"Yuri is showing some skillful use of the Link Joker clan! With only one point of damage, he's managed to get his opponent to shed most of her hand!"

"Luckily for his opponent, she's about to hit grade 3. With a boosted power ceiling, she might be able to turn the tables. Otherwise, we're looking at a short game."

"Yeah, this is...bad," Lucas admitted. "For such a goofball, the guy's level of play is something else."

"It's still 2-to-1 before either hit grade 3," Tyler said. "He's good, but I doubt this'll be a six-turn game."

"Let's hope so," Sean said. "Kiki still has to deal with a field like that with only three cards to start with."

"I stand and draw," Kiki said.

"Uh, four. Four cards to start with."

Kiki looked at the four cards in her hand. Her ace and Vulcan Hammer would make for a fearsome offensive combination, but she didn't want to overcommit. Filling her field to even the damage out would be a poor move. Her next combo was pretty obvious, but a lot depended on the draw she'd net from her starter. "To start my turn, I ride Harrower Prince, Dragonic Glaivemaster." A pillar of flame discharged from the arena's floor, burning away Hell Trident and replacing him with the proud leader of the Harrowers. With a swing of his polearm, he scattered the remaining blazes, sending a wave of sparks and cinders towards the enemy formation.

Dragonic Glaivemaster- Grade 3/13000 Power/0 Shield/Force Marker

"No chant or anything," said Yuri. "You're a serious player."

Kiki didn't know what to say, so she continued. "I'm using Glaivemaster's skill- I counter blast and soul blast one, then choose one of your rearguards for each grade of the unit moved from my soul to the drop zone and retire it." She carefully shifted through her soul. "I'm sending Coal Mace to my drop zone, and his passive kicks in, allowing me to treat him as a grade 2."

"So you're popping two? Good move, what'll it be?"

"I'm retiring Hyakutake and Deneb." Glaivemaster planted his polearm butt firmly into the floor, sending two ripples of flames towards Procyon. Each wave veered around the dragon, worming their way under the subordinates in the back. When the waves stopped, two geysers of magma plumed upwards, completely destroying the enemy dragon's rear flank. "And when Coal Mace is moved from my soul to the drop zone, I can bind him to draw a card." Kiki took a good look at the freshly plucked card. Hell Trident...perfect, I might be able to turn this around.

"Well, I'm down to one rearguard. Too bad you're out of counter blasts, or you might be able to get rid of my last rearguard."

"That's true." She'd have to get a bit creative if she wanted the maximum Power boost. "I moved Scatter Lance back. Next, I call Hell Trident Dragon and Relentless Harrower, Vulcan Hammer Dragon."

Vulcan Hammer Dragon- Grade 3/13000 Power/0 Shield/Force Marker

For the first time in the fight, Yuri seemed slightly flapped. "Vulcan Hammer? That's the guy with that menace ability, right?" He looked at his much larger hand. "Heh, I'm in danger."

"Is there a reason he's a bit...off?" Erica asked.

"If your opponent has three or less rearguards, his attack needs two or more cards from hand to guard," Carlos explained. "Even if you PG him, you'll need one more."

"Guy shreds hands like a meat grinder," Adam said. "If you don't play carefully, he's more or less a game ender. Guess Kiki's aiming to even the playing field."

"For my first attack," said Kiki, "I'm having Hell Trident attack your rearguard Procyon. When he attacks, if you have three or less rearguards, he gains 5000 Power for the attack, on top of his regular Harrower boost." The smaller of the dragonic minions leveled his namesake, snorting like a feral bull.

Strength- 19000

"Trying to clear my field so it's easier to land an attack with your other big boys," Yuri thought aloud. "Well, I like my rearguard, but I don't like like him. I'll let him go." Hell Trident dashed furiously, digging his weapon into the rearguard Procyon before leaping backwards. With a gurgle and pained wail, the rearguard fell to his punctured belly before fading into stardust.

"Next, Javad will boost Glaivemaster for an attack on your vanguard. Since you have three or fewer rearguards, I'm adding 10000 Power and one Critical to this attack." Her own vanguard spread his wings as a gentle orange glow enveloped his body. He raised his guandao to the skies, his blade catching flame under the sun.

