A man in a formal suit without a face.

A woman with a treacherous smile.

A cup of brew.

Amari Akira.

And finally, a contract.

They blinked in my mind like a flash.

I have no idea what they all mean.

But just by seeing them...

Give me a sense of ḩ̸̱͈̱̫͊̍a̸̛̯̮͕͂̎̆̐̈́t̸͍̬͕̦͋̐̕͜r̴͎̯̼͐̒͌ĕ̶̘͐d̸̲̳͊͊̕͜ͅ.

Chapter 19: Rescue Missions

Now playing: Buddyfight Champions OP 1 - "Champions" by Hoho

https/youtu.be/VFz-WORkKFQ

P.S. I fixed the description of cards in Masumi's deck. So it won't look confusing.

Dragon Force "Style of Envy"

World: Darkness Dragon World, Star Dragon World

Type: Item

Attribute: Neodragon, Black Dragon, Star

Power: 10000/ Crit: 5

[Release Condition] [Your life is less than 6 and you have a card with "Excrucia" in its name on your field.]

[Equip Cost] [Pay 2 gauge and put 2 cards from the top of your deck face up to the bottom of your deck.]

- This card cannot be destroyed and returned to hand by your opponent's card effects.

- When a Black Dragon is destroyed by your opponent, place a card from your drop zone face up to the bottom of your deck.

- [Act] You may pay 1 life and put a card face up from your deck to the soul of a card on your field. If you do, draw a card.

- "Forsaken Words" When your life is 3, you may draw a card and reveal it to your opponent, if it is a monster card, your life becomes 1. If it is not a monster card, you gain 1 life.

[Penetrate]

Masumi lost one life and a face-up card from the deck was sent into Excrucia's soul. Then he drew two cards and one of them remained in the air.

"Reveal."

The figure with two glowing violet horns was clothed in a purplish-scarlet aura. His voice echoed in the space as he spoke coldly. The card at his front flipped, Morihito was distracted but forced himself to stay alert simultaneously.

"A spell...?"

Afterwards, Masumi's life was raised by one and the card was added to his hand. He cast the spell card and stared emotionlessly at a bolt of purple lightning that penetrated Excrucia's body. However, his life and gauge increased.

Black Regalo

[Cast Cost] [Destroy a «Black Dragon» monster on your field]

[Counter] Put the top three cards of your deck into your gauge. Then, if you have a «Black Dragon» [Set] on your field, you gain 3 life!

Masumi's field

[Life: 7/ Gauge: 4/ Hand: 2]

Face-up cards in the deck: 2

Set spell: Fortify The Dark Thought

Item: Dragon Force "Style of Envy"

(R: Excrucia (1 soulguard))

"Rise, soldier of the dark star, Neo Inverse."

The Assister Dragon, Neo Inverse

World: Darkness Dragon World, Star Dragon World

Type: Size 1 monster

Attribute: Black Dragon, Neodragon

Power: 6000/ Crit:1/ Defense: 6000

[Call Cost] [Pay 1 gauge]

- When this card enters the field, place a card from your hand into the soul of a monster on your field.

- When this card attacks, put a card from your drop zone face up to the bottom of your deck.

- When this card is destroyed, place a card face-up from your deck into the soul of a Black Dragon on your field.

[Move]

Masumi's field

[Life: 7/ Gauge: 3/ Hand: 0]

Face-up cards in the deck: 2

Set spell: Fortify The Dark Thought

Item: Dragon Force "Style of Envy"

(L: Neo Inverse) (R: Excrucia (1 soulguard))

Without another moment, Masumi activated the effect of his item again.

Dragon Force "Style of Envy"

- ...

[Act] You may pay 1 life and put a card face up from your deck to the soul of a card on your field. If you do, draw a card.

Masumi's field

[Life: 5/ Gauge: 3/ Hand: 2]

Face-up cards in the deck: 0

Set spell: Fortify The Dark Thought

Item: Dragon Force "Style of Envy"

(L: Neo Inverse) (R: Excrucia (3 soulguard))

"His life goes up and down...?" Morihito noticed.

"Vampire Fang." He said with a smirk.

Masumi's field

[Life: 5/ Gauge: 5/ Hand: 1]

Face-up cards in the deck: 0

Set spell: Fortify The Dark Thought

Item: Dragon Force "Style of Envy"

(L: Neo Inverse) (R: Excrucia (3 soulguard))

Ever since he equipped that power, his style and tone changed.

It feels like he isn't the same person that I just fought.

"Morihito, move me to the centre, quick!!" Xander didn't wait for Morihito's orders and bounced to the centre.

"Crap...!!" Morihito gazed at the incoming blast from Neo inverse slowly charging.

Masumi's field

[Life: 5/ Gauge: 5/ Hand: 1]

Face-up cards in the deck: 1 (when Neo Inverse attacks)

Set spell: Fortify The Dark Thought

Item: Dragon Force "Style of Envy"

(L: Neo Inverse) (R: Excrucia (3 soulguard))

I can't think of that now, I must focus on the fight!

A flash of a lightning beam on Xander impaled his chest completely.

"I can still fight!" Xander yelled after returning with a soulguard. Morihito broke into a sweat as stared at the monsters on Masumi's field.

No...at this rate, Xander will be destroyed!

Morihito's field

[Life: 13/ Gauge: 6/ Hand: 0]

Item: Drago Blade

(C: Xander (1 soulguard))

"Excrucia."

The beast did a low howl after his command, he extended his sharp bloodstained sword from the gauntlet and pierced at Xander.

"Argh...!!" Xander moaned and held his recovered stab. He gazed at the figure approaching him step by step. He soon realized the beast was looking into his eyes horrifyingly and stole his breath.

"You stood long and acted as a trustworthy protector. But you can't deny the fact that you're also prey."

"Begone."

He raised his red-violet claws and split Xander's torso into two. What followed after was a peal of insane laughter. Morihito stared at the shattered fragments disappearing into emptiness, along with the thoughts in his mind.

"Your assumed guardian has now vanished, now...let us continue to enjoy the main section of the course, shall we?"

"The son of Amari Akira."

"How would your despair taste like?"

He grasped Morihito's neck tightly and put on a satisfied smile. He struggled to push away Masumi. But he snatched harder and bashed him to the wall. The heartbeats grew more powerful in Morihito's chest and tears accumulated at the corners of his eyes. The blade that he was holding slipped on the floor.

I can't breathe...

"Sweet like cotton candy..." He snickered and said in a low voice. When Morihito almost lost his consciousness, he let go of him.

Morihito's field

[Life: 8/ Gauge: 6/ Hand: 0]

Item: Drago Blade

(C: (Destroyed))

"Hack-!" Morihito held his neck and coughed endlessly. Without another blink, Excrucia's knife gashed and left a line of the wound on his back.

Morihito's field

[Life: 4/ Gauge: 6/ Hand: 0]

Item: Drago Blade

(No monsters on the field)

Morihito lay down on the cold floor. His fragile stare fixed on a dim cyan in his blade.

Move...move!

My body...I beg you, please move!

He groaned and crawled towards it slowly, eventually touching the grip of the blade and taking a sigh of relief.

All of the actions were watched under Masumi's eyes, he couldn't stop his gigglings as he saw Morihito struggling harder.

"A moment ago, you thought of me and you are on the same level?"

