This chapter is a continuation of the previous chapter. If you have not read that chapter, please do so before reading this one.
"If you think you truly have what it takes to fight the Death Ark, then I want you to prove it to me!" Ryuzu exclaims to Alex as he holds out his deck on the hospital roof.
Alex grits her teeth and pulls out her deck as well, saying, "Fine! I'll beat you just like my father did!"
Alex and Ryuzu then sit down at one of the nearby picnic tables on the roof to have their cardfight. Tokoha, along with the secretary, sits down on Ryuzu's side, and Yui and Rina sit down on Alex's side.
"Alex…" her mother says with a hint of worry, "Are you sure you want to do this? Ryuzu is very strong."
"I'm sure." Alex says with determination in her voice, "I want to prove I can fight this Death Ark. It's the only way I'll see dad again."
Tokoha knows she can't talk her daughter out of this fight, so she just nods and says, "Alright." Meanwhile, Yui and Rina want to be supportive of Alex, but they have no idea what to say.
"Are you ready?" Ryuzu asks after drawing his starting hand.
Alex does the same and replies with, "Yes." The two of them then place their hands on their starting Vanguards and declare in unison, "Stand up… VANGUARD!"
Opening Theme – Fighters (Gundam Build Iron-Blooded Orphans OP4)
Drive 25 – The Gears of Fate
The two fighters imagine themselves in old jungle ruins on Cray as their spirits inhabit their Vanguards, "Steam Maiden, Ayancia (G0/5000)!" Alex declares.
"Chrono Tigar X (G0/5000)!" Ryuzu declares.
Alex's eyes widen when she hears the name, "Chrono?"
However, Ryuzu simply draws a card from his deck and begins his turn, "Ride! Chronotooth Tiger (G1/8000)! Using Tigar's skill, I look at the top three cards of my deck and add a Gear Beast to my hand. Next, with Chronotooth's skill, I discard one card to draw one."
"My turn then!" Alex declares, "I ride! Steam Mouse, Elal (G1/8000)! Using Ayancia's skill, I look at the top three cards of my deck and add a Gearoid to my hand. Then, with Elal's skill, I can bind a card in my hand. I now call Steam Hunter Feena (G1/8000)! Feena boosts, Elal attacks the Vanguard (8000-16000)!"
"No guard." Ryuzu declares. (Ryuzu: []) "Ride! Chronobite Tiger (G2/10000)! I call Steam Guardian Yarlagand (G2/10000) and Steam Knight Yarlagab (G2/10000)! Chronobite Tiger attacks the Vanguard!" Chronobite Tiger leaps into the air and takes a swipe at Elal, causing her and Alex to scream in pain (Alex: []). "Next, Yarlagab attacks!" Yarlagab draws a giant broad sword made of gears from the sheath on his back and swings at Elal.
"Guard (10000)!" Alex declares, calling a unit to block the attack.
"Yarlagand attacks the Vanguard!" Yarlagand holds up a shield made of gears and charges at Elal, knocking her off her feet (Alex: [][]).
In the real world, Alex flinches back, nearly falling off her seat, but she regains herself and continues, "I activate Feena's skill! I bind her and call High Steam Hunter Feena from my deck (G2/10000-12000). Next, I ride! Steam Lynx, Shar-kali (G2/10000). I activate Shar-kali's skill ([X][])! I bind one card in my drop zone (Bind G3-4), then I can call a unit from my deck with one grade higher than that unit. I call Steam Scara Susuda (G2/10000)! With Susuda's skill, I bind the top card of my deck (Bind G4), and add 5000 power to herself (10000-15000)! Next, from my hand, I call Steam Mechanic Tirigan (G1/9000) and Steam Maiden, Nanniya (G1/8000)!"
"Hmm…" Ryuzu mutters as he holds his chin.
"Shar-kali attacks the Vanguard! Drive Check (Front)! Front Trigger! Add 10000 power to my whole front row (12000-22000) (10000-20000) (15000-25000)!"
Shar-kali mixes some chemicals in vials and tosses them all at Chronobite, causing explosions on impact (Ryuzu: [][]).
