persephone/Main Vocals, Rider Death/Advertising Director Gator
Back Row: Graphics Director Barbatar/Lyricist Megachaos/Costume Designer Valentine
Damage: Demon Bouncer (F), PR Agent Domina (U)
Robert
Hand: 3
Front Row: Empty/Twin Order/Empty
Back Row: Empty/Justice Flag/Empty
Damage: Cosmo Siege (U), Diamond Ace (U), Magical Police, Quilt (U)
"Stand and draw," Robert said softly. "Mum... this is for you." "I Ride Enigman Nebula!" Blazing light swathed his Vanguard and the four wings spread from it, unveiling the brilliant form of Enigman Nebula [Enigman Nebula – 11000 Power]. "I move to the start of the Battle Phase and activate Nebula's skill! Counterblast!" Nebula glowed with energy [Enigman Nebula – 21000 Power, Critical 2]
VBH36
"He's still... using this..." Alice murmured. "Still using Nebula..."
"It represents him... at least he thinks it does," Samuel murmured softly. "A hero fighting alone... without anyone's support..."
"Robert... come on..." Leah whispered.
VBH36
The sound of the vacuum cleaner echoed down the corridor as she moved it across the carpet, cleaning the floor.
"Martha! Hey, Martha!"
She looked up, face haggard and pale from exhaustion, eyes dark. "Yeah...?"
"Your boy's on TV! The Nationals... he's taking part! Why didn't you tell me he was there?!"
"Robert...? I... I didn't know," she said softly.
"Come and watch," the other woman said, emerging from her office dressed in a suit. "He'll want you to cheer him on, right?"
Martha looked around. "I've got too much to do..."
"Oh, come on," the woman replied. "The carpet can wait. What about your son, Martha?" Robert's mother looked unconvinced. "Don't you want to cheer him on at least?"
She hesitated for a moment. "I suppose..." She switched off the vacuum cleaner, moving it aside and stepping down the corner into the office. The TV in the corner was switched on, displaying the ongoing fight at the Apex Stadium.
Seeing her son on the screen, Martha's eyes lit up. "Robert... you got there...?"
"How did you not know?"
"I... haven't talked to him about it, really... or much at all..."
VBH36
"With a boost from Justice Flag... attack, Nebula!" Robert called out. "Enigma Maelstrom!" The points of light formed around his Vanguard, before lancing towards Death [21000 Power + 5000 Power = 26000 Power, Critical 2]
Christine just smiled. "So you finally got your little act together. No guard, kid."
"Twin Drive... first check," he called out. "No Trigger."
[Drive Check – Diamond Ace – No Trigger]
Oddly, despite the appearance of the Perfect Guard Unit, Christine seemed totally unconcerned.
"Second check," he continued. "No Trigger..." "Cloud...?"
[Drive Check – Enigman Cloud – No Trigger]
The blasts of light swept over Death, barely affecting him even as they exploded with heat and power.
"Damage Check!" Christine called out. "First... no Trigger!"
[Damage Check – Poster Boy Beelzebub – No Trigger]
"Second check!" She smirked widely. "Get, Heal Trigger! I give the Power to Death and heal a Damage!"
[Damage Check – Concert Medics – Heal Trigger]
Still smiling, she moved the face-down Demon Bouncer from her Damage Zone to the Drop Zone.
"I end my turn," Robert said. "Maybe... this is it... mum..."
Robert
Hand: 5
Front Row: Empty/Enigman Nebula/Empty
Back Row: Empty/Justice Flag/Empty
Damage: Cosmo Siege (F), Diamond Ace (F), Magical Police, Quilt (U)
Christine
Hand: 2
Front Row: Black Witch, Persephone/Main Vocals, Rider Death/Advertising Director Gator
Back Row: Graphics Director Barbatar/Lyricist Megachaos/Costume Designer Valentine
Damage: PR Agent Domina (U), Poster Boy Beelzebub (U), Concert Medics (U)
"Stand and draw," Christine called. "I think it's time I ended this little mess. Final Turn!"
"Oh my! Christine Drover has just announced her Final Turn! Robert Macmillan could be in real trouble here!"
