The stadium was deadly quiet.
Not one sound could be heard, except for the footsteps of Anthony and Sylvia as they took their places at their teams perspective fight boards, and got ready to initiate the final match of the first round of the semi-finals of the American preliminaries.
Which has everyone waiting on the edge of their seats.
Sitting in her team's waiting area Elizabeth observed Anthony and Sylvia closely. And in doing so she found something a bit off.
"Those two look eerily calm, considering what's at stake in this match." She mused.
Elizabeth was right. Despite the underlying energy in the arena, both Anthony and Sylvia had completely calm expressions on their faces, like the match they were about to have wasn't that important at all.
Hearing Elizabeth's comment Eric lightly shrugged his shoulders. "Eh, don't worry about it. Despite how those two look, I can tell you without a doubt that those two are incredibly tense at the moment. So to avoid thinking about the stakes in this match they're just focusing on each other. Simple as that."
"Really?" Elizabeth asked.
Eric nodded. "Really. I've known them for a long time, so I know what I'm talking about."
"Right, you three are childhood friends after all," Elizabeth muttered.
"Yep, we've known each other since we were seven years old. Back in elementary school." Eric responded. "And that right there is another reason this match is going to be really intense. Since the three of us have had so many cardfights against each other we know each other's plays inside and out."
"So in this match it all comes down to who wants it more." Elizabeth surmised.
"Got it in one." Eric said. "Now, let's see who wants it more." He said. He then focused his eyes on his two friends.
They had finished setting up their boards and hands. Then a moment after they did they shouted in unison.
"Stand up! Vanguard!"
"Chronojet, Zerostage!"
Chronojet, Zerostage
Grade 0, Power +5000
"Amon's Follower, Barmaid Grace!"
Grade 0, Power +5000
"And here we go folks, the final match of the A block semi-finals has begun!" Cecilia shouted into her mike.
The crowd cheered in response.
As for Anthony Sylvia they just continued to focus on each other.
Sylvia raised her hand in Anthony's direction. "Since your team won the last match, you can go first."
"Thank you. Don't' mind if I do." Anthony said. "I draw. Then I ride. Causality Dragon."
Causality Dragon
Grade 1, Power +7000
"Zerostage moves back and I end my turn." Anthony said. "To you Sylvia."
[Damage: Anthony (0) Sylvia (0)]
"Don't mind if I do." Sylvia mused. "I draw."
[Turn 2: Hand; Anthony (5) Sylvia (6)]
"I then ride. Amon's Follower, Fools Palm."
Amon's Follower, Fools Palm
Grade 1, Power +7000
"Then I call. Amon's Follower, Hell's Deal. With her skill I soul charge two cards." Sylvia placed two cards in her soul. "With a boost from Grace, Fools Palm will attack your vanguard."
(7000+5000=12000)
"No guard."
"Drive check. No trigger."
"Damage check. No trigger."
"Hell's Deal will attack next."
(7000)
"Another no guard. Damage check. No trigger."
"I end my turn."
[Damage: Anthony (2) Sylvia (0)]
"I draw." Anthony said.
[Turn 3: Hand; Anthony (6) Sylvia (5)]
"I ride. Delayed Blazer Dragon."
Delayed Blazer Dragon
Grade 2, Power +9000
"With a boost from Zerostage, Delayed Blazer attacks your vanguard."
(9000+5000=14000)
"No guard."
"Drive check. No trigger."
"Damage check. No trigger."
"I end my turn."
[Damage: Anthony (2) Sylvia (1)]
"I draw." Sylvia said.
[Turn 4: Hand; Anthony (6) Sylvia (6)]
Looking at the match so far Elizabeth had a slight frown on her face. "Just what is he doing out there," she mused. "Anthony isn't playing like he usually does."
Since she agreed to join Team Victories Anthony and Elizabeth had had quite the number of cardfights with one another to get a sense of each other's style and strengths. So she is certain she has a pretty good idea of how Anthony plays his vanguard. However, watching the match he was currently playing against Sylvia, Elizabeth felt something was off.
Noticing the look on Elizabeth's face Eric waved her off. "Don't worry about it, it's fine."
"How can you say that with the way Anthony's playing out there?" Elizabeth asked, turning to Eric. "You can see he's not playing like he usually does, right?"
