A few weeks later...
"Azure, are you sure you should be going out? I know you recovered, but..." Kristall said, worriedly.
"I'm sure, Kristall. I'm fine." Azure said while putting his jacket on. "Still...Dusk Leviathan had full control of me, and hurt people I cared about. I have to make things right." He said.
"But what happened wasn't your fault, Azure...You were controlled by something." Kristall said.
"Maybe, but if I had just been stronger, I wouldn't have lost my body to them to begin with...Besides, I have some thinking to do either way." Azure then said, before walking out the door.
Walking out into town, Azure looked around the area. "I wonder where the others are..." He commented to himself, before accidentally bumping someone. "Agh..! Sorry about that, I wasn't paying attention..." He said, before noticing it was a boy about his age, with dark blue hair with a red streak in it, wearing a black hooded jacket with a red undershirt.
"You..." They started, before looking at him closer. "You're the one with that mystery clan, Abyszard." He said.
"Well, yes, although I don't know if it's really a 'mystery'..." Azure said.
"Fight me." The boy declared, holding out his deck box.
"Huh..?" Azure asked. "Well, I guess I can go for a round..." He said. "But wait, who are you?" Azure then asked.
"My name is Kara." Kara said, simply, before stepping back and putting a Neo-fight glove on, while a small crowd started gathering around the two, as Kara took out 4 of his cards, as they vanished.
"That's right, the new Ride Deck feature from a few days ago..." Azure thought out loud, picking 4 of his own cards, as they vanished, and one re-appeared facedown in fron of him.
He seems a little insistent on fighting me... Azure thought, putting his glove on. "Stand up, my, Vanguard! Arctic Magi!" He declared, as the unit appeared in front of him.
"Stand up, my, Vanguard!" Kara declared, as his own unit appeared, as it seemed to be a small black baby dragon. "Destruction Hatchling." He said.
"That clan..." Azure started, before his eyes slightly widened, as he remembered the entities on Cray using that clan.
Those Moon knight things were part of that clan, but I've never seen a unit like that before..! Who is this guy? Azure thought to himself.
"Now lets see if your Abyszards are any match for my Midnight Disciples." Kara declared.
So that's what they're called...But the last few ones have been one track...How will this one play? Azure wondered.
Meanwhile, at the Zoo park...
"...Man, there's a lot more animals at the petting zoo than I remember." Ray commented, walking up to the rest of the group with Gaea.
"You took a detour to see the petting zoo?" Marisa asked.
"Of course. Gaea wanted to see the dolphins." Ray commented.
"Still, it's great that Azure's finally back on his feet." Kyros said.
"Yeah, especially now that he's not some possessed thing anymore. So, what's the agenda now?" Ray asked.
"We should think about getting our team's rank up. As it stands, we're still a None Rank team." Drake said.
"Well yeah, you guys blew the first tournament you went to, and we blew the tag clash and relay fight tournament thanks to Star Titan." Ray commented.
"...Anyways. I've heard Magallanica park is having a team tournament to raise points for lower rank teams. It starts tomorrow, but I signed us up, since we have a full team, and a sub member just in case." Drake said.
"Neat. All we have to do is just not mess up this time." Ray said.
"We should probably tell Azure about it, then. It wouldn't be right for our leader not to be there." Kyros said.
Meanwhile...
[Azure] - [Kara]
[Hand - 6] - [Hand - 6 (plus "Quick Shield")]
[Soul - 1] - [Soul - 1]
[Damage/CB - 3/0] - [Damage/CB - 1/0]
[Drop Zone - 2] - [Drop Zone - 2]
[FIELD]
[R] [Abyszard Prince [G2 - 10000]] [R]
[R] [Arctic Magi [G0 - 5000]] [R]
[Destroyer's Aide, ] [Destroyer's Apprentice, Dusk [G2 - 10000]] [R]
[R] [Destruction Hatchling [G0 - 5000]] [R]
"I discard a card from my hand! Come forth, my friend! Imaginary Gift: Force 1!" Azure declared, as Wolf entered the field, howling with the gift marker below him. "Arctic Magi's effect activates!" Azure added, counterblasting and moving a card from his hand to the soul. "From my deck, I put Frozen Magi on a rear guard circle!" He said, as the smug magi appeared behind Wolf. "Wolf, attack the Vanguard!" Azure declared, as Wolf leapt upward.
"No guard." Kara said.
"Twin Drive!" Azure declared.
[DRIVE CHECK - Abyszard Core [G1]]
[DRIVE CHECK - Blizzard Stormer, Abyszard Gardragon [G0 - Stand Trigger]]
"Stand Trigger...I give the power to Wolf." Azure said, as Wolf blasted down at the red-haired swordsman.
[DAMAGE CHECK - Destruction Prodigy, Adamance [G1]]
"My turn is over." Azure said.