"But this is the reality."

"The world is as simple as it is, you suffer because you're weak."

"The weak stand no chance against the strong. Thus they struggle and try to grasp a false hope. That's a fact."

A voice ceased Masumi's sentence. "But that doesn't mean I will lose my hope."

Morihito replied after standing up forcefully with the help of his blade.

"I don't care how battered, broken and exhausted I am."

"No matter what happens, I keep my hope within me."

"That's how I grasp my victory, and no one can halt me until I stop believing in the last glimpse of light."

Morihito held Drago with a firm belief.

"Let us begin once more."

*

Kiyoshi stepped lightly, hid behind the obstacles and peeked behind the pillars.

"Boo!" Watson hid with invisible magic and flew around Kiyoshi. He tried to scare him with a dumb face. However, Kiyoshi remained quiet and serious.

"You're no fun." Easton sighed and shook his head.

"If you continue, I will abandon you here." Kiyoshi said coldly with a frown.

What kind of attitude is that? Did he just reject the help of a deity? It is a deity!

'We place humans as equally as our kind.' I shouldn't have said it. Now the prince has misunderstood.

Easton thought with a shocked face.

"I am sure my capabilities are useful..."

"Only if you didn't use all of your mana unnecessarily. And thanks to you, the students outside will now be in danger." Kiyoshi sighed while trying to hide his frustration and anger.

"It was necessary to show my worth to the prince."

"You could just swim out of that jar."

"Teleportation spells take a lot of magic, you know?"

Kiyoshi walked away before Easton's sentence was finished.

"Wait, my prince!"

Oh no, I didn't mean to make him mad!

"Shh...we have arrived." Kiyoshi stopped near the gate. Easton bumped into Kiyoshi's back and his invisibility magic was deactivated deliberately.

Interestingly, there are no guards. That means they feel it is completely safe under this circumstance. There is a huge possibility of the room being guarded by a very intelligent AI and unmanned.

The security system could be triggered once I enter the room. Without another moment, they will find and capture me right away.

Nevertheless, I believe there are loopholes in AI manipulation and administration. It is quite obvious.

No one knows when they will lose their functionality. There are always scenarios that they won't be able to handle promptly because they are not predicted by the creators and not coded in the program.

And therefore, to enter the control room. We must create "an unexpected situation" for the system, which means we need another entrance which is undetectable.

"What a wise move." Easton whispered near Kiyoshi's ears and he rolled his eyes slightly. After that, he glanced at the vent near the gate.

It is not that difficult to fool the system.

But they may expect intruders to reach the room by vents.

"Need my help?" Easton grinned and watched Kiyoshi closely as an inquisitivecat.

"Yeah." Kiyoshi answered almost unresponsively.

"I am glad to be your right hand, prince Kiyoshi." Easton giggled and replied excitedly.

"Off we go!" Easton floated and set a mystic sorcery mark surrounding Kiyoshi. It glowed and generated a barrier of light, which made them fade into shadow.

It seems we are combined into the dark.

"Indeed. Now we're the shadows..." Easton whispered and his voice echoed in Kiyoshi's head.

"Weee–" The pond of shadow shrank and fitted into the vent.

*

Around two hours before Morihito and fellows entered the hidden base.

A shadow dashed between trees and roots, cracking numerous branches and falling leaves. Its paws thumped on the sand swiftly and heavily. The sunlight passed through the shades of the leaves and spotted a three-headed wolf in white fur. While Rouga, Light and his buddy Geil were riding on it.

"How long have we just travelled? With this speed, we will soon arrive in no time, right?" Light asked curiously as Rouga remained silent.

Abruptly, the wolf slowed down and did a low growl.

"Rouga, there is a smell near us. It is a human, not very far away from us." Cerberus voiced deeply.

"An individual? Not a group of people?" Light poured out wonder and blinked his purple eyes.

That direction...could it be?!

"We are heading there first." Rouga commanded and Cerberus quickened his steps gradually.

...

Light jumped off from Cerberus after seeing captain Iwao in the distance. The smell of coppery filled the atmosphere.

"Second-degree burn injury and all these stab wounds..." Light gazed at Iwao speechlessly with his mind frozen. "We must treat him as soon as possible. Or else..."

"He'll die. There is no doubt if there is no medic." Rouga explained.

"We do have a medic team that came with us today. Please take us there!" Light exclaimed.

"Do you have any idea where they went?"

"No...but I suppose they escaped out of the forest."

"You assume us to search the whole island to reach your unknown destination?" Cerberus mocked Light a little.

"Cerberus, lead the way." Rouga ordered. Cerberus ceased his laugh and gained back his seriousness presently. The fellows hopped on him and continued their journey.

*

"Captain Kurokawa, today you will be leading the squad to investigate Golden Island." The investigation team manager told him.

"Understood. We will return as soon as possible." Iwao nodded.

"An investigation mission of Golden Island? Mind if I join?" A boy in white hair spoke with an optimistic tone.

"Kurouzu Light? What are you doing here? Aren't you on duty?"

"Yes? The Commissioner is on break. I got school holidays too. That means I am free today. Wouldn't it be too bad if I waste such an opportunity to practice?"

The manager frowned and expressed in a slight discontented manner.

"Kurouzu Light. You're an assistant to commissioner Tasuku. You should not be involved in a raid team. Besides..."

"Besides I do not know the risk of the investigation?" Light held a tablet with the squad information and said with a confident smile. A straight white smoke can be seen clearly on the top of the manager's head.

Kurouzu Light is merely a teenager who studied at Aibo Academy. As expected, he is still as childish as I thought.

"Captain Kurokawa, do you think Kurouzu Light can join this mission?"

"Yes." Iwao answered firmly, which twisted the manager's thoughts.

"Captain Kurokawa Iwao, you need to take responsibility for your decision." The manager stressed her words.

"I will." Iwao's words made the manager rage out of the boundary and stomped away.

"Thanks." Light smiled arrogantly at his victory.

Light is the most reliable assistant of commissioner Tasuku. He was an intelligent teenager who passed the young police exam. There must be a reason why he chose him. Iwao thought deeply.

"I believe you can join the investigation. But I didn't say that I am allowing you."

"Oops. How do I earn your trust then?" Light giggled slightly.

"What is the estimated arrival time of the squad?"

"At noon, sir." Light replied rapidly without another moment.

"How many designated teams will be on the island?" Iwao didn't wait to pour out more questions.

"Three."

"How about the number of people?"

"25, including you except me."

"Give a brief description of the objective." Iwao ordered.

"Investigate the reason for the missing illegal monsters and arrest all related suspects."

"What position are you joining today?"

"I will be joining as an observer."

An observer?

There is no doubt that he won't be in the front line.

Considering the risks and his previous working experience, there is no issue with him in that position.

He might even be a helpful member.

"Fine then, you're in."

"Yes...!" Light clenched his fists lightly and whispered after Iwao wandered away.

Light is a talented employee, I believe he will contribute to this investigation greatly.

I believe in him.

[Connection lost]

A crimson dragon discharged a pillar of flames from its mouth and Iwao fell unconsciously with smoke emitting on his skin.