"Next, Feena, boosted by Nanniya, attacks the Vanguard (22000-30000)!"
"I guard (15000+10000=25000)!"
"Boosted by Tirigan, Susuda attacks the Vanguard (25000-34000)!" (Ryuzu: [][][])
"My turn…" Ryuzu declares with a stern expression, "Stand and draw!" He huffs as he raises a card in the air, "Guardian of time… Protector of the future… Answer my call! I Ride!" Chronobite Tiger disappears in a vortex of light, and from that light, a bigger red mechanical tiger shows itself as it lets out a threatening roar, "Chronofang Tiger X (G3/12000)!"
Alex stares down the formidable unit that bears her father's name. "Wh-What is this…?" she asks, "Why do your units have my father's name?!"
Ryuzu, however, does not answer, and simply continues his turn, "Chronobite's skill (Soul 3-2)! When rode upon by Chronofang Tiger, you choose one of your rear-guards and put it on bottom of your deck." Alex doesn't respond and simply moves her Tirigan to the bottom of her deck. "I call Quicky Quicky Worker (G1/8000), using the skill, I put one card in my drop zone on bottom of my deck. Next, I activate Chronofang's skill ([X][][])! I draw one card, then I get to choose one rear-guard from both our fields and send it to the bottom of the deck."
"Grrr…" Alex grumbles.
"I put Quicky Quicky on the bottom of my deck, and from your field, I put Feena on the bottom of the deck."
Ryuzu Board State
(G2/10000) (G3/12000) (G2/10000)
(XXXX) (XXXX) (XXXX)
"Time to battle! Steam Knight Yarlagand attacks your Vanguard! With the skill ([X][X][]), send Susuda to the bottom of the deck."
"I guard (10000)!"
"Chronofang Tiger X attacks the Vanguard!" Alex prepares to take cards from her hand to guard, but Ryuzu declares, "Chronofang's skill! When it attacks, if four or more cards were put on the bottom of either player's deck this turn, Chronofang becomes Driven!"
"What?!" Alex exclaims in shock.
"It can become Driven without paying a cost?!" Rina exclaims.
Several yellow magical clocks appear around the red mechanical tiger as it lets out a threatening roar. Its claws grow bigger, and the thrusters on its back ignite with blue flames (G3-4/12000-16000/drive 2-3). "In addition, Chronofang Tiger gains 1000 power for every unit put on the bottom of a deck this turn, and if five or more units were put while he's Driven, he gets 1 Critical as well (16000-21000/Crit 1-2)!"
Alex groans in frustration and says, "No guard…"
"Triple Drive (none/Draw/?). Draw Trigger! Add 10000 power to Yarlagab and draw a card (10000-20000). Third Check (Heal). Heal Trigger. Once again, add 10000 power to Yarlagab and heal one damage." Chronofang boosts towards the Steam Lynx and smacks her with its massive claw, to which Alex feels the pain as well.
"Damage check (none/none)." Alex sighs, seeing that nothing was pulled (Alex: [X][][][]).
"Yarlagab attacks the Vanguard! With the skill, if my Vanguard is Driven, and Yarlagand is on the field, add 2000 power (30000-32000)!"
"No guard…" Alex declares, getting hit by Yarlagab's magic (Alex: [X][][][][]).
"I end my turn." Ryuzu declares.
Alex looks over the board and grumbles at the state of it. "Alex…" Yui mutters in concern.
"So that's it?" Alex says, with her hair casting a shadow over her eyes, "You're not going to tell me why your units have my father's name in them?!"
Ryuzu sighs and says, "It's because Chronofang Tiger is a Zodiac Time Beast."
"A Zodiac Time Beast?" Rina questions.
"Yes." Ryuzu explains, "They are special beasts within the realm of Gear Chronicle. As of now, they exist as guardians that protect the space between Earth and Cray. Your father has a spiritual bond with the Zodiac Time Beasts, and is currently using their power to fight this threat. He entrusted me with one, in the hopes that I would defend Earth with it."
