Disclaimer: No I do not own Yugioh.
Vanguard Generations
Chapter 14: Kenshin's Released Power; Reverse-Blade Sword
Shinsei stood up, his wound gone. "Okay, it's time to tear down shiny man!" He slammed two cards into his disk. "Go United We Stand and Kaiser Sword!" A golden sword appeared on Kenshin's back and a blue glow sprang to life around him. "Kaiser Sword raises his attack points by 500, while United We Stand raises Kenshin's attack and defense points by 800 per face-up monster I have on my field!" (3100/2300) "Oh, but wait there's more!" Now he tried his best to sound like a game show host. "We also have a lovely consolation prize in the form of this continuous magic card called Thousand Selves! This card can only activate when I have a single monster in play. The rest of my monster zones are filled but as long as this card is in play I am considered to have four extra monsters on my field!" (6300/5500)
"Oh, the little rat has scrounged up a powerful monster from out of nowhere?" Victoran didn't reveal any emotions, even in his insulting words. "Then come and fight."
Kenshin drew his katana slowly. "Shinsei…together now…" And then he charged right at the glowing knight, blade ready to strike.
Radiance was easily cut through, and exploded in a flash of glimmering silver energy.
Shinsei- 900
Victoran- 2600
Victoran frowned slightly at the fact that his monster had been completely destroyed, but otherwise he didn't seem very angry. "You're a troublesome rat. I'll have to make sure to cut you down quickly."
Shinsei gasped. "Why…why did you gain life points?"
"Radiance's original ability is that when he is destroyed as a result of battle the battle damage to me is negated and I gain 1000 life points. Also, when he battles a monster stronger than himself in attack or defense, the damage is zero. Essentially, the perfect shield in combat." Victoran felt a tingle of energy in the air and glanced behind him. "Who's this?"
Airos stared at the now standing Andrew who was next to him. "Wow…I didn't even hear you approach."
Andrew's eyes were clouded slightly, yet he was giving the impression of watching the duel carefully.
Victoran glanced back at Shinsei. "I grow weary of playing with you. Is your turn done?"
"Not yet, you jackass." Shinsei slid a single card into his disk. "I place one card face-down on the field and end my turn."
Victoran drew and held the drawn card up. A powerful blast of wind shook the field as all of Shinsei's cards exploded into dust. "Heavy Storm destroys all magic and trap cards in play. That means your monster's attack points have returned to 1800."
Shinsei felt his blood rise at that. ("This guy…this guy's pushing me farther than what is wise…") Snarling, he kneeled down and punched the ground a couple of times to break up the asphalt at his feet. "Watch…your…tongue!"
Victoran held up a card and Radiance, in Incandescence form, appeared on the field. "I activate the magic card Holy Rising. This card revives Radiance at the cost of my battle phase. I end my turn." (4000/3200)
Shinsei drew the top card of his deck. "I won't fail here! No matter what you say or what kinds of powers you have, you just got onto 'needs an ass-kicking' list!" The drawn card flipped up so that Victoran could see it. "Go Warrior's Rising Battle! This card increases the attack strength of all warrior type monsters in play by 500 points!" (2300/1500) (4500/3200) "Then I play Warrior's Honor! When more than one warrior in play gains attack points at the same time, all but the weakest lose that bonus and it is given to the weakest warrior!" (2800/1500) (4000/3200) "Go equipment magic card, Sword of Ten Souls!" A giant katana fell from the sky and landed in Kenshin's hands, its weight not affecting him at all. "The equipped monster must not have been destroyed during this duel for it to equip to him. In return, his attack increases by 1000!" (3800/1500) "Finally…go Ryu Tsui Sen!"
Kenshin strapped the heavy katana to his back and drew his normal, little motes of light coming to life around him. "It's the end for you…overkill…" Then he disappeared, appearing high in the air above the knight. "Hiten Mitsurugi Style; Ryu Tsui Sen!" (4500/1500) The blade fell and slashed Radiance down the middle.
Shinsei smirked. "Your effect…has been broken by Kenshin's Ryu Tsui Sen."