Strength- 36000/2 Critical

"This will put her in the lead!" Nat exclaimed. "Even without a trigger, she'll rocket ahead!"

"And that's before considering her Vulcan Hammer can still attack," Midori said. "She's in a good position."

Yuri fixed an impressed look on Glaivemaster. "Very nice. I'm not guarding that either. Hit me."

"Okay then, twin drive." Midori cleared her throat. I haven't seen any in a while, I hope I can dig something up. "First card...Harrower Dragon Mage, Shahrazad, a draw trigger! That's 10000 Power to Vulcan Hammer, and I draw a card. Second...Scatter Burst Dragon, a critical trigger!"

"A double trigger!" Sean gasped happily.

"The critical effect goes to my vanguard, and I add another 10000 Power to Vulcan Hammer." As Kiki added the card to her hand, Glaivemaster swung his weapon downwards, sending a skyscraping wave of hellfire towards Procyon. In the blink of an eye, the enemy dragon was eaten whole by the inferno, which raged for what seemed like minutes. It reduced to flickers soon enough, but the image of a gasping and struggling Procyon was haunting. A previously healthy warrior was brought to death's door in a single attack.

Yuri ticked. "Yikes, that's three damage checks. First...second...and last but not least...Starcrosser Marksman, Mimosa, a critical trigger! Woof, I really needed that. The 10k Power is going to, who else, my vanguard." Procyon scrabbled against the rock, eventually clamoring back to his feet with a new aura. He was down briefly, but not out.

Kiki nodded. "For the last attack, Scatter Lance will boost Vulcan Hammer. Both get the Harrower boost, and the Force II gift makes this attack critical." The large, armored dragon hefted his warhammer like it was a hollow stick, practically aflame. A bellow signaled his charge as he reared his hulking weapon.

Strength- 51000/2 Critical

"This could end the game!" marveled Nat. "Over at grade 2, what a girl."

"...What did you say?" Erica asked, a little bewildered.

"Not sure the other player will let it so pathetically," Midori said. "With five cards in hand, one being a heal trigger, in addition with the damage trigger, this attack is actually quite manageable."

Yuri chuckled. "Hate to rain on the big guy's parade, but I've a pair who's dying to meet him. Betelgeuse is stepping in, and so is Starcrosser Bodyguard, Rigel." As Vulcan Hammer rampaged, a pair of figures literally materialized from nothing, blocking his warpath. One was a blocky robot with cybernetic etchings and a variety of medical tools sprouting from its arms and back, the other a muscular soldier with sleek black body armor and a large energy rifle. The dragon slammed his weapon into the duo, atomizing them as quickly as they came. Vulcan Hammer pivoted into another swing, only for his target to dodge like liquid and strike back with a tail strike. Vulcan Hammer decided to fall back when Procyon threatened another swing.

Betelgeuse- Grade 0/5000 Power/20000 Shield/Heal Trigger

Rigel- Grade 0/5000 Power/15000 Shield/Critical Trigger

"Ah man," whined Nat. "That would've won if it connected…"

"Sucks," Adam admitted, "but the guy has peanuts for a hand now. A comeback from a battle phase like that is a pipe dream."

Kiki looked at her hand, then her formation. It was decent enough to survive a round of rough combat. She couldn't let her guard down, but at least she could take comfort behind a good position. "I end my turn," she stated.

End of Turn 5

Hand Count- Kiki 5, Yuri 3

Damage Count- Kiki 2, Yuri 4

"Kiki just catapulted herself back into the lead, and with only one attack! Both players are at the top of their game, and it's only going to get better!"

"And how! Yuri's about to bring out his ace, and we're about to see if that'll level the playing field, or even carry a come-from-behind victory."

"I stand and draw," Yuri began. He carefully examined his opponent's field, weighing her position against his own. She had at least one PG in hand, a nearly full field, and a doozy of an attacker in Vulcan Hammer. Not to mention, she was only at two damage. He looked at his own hand- he couldn't end it here, but he could at least even the score. It came down to how his vanguard's skill panned out. He smiled- aside from Anita and Veronica, most people he fought hadn't given him this stiff a challenge.

