Ride 15: The New Powers
When Robert and Leah left, they left an awkward silence behind. Samuel seemed fixated on his deck beside her, fanning the cards, examining them.
She took her phone instead, waiting for the TV to begin playing the next matches as she browsed. A text from Richard came up, a congratulations and a string of smiley faces that put a smile on her own face. She answered with a thank you and smiles of her own, glancing up to see Robert and Leah at the bar beside Charles, the former two chatting away.
The whole situation brought memories back even as she scrolled pages of tournament results on the phone, waiting for Richard's reply.
Though the crowd near the bar was thick, drawn by the promise of drinks, he parted it with a confident smile and firm words. Agatha followed his red coat every step, even as people knocked against her in the rush to retake their places after he had passed through. But that was the way things were. She was so insubstantial beside him, easy to miss when he was walking through with his red leather coat, his confident smile, his blazing eyes.
He was already at the bar, making the barmaid laugh with ease the way he did. How could it be so simple for him to make people like him, admire him, she wondered. She'd wanted to be his friend and more from their first meeting.
There was a young man in a fancy suit beside them and he turned to regard the amber-eyed man. "Well, hello there. Gabriel Collins, right?"
"And who might you be?" he replied.
"Bannerman, Charles Bannerman," the young man replied with a sly grin. "I saw you taking down Crystal Guardians." Agatha remembered the team they had just beaten, the mermaids who had vanished beneath a tide of flames. The Overlord roaring triumphantly over a field of ashes, amber eyes burning with the glow of victory just as his did. "Nicely done, but I wouldn't get any fancy ideas."
"Such as?" The words were hot as flames, burning in the air.
"Winning, of course," Charles replied, raising his glass to take a sip. "Because at the end of the day, Selena, Albert and I will be taking home the trophy, and you'll be sadly disappointed."
"Can I get your order?" the barmaid interjected hesitantly, taking the amber eyes away from Charles.
"Just a diet coke," he said, then glanced to her. "Agatha?"
Her voice caught in her throat, then came out as a ghostly whisper. "Um, the same, please." The barmaid frowned.
"Make it two diet cokes," the man in the red coat spoke for her, smoothing things over with a warm smile. As the woman bustled away, a giddy grin on her lips, the amber eyes fell back on Charles. "You're certainly confident, but you're also mistaken."
Charles smirked. "Let me guess, you'll be taking the trophy?"
"I will." Now his words were steely, unbending, unbreakable. "And if you stand in my way then you'll lose, Charles Bannerman." There was a fiery menace to his tone, a burning shadow in his eyes that she'd never seen before. The barmaid returned with their drinks and without breaking the clash of gazes, he passed Agatha hers. She accepted it like a priceless relic, afraid she'd drop it or spill it, clutching it tight to her even as he took his own glass.
It was Charles who looked down first with a grimace. "Your staring game's on point, but I wonder if your fighting's up to the same standard." His glass came up in a toast.
After a moment, the other glass followed, meeting Charles's with a discordant chime. "They are." The man turned away as Charles shot a withering glare after him, unfazed by the young man. The glare fell on Agatha and she tried her best to answer it before a casual call of her name sent her scurrying to catch up with the red coat.
She stirred from her memory as Samuel shifted at her side, still going through his cards. His blue eyes glanced her way and she met them. He didn't say anything, just returning to his deck.
A new text made her look back at the phone.
Hope you are okay. Will be home late sorry, there's stuff in the cupboard for tea or you can get something on the way back and I'll pay later?
She couldn't stop the frown as she typed a simple okay back and sent it, returning to the pages of results. Unfamiliar team names passed in a rush, unfamiliar people, some familiar cards noted in their decklists. She didn't pay the latter too much mind. New sets would have dropped by nationals. Decks would have changed, ace cards would have changed. There wasn't a lot to learn here except who was on their way to the top.
Eternal Nightfall from Northumberland and Bright Dawn from London one after the other, making her smile a little at that juxtaposition. Beautification from Dorset. Four-Leaf Clover from Herefordshire. Dark Steel from Lancashire. Rampage from Wales. The names began to blur but she kept going, searching for a single one, curious if he'd passed, where he'd gone. She didn't believe he'd given up. Not when she'd watched him tear a blazing path right through the solo leagues before being stopped short in the semi-finals by a newcomer who she gathered had gone on to win outright. Surely he'd only be hungrier for his absolute victory after failing twice.
Before she could find the name, if it was there, Robert and Leah returned, identical drinks in hand. She smiled at the sight, even though it reminded her of that day.
The conversation passed even though she was only half-focused, caught between the past and the now, on one side remembering when she sat at his side with Richard and Oliver a year ago, the former cold and stony despite their victory, the latter as gleeful and energetic as ever even though he'd been shoved unceremoniously on a bench. But at the time she hadn't noticed, too lost in his presence, everything else fading into the background when he was around and she followed the red tail of his coat like a puppy.
How stupid she'd been.
The welcome relief of the next games starting pulled Agatha from the past and she settled into her seat to watch. Focus on here and now. The team needed her to step up, to do her part. Otherwise, she couldn't lay this ghost to rest once and for all.
Amber eyes flared with mirth in her mind, laughter like crackling flames echoing.
VBH
The remaining matches in the first round passed surprisingly slowly as Leah watched, her drink long since drained and taken by a smiling waitress. Samuel had retrieved a bottle of water from his bag, still watching the games play out with impassive eyes. Occasionally a particular play made him stir, as though he was marking out the opponents he thought might give him a challenge, but otherwise he offered only a few remarks here and there. She looked at her brother every now and then, wondering what he thought of how things were going, but he had no answers for her.
Robert was smiling at least, clearly emboldened by winning against Charlie. She only hoped she could live up to that soon.
"Do we head back now?" he asked as the final match wrapped up.
"Give it five," Agatha replied. "They'll call us all back in to do the next round's pairings, since they shuffle the brackets."
"Why shuffle them? So we can't plan for our opponent too much in advance?" Leah mused.
The blonde girl nodded. "Exactly. Keeps the surprise factor there even though we've had a chance to take in everyone else's strategies a bit." As they watched, the winning teams on screen remained resolutely in place, probably aware it was completely pointless to leave the arena only to be called straight back. Dragonic Soul and Heroic Spirits, their names were.
Charles's team had passed too, not that they seemed to consider it much of an achievement judging by how they had returned to the lounge in their usual cocky manner. She almost sighed just from the memory, but it wasn't like she was naive. Some people just were like that, no matter how much you wanted them to be kinder. And then there were Team Wild Fangs as well, with Rachel and the rush of Gold Paladins that had overwhelmed Marshal.
Maybe she should have been intimidated, but Leah found herself hoping to face one of them. To feel the thrill of taking on someone that everyone would count her out against and proving them wrong if she could. Even if she lost, she'd have fun if nothing else, and that was what was important. Not winning or losing, but both sides enjoying themselves. So long as she and her opponent left with a smile on their faces, what more could she want?
"They all seem strong," Robert murmured with a look at the screen.
Agatha nodded. "Yes. But we're strong too. Perhaps it doesn't feel that way after seeing what we've seen, but I know that even if we fight Wild Fangs or Revelation or Blazing Lions, then you'll give it your all and you'll stand much more of a chance than you might think, Robert." Her gaze turned to Leah. "I can tell you're looking forward to it already."
Leah smiled. "It'll be fun no matter who we fight." She cast her gaze around the table. "Actually I meant to ask. Do you guys mind if I take the first fight this time?"
Robert was the first to answer, smiling widely. "No, not at all," he said.