"Since it's my turn, Death's skill activates," she continued. "As I have Pestilence, War and Famine in my Soul," the forms of the other three Riders appeared, sickly white, burning red and deep black, "Death receives 5000 Power and 2 Criticals!" Death blazed with a shadowy aura [Main Vocals, Rider Death – 15000 Power, Critical 2]. "Now, with a boost from Valentine, Gator attacks your Vanguard!"
"She must have a plan to deal with Diamond Ace," Robert thought. "But that's still good... isn't it?" Even though it should have been a welcome thing that she could get around his Perfect Guard and likely beat him, his heart was still raging with doubts, torn between his conscience and his friends.
"No guard," he said, allowing Gator to strike. "Damage Check... no Trigger."
[Damage Check – Justice Sentinel – No Trigger]
"Now, with a boost from Megachaos, Death attacks!" Christine announced. "I activate Death's Persona Blast! I Counterblast two and discard Death from my Soul, to have him gain 5000 Power! And, on top of that, you have to use at least three units to guard Death's attack! Dread of Death!" Death raised his hand and with a thunderclap a mighty scythe appeared in it, tipped by a microphone. Pointing his scythe across the field, Death unleashed a spear of blackness from it [11000 Power + 5000 Power + 6000 Power + 4000 Power = 26000 Power, Critical 2]
"Oh my! With that, even if Robert Macmillan uses the Perfect Guard in his hand, he'll have to use two additional cards, which would decimate his hand by a large amount! Just how will he react to it?! Will he use that many cards and weaken his hand for the turns ahead, or take this attack and risk it all on a Heal Trigger?!"
Robert looked at his hand. Cloud, Grander, Diamond Ace, Galaxy Convoy and Cosmo Beak. He could guard, true, as the MC had said. But he was finished in any case. And in the end... it didn't matter. He had done it. He would get the money from Morgan and he could help his mother. For that reason, he let himself smile slightly even as he said the fatal words. "No guard."
VBH26
"Robert... no!" Agatha exclaimed. "You... no... no way..."
Charles just smiled. "See. What you managed was just irre-" She cut him off with a slap round the face.
"Shut up, Charles," she snapped, turning back to the action. "There's still a chance."
"A Heal Trigger," he muttered. "He has two chances to get one. That's all."
VBH36
"No... he's in trouble," the woman muttered.
"What is it, Irene? What does that mean?" Martha asked.
"He's just said he's not guarding that attack," Irene explained. "And if it hits, he'll take two Damage, while he already has four. If you reach six Damage in a game of Vanguard, you lose, Martha."
"You mean... he's about to lose?"
VBH36
"Come on... please..." Alice whispered.
"He has to get a Heal Trigger," Samuel said. "It's the only way." He wasn't even really looking. "Henry... why did you think I'd make a difference?"
VBH36
"Twin Drive," Christine declared. "First check... no Trigger."
[Drive Check – Lead Guitarist, Rider Pestilence – No Trigger]
"Second check... ah, not a Trigger. Not that it matters," she smirked. "You're finished, kid. We've won, and we're going to the finals."
[Drive Check – Graphics Director Barbatar – No Trigger]
The black spear struck, and exploded, consuming Nebula's form in utter darkness. The Enigman crashed down, its brilliant glow dimming.
Robert reached for his deck. Only one thing remained to be done, and then his part was finished. But as he reached to turn over the card, they filled his head once more, his friends. And their voices came to him.
"Come on, Robert! There's still a chance!"
"You can survive this! You just need a Heal Trigger!"
"We all believe in you! You can still win!"
He turned over the card, holding it up. "No Trigger."
[Damage Check – Glory Maker – No Trigger]
Turning back to his deck, he reached for the second card. As his hand reached out, their voices sounded once more.
"Robert! You can still do this!"
"Please... please! You can still win!"
"Don't give up! You still have that chance!"
"Your teammates are counting on you!"
He paused. Teammates... the ones he'd fought beside. Agatha... Samuel... Charles. He remembered it, all the fights, all the moments of Team Avalon side-by-side as comrades. Everything they had done fighting together, and everything they had hoped to do. And he was going to kill those hopes by turning over this card. He knew it.
"Robert! We still believe in you!"
It was Agatha, calling out to him from behind. His fingers reached out, touching the edge of the card.
"We're all watching! Even Samuel! We're all behind you, Robert!" Startled, he looked up from where Leah had cried out those words and next to her, he saw him. Samuel sat there, barely looking at all, fury still clear in his eyes.