After a blink, he gasped and found himself laying on a camp bed with his helmet disconnected. His vague eyes stared at the ceiling of the shelter tent in a blank mind. Later, he wanted to get out of bed. However, the unexpected vast pain in his body recalled the incident he had previously. He lifted his head faintly and saw the bandages over his chest. He sighed, throwing his heavy body on the cosy bed and used his right arm to cover his eyes.

How foolish am I...I must have forgotten.

I was knocked out. I commanded the squad to flee, leaving myself on the field.

And then...? What happened? How was I saved?

He heard the heavy steps out of the tent and two familiar figures approached.

"Captain? You're awake!" A young voice spoke with mixed emotions.

"Newbies? Where are the others?" Iwao glanced at them sickly.

"They are all outside." Another replied.

"They were so worried."

"So the squads are safe." Iwao sighed with relief. "I have no idea how I ended up here."

"I think there is someone you wanted to meet with." The youngster suggested. A white-haired boy pushed aside the tent door and stepped in.

"Captain Kurokawa, I am here to report."

"Light, if you're here, that means..."

"I was helped by the owner of an enormous three-headed wolf, Aragami Rouga, who appeared abruptly during the attack."

"I wish I could thank him."

"He left urgently a moment ago."

"That's a shame."

"I still have a lot of things to report."

"Go on." Iwao nodded.

"A group of students from Aibo Academy was found near the hostel. The terrorists chased them after the students and teachers escaped to the mountain. A mysterious barrier was cast and acted as a temporary shelter. But the time of deactivation cannot be predicted."

"Students and teachers?!"

Before the investigation, the island was labelled as a safe area. Once an area is mistaken, it will inevitably cause danger to visitors, and this is the worst consequence.

"Can we communicate with the headquarters?"

"If we could, we already did."

"Right..." Iwao sighed.

In normal circumstances, the police will contact the visitors and make immediate measures. However, since the communication is blocked, there is nothing that the police can do.

Except if an officer is highly aware of this possible situation. Even if that's me, I can't do so.

But for now...

"Light, pass the orders."

Light blinked his eyes and stared at Iwao.

"Assist the survivors on this island. Target, Aibo Academy students."

"Roger." Light did a salute and left.

"You two, would you mind helping me up?" Iwao said to the youngsters and they nodded instantly.

*

A tiny surf of shadow ran through the vents and landed near a gigantic working machine. Kiyoshi stepped out of the corners and gazed around the room after Easton applied invisibility magic on him.

There is no one. Invisibility is not that useful for now.

He stared at a mysterious machine connected to a huge screen.

This must be it—the main control panel.

Now I only need to decode it.

He tapped on the enormous screen and a window popped up.

[Authorization required for access.]

I'm not surprised. They have strict security starting from the entrance.

Kiyoshi sighed lightly. Easton took a spin near him and watched him curiously.

There is nothing but the machine.

"Authorization..."

What kind of validation do I need before using the panel?

Entering a series of passwords?

Fingerprints?

Face or voice recognition?

A key card?

The system did not mention any of them. There weren't any instructions like the system doesn't require the users to.

This leads to another question.

Is it possible if I just ignore the system?

Is it a type of authorisation? So I mustn't ask any questions about the instructions, and that's how they define intruders and allies.

Kiyoshi gulped and mumbled.

"Close the window."

The authorization screen disappeared in a flash and entered the control panel.

Great, now I need to regain the signal to the outside.

But after that, I might have to get rid of those guards.

He took a deep breath and commanded the system.

"Deactivate the signal interference."

"Command not found." The system replied with an electronically synthesised voice.

So there is no way to turn it off, I see.

"Deactivate the power source."

"Command not found."

Kiyoshi sighed briefly.

"Restart the system."

[System Restarting, confirm? 60s ]

"Yes."

[The system is now restarting.]

Kiyoshi took out his phone and took a glance. The dim light of his screen revealed his triumphant smile.

"I really appreciate your help, Dragod Easton."

"My pleasure."

They vanished back into a pond of shadow and shifted out of the gate.

"Prince Kiyoshi, I have a piece of good news and a piece of bad news, which one would you like to hear first?"

"Yes? Just tell them one by one."

"The good news is we just finished our first collaboration missions, and I am extremely pleased about it." Easton's words made Kiyoshi roll his eyes.

"The bad ones?"

"The bad news is, I am running out of magic."

"Probably right now..."

The light in Kiyoshi's body started to flicker and eventually, his invisibility ran off.

*

All the lights were turned off suddenly. The whole base was blackened out. The base members were wicked to understand what just occurred.

"What the hell?" Kai screamed in terror after seeing the lights winked completely went off. He ran into a corner with his hands mopping on the walls. Abruptly, he heard his phone ringtone.

Kai's phone rang? That means...! Krieger grinned in astonishment.

"It is from Kiyoshi?!" Kai's eyes ran out of the corners. Krieger covered his mouth to stop him from screaming.

"Shh...be quiet."

"Kiyoshi?" Kai picked up the call and asked.

They heard some loud noises interrupting in the background, but Kiyoshi's words could still be heard.

"Kiyoshi, are you fine?!"

"Yes...I just restarted the whole base's system. The signals will be recovered for a while."

"Brilliant job, Kiyoshi!"

"We have no time for more discussion. You two must find a way to escape the prison." The panting sounds of Kiyoshi filled the speaker.

Is he running?! Krieger thought.

"What about you?" Kai worried.

"I got into something. But I will be fine." The interruption became more intense.

"What? We can't hear you!"

"I said I will be fine! Meet me at the huge colossal tower that we saw at the entrance. Then we..."

"Then what?!" Kai shouted at his phone.

"We need to save Morihito!!"

The call ended after a long and disturbing beep.

"Kiyoshi...?" Kai questioned. He then noticed Kiyoshi had hung up. Krieger patted Kai's shoulder.

"What do we do now?" Kai asked with welled up eyes.

"Let's begin our plan." Krieger suggested. "We must get out of here. I believe, with both of our powers, we can make it."

Kai nodded and rubbed his eyes. He stood up and clenched his fists. "Let's do it!"

*

Meanwhile, Masumi noticed the flicker. The echoing of the low growl could be heard in the hall.

"Intruders..." He murmured.

"Who was that...?" Morihito wondered.

Did Kai, Kiyoshi and Krieger escaped?

Masumi made an alarm to the members in the base.

"Find and eliminate them at all cost."

He tore down the screen with his claws and the wires were shown between. He switched his glance on Morihito with a smirk.

"We have a little disruption, but the feast shall continue no matter what."

Morihito's field

[Life: 4/ Gauge: 6/ Hand: 1(draw)]

Item: Drago Blade

(No monsters on the field)

"Red Dragon..." Morihito frowned in disappointment and mumbled. "I promised you to defeat him, but now it seems to be an impossible task for me."

I don't want them to suffer.

I never want them to get hurt because of me.

So, please...

Give me a sign of hope.

He grabbed the card and place it in the gauge zone. His trembling hand approached the deck slowly and flipped it over. He took a sigh of relief.

"I cast, Dragonic Grimoire. I can draw three cards from my deck."

Dragonic Grimoire

You may only cast this card if you have 5 life or less.

Discard your entire hand, then draw three cards! You may only cast "Dragonic Grimoire" once per turn. (You can cast this card even if you do not have any cards in hand!)

Morihito's field

[Life: 4/ Gauge: 7/ Hand: 3]

Item: Drago Blade

(No monsters on the field)

"Please lend me your strength, Kai." He whispered.