Agatha let him speak, then nodded. "I don't think I could stop you if I wanted to," she chuckled. "And it wouldn't be fair of me to try in the first place. Go right ahead, Leah."
Finally her gaze fell on her brother, who at least looked at her with his cold eyes. "If you want to, then I have no problem," he shrugged. The icy eyes moved across the room to where Charles, Albert and Selena were making their way to the door.
"I see he wants to jump the gun," Leah chuckled, nodding in Charles's direction when Agatha raised an eyebrow. The blonde young woman sighed.
"Of course he does," she murmured, rising to her feet. "I suppose we ought to head on down in any case."
As if on cue, the PA crackled into life. "That's round one all wrapped up in a series of exciting matches! Eight of our teams have been defeated, but hopefully they have better luck next year! In the meantime, may our other winning teams please return to the arena in preparation for the second round pairings!"
"Perfect timing," Agatha chuckled as Samuel returned his deck to its case and stood up with her. Leah followed immediately, Robert falling in behind her as Team Avalon were swept up with the crowd of teams making their way down. Rachel and her teammates ended up beside them a moment, the Gold Paladin user still smiling that same confident smile she'd worn as she ran over Marshal with that chain of attacks. Leah met it with a grin of her own and Rachel nodded just slightly in response.
Then the corridors and crowds forced them apart as they followed the tide of people down a stairwell and back onto the arena floor.
"Eight teams stand before you, but once this round is done, only half of them will still be standing! All that remains is to decide who will rise and who will fall! Let the brackets be cast!" Philips declared. They all looked up at the holographic display as letters and numbers rolled by in a blur, finally clicking into place to create the team names.
Team Wild Fangs vs. Team Daemon Carnival
Team Revelation vs. Team Luna Wolves
Team Dragonic Soul vs. Team Blazing Lions
Team Heroic Spirits vs. Team Avalon
"Heroic Spirits," Leah murmured, picking them out from the crowd. A blonde lady in a blue dress stood at the head of the team, flanked by a blonde man in an ostentatious golden jacket and a younger black-haired man wearing clingy dark blue leather. She remembered a little about this team, in particular that Samuel hadn't seemed to pay them much mind.
"With the pairings set in stone, may I ask the last four teams in the brackets to vacate the arena and make room for our first four teams to play out their matches?"
"Come on," Agatha sighed. "Back upstairs we go."
Leah caught Charles grinning as he and his teammates made for a field. Meanwhile Rachel and the other members of Wild Fangs strolled toward the other field, the members of Team Blazing Lions heading in the opposite direction toward an exit. The young man in the white coat seemed to catch his gaze and follow it. Leah met his eyes across the space, finding them a deep blue like the ocean and cold as eyes. They transfixed her for a moment, calm on the surface, but it was like something turbulent raged beneath.
Then he broke off his stare and continued on his way.
A little shaken, Leah hurried to catch up as Robert hung back to wait for her, the team heading back along corridors, up stairs and into the lounge. Slumping back into their seats, they stared at the TV as the first games began, the camera focusing in where Revelation faced off with Luna Wolves, Selena stepping up first to face off against a woman in tight black leather. Soon enough the former's field field stood assembled, a formidable array of beautiful maidens who shone with divine light. Arrows rested on bowstrings, awaiting the moment they would fly and bury themselves into scale and flesh.
Selena
Hand: 4
Front Row: Twilight Hunter, Artemis/Battle Deity of the Night, Artemis (IG:Fx1)/Empty
Back Row: Bowstring of Heaven and Earth, Artemis/Empty/Bowstring of Heaven and Earth, Artemis
Soul: 2
Damage: Witch of Cats, Cumin (U), Battle Maiden, Sahohime (U), Witch of Big Pots, Laurier (U), Cyber Tiger (U)
Teresa
Hand: 3
Front Row: Bellicosity Dragon/Wyvern Strike, Agaruda (IG:Fx1)/Empty
Back Row: Flame of Hope, Aermo/Lizard Soldier, Raopia/Lizard Soldier, Raopia
Soul: 3
Damage: Crested Dragon (U), Wyvern Guard, Barri (U), Bellicosity Dragon (U), Spillover Dragon (U)
Selena stood with a cool expression, staring regally over the field as the camera focused on her. Leah had to admit that the woman did cut quite a stunning figure in her dress, flanked by her majestic avatar. Skin the hue of copper seemed to glow in the Sanctuary's lights, her dress red and gold, her hair stark white. A bow in her hands shone the color of sunlight with an arrow held loosely to the string [Battle Deity of the Night, Artemis – 13000 Power].
Opposite a force of dragons hissed and snarled, many of them familiar from fighting Alice. The main difference was the red-scaled wyvern that dominated the Vanguard instead of Alice's cobalt-scaled Vortex Dragon [Wyvern Strike, Agaruda – 13000 Power + 10000 Power = 23000 Power].
Teresa smirked, dressed in a black leather jacket and trousers that hugged her like a second skin, a permanent look of glee etched on her face. "I've got you now! Agaruda's Counterblast! Get out of here, Twilight Hunter!" She turned over two Damage and Agaruda snarled, spitting a fireball over the field. Twilight Hunter, Artemis didn't flinch, red hair swaying in the onrushing wind before the fireball simply stopped against a sphere of golden motes. "Huh?"
"Oh, didn't you know?" Serena chuckled. "You might remember that Twilight Hunter got a divine gauge when her attack hit just now. And with Battle Deity of the Night's skill," she indicated her Vanguard, "rear-guards with divine gauge can't be chosen by your card effects, on top of the 5000 Power bonus you already know about."
"Seriously?" Teresa exclaimed, receiving a cool nod in answer. "Uh, can I take it back?"
The referee's head shook. "The move's been made. Ignorance of your opponent's card effects isn't an excuse."
Teresa openly frowned, but tore a card from her hand. "I call Berserk Dragon!" The monstrous twin-headed wyrm reared up, a distinct frown turning Teresa's lips [Berserk Dragon – 10000 Power].
"If she can't use skills to retire Selena's Units, then Berserk's only got its extra 3000 Power going for it," Leah murmured. "What can Kagero even do against that?"
"If it was a different build it wouldn't be an issue," Agatha replied, and there was a shadow in her eyes Leah didn't fully understand. "But this build and Alice's focus entirely on the retiring by skills aspect, so Selena's deck is a perfect counter once her field's completely set up. She already removed a retire target by cycling Ulixes, so with all three rear-guards protected by their divine gauge there's nothing Teresa can do." She glanced at Samuel. "What would you even do against this?"
He pondered it. "It would be tricky, but Twilight Hunter needs to hit to gain its gauge, so guarding its attacks would leave it open. And I could still use Damned Charging Lance for the Critical pressure if not the retires." He held up his deck and that new card on the front. "There's this too."
On the screen, Teresa attacked only to have Selena guard the Vanguard with a Perfect Guard, take Bellicosity Dragon, and easily block Berserk Dragon's final attack.
"Uh, I end my turn! It's not over!"
