The Battle Beneath the Waves
"We will now take an hour break." The announcer began. "Please be back in the rooms within the hour and do not lose the identifier given to you, thank you."
"Whew… didn't notice the time." Takeru smiled as he looked at the board in his room. "I see… so my next opponent is… oh." He paused as he realized that Tsubasa Rokuya would be his next opponent. Still, at least he had a small break, so he went to find Sakuya and Satoshi to compare notes.
"Hey Takeru." The blonde called. "How's your progress so far?"
"Had some losses, but mostly wins. How about you two?"
"Same." The girl added. "I'm doing well right now, although my next opponent is miss Sharlene."
"Well, considering the matchup sequence is the same in all the rooms, I think it's fair to say that we're all going to face a hard challenge next."
"Takeru's right. We need to compare notes."
"Right." The two replied to Satoshi's suggestion although he then looked around. "Although I'm wondering where Claire went?"
"Considering I was overhearing that Try Angel was here."
"That, makes perfect sense now." He sighed as he pinched the bridge of his nose. "Ok, let's just compare notes for now, and prepare later."
After an hour, had passed, the three had prepared to split off.
"You all ready?"
"Yeah, I'm ready Satoshi."
"What she said. Let's do this."
"Right."
As Sakuya walked into room C, she had presented her identifier, and now, with a complete headcount, the qualifiers in her room continued, so she headed to her table, where she saw Miss Sharlene smiling at her.
"Hi Sakuya-chan!" She smiled.
"Hi Miss Sharlene, I guess you're my next opponent huh?"
"Yep, don't expect me to hold back against you!" Despite the positive attitude and smile, the Bermuda user had a feeling within her warning her to take this opponent seriously.
"I wouldn't have it any other way!" Was her reply.
"Stand up, Vanguard!" they both called out.
In a field in Cray under the ocean, two units appeared, one was a mermaid with pink hair, and the other a sailor with his blade ready.
"First Lesson, Akari!"
"Officer Cadet, Erik!"
"Alright, ladies first." Sakuya said.
"Aren't we both girls?"
"Yeah good point."
"Still, if you're offering me to go first, I will humbly accept." Sharlene smiled as she drew a card. "Alright, I'll discard a card to ride Wheel Assault." She said discarding her copy of Supersonic Sailor.
To support her unit, Erik moved to the side as another sailor wielding twin blades appeared to take the lead.
"I move Erik back and end my turn."
"Alright, I'll go next then." Sakuya said as she looked at the 6 cards from her hand. I'll… discard Roberta to ride Scarlet Vivid Quale, and with her skill I soulcharge." She added.
(SC: Gift of Effort, Shandee)
"I move Akari back, and with her boost, I attack your Vanguard." (Power: 13000)
"No guard."
(Drive Check- Choco Love Heart, Liselotte)
(Damage Check- Light Signals Penguin Soldier)
"I end my turn."
Sakuya - Sharlene
6 - Hand - 5
1 - Soul - 0
0 - Damage - 1
0- Counterblast- 0
1 -Drop Zone - 1
Field
RG - RG = RG- RG
First Lesson, Akari – Scarlet Vivid, Quale = Wheel Assault – Officer Cadet, Erik
RG - RG = RG - RG
"Alright, my turn then." Sharlene added as she drew a card. "Hmmm, I'll discard… this one." She called out, using Spear Ray Sailor as cost. "I then ride, Marine General of the Restless Tides, Algos!" She said.
To replace the Sailor, a man appearing with two guns readied themselves for battle.
"I use Wheel Assault's skill, I draw a card, and I call a card to a rear-guard circle." She then looked at the cards in her hand and revealed a Grade 3 from her hand. "Come out, Storm Rider Diamantes." She added.
To the left of Algos, a man wielding two twin blades appeared, ready to fight.
"I attack your Vanguard with Diamantes, oh since it's the first battle, he gets 3000 power." (Power: 12000)
'Wait, that card… that's not the old one.' She thought. 'Sharlene also has an Imaginary Gift! I guess Leon-san used his connections to Takuto to give them access to it ahead of time.'
"I don't guard." She said.
(Damage Check- Choco Love Heart, Liselotte)
"In that case!" Sharlene smiled as Algos took aim. "I attack your vanguard, sadly I can't use Algos' skill! But it's ok!" (Power: 13000)
"No guard."
(Drive Check- Storm Rider, Nikoloz)
"Damage check…"
(Damage Check- Gift of Effort, Shandee)
"I end my turn."
Sakuya - Sharlene
6 - Hand - 6
1 - Soul - 1
2 - Damage - 1
0- Counterblast- 1
1 -Drop Zone - 2
Field
RG - RG = RG- RG
First Lesson, Akari – Scarlet Vivid, Quale = Marine General of the Restless Tides, Algos – Officer Cadet, Erik
RG - RG = Storm Rider, Diamantes - RG
"Stand and draw." Sakuya said as she looked at her hand.