[Azure] - [Kara]
[Hand - 7] - [Hand - 6 (plus "Quick Shield")]
[Soul - 3] - [Soul - 1]
[Damage/CB - 3/1] - [Damage/CB - 2/0]
[Drop Zone - 3] - [Drop Zone - 2]
[FIELD]
[R] [Abyszard Frostbite Wolf [G3 - 13000] (Force 1 x1)] [R]
[R] [Abyszard Sage, Frozen Magi [G1 - 8000]] [R]
[Destroyer's Aide, Schwarz [G2 - 10000]] [Destroyer's Apprentice, Dusk [G2 - 10000]] [R]
[R] [Destruction Hatchling [G0 - 5000]] [R]
"My expectations were low, but this is pathetic..." Kara said, while drawing. "I discard one card to ride from the Ride Deck." He declared, as a dark pillar engulfed the field. "Manifest! The destructive disciple that decides their own path! Ride!" He called out, as a black dragon with red outlines, and a menacing aura surrounding their wings appeared, and roared. "Disciple of Destruction, Morien! Imaginary Gift: Force 2!" He declared, tossing the marker on his Vanguard circle.
"What is that dragon..?!" Azure asked, surprised.
"Morien is my friend...My only partner! I release the Generation Zone!" Kara added, discarding a card, as another pillar engulfed Morien, before they came out larger, with sharper wings, and golden outlines. "Generation Stride! Emperor of Destruction, Morien! Stride Skill!" Kara declared, as he counterblasted and soulblasted. "I send the top 3 cards of your deck to the drop zone!" He said, as a purple ray suddenly 'zapped' at Azure's Neo-Fight System, pulling out the top 3 cards of the deck and blowing them up. "If at least one normal unit was sent by this effect, from my deck, I superior call a card with "Destroyer" or "Destruction" in their card name, and give 5000 Power to both units!" He declared, tossing a card. "Appear! Child of Destruction!" Kara called out, as a young red-haired boy appeared behind Schwarz. "Then, Destruction Hatching's effect." He added, as it went to the soul. "When a unit with "Morien" in its card name is placed on the Vanguard circle, I send the top 2 cards of my opponent's deck to the drop zone!" Kara added.
"Two more..?!" Azure asked, as another purple ray grabbed his top 2 cards and destroyed them.
"Destroyer's Aide, Schwarz's Wrath 7!" Kara declared.
"Wrath..?" Azure asked.
"Wrath is active when the required amount of cards are in my opponent's drop zone. With Schwarz's effect, I soul blast Destruction Hatchling to retire Frozen Magi!" Kara declared, as the Magi was suddenly slashed down.
"In addition, call! Destroyer's Apprentice, Dusk! Wrath 7! He gets 10000 Power during my turn, and 5000 Shield during yours!" Kara declared, as the red-haired swordsman raised his weapon at Azure.
[POWER - 20000]
"Order, activate! Destruction Recover!" Kara said, tossing an order, as his Quick Shield ticket was destroyed. "By dropping one card from my hand, I send the top 2 cards of your deck to the drop zone, and I counter charge 1!" He declared.
"Not again..." Azure said, as his top 2 cards were destroyed again.
"Morien's effect!" Kara declared, counterblasting and flipping another copy of it face-up. "If my opponent has 5 or more cards in their drop zone, Drive plus 1. Then, for each card in the opponent's drop zone, my front row units will get 1000 Power! Now, how many cards are in your drop zone?" He asked, obviously rhetorically.
"11 cards..." Azure answered, as the units in the front row powered up.
[Morien - 44000]
[Schwarz - 21000]
[Dusk - 31000]
"Go, Morion!" Kara declared, as the dragon let out a large sphere of darkness at Wolf.
[POWER - 44000] [CRITICAL - 2]
"Complete Guard..!" Azure said, tossing Gardragon into the field, and dropping a hand card.
"Quadruple Drive." Kara declared, as the top 3 cards revealed themselves one by one.
[DRIVE CHECK - Morality Within Destruction [G0 - Draw Trigger]]
"Draw Trigger. I give the power to Dusk, and draw one card!" Kara declared.
[DRIVE CHECK - Disciple of Destruction, Morion [G3]]
[DRIVE CHECK - Destroyer Knight [G1]]
[DRIVE CHECK - Destruction Rose Pendragon [G0 - Critical Trigger]]
"Critical Trigger. I give all of the effects to Dusk."
"With a boost from Child of Destruction, Schwarz!" Kara declared.
[POWER - 34000]
"Generation Guard!" Azure said, tossing a heal trigger into the drop zone. "Glacier Knights, Pengu Trio! In addition, Guard!" He added, tossing another card.
