Eventually, Azure put his regular clothes on, and his jacket, and headed out, looking at the slip of paper Taiyou had given him.
Okay...I'll just go to where they usually hang out, ask about it, and if that doesn't help, I'm asking Drake and Kyros if they know any good therapists nearby... He decided to himself, before bumping into somebody. "Ah!" He said, staggering back a bit, before noticing that he had bumped into a girl. "Uh...Sorry..." Azure started, as the girl seemed to run past him.
"Sorry, I wasn't paying attention, but I'm in a hurry..!" She admitted, heading off, Azure raising a confused eyebrow.
"Well...Alright, then..." Azure said, shrugging, before walking into what appeared to be a café, before noticing one of the people sitting there already waving to him.
"You there, you're Azure Cova, aren't you? I've been waiting." They said, Azure looking slightly surprised, but walking over and sitting down. "That confused look on your face tells me you don't know who I am...or how I know you. My name's Christopher. Christopher Lo. Taiyou mentioned you the other night." He explained.
"But how do you know Taiyou? I think I've seen you before in regards to the Neo Fight project when it was first offered for development...They say your company and the Kiba company took the offer immediately..." Azure said.
"Ah, you're well informed. I like that. As for how I know Taiyou Asukawa...Let's just say he was an acquaintance of an acquaintance, and due to us both happening to be travelling here, we seemed to have a lot more in common than I thought. I would never have guessed at the time." Christopher admitted. "Regardless, on to business...I believe from what he described to me, you have a gift known as 'Psyqualia'. Could you please describe when you started hearing strange voices?" Christopher asked.
"Well...I guess it started when..." Azure started, before retelling the words his 'cards' said to him, as well as when the possibilities of his plays started linking together in his mind, as if it were a clear image, Christopher seeming to write things down as Azure spoke.
"I see...but from what Psyqualia is usually depicted as...This is fascinating..!" Christopher said, nodding to his notes. "This requires further study..." He then said, before hearing a shout outside. "Hm? What's going on out there?" He asked, Azure turning over to see the girl from earlier...and a grown adult.
"Oh, that does not look good..." Azure said, getting up and heading over immediately. "Hey..! What's wrong?" He asked, as the girl turned to him.
"This man stole my deck..!" She said, as the man laughed.
"Oh? What're you gonna do it about it, little miss? Use your little rats to help you?" They asked, laughing. "Or is this the only one you could find?" The man asked, taunting Azure, before noticing Christopher approaching. "Wait...aren't you..?" They started, as Christopher tapped Azure on the shoulder, making him look over at him.
"Hey there, Azure. This could be great field research for your Psyqualia...I have an idea. You there, thief. I propose a cardfight between you, and this young man right here." Christopher said, Azure looking slightly surprised. "If you win, you can keep that deck you stole, but if he wins...You return it, and never bother that young lady again." He said, the girl in question looking just as surprised, as the man laughed.
"So I just have to beat some little shrimp to keep this deck? Score! That runt is going down!" The man said, as Christopher held his hand out.
"Ah, I wasn't finished. In addition, the boy will be playing with a handicap...and using this deck, that I have built without them ever seeing it." He said, holding out a deck, Azure looking more than a little concerned.
"Are you just handing me a win at this point? It's on!" The man said, walking back before inserting his own deck into the Neo-Fight System, as Christopher whispered something into Azure's ear.
"You'll be fine. Even if you don't know the cards in that deck...Just try to hear their voices. Try to piece together that image you created in the finals. If you can manage this, You can win." Christopher said, Azure just sighing, and putting the deck into his Neo-Fight System.
"The legacy of Leonardo starts today! Stand up, Vanguard! Machining Worker Ant!" The man said.
"Stand up, my, Vanguard..!" Azure said, before the card turned up, revealing a young man in ocean blue armor.
Wait a minute...That IS a clan I recognize, but the unit...I don't recognize it at all... Azure thought, before looking at it.
"...Honor Pirate, Aquis." He declared.
"The strongest take the first move, so here I go!" Leonardo declared, drawing. "Ride! Machining Hornet!" He declared, tossing the card, as the hornet appeared, and howled in Azure's face. "With Worker Ant's skill, I draw one card, and end my turn." They said, with a smug face. "You're way out of your league, kid." He said.
"Please, do your best..!" The girl said, trying to encourage Azure already.
[Leonardo] - [Azure]
[Hand - 6] - [Hand - 5]
[Soul - 1] - [Soul - 0]
[Damage/CB - 0/0] - [Damage/CB - 0/0]
[Drop Zone - 0] - [Drop Zone - 0]
[FIELD]
[R] [Machining Hornet [G1 - 8000]] [R] - [R] [Honor Pirate, Aquis [G0 - 5000]] [R]
[R] [R] [R] - [R] [R] [R]
As Azure drew, he tried to stare intently at the cards in his hand.
I have to try and hear their voices...I can't believe I'm actually believing this...Right now, I have to think about what my opponent will do. He's clearly playing Megacolony, so his intent will be to try and stop me from standing...so I should hold off on my Rear guard calls for now, but what I should really focus on... He started, shaking his head. I can't figure it out..!
"Then perhaps you need my help, my Vanguard."A voice spoke out to Azure, who looked slightly surprised, before the glow in his eyes started to return to him.
"Perfect...There it is..." Christopher said, seeming to start taking notes.
Wolf..? Is that you? But I didn't even put you in this deck...This isn't even the Abyszards... Azure thought.
"True as that is...I would never leave my friend behind. As long as you have our bonds, you can find that possibility to lead the way..! We cannot guarantee your victory like the other type of Psyqualia may, but we can at least fight alongside you the best we can..!"