Teresa
Hand: 4
Front Row: Bellicosity Dragon/Wyvern Strike, Agaruda (IG:Fx1)/Berserk Dragon
Back Row: Flame of Hope, Aermo/Lizard Soldier, Raopia/Lizard Soldier, Raopia
Soul: 3
Damage: Crested Dragon (F), Wyvern Guard, Barri (F), Bellicosity Dragon (U), Spillover Dragon (U)
Selena
Hand: 1
Front Row: Twilight Hunter, Artemis/Battle Deity of the Night, Artemis (IG:Fx1)/Empty
Back Row: Bowstring of Heaven and Earth, Artemis/Empty/Bowstring of Heaven and Earth, Artemis
Soul: 2
Damage: Witch of Cats, Cumin (U), Battle Maiden, Sahohime (U), Witch of Big Pots, Laurier (U), Cyber Tiger (U), Battle Maiden, Kukurihime (U)
"Stand and draw," Selena said calmly. "This is finished. I call Battle Deity of the Night!" A clone of her Vanguard appeared at her side, readying her radiant bow [Battle Deity of the Night, Artemis – 13000 Power].
"Huh? Why not Ride it for another Force?" Robert asked.
His question was immediately answered. "Artemis's skill. When placed on the rear-guard, she gains a card from my Soul as a divine gauge." That golden aura blazed around her along with the other rear-guards [Battle Deity of the Night, Artemis – 17000 Power] [Twilight Hunter, Artemis – 15000 Power + 10000 Power = 25000 Power] [Bowstring of Heaven and Earth, Artemis – 13000 Powerx2]. "Bowstring's skill. I Counterblast and discard a divine gauge from her to retire one of your rear-guards in the same column. Slay Bellicosity! And the other Bowstring will do the same to slay Berserk Dragon!"
The lavender-clad Artemis raised her bow, a shaft of moonlight piercing through the air then into Bellicosity's scales with the same effortless ease. The dragon roared and shattered as Artemis's twin on the other side of the field struck down Berserk Dragon the same way, their golden auras fading [Bowstring of Heaven and Earth, Artemis – 8000 Powerx2].
Selena smiled coldly, turning her Vanguard's card. "Battle Deity of the Night, take down Agaruda!" The Battle Deity's bow flew to its mark, arrow drawn and loosed faster than their eyes could follow. The golden shaft lanced straight for Agaruda's heart, blazing more like the sun than the moon in its fury.
"B-Barri!" Teresa stuttered, another Agaruda falling to the drop zone as the Wyvern Guard swooped down to sacrifice himself. The arrow pierced right through him and consumed him in burning divine radiance, but Agaruda was spared.
Selena's smile only widened. "Twin Drive. First." A dull card.
[Drive Check – Twilight Hunter, Artemis – No Trigger]
"Second." A golden flash shone and Selena held the Critical Trigger up, teeth showing as she openly grinned. "It's over. I give the effects to my Vanguard." Leah drew in a breath, clearly about to question the counterintuitive move, but Agatha shook her head to stop her even as Teresa's laughter rang out.
"You idiot! You might've had it if you gave that Crit to a rear-guard, but the Vanguard's not hitting anything!"
It was Selena's turn to laugh, but where Teresa had been triumphant and mocking, her laughter was haughty and cold. Golden auras blazed around Twilight Hunter and the rear-guard Battle Deity as they watched [Twilight Hunter, Artemis – 35000 Power, Critical 2] [Battle Deity of the Night, Artemis – 28000 Power, Critical 2]. "With my Vanguard's skill, all of my rear-guards with divine gauge share the Trigger effects I give to her. You might have held on if just one rear-guard gained the Trigger effect, but now you can't take either without losing the game." She turned her gaze to the camera. "This match belongs to Team Revelation. Witness us!"
"Sharing Trigger effects..." Leah said softly. She hadn't fully understood the offensive power of Selena's strategy, but now it was clear what the aim was. Give all of her rear-guards divine gauge so that her Triggers were passed around the entire field.
"That's Genesis's style," Agatha explained, clearly speaking from experience.. "Manipulating their Soul, but also Triggers."
Selena turned two cards. "With a boost from Bowstring, this Battle Deity attacks Agaruda! Bowstring's skill! When she boosts, I put a card from my Soul as divine gauge for her!" Lavender and gold swirled around the rear-guard Battle Deity of the Night as she loosed her arrow just as swiftly as her Vanguard had [28000 Power + 8000 Power + 5000 Power = 41000 Power, Critical 2].
"N-no guard!"
The arrow struck and pierced the wyvern right through in a flash, making it burst into holy fire and shatter into ashes in just an instant. Artemis slowly lowered her bow, gazing at her enemy's ruin with the same cold eyes as her fighter.
[Damage Check – Lizard Soldier, Raopia – No Trigger]
[Damage Check – Flame of Hope, Aermo – No Trigger]
"Selena Bellamy of Team Revelation is the winner! Team Revelation win the match two victories to none!"
Selena gathered her cards without a word for her defeated opponent, returning stoically to Charles and Albert before Avalon lost sight of them with the camera panning away just as the latter clapped his teammate on the shoulder and stepped forward.
"Be back in a sec," Leah said as a promise came back to her, rising with her phone in hand. "I'm just going to call Seth."
"Don't feel like you have to rush," Agatha replied with a little smile. "They'll take a while, I expect."
Leah smiled back. "Just want to let him know how we're getting on." Her eyes met Samuel's, probing for his answer, but he had nothing more to offer than what he'd said before about "strays". Just the memory frustrated her, so she bustled away and left him with his eyes between that new card of his and the screen. She remembered when she and Alice had giggled about his brooding.
It didn't seem anything like funny anymore somehow. Much as the Samuel who hid in his room had worried her, the Samuel who lorded his strength over everyone was even more worrying. What had made him this way?
She forced that unanswerable question out of mind as she came to the window, resting her elbows on the railing as she brought up Seth's number from her contacts. It had almost surprised her that he had a phone at all, but then in the modern day you could hardly go without one, could you? She'd caught Agatha scrolling through those tournament results and it made her think there was a time she'd have had to bring a laptop or the like to do that. That thought made her smile as the dialing tone rang into her ear, followed by Seth's voice.
"Leah?" She smiled wider just from hearing him.
"Hey, Seth," Leah replied. "How are you doing?"
"Uh, good, we're going in a bit..."
"I won't keep you long," she said. "We got through the first round."
"Ah, I'm glad," he murmured warmly. "Sorry that I-"
"Hey, it's important to get your checkup," Leah interjected. "And I know you're right behind us even if you're not here, right?"
"Yeah!" She could see his smile in her mind, that grateful smile that he always seemed to aim right at her. Shy as he was, it made her feel warm knowing that she and the others had made his life better just by being there. If only they could change his home situation, she mused with a little frown. "Did you fight already?"
She shook her head out of instinct. "No, Samuel and Robert won it for us before I got a chance."
"Maybe you can fight in the next round?" he ventured. "You want to, right?"
"Of course," Leah chuckled. "I'm not about to just kick back and let the others handle it all for me. No fun just standing there watching them do all the fighting, huh?"
"No," he agreed. "You have that new card too."
She chuckled again. "Yup. I can't let her sit this out either." Seth laughed himself and the sound was music to her ears. "Agatha said they'll put up the game footage once the day's over, so if you wanted we could watch it some time?"
He was silent briefly. "Please," he murmured. "I'd like to see you fighting with the holograms."
A sigh brushed through her lips. "They're incredible. Even just standing on the sidelines, seeing the Units actually there rather than just imagining it..."
"It sounds amazing," Seth said. "I wish I could be there."
"Maybe next time?" she said. "It'd be great to see you in action as part of the team." There was a pause, only his breathing telling her he was still there.
"I'd love that," he finally answered, voice soft. Before he could say more, another voice came faintly through, bellowing his name. "I... I have to go... sorry..."
"It's okay," she said, trying to put a reassuring smile into sound as best she could. "I hope your doctor's nice, let me know how it goes, okay?"
"I will," Seth said softly, and he was gone. She stared at the phone screen for a moment, before a voice interrupted her train of thought.