Eric nodded. "Yeah I can see that. But I'm telling you it's fine. This is always how his and Sylvia's match always start out more or less. Just keep watching, and you'll see. Things are going to heat up sooner, rather than later."
"Well if you say so," Elizabeth mused. She decided to trust Eric's words and return to watching the match.
She just hoped he was right.
"I ride. Amon's Follower, Ron Greelin."
Amon's Follower, Ron Greelin
Grade 2, Power +9000
"Hell's Deal moves back. I then call. Amon's Follower, Hell's Nail. Then with a boost from Grace, Ron Greelin attacks your vanguard."
(9000+5000=14000)
"That's a no guard."
"Drive check. No trigger."
"Boosted by Deal, Hell's Nail will attack your vanguard. Activating her skill." Sylvia counter blasted one card. "Since she's attacking a vanguard I can soul charge three cards."
(9000+7000=16000)
"Guard with Chronotimer Leghorn." Anthony said, placing the grade 0 in his guardian circle.
"I end my turn."
[Damage: Anthony (3) Sylvia (1)]
"Stand and draw." Anthony said.
[Turn 5: Hand; Anthony (6) Sylvia (5)]
Placing the top card of his deck in his hand Anthony used a finger to adjust his glasses. Then after he did he put a light smile on his face and his entire aura changed. It grew in intensity.
Sylvia mirroring Anthony's smile with her own had the same change in her aura as well.
It's as if the match up until now was nothing at all.
Seeing this from her team's waiting area Elizabeth started biting her bottom lip.
Meanwhile Eric just lightly smiled. "See I told you. Things are going to really get started now."
"B-but why, what changed?" Elizabeth asked, not taking her eyes off the fight for a second.
"They can ride their avatars." Eric answered. "This happens every time these two fight seriously like this, as soon as they can bring out their avatars the fight jumps in intensity. Don't ask me why, it's just something that goes on between those two. Which is why I can safely say, we haven't seen anything yet."
'Oh, looks like they're starting to get serious now.' Lucian thought, his eyes having not left the fight since it started.
Picking a card from his hand Anthnoy kept looking at Sylvia, a nostalgic smile appearing on his face. "Hey Sylvia, doesn't this remind you of the first day we met," he asked.
"Actually it sure does." Sylvia answered.
The two of them then started to reminisce about their very first meeting.
Sitting in a high chair at cardshop Victory, a seven year old Anthony was working on his vanguard deck, a big smile on his face.
It was a Saturday morning and his father had brought him to Victory so he could play vanguard in peace.
Virgil, who is three years old at the moment has been throwing tantrums almost every week, and today Anthony's mother was staying home with him to "correct" his behavior.
Anthony wasn't feeling sorry for Virgil at all. He brought their mother's wrath upon himself.
Taking a few more moments Anthony nodded to himself. His deck was complete.
Gathering his cards Anthony got down from his high chair. He then started walking over to the other kids to see if they wanted to have a match with him. But a few seconds before he reached them Anthony heard the chime of the shop doors.
He then looked towards them and saw one of the biggest men he had ever seen in his life so far.
But what caught Anthony's attention more was what was sitting on the man's left shoulder.
A child his age, and a girl at that.
She was dressed in a pink hoodie, with a green skirt, and pink sneakers. Along with having her hair in pigtails.
The girl on the man's shoulder looked around the cardshop for a moment before her eyes landed on Anthony.
No idea how else to handle the situation Anthony waved at the girl, who surprisingly to him waved back, putting a small smile on her face as she did.
Seeing the smile put Anthony slightly at ease.
"Welcome, how may I help you today," Blake said, walking up to the man and the girl who had just entered the store. He had just come back from the restroom
"Hello there. My name is Robert Kellens, and this little girl right here is my daughter Sylvia," Robert explained, pointing to Sylvia, a small smile on his face. "And as to why we're here, well my daughter has really gotten interested in vanguard lately and she's been begging me and her mother to bring her to the local shop. So today I finally was able to."
"I see." Black said. "Well you're always welcome here so long as you don't cause any trouble."
"Thank you." Robert said. He then took Sylvia from his shoulder and her on the ground. "Sylvia, why don't you go and play with the other kids."
"Ok daddy." A young Sylvia said. She then moved from her father and walked right in front of Anthony. "Hi my name is Sylvia, what's yours?"