"Is everything alright?" Kiki asked. Despite being surrounded by menacing dragons, she was the one who seemed worried.

"I'm just fine," Yuri said. "I just think it's time to give the people what they want- a clash of grade 3s. With the power and purity of the mightiest stars, he comes swooping in as the galaxy's savior. I ride Prime Starcrosser Dragon, Arcturus Dragon." With that proclamation, Procyon sunk into a portal that appeared under him. In unison, a massive, circular star gate opened behind him. Slowly, a bulking behemoth of a dragon glided out. The lower half looked like it belonged to an interstellar battleship, coated with gun turrets and jutted with powerful engines. The upper half was upright and teal, serpentine in body-shape and covered in cybernetic armor. It's wings were made of pure energy, and it's snout was pointed like the tip of an arrow. In the middle of it's chest was some sort of reactor, glowing the piercing red of a giant star.

Arcturus Dragon- Grade 3/13000 Power/0 Shield/Force Marker

"Is that thing half battleship?" Sean gaped. Even by Vanguard standards, Yuri's boss monster was huge.

Lucas grinned. "That is metal."

"By riding Arcturus," Yuri explained, "I gain a Force II marker for my VC. Next, I use his once-per-turn skill. By counter blasting one, I can draw a card, then call a card from my hand to RC locked." He drew a fresh card, and looked at what was left in his hand. "How about...you?" A black sphere erupted from behind Arcturus, appearing like a marble next to his sheer size. "Next, I call Prime Starcrosser Champion, Aldebaran Minotaur." With a rumble, another enormous alien appeared onto the battlefield. Weighed down by heavy silver-and-blue armor, the bipedal bull resembled a walking truck more than a monster from Greek mythos. In one hand, he carried a hefty tomahawk, which pulsed with a purple energy.

Aldebaran Minotaur- Grade 3/13000 Power/0 Shield/Force Marker

"When Minotaur is placed, I can counter blast one to draw a card, then call a card from hand to RC locked. A skill so nice I gotta use it twice." He checked the top card again. "Oh, you're going straight there, friend." Another black sphere materialized. "Finally, I call Starcrosser Swordsman, Pollux." A final portal opened, though much smaller than the ones that brought Aldebaran and certainly Arcturus. Dressed like a sleek, futuristic knight, the humanoid alien in orange armor carried an energy blade in each hand- one a searing blue, the other a plasmic red.

Pollux- Grade 2/10000 Power/5000 Shield

"I'm hanging onto this card for later. For my first attack, I'm having Aldebaran attack Glaivemaster. When he attacks, I can add 10k until the end of battle." The minotaur snorted, rearing back his axe before slamming it into the rock like a hammer, sending a path of stalagmites towards his opponent.

Strength- 23000

Kiki did a quick inventory of her hand. She could block the first round of attacks well enough, but after that, she'd have to hope for the best to hang on two her two winning cards. With one empty rearguard circle on her opponent's side, Glaivemaster was at 14000, making this an easy block. "I guard with Flare Sword Dragon Knight, Harmuz." The rocky warpath came to a sudden and dramatic stop when a mounted guardian galloped in, producing an explosion of earth and cinders.

Harmuz- Grade 1/8000 Power/10000 Shield

Defense- 24000

"Ah well," Yuri shrugged. "Since I buffed the guy, I have to lock him after battle." Aldebaran grunted before letting out a guttural groan, floating upwards before being subsumed by the iconic black globe. "And since that was the first battle this turn, I can draw a card."

"Why does he keep locking his cards?" Sean wondered aloud. "What good is having so many cards on the field if you can't use them?"

"Well, it prevents her Harrower bonus from being too big," Sal thought aloud, "but you won't be kneecapping yourself like this unless you were planning something big. I doubt he's doing it for funsies."

"He is," nodded Tyler. "Watch, he'll attack with his other rearguard next."