"I use Unforgettable Promise to call Xander to the right position!"

Unforgettable Promise

Worlds: Dragon World

Type: Spell

Attributes: Summon

-You may choose the following two:

-[Counter] You may call a card from your hand or your drop zone by paying its [Call cost]

-[Counter] Look for a buddy monster in your deck and call it to the field by paying its [Call Cost, then shuffle your deck. You may use this ability once per turn.

"Hugh!" Xander pressed his chest while huffing. "I'm back...?!" He stared at both hands and then Morihito. He smiled victoriously.

I knew he could do it!

Ancient Force Protector Dragon, Xander

Worlds: Dragon World

Type: Size 2 monster

Attributes: Ancient Warrior, Force Dragon

Power: 12000/ Crit: 4 / Defense: 4000

[Call Cost] [Pay 3 gauge and put the top two cards from your deck into this card's soul]

-You may only call this card when you have 5 or more Force Dragon monsters in your drop zone

-"Life Stream" When this card enters the field, your life becomes 10. This ability cannot be nullified by your opponent's card effects.

-When this card attacks, it attacks all your opponent's monsters and your opponent instead!

[Move] [Soulguard]

Morihito's field

[Life: 10/ Gauge: 4/ Hand: 2]

Item: Drago Blade

(R: Xander)

"I cast, Arts of Fast Equipping. I equip Drago Lance from my drop zone!" Morihito yelled.

Arts of Fast Equipping

Worlds: Dragon World

Type: Spell

Attributes: Summon, Power of Origin

-You may use this card with all the worlds.

-[Counter] Equip a «Power of Origin» item with [Equipment Change] in its effects from your hand or drop zone by paying its [Equip Cost]

Knight's Holy Drago Lance, the Guardian of Justice

Worlds: Dragon World

Type: Item

Attributes: Force dragon, power of origin, weapon

Power: 12000 / Crit: 2

[Release Condition!] [Return an item with the name "Drago Blade" to your hand]

[Equip Cost] [Pay 3 gauge]

-All the Force Dragon on your field cannot be destroyed, leave the field, and their abilities cannot be nullified by the opponent's card effects. They get [Penetrate].

-If you have a Ancient Warrior on your field, all the Force Dragon on your field gain power 30000 and [Double Attack]!

-[True • Penetrate] (When this card attacks and destroys a monster on your opponent's field, this card deals damage equal to its critical to your opponent. You cannot activate [Penetrate].)

[True • Penetrate] [Triple Attack] [Equipment Change]

Morihito's field

[Life: 10/ Gauge: 1/ Hand: 2 (Drago blade)]

Item: Drago Lance

(R: Xander)

The blade in Morihito's hands glowed and floated. Its edge and tip extended. He gripped the lance handle firmly, the blue lightning charged through his arms and remained in his body.

"Xander, attack doctor Kitagawa!"

"It's time to crush that bastard!"

Masumi braced with crossed gigantic claws. Xander slammed his broadsword at him towards the walls. Masumi stood up with claws stabbed inside the curved walls, did a monstrous howl and exhaled a long breath.

It is that annoying dragon again...!

I will make him suffer next turn.

But for now...

Masumi's field

[Life: 1/ Gauge: 5/ Hand: 1]

Face-up cards in the deck: 1

Set spell: Fortify The Dark Thought

Item: Dragon Force "Style of Envy"

(L: Neo Inverse) (R: Excrucia (3 soulguard))

Xander shouted and raised his sword at Excrucia.

The prey has stood up against a predator.

That's violating the rules of nature.

As the predators, we all hated their preposterous arrogance.

Am I right, Excrucia?

Prove them wrong.

"Calamity Dragonizer."

Calamity Dragonizer

World: Darkness Dragon World, Star Dragon World

Type: Size 3 Monster

Attribute: Black Dragon, Neodragon

Power: 11000/ Crit: 2/ Defence: 3000

[Call Cost] Return two cards from the drop zone face up to the bottom of your deck and return another monster from field to hand.

- This card's soul cannot be dropped by card effects.

- If a card with "Excrucia" in its name is in this card's soul, this card gains defense7000, critical1 and [Double Attack]! This card is also treated as "Excrucia" in its name and gets all its abilities.

[Counter] "Maximum Output" Pay 4 gauge. Place a card with "Excrucia" in its name from the field to this card's soul and call this card. For this turn, your opponent cannot attack this monster.

[Move] [Soulguard]

Masumi's field

[Life: 1/ Gauge: 1/ Hand: 1(Neo Inverse)]

Face-up cards in the deck: 3

Set spell: Fortify The Dark Thought

Item: Dragon Force "Style of Envy"

(C: Calamity Dragonizer (1 soulguard))

The monsters on Masumi's field had vanished all of a sudden. Xander's blade hit the empty floor and he glanced at his missing target in a stunner. Morihito noticed Masumi's centre was generating a purplish red energy sphere along with powerful wind, it blew at Xander and forced Morihito to stab his lance on the ground.

"What the...?!" Xander raised his head. He saw the wings of a shadowy dragon expand and grow even further. The violet glitter shined through the black mist. Two scaled legs with reddish sharp tose stepped out of the dark. It opened up its mouth, howled and fanned its wings simultaneously. In a moment of the flash, the mist dispersed and revealed a gigantic beast on the field.

"ROoOoAaAAaArrRRRRR!!!!!!"

"Geez!! That's so loud!" Xander shouted but his voice was being surpassed by the beast's roar. Morihito and Xander covered their ears in panic.

This is Excrucia's evolution?! Morihito thought in a stun.

The roar was alarming. It was like telling us that we won't be able to defeat him.

But I know it is not over yet, as long as I can still stand up with my sword.

I won't fall.

Morihito grabbed his lance and dashed in a flash of light blue lightning. He pierced the beast with trust. However, a barrier was formed in front of him and bounced his weapon away. The murky dragon tore in his chest and warned him with another uproar.

Nooo!

"Ugh!" Morihito screamed and fell to the ground in blam.

"Maximum Output, allows Excrucia to be in the form of perfection. Nothing can stop its destructive power, and everything on your field will now be useless!" Masumi mocked with a wicked laugh.

"It has proven all your struggles are worthless, Amari Morihito." His horrendous voice spread in the air along with his laughter. Suddenly, a blade penetrated his chest from his back.

Masumi's field

[Life: 0/ Gauge: 1/ Hand: 1]

Face-up cards in the deck: 3

Set spell: Fortify The Dark Thought

Item: Dragon Force "Style of Envy"

(C: Calamity Dragonizer (1 soulguard))

"Huh?" He looked down at the sword open-mouthed and turned around slowly with a furious frown. "You...!"

"I can finally stop hearing your meaningless speech, jerk." Xander talked near Masumi's ears.

"You have...double attack?!"

"Indeed, idiot, now shut up."

"'Shut up'...?"

"The arrogance of the prey has reached the peak. How unbelievable."

"Ah...hahaha...HAHAHA-" He covered his face and burst out a piercing laugh.

"What...?!" Xander was terrified by Masumi's sudden laughter.

"You two have forgotten one thing all along."

"In this battle...no...feast...I am the one..."

"...in control of everything!!"

"Activate, Fortify The Dark Thought."