"Is he just here... to see me fail...? To watch me fall?" he wondered, staring over the distance to his teammate. "So he can be proven right?"
VBH36
Looking down at the field, Samuel was silent. He met Robert's gaze, and the guilt came back to him, drowning his anger. In the end, wasn't he responsible too, just as Mr. Owens had suggested? He had piled up pressure on them all,and if Robert had some reason to take Morgan's offer, hadn't all that pressure just steered him towards taking it even more?
He stood up, still meeting Robert's gaze. "You can do it," he murmured. "I still... I still believe in you." And he gave a single nod, a sign of the faith which still endured beneath his anger.
VBH36
"He... nodded?" Robert thought, seeing his teammate stand and give that single gesture, just visible in the crowd. "Does he... still believe in me?" He gripped the card more firmly, looking towards it with renewed conviction. "Damage Check..." And he turned it over.
There was a brilliant flash.
Christine's eyes widened in horror. "No... no way...!"
But there it was, glowing in his hand, the only card which could have saved him. "Rose... you came for me..." he whispered. "Heal Trigger! I give the Power to Nebula and heal one Damage!"
[Damage Check – Justice Rose – Heal Trigger]
VBH36
Irene shrieked in delight as the camera showed the glowing card. "Heal Trigger... it's a Heal Trigger!"
"What... what does it mean?"
"He hasn't lost! He can still win!"
Her eyes widened. "Robert... you could win this?"
VBH36
Alice and Leah cried out in delight, hugging each other. "Yes! He did it!"
"A Heal Trigger here... it's like fate decided it," Richard smiled.
Samuel's eyes were wide with shock and pride. "You... you got a Heal Trigger? Robert..."
VBH36
Enigman Nebula rose once more, shining with a truly wondrous glow of light [Enigman Nebula – 16000 Power], now too powerful for Persephone to hit.
"Damn it," Christine swore. "You've only bought yourself time. Nothing else, kid. I end my turn."
Christine
Hand: 5
Front Row: Black Witch, Persephone/Main Vocals, Rider Death/Advertising Director Gator
Back Row: Graphics Director Barbatar/Lyricist Megachaos/Costume Designer Valentine
Damage: PR Agent Domina (F), Poster Boy Beelzebub (F), Concert Medics (F)
Robert
Hand: 5
Front Row: Empty/Enigman Nebula/Empty
Back Row: Empty/Justice Flag/Empty
Damage: Diamond Ace (F), Magical Police, Quilt (U), Justice Sentinel (U), Glory Maker (U), Justice Rose (U)
"Stand and draw," Robert said. At this point, even if he used Nebula's skill, he had no guarantee of winning. Christine still had plenty of cards in her hand to guard with. And he was still full of turmoil. Should he even try to win? He could still claim the money for losing, after all. But then it filled him. A feeling. As though that Heal Trigger had been a sign to tell him not to give in. That his friends were there with him, as a team.
He pictured them in his mind, the friends who had fought at his side all this time. Who had supported him, and been his closest allies. His vision of his deck came back to him, the heroes in the Rearguard supporting the heroic Vanguard. And as he looked at Nebula's card, and read it, he knew.
"I call Cosmo Beak!" he called, throwing the card down. The eagle mecha appeared [Cosmo Beak – 8000 Power]. "And Counterblast! Nebula gains 4000 Power!" Enigman Nebula shone with light, blazing with energy [Enigman Nebula – 15000 Power]. "Then, I activate Flag's skill twice! Nebula gains another 2000 Power!" Nebula shone even brighter, glowing with power [Enigman Nebula – 17000 Power]
"What is this?!" Christine growled. "What the hell are you doing?! You can't even release Nebula's Restraint now! You're still as finished as ever!"
"No," he replied. "No, I'm not. I call Galaxy Convoy." Next to Justice Flag, Galaxy Convoy appeared, spreading its wings [Galaxy Convoy – 6000 Power]. "And now, with its skill... Nebula gains another 2000 Power!" Enigman Nebula burst with radiant light, its form blazing like a sun in the battlefield [Enigman Nebula – 19000 Power]. "And now... Enigman Nebula's skill! When its Power becomes 19000 or higher, if it has Restraint, that Restraint is immediately released!"