[G Guard - Glacier Knights, Pengu Trio - 15000]]
[GUARD - Arctic Assassin, Blue - 15000]]
[TOTAL - 43000]
"Dusk!" Kara declared, as the swordsman slashed through Wolf.
[DAMAGE CHECK - Abyszard Frostbite Wolf [G3]]
[DAMAGE CHECK - Abyszard Heart [G0 - Heal Trigger]]
"Heal Trigger..! I recover one damage!" Azure said.
"My turn is over. I suppose you wouldn't be worth anyone's time if you couldn't at least do that much." Kara said, as Morien reverted.
[Azure] - [Kara]
[Hand - 3] - [Hand - 8]
[Soul - 3] - [Soul - 1]
[G Zone - 1] - [G Zone - 2]
[Damage/CB - 4/0] - [Damage/CB - 2/1]
[Drop Zone - 16] - [Drop Zone - 7]
[FIELD]
[R] [Abyszard Frostbite Wolf [G3 - 13000] (Force 1 x1)] [R]
[R] [R] [R]
[Destroyer's Aide, Schwarz [G2 - 10000]] [Disciple of Destruction, Morien [G3 - 13000] (Force 2 x1)] [Destroyer's Apprentice, Dusk [G2 - 10000]]
[Child of Destruction [G1 - 8000]] [R] [R]
"My turn..!" Azure declared, drawing. "I release the Generation Zone!" He declared, dropping a card. "Generation Stride!" He called out, as the familiar lady appeared. "Abyszard of Will, Roya! Stride Skill!" He said, counterblasting. "From the top 10 cards of my deck, I put Abyszard Magi on a rear guard circle! Add 5000 Power!" He said, as the Magi appeared.
[POWER - 13000]
"Then, Roya's effect!" Azure added, counterblasting and flipping another copy up. "I add Frostbite Burst to my hand! Then, I superior call Abyszard Prince from my hand! Drive plus 1! Add 4000 Power to Prince! Then, Prince's Frostbite! When he's placed by a card effect..!" He started, counterblasting. "I put Martin from my hand on a rear guard circle and draw one card!" He declared. "Add 5000 Power to Prince and Martin! Then, Order, activate!" He called out, activating Frostbite Burst, and counterblasting his last damage zone card. "Add 5000 Power to Roya, and her attack cannot be guarded by just one unit!" Azure declared.
"Then see how well that will work out for you." Kara taunted.
"With Roya's Generation Break 3, My front row units get 2000 Power for each facedown card in my damage zone! Martin, attack the Vanguard!" Azure called out, as Martin let out a blast of ice.
[POWER - 23000]
"Guard." Kara declared, tossing a card.
[GUARD - Destruction Rose Pendragon - 15000]
[TOTAL - 28000]
"Roya!" Azure declared.
"No guard." Kara declared.
"Quadruple Drive!" Azure called out.
[DRIVE CHECK - Arctic Assassin, Blue [G0 - Critical Trigger]]
"Critical Trigger! I give the critical to Roya, and the power to Prince!" Azure declared.
Come on...I can do this! Azure thought.
[DRIVE CHECK - Abyszard Frostbite Wolf [G3]]
[DRIVE CHECK - Abyszard Legacy, Lou [G2]]
[DRIVE CHECK - Crystal Dragon [G3]]
At that, the top 2 cards fell into the damage zone.
[DAMAGE CHECK - Destruction Beauty, Rose [G2]]
[DAMAGE CHECK - Destructive Mind [G1]]
"...Prince!" Azure said, as Prince and Abyszard Magi blasted together.
"No guard." Kara said, simply.
[DAMAGE CHECK - Destroyer's Apprentice, Dusk [G2]]
"I...end my turn." Azure said.
"Pathetic." Kara said.
[Azure] - [Kara]
[Hand - 6] - [Hand - 7]
[Soul - 3] - [Soul - 1]
[G Zone - 3] - [G Zone - 2]
[Damage/CB - 4/4] - [Damage/CB - 5/1]
[Drop Zone - 18] - [Drop Zone - 8]
[FIELD]
[Abyszard Prince [G2 - 10000]] [Abyszard Frostbite Wolf [G3 - 13000] (Force 1 x1)] [Abyszard Legacy, Martin [G2 - 10000]]
[Abyszard Magi [G1 - 8000]] [R] [R]
[Destroyer's Aide, Schwarz [G2 - 10000]] [Disciple of Destruction, Morien [G3 - 13000] (Force 2 x1)] [Destroyer's Apprentice, Dusk [G2 - 10000]]
[Child of Destruction [G1 - 8000]] [R] [R]
"Even the supposedly mighty Abyszards are nothing to Morien...I was right all along. Final Turn!" Kara said, drawing and tossing a card. "Generation Stride. Destructive Emperor, Morien. Stride Skill." Kara declared, counterblasting and soulblasting again, as the top 3 cards of Azure's deck were destroyed. "If a normal unit was placed, I superior call Destructive Knight behind Dusk, add 5000 Power to it and Morien." Kara added, as a dark knght appeared.
