Sitting behind the counter at Victory Anthony was reading a magazine.
A Vanguard magazine to be exact. The name of said magazine Vanguard Monthly
It was a slow day at the shop, and since he and his team decided to take a slight break from training he had nothing better to do.
But as Anthony was reading the Vanguard Monthly he couldn't help but release a small sigh, and that was because of the articles he was currently reading.
Namely the fact that two prominent cardfighting teams had already announced their participation for a spot in the world tournament. The names of said teams being Camelot from England, and Razors Edge from South America.
Both teams were strong.
Anthony had hardly any doubt in his mind that either wouldn't be able to enter the world tournament.
And if that wasn't bad enough both teams each had a player to watch out for more than the rest of their team.
From team Camelot it was their leader, Dio Ellis. The overall champion of the vanguard youth Euro League.
As for team Razors Edge while their leader is nothing to sneeze at he was not the main threat. No, that belonged to one of the other members of the team. A young man by the name of Richard Garcia, the world highschool vanguard champion.
Knowing that these two fighters and their teams were going to be participating in the world tournament Anthony could only hope and trust he and his team would be able to measure up when the time came.
'But really, despite everything this world tournament is shaping up to be quite fun.' Anthony thought. A small smile gracing his face as he did.
"Oh, and what are you smiling about?"
Anthony turned and saw Christina leaning on the counter using her elbows for support.
"Nothing much. Just can't wait for the tournament to finally get started." Anthony explained.
"I know what you mean, all this waiting is killing me." Christina mused.
"Well, you aren't the type who is good at waiting after all." Anthony said.
"Tha-Hey, wait a moment, you just insulted me now, right?!" Christina asked, giving Anthony a piercing glare. But in response he just used his hand to adjust his glasses.
"I don't know what you could be talking about." Anthony answered back calmly.
"Why you-"
Christina was about to lay into Anthony but before she could, both of them heard something.
"Give it back!"
A cry of anguish.
Turning their heads instantly the two of them found the source with ease.
A young kid was jumping into the air. He was desperately trying to retrieve a vanguard card. The card itself held high up in the air over his head by a kid much older than me, a smug grin on his face.
The older kid is male. He was Anthony's age. He has short dark hair with strands of golden hair intermixed with it. His eyes are a deep dark color. His attire consists of a golden shirt, with black pants and white sneakers. He is also wearing a white jacket trimmed with gold, fur lining the hood.
His name is Mathais Brenton.
Anthony and Christina knew him very well. Not only does he go to the same school as them, but as long as the two of them could remember he had been a bully, picking on others without cause.
Anthony and his friends didn't really care since they ignored his bullying attempts, as did most of the other kids as they got older, but at the moment neither could ignore what they were seeing.
Mathias had crossed a line he shouldn't have crossed.
"Give it back. Give me back my card!" The boy pleaded. But Mathias just continued to smirk.
"What are you crying for? We had a deal didn't we? I win and you give me your favorite card, right?" Mathias asked the boy.
The boy then stopped jumping and got a bit quiet. "W-well yes, but I changed my mind." The boy spoke.
"Heh, changing your mind, what a baby!"
"Yeah, you tell him!"
The two goons with Mathias said, mocking the young boy.
"See, going back on your deal isn't right at all." Mathias said.
"And bullying young boys is despicable!"
"Huh?" Mathias mused. But before he had time to register who was speaking to him Christina barreled into him, kicking him in his legs, bringing him to the ground, before snatching the young boy's card out of Mathias's grasp with ease.
Christina then walked over to the young boy and handed his card back to him, a smile on his face. "Here you are. And listen, ignore those losers. Their words don't mean anything, ok?"
"Ok." The boy said, taking back his card. He then smiled at Christina. "Thank you big sister."
"No problem." Chrstina mused.
"There is a problem!" Mathias shouted as he stood back up.
"But there isn't." Anthony said, walking up. "Or do you three idiots want everyone to know you're scum for bullying a little kid?" He asked, showing a smile but cold eyes.
Mathias's two cronies felt a shiver up their spines upon seeing Anthony's smile. But Mathias just clicked his tongue.
"Blackwell, what do you want, this is none of your business." Mathias said.
"When you're bullying a young boy in my family's shop and taking his cards over some stupid bet, then yes it is my business." Anthony calmly retorted.
"Piss off." Mathias said.
But Anthony didn't back down. "No, I think it's you who should leave. Honestly, the bullying thing is getting really annoying. Why don't you just grow up already and move on?"
"Quiet!" Mathias shouted. "As the strongest I have the right to do whatever I want!"