He took three more cards from his hand, playing them. "I call Enigman Cloud and Karenroid Daisy!" The two Units appeared, shining brightly as they took to the field [Enigman Cloud – 10000 Power] [Karenroid Daisy – 8000 Power]
"What's the point?" Christine asked. "You'll still lose!"
"No... with a boost from Daisy, Beak attacks Death!" he called.
"I guard with MC Doomsday!" she retorted, causing a ghostly figure appeared in the path of Beak's lasers and be obliterated [10000 Power + 10000 Shield = 20000 Power]
"With a boost from Galaxy Convoy, Cloud attacks!" Cloud unleashed a flare of light from its hands towards Death [10000 Power + 6000 Power = 16000 Power]
"I guard with Barbatar and Intercept with Persephone!" The witch moved forwards in a blur of shadows, as the demon appeared beside her [10000 Power + 5000 Shield + 5000 Shield = 20000 Power], both shattering as the light consumed them.
"Now... with a boost from Justice Flag.. attack her Vanguard, Nebula!" Robert called out. "Enigma Tempest!" Nebula gathered power in its hands, unleashing it as a lance of radiance across the field [19000 Power + 5000 Power = 24000 Power]
"No guard," Christine answered.
"Twin Drive, first check," he called. "No Trigger."
[Drive Check – Pulsar Enforcer – No Trigger]
"Now... second check... get, Critical Trigger! I give the Critical to Nebula and the Power to Cloud!"
[Drive Check – Cosmo Claw – Critical Trigger]
"To Cloud?" Christine echoed even as the blast consumed her Vanguard and she checked her two cards.
[Damage Check – Advertising Director Gator – No Trigger]
[Damage Check – Warlock Sponsor, Nathaniel – No Trigger]
"Yes..." Robert said. "I... let my friends down before. I didn't put my all into these fights, because I was chasing something else. I let down the friends who supported me all the way here... who lifted me up so I could come here." He gazed back to Agatha and Charles, and then into the stands, to Samuel. "But I won't do that any more. I won't betray my friends! Or myself! Because I'm not fighting alone so long as they continue to believe in me, the way they believed I could still win even when it all seemed lost! And now... this is the proof of our friendship! I activate Enigman Nebula's skill! When it released its Restraint by having 19000 Power, it also gained a new skill!"
"A... new skill?!" she echoed.
"When Nebula's attack hits the Vanguard, I can discard my entire hand," he said, letting the four cards fall to the Drop Zone, "and stand up to the same number of my Rearguards! This is the bond between my friends and I! Stand up, Cosmo Beak, Daisy, Convoy, Cloud! Enigma Resolution!" The Rearguards rose, preparing to attack once more.
"No... no way..." Christine gasped. "This... you can't do this!"
"With a boost from Galaxy Convoy, Enigman Cloud attacks!" Robert called out. The card which for so long had been his ace raised its hands, burning with power [10000 Power + 5000 Power + 6000 Power = 21000 Power], and unleashed a blast of shining light across the field towards Death.
"No... this isn't the end! If you can check a Heal Trigger, so can I!" As the blast exploded around Death, she turned over the Damage card slowly. "Damage Check...!"
She stared at it for a moment. "No... this... no way..." She revealed it, an icon shining from the corner, but it was blue, not the green she needed.
[Damage Check – Armageddon Groupie – Stand Trigger]
"The winner is Robert Macmillan of Team Avalon! The match goes to Team Avalon!"
The stands erupted with cheering as the field faded into motes, leaving Robert standing there. "I... I won..." he murmured in disbelief.
VBH36
Alice and Leah were hugging each other, crying tears of joy and relief, while Richard applauded loudly along with Mrs. Gladstone and Mr. Owens. Samuel was silent, staring at the field in utter disbelief.
"You... turned it around? You won...?" he whispered. "I don't...why?"
"You gave up on him, didn't you?" Leah said, pulling away from Alice to look at her brother. "That's why you only came to watch now. And look, Samuel. He's defied what you expected. He didn't give up in the end. He won, for you. For the team. For all of us."
He silently stood, walking away into the crowds.
VBH36
"He won! Your son won it, Martha! He got his team through to the finals!" Irene cried out, smiling widely. As her employer practically danced and sang in delight, Robert's mother stared at her son on the TV screen, awestruck.