"The holograms are pretty cool, right?" Her head snapped to the side to see a familiar face leaned on the railing a short distance away. A young man in a green shirt, hair a light brown and his eyes leaf green. His lips wore a cordial smile like that was his default, the kind of smile that you just couldn't help but like. One of the members of Team Blazing Lions, she remembered after a moment, he'd been ahead of the man in the white coat.
"Eavesdropping?" Leah asked with a raised eyebrow and a wry smile.
The young man held up his hands defensively. "I wasn't trying to, I promise. Just couldn't help hearing stuff here and there. I just wanted to apologize, Benedict's got a pretty intense stare and you looked spooked down there."
"I forgive you and apology accepted," she chuckled. "Yeah, I haven't even fought yet and I can't wait to see them up close."
He shared her grin as his hands returned to the rail. "You've missed out so far, trust me. It really is just like being there on Cray after so long just imagining it." He stepped close enough to hold out his hand. "Noel Reid, Team Blazing Lions."
"I saw you out there," she replied as she took the handshake. "Leah Wilson, Team Avalon."
"I'd like to say I saw you fight, but I think I dozed off," Noel chuckled, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly. "Or Leonard says I did." He nodded to a table some way off where the man in the open red shirt sat opposite the one in the white coat. Both watched Noel, the former smiling openly, the latter more reserved.
"How could you doze off?" Leah asked. "I wouldn't want to miss a minute of this."
Noel shrugged. "I just like to go with the flow, take things as they come. And it's kind of nice to be surprised rather than walk in already knowing what to expect?"
She laughed. "I said the same. About the surprise, that is?"
"Kindred spirits, huh," the young man grinned, glancing to his teammates in time to see the man in the red shirt beckon him with a wave. "Looks like I'm wanted, but it was cool to chat a bit. Maybe I'll see you on the field?"
"Maybe," Leah smiled.
"I hope your friend's okay," Noel said as he turned away, offering a wave as he made his way back to the table. True to his word, although he was quick to cross the floor, he didn't look hurried at all as Leah watched him go and saw him sit back down right beside the red-shirted man, presumably Leonard if the one in the white coat was Benedict. After a moment she turned away herself, heading back to her own teammates with a grin on her lips.
"Good news?" Robert asked when she sat back down.
"Just nice to talk to him," Leah replied. "And I met someone nice over there."
Agatha glanced away from where she watched the screen. "Be careful. Sometimes teams'll send their charismatic players around to fish for info they can use." She said it grudgingly, bitterly, but even so Leah couldn't help but bristle.
"I wouldn't give anything like that away," she said. "And what could they get from me that they wouldn't from the cameras anyway?"
"As much as some would disagree," the blonde replied with a rather pointed look at Samuel, "it's not just your cards and skills that make all the difference. Maybe they find out something they can use to throw you off your game, a button they can press, something they can exploit. It's wrong, sure, but trust me when I say there are teams who will go to any length to win."
Samuel offered a nod. "Like I said," he added, "we've entered a world where all that matters is victory at any cost. And you don't know who people really are behind their smiles." There it was again, she realized. That bitterness that said he spoke from painful experience, whatever that may have been.
Leah frowned. "Maybe," she snapped back defiantly. "But I'll fight the same as ever. For fun and for my friends." She swore he almost smiled.
"Looks like the next game's starting," Robert cut in, perhaps trying to break the tension. They all looked to the screen to see that he was right and settled to watch.
VBH
Soon enough the first matches were finished, Wild Fangs and Revelation both rising triumphantly and filing away to let the remaining teams decide who would join them. Noel gave Leah a cheery wave as he stepped up to the next field against the fighter from Dragonic Soul, and she answered with one of her own.
"Ready to go?" Agatha asked, snapping Leah's attention back to her.
"Definitely," the black-haired girl nodded as they made their way to the field where Heroic Spirits stood at the ready, the blonde woman already set up at the platform. She stood totally composed, gazing straight across the field with steely eyes.
Leah stepped up opposite her, setting down her own cards. Green eyes met steely blue across the battlefield, a silent moment passing before her opponent spoke.
"I am Aria," the blonde woman declared regally. "Let us have a fair fight."
"Leah," Leah answered, grinning. "And let's." That made Aria smile a little as the referee stepped up.
"Well, it seems you've already gotten that part of my job out of the way," he chuckled.
"Once again, the dice have fallen! Let the games begin!"
"Stand up, Vanguard!" four voices cried in unison.
United Sanctuary's city rose around them, a courtyard ringed by statues of heroic knights rather than the gardens she was used to imagining when she fought. Even so Leah looked around in wonder as birds soared overhead, taking in the bustle and splendor of the holy nation while Lozenge Magus appeared at her side [Lozenge Magus – 6000 Power]. The mage readied her staff with a smile, meeting her master's gaze as Leah grinned. Opposite Aria didn't react much as an angelic girl in silvery armor appeared at her side, a golden trumpet in her hands [Stardust Trumpeter – 6000 Power].
The dignified lady made her draw. "Ride!" The trumpeter faded in a burst of radiance, reforming into an armored white wolf with golden eyes [Snogal – 7000 Power]. "I draw a card with Stardust Trumpeter's skill, and it's your turn!"
Aria
Hand: 6
Front Row: Empty/Snogal/Empty
Back Row: Empty/Empty/Empty
Soul: 1
Damage: None
Leah
Hand: 5
Front Row: Empty/Lozenge Magus/Empty
Back Row: Empty/Empty/Empty
Soul: 0
Damage: None
"Draw!" Leah called out, scanning her hand. No Grade 3s, just a mix of 0s, 1s and 2s. But this was where she could bring her deck's strength to bear. "I Ride Circle Magus!"
Lozenge Magus was consumed in light, transforming into the circle-clad magus, her hair strawberry blonde without Leah's image overriding her [Circle Magus – 8000 Power]. Her fighter made another draw from Lozenge Magus's skill, then turned her Vanguard's card.
"Circle Magus attacks Snogal!" The magus raised her baton, casting a disc of burning light over the field with a swing of the instrument.
Aria glanced at her hand but only for a moment. "No guard."
[Drive Check – Weal Crane – No Trigger]
The disc found Snogal across the chest, slashing into its armor and sending it rolling across the hard ground. The high dog whimpered but rose to its feet quickly.
[Damage Check – Snogal – No Trigger]
"Your move," Leah concluded.
Leah
Hand: 7
Front Row: Empty/Circle Magus/Empty
Back Row: Empty/Empty/Empty
Soul: 1
Damage: None
Aria
Hand: 6
Front Row: Empty/Snogal/Empty
Back Row: Empty/Empty/Empty
Soul: 1
Damage: Snogal (U)
"Then I'll answer your opening strike with my own," the blonde woman declared, drawing a card. "Ride, Sage of the Arts, Jauron!" Snogal's battered form dissolved into a tower of radiance, a great giant rising to the height of the nearest buildings taking its place. He snapped open a tome in his hand, pulling a sword of light from within the book to brandish it at Leah's dwarfed Vanguard [Sage of the Arts, Jauron – 10000 Power].
"Espogal, Ablagal, call!" Two more pillars of light shone for an instant each, unleashing a shaggy white dog wielding a curved blade between its jaws [Espogal – 9000 Power] and a smaller beast covered in jagged armor [Ablagal – 7000 Power]. "Jauron attacks the Vanguard!"
The giant's sword swept down with incredible speed toward Circle Magus.
"Guard!" Leah answered, and Nike formed from motes of light to take the blow for Circle Magus [8000 Power + 15000 Shield = 23000 Power].