"For attack number dos," Yuri continued, "I'm having Pollux swing in. When he attacks, I can counter blast one and soul blast one to add 6k to his attack." The swordsman tightened the grip on his blades, ready to hack away at a much larger target. He yelled, taking bounds towards the dragon, quicker than a shooting star.

Strength- 16000

"I intercept with Hell Trident," Kiki responded. The said dragon answered Pollux's advance with a snarl and a charge, his polearm protruding forward. With a swift downward strike, Pollux dispatched the dragon without much effort, the blades cutting through his armor like it was plaster. Pollux attempted to continue his forward thrust, only to be knocked aside with the butt of Glaivemaster's legendary weapon. Groaning but uninjured, Pollux retreated.

Defense- 19000

"Thought so. Since I buffed him, I have to lock him at the end of battle."

"That makes four locked rearguards," Tyler murmured. "This is going to hurt?"

"Not sure how," Lucas said. "Unless he can find a way to unlock ever-" He stopped, blinking. "Oh...oh hell. That's what her boss does, isn't it?"

"Huh?" Sean cocked his head. "What would unlocking do at this point?"

"Restand her front row, basically. Cards unlock in the standing position."

"Wouldn't that give him five attacks this turn? That's…"

"A major pain," sighed Sal.

"Time to really spice things up," Yuri grinned. "I'm attacking with Arcturus next. And now for his battle skill- I counter blast one and bind a card from my hand face down to unlock all my locked cards. Like so…" An intense pulse rippled from Arcturus's chest reactor, sending a crackling wave of energy across the entire battlefield. The light surrounded each of the black spheres on Arcturus's flanks, pulsating against them. With another ripple, the sphere's collapsed on themselves, spawning a nearly full force in less than a second. "Aldebaran, Pollux, Deneb, and Hadar are all unlocked. And for each unlocked unit, I draw a card."

"But that's a plus four off of one counter blast!" objected Nat. "That's just...mean!"

"Technically a plus three," Midori corrected, "but still upsetting. This totally shifts the dynamics of the match."

"Alright, I have a lot of skills to resolve," Yuri said. "Let's see- Hadar gets 5k when unlocked, Pollux lets me trade a card from hand with a card in my drop zone as long as they have different names, and my big boy vanguard gets a whopping 20k added to his attack. That's on top of his Force II Gift, by the way." Arcturus roared, the reactor firing up once again. Glowing brilliantly, it slowly amassed tons of stellar energy and plasma, searing lightning arcing off in wild fashion. "Ready for the Supernova Rondo? Because I sure am!" Three holographic targeting rings popped up in front of Arcturus, lining the path between him and Glaivemaster. With a space-rending roar, he fired a super-concentrated energy blast straight from his reactor, passing through each ring with an increasing intensity.

Strength- 33000/2 Critical

Kiki shuddered. With that move, the advantage had fully swung back to Yuri. That was two more attacks to deal with, alongside a massive vanguard attack. She could only really block one, and that's still required two cards. On top of that, he just replenished his hand as if it was nothing. This was bad, but she knew she couldn't forgive herself if she gave up here. "I-I guard with Shahrazad. By discarding a card, she nullifies your attack." In a puff of smoke, a female naga in colorful, heavily embroidered robes slithered onto the battlefield. With a flick of her braced hands, she threw up a spiritual barrier, etched with dozens of forgotten symbols. The cannon shot smashed against the shield, creating a great gout, but no lasting damage. As the barrier faded, so did the mage, a slight smile creeping across her face.

Shahrazad- Grade 0/5000 Power/0 Shield/Draw Trigger

Defense- Perfect Guard

Yuri nodded. "Well, I got you to shed that PG at least. My twin drive. First...no trigger. Second...Mimosa is back at it! That's 10k to Pollux, and an extra crit for my dear friend Aldebaran!" He turned to his left flank. "Pollux is getting a second chance. With Deneb's support, he's aiming at Glaivemaster!" The dual wielding swordsman took off again, striding across the rock with renewed vigor and intense determination.