"Robert... is this... what Vanguard led you to?" she murmured. "Is this... what you've achieved?"
And even though she didn't understand this game her son had achieved such success in, she felt pride in her heart seeing him there, victorious at such a high level.
VBH36
Robert slowly walked back into the tunnel, stopping as Charles stepped out into his path.
"Why?" he said bitterly. "We had it all figured out, Robert! You could have helped your mother! All you had to do was lose! Why was that so hard?! Just what the hell changed your mind?!"
"Will you let it go?!" Agatha snapped, standing up. "It was his choice, Charles. He made it."
"And you interfered! What did you say to him?!"
"It wasn't her, Charles," he said softly. "Don't take it out on her. I chose this myself. I couldn't let everyone down in the end. Not my friends."
"And what about your mother?! Doesn't she matter to you?! Does some little shot at glory mean a damn thing more to you than helping your mother?!"
Robert's fist clenched. "Of course I care, Charles. But... that wasn't the right way. If I betrayed myself to get that money... she wouldn't want it. That's what I realized. Betraying myself... my friends... it's no good. If I'm going to help mum, I have to earn the money fairly. If that means there's a chance I won't get there at all... I'll take it. She expects more of me than to just lose on purpose, even to get the money to help her."
"You... ruined it all, Robert! Damn you! It was so easy and you screwed it up! All over some petty little thing!"
"Shut up, Charles," Agatha snarled.
"Why should I? I don't take orders from you!"
"That's enough." Charles glared down the corridor as Samuel appeared along it. He walked up. "Stop it, Charles."
"And the high and mighty Samuel Wilson returns," he mocked. "Come to give me another lecture?"
"No... I'm not interested in lecturing anyone," he said. "I'm just here to ask Robert something." He looked at Robert. "Why? Why did you accept that offer to start with?"
"My mother," Robert said softly. And he sat down and shared the story, his birth, how his entire life his mother had worked so hard with so little to try and cut down the debts.
"I..." Samuel said when he had finished. "I'm sorry I judged you... I didn't know..."
"No... you didn't," Robert said. "And I'm sorry... I should told you sooner. You and Agatha should have known. You deserved to know..."
"I still shouldn't have judged you..." his teammate said.
"Yeah, now you say sorry," Charles said bitterly. "But only to him, since you heard his sob story."
"Shut up," Agatha snapped. "At least Robert had a good reason. You just have your greed."
He said nothing, just turning away. "I guess you won't want me on the team after this?"
"There's still a place for you," Samuel replied.
"A place where all I'll get are filthy looks," Charles replied scornfully. "No thanks. You guys can handle yourselves anyway. See you around." And with that, he walked away down the corridor.
"Charles..." Robert murmured. Even now, he couldn't begrudge the young man who had led him to the path he had just rejected.
"It'll be alright, Robert," Agatha said. "You made the right choice."
Samuel looked at him. "We made it, Robert. We and Eternal Nightfall are through to the finals... and you got us there. Be proud of that." He patted him on the back. "Let's go. They'll want this space free for the next two blocks to fight." And with that, Team Avalon left, united once more.
VBH36
Card of the Day:
Enigman Nebula
Grade 3/Twin Drive!
Star Gate – Alien – Dimension Police
11000 Power/No Shield/Critical 1
Continuous [V/R]: This Unit has 'Restraint' (This Unit cannot attack).
Auto [V]: [Counterblast 2] At the start of your Battle Phase, if you have 1 or fewer Rearguards, you may pay the cost. If paid, this Unit loses 'Restraint', and gains 10000 Power and 1 Critical until end of turn.
Activate [V/R]: [Counterblast 1, retire 1 Dimension Police Rearguard] This Unit loses 'Restraint' until end of turn.
Auto [V]: When this Unit's Power becomes 19000 or more, if this Unit has 'Restraint', it loses 'Restraint' and gains the following skill: [Auto [V]: [Discard all cards from your hand] When this Unit's attack hits a Vanguard, you may pay the cost. If paid, stand a number of your Dimension Police Rearguards up to the number of cards discarded.]
'We who follow justice do not stand alone. Rise up, my allies! Enigma Resolution!'
VBH36
Card Stats:
Synthesizer Nightmare
Grade 0/Human – Armageddon/4000 Power/10000 Shield
Auto: When an Armageddon Rides this Unit, you may call this Unit to a Rearguard Circle.
