Chapter 14…
I honestly felt the urge to write, so let's go!
Laws of the Jungle, Aria vs Claire
"Stand up, 'The', Vanguard!" They both called.
"Errand Sommali." Claire began.
"Outstanding Mutant, Promularva!"
"The last match of the tournament." Takeru added.
This time, opposing the queen was merely a small animal looking at their notes.
"I'll go first." Claire began. "I ride Expert Grader, Nezutoby." She began discarding a copy of Leo-Pald. "I move Errand Sommali behind my Vanguard."
As if bringing a report, a rat had appeared with what seems to be a quill that's taller than them as they prepared for battle.
"My turn next." Aria replied as she discarded a draw trigger. "I ride Machining Hornet, I move Promularva back."
In reply the insect prepared its stingers and fired.
"I attack your Vanguard." (Power: 13000)
"No guard."
"Drive check."
(Drive Check- Charming Mutant, Sweet Cocktail)
(Damage Check- Monoculus Tiger)
"From the top 6 cards, I add Darkface Gredora, I shuffle my deck and end my turn."
Aria - Claire
7 - Hand - 5
0 - Soul - 0
0 - Damage - 1
0- Counterblast- 0
1 -Drop Zone - 1
Field
RG- RG = RG - RG
Outstanding Mutant, Promularva- Machining Hornet= Scientist of Black Sheen, Mathilda – Errand Sommali
RG - RG = RG – RG
"Stand and draw" Claire followed as she discarded a copy of Set Square Penguin. "I ride Scientist of Black Sheen, Mathilda." She began as she paid a counterblast before putting the top card of her deck into the drop zone. "I mill a card and get an effect based on what I get."
(Mill: School Hunter, Leo-Pald)
"Since it's not a trigger, you can only guard with two or more cards from your hand. I attack your Vanguard."
"No guard." Aria replied as the scientist that just appeared threw their vials around the hive to cause explosions.
(Drive Check- Draft Unicorn- Critical)
"All effects to my Vanguard."
"Damage check…" Aria replied.
(Damage Check- Hexagon Mutant, Honeycomb Queen)
(Damage Check- Light Horn Mutant, Dangerous Horn)
"I end my turn."
Aria - Claire
7 - Hand - 6
0 - Soul - 1
2 - Damage - 1
0- Counterblast- 1
1 -Drop Zone - 3
Field
RG- RG = RG - RG
Outstanding Mutant, Promularva- Machining Hornet= Scientist of Black Sheen, Mathilda – Errand Sommali
RG - RG = RG – RG
"Stand and draw." Aria began as she discarded her draw trigger. "I ride Hiding Killerleaf. I then call Sweet Cocktail and Vulcan Lafertei."
Nodding, the insect from the match against Messiah returned wielding its weapons ready as to its left it called new allies to fight for them.
"I attack your Vanguard with Sweet Cocktail"
"Draft Unicorn guards." She used her critical.
"In that case, Killerleaf attacks, skill activates!" She paid a counterblast and paid a soulblast. "I make you mill the top card of your deck." She then made a smile at the card that got sent from Claire.
(Mill: Contradictory Instructor, Shell Master)
"It's a grade 1, so I draw a card." (Power: 19000)
"No guard." Claire replied.
(Drive Check- Evil Governor, Darkface Gredora)
(Damage Check- Geograph Giant)
"I end my turn."
Aria - Claire
7 - Hand - 5
0 - Soul - 1
2 - Damage - 2
1- Counterblast- 1
3 -Drop Zone - 5
Field
Machining Hornet- Charming Mutant, Sweet Cocktail = RG - RG
Outstanding Mutant, Promularva- Hiding Killerleaf= Scientist of Black Sheen, Mathilda – Errand Sommali
RG - RG = RG – RG
"Stand and draw." Claire began as she discarded Chatnoir from her hand. "Bare your fangs on those that dare trample on the dreams of others! Ride Honorary Professor, Chatnoir!"
Appearing to support their colleagues, a professor cat then appeared to take charge and arrange everyone.