Strength- 28000

Kiki examined her hand. As she expected, neither card had a damage shield. It was painful, but she'd have to let the next two attacks through. She'd hang on by the skin of her teeth, but it was the last chance she'd have to turn the game back in her favor. "I...don't guard." Pollux spun like a squall, slashing into Glaivemaster with a bitter vengeance. "Damage check...no trigger."

"For the last attack this turn, I'm having Hadar boost Aldebaran! His battle skill kicks in again, adding 10k to this swing too!" Twisting like an olympic athlete, the minotaur let loose his handaxe. It cut across the battlefield like the planet's deadliest discus.

Strength- 36000/2 Critical

Kiki winced. "I don't guard that, either." The axe slashed past Glaivemaster, splitting his weapon in twain and causing the dragon to fall back, clutching his wound with a yowl. "Damage checks. First...second...Sabahudin. Um, well, I give the Power to Glaivemaster, even though you're out of attacks."

"That's true. Aldebaran locks after being buffed, but since it's the end of my turn, I unlock all my locked cards, meaning he's fine." He rolled his head. "I don't know about you, but I feel great. Looking forward to what you're gonna do next."

End of Turn 6

Hand Count- Kiki 2, Yuri 7

Damage Count- Kiki 5, Yuri 4

"What a turn! With just one skill, he's managed to completely turn the tables! Kiki better have something special saved up, because this game is as good as over!"

"I hope she's been holding onto that stellar grade 3 from before, otherwise, I'd have to agree. Still, if this job has taught me anything, it's to never count anyone out."

"Yeah, this is...bad." Lucas admitted. "I'm not sure she can turn this around."

Sean didn't respond. He certainly wanted to- his mouth was open in a way to suggest he had something poignant in store- but there was a chilling gnaw eating at his throat and stomach. He felt sick. He might be watching one of his friends lose. It was always a possibility, but he had treated it as a hypothetical, something not to think about. Now it was staring him down, a shotgun barrel full of dread. This wasn't really a reality he was prepared to confront. He looked to Sal, who seemed to be in a similar predicament.

"Come on," Tyler murmured. "Hang in there just a little bit longer…"

Kiki swallowed a pocket of air. She hadn't been in a situation like this for a long time. Rarely had she felt this helpless, and that was before taking in the stakes. If she wasn't able to win it here, her team would be one step closer to elimination, and it'd be her fault. She felt paralyzed, frightened in an unimaginable way. She swallowed again. "I…"

Yuri's expression changed from self-satisfaction to slight concern. "Is everything alright?"

"What?"

"I hope you're not giving up. You've been fighting really well up to this point, and I want to see what you've been holding onto. You wouldn't bother guarding if you didn't have something up your sleeve, right?"

Kiki didn't say anything. In a way, her opponent was right. She wouldn't hold onto her trump cards if she had no reason to keep fighting. The weight of losing would still be very heavy, but giving up would be unacceptable. "I...stand and draw."

Sean sighed in relief. Even if she didn't win, she stuck to it. It was a victory in it's own right.

Kiki looked at her drawn card. A card I can attack with, perfect. "I ride Harrower Ascendant, Dragonic Glaivemaster KEIEN." An enormous burst of hellfire erupted under Glaivemaster, sending cinders and sparks raining down like snowfall. The flames wore down after a few seconds, revealing the triumphant figure of KEIEN.

KEIEN- Grade 3/13000 Power/0 Shield/Force Marker

Yuri smiled. "Now we're cooking."

"First, I gain a Force II Marker for my vanguard circle. Next, I activate his on-place skill- by returning four cards from my drop zone to my deck, I can retire one of your rearguards for each different grade card returned. Since I'm returning a grade 0, 1, 2, and 3, I'm retiring four- Hadar, Pollux, Aldebaran, and Deneb." With a righteous anger, KEIEN poured a flood of flames from his maw, bathing the enemy formation in a cleansing flame.

Yuri chuckled. "That'd leave me high and dry...if not for Arcturus's defense skill. See, when an effect that chooses one of my rearguards is activated, I can lock that rearguard instead." The blaze had lifted, revealing a largely charred ground where an army once stood. The only things left were the enemy vanguard...and a defiant, unwelcome black sphere.