"Morien's effect." Kara then declared, counterblasting and flipping the last copy up. "Drive plus 1. Now count them to me. Count the number of cards in your drop zone." Kara said, as Azure hesitantly looked at his drop zone.
"...21 cards." He answered, knowing the front row powered up by 21000 this time.
"Now finish this fool, Morien!" Kara called out, as the dragon let out an even larger sphere of darkness.
[POWER - 51000]
"Morien's Generation Break 3! Wrath 20! My opponent cannot call Sentinels!" Kara declared.
[POWER - 51000] [CRITICAL - 2]
I don't HAVE a choice..! Azure thought. "No guard..!" He said.
"Then this quadruple drive will be the final one." Kara declared, as the top 4 cards revealed themselves.
[DRIVE CHECK - Morality Within Destruction [G0 - Draw Trigger]]
"Draw Trigger. I give the power to Dusk." He declared.
[DRIVE CHECK - Destroyer's Repent [G0 - Heal Trigger]]
"Heal Trigger. I give the power to Dusk, and recover one damage." Kara declared.
[DRIVE CHECK - Destroyer's Repent [G0 - Heal Trigger]]
"Once more, a Heal Trigger. I give the power to Dusk, and recover another damage." Kara said, Azure's eyes slightly widening as the sphere got bigger.
[DRIVE CHECK - Morality Within Destruction [G0 - Draw Trigger]]
"Quadruple trigger..?!" Azure asked.
"Luck is only granted to the strong! Now get out of my sight, Azure Cova!" Kara declared, as the Sphere practically blew up in the town, a lot of people having to shield their eyes or crouch.
[DAMAGE CHECK - Abyszard Legacy, Lou [G2]]
"...It's over." Kara said, starting to turn around, before hearing a glowing sound. "What..?" he asked, turning around again in surprise.
[DAMAGE CHECK - Abyszard Heart [G0 - Heal Trigger]]
"Heal Trigger..." Azure said, getting back up. "...I recover one damage, and give the power to Wolf..!" Azure said.
"Tch..! How dare you! Schwarz!" Kara said, as the unit rushed forward.
"Complete Guard..!" Azure said, as Gardragon got in the way.
"Dust! There's no heals left in your deck, this is the end!" Kara declared, as the swordsman rushed forward, and violently slashed through Wolf, the recoil knocking Azure to the ground, as he shouted in a bit of pain.
[DAMAGE CHECK - Abyszard Magi [G1]]
At that, Kara scoffed and walked away, but internally was very angry.
How..? Nobody survives Morien's Wrath 20! It doesn't matter, though...He lost, just like I knew he would. If even the clan that birthed the Grandmasters is nothing to Morien's power, then nothing will get in my way...Not ever again. Kara thought to himself.
Soon after, Ray ended up finding Azure. "Oh hey, buddy. Uh, did I catch you at a wrong time, or are you just really liking the way the sidewalk feels? Because that's pretty bad for your spine." He said, offering his hand.
"Oh...Hey, Ray. Look-" Azure started.
"Yeah yeah, sorry about Dusk Leviathan, not your fault, shut up. Anyways. Guess what, we've got a big tournament tomorrow to finally get Azure Crimson to Bronze rank." He said. "It's gonna be tomorrow at Magallanica park." He said.
"I...that's great, but maybe I shouldn't show up." Azure said.
"What? But Azure, you're the leader, you gotta show up!" Ray said.
"Look, I...need to pay someone a visit. Especially after what just happened to me. Look, Ray, I need you to do me a huge favor." He asked.
"Define 'huge'. Last time someone said that they just wanted me to hold an ice cream cone. It wasn't very huge." Ray said.
"I'm...going to see the Guru and ask him to continue my training. I'll try to be at the tournament on time, but I might be late. Don't tell anyone where I went." Azure said.
"So, act like I know nothing. Which isn't very different from me genuinely knowing nothing. Well...I guess I can do that for you, but the team needs you, what if we get paired up against a super strong team like last time?" Ray asked.
"I know, I know. Look, the whole reason Dusk Leviathan happened was because I wasn't strong enough, and the only person I know who can help me get strong enough to both help the team is the Guru." Azure said. "Please, Ray. I'll try to make it to the tournament, but I need to see the Guru again."
"Ugh...Fine. You owe me one, though, and you better show up. Last thing we need is for us to get screwed by another ultra strong team." Ray said.
"Thanks, Ray." Azure said, before heading off.
"...Well, knowing our luck, without Azure, this is going to be a really hard tournament." Ray commented, before walking off.