'Let's see…' she thought. 'The best thing to do, is this.'
"I discard Heartful Ale, Fundy, to ride Liselotte!" She said. "And with Listelotte's skill, I reveal the top card of my deck." She flinched when she realized it was a trigger. "I… call Aldel in the bottom right."
Two mermaids took their positions towards the Bermuda Triangle forces, one of them was a girl with yellow hair and a red dress, the other a girl with black hair and Blue Dress.
"I use Quale's skill, I call her to a rear-guard circle, and I soulcharge 1."
(SC: Gift of Effort, Shandee)
'Still, it's fine.' She thought. 'Hmmm, I already used its effect, but I think I can still do something like this.' She added before she revealed another copy of Liselotte in her hand.
"I call Liselotte." She beamed before thinking on her next move.
'Diamantes, if it's anything like its older version, it should have a way to ensure multi attacks, in that case.' She thought, "I'll have my Vanguard attack your rear-guard!" (Power: 15000)
"No guard." Sharlene replied.
'That just did more than get rid of my rear-guard, now I have to be more careful.'
(Drive Check- Aqua Light Ardel- Critical)
"Critical trigger! I'll give all effects to my rear-guard Liselotte!"
With nothing to do, the Aqua Force user retired their rear guard.
"I'll attack your Vanguard with my rear-guard then!" (Power: 24000 and 2 crit)
"No guard!"
(Damage Check- Tidal Assault)
(Damage Check- Supersonic Sailor)
"I'll end my turn Miss Sharlene."
Sakuya - Sharlene
6 - Hand - 6
2 - Soul - 1
2 - Damage - 3
0- Counterblast- 1
2 -Drop Zone - 3
Field
Scarlet Vivid, Quale - RG = RG- RG
First Lesson, Akari – Choco Love Heart, Liselotte = Marine General of the Restless Tides, Algos – Officer Cadet, Erik
Aqua Light, Ardel - Choco Love Heart, Liselotte = RG - RG
"Stand and draw." Sharlene said. "Alright… I'll do this!" She smiled as she let a copy of Revonn fall from her hand. "Be the last sword as I rend through my enemies!" She added turning uncharacteristically serious. "Ride, Last Card, Revonn! And then, Imaginary Gift, Accel!" She called to confirm Sakuya's suspicions.
A tear dragon then fell towards the battlefield, landing with its sword ready to destroy its enemies.
'… If I was stronger, then maybe Leon-sama wouldn't…' she thought, letting her smile fall for a bit.
"Miss Sharlene?" Sakuya asked concerned which brought her back to reality.
"Oh, s-sorry, just, remembered something." She played off before deciding her next move. "I call Nikoloz, then with Nikoloz' skill!" She fanned the top 7 cards of her deck. "I add another Algos to my hand." She smiled as she called the unit to the bottom right. "It also gets 3000 power."
"I call!" She said emptying her field. "Two copies of Algos, Coral Assault, and Penguin Soldier."
'That's her entire board filled up.' Sakuya realized.
"I use Revonn's skill, I rest Erik, and your Vanguard gets Power minus 5000 until the end of turn!"
"Oh no…" She could only say as Liselotte was weakened.
"I then use the skill of Penguin Soldier to give Coral Assault 5000 power." The Aqua Force user smiled before pointing to the Algos on the accel circle. "I attack your Vanguard." She then pointed to it. "With its skill, since it's the first battle, I stand it with a counterblast."
"No guard." She said before she smiled in relief at the card she drew.
(Damage Check- Heartful Ale, Fundy- Draw)
"Draw trigger! I give power to my vanguard and draw."
"In that case, Algos attacks your vanguard again." She said having the unit that just attacked swing again. (Power: 19000)
"Intercept!" Sakuya said using Liselotte.
"The other Algos attacks your Vanguard!" (Power: 20000)
"No guard!"
(Damage Check- Colorful Pastorale, Sonata)
"I attack with Revonn!" She smiled. "Skill activated." She said as her field glowed.
"What's going on?" Sakuya asked.
"Since I have at least 5 rear-guards at rest, my vanguard gains 15000 power and an extra drive check! Then since this is the 4th battle, I retire Penguin Soldier to countercharge." (Power: 27000)
"In that case!" She said as she took out a Sentinel from her hand. "Perfect guard!" She added putting a Fundy into her soul.
"Triple drive." She beamed.
