"Geez...We've been driving for a while, Cipher." Pip commented from his shoulder. "Nothing but berserk fighters and fleeing users all around...No sign of the culprit, either."
"Yeah...It's disturbing." Adrian admitted.
"The battle data still saved when I fought that berserk fighter...Maybe we can investigate the data once we're back to safety." Nilam suggested.
"Good plan." Percy agreed. "Lets pull over, then. We can talk about it in that clearing...The fighters aren't gonna notice us while they're busy beating each other to a pulp."
"Fine." Adrian said, as they all stopped over in the area, and got off the vehicle and suit as they despawned. "So, what can we tell from the data so far?" he asked, as Nilam pulled it up.
"Whatever's doing this to players is also refusing to let them log off...It's overriding their nerves, and even the parts of their brain that handle rational thought...They're just mindless fighters in whatever state they're in...I can locate the virus, but I don't think I can remove it without causing serious harm." Nilam said.
"I see..." Adrian said.
"That's horrible!" Percy noted. "What kind of inhumane sociopath just hijacks people?!" he asked.
"That would be me." A voice commented, as the trio immediately looked over to see a man in a green cloak walking up, alongside three other people. "A personal project of mine to make sure that the Site will go down smooth once the ultimatum is up...My leader was against it, but at this point, he's not exactly filled with options."
"As much as you disgust me with it, Hijack, you've got some scary level of innovation." The white haired one with a mask with a red sword logo on it commented.
"You...It's you, you're the one who sent that message on all the screens." Adrian remarked.
"Exactly. But to think I'd get to meet the infamous Cipher in person because of my work..." They said, before letting out a hearty laugh. "Ha! That's about as good as it gets for me. But you really should've listened to my warning...So I'll ask you once. Did the CEO put you up to this, did they beg and plead on their sheepish knees for you to help them?" he asked.
"No. I don't give a damn what happens to the CEO, but you brought something personal into this, and you're going to pay for it." Adrian told them.
"Ooh! A direct challenge? Well that's a lot more interesting than ending the ultimatum early...Because I'll give you the benefit of the doubt that the company didn't try to buy you off for protection. But you seem a little outnumbered here...three to four." The man commented.
"That doesn't matter. I'll take you in myself!" Adrian said.
"Whoa, Cipher, calm down a little bit, there..." Percy started.
"Back off. I'm going to finish what we started when we took this on ourselves." Adrian said.
"Oh...And here I am, not even in my best suit...Besides, we're a little busy anyways, so, we just came to say hi...And adieu!" The man said, before smoke started filling the area, much to the surprise of the others, before Nilam and Percy seemed to head into the smoke, before Adrian noted a vehicle leaving in a hurry, as he immediately spawned a hoverboard and flew in after them.
"Hey! Are you sure you should be leaving your friends in that chaos?" Pip asked.
"Yes. They'll be fine, but I can't let their leader get away." Adrian said, before the man noted them while glancing back.
"Tch. Looks like you're persistent...Fine, I'll give you what you want. A proper fight!" They declared, as their cards appeared on the side while they drove, as Adrian's cards appeared in front of him.
"Then consider it your last fight." Adrian declared. "Stand up, my, Vanguard!" He called out. "Astral Dragon Mage!"
"Stand up, the, Vanguard!" The man called out. "Nobelist of Crimson!"
Krieger..? I haven't seen that clan before... Adrian thought to himself.
"You can call me...The Flame of Revenge...Flame for short." The man told Adrian, as he drew and tossed a card. "Ride! Nobelist Knight, Sera! Crimson moves back, and my turn ends there." He declared, as a pink haired knight took the being of flame's place.
"Cipher, I've got a bad feeling about this..." Pip commented.
"Not now, Pip." Adrian said, drawing, and tossing a card. "Ride! Astral Dragon, Spectral Codebreak Dragon! Attack!" he called out, as the dragon let out a multicolored beam at the knight.
"No guard." Flame said.
[DRIVE CHECK - Astral Dragon, Cyber Cavalry Dragon [G0 - Stand Trigger]]
"Oh? Bad timing for a stand trigger, don't you think?" Flame taunted, as they took a damage.
[DAMAGE CHECK - Nobelist Firecracker Dragon [G1]]
"My turn is over." Adrian said, narrowing his eyes.