Midori sighed. "That ruins everything. KEIEN's offensive skill needs five empty circles to be activated, and with one locked card, it's impossible."

"KEIEN's shut down," Adam worried. "No restanding action this turn."

"But what about her Order card?" Erica asked. "Doesn't that restand?"

"Yeah," Carlos admitted. "But against a seven card hand, I don't think just one can break through."

Kiki nodded. I can still do this, she reassured herself. It all comes down to my drive checks. "I call Brimstone Axe Dragon." A pillar of smoke summoned another dragon, holding a hefty battleaxe. "And to start, he's attacking you. Since you have 4 empty circles, he gains 4000 Power." Almost immediately, the dragon took off, leaping forward to get a good shot at Arcturus.

Strength- 14000

Yuri studied his much larger hand. "Well, if I'm letting anything through, might as well be the attack that won't kill me. I don't guard." Brimstone brought down his weapon with a desperate swing, digging the axe blade in with such force it severed one of Arcturus's wings. "Damage check...no trigger."

Kiki breathed in. One more to go. I just have to find a way to get rid of his best defensive cards. "Next, Scatter Lance will boost Vulcan Hammer. You'll need at least two cards to guard against this attack." With a haughty roar, the heavyset dragon slammed his namesake into the rock, sending a surge of lava towards the lopsided Arcturus.

Strength- 29000/2 Critical

"Two cards it is. I guard with Mimosa and Starcrosser Cannoneer, Capella." A pair of portals opened, revealing two defenders. One, an arachnid-type alien with a longbow in it's eight-fingered hands; the other, a woman in a small assault craft, standing upright and aiming a compact energy cannon over a shoulder mount. Neither lasted long against the volcanic warpath, but it didn't matter- besides an impressive upheaval, the attack was a failure.

Mimosa- Grade 0/5000 Power/15000 Shield/Critical Trigger

Capella- Grade 2/10000 Power/5000 Shield

Defense- 33000

"For the third attack, KEIEN charges." The enhanced dragon roared, galloping across the arena. Each step sent showers of sparks and ash across the rock.

Strength- 17000/2 Critical

"Well, given that you didn't take the boost, I'm guessing you have some way to restand the fellow." Yuri looked at his remaining cards. "Still, twin drive is a harsh mistress. Better not risk it- with Starcrosser Shield Bearer, Altair, that attack is nullified." Swooping down from the heavens was a winged alien warrior. Wearing light cybernetic armor, he dove between the path of the two goliaths, bringing his forearms together to throw up a golden energy shield. The twin guandao clashed and slashed repeatedly against the barrier, but Altair remained stalwart.

Altair- Grade 0/5000 Power/0 Shield/Draw Trigger

Defense- Perfect Guard

Well, it all comes down to this. "Twin drive...first...second...Cleanse Feather Phoenix, a heal trigger! I recover one damage, and give the 10000 Power to KEIEN!" It's now or never. "I activate my Order card, Dauntless Will of the Emperor. By counter blasting one and discarding two cards, I can have my vanguard stand back up, with an extra 10000, extra critical, and one less drive." KEIEN, who had wheeled back from his failed assault roared again, his body glowing like a fledgling star. The spirit caused the very air to waver and warp.

"Nice!" Adam cheered. "With a guy that huge, she's still in it!"

"It depends on what's left in his hand," Nat worried. "If those three cards help him get over 45000," he gulped, "it's over."

"With a boost from Javad," Kiki said, "I'm having KEIEN attack one more time." Having one drive doesn't matter- if those three cards in hand can't block this, this will end the game. KEIEN roared again, his body and weapons ablaze with a blinding hellfire. Once again, he raged across the battlefield, swinging his polearms wildly. This would be the decisive blow.

Strength- 45000/3 Critical/1 drive

Yuri sighed. "Hope you don't hate me for this, but I'm nullifying that too. Altair will guard." Moments before KEIEN's weapon would have impaled Arcturus, the same shimmering barrier from before blocked the attack. Once again, KEIEN swung intensely and frequently against she shield, only to find his assault to once again be fruitless.