Shinsei- 900
Victoran- 2100
Victoran drew the top card of his deck. "I grow…"
"Shut up." Shinsei smiled calmly. "I've got your number this time, don't you get it? Kenshin's here…and Kenshin always wins every fight he ever gets in, because he's freaking Kenshin!" Sneering, he pointed at Victoran mockingly. "What do you have to say to that?"
Victoran discarded the card in his hand. "Go magic card, Radiance Revival." There was an explosion of light as Radiance appeared on the field again. (4000/3200) "This card revives Radiance, and this time he can attack!" The shimmering knight dropped down in front of Kenshin and swung his swords, but was blocked instantly as the Sword of Ten Souls exploded into dust. "Oh? What's this?"
"Kenshin, when he would be destroyed as a result of battle, may send an equipment magic card on himself to the graveyard to negate the destruction." Shinsei smirked and drew. Glancing at the drawn card, he licked his lips. "You're really tough to keep down, but this time you're a goner! Go Holy Slayer!" A shimmering sword made of white crystal landed in Kenshin's hands. "Go Kenshin, attack now!" The swordsman leapt through the air and met swords with Radiance. "The monster that battles with whoever holds the Holy Slayer is destroyed!" Both the crystal sword and Radiance exploded, while Kenshin was left unharmed. "It's done…just try and bring him back now."
Victoran drew. "End turn."
Shinsei drew and pointed right Victoran. "Go Kenshin, cut his ass into fillet!" The samurai launched in and swung his sword, and gasped as Victoran brought up a sword to block it. "What?"
Victoran's arm barely moved as Kenshin pushed against the opposing blade with all of his might. "Such a shame…but it looks like I'll stop holding back my power so much." Pushing with his sword, he shoved Kenshin back to Shinsei's field. "Now get away from me, annoyance."
Shinsei- 900
Victoran- 2100
Airos blinked in surprise. "Huh? Why weren't his life points affected? Did he activate something to protect himself?"
"You don't understand what a Vanguard Duel is, do you?" Victoran's sword pulsed a couple of times. "Simply having a good dueling strategy won't work if you fight an opponent who uses their energy. If your monsters can't connect with me, I won't get hurt. You must break my energy with your own to make your damage stick…"
Shinsei felt sweat trickle down his face at this announcement. ("I need to tap into a power I don't understand to even hurt this guy's life points?")
Victoran drew. "End turn."
Shinsei drew. "Kenshin! Go!" The samurai leapt in again, and his sword blows were deflected with ease by Victoran. "Damn it!"
Victoran drew. "End turn." He seemed almost bored now.
Shinsei drew, his eyes twitching wildly. "I'm going to kill you myself! Kenshin!" The samurai leapt in again and was again deflected. "ARGH!"
Victoran drew. "It's nearly over. I will give you this offer…in two turns…when the number of cards in my hand equal six…I will end this. End turn."
Shinsei snarled as loudly as he could and drew another card. "I'm so beyond done with you!" Looking at the drawn card, he had an evil little idea. "Check this out…mister 'invincible'…I place three cards face-down and activate Dou Ryu Sen! All magic and trap cards in play will be destroyed, and your life points will drop by 800 per lost card!"
"Overkill…" Kenshin snapped his sword along the ground rapidly. "Hiten Mitsurugi Style, Dou Ryu Sen!" There was a powerful surge of dirt and sound that swept across Shinsei's three set cards and blew them into nothing. And then the blast swerved and launched across the field towards Victoran.
Victoran watched its approach slowly…and then snapped his sword up to cleave the wave of sound and dirt apart. "Pointless…"
"What?" Shinsei's eyes almost bulged out of their sockets. "But…but…it was…effect damage…"
"Effect damage or battle damage is useless if your energy cannot power it. That was nothing but a weak shell of a blast that never even would have hurt me had I not stopped it with my sword…because now I am showing you some of my power. It makes me too tough for you to win…"
Shinsei just stood there…his eyes wide open in true fear now. ("So…so this means that I can't hurt him?")
Victoran drew. "You will die in one turn. Make your last turn count. End turn."