"Anthony." Anthony said. "And nice you meet you two."
Sylvia nodded. She then looked at the cards in Anthony's hand. "Hey, want to play a match against me?" She asked.
"Sure." Antnhony said.
"All right." Sylvia cheered. She then grabbed Anthony's arm and started dragging him towards a fight table.
This being the first time this happened to him Anthony just went along with it and didn't fight back.
He also had no idea this was his first meeting with a lifelong friend.
Back in the present Anthony and Sylvia stopped reminiscing, since the rest was history.
As the two had their cardfight Anthony won.
Sylvia, not looking to lose even back then, challenged him again, but again she lost. Then before Sylvia knew it it was time for her to go home, so she did.
However she came back the next weekend and challenged Anthony again. Until eventually they had weekly matches with each other, becoming close friends in the process.
"Man that seems so long ago," Sylvia mused. "Still I can't ever forget it."
Me neither." Anthony said.
"Hey, remember the first time I beat you," Sylvia asked. Anthony nodded.
"I sure do. The match looked sort of like it does right now in fact." Anthony said.
Sylvia then looked at the board and saw the resemblance to the match they had years ago. "Yeah, you're right. It does."
"I know right." Anthony said. "However, unlike that time, I won't lose. I'm going to win. And take my team to the world tournament."
"Then come at me." Sylvia said.
"With pleasure. I ride!" Anthony slammed the card in his hand onto his vanguard circle. "Chronojet Dragon "NEXT"!"
Chronojet Dragon "NEXT"
Grade 3, Power +11000
"Then I call. Pulsar Tamer, Lugal-ure! With a boost from Zerotsage, "NEXT" attacks your vanguard!"
(11000+5000=16000)
"No guard."
"Twin drive check. First check. A heal trigger. Power to Lugal-ure and I recover one damage. Second check. No trigger."
"Damage check. No trigger.
"Lugal-ure attack the vanguard! And with her skill add another +2000 power."
(9000+5000+2000=16000)
"I won't let you. Guard!" Sylvia said, placing a grade 0 unit in the guardian circle.
"I end my turn."
[Damage: Anthony (2) Sylvia (2)]
"Stand and draw." Sylvia said.
[Turn 6: Hand; Anthony (6) Sylvia (5)]
"Time to kick things into high gear. I ride! Amon's Eyes Agares!"
Amon's Eyes Agares
Grade 3, Power +11000
"With his skill for every card in the soul currently, two units on my board gain +1000 power for each. There are seven cards in the soul, so the units I select gains a total of +7000 power. And the units I choose are Hell's Deal and Hell's Nail. Now, liberating the generation zone. Generation stride! Ringleader of Uproar, Gharvans!"
Ringleader of Uproar, Gharvans
Grade 4, Power +15000
"No stride skill this time. Instead I just call. Amon's Follower, Audios Thunder. Then using his skill I soul charge one card." Sylvia placed a card in her soul. "Thanks to this, and since the card has "Amon" in its name Thunder losses -4000 power. But thanks to this his other skill activates." Sylvia soul charged one card. "I once again soul charge, and now for every five cards in the soul until the end of my turn, Thunder gains +5000 power. There are only nine cards, so he only gains +5000 power, even so, that's more than enough to fight. Thunder, attack Lugal-ure."
(9000-4000=5000+5000=10000)
"Guard!"
"With a boost from Grace,Gharvans attacks your vanguard."
(26000+5000=31000)
"Activating his skill." Sylvia mused. She then counter blasted one card and flipped over a G unit in the G zone. "I soul charge five cards." Sylvia placed five cards in her soul. "And if any of those units were triggers then I can draw a card from my card for each one. There was one, so I draw one card." Sylvia drew one card. "Now since that is the case, if you wish to guard against Gharvans attacks this turn, you must call the same number of normal units I just soul charged to do so."
"That's a no guard."
"Triple drive check. First check. No trigger. Second check. A critical trigger. Power to Nail and critical to Gharvans. Third check. A draw trigger. Power to Nail and I draw one card."
"Damage check. No triggers."
"With a boost from Deal, Nails will attack!"
(7000+7000+9000+7000+5000+5000=40000)
"Generation guard! Interdimensional Dragon, Heteroround Dragon!"
