"I discard one card, and ride! Authoritative Knight, Ballizal! His effect activates" Digi added, as the top 7 cards manifested in front of him. "Alright! I add Sanctuary Guard Dragon to my hand!" He said, grabbing the card. "Then, with the effect of Ambrosius, I draw one card! How's that?! I end my turn!"
"That's...a pretty basic manuever, really." Pip said, audibly unimpressed.
"My turn." Adrian said, drawing. "I discard one card, and ride Astral Dragon, Spectral Codebreak Dragon." he said, as a black dragon with rainbow outlines appeared, howling. "Astral Dragon Mage moves back, and I get a quick shield ticket." he said, as the card flashed into his hand. "Then, Codebreak Dragon's effect activates." He added, tapping a card as it turned around and revealed itself. "I reveal up to one card from my hand to my opponent, and if that card has Star Nova in its card name, I add the order card, Astral Dragon Coating to my hand." he said, as the card flew into his hand, and he caught it with ease, before holding his other hand out. "With a boost from Mage, Codebreak Dragon attacks your vanguard."
"No guard!" Digi declared, as the card digitally appeared in front of Adrian's hand.
[DRIVE CHECK - Astral Dragon, Moon Hacker Dragon [G1]]
At that, the dragon blasted the knight with multicolored beams, as the recoil of the impact alone made Digi stagger back, as the top card appeared, and blew up.
[Digi] - [Cipher]
[Hand - 7] - [Hand - 7 (plus "Quick Shield")]
[Soul - 1] - [Soul - 0]
[Damage/CB - 1/0] - [Damage/CB - 0/0]
[Drop Zone - 1] - [Drop Zone - 1]
[FIELD]
[R] [Authoritative Knight, Ballizal [G1 - 8000]] [R]
[R] [R] [R]
[R] [Astral Dragon, Spectral Codebreak Dragon [G1 - 8000]] [R]
[R] [Astral Dragon Mage [G0 - 5000]] [R]
"My turn!" Digi said, drawing. "Alright! I discard one card, and ride Knight of Conquest, Wigstan from the ride deck! His effect activates! Counter Blast!" He declared, as a blue aura temporarily engulfed him. "From the top 7 cards of my deck, I superior call a Ballizal behind my vanguard!"
"So desperate for a booster, he didn't even call it to an open column to attack you with..." Pip commented, as Digi flinched. "Wow, he didn't even think of that?"
"S-Shut up..! I attack your vanguard!" Digi said.
"No guard." Adrian said, as the dragon was slashed.
[DRIVE CHECK - Margal [G0 - Draw Trigger]]
"Ah, nice, a draw trigger. Shame you can't use it to attack another time." Pip taunted, as Adrian took a damage.
[DAMAGE CHECK - Astral Dragon, Moon Hacker Dragon [G1]]
"I end my turn!" Digi said, crossing his arms in annoyance.
[Digi] - [Cipher]
[Hand - 7] - [Hand - 7 (plus "Quick Shield")]
[Soul - 2] - [Soul - 0]
[Damage/CB - 1/1] - [Damage/CB - 1/0]
[Drop Zone - 2] - [Drop Zone - 1]
[FIELD]
[R] [Knight of Conquest, Wigstan [G2 - 10000]] [R]
[R] [Authoritative Knight, Ballizal [G1 - 8000]] [R]
[R] [Astral Dragon, Spectral Codebreak Dragon [G1 - 8000]] [R]
[R] [Astral Dragon Mage [G0 - 5000]] [R]
"I discard one card, and ride." Adrian declared, as a young woman with cybernetic armor and twin blades appeared, posing their blade forward. "Astral Dragon Maiden, Code: Blade Mistress. I attack your vanguard with her."
"Oh? Now who's not taking the opportunity for extra attacks?!" Digi remarked.
"Are you guarding or not?" Adrian asked.
"...No guard." Digi answered, as the knight was slashed by the maiden.
[DRIVE CHECK - Astral Dragon, Cosmos Cobalt Dragon [G0 - Stand Trigger]]
"Stand Trigger." Adrian said.
[DAMAGE CHECK - Wingal [G1]]
"In addition, Blade Mistress' Firewall." Adrian declared.
"Firewall..?" Digi asked.
"Firewall has two forms. Hack is active when it's my turn, and Encode is active when it's not. With Blade Mistress' Firewall Hack, I draw one card when her attack hits." Adrian said.
"How's that? Not only did his trigger give him more shield for later, but he even got to strengthen his hand!" Pip said, pridefully.
"Enough, Pip." Adrian said.
"Yeah, yeah..." Pip said, sounding like he was pouting.