Activate [V]: [Move this Unit to Soul] If you have an Armageddon Vanguard, you may pay the cost. If paid, look at the top five cards of your deck, select up to 1 Grade 3 Armageddon from among them, and move it to your Soul. Then, shuffle your deck.
Backing Vocals, Vice
Grade 1/Demon – Armageddon/7000 Power/5000 Shield
Auto [V/R]: When this Unit appears in a Vanguard Circle or Rearguard Circle, if you have an Armageddon Vanguard, you may Soul Charge 1.
Advertising Director Gator
Grade 2/Troll – Armageddon/10000 Power/5000 Shield
Lyricist Megachaos
Grade 1/Demon – Armageddon/6000 Power/5000 Shield
Auto [R]: When this Unit boosts an Armageddon Vanguard, if that Unit's base Critical is 0, this Unit gains 4000 Power until end of that battle.
Graphics Director Barbatar
Grade 1/Demon – Armageddon/8000 Power/5000 Shield
PR Agent Domina
Grade 0/Succubus – Armageddon/5000 Power/5000 Shield/Draw Trigger
Lead Drummer, Rider War
Grade 3/Phantasm – Armageddon/11000 Power/No Shield/Critical 0
Auto [V]: When this Unit's attack hits, select one of your Armageddon Rearguards and Stand it.
Auto [V]: [Counterblast 1] When this Unit's attack hits a Vanguard, you may pay the cost. If paid, search your deck for up to 1 Grade 3 Armageddon, other than 'Lead Drummer, Rider War', and Ride it at rest. Then, shuffle your deck.
Black Witch, Persephone
Grade 2/Noble – Armageddon/7000 Power/5000 Shield
Auto [R]: [Discard 1 Armageddon from my hand] When this Unit appears in a Rearguard Circle, you may pay the cost. If paid, search your deck for up to 1 Grade 3 Armageddon and move it to the Soul. Then, shuffle your deck.
Costume Designer Valentine
Grade 1/Succubus – Armageddon/6000 Power/5000 Shield
Auto [R]: [Move 1 other Armageddon Rearguard to the Soul] When this Unit appears in a Rearguard Circle, you may pay the cost. If paid, select 1 Armageddon in your Soul, except 'Costume Designer Valentine', and call it to a Rearguard Circle.
Lead Pianist, Rider Famine
Grade 3/Phantasm – Armageddon/11000 Power/No Shield/Critical 0
Auto [V]: When this Unit's attack hits, retire all Units in the same column as the attacked Unit.
Auto [V]: [Counterblast 1] When this Unit's attack hits a Vanguard, you may pay the cost. If paid, search your deck for up to 1 Grade 3 Armageddon, other than 'Lead Pianist, Rider Famine', and Ride it at rest. Then, shuffle your deck.
Main Vocals, Rider Death
Grade 3/Phantasm – Armageddon/9000 Power/No Shield/Critical 0
Continuous [V]: If you have 'Lead Guitarist, Rider Pestilence', 'Lead Drummer, Rider War' and 'Lead Pianist, Rider Famine' in your Soul, this Unit gains 2000 Power and 2 Criticals.
Auto [V]: [Counterblast 2, send 1 'Main Vocals, Rider Death' from the Soul to the Drop Zone] When this Unit attacks, you may pay the cost. If paid, during this battle, this Unit gains 5000 Power, and if your opponent Guards, they must move 3 or more Units to the Guardian Circle.
Auto [V]: When this Unit's attack hits a Vanguard, you may search your deck for 1 Grade 3 Armageddon, other than 'Main Vocals, Rider Death'. If you do, Ride it at rest, then shuffle your deck.
MC Doomsday
Grade 0/Ghost – Armageddon/5000 Power/10000 Shield/Stand Trigger
(The Armageddon Clan was created by Desgarroth.)
VBH36
Once, Samuel and Henry were close friends and teammates. But then Henry betrayed their trust, and took up an offer made by Eternal Nightfall, only to then rise to become part of the league's most exalted team, Celestial Dusk. But how did that happen? And just why did he accept that offer? As Samuel goes to confront his former friend and the two face off, the answers will soon be revealed in Ride 37: The Pale Lone Sword...