"I see…" Alex says, "So the Zodiac Time Beasts are like my father's friends?"
"In essence, yes." Ryuzu replies, "I was surprised when he entrusted me with one, knowing I used them for my own selfish gain in the past. But if he entrusted me with Chronofang, then I will use it to defend Earth in his stead! Even if it costs me my life!"
"I see… thanks for telling me that." Alex says, "So since they're the source of my father's power, if I beat you, that means I'll be stronger than my father, right?!"
However, Ryuzu does not answer and simply scoffs at her.
"Alright, then my turn! Stand and draw! Let's go my partner! To a world full of infinite possibilities! Ride! High Steam Maiden, Kashima (G3/12000)! I activate Kashima's Soul Drive! I also discard Steam Gunner Riche from my hand as the entire cost! With that, Kashima gains 3000 power, 1 grade, and 1 drive (G3-4/12000-15000/drive 2-3)! Next, I liberate the Generation Zone!" Alex takes a copy of Kashima from her hand and discards it. "I will prove myself! I won't lose! Not now, not ever! Generation STRIIIIIIIDE!" Kashima looks up and sees a giant clock portal appear, and from it, a large mechanical dragon with wings made of pure energy. It lets out a deafening roar before Kashima flies up and rides on its shoulder. "Interdimensional Dragon, Chronograph Dragon (GX/25000)!"
"Alex is going all out…" Yui states in amazement.
"I've never seen her like this." Rina says, but Alex ignores them and carries on.
"I activate Chronograph's skill ([X][X][][][])! I bind one card in my soul (Soul 3-2)(Bind G4-6). Send both Yarlagab and Yarlagand to the bottom of your deck!"
"Hmm…" Ryuzu mutters as he does so.
"Next, I get to call units from my deck with the same grade as the units put on bottom of your deck! I call Steam Lynx Shar-kali (G2/10000) and Steam Scara Susuda (G2/10000)! Susuda's skill! Bind the top card of my deck (Bind G6-9) and add 5000 power (10000-15000)! Next, I use Shar-kali's skill ([X][X][X][][]). I bind Elal from my drop zone (Bind G9-10) and call Steam Maid Lugalngu (G1/8000)! Using Lugalngu's skill, if the total grade of units in my bind zone is 10 or more, add 10000 power (8000-18000)! Then, with the skills of Shar-kali and Elal in my bind zone, they both get grade plus 1 (Bind G10-12)! Finally, with the skill of Chronograph Dragon, all units in my front row gain 1000 power for each grade in my bind zone!"
Alex's Board State
(G2/22000) (GX/37000) (G2/27000)
(G1/8000) (G1/18000) (XXXX)
"Let's battle! Steam Scara Susuda attacks the Vanguard!"
"No guard." (Ryuzu: [X][][])
"Boosted by Lugalngu, Chronograph Dragon attacks the Vanguard (37000-55000)!"
"Complete Guard!"
"Triple Drive (none/Critical/Critical)! Double Critical Trigger! I give all effects to Shar-kali (22000-42000/Crit 1-3)!"
"If Alex lands that attack…" Rina mutters.
"She'll win!" Yui exclaims, but Tokoha doesn't look excited at all.
"Boosted by Steam Maiden Nanniya, Shar-kali attacks the Vanguard (42000-50000/Crit 3)!"
Ryuzu takes two cards from his hand and declares, "I guard (20000+15000=35000)!"
Alex is petrified by that guard, knowing it's now Ryuzu's turn.
"You tried your best Alex, but it seems like your best just wasn't enough." He says, "Stand and draw! I call Yarlagand (G2/10000), Yarlagab (G2/10000), and Lost Break Dragon (G2/10000)! Lost Break's skill! I bind a card in my hand and draw a card. Using Chronofang's skill ([X][X][]), I send Lost Break to the bottom of my deck and Shar-kali to the bottom of your deck! Now… witness the power, OF THE ZODIAC TIME BEASTS! TRANSCEND!" With intimidating force, Ryuzu discards a copy of Chronofang and takes a card from his G-Zone, "With this power, I will crush any opposition that threatens the existence of Vanguard! Generation STRIIIIIIIDE!" Chronofang Tiger flies up, before being engulfed in bright light, and when it fades, it has grown to massive proportions, like the size of a sci-fi battleship, "Chronotiger Rebellion X (GX/30000)!"