["Flame"] - [Adrian]
[Hand - 5] - [Hand - 6 (plus "Quick Shield")]
[Soul - 0] - [Soul - 0]
[Damage/CB - 1/0] - [Damage/CB - 0/0]
[Drop Zone - 1] - [Drop Zone - 1]
[FIELD]
[R] [Nobelist Knight, Sera [G1 - 8000]] [R]
[R] [Nobelist of Crimson [G0 - 5000]] [R]
[R] [Astral Dragon, Spectral Codebreak Dragon [G1 - 8000]] [R]
[R] [Astral Dragon Mage [G0 - 5000]] [R]
"In that case, let's have fun with it, shall we?" Flame asked, drawing. "Ride! Royal Nobelist, Jorge! Sera's effect when rode upon, I superior call a Dragonic token!" He declared, as a chibi dragon appeared. "Then, my opponent is allowed to call a dragonic token themself."
"A token for free..?" Pip wondered.
"...I superior call a Dragonic Token!" Adrian declared, seemingly without thinking about it, as a chibi dragon appeared on his side as well.
"Wait, what, you don't even know what it does, Cipher! What are you doing?" Pip asked.
"It's fine. According to the text, a Dragonic token can be retired to counter charge or soul charge." Adrian said.
"Yeah, but why would he want YOU to have that?" Pip asked, before noting Jorge rushing in.
"No guard..!" Adrian declared upon seeing it.
[DRIVE CHECK - Nobelist, Gryffenrir [G0 - Front Trigger]]
"Front trigger!" Flame declared, as the unit slashed at Codebreak.
[DAMAGE CHECK - Astral Dragon, Star Wing Dragon [G0 - Draw Trigger]]
"Draw trigger..!" Adrian said, drawing. "I give the power to my vanguard!"
"In that case, the Dragonic Token will attack!" Flame declared, as the dragon let out a small bolt of lightning.
"Cipher!" Pip started.
"...Fine!" Adrian told Pip, agitated, before holding his hand out. "I intercept with the Dragonic token!" he said, as the dragon got in the way of the other dragon.
"Wow. As it stands, your bird might be smarter than you...Or at least more capable of rational thought with all that anger and attempts of getting me you've got going on up there." Flame said.
"What'd you say..?!" Adrian asked.
"I'm saying if you had kept the token, Jorge would've been able to retire it when rode upon to draw a card next turn." Flame commented.
"So it was a red herring to keep the token..." Pip commented. "Cipher, please, you have to calm down! I shouldn't be the voice of reason in these fights, you're the one who has all the skills as is! ...Well, I'm also pretty neat too, but-"
"I get it! Fine, I'll try to keep it composed." Adrian said.
"You don't...sound very composed." Pip noted.
["Flame"] - [Adrian]
[Hand - 6] - [Hand - 7 (plus "Quick Shield")]
[Soul - 1] - [Soul - 0]
[Damage/CB - 1/0] - [Damage/CB - 1/0]
[Drop Zone - 2] - [Drop Zone - 1]
[FIELD]
[Dragonic [G2 - 9000]] [Royal Nobelist, Jorge [G2 - 9000]] [R]
[R] [Nobelist of Crimson [G0 - 5000]] [R]
[R] [Astral Dragon, Spectral Codebreak Dragon [G1 - 8000]] [R]
[R] [Astral Dragon Mage [G0 - 5000]] [R]
"My turn!" Adrian said, drawing. "Ride!" he called out, as a girl with blades appeared. "Astral Dragon, Code: Blade Mistress! I call Cipher Beast! Cipher Beast attacks your vanguard!" he declared.
"No guard." Flame said, as his vanguard was suddenly blasted.
[DAMAGE CHECK - Nobelist Knight, Sera [G1]]
"In that case, Blade Mistress!" Adrian called out.
"Once more, no guard." Flame decided.
"Drive check!" Adrian said, swinging his hand.
[DRIVE CHECK - Astral Dragon, Moon Hacker Dragon [G1]]
[DAMAGE CHECK - Nobelist of Violent Flare [G1]]
"Oh? I'm down to three already..? You're tougher than I expected. Then again, you ARE the infamous Cipher." Flame said.
"...Blade Mistress' Firewall Hack. Because her attack hit, I draw one card. My turn is over." Adrian said.
["Flame"] - [Adrian]
[Hand - 6] - [Hand - 8 (plus "Quick Shield")]
[Soul - 1] - [Soul - 1]
[Damage/CB - 3/0] - [Damage/CB - 1/0]
[Drop Zone - 2] - [Drop Zone - 2]
[FIELD]
[Dragonic [G2 - 9000]] [Royal Nobelist, Jorge [G2 - 9000]] [R]
[R] [Nobelist of Crimson [G0 - 5000]] [R]
[Astral Dragon, Cipher Beast [G2 - 10000]] [Astral Dragon, Code: Blade Mistress [G2 - 10000]] [R]
[R] [Astral Dragon Mage [G0 - 5000]] [R]
"For someone at a disadvantage, he's sure being casual about it..." Pip said.