(Drive Check- Storm Rider, Nikoloz)
(Drive Check- Battleship Intelligence-Critical)
(Drive Check- Battleship Intelligence-Critical)
"Critical trigger! I give all effects to Coral Assault who attacks your Vanguard." (Power: 49000 and 3 critical)
"Guard!" She desperately called out, using Ardel, Milena and Shizuku to barely guard it. (Total: 58000)
"Oh so close, I end my turn." Sharlene said. "With Coral's skill, since 4 or more attacks were done, I put it into my soul and draw a card, I end my turn."
Sakuya - Sharlene
2 - Hand - 6
3 - Soul - 3
4 - Damage - 3
0- Counterblast- 1
7 -Drop Zone - 5
Field
Scarlet Vivid, Quale - RG = Marine General of the Restless Tides, Algos – Storm Rider, Nikoloz
First Lesson, Akari – Choco Love Heart, Liselotte = Last Card, Revonn – Officer Cadet, Erik
Aqua Light, Ardel – RG = RG – RG
Accel – Marine General of the Restless Tides, Algos
"Stand and draw." Sakuya began her turn short of breathe.
'That was way too close!' she thought. 'She almost got me, even before I hit grade 3, I need to make it up, or I'm done!' she thought as she regretfully discarded Aqua from her hand. "A revolutionary song to bring about a new era! I ride Delight Genius Ange!"
To respond to the call, the prodigal genius appeared, ready to fight for her vanguard.
"I use her skill!" She added as she paid a soulblast. "I return both Ardel and Algos to our hand." She told her opponent as Liselotte left her soul. "I then draw a card and can choose to add a card with Generation Break 2 to my hand." She said this, but instead just looked a bit at her deck, and just shuffled it again.
'There's not enough cards in my hand to confirm Harmony!' she thought to herself. 'Therefore, I have to use one of my new Grade 3's!' she said discarding Sonata.
"Reach the true stage with your songs! Stride Generation!" She added as a female with yellow hair appeared with her green idol outfit. "Dearly Desired, Grand Stage, Shandee!"
'I see.' Sharlene thought. 'I think I did more damage to her last turn than I thought.'
"Stride skill!" Sakuya said as she paid another soulblast. "I send out Fundy from my soul, I return Quale and your other Algos to your hand." She said as she drew a card before once again just shuffling her deck.
"I call out Shizuku and Spica!" She said. "Shizuku's skill!" She said. "I add a grade 3 card from the top 5 to my hand. I add Sonata! Then Akari's harmony." She said putting it into the soul. "I return Shizuku to my hand and draw another card. And then call another Sonata and Shizuku! Shizuku's harmony!" She said although returned them all. "Sadly there is none. But I'm not done yet!" She said. "Call, Akari, Quale!" She said as she returned them all. "Now, let's start! I attack your Vanguard with Sonata! Melody!"
"Melody?" She asked curious.
"It's a skill that the Colorful Pastorale series has, her Melody is to grant all cards with Melody, including herself, 5000 power!" She smiled. (Power: 18000)
"Nikoloz guards!" Sharlene said as the sailor used his guns to protect Revonn.
"In that case, Spica's turn! I use her skill." She said as she paid a counterblast. "I return Sonata to my hand and call another Spica!" (Power: 16000)
"Algos guards!"
"My other Spica attacks, with her skill! I return the Spica that just attacked, and call back Sonata!" (Power: 19000)
"I attack your vanguard with Sonata!" (Power: 21000)
"Guard!" She said using another critical.
"Shandee's turn!" She smiled. "With its skill!" She paid a counterblast and flipped another copy of itself face up. "I look at the top 10 cards, and call a card for each of my units in Harmony!" The top 10 cards then revealed itself to her. "I call Sonata, Liselotte, and two Ayna's! Sonata gets 10000 instead of 5000! Then with Liselotte's skill!" She said as she revealed the top card, which was a Milena, and placed it into her soul. "Then, with Shandee's effect! Since I have 6 or more units in Harmony, I get an extra critical for each face up card in my G zone!"
"Perfect guard!" Sharlene hastily replied.
"Triple drive!"
(Drive Check- ChouChou Roberta- Critical)
(Drive Check- Admired Sparkle, Spica)
(Drive Check- Superb New Student, Shizuku)
"Only a critical trigger huh? I give all effects to Sonata. Liselotte attacks your Vanguard."
"No guard!" She said as she took a damage check.
(Damage Check- Battleship Intelligence- Critical)
"All effects to my Vanguard."
"Sonata!"
"Perfect guard!" She said using the last card in her hand.
"Turn end." Sakuya said, pouting a bit. "So close."