Alex stares at the massive unit, eyes widened with fear.
"Thirty-thousand power?!" Rina exclaims.
"Chronotiger Rebellion's skill ([X][X][X])(Soul 2-0)! I send all of your rear-guards to the bottom of the deck! Then, you call cards from the top of your deck for each unit put on bottom of your deck!"
"What?!"
"Three units were put on bottom of your deck, so call the top three cards of your deck."
Alex does as she is told and pulls off the top three cards, but is horrified at what she gets, not only did she pull two triggers, she also didn't get any units to intercept with.
(G0/5000) (G4/15000) (G1/8000)
(XXXX) (XXXX) (G0/5000)
"Next, with Chronotiger Rebellion's skill, all units in my front row gain 2000 power for each card put on bottom of either player's deck this turn!"
(G2/12000-24000) (GX/30000-42000) (G2/12000-24000)
"Then, I gain effects depending on the total number of units put on the bottom of the deck this turn! If three or more were put, add 1 Critical to Chronotiger (42000/Crit 1-2), and if five or more were put, all of your guardians called this turn lose 5000 shield!"
Alex goes pale hearing this, as she stares down the formidable units in front of her. "So… this is the power of the Zodiac Time Beasts…"
"Chronotiger Rebellion… ATTACK THE VANGUARD!" the large battleship-size tiger charges up an energy beam between its claws, and once it has enough energy, it fires it at Kashima.
Alex simply stares at the incoming beam and accepts her fate… "No guard…" she declares. The beam engulfs her, causing a massive explosion, and when it fades, nothing remains… but ashes. (Alex: [X][X][X][][][])
There is silence… with nothing but the sound of the wind blowing through the air, as Alex stares at the board in dismay. "I've seen all I need to see." Ryuzu says as he and his secretary get up from the table after gathering his cards, "As I expected, you're not yet ready to face the Death Ark. As such, I want you to stay as far away from that man you encountered last night as possible. My allies and I will deal with him." Ryuzu walks towards the door to leave, but Alex stops him.
"Wait!" she shouts, "Give me a rematch! I know I'm ready! I…"
"NO!" Ryuzu shouts without even turning around, cutting Alex off, "If you want a rematch, it will have to wait until after the tournament. Until then, get stronger. Only until you beat me, will I believe you are strong enough." With that, Ryuzu walks through the doors. Alex hangs her head, with her hands in her lap as a tear falls from her eye. Both her friends and her mother, look at her, unsure of what to do or say.
Alex clinches her fists in her lap and says under her breath, "I will get stronger… just you wait Ryuzu…!" she had already planned on winning the tournament, but now… she has more than one reason to do so.
Ending Theme – Yume no Hikari-kun no Mirai (Buddyfight DDD Ending 1)
[Next Time]
Yui walks around town, looking for opponents, but also trying to think of a way to help Alex feel better after losing to Ryuzu. She then encounters Kyoko, who she challenges to a fight, ready to unveil a new clan…
Next time on Vanguard X: "The Flowers of Passion" Don't miss it!
A message from Team K3 to the reader:
Alex: Hello everyone! Thanks again for reading another chapter of Vanguard X. I know it's a bit late, but Happy New Year!
Rina: The author has set some new years resolutions, and he hopes to get to season 2 of the series by the end of the year.
Yui: Who knows if that's going to happen… I mean, he's got a long way to go, so maybe.
Alex: Of course, there's no telling what this year will bring, since we're only still in January, but here's hoping it will happen.
Yui: I really want to see where this series goes, so I hope he does manage to get there.
Rina: I mean… we are now in the third arc of season 1, meaning season 1 is almost over.
Alex: That is true… and who knows what could happen during that time. But anyway, we wish you all a happy new year and look forward to the next chapter. Until then, always remember… Stand up, VANGUARD!