Shinsei dropped to his knees and punched the earth over and over again. "This…this isn't fair! How am I supposed to win against a freaking guy that can't be hurt? Why…why are you so intent on defeating me?"
Victoran closed his eyes. "I heard about you long ago…a duelist with the fire of a hero in his heart…who would rise as a Vanguard and reach near the top power of the strongest amongst us. I have come to strike you down now, before you become too strong and require more effort than just myself to deal with."
Shinsei punched the ground once more. ("I…Why am I afraid? This guy wasn't so scary a little while ago…")
"I've been playing with you from the start. If I had told Radiance to, he could have easily resisted all of your destruction effects and attacks by expending his power. I didn't even really use the power given to him by the First Release, I simply used the ability because of how much I knew your traps might have caused me problems. Is it crystal clear now? You can't win and you can't escape either." Victoran eyed Kenshin, since Shinsei wasn't looking at him. "Well? Will you surrender and make this easier for me?"
Kenshin looked behind him at Shinsei, and frowned. ("Shinsei doesn't have the power to deal with this type of opponent. In fact…I'm sure that even with years of training he'd never be able to defeat this kind of enemy…if I surrender and let myself be destroyed, then Shinsei will be spared.") Closing his eyes, Kenshin prepared to do just that. He'd announce his surrender and let Victoran destroy him permanently. ("I…I'm sorry…Shin…") His heart skipped a beat as he felt a trickle of something run into his body. ("Vanguard energy?")
Shinsei stumbled to his feet, eyes locked on Victoran. All around his body was a dull blue light that was getting stronger. "I won't lose to you…I refuse to surrender…I'll defeat you!" A blast of wind blew across the field and upset some dust, but otherwise nothing special happened.
Victoran lifted his eyebrows in slight amazement. "You…where did you get such strength from?"
Shinsei's eyes snapped wide open. "Kenshin! This is yours!" Drawing, he slammed the card into his disk. "Go equipment magic card! Reverse Blade Sword equips to Kenshin!" A sheathed katana fell from the sky and landed in the samurai's amazed hands.
"Shinsei…" Kenshin looked back at his Vanguard, and felt something terrifying there. It was a power he had never felt before from anyone…most Vanguard powers were strong and noticeable, but this one was beyond that. It was so angry and intense…the Guardian felt like he might just drop to one knee from its force. ("And I'm being powered by it as well.")
"Reverse Blade Sword raises Kenshin's attack power by 1000 points!" (2800/1500) Shinsei pointed right at Victoran. "Take this…my one hit kill!" There was a blast of light as a third symbol appeared on his wristband. "Vanguard power level three! I can once per game, for free, return one technique or equipment magic card to my hand from my graveyard or from my deck! Kenshin, attack with our ultimate overkill!"
Kenshin slowly drew his sword, showing that the blunt edge of the weapon was switched with the sharp edge, meaning any cut he did with it would only injure, not kill. "Victoran…despite your elite status and great power…you still are mortal. You made a mistake by giving us free time to strike! Prepare yourself!" He launched into the air over the Vanguard, he sword sheathed once more and his entire body shimmering with golden energy. ("This is it…Shinsei is giving me all of his energy again!")
Victoran looked up at the approaching samurai with mild indifference. "Hm…he's going to kill me?"
Kenshin snapped his sword free of its sheath. "Take this Victoran! Overkill…Hiten Mitsurugi Style; Ryu Tsui Sen Final!" (3500/1500/Instant Win against Enemy Vanguard) The samurai's body became a glowing comet of gold which dropped down right onto Victoran and filled the entire parking lot with a powerful shockwave that tore right through any unlucky walls or cars in its way.
Shinsei- 900
Victoran- 0
Kuruske covered his head and waited for the blast to settle before he poked his head up and out over the wall. ("Did he win? Could that be possible?")
As the dust cleared, Victoran stood off to the side of Kenshin, unharmed. "Oh? That was a rather impressive strike…it actually passed through my energy barrier…however…" (VLP: 10000) "It wasn't quite enough to surpass my skills."