"Because he hasn't shown his true abilities yet." Adrian commented.
"See? When you just try to keep your cool, you finally notice things." Flame commented, drawing. "Now, it's about time we kicked things up a notch." he said, discarding a card. "Let's go! Noble hero of flames, raise your blade, and bring victory!" He declared, as a pillar of flames appeared, as a red-haired boy with a large blade walked out, holding it out. "Nobelist Dragon Knight, Arc! Imaginary Gift: Accel 2! Skill card, Online!" He added, tossing the marker.
"Whoa..!" Pip said.
"That's his ace." Adrian commented.
"And with it, Jorge's effect activates when rode upon!" Flame added, as the dragonic token burned up. "I draw one card! In addition, Arc's effect when placed! I superior call two Dragonic tokens!" he added, as the two units appeared. "My opponent is allowed to call either zero, or the exact same amount of tokens as I called!"
"Two tokens..? Is it worth the risk?" Pip asked.
"It has to be...I'll go with my gut. I call two dragonic tokens!" he declared, as they appeared in the same column.
"Damn. If you hadn't called, I would've been allowed to draw another card." Flame commented. "Guess you wouldn't be Cipher if you didn't have at least some instinct." he said, before pointing forward. "However, Arc attacks your vanguard!"
[POWER - 17000]
"...No guard." Adrian declared.
[DRIVE CHECK - Nobelist Tigar [G0 - Critical Trigger]]
"Critical Trigger! I give the critical to Arc, and the power to the Dragonic Token on the accel circle!" Flame declared.
"That's bad!" Pip said.
[DRIVE CHECK - Dragonslayer, Emergency Medic [G0 - Heal Trigger]]
"Heal Trigger! I recover one damage, and give the power to the same Dragonic Token!" Flame called out.
"That's WORSE!" Pip squawked, as Arc violently slashed at Adrian's vanguard, causing a small fiery explosive, making Adrian himself recoil back, before catching back up.
[DAMAGE CHECK - Astral Dragon, Cosmos Cobalt Dragon [G0 - Stand Trigger]]
[DAMAGE CHECK - Astral Dragon, Star Nova [G3]]
"...Stand Trigger. I give the power to my vanguard!" Adrian declared, as the girl powered up.
"Ha. I could go for four, but for now..." Flame said, pointing. "the Dragonic Token on the accel circle attacks Cipher Beast." he declared.
"A rear guard..?" Pip asked, confused, as the dragon let out a fireball, blowing up the unit.
"That'll do it for my turn." Flame said, pointing to Adrian next. "Show me a good time, Cipher!"
He's just messing with me...but I'll make him regret it! Adrian thought.
["Flame"] - [Adrian]
[Hand - 10] - [Hand - 8 (plus "Quick Shield")]
[Soul - 2] - [Soul - 1]
[Damage/CB - 2/0] - [Damage/CB - 3/0]
[Drop Zone - 4] - [Drop Zone - 3]
[FIELD]
[Dragonic - [G2 - 9000]] [Dragonic [G2 - 9000]] [Nobelist Dragon Knight, Arc [G3 - 12000]] [R]
[R] [Nobelist of Crimson [G0 - 5000]] [R]
[R] [Astral Dragon, Code: Blade Mistress [G2 - 10000]] [Dragonic [G2 - 9000]]
[R] [Astral Dragon Mage [G0 - 5000]] [[Dragonic - [G2 - 9000]]
"My turn!" Adrian declared, drawing, and then immediately discarding the quick shield ticket.
"It's go time for my favorite card of yours!" Pip cheered.
"Descend! Noble dragon awakened from the network!" Adrian called out, as Blade Mistress was engulfed in data, before forming into Star Nova, who let out a violent roar. "Astral Dragon, Star Nova! Imaginary Gift: Force 2!" He added, holding up the marker. "In addition, Skill card, Online!" he added, tossing the marker to Star Nova.
"So, this is the infamous Cipher's Star Nova..." Flame commented, before grinning. "Interesting." he said, before holding up a finger. "One turn. That's all you've got to impress me, kid!" he declared. "That's the only chance you've got."