Fortify The Dark Thought

World: Darkness Dragon World, Star Dragon World

Type: Spell

Attribute: Enhance

[Set]

- You may only [Set] one "Fortify The Dark Thought" on your field.

- At the beginning of your turn, you may place the top card of your deck face up and send it to the bottom of your deck.

- When your life is 0, return all Dragonarms from the drop zone face up to the bottom of your deck. Your life becomes 1. You may only use this ability once per turn.

Masumi's field

[Life: 2/ Gauge: 2/ Hand: 1]

Face-up cards in the deck: 6 (Husk Self-Destruct x2)

Set spell: Fortify The Dark Thought

Item: Dragon Force "Style of Envy"

(C: Calamity Dragonizer (1 soulguard))

Dragonarms, Husk

World: Darkness Dragon World, Star Dragon World

Type: Size 0 monster

Attribute: Dragonarms, Dark

Power: 1000/ Crit:1/ Def: 1000

- When this card is placed from your deck face up, put the top card of your deck into your gauge, you get 1 life.

- When this card is in the soul of a Black Dragon, that card gets defense 4000 and [Counterattack].

- When this card is sent to the drop zone, your opponent has to place a card from their field to the bottom of their deck.

[Crossnize]

Masumi pulled out the blade from his chest. A gloomy aura surrounded his stab and healed the wound shortly.

"Ridiculous..."

"You think you could truly stop me?"

"I had enough...enough of all your disgusting expressions."

"Flashing in my mind, again and again, occupying my thoughts and emotions."

"No matter if it is Amari Akira or his son Amari Morihito."

"I do not want to hear them anymore."

"Ever and ever...!"

"You hear me?"

"Now die."

*

A few moments before, the guards stayed in the cells with arms, until they heard the alarm from the announcement.

"Intruder alert. Repeat, an intruder is detected on the upper floor..." The base glowed with red lights.

"Again?" A guard sighed and was ready to leave. Suddenly, they heard the yelling from the room inside and headed back.

"What? What's wrong with those brats? Why can't they be quiet just for a while? They are the most annoying prisoners I ever met!"

"Firstly, shouting insanely. Until they start losing their breath, they cry and sob non-stop. And finally, yelling again and repeating step one. Listening to their voices is worse than torturing." Another guard explained.

"I can't agree more. It will be much better if they make the rooms soundproofed."

"If they do, we won't know whether they are alive. That will lose the purpose of a prison."

"Geez. I don't get it. What is the reason for keeping them alive?"

"That's why they're called 'prisoners'."

"Uh...is it me or did they cry louder than before?"

"Should we check on them?"

"Maybe." A guard tapped the entrance with a key card and entered. Another one turned the light switch on and off.

"They still haven't fixed the lights yet." He said.

"Yeah." Another replied and turned on the flashlight.

"Brats, are you still alive?" He asked the darkness and stepped inside.

"Hello? Now it sounds a little creepy...am I right?"

No one replied to him after.

"Ryoto...?"

"Where did you go?"

"I don't like this punk, Ryo! Stop hiding!"

Tap, tap...tap, tap.

He heard the footsteps hitting on the floor. His palm sweated with shaky hands. The cold air pricked his skin and he stared at the dark. He saw a small ignition and approached carefully.

"Ryoto, is that you?"

The flames got fierce and burst forth. The guard screamed terrifyingly and painfully. Abruptly, a hand slapped on his neck. He passed out and lay on the ground. A key card dropped from his pocket and slipped near the cell. Kai picked it up, his hands passed through between the bars and tapped the card at the gate. The status screen changed from red to green.

"Yes!! We did it!" Kai cheered. "Thanks, Blast!"

"Now we need to meet Kiyoshi at the tower which is near the entrance." Krieger explained.

"Intruder alert. Repeat, an intruder is detected..."

"It must be Kiyoshi!" Kai said in a worry.

"Upper floor...he's at the top floor!" Krieger thought.

"Hurry! We need to help him!"

*

On the other side of the island, panting students and teachers ran along the beach with their shoes off.

"Huff...huff...I can't run anymore..."

"No! Don't ever stop running!! They're at our back!! Stop if you want to die!" Another ran past him.

"Just a little more, hang on there!!" A student helped the boy up.

"I am so tired..." He said.

"Use every single breath to run! Stop talking from now on!!"

They heard an explosion at their back.

"What was that?!"

"No, don't look back!"

A student slowed down and turned around. He screamed after seeing a giant monster behind him. When the beast almost landed its claws, another brown hairy bear grabbed its arms and threw it over.

"Brat, run!" Barnat shouted.

"AhhhHHHhhh-" The boy cried in tears and dashed away.

At the same time, a lizard-like dragon howled and approached Barnat rapidly.

"Look out!" A purple demon kicked the beast far away. His shirt sparkled with yellow stars and the black sunglasses reflected the light.

"Thanks." Barnat said politely. "More of them are coming."

"No problem so far." Asmodai giggled.

Abruptly, they saw the blasters shoot around them and bounced off.

"Two targets in total. Ready for battle." A man in a black hood commanded. His allies formed a line with firearms. The two behind them unlocked a metal case and took a few round shaped robotic devices. After activation, they floated and surrounded Asmodai and Barnat. The purple lightning walls started forming near them.

"They are trying to capture us!" Barnat shouted in panic.

"Too late for now..." Asmodai mumbled.

A cage of electricity was constructed. It trapped Asmodai and Barnat inside.

"Huff...is it the end for us?"

"No idea..." Asmodai gasped while firing his stars at the barrier. He munched his jaw after seeing they had no effects. "Now I'm not sure about my words."

"The cage is too tough." Barnat tried to rip it off repeatedly. However, the burn from the electricity stopped her from process seeing further.

Kenji...did you escape safely?

I wonder if you're fine.

I will be glad if you do.

I am sorry...

"Fire!!" A voice commanded. Yet, it wasn't from the enemy. The floating robotic spheres exploded and the cage was deactivated afterwards.

"We were saved...?" Barnat turned around and saw another army of humans.

"More enemies?" The man in black hood said with gripped hand and ordered loudly. "Annihilate them!"

"Team in position! Shield, activate!" The swat team leader commanded.

"Brace!!!" The gang on the other side yelled.

Numerous gunshots rained on both sides. Barnat shifted and lacerated at the crowd of gangs. Shrieking could be heard from the outside endlessly.

"Strike team, we need to retreat now. Things get troubled." The speaker from the hooded man spoke.

"Me either. We were being raided by those sneaky scums."

"No, worse, they will be near the coast soon. So get back as fast as you can, we are getting the ships."

"How did they notice?! We got control of all the signals!"

"The plan has failed. We have no time to erase the base's data, so the base will be self-destructed after we escape."

"You must be kidding me..."

"Retreat now, that's all I can tell you."

"Roger..." The hooded man breathed heavily, walked up the slope and disappeared between the tree shades.

"Don't stop firing!!" The investigation team members yelled until the gang stepped back and started running.

"Should we chase them?" The vice-captain asked Iwao, who was resting on his shoulders.

"No...that's enough. We have to put the safety of the survivors the priority."

"Yes sir."

The team put down their weapons. They checked on Asmodai and let him away. But when it came to Barnat, the police became alerted.

"This monster is not registered in the record. It is an illegal monster."