"I end my turn." Adrian then told Digi.
[Digi] - [Cipher]
[Hand - 7] - [Hand - 9 (plus "Quick Shield")]
[Soul - 2] - [Soul - 1]
[Damage/CB - 2/1] - [Damage/CB - 1/0]
[Drop Zone - 2] - [Drop Zone - 2]
[FIELD]
[R] [Knight of Conquest, Wigstan [G2 - 10000]] [R]
[R] [Authoritative Knight, Ballizal [G1 - 8000]] [R]
[R] [Astral Dragon Maiden, Code: Blade Mistress [G2 - 10000]] [R]
[R] [Astral Dragon Mage [G0 - 5000]] [R]
"My turn!" Digi declared, drawing, before discarding a card. "Ride! Sanctuary Guard Dragon!" he called out, as the dragon rose up, holding out their weapon. "Imaginary Gift: Force 2!" He declared.
"Force 2? Is this guy an idiot?" Pip asked, before noticing him tossing it to a rear guard circle. "Oh, maybe not."
"Upon reaching grade 3, my Skill card flips up, and can now be used this fight!" Digi added. "Then, call! Wigstan!" he declared, tossing it to the rear guard circle with a force marker. "His effect activates! From the top 7 cards of my deck, I superior call another Ballizal!" he said, filling the column.
"Eh? But now he doesn't have the counterblast to use Sanctuary Guard's effect..." Pip commented.
"He's saving it for another turn." Adrian pointed out. "He needs three grade 1 cards in his back row to rest for his effect to work, and he doesn't seem confident in his ability to finish things this turn with it."
"Sanctuary Guard attacks your Vanguard! Ballizal's effect, add 10000 Power, and counter charge!" Digi declared, as the dragon rushed forward.
"...Complete Guard." Adrian said, discarding Astral Dragon Coating.
"Eh? At 1 damage?" Pip asked, as Adrian narrowed his eyes.
[DRIVE CHECK - Strong Knight, Rounoria [G1]]
[DRIVE CHECK - Strong Knight, Rounoria [G1]]
"...With a boost from Ballizal, Wigstan attacks your vanguard! Because of the Force marker, it has a critical of 2!" Digi said, as the knight slashed through the woman.
[DAMAGE CHECK - Astral Dragon, Violence Laser Dragon [G3]]
[DAMAGE CHECK - Astral Dragon, Cyber Cavalry Dragon [G0 - Stand Trigger]]
"Like I thought, I couldn't finish you this turn...but whatever. I end my turn." Digi said.
"Now I get it, you wanted to see if he'd pull any extra critical..." Pip commented.
[Digi] - [Cipher]
[Hand - 10] - [Hand - 7 (plus "Quick Shield")]
[Soul - 2] - [Soul - 1]
[Damage/CB - 1/1] - [Damage/CB - 3/0]
[Drop Zone - 2] - [Drop Zone - 4]
[FIELD]
[Knight of Conquest, Wigstan [G2 - 10000] [Force 2 x1]] [Sanctuary Guard Dragon [G3 - 13000]] [R]
[Authoritative Knight, Ballizal [G1 - 8000]] [Authoritative Knight, Ballizal [G1 - 8000]] [R]
[R] [Astral Dragon Maiden, Code: Blade Mistress [G2 - 10000]] [R]
[R] [Astral Dragon Mage [G0 - 5000]] [R]
"My turn." Adrian said, as the quick shield ticket blew up in his hand. "Descend! Noble dragon awakened from the network!" He called out, as a light engulfed the woman, who disappeared, before a pillar of light blue energy manifested, as a dragon with white wings and blue accents flew out, and let out a roar. "Ride! Astral Dragon, Star Nova! Imaginary Gift: Force 2!" He added, tossing the marker towards his vanguard. "Skill card, online." He added, as his card flipped over. "Then, I release the generation zone!" he called out, tossing a card into the drop zone, as a cybernetic vortex appeared below Star Nova, who descended into it, before the vortex had a sphere of light growing out of it "With a pulse of unknown energy, A new hero rises, and shines light on this world of darkness!" He called out, before a dark blue dragon with plenty of mechanical enhancements flew out. "Generation Stride! Astral Dragon Code, World Star Nova!"
"Whoa..." Some onlookers said.
"Reina! Look! Someone had a backup and a projector to stream to the class! Someone's confronting the hacker in the district!" A classmate said, as Reina looked over. "It's Cipher! He's here again!" She said, as kids were gathering in a classroom, despite the teachers' insistence on staying in their own classrooms. "I wonder if Ad's watching..!"
Cipher, huh... Nilam thought to herself. Whoever you are, you better not lose. She thought to herself.