Interdimensional Dragon, Heteroround Dragon
Grade 4, Shield +15000
"Activating his skill!" Anthony soul blasted one card. "Nails to the bottom of the deck, superior call the top card of the deck!"
Sylvia placed Nails on the bottom of the deck and called a grade one unit to her circle.
"I end my turn."
[Damage: Anthony (4) Sylvia (2)]
"Stand and draw." Anthony said.
[Turn 7: Hand; Anthony (5) Sylvia (7)]
Looking at the cards in his hand Anthony placed a grade three into the drop zone. 'This is the reason why I will always truly love vanguard. Matches just like this one.' He thought. "Liberating the generation zone. Generation stride! Metapulsar, Quantum Gear Dragoon!"
Metapulsar, Quantum Gear Dragoon
Grade 4, Power +15000
"Stride skill! The opponent must select one rear-guard unit and send it to the bottom of the deck." Anthony explained.
Sylvia sent the grade one she called earlier to the bottom of the deck.
"In addition to that I can superior call a unit from my hand to the board." Anthony called Chronethos Jackal. "Then, time leap!" Anthony bound Chronoethos Jackal. "From the deck I call Pulsar, Spatial-loop Phoenix! Then the skill of "NEXT". Both the unit called and the vanguard gain an additional +4000 power until the end of my turn. Then the skill of Gear Dragoon." Anthony counter belated one card, placed Zerostage in the bind zone, and then flipped over a card in the G zone. "I counter blast one card, bind a card on my board, and flip over a card in my G zone. Now for every face up card in the G zone, the opponent must send the same number of cards to the bottom of their deck. There are two, so send two units."
Sylvia clicked her tongue as she placed Grace and Nails on the bottom of the deck.
"I'm not done yet." Anthony said. "Now for every open circle on the opponent's board, my entire front row gains +3000 power. There are four, so add to each unit a total of +12000 power. Lugal-ure attack the vanguard now, and with her skill add another +2000 power."
(9000+2000+12000=23000)
"No guard. Damage check. No trigger."
"Quantum Gear Dragoon, attack the vanguard!"
(26000+12000+4000=42000)
"Complete guard!"
"Triple drive! First check. No trigger. Second check. A critical trigger. All effects to Phoenix. Final check. No trigger. But it's a grade three zodiac time beast. Which means Lugal-ure's skill activates." Anthony soul blasted one card. "Time leap. Chronojet Dragon G! Also the skill of Phoenix now activates." Anthony counter blasted one card. "If a unit on the board time leaps, then the opponent must select a rear-guard unit and send it to the bottom of the deck."
"Oh what a comeback!" Cecilia shouted. "In just one turn Anthony has completely destroyed Sylvia's formation!"
The crowd roared in excitement at the match they were watching.
"Phoenix, attack the vanguard. Also with his skill he gains another +3000 power."
(9000+12000+5000+3000+4000=33000)
"Generation guard! False Dark Wings, Agrat Bat Mahat!"
False Dark Wings, Agrat Bat Mahat
Grade 4, Shield +15000
"Using her skill I soul charge two cards, and then add +5000 power to her shield."
(15000+5000=20000)
"In addition to that, guard!" Sylvia shouted, placing a grade one in the guardian circle.
"Chronojet Dragon G, attack."
(11000)
"I don't guard. Damage check. No trigger."
"I end my turn. Phoenix back to the deck. Chronethos and Zerostage return to their original positions on the board. The same for Lugal-ure." Anthony explained, quickly changing his formation back to its original look.
[Damage: Anthony (4) Sylvia (4)]
"Stand and draw." Sylvia said.
[Turn 8: Hand; Anthony (6) Sylvia (4)]
"We're far from finished." Sylvia muttered. "There's still a lot more left in this match!" She cried. "Generation stride! Amon's Talon, Marchoias!"
Amon's Talon, Marchocias
Grade 4, Power +15000
"Stride skill!" Sylvia counter blasted one card. "I can now soul charge the same number of cards as there are currently in the soul itself. It is eleven, so eleven cards go into the soul, bringing the total count up to twenty-two. I then call. Amon's Follower, Audios Thunder and Amon's Follower, Hateful Cyclone. Activating their skills. I soul charge two cards. Then since that was successful and the vanguard has "Amon" in its name, both of their powers drop to +5000, but I soul charge two more cards. And now both units gains +5000 power for every five cards in my soul. There are currently twenty-six cards in my soul, so that means both Thunder and Cyclone gain +25000 power each."