Barnat looked down frustratingly and was ready to accept her fate anyways.

"We all witness its bravery, it is an honourable monster and there is no doubt that it is not hostile."

"Should we send it back to its homeland?"

"Wait..." Barnat spoke softly. "Before I go, there is a human I want to see."

The police stared at each other and nodded.

"You may follow us."

"I am truly grateful. Thank you, humans."

*

Meanwhile, at the brow of the ship, Tasuku was found gazing at the wide sea, an officer walked near him.

"Commissioner, we have received a message from the headquarters reporting a mysterious signal from an individual on Golden Island."

"When was it?"

"It was detected and informed about ten minutes ago. It is from a mobile device."

"Possibly there are survivors, I will be leading the squads to the destination."

"Understood."

"Tasuku Ryuenji?"

"Commander Zanya?"

"It is fine to call me Zanya. No one is around." A man with long dark blue hair in a ponytail, wearing a formal military uniform approached Tasuku.

"We met again."

"Not long since the exhibition, yes?"

"Right." Tasuku smiled. "You must have been busy lately."

"Not so." Zanya adjusted his glasses and chuckled. "You became a famous topic ever since the exhibition incident, town hero."

"I guess you already heard them from the chatters. I also listened to the illegal monster control at the gates. It was well done."

Zanya couldn't stop giggling after Tasuku's words. Abruptly, a voice disrupted their conversation.

"Commander, we can see the coast!"

"Prepare on board." Zanya said in a serious tone.

*

"Screw this, screw those rats, screw everything." The man took off his black hood, murmured and moaned hard. "Damn..."

"A piece of junk." He kicked on the empty metal case. The followers stared at him and he stomped at the front.

"What are you looking at? We're all screwed. Isn't that clear enough?" He roared and sighed furiously.

All of a sudden, a rasping sound could be heard from the underbrushes, a few leaves fell from the tall trees and floated at the feet. The gang were alerted and geared up with weapons.

"Who's there?!" Their leader shouted in the impenetrable forest. He took a quick look at the surroundings, but only found a group of singing birds.

One of them aimed at the moving shadow between the trees. After a blink, it combined itself with the atmosphere. He shut his eyes and opened them swiftly. The countless Ammos hit on dense oak trees. The gang reloaded the bullets and check on the target. After careful observation, they approached the trees slowly.

"Illusions...?"

"Gahhh-" A gang member screamed and was muted abruptly. The rest of them gripped their rifles in their hands and looked back.

"Show yourself! These tricks won't work on us!"

A member lifted the revolver with quivering hands and held his breath. His steps broke the branches on the floor and tripped on them. Later, he gazed at the top and shades created by the trees with wide eyes. The hands of shadow grabbed his face and he lost his sight.

"How you dare...do you know who we are?!" Their leader continued to shout at the forest until he watched back, seeing his troops vanishing and falling to the ground one by one. The man took off his black cape with hood and grabbed his energy blade, pointing at his front in dread.

"I have been watching you." A voice echoed between the trees. He could feel the soft wind chilling at his back.

"Got you, rat." He found himself slashing at the air after a spin and couldn't believe his eyes. "What?!"

A figure with long silver hair revealed under dim sunlight, grabbed the gang leader's sweaty hands and twist them hard. The man screamed horribly and dropped his sword. Rouga picked it up and put it near the leader's neck.

"If you want to keep your neck uncut. Go ahead. But before we do..."

"Let's have a talk."

"Ye...s...?" The shaking words from the man almost could not be heard.

*

"You have ruined my feast...and you will pay for it." Masumi murmured. His jaw was shown simultaneously.

"As a consequence..."

"This will be your demise."

"This is your fate, inevitable destiny."

"Death, you will be laying on the cold floor with your unmoved body."

"Staring at the execution of all your friends with your last breath!"

"That will be fun to watch, right?"

Masumi shouted his words at Morihito with terrifying laughter. Xander gazed at him, feeling the chills in his spine.

Masumi's field

[Life: 2/ Gauge: 3 (Charge)/ Hand: 2 (Draw)]

Face-up cards in the deck: 7 (Set spell's ability)

Set spell: Fortify The Dark Thought

Item: Dragon Force "Style of Envy"

(C: Calamity Dragonizer (1 soulguard))

"I will make you taste them at once."

"Excruciating pain."

Excruciating Pain

World: Darkness Dragon World, Star Dragon World

Type: Spell

Attribute: Death, Star

[Cast Cost] [Return all your hand cards to the bottom of your deck]

- Search your deck for 5 cards of your choice except for this card. You may pay any amount of life and put the number of cards among them into your hand accordingly. Then, put the rest into the drop zone.

- You may only cast this card once per game, choose one of the following three.

- Reveal your hand cards and deal damage according to the number of Dragonarms in your drop zone and in your hand.

- Reveal your hand cards and put the cards from the top of your deck into the gauge according to the number of Dragonarms in your drop zone and in your hand.

- [Set] this spell. For the beginning of the opponent's turn, deal damage for every Dragonarms that is face-up in your deck! The [Set] lasts for 5 turns.

Masumi revealed five various dragonarms in his hand and placed them all into the drop zone. Masumi stabbed his claws inside Morihito. He took them back and gazed at them with a disturbing smile. Then, he bounced him to the sides, which showed cracks and collapsed slowly after.

"Mori!!" Xander caught the falling Morihito from the walls.

"You okay...?!"

"No worries..." Morihito pushed himself up while panting. Cyan lighting was emitting in his body.

With this protective skin of Drago, my damage is greatly reduced.

Morihito's field

[Life: 5/ Gauge: 1/ Hand: 2]

Item: Drago Lance

(R: Xander)

Masumi's field

[Life: 2/ Gauge: 3/ Hand: 0]

Face-up cards in the deck: 7

Set spell: Fortify The Dark Thought

Item: Dragon Force "Style of Envy"

(C: Calamity Dragonizer (1 soulguard))

"Fallen Grace, Dark Core, activate!!"

Fallen Grace, Dark Core

World: Darkness Dragon World, Star Dragon World

Type: Spell

Attribute: Star, Death

- [Counter] When this card is in your deck face up or put into your hand, you may pay 1 gauge. If you do, put a Dragonarms from your drop zone into your hand. Then, you may choose a monster in your field. For this turn, it gets defense6000 and [Counterattack].

- During your turn, if you have a card with "Excrucia" in its name on your field, draw 3 cards. You may only activate this ability once per turn.

"Inverse Refill." Masumi placed the previously used spell card into his hand. He smirked with the corners of his mouth curved. He drew another three cards and eventually discarded the spell. Without another thought, he placed Dragonarms, Husk on the virtual reality board.

Dark Star Of Hopelessness, Excrucia

- ...

- "Inverse Refill" You may pay 1 life. Search your deck for a card face up and place it into your hand. If you do, this card gets power5000, defense5000 and critical2! You may only use this once per turn.

Dragonarms, Husk

World: Darkness Dragon World, Star Dragon World

Type: Size 0 monster

Attribute: Dragonarms, Dark

Power: 1000/ Crit:1/ Def: 1000

- When this card is placed from your deck face up, put the top card of your deck into your gauge, and you get 1 life.

- When this card is in the soul of a Black Dragon, that card gets defense4000 and [Counterattack].