Azure heard, before his eyes slightly widened, as he saw the cards in his hand, before lines were connecting with other cards...before Azure suddenly took a card, and tossed it onto the Vanguard circle. "Ride..! Honor Pirate, Kidd! Aquis moves back, and I acquire a Quick Shield!" Azure declared, as the ticket appeared in his hand. "With a boost from Aquis, Kidd attacks your Vanguard..! With his skill, I can send the top 2 cards of my deck to the drop zone when he attacks..!" Azure declared. "If all cards that were sent have 'Honor Pirate' in their name, I can move one card from my drop zone to the soul." Azure declared, moving a card to the soul. "I move Honor Pirate, Joan to the soul." He declared, before a young-looking pirate in ocean blue armor rushed forward with a blade.
[POWER - 13000]
"No guard." Leonardo said, shrugging.
"Drive check..!" Azure declared.
[DRIVE CHECK - Honor Pirate, Bleu [G3]]
...I see. So Christopher didn't just leave me with some composition of random cards...He must have thought about the utility of this deck. Azure thought to himself, as the pirate slashed the hornet.
[DAMAGE CHECK - Machining Hornet [G1]]
"I end my turn." Azure declared.
[Leonardo] - [Azure]
[Hand - 6] - [Hand - 6 (plus 'Quick Shield')]
[Soul - 1] - [Soul - 1]
[Damage/CB - 1/0] - [Damage/CB - 0/0]
[Drop Zone - 0] - [Drop Zone - 1]
[FIELD]
[R] [Machining Hornet [G1 - 8000]] [R] - [R] [Honor Pirate, Kidd [G1 - 8000]] [R]
[R] [R] [R] - [R] [Honor Pirate, Aquis [G0 - 5000]] [R]
"In that case, prepare yourself kid! I'm about to hit you with my specialty! Ride! Hatable Spot!" Leonardo declared, as the high powered Grade 2 appeared. "In addition, I call two Nasty Smog to my back row, and then call a Machining Tarantula!" Leonardo declared, the bugs appearing. "Sick 'em, Tarantula!" He declared, as the bug started to rush forward.
[POWER - 9000]
"Order, activate..!" Azure declared, as he held out the Quick Shield. "My Vanguard gets an additional 5000 Power for this battle..!" Azure declared.
[POWER - 13000]
"Tch. So, you're afraid of Aquis being unable to stand, huh? At least you have SOME brain cells. Hatable Spot!" Leonardo declared, resting the unit as it rushed forward.
[POWER - 12000]
"No guard..!" Azure said.
[DRIVE CHECK - Machining Beat Atlas [G3]]
"Aha, it's finally shown up, my ultimate trump card to destroy you!" Leonardo declared, laughing, as the top card of Azure's deck flew into his damage zone.
[DAMAGE CHECK - Honor Pirate, Kelpy Dragon [G0 - Draw Trigger]]
"Draw trigger." Azure said, as the top card of his deck flew into his hand.
"Tch. Whatever, I end my turn." Leonardo said, brushing it off.
[Leonardo] - [Azure]
[Hand - 4] - [Hand - 7]
[Soul - 2] - [Soul - 1]
[Damage/CB - 1/0] - [Damage/CB - 1/0]
[Drop Zone - 0] - [Drop Zone - 2]
[FIELD]
[Machining Tarantula [G2 - 9000]] [Machining Hornet [G2 - 12000]] [R] - [R] [Honor Pirate, Kidd [G1 - 8000]] [R]
[Nasty Smog [G2 - 9000]] [R] [Nasty Smog [G2]] - [R] [Honor Pirate, Aquis [G0 - 5000]] [R]
As it stands, with the Nasty Smogs in the back row...I won't be able to stand any back row units in those columns, effectively cutting off boosting my rear guards if I can't replace them each turn. Not to mention, I won't be able to Intercept in those columns either...That's probably what his primary goal was...I've got to figure out a way to deal with it, and fast... Azure thought to himself.
"Please...do your best..." The girl said to Azure, who just nodded to her.
"Yeah. I have no intention of losing..." Azure said, before turning to Christopher. "...And I already know why you decided which deck to randomly give me. I can't say I feel right being a guinea pig, but right now...Ride!" He said, tossing another card, as a woman in ocean blue robes appeared, holding out an orb of light. "Honor Pirate, Morgan..! Morgan's skill when placed on the Vanguard circle!" Azure said, counterblasting, as the top 3 cards of his deck flew up, and burst. "I send the top 3 cards of my deck to the drop zone, and add a grade 1 or greater card with 'Honor Pirate' in it's name from the drop zone to my hand. I add an Honor Pirate, Kidd that went to the drop zone from this effect to my hand." Azure said, the card flying into his hand. "With a boost from Aquis, Morgan attacks your Vanguard..!" Azure said, as the units rushed forward together.
"Tch. No guard." Leonardo said.
[DRIVE CHECK - Honor Pirate, Joan [G1]]
[DAMAGE CHECK - Machining Tarantula [G2]]
"I end my turn." Azure said, looking at the cards in his hand.
[Leonardo] - [Azure]
[Hand - 4] - [Hand - 9]
[Soul - 2] - [Soul - 2]
[Damage/CB - 2/0] - [Damage/CB - 1/1]
[Drop Zone - 0] - [Drop Zone - 4]
[FIELD]
[Machining Tarantula [G2 - 9000]] [Machining Hornet [G2 - 12000]] [R] - [R] [Honor Pirate, Morgan [G2 - 9000]] [R]
[Nasty Smog [G2 - 9000]] [R] [Nasty Smog [G2]] - [R] [Honor Pirate, Aquis [G0 - 5000]] [R]
"In that case...Playtime is over! I'm about to make you regret trying to help this girl!" Leonardo declared.