Anthony began to sweat a little as Sylvia made her plays. 'She's definitely fired up today. Not holding back one bit.'
"I activate the skill of Marchocias." Sylvia counter blasted one card. "Now Marchocias and my two rear-guard units will gain +3000 power for every five cards in the soul. Which means each of them gains an additional +15000 power."
"Oh, what power!" Cecilia shouted into her mike. "Just when Anhony thought he had Sylvia on the ropes, she comes back with a counterattack more aggressive than ever, with a wave of super power attacks. Will Anthony be able to survive this onslaught?!"
'That's the plan mom.' Anthony thought. 'Although a little bit of luck on my side wouldn't hurt either.'
"Hateful Cyclone, attack the vanguard!"
(7000-2000=5000+25000+15000=45000)
"No guard. Damage check. A critical trigger. All effects to "NEXT"."
(11000+5000=16000)
"Marchocias, attack the vanguard!"
(26000+15000=41000)
"Complete guard!"
"Triple drive. First check. No trigger. Second check. No trigger. Third check. A stand trigger. Cyclone stands, add another +5000 power."
'Shit!' Anthony thought.
"Shit." Eric and Elizabeth said at the same time.
'Yes.' Sylvia thought.
'We can win.' Sebastian and Lucian thought at the same time.
"Finish this Cyclone, attack the vanguard once more!"
(45000+5000=50000)
'Shit, I don't have enough to guard against this attack.' Anthony thought. He kept looking between his hand and the board. 'Is this really how things end? Shit! Am I not strong enough? No, Sylvia is just that good. I mean, she has been practicing as hard as anyone. Maybe even more so. You know what, this is fine. I don't want to lose, but if I have to lose to anyone, as long as its here then I know I can get back up and try ag-'
'Don't give up.'
'What?!' Anthony excitedly thought. He was hearing another voice in his head. Which should be impossible. 'Ok, what the hell was that? Am I going crazy?'
'No.'
The voice spoke again, answering Anthony's question.
'Hello, who are you?' Anthony asked. He decided if he was hearing the voice, he might as well try and talk to it.
'Don't give up.' The voice said.
'Huh, what are you talking about?'
'Imagine it. Imagine winning this match.' The voice urged.
The moment it did Anthony felt a serene flow throughout his entire body. He couldn't describe it in words at all. But the one thing he knew for sure, is that what he was thinking before had left his mind.
Sure, he's ok with losing yo Sylvia, but that doesn't mean he wants to. He wants to win. To get stronger, and to face stronger opponents.
'I want to win!' He thought with all his heart. 'There is not giving up, not until the last card is drawn.' Anthony picked up the top card of his deck, and slowly flipped it over. However for some reason he wasn't worried at all. "Damage check.' He simply said.
Then when everyone saw the card Anthony had pulled, they were shocked. "Heal trigger. Recover one damage. Power to "NEXT"."
"I-I-Incredible!" Cecilia shouted into her mike. "To pull a heal trigger in this situation. Anthony Blackwell is favored by his deck. This cardfight is still on people!" Cecilia exclaimed.
The crowd roared as well.
"Good draw Anthony, but I'm still not done yet!" Sylvia shouted. "Thunder, attack the vanguard!"
(9000-4000=5000+25000+15000=45000)
"Guard!" Anthony said, putting down two cards from his hand. "Also, intercept." He moved both Jackal and Lugal-ure to intercept.
"I end my turn."
[Damage: Anthony (5) Sylvia (4)]
"Stand and draw." Anthony said.
[Turn 9: Hand; Anthony (3) Sylvia (4)]
'I don't know who you are, but thank you for telling me not to give up.' Anthony thought.
'You're welcome.' The voice whispered as it slowly faded.
Anthony wasn't sure if that was his own mind playing tricks on him or what, but for whatever reason he had managed to pull through Sylvia's turn. A renewed sense for victory burning within him.
"Time to do this. Since I have three or less cards in my bind, I can bind units from the drop zone to pay for my cost for stride. Generation stride! Interdimensional Dragon, Crossover Dragon!"