"I get an Imaginary Gift, Accel!" The girl added placing it for use. "Not only that, but Errand Sommali's skill, I move it to the soul, and then add an Honorary Professor from my drop zone to my hand." She added reclaiming the Chatnoir she discarded. "I call." She started. "Geograph Giant, Mathilda, Crayon Tiger." She began placing cards on all of her front row circles. "Mathilda's skill." She said as she flipped the top card into her drop zone.
(Mill- Curious Pony-Trigger)
"Since it's a trigger, Mathilda gets an extra critical."
In the accel circle, the panda appeared with their globe, then to the right of Chatnoir Mathilda and to the left Crayon as they responded.
"I attack your Vanguard with Chatnoir." Claire immediately declared. (Power: 12000)
"Very nice move…" Rekka smiled as the others turned towards her. "It's not like she can do anything at this point, and she doesn't want to let Aria just draw like mad with Overwhelm, so she just did the bare minimum to ensure all of her lanes still have at least one card on them."
"Guard!" Aria used Scorpio.
The cat then fired from its book, but it was blocked by an insect holding what seems to be chainguns.
"Twin drive."
(Drive Check- Diligent Assistant, Minibelly)
(Drive Check- Castanet Donkey- Front)
"Front trigger. My front row gains 10000 power. I attack with Mathilda." (Power: 19000)
"Bombscissor guards!" Aria immediately replied.
"I attack Sweet Cocktail with Crayon Tiger." (Power: 19000)
"No guard." Aria relented as she retired it.
"I then attack your Vanguard with Geograph. Since he's on an additional circle, he gets 8000." (Power: 37000)
"No guard."
(Damage Check- New Face Mutant, Little Dorcas)
"I end my turn."
Aria - Claire
5 - Hand - 5
0 - Soul - 3
3 - Damage - 2
1- Counterblast- 2
6 -Drop Zone - 6
Field
Machining Hornet- RG = Scientist of Black Sheen, Mathilda - RG
Outstanding Mutant, Promularva- Hiding Killerleaf= Honorary Professor, Chatnoir - RG
RG - RG = Scientist of Black Sheen, Crayon Tiger – RG
Accel – Geograph Giant
"Stand and draw." After a bit, she decided to discard a copy of Hornet from her hand. "See the Queen of Megacolony in her splendor, then cower! Ride, Evil Governor, Darkface Gredora!" She then paid a counterblast. "I use her skill, you can't call any rear-guards in the same column as Crayon Tiger. Stride Generation!" A discard of Gredora herself was used. "Poison Sickle Mutant Deity, Overwhelm."
Appearing once more to serve the queen, the mutant then readied itself for battle.
"I use Overwhelm's skill, I draw a card for each of your rested rear-guards. You have 3, so I draw 3." She began with a counterblast, flipping Darkface up before drawing, and then deciding to take 3 cards from her hand to fill her field. "Vulcan Lafertei, Dangerous Horn, Superior Mantis."
Noting the arrival, the Great Nature braced themselves, but one of the arrivals, a green insect humanoid raised its weapon as a mist went towards Geograph, making them gag a bit as they fell on the ground.
"Superior Mantis' Generation Break, I paralyze Geograph giant. Vulcan Lafertei boosts, I'll have Superior Mantis attack your Vanguard." (Power: 18000)
"Guard." Claire added immediately using her Front trigger to protect herself.
"Overwhelm attacks your Vanguard." (Power: 31000)
"No guard." Was the reply as the mutant started to cut into Chatnoir.
(Drive Check- Sharp Nail Scorpio- Critical)
"Power goes to Dangerous Horn, critical goes to Overwhelm."
(Drive Check- Rebel Mutant, Starshield)
(Drive Check- Charming Mutant, Sweet Cocktail)
"Damage Check."
(Damage Check- Honorary Professor, Chatnoir)
(Damage Check- Coiling Duckbill)
"Hmmm…" Aria wondered. "In that case… I'll have Dangerous Horn attack Crayon Tiger." (Power: 34000)
"Tch, no guard." Claire replied as she was forced to retire it.