"A solid parry... in that case," she flipped over her Drive Check, but no Trigger showed up to help her.
[Drive Check – Dramatic Composer – No Trigger]
Despite that, Aria seemed not to mind, just watching Jauron's blade smash Nike into shards and rebound away before it could harm Circle Magus. Her fingers swiftly turned her rear-guard cards. "With a boost from Ablagal, Espogal attacks!" The dogs snarled together, racing toward Circle Magus one after the other [9000 Power + 7000 Power = 16000 Power].
"No guard!" Circle Magus whimpered in pain as Espogal's blade followed by Ablagal's claws raked over her, scraping sparks on her armored dress and scratching her thigh.
[Damage Check – CEO Amaterasu – No Trigger]
Leah set down the card with a little grimace, trying not to let disappointment show. Aria caught it anyway.
"Either you're very attached to that card, or you desperately needed her," the knightly woman mused. "I expect I'll soon see which it is. Your move."
Aria
Hand: 5
Front Row: Espogal/Sage of the Arts, Jauron/Empty
Back Row: Ablagal/Empty/Empty
Soul: 2
Damage: Snogal (U)
Leah
Hand: 6
Front Row: Empty/Circle Magus/Empty
Back Row: Empty/Empty/Empty
Soul: 1
Damage: CEO Amaterasu (U)
"I stand and draw," Leah replied. "I have to say your deck's looking very straightforward so far."
Aria smiled again. "If we judged every fight on just the opening moves, I could say the same of even the best. But then, it's the opening moves which lay the ground for the true spectacle."
"Here she goes," her leather-clad teammate chuckled, earning an amused glance back from her.
"So what you're saying is you're just setting up for the real fun?" Leah smiled, and received a nod in answer. "I guess you could say I'm doing the same, then. I Ride Battle Sister, Chouquette!"
The light transformed Circle Magus into a nun with raven-black hair, her habit trimmed in white and gold. Emerald eyes coldly regarded the giant and dogs opposite as Chouquette brought an ornate railgun to bear [Battle Sister, Chouquette – 9000 Power].
"Chouquette's Soul Blast! I look at five cards from the top of my deck, reveal a Grade 3 from them," she held up an Amaterasu with a smile, "put it on top of my deck, and Chouquette gains 5000 Power this turn!" She placed the Amaterasu down, slipping the other four cards to the deck's bottom after shuffling them as the nun glowed [Battle Sister, Chouquette – 14000 Power]. "Then, Circle's Counterblast!" Still smiling, she drew the Amaterasu she had just placed.
"If you were missing a Grade 3, that was clever play," Aria congratulated. "But though you've laid the ground for next turn, I want to see what you have for me right now."
"Then here I come!" Four cards fell in quick succession, bringing a Promise Daughter [Promise Daughter – 9000 Power], another Chouquette [Battle Sister, Chouquette – 9000 Power] and a pair of majestic white cranes [Weal Crane – 6000 Powerx2], then Leah discarded another card from her Soul and the second Chouquette glowed as she placed all five shuffled cards to the bottom of her deck [Battle Sister, Chouquette – 14000 Power].
It was almost a shame she had to shuffle the cards, she thought. Otherwise when she reached them, she'd know exactly what was coming, if the game lasted long enough. Putting that thought out of mind, she turned the Vanguard's card along with the Crane behind it. "Chouquette attacks the Vanguard!"
Chouquette's railgun hummed, swiftly building to an ear-splitting whine before it fired what seemed like a bolt of light right at Jauron's chest.
"No guard!" Aria cried.
"Check... no Trigger," Leah called.
[Drive Check – Miko of Elegance, Fumino – No Trigger]
She heard Robert groan a little even as the railgun slug struck Jauron with enough force that the giant stumbled back. "If she had a Trigger there..."
"She's still got a lot of Power on the rear-guard," Agatha replied. "She can push Aria hard with that even if the drive check didn't come through."
But when Aria raised her Damage Check, it flashed red. "Draw Trigger! I give the Power to Jauron and draw!"
[Damage Check – Flash Shield, Iseult – Draw Trigger]
Despite the Trigger wrapping Jauron in a crimson glow [10000 Power + 10000 Power = 20000 Power], Leah kept herself calm. It was fine. Both of her rear-guards could still hit and take cards off of Aria. "Promise Daughter attacks Jauron with a boost from Weal Crane!" Shining gloriously, the angelic woman hurled her radiant bolt at the giant from on high [9000 Power + 6000 Power + 6000 Power = 21000 Power].
"No guard!" Aria repeated. "The wise knight knows when to turn a blow and when to parry, Leah." The bolt struck and Jauron was more prepared this time, its impact merely singing him.
[Damage Check – Espogal – No Trigger]
Leah grinned back. "What will you do for this one, then? With a boost from Weal Crane, Chouquette!" Another railgun whined as it reached full power, unleashing its round toward the giant [14000 Power + 6000 Power = 20000 Power].
That one I'll parry! Margal!" With a howl, a crimson-armored high dog raced from a side street. It jumped and clawed its way up a statue, using the knightly monument as leverage to intercept the shot for Jauron [20000 Power + 5000 Shield = 25000 Power].
Leah chuckled. "I thought so. How did you like that?"
Aria smiled in answer. "It was an impressive turn. But now I'll demonstrate my own skills, Leah."
"I'm looking forward to seeing it, so go ahead," she declared.
Leah
Hand: 4
Front Row: Promise Daughter/Battle Sister, Chouquette/Battle Sister, Chouquette
Back Row: Weal Crane/Empty/Weal Crane
Soul: 0
Damage: CEO Amaterasu (F)
Aria
Hand: 5
Front Row: Espogal/Sage of the Arts, Jauron/Empty
Back Row: Ablagal/Empty/Empty
Soul: 2
Damage: Snogal (U), Flash Shield, Iseult (U), Espogal (U)
"Stand and draw." For a moment Aria closed her eyes, a look of focus coming over her face as she took a card from her hand.
"Draw the sword of victory, and let its glow call forth your noble allies! Ride!" she chanted. "Aggregate Knight, Firno!"
Runes of light etched themselves onto the air in a shimmering ring around Jauron before a pillar of light consumed the runic circle. Sword slashes cleaved through the radiance, making the glow fall apart to unveil Aria's new Vanguard at her side. Blonde hair fell as a long veil across her back down to her hips, blue and silver armor leaving her shoulders bare. The knight readied a crystal-set shield and a thin crystalline blade, her deep green eyes sparkling as she brought the shield to bear across her flank, sword pointed across her body to aim at Leah's Vanguard [Aggregate Knight, Firno – 13000 Power].
"Imaginary Gift: Force!" Aria continued. The gift's light made Firno's own radiance intensify, all of her crystals glowing brilliantly [Aggregate Knight, Firno – 23000 Power]. "Then, Firno's skill!" She turned over two Damage. "I Superior Call Rendering Angel from my hand, and both he and Firno will gain 10000 Power this turn!"
"To me, warrior of light!" Firno cried, pointing her sword to the open circle beside her. That runic circle flashed into being for an instant, then a pillar of light unleashed an angel in a fancy white and blue suit wielding a violin [Rendering Angel – 10000 Power + 10000 Power = 20000 Power] [Aggregate Knight, Firno – 23000 Power + 10000 Power = 33000 Power].