- When this card is sent to the drop zone in your opponent's turn, your opponent has to place a card from their field to the bottom of their deck.

[Crossnize]

"Crossnize." Masumi spoke with a slight excitement on his face. He watched the black armour fusing with the beast, tightening and darkening its torso, sharpening its tails and the blades in its hands. The reddish-purple gleam charged throughout its body, its eyes glowed wickedly with a cold sight, breathing out a line of air, showing its enmity and proving its absolute dominance on the field. Masumi approached with open arms and reached his hand to the tremendous creature deliberately with gleaming eyes, its shadow covering him. It was almost impossible to distinguish between the two.

"So pretty..."

"It is such a pity that your father cannot be the first subject of my masterpiece."

"But you must be proud to be my guest, as his son."

"Excrucia, move to the left." Masumi commanded.

Masumi's field

[Life: 1/ Gauge: 2/ Hand: 3]

Face-up cards in the deck: 6

Set spell: Fortify The Dark Thought

Item: Dragon Force "Style of Envy"

(L: Calamity Dragonizer (2 soulguard))

Calamity Dragonizer (Excrucia)

[Total Power: 16000/ Crit: 5/ Defence: 25000 (including 6000 in this turn)]

"Morihito, move me to the centre!" Xander shouted.

"Yea!" Morihito nodded.

Morihito's field

[Life: 5/ Gauge: 1/ Hand: 2]

Item: Drago Lance

(C: Xander)

"Tear him, rip him, gash him with everything you can, Excrucia!!"

The gigantic monster stomped near. The whole room trembled as its steps went further. Xander held his sword up. The ruthless beast slashed at him swiftly after raising its claws. He barely blocked them before they reached Morihito. A soft greenish light glowed on Xander. He moaned, wiped away his sweat and pointed his blade at the dragon nevertheless. The beast disregarded him and slammed its paws on him until Xander revived with his soulguard.

Morihito's field

[Life: 5/ Gauge: 1/ Hand: 2]

Item: Drago Lance

(C: Xander (0 soulguard))

"Huff..." Xander got himself up after quivering hands and kneeling.

"This is the end, it's all ended."

"This is your final goodbye to your precious memories of this world."

"Your fears and regrets will remain, you will be in a patch of endless darkness, burning in flames with tears, and all your pain and suffering will be eternal..."

"All alone...!"

He taunted. Xander glanced at the incoming scratch from Masumi, who gashed his hand at Xander, ready to penetrate it towards Morihito.

It won't.

I still have hope within me.

There are goals that I want to accomplish.

Things that I want to discover.

People that I want to meet.

Truth that I want to understand.

Promises that I want to fulfil.

"So I won't allow it to happen."

"No matter what."

Morihito bounced off the ground. The light blue trail was left in the air. A red barrier blinked between Xander and Masumi, separating them in mid-air. Xander smiled in astonishment.

True Red Force Dragon Shield

Worlds: Dragon World

Type: Spell

Attributes: Red Dragon, Ancient Warrior, defense, draw

-You may only cast this card when you have 1 or more Red Dragon in your drop zone.

[Counter] Nullify the attack, draw a card. If you have a Ancient Warrior on your field, deal 2 damage to your opponent!

Morihito's field

[Life: 5/ Gauge: 1/ Hand: 2]

Item: Drago Lance

(C: Xander (0 soulguard))

"A spell?!"

"Useless, weak, these are worthless."

"It won't work on me!!"

After a growl, Masumi's talon landed on the shield. He grasped it and attempted to split it in half by force. Yet, even the barrier started breaking, he started feeling the heat in his hands, the blaze burnt bright, causing him to hop off. He gazed at the disappearing red shield and saw himself fall in the air.

Impossible.

There is no way I will be defeated.

With this overwhelming strength,

With this power of perfection,

I should be undefeatable.

Unstoppable.

Undying.

This is not possible.

There was nothing that could stop me.

Not anyone.

No, no, no...

Nobody could stop me.

No one, no one...

N̷̗͖͑̒o̵̯̞͛b̸̰̞͗̔ó̸̝d̶̗͕̐͝y̷͓̲̏,̸̣̉̕ ̵̙͚͂n̴̖̅o̴̬̬̓͊ ̶̣̯̇̆ȯ̸̖̝ṋ̵̢̅́ẽ̴̥̯,̴̠̒́ ̶̺͇̎͋n̶̤̼͊́õ̴̝͚t̵̗͛̂ͅh̴̭͑́ḭ̴̉͑ń̷̮g̷̪̼̊.̴̜͝

I am the one in control.

I am in control.

I am the one...!

Blammm!!! His body crashed to the ground and the walls cracked after. A mist of dusk started gathering at the falling spot, a long frightful howling could be heard throughout the room. Masumi covered his face, shrieked and spoke monstrously with the combination of his voice.

Masumi's field

[Life: 0/ Gauge: 2/ Hand: 3]

Face-up cards in the deck: 6

Set spell: Fortify The Dark Thought

Item: Dragon Force "Style of Envy"

(L: Calamity Dragonizer (2 soulguard))

"Hugh...UGHH...AHHHHHH!"

"My ears...my ears!"

"It is bleeding...!

"UGHHHHHHH...!!"

"It hurts, it hurts, it hurts."

"The words, the words, the words!"

"Chatters and whisperings..."

"A̵n̷n̶o̴y̸i̷n̶g̵,̵ ̸i̶r̶r̶i̴t̸a̸t̸i̷n̵g̷,̸ ̶r̷e̷v̶o̶l̸t̸i̷n̷g̴.̸.̷.̴"

"D̷i̷s̶t̷u̶r̶b̴i̶n̵g̸,̵ ̵i̶n̵f̸u̸r̶i̸a̴t̴i̸n̶g̴,̸ ̶d̷i̶s̵g̷u̵s̴t̵i̶n̴g̵...̸!̷!̷"

"A̵n̷n̶o̴y̸i̷n̶g̵,̵


r̷e̷v̶o̶l̸t̸i̷n̷g̴.̸.̷.̴"

"D̷i̷s̶t̷u̶r̶b̴i̶n̵g̸,̵

̵i̶n̵f̸u̸r̶i̸a̴t̴i̸n̶g̴,̸ ̶

d̷i̶s̵g̷u̵s̴t̵i̶n̴g̵...̸!̷!!"

"They shall..."

"They shall be..."

"They shall be all..."

"Ė̵̦̠̤̬̪Ň̷͙͑̍̅̚Ḑ̴̤̘͔̔E̴͜͠D̵̡̡͎̦̘̞͛ ̴̘̦͙̪̪̏̓̐̋̕͜B̶̢͔̦̓Ÿ̵̞̪̼̤͈͚́̃̎̊̈́͝ ̶̼͉̏̋͝ͅḀ̸͖͇̰̕͜N̷͎̐͛Y̴͇̬͕̐͗͆̃̚ ̸̧̳̻͈̣̇͒̕M̴͗̈́͝ͅE̴̢̜̤͈̼͒̃̂͑͋͌A̵͔͇̋͂̏̐͘͜Ǹ̴̢̥̯̣̯̙̾̈̚S̶̭̖̜̞͊̓̓͂̑͘."

He roared and howled with a rising tone. The scream echoed endlessly with shaking ground. The aura in his claws glowed ragingly, also his horns and his eyes. Excrucia stepped forth, and warned Xander and Morihito with a stunning roar.