"That just cut her offense by a lot." Takeru noted.
"With her hand size though, she had no choice." Satoshi admitted.
"I end my turn." Aria chirped
Aria - Claire
7 - Hand - 4
0 - Soul - 3
3 - Damage - 4
3- Counterblast- 2
8 -Drop Zone - 8
Field
Machining Hornet- Charming Mutant, Sweet Cocktail = Scientist of Black Sheen, Mathilda - RG
Outstanding Mutant, Promularva- Evil Governor, Darkface Gredora= Honorary Professor, Chatnoir - RG
Vulcan Lafertei – Sky-Slicing Rending General, Superior Mantis = RG(can't call) – RG
Accel – Geograph Giant(P)
"Stand and draw." Claire began. "One more time I ride Chatnoir." She began as she got another Accel Marker. "Imaginary Gift, Accel, and then Stride Generation." She called out after using Littlebelly as cost. "Sage of Wisdom, Grant us your foresight, Apex-Science Dragon, Managarmr Aurum!"
To grace the wounded but not out Great Nature units a dragon then appeared with a soothing roar, reinvigorating their allies with its knowledge.
"I call Leo-Pald." She added as she looked at her field. "I use the skill of my Vanguard. Counterblast, I flip a copy of it face up. And then, I send the top 4 cards of my deck to the drop zone. For every normal unit, I give one unit 10000 power, and for every trigger, drive plus 1." Aria though understood the implications, so she immediately paid attention.
(Mill- Set Square Penguin)
(Mill – Label Penguin)
(Mill- Broadcast Rabbit- Heal)
(Mill- Draft Unicorn- Critical)
"I sent two normal units and two trigger units, my Vanguard gains drive plus 2, and I then give 10000 to both Geograph Giant and Mathilda."
"She's giving the power to the paralyzed unit?" A member in the audience wondered.
"She most likely has a Crayon Tiger in her hand huh?" Takeru guessed.
"Most likely." Satoshi confirmed.
"I call Coiling Duckbill behind Mathilda and give its skill to Geograph, I attack your Vanguard with Mathilda." She began although she did not boost. (Power: 19000)
'Hmmm…' Aria thought. 'If I guard, I have to brace for their Vanguard attack and then have to risk lethal, on the other hand, if I don't guard, I have to perfect guard the Vanguard and make them rely on getting criticals… in that case.' She finally decided.
"No guard."
(Damage Check- Charming Mutant, Sweet Cocktail)
"Managarmr attacks your Vanguard, skill activated!" Claire added as a soulblast was used, "Since it's face up in my G-zone, when my Vanguard attacks, with a soulblast, in this case the other Chatnoir I rode over, I get to call a card from my hand." She continued as Mathilda was retired. "Call, Crayon Tiger." (Power: 26000)
"Perfect guard!" Aria immediately countered.
The dragon then opened its mouth as energy gathered, which it then fired but was blocked by a red bug with a shield.
"Quintuplet Drive!" Claire began.
(Drive Check- Contradictory Instructor, Shell Master)
(Drive Check- Label Penguin)
(Drive Check- Curious Pony- Critical)
"Critical trigger, all effects to Geograph!"
(Drive Check- Curious Pony- Critical)
"I give all effects to Leo-Pald!"
(Drive Check- Castanet Donkey- Front)
"Front trigger! My front row gains 10000 power!" She began.
"Nice, her deck pulled through for her!" Takeru smiled as her front row was powered up.
"I attack your Vanguard with Leo-Pald!" (Power: 42000)
"Guard!" Aria immediately replied. "Scorpio, Bombscissor, and then I intercept with Sweet Cocktail!"
"I attack your Vanguard with Crayon Tiger, skill activated." She paid a counterblast. "I stand Geograph Giant, power plus 4000." She added. (Power: 26000)
"Generation Guard, Dream Mutant Deity, Scarabagas! Shield plus 5000!"
"I attack your Vanguard with Geograph!" Was the follow up by the Great Nature player. (Power: 61000)
"Yoooo that's some power up." The people watching commented.