"Rendering Angel's skill when placed! I call a Grade 2 or less card from my hand and Rendering gains 5000 Power!" Aria declared, placing another card. A cute elf in a blue pink-frilled dress appeared behind the angel as he played a string of notes on his violin, giggling merrily as she waved a baton [Dramatic Composer – 8000 Power] [Rendering Angel – 20000 Power + 5000 Power = 25000 Power]. "Composer gains 5000 Power since she was placed by a card ability, additionally, Ablagal gains 5000 Power since another rear-guard was placed by an ability and Espogal gains 3000 each time!" Auras of pure white radiance surrounded the three, empowering them to greater heights [Dramatic Composer – 8000 Power + 5000 Power = 13000 Power] [Ablagal – 7000 Power + 5000 Power = 12000 Power] [Espogal – 9000 Power + 3000 Power + 3000 Power = 15000 Power].
Leah stared, momentarily speechless. She knew how Royal Paladins played, but even so this flurry of calls that left Aria's field with incredible power was amazing to see.
"I see I've awed you into silence," the knightly woman chuckled. "This is what my foundation was made to support. My forces working in tandem to defeat any enemy with the power of their bonds, as Royal Paladins do!"
"It's strong, but I'm still only on one Damage," Leah noted. "You've given me your all pretty early."
Aria laughed. "A fair criticism, but I don't plan to leave you on one for long. Firno, strike the Vanguard!" The Aggregate Knight rushed at Chouquette with radiant blade drawn back, ready to thrust at the heart.
"No guard!" Leah answered.
"Twin Drive! May the Triggers shine!" Aria declared, drawing the first and turning it over. Her declaration didn't inspire a glow from that one, at least.
[Drive Check – Ablagal – No Trigger]
"Second check!" But it did see the second one glow gold. "Critical Trigger! The Critical will go to Firno and the Power to Espogal!"
[Drive Check – Flogal – Critical Trigger]
Her blade shining with a flash of gold, Firno struck, first with a thrust that knocked Chouquette back a step, then with a slash that tore a cry from the nun's lips. Damage dealt, the Aggregate Knight jumped back from any reprisal with a stoic look of satisfaction.
"Damage Check, first!" Leah called in answer, finding herself hoping for a Trigger to at least stem the tide of Damage. None presented themselves on the first card as she put it into place.
[Damage Check – Luck Bird – No Trigger]
"Come on..." She didn't like the feeling of almost begging for a Trigger, but she found herself rewarded by a golden glow. "Critical Trigger! I give the effects to my Vanguard!"
[Damage Check – Oracle Guardian, Nike – Critical Trigger]
At least it was something, golden radiance igniting around Chouquette [9000 Power + 10000 Power = 19000 Power], and for a moment Aria faltered before moving her hand to ready her next attack.
"With a boost from Ablagal, Espogal attacks the Vanguard!" With a howl the high dog erupted forward, ready to strike at Leah's Vanguard [15000 Power + 10000 Power + 12000 Power = 37000 Power]. Leah looked over her hand. Amaterasu, Fumino, Psychic Bird and a Sotoorihime. She'd need two cards to guard even with the Trigger and she could only block one without sacrificing Fumino and both Intercepts. In that case-
"No guard!" With a snarl Espogal struck, Chouquette crying out as the blade slashed through her too fast to block. Aria looked on as Leah drew the card, revealing it slowly.
An emerald icon glowed.
[Damage Check – Sphere Magus – Heal Trigger]
Robert cheered behind her and a glance back found Agatha smiling, before she held the card up toward her opponent. "I give the Power to my Vanguard and I heal one Damage!" Chouquette shone with emerald light now, standing renewed as her allies cheered her on [19000 Power + 10000 Power = 29000 Power].
"Two in a row...?" Aria gasped, before catching herself and continuing with a determined stare. "With a boost from Composer, Rendering Angel attacks!" A stroke of his violin's bow sent a string of musical notes floating purposefully towards Leah's empowered Vanguard [25000 Power + 13000 Power = 38000 Power].
"Psychic Bird!" Leah replied. The emerald-feathered bird swooped out of the sunny sky to rip a path through the notes, making them all shatter into radiant dust before Psychic Bird too faded [29000 Power + 15000 Shield = 44000 Power].
For a moment there was quiet between the fighters, then Aria chuckled. "Luck is a part of battle, but it's not often I see luck like that."
Leah nodded, though she thought maybe Aria would have been better off attacking Promise Daughter. "You kept your promise, though. Three Damage instead of one," she smiled.
"There's that at least," the woman sighed. "This round is finished, but my next round will be the last!"
Aria
Hand: 5
Front Row: Espogal/Aggregate Knight, Firno (IG:Fx1)/Rendering Angel
Back Row: Ablagal/Empty/Dramatic Composer
Soul: 3
Damage: Snogal (F), Flash Shield, Iseult (F), Espogal (U)
Leah
Hand: 3
Front Row: Promise Daughter/Battle Sister, Chouquette/Battle Sister, Chouquette
Back Row: Weal Crane/Empty/Weal Crane
Soul: 0
Damage: Luck Bird (U), Oracle Guardian, Nike (U), Sphere Magus (U)
"I won't make it easy for you," Leah replied, making a draw. But instead of holding up Amaterasu's card immediately where she might have before, instead she rested her hand on the right Weal Crane. "Weal Crane's skill because I drew a card. It goes to the Soul and two of my front row rear-guards gain 10000 Power this turn!" The bird transformed into golden light, wrapping around Promise Daughter [19000 Power] and the rear-guard Chouquette [19000 Power].
Only then did Leah hold up her Grade 3's card and recite her chant.
"Sun goddess, cast your gaze to the future! Choose your fate with your own hands! Ride, CEO Amaterasu!"
Sunlight ignited before, consuming Chouquette before dimming to unveil the beautiful, radiant goddess in her glory [CEO Amaterasu – 12000 Power].
"You may have powered up your front row, but I still have room to take some blows," Aria declared.
"Imaginary Gift: Protect! Then, I call Miko of Elegance, Fumino!" Leah continued. A purple-haired woman in a loose shirt and short shorts appeared where the Weal Crane had been, a fishing rod in her hand and a straw hat perched atop her head [Miko of Elegance, Fumino – 8000 Power]. "Fumino has the same skill as Chouquette, except she'll only gain 2000 Power!" She fanned the five cards and immediately saw it there, the one she had been searching for. The card Seth had mentioned.
A new ace card.
She revealed it to Aria with a wide smile before setting it down atop her deck, the rest going to the bottom.
"That one... but you'll be sacrificing a Drive Check to get it!" the woman protested.
Leah shook her hair as Fumino and Amaterasu glowed [Miko of Elegance, Fumino – 10000 Power] [CEO Amaterasu – 17000 Power]. "Amaterasu's skill!" She turned over a Damage and immediately drew the card she had placed, then checked the next and placed it at the bottom of her deck as Amaterasu's glow intensified [CEO Amaterasu – 22000 Power].
"That's twice," Agatha mused behind her. "Using draw skills to retrieve the Grade 3s she searches without having to sacrifice her drives to get them into her hand. Nicely done."
Beaming at that little praise, Leah turned Amaterasu's card. "Amaterasu attacks Firno!" The goddess conjured her great beam of light and hurled it at the Aggregate Knight.
"No guard!" Aria answered and let the beam smash her Vanguard back.
"Twin Drive, first check!" Leah called, no icon flashing. "No Trigger!"
[Drive Check – Goddess of Insight, Sotoorihime – No Trigger]
"Second check!" "Come on..." But the Critical Trigger she hoped for didn't appear, even though it would have pushed Aria right to the brink.