Sakuya - Sharlene
5 - Hand - 0
4 - Soul - 3
4 - Damage - 4
0- Counterblast- 1
15 -Drop Zone - 13
Field
Garland Blossom Ayna - RG = RG – Storm Rider, Nikoloz
Scarlet Vivid, Quale – Delight Genius, Ange = Last Card, Revonn – Officer Cadet, Erik
Garland Blossom, Ayna – Choco Love Heart, Liselotte = RG – RG
Accel – RG
"Stand, and draw." Sharlene began her turn. "Alright, then, I'll use Revonn's skill!" She added as she rested Erik since she had no grade 3 in her hand. "Your vanguard loses another 5000 power. Then I use the skill of Erik to look at the top 5 cards of my deck to add a Grade 3. I add another Revonn. Then I call Nikoloz to the Accel circle." She said before looking at the top 7 cards of her deck again. "I add Algos to my hand!" She said before calling it and Revonn.
"All in huh?"
"Yep! I attack your vanguard with Algos! And with his skill! I stand him!"
(Damage Check- Aqua Light, Ardel- Critical)
"I give all effects to my Vanguard!"
"Revonn attacks next!" (Power: 12000)
"Roberta guards!" She told Sharlene.
"Twin drive!"
(Drive Check- Last Card, Revonn)
(Drive Check- Medical Officer of the Rainbow Elixir – Heal)
"I give the power to my rear-guard Revonn! Algos attacks your vanguard!"
"Intercept!"
"Nikoloz!" (Power: 21000)
"Shizuku!"
"Revonn!" (Power: 22000)
"Ardel guards!"
As the final strike came in, another mermaid moved to protect her.
"Turn end." Sharlene smiled as Sakuya wiped a sweat off her brow.
Sakuya - Sharlene
2 - Hand - 2
4 - Soul - 3
5 - Damage - 4
0- Counterblast- 1
19 -Drop Zone - 13
Field
Garland Blossom Ayna – Colorful Pastorale, Sonata = Storm Rider, Nikoloz - RG
Scarlet Vivid, Quale – Delight Genius, Ange = Last Card, Revonn – RG
Garland Blossom, Ayna – RG = Last Card, Revonn – RG
Accel – Storm Rider, Nikoloz
'That was close… if I didn't get a damage trigger, I would have lost that match no questions asked.' She thought.
"Time to end this, Miss Sharlene!" Sakuya told her as she called a Spica and discarded the other. "Stride Generation! Her song which resounds in the wishes of the ones who hear her! School Student Council President, Alk!" She then immediately went into her main phase, foregoing the stride skill and immediately using Alk's skill. "I use her skill! I return both Ayna's to my hand… then I get another skill, I also call them back out. I attack with Sonata!" (Power: 18000)
"No guard!" Sharlene replied.
(Damage Check- Medical Officer of the Rainbow Elixir- Heal)
"Heal trigger!" She smiled in relief. "I give the power to my vanguard!"
"Spica attacks Algos!" Sakuya said having the rear-guard attacked.
"No guard." She said as she retired it.
"Alk attacks your Vanguard, skill activated!" She said as both Sonata and Spica started glowing. "I return them to my hand, and call them out to separate rear-guard circles Then, Generation Break 3! All of my units in Harmony get 5000 power!"
'Even if I guard this one with a Generation guard, the next two attacks will go through…' Sharlene thought. 'I need to bet on a heal trigger!'
"No guard!"
(Drive Check- ChouChou, Milena-Heal)
"Heal trigger! I heal one damage and give power to Sonata!"
(Drive Check- Novel Dress, Akari)
(Drive Check- Heartful Ale, Fundy-Draw)
"Draw trigger! I give all effects to Spica!" She added as she drew.
"Damage Check…" Sharlene said and as she revealed it, she was slightly dismayed.
(Damage Check- Wheel Assault)
"Well, I lost." She made a soft smile.
"It was still a good match though Miss Sharlene!" Sakuya told her. "If I didn't have the Sentinel in my hand, I would have lost way before I hit grade 3."
"It's all good, although the way you played, you played the clan before haven't you?"
"H-huh? How could you tell?" She asked.
"You made sure that no matter what I barely have any cards in my hand." Sharlene pointed out. "And you took advantage of my early all in by making sure I couldn't take advantage of the cards in the field, right?"
"Y-yeah, but, it was just lucky is all."
"Oh, cut yourself some more credit." She told Sakuya. "I'm sure if you use Aqua Force as well you would be a terrifying opponent."
"I-I see, thank you so much for the game Miss Sharlene."
"No worries, see you another time." She smiled as she left, before comically falling face first in the floor.
'She can give some good advice, but apparently can be a klutz as well.' She mentally registered. 'Well, that's another win for our team, I hope Takeru and Satoshi are doing well…' she thought. 'Considering despite how amazing Miss Sharlene is, I got the lucky end of the stick compared to those two.'
End of chapter
Also, special shoutout to the people who are still reading this. This is, I think the 2nd to third reboot of this story, so thank you again for the people who are still reading this. And for the people who are helping me behind the scenes, like Diamond and Code among others, thanks again!