Aria then looked at her hand.
'Two left…' she thought. 'She got me good… In that case.'
"No guard!" Aria replied as she hoped for a trigger.
(Damage Check- Machining Hornet)
(Damage Check- Intimidating Mutant King, Darkface Alicides)
"No trigger, I lose." She replied.
"Winner, Claire Yamato!" The store announcer said as the entire store clapped.
"Dang your friend is good." Hinata said. "Shame, I think I could have gotten a great match with her." She noted before her phone rung. "Huh, OH CRAP, I overextended, I guess I'll see you all soon then!" She added as she left.
"Well ummm, at least she's friendly?" Takeru asked.
"At this point I don't even want to ask." Sakuya added.
"Still, Claire won the tournament, and I wonder what she got." Her older brother said as he saw her return.
"They gave me the option to choose an original art card among the Great Nature ones… but since I had at least 4 of each of them already I just asked if they got any from any of your clans." She shrugged. "They told me I could only get one so here." She said as she handed Sakuya a copy of Scarlet Vivid, Quale. "It was a promo card so I think it might be something."
"I got it, thanks." Sakuya smiled.
"Anyway, that girl was friends with Asuna right?" Satoshi asked. "When did she move back?"
"Just recently." Takeru added.
"And you didn't tell us?" Claire asked.
"Sorry, with all that happened, I couldn't get time to…"
"Actually, I would love to meet her as well." Sakuya said. "I never really got to know her well before she left so I would love to get to know her now."
"Yeah that's-" The Royal Paladin player cut himself on when he remembered his last interaction with Asuna.
"Takeru?"
"It's nothing Satoshi, I think we can get Alan to come so it will be less awkward."
"Ok?" Sakuya wondered, she was confused why it seems that he paused when she volunteered but decided not to press. "I-in any case, we should probably schedule so in the weekend."
"Yeah, good idea, and a scrim before the tournament too." Takeru smiled as he got on his phone and after a short call relayed to the others. "Alan said yes, we're meeting them this weekend."
"Awesome." Satoshi agreed before he looked around. "Huh, come to think of it, where did Rekka go?"
"Huh? Yeah you're right nii-san. And Aria too."
"Well, I don't think we'll run into them anytime tonight honestly…" Sakuya added.
"In that case let's just go get something to eat."
"RIGHT!" All of them agreed as they left.
At the same time, several roads in the direction of Tatsunagi HQ.
"You did good today." Rekka smiled.
"… It was a test right?" Aria questioned.
"Honestly, no, but it ended up as such." Was the honest reply. "Still, at least from the way you play, I can tell that you are serious enough about what happened."
"Thank you for giving me the chance." They just walked in silence for a bit before she looked at the idol. "Oh and Rekka-san."
"Yeah?"
"Gredora said that there's something off about you, like, you're hiding something else." She explained before finally realizing what the unit meant as she noted Rekka having two deck cases on her person.
"Huh, busted." She realized. "Ok fine, I'll tell you about it… but you need to tell me what happened as well, why is your deck underpowered, what… what happened to her."
"… I understand." Aria replied as the Megacolony marker appeared on her hand, signifying a change in who is controlling the body. "I believe it is better that I take charge of this instead of the child… after all, it was my fault that… that Gaily Kurt is dead."
End of chapter.
Well that was the end of the chapter. I'm kinda glad I got an urge to suddenly write here, so I hope this was good, and for the Megacolony and Great Nature experts reading this, I am SO sorry if you cringed at some of the plays, I did what I could.
For reference this is how messed up Aria's deck is right now.
Heals- Has 1-2 CC/SC Heals and the rest Vanilla Heals
G3 ratio- Only has 2-3 Darkface Alicides and 4 Gredora's so she had to use Superior Mantis
No Twilight Madders or Bad Luck Stars so she has no draw power
Her Sentinels are all over the place. She also only has one copy of Black Weevil so she doesn't run it on her deck as she can't even use its skill once.
Anyway next chapter! I hope you guys stick for it next time!