"Pain, pain, P̶̧͕͍̟͂̉A̵̰̰̳̙͊̒͂͘I̷̖͇̤̯̋̑̂̈́N̷̯̔͊͘."

"Hatred, hatred, H̴̢̙͕̒̌̉͗A̸̫̍́͜Ṯ̸̺̄͋R̵͍̤͕̉̋́E̷̞͎̿͝Ḋ̶̢̲̖."

"IT BURNS, IT BURNS, IT BURNS."

"WHY...WHY...WHY?!"

"AHAAAAAAA!!!"

"EVERYTHING."

"ANYTHING."

"Begone, begone, BEGONE."

"Be vanished, Vanished, VANISHED."

"Disappear. Disappear. DISAPPEAR."

"BEGONE! BEGONE!"

"VANISH, VANISH!!!"

"DISAPPEAR..."

"..."

Masumi's field

[Life: 3/ Gauge: 4/ Hand: 3]

Face-up cards in the deck: 10

Set spell: Fortify The Dark Thought

Item: Dragon Force "Style of Envy"

(C: Calamity Dragonizer (2 soulguard))

"His eyes...he's..." Xander stared at the front speechlessly.

"I know, Xander." Morihito said with a sigh.

"...you noticed this at the beginning?"

"No. But I could somehow feel him."

"The pain, misery and sorrow...that's where sad tears come from."

"Even though he is truly a bastard, he has his own reasons."

"There is one thing I want to do now."

"Of course." Xander replied with a smile.

The lance and the sword sprinted into the shadowy creature in the centre. It howled, and the enormous wind struck and filled the stage. Xander moved back and forth before the paws took him. It went the same for Morihito. Xander stepped in front, the beast gazed at him with incoming claws. Morihito charged his lance in light blue lightning as Xander held the beast back with his broadsword. When it tore its blades deeper into his sword, Morihito showed up and left a deep wound on its skin. The yelling dragon headed back swiftly and lost its patience. Before it landed its next strike, a long and large blade broke through its black armour and penetrated his scales. Its body shattered and revived after a green glow. It growled with a voice that reached far. Its scarlet-violet eyes glared around and were ready to grasp him over. Nevertheless, Xander was already far from his area.

Meanwhile, Morihito rushed with Drago Lance in a flash, chased over the rampageous Masumi who sliced at him destructively on all sides. Morihito got out of his way and the claws stabbed into the walls behind him. Masumi's eyes gleamed, and his body was covered in a darker aura. His thrust arms in the walls scratched violently. Despite the wounds, he tore them frantically until they broke down, he fixed his gaze on Morihito. Unrecognised words were murmured in his mouth repeatedly. He ran into Morihito without any explainable human movements. When close to laying his hands on Morihito, Xander held his hands and threw him away. Morihito and Xander nodded at each other. One gripped his lance firmly after a deep breath, the other pointed with the broadsword. Finally, they stepped up and pierced Masumi's chest together. The cyan lightning spread through the stab and the blackness on his body started to fade, followed by an agonising cry, the tears fell on Morihito's hands continually, eventually closing his eyes.

Masumi's field

[Life: 0/ Gauge: 2/ Hand: 3]

Face-up cards in the deck: 10

Set spell: Fortify The Dark Thought

Item: Dragon Force "Style of Envy"

(C: Calamity Dragonizer (1 soulguard))

From the start, I noticed that you can still be there.

And in fact, you are.

I don't know what they did to you.

But all the sadness on your face is the greatest evidence that you are not truly happy.

As if you are forced to smile even if you never wanted to.

It must be so painful.

You tried to reach the dim light far away.

Over and over again.

But they all failed.

You were left in the dark, you stared at the ones entering the light, watching yourself devoured by your shadow and becoming a part of the darkness.

However...

"Senior Masumi."

"It is all over."

"You don't have to work overnight, we are having a break today."

"We can leave now."

"Let's go home together, shall we?"

"Akira...?"

Masumi saw a man with brown hair and a gentle smile. He gave Masumi a hand. A light fell on them. His accumulated tears at the corners fell along his chin.

Ah...it's so warm...

It has been a long time since I ever felt this warmth.

A drop of water wrecked on the silent lake.

[To be continued...]

--

'Mini-Buddyfight Talk!'

"Hello Everyone! Nice to meet you all! I am your host Brave Fist, Red Dragon! And also Pirate Dragon, Wind Dragon and Frost Dragon!"

Pirate Dragon 'For every chapter ends, we will have a little talk about the strongest card of the chapter!'

Wind Dragon 'Today's card is Dragon Force "Style of Envy"!'

Dragon Force "Style of Envy"

World: Darkness Dragon World, Star Dragon World

Type: Item

Attribute: Neodragon, Black Dragon, Star

Power: 10000/ Crit: 5

[Release Condition!] [Your life is less than 6 and you have a card with "Excrucia" in its name on your field.]

[Equip Cost] [Pay 2 gauge and put 2 cards from the top of your deck face up to the bottom of your deck.]

- This card cannot be destroyed and returned to hand by your opponent's card effects.

- When a Black Dragon is destroyed by your opponent, place a card from your drop zone face up to the bottom of your deck.

- [Act] You may pay 1 life and put a card face up from your deck to the soul of a card on your field. If you do, draw a card.

- "Forsaken Words" When your life is 3, you may draw a card and reveal it to your opponent, if it is a monster card, your life becomes 1. If it is not a monster card, you gain 1 life.

[Penetrate]

Frost Dragon "Darkness Dragon World and Star Dragon World, it is an item card with Power 10000 and critical 5. To equip this card, you must first have less than 6 life and summon Excrucia on your field. Then, you may pay 2 gauge to equip the item." :l

Pirate "It cannot be destroyed and returned to hand by card effects! It also has a 'penetrate' ability. So strong!" =.=!

Wind "When equipping this card, you need to place the top two cards of your deck and place them at the bottom face up. When a 'Black Dragon' on your field get destroyed, you can choose a card from your drop zone and place it face up at the deck's bottom." ]

Red "You may pay 1 life and put a card face up from your deck to the soul of a card on your field." :P

Pirate "The ability 'Forsaken words' draws a revealed card and adds it into your hand. If it is not a monster, you can gain one life. By applying the card abilities efficiently, you will be able to draw many cards in just one turn!"

Other dragons were amazed. "Woooowww!!!" *A*

Red "That's it! Thank you for watching and hope you can build a stronger deck!"

Others "Bye! Bye!"

[Thx for reading]

Ending 1 - Tomorrow

https/youtu.be/tfRsyXIRQtY

~PREVIEW!~

The next episode is "Sunset".

Pretty much everything you expected, so...

(No preview available because the evil writer decided to keep you waiting :)

Hehehe.

Hey, readers. I am here to tell you straightforwardly and aggressively that I am going to write and spend years writing this fiction, which will be a long journey. I will treat this fiction like my son. I want to write an epic Buddyfight fanfiction, which is even better than the original series! To accomplish that, I will need your help and ideas for cards, characters and the story. Everyone is welcome to the discord server of this fiction! Get free spoilers and chat with the author, muahahaha! I appreciate your aid and support!! :D

Join Discord: https/discord.gg/78mVzYK7YB