[Drive Check – CEO Amaterasu – No Trigger]
Firno smashed against a statue, toppling the heroic figure of some legendary knight into smithereens before rising caked in dust, her armor battered. Amaterasu's hand flew to her mouth, the goddess looking rather sheepish at the destruction she had caused.
[Damage Check – Taintless Feather Dragon – No Trigger]
A little disappointed but still confident, Leah continued. "With a boost from Weal Crane, Promise Daughter attacks Firno!" Promise Daughter smiled, a hail of radiant spears falling at her gesture [19000 Power + 6000 Power + 6000 Power = 31000 Power].
"Flogal guards! Rendering Intercepts!" Aria retorted. A pink high beast flowed onto the field, the angel floating forward to join it as they intercepted the barrage [13000 Power + 15000 Shield + 5000 Shield = 33000 Power].
For a moment Leah wondered why she had guarded, then she turned Chouquette and Fumino. "Chouquette attacks the Vanguard!" The railgun round rang out across the field [19000 Power + 10000 Power = 29000 Power], but Aria put down another card and a green-haired elf in a flimsy white dress appeared in the way [13000 Power + 20000 Shield = 33000 Power].
"You're wondering why I would guard," Aria commented as Elaine disappeared. "I might be confident of victory, but I won't take chances. Even if you survive this coming turn, I still have some room to breathe."
Leah smiled back at her. "Hit me with everything you've got, Aria. I'll take it and then I'll win despite that breathing room, for the sake of my friends!"
Leah
Hand: 6 (IG:Px1)
Front Row: Promise Daughter/CEO Amaterasu/Battle Sister, Chouquette
Back Row: Weal Crane/Empty/Miko of Elegance, Fumino
Soul: 1
Damage: Luck Bird (F), Oracle Guardian, Nike (U), Sphere Magus (U)
Aria
Hand: 3
Front Row: Espogal/Aggregate Knight, Firno (IG:Fx1)/Empty
Back Row: Ablagal/Empty/Dramatic Composer
Soul: 3
Damage: Snogal (F), Flash Shield, Iseult (F), Espogal (U), Taintless Feather Dragon (U)
"Your friends... now there's a noble sentiment I can support, because I fight for my teammates!" Aria cried. Stand and draw!" She snatched a card from her hand and held it high. "Come forth once more! Aggregate Knight, Firno!"
The knight at her side reformed into an undamaged copy. Readying her sword and shield, Firno shared her fighter's stoic look [Aggregate Knight, Firno – 13000 Power + 10000 Power = 23000 Power].
"Imaginary Gift: Force! Then, Firno's Counterblast!" Firno raised her shining blade with that cry of "to me, warrior of light!", and an angel descended to answer her call once again [Rendering Angel – 10000 Power + 10000 Power = 20000 Power]. "Firno and Rendering Angel power up with Firno's skill, then Rendering Angel's skill!" Another Ablagal appeared behind Firno to complete the field [Ablagal – 7000 Power] [Rendering Angel – 35000 Power] [Aggregate Knight, Firno – 33000 Power]. Auras of light blazed around Espogal and the Ablagal on the left side of the field [Espogal – 15000 Power] [Ablagal – 12000 Power].
Leah held up her hand, staring at the powerful field Aria had built. Even so, she was confident. She had a Protect Gift ready, and five other cards. She glanced back at her teammates, smiling at Robert and Agatha, then coming to Samuel. He just watched without reacting, offering her no encouragement or criticism with his gaze.
She didn't know why she expected any different now, she thought as she turned back. She tried not to let her pain and disappointment show.
"It wouldn't do to strike while you're looking to your teammates for support," Aria mused. "But now, my swords are ready to the full, Leah! Behold our chivalry and strength! With a boost from Ablagal, Firno will attack CEO Amaterasu!" The Aggregate Knight brandished her sword and brought her shield to bear, rushing across the field with blinding speed [33000 Power + 7000 Power = 40000 Power].
"No guard!" Leah answered immediately.
Aria held up the first Drive Check, an icon shining golden as she smiled. "Critical Trigger! I give the Critical to Firno and the Power to Espogal!"
[Drive Check – Bringer of Good Luck, Epona – Critical Trigger]
"Second check!" An emerald flash shone and Leah's eyes widened in shock. "Heal Trigger! I heal one Damage and give the Power to Espogal!"
[Drive Check – Yggdrasil Maiden, Elaine – Heal Trigger]
Blade washed in gold and emerald, Firno swept into Amaterasu's reach before the goddess could properly muster her defense. As though Aria's Triggers had torn the strands of fate apart, Amaterasu's precognition didn't prevent the sword from ripping an arc across her chest, falling to one knee with a glare of defiance.
Two cards fell to Leah's Damage in succession, neither shining with a Trigger to help against the two attacks Aria had left.
[Damage Check – Victorious Deer – No Trigger]
[Damage Check – Weal Crane – No Trigger]
"What bad luck," Aria sighed, clearly trying not to smile wider. "You're in a tricky spot now, so I'll press the advantage! With a boost from Composer, Rendering Angel attacks!" The angel ran his bow along the violin's strings, conjuring musical notes of light that flew towards Leah's stricken Vanguard [35000 Power + 8000 Power = 43000 Power].
Leah snatched two cards from her hand. "Nike, Psychic Bird! Chouquette Intercepts!" The marble statue and the emerald-feathered bird descended from bursts of light, the Battle Sister leaping forward to join them. Each took a note and shattered into motes, Amaterasu gazing with sorrowful eyes at her protectors [12000 Power + 15000 Shield + 15000 Shield + 5000 Shield = 47000 Power].
"A knight is without relent," the blonde woman recited as her fingers turned the next card. "Their blade strikes without faltering! With a boost from Ablagal, Espogal attacks!" The snowy white dog howled, rushing over the field with curved blade in its mouth ready to slash and end the fight [15000 Power + 10000 Power + 10000 Power + 12000 Power = 47000 Power].
Immediately Leah held up two cards. "Perfect Guard!" She placed Amaterasu into the drop zone and the shining barrier of a Protect Gift took form, flinging the high beast away to crash on the courtyard tiles. Its blade skittered across the ground, Firno moving to help only to halt as Espogal rose and recovered its weapon.
"Maybe I haven't won, but now you're on the edge while my position is firmer than before," Aria noted. "Even with a Critical Trigger, you can't threaten me. And next turn, I can use Firno's Counterblast again for the power to finish this fight. Maybe if you'd gotten a defensive Trigger, this would be different, but your poor luck has sealed my victory! I end my turn!"
"You say it's poor luck," Leah retorted. "But that's why I use this clan. Because luck, fate, whatever you want to call it, I don't believe it rules our lives and makes our choices meaningless."
Aria grinned. "Inspiring, but be as that may, you're still in a pinch and I still only have three Damage. Even with a stacked Critical Trigger, you can't finish me in one hit, and I have plenty of Triggers to guard with! My shield is impregnable and next turn my sword will strike you down!"
Leah shook her head. "I decide my destiny. Not luck and not you!"
Aria
Hand: 3
Front Row: Espogal/Aggregate Knight, Firno (IG:Fx1)/Rendering Angel (IG:Fx1)
Back Row: Ablagal/Ablagal/Dramatic Composer
Soul: 2
Damage: Flash Shield, Iseult (F), Espogal (F), Taintless Feather Dragon (F)
Leah
Hand: 2
Front Row: Promise Daughter/CEO Amaterasu/Empty
Back Row: Weal Crane/Empty/Miko of Elegance, Fumino
Soul: 1
Damage: Luck Bird (F), Oracle Guardian, Nike (U), Sphere Magus (U), Victorious Deer (U), Weal Crane (U)
"Stand and draw!" She pulled the next card from her deck, staring at it. It was another step towards victory, she thought. If this worked.