"How…how?" Kenshin stumbled to his feet, only to collapse to the ground as he realized his energy was nearly gone. "You…your life points are...were…"
Victoran waved his hand once. "Spell of Force; Move!" Kenshin cried out in pain as an invisible force slammed into his chest and sent him flying back to Shinsei's field. "Don't you understand? I thought that as a Guardian you had once had stronger Vanguards than this. Figured it out?"
"Level Five…Spiritual Buffer…" Kenshin's memory of the ability came flooding back. "When the Vanguard's life points reach zero, depending on his remaining spirit energy, his life points will be restored." The samurai slowly stood up. "I…I'll let you take me…"
"Silence." Victoran waved his hand once more. "Spell of Force; Lock!" A series of chains made of golden light sprang to life and forced Shinsei to his feet as they tightened around his unconscious body. "This is where the execution reaches it end point." He slowly drew his last card from his deck.
"No! I won't let you!" Kenshin was about to charge in when he was swallowed up in a powerful explosion that destroyed him instantly.
"Final Destiny allows me to discard five cards from my hand to destroy all cards in play." Victoran grasped the hilt of his sword with his free hand, the blade shimmering with a holy and powerful light. "For your knocking me to zero life points, I shall show you my best…" His entire body was encompassed in a glowing ball of golden light. "Second Release." Turning the sword's blade to the ground, he dropped it and it slammed down to the hilt through the earth. "From my graveyard Radiance is revived…"
There was a blast of light as the blond-haired prince charming rose up from the ground, his silver armor replaced by golden armor and his entire body shimmering in that same holy light his Vanguard has released. "I shall end it here…feel my full power!"
Victoran looked upon the unconscious Shinsei with disdain. "You might never have been that fated Vanguard…we'll never know now, will we? Without a Vanguard in play…this will be your death."
Radiance shimmered even brighter. "My ultimate form…Creation!" (6700/4500) "And with it my final special ability…as long as there are no monsters in my partner's graveyard…my power increases by nine times its original amount." (60300/4500)
Kuruske covered his head and prayed that he wasn't sensed. ("This is the power of a level eight Vanguard, of their almighty Second Release.")
"For your possible crimes against humanity…I execute you, weakling." Victoran pointed at Shinsei. "I shall do you one more favor and use a technique card…just to make sure." A card appeared in his hand. "And that card is a simple technique…Holy Slash. It will raise Radiance's power by double if he is attacking a dark type monster…but since he isn't…just a minor raise of 2500." (62800/4500)
Radiance launched in and lifted his single short sword high, the energy coming from it strong enough to melt any nearby glass and decimate the asphalt underneath him. "Overkill…Holy Slash!" Then the blade fell and cleaved right into Shinsei's body roughly. For a few seconds nothing happened, and then the boy disappeared in a spray of blood.
Shinsei- 0
Victoran- 10000
Victoran turned away from the blood mess that the boy had become. "However…" Snapping his fingers, he gathered his energy for one last spell. "Spell of Force; Immolation." In a flash of flame, Shinsei's body was ablaze. "That is the end of it…" He started to walk away, and then tilted his head over to look at Airos and Andrew, the latter who was still unconscious on his feet. "Do you intend to do something to me in reprisal for his death?"
Airos just stood there, barely able to stand. "How…could…"
"I'll take that as a no." Turning, Victoran walked away without any worries of being attacked. ("He is terrified beyond belief…as he should be. Despite his unique defense talents…") He didn't even finish the thought as he walked out of sight.
To be continued…
Author's Notes: At this time I'm accepting submission of characters. Vanguards, not Vanguards, whatever is fine. So please send your characters in.
To Neo Arkadia: Nope…he lost.
To John: A Vanguard only gets lucky enough to simply lose his Vanguard status if his Guardian is in play when he loses. Unfortunately…Kenshin was blown up right beforehand. All of that damage went straight to Shinsei's body.
To Seeker of the Soul: Oh, when it comes to Yugioh stories I'm good at churning them out like a madman.
To Demon Fan: Victoran, and probably Andrew will keep that deck now.
To G.O.T. Nick: Radiance is really dangerous thanks to who his Vanguard is. Really dangerous…