Interdimensional Dragon, Crossover Dragon
Grade 4, Power +15000
'Of course. Out of all the G units, it had to be Crossover.' Sylvia thought. 'But even so, if Anthony can survive a for sure finishing turn then so can I. This ain't over yet!'
'I know Sylvia, I know.' Anthony thought as if reading Sylvia's mind. "But even so, I will get my team to the world tournament no matter what. Skill of Crossover Dragon!" Anthony counter blasted two cards. "I superior call Chronojet Dragon and Chronojet Dragon G. Then they both obtain a skill. With a boost from Zerostage, Crossover, attack the vanguard!"
(26000+5000=31000)
"Guard!" Sylvia exclaimed, placing down two grade 0's and a grade 1 from her hand onto the guardian circle. 'I used the bare minimum to guard, so as long as he doesn' draw a trigger I can survive until the next turn, stride and finish him off.'
'So it all comes down to a trigger. Fine then. Let's go!' Anthony thought. "Triple drive check. First check. No trigger. Second check. No trigger. Final check. A critical trigger. All effects to Crossover Dragon. Here we go!"
(31000+5000=36000)
"Damage check!" Sylvia shouted. "First check. No trigger. Second check. No trigger."
[Damage: Anthony (5) Sylvia (6)]
"And there you have it folks. The first round of the semi-finals is over, and the winners are, team Victories!" Cecilia shouted into her mike.
The crowded then started cheering louder than before.
As for Anthony he walked over to Sylvia and held out his hand. "Good match. You almost had me there on your last turn. If I hadn't drawn that heal trigger. I would've been done for."
Sylvia shook Anthony's hand. "Thanks. Also, good match. Want to have another one right now."
"Hey, can't a guy get a little break," Anthony joked.
"Nope." Sylvia answered with a smirk.
The two then shared a laugh.
Standing in the very back of the stadium hidden in darkness three pairs of eyes were looking down at the field, more specially their eyes were focused on Anthony, Elizabeth, and Eric.
"Well, that was entertaining", a female voice spoke. "Looks like they weren't chosen for nothing."
"Yeah, I hate to say it, but they will become a real issue if we don't handle them soon." A male voice spoke up. "So, let's get to it then."
"Now, now, wait a moment, let's not rush things." Another male voice spoke up. "After all, it was not too long ago that one of us did exactly that and paid the price."
"Tch, piss off." The female voice retorted in anger. "I made a miscalculation, but it won't happen again."
"Yes, it won't." The second male voice answered back. "Because this time, I'm taking the lead."
"Oh really?" The female voice mused.
"Yes, it's been a while and I want to try my hand." The second male voice answered back. "Any objections?"
"No." The female voice spoke.
"Ah, these poor deluded humans will have no idea what hit them." The first male voice spoke.
The second male voice didn't answer back. But his eyes were showing an evil smile that would send a shiver down the spine of anyone who saw them.
A/N
That's chapter 16 folks.
I hope you enjoyed the show. Because there's more where that came from. Also the mystery is starting to deepen further, while also getting clearer as well. I hope you can hold on until the big reveals. One of which might just show up in the next chapter.
Next Time: The first round of the American Semi-finals has come to an end, and team Victories decided a little celebration is in order. So they head out for a relaxing night on the town. However this night quickly becomes a fight for survival, when a few of our heroes come face to face with something they've never seen before. A horror that if not handled properly will swallow them whole. Can our heroes overcome this trial and make it to see the next sun rise?
Dark Cardinals Prison Realm
Fanon Cards:
Grade 2:
Pulsar, Spatial-loop Phoenix
Power +9000, Shield +5000
Skill:[Auto] (RC): Generation Break 1: If the vanguard has "Chronojet" in its name, then this unit gains +3000 power then attacking. (RC): Counter blast (1) card. When a unit on the board performs a time leap, then the opponent must select one rear-guard unit and send it to the bottom of the deck.
Grade 4:
Metapulsar, Quantum Gear Dragoon
Power +15000
Skill [Auto](VC): [Counter blast 1 card, bind one unit on the board and flip over a card in the G zone.] For every face up card in the G zone, send an opponent's rear-guard to the bottom of the deck. Then for every open circle on the opponent's board add +3000 power to the entire front row.