Defense- Perfect Guard

"No!" cried Nat. "That should've been the end of it!"

"Oh no," murmured Sean. "How'd he-"

"He must have drawn into them with Arcturus," sighed Lucas. "Doesn't matter what she checks now."

Kiki's face went pale. "I-I see. Checking for a trigger...nothing." Growling in frustration, the flame dragon wheeled back, his blazing body finally calming down. "I...end my turn."

End of Turn 7

Damage Count- Kiki 4, Yuri 5

Hand Count- Kiki 1, Yuri 1

"Thanks to some excellent defensive play by Yuri, that kill turn just fizzled! Unless the top few cards are heal triggers, this game is as good as over!"

"It was a valiant effort by the Villager player, but unfortunately, she just couldn't break through. This is the last turn, mark my words."

Yuri didn't feel so good. The commentators were right, but at this point, it just felt like kicking someone when they were down. He felt kind of bad for his opponent- obviously out of her comfort zone, obviously doing her best, only to crash and burn. Still, his job was to win, and he had a clear path. "I stand and draw." Looking at his freshly plucked card, he felt a combo coming on. It wasn't really a necessary one- with one card in her hand, defending was out of the question- but it could come in handy if there was a stray heal trigger somewhere. "Sorry about this."

"Mm." Kiki was already dreading the inevitable. Even with her best, she couldn't do it.

"I call Deneb. Using her on-place skill, I soul blast one to draw a card, and call a card from hand to RC locked." He did so quickly. "I'd rather check that than draw it, but that's no big deal. This guy is coming in locked." Another black sphere materialized next to Arcturus, both flanks now firmly covered by a locked unit.

"That's not good," noticed Carlos. "Now that he has enough to pay for the battle skill, he has three attacks."

"Why'd you have to say that?" groaned Nat.

"Going straight into my battle phase," Yuri continued, "I'm having Deneb boost Arcturus. Using his battle skill, I counter blast one and bind a card from my hand face down to unlock my front row, then draw a card for each. I draw two, unlock Aldebaran and Fomalhaut, and buff my vanguard by 20k." Arcturus cupped his hands to his chest generator, once again gathering enough energy to power cities.

Strength- 41000/2 Critical

"Fomalhaut?" observed Sean. "But doesn't that stack crits?"

"That's a 'win-more' move if I've ever seen one," said Sal.

Kiki was hanging on to whatever comforting thought she could to prevent a spiral. Staring down three huge attackers would always be daunting, and with only a single card in hand, there was no chance of survival. "What else can I do?" she said. "I don't guard."

Yuri nodded. "Twin drive...first...second. No triggers. Guess I drew most of them, huh?" With its own roar, Arcturus fired another gigantic energy shot towards KEIEN. This time, there would be no interruption, no interference, no guardian strong enough to stop the attack. The shot slammed into KEIEN, creating an explosion so intense, it shook the entire arena.

"Damage checks...first...second...no triggers." When the debris and smoke settled, KEIEN was on his knees. Despite his struggles, he dropped his weapon, his scales and muscles slowly eroding into powdery ash. As the other Kagero forces slunk back into flames, the near godlike dragon finally gave in, his entire body collapsing into cascades of soot and cinders. As the hologram faded away, the only things left of KEIEN were his lone weapons and an ever shrinking pile of volcanic dust.

End of Turn 8

Hand Count- Kiki 1, Yuri 4

Damage Count- Kiki 6, Yuri 5

Yuri Wins

There may have been wild applause after the match was over, and some enthused chatter from the commentators about the overall match, but Kiki didn't hear any of it. All was drowned out by the crushing weight of her loss. Even after all that, all she could do was let her team down. She couldn't even muster enough energy to gather her cards. The only thing that interrupted her funk was a hand on her shoulder.

"Are you alright?" Tyler asked.

"...I don't know," she sniffed. "I'm sorry."

"For what?"

"We're already down one."

"And that's not your fault-"

"No. It is. I'm...sorry." Her pity was so powerful she didn't notice that her opponent had already left, a look of heavy concern on his face.