Leah took that card from her hand, the one Fumino had given her last turn, and held it high, calling her chant for all to hear. "Noble oracle with wings of steel, let your arrival turn calamity into triumph! Descend before me! Ride!"
Amaterasu faded into motes of beautiful golden light, smiling even as she disappeared. The motes coalesced over the battlefield into a cocoon of gleaming white steel, before the cocoon unfurled into a pair of glorious wings. The woman held aloft by those wings hovered like an angel, her hair a river of golden locks, her armor brilliant white. She looked down from on high with a firm, determined expression, shining with exalted radiance [12000 Power].
"Imperial Daughter!"
"There she is," Leah heard Agatha say approvingly.
"She's beautiful," Robert murmured in awe.
But Samuel said nothing still.
"Imaginary Gift: Protect," Leah said, steeling herself. "Then, Imperial Daughter's when placed skill! I Counterblast to check the top two cards of my deck, add one to the hand, and put the other either in the Soul or back on top of my deck!" She looked at the two cards, immediately taking one and sliding the other under her Vanguard. "Since Imperial Daughter rode from a Grade 3, she gains 15000 Power and a Critical this turn!" That radiance around her Vanguard blazed brighter, becoming like rays of harsh sunlight [Imperial Daughter – 27000 Power, Critical 2].
"Critical 2..." Aria echoed. "But you still don't have enough Power! I can guard that just fine!"
Leah played two cards. "I call Sotoorihime and Luck Bird!" Two pillars of light flashed into being for an instant, shattering to release Sotoorihime [Goddess of Insight, Sotoorihime – 9000 Power] and Luck Bird [Luck Bird – 5000 Power]. "Luck Bird's Soul Blast!" She discarded the two cards beneath Amaterasu in her Soul, making a draw as the bird glowed with light [11000 Power]. "Since I drew a card, Weal Crane's skill! It goes to the Soul and two of my rear-guards in the front row gain 10000 Power this turn!" The noble white bird dissolved into motes of radiance that cloaked Promise Daughter and Sotoorihime in their light [Promise Daughter – 19000 Power] [Goddess of Insight, Sotoorihime – 19000 Power].
"It's not enough!" her opponent insisted.
Leah smiled. "Imperial Daughter's Soul Blast! Promise Daughter gains 6000 Power!" The angelic woman smiled as the aura around her blazed brighter [25000 Power]. "Now, with a boost from Luck Bird, Imperial Daughter attacks Firno!"
Imperial Daughter raised her arms with a cry, conjuring a vast sphere of light above her hands and hurling it towards the knightly woman [27000 Power + 11000 Power = 38000 Power, Critical 2].
"Elaine and Epona guard! Rendering Angel Intercepts!" Aria snapped in answer, throwing down two cards and sliding the third over. The green-haired elf appeared first, joined by an energetic sylph atop a golden beetle, and finally Rendering Angel soared forward to join them with a smile [13000 Power + 20000 Shield + 15000 Shield + 5000 Shield = 53000 Power].
Leah just nodded as she took the first card from her deck. "Let's go. Twin Drive! First check!" She flipped the card over, but no icon lit up for her.
[Drive Check – Miko of Elegance, Fumino – No Trigger]
"Come on... second check!" A golden icon shone as she held the card up triumphantly. "Critical Trigger! I give the Power to Promise Daughter and the Critical to Sotoorihime!"
[Drive Check – Psychic Bird – Critical Trigger]
The orb of light struck Aria's guardians, shattering them into motes as it detonated like a supernova against them. Leah had to look away from the blinding radiance for a moment, but when she looked back particles of light winked out across the field. She immediately turned Promise Daughter's card, staring straight at Aria. "Promise Daughter attacks Firno! Since I've got four cards in my hand, she gains 6000 Power!"
The younger blonde raised a hand as though imitating Imperial Daughter, unleashing her bolt of radiance straight at Firno [25000 Power + 6000 Power + 10000 Power = 41000 Power].
"No guard!" Aria answered.
The bolt struck Firno's shield and exploding, making the gleaming metal crack all across. Rays of light burned into the knight, making her cry out as the force of the attack sent her skidding back. A dull card fell to Aria's Damage, the knightly woman frowning just a little.
[Damage Check – Rendering Angel – No Trigger]
"With a boost from Fumino, Sotoorihime attacks!" Leah continued. "Sotoorihime's Counterblast!" She made a draw then discarded the Chouquette, putting the top card of her deck back as Sotoorihime blazed and unleashed her storm of pearls [19000 Power + 6000 Power + 8000 Power = 33000 Power, Critical 2].
Aria stared into the oncoming attack with fingers tight around her remaining card. For a second Leah doubted, had she gotten it wrong? Was the last card another Elaine? But then Aria sighed, and with a resigned tone murmured, "no guard."
The pearls struck the cracked shield and it shattered into pieces, leaving Firno defenseless before the tide. Her armor buckled and bent, she collapsed to her knees once the barrage had ended. Her breath came in ragged gasps as her sword clattered on the ground.
Two cards fell.
[Damage Check – Flash Shield, Iseult – Draw Trigger]
[Damage Check – Dramatic Composer – No Trigger]
The referee's hand came up as though on cue just as the holograms faded. "The winner is Leah Wilson of Team Avalon! Team Avalon are one game up!"
Aria's head slowly lifted from where she had been staring at her completed Damage. After a moment, she bowed to Leah. "Well fought, and well done. But though the battle is over, the match isn't and my comrades will win it for us. I'm sure of it."
"And I'll say the same," Leah beamed back. "So we'll have to watch it play out and see who the winner is."
Aria rose again, smiling in turn. "I look forward to it. May the best fighters win." She collected her cards and retreated with a curt nod to the man in blue leather as he stepped up with his own cocky grin.
Leah turned to find smiling faces, Agatha already a step in front of Robert. "Go get him," she said to the blonde young woman as she returned to Robert's side.
"I will," Agatha said, not quite grinning, as though something was on her mind. Leah wondered what it was as she turned to face the action, watching intently as opening hands were drawn and redrawn. She glanced back at her brother to find him watching too. He spared her a look, then his eyes were back on the field.
VBH
Card of the Day:
Imperial Daughter
Grade 3/Twin Drive!/Imaginary Gift: Protect
Human – Oracle Think Tank – United Sanctuary
12000 Power/No Shield/Critical 1
Auto [V]: When placed, COST [Counterblast (1)], look at two cards from the top of your deck, put one card from among them into your hand, put one card from among them into your soul or on top of your deck, and if you rode from a grade 3, this unit gets [Power]+15000/[Critical]+1 until end of turn.
Activate [V] [1/Turn]: COST [Soul Blast (1)], and one of your units gets [Power]+6000 until end of turn.
When the time is ripe, the imperial princess will enter the stage of the deciding match.
The lone imperial princess of the holy land "United Sanctuary". She considers the people of her nation first, and is willing to sacrifice herself. Possessing a mind of a genius without peer, she received an invitation from Amaterasu, herself, and now currently works at Oracle Think Tank.
VBH
Next time, the battles continue with Agatha facing off against the next player of Heroic Spirits. His strategy wears at her defenses with continuous pressure, and unwelcome memories continue to surface as the fight heads to its conclusion. Meanwhile Team Blazing Lions face their trial upon the battlefield. Who will rise victorious and who will fall defeated?
It's Ride 16: Echoes in the Depths!