Anthony snorted. "The strongest. Yet right, don't make me laugh. There are people around here a lot stronger than you. Maybe that's why you can only cardfight and win against little kids."
"Big talk." Mathias said, taking out his deck case. "But let's see if you can back it up."
"And why would I do that?" Anthony asked. "I don't get anything out of this fight at all."
"How about this then? If you win I'll leave Victory and won't ever return unless you allow it. But if I win, then I can come and go as I please, and also you join my team for the upcoming world tournament and disband yours, how about it?" Mathias asked.
"Interesting." Anthony mused. "Ok, I'm game." He said.
"Then it's a deal." Mathias said. "Get ready to become my attack dog. Blackwell. Using you as a stepping stone to get to the top of the world is going to feel so good."
"Yeah right, in your dreams." Anthony said. He then took off his apron and hung it on a nearby chair. He and Mathias then moved over to a fight table.
As they did the kid had a worried expression on his face. "Ah big sister is that guy going to be ok, Mathias is strong."
"Don't worry. Anthony won't lose to the likes of that." Christina said. Of this, she is certain.
Meanwhile as Christina reassured the younger kid Annthony and Mathias had finished setting up their board. Then once they did they said in unison.
"Stand up, vanguard!"
"Wackstume Vampir!"
Wackstum Vampir
Grade 0, Power +5000
"Chronojet, Zerostage."
Chronojet, Zerostage
Grade 0, Power +5000
"Since I was the one who challenged you I guess you can go first." Mathias said.
"Don't mind if I do." Anthony said. "I draw. I then ride. Chronoethos Jackal."
Chronoethos Jackal
Grade 1, Power +7000
"Zerostage moves back and I end my turn."
[Damage: Mathias (0) Anthony (0)]
"My turn then." Mathias stated. "I draw."
[Turn 2: Hand; Mathias (6) Anthony (5)]
"You know, I've actually been to fight you again for some time now." Mathias said.
"Oh." Anthony mused. "Why?"
He and Mathias had had plenty of cardfights growing up after all.
"Don't play dumb, you know why. A little birdie told you you've got a strange new unit in your deck. And I want to see it." Mathias explained. "That's why I'll drag your defeat out as long as possible, and then once I see it I'll finish you!"
"Sure, sure." Anthony mused. "Just hurry up and take your turn."
"Tch." Mathias clicked his tongue. "Whatever. I ride. Edge in the Darkness."
Edge in the Darkness
Grade 1, Power +7000
"Wackstume moves back. Then with a boost from Wackstum, Darkness will attack your vanguard."
(7000+5000=12000)
That's a no guard."
"Drive check. No trigger."
"Damage check. No trigger."
"I end my turn." Mathias said
[Damage: Mathias (0) Anthony (1)]
"My turn. I draw." Anthony said.
[Turn 3: Hand; Mathias (6) Anthony (6)]
"I then ride. Delayed Blazer Dragon."
Delayed Blazer Dragon
Grade 2, Power +9000
"I call. Pulsar Tamer, Lugal-ure. Now with a boost from Zerostage, Delayed Blazer will attack your vanguard."
(9000+5000=14000)
"No guard."
"Drive check. A draw trigger. Power to Lugal-ure, and I draw one card."
(14000+5000=19000)
"Damage check. No trigger."
"Next up is Lugal-ure."
(9000+5000=14000)
"I'll guard that one."
"I end my turn." Anthony said
[Damage: Mathias (1) Anthony (1)]
"My turn. Stand and draw." Mathias said.
[Turn 4: Hand; Mathias (6) Anthony (6)]
"Now I ride. Brennen Vampir." Mathias said.
Brennen Vampir
Grade 2, Power +9000
"I also call. Succubus of Jealousy. Then her skill activates. When she's call to a rear-guard circle and my vanguard has the Darkness ability then I can look at the top five cards of my deck, and select up to two units that are grade 1 or higher units and them place them in my soul, before shuffling the rest back into the deck." He explained. Mathais then added two cards to his soul before shuffling the rest back into the deck.
'And it's begun.' Anthony thought. The speciality of the Dark Irregulars and most of the Dark Zone clans, soul charge. Even so Anthony is ready for anything that comes his way.
"Now with the soul charge it's time to move onto attacking. With a boost from Wackstum, Brennen will attack your vanguard."
(9000+5000=14000)
"That's a no guard."
"Drive check." Mathias smirked. "A critical trigger, the power to Jealousy, and the extra critical to Brennen."
"Damage check. No triggers."
"Jealousy, take out Lugal-ure."
(9000+5000=14000)
"I'll guard that."
"I'll end my turn with that. Your move." Mathias said.
[Damage: Mathias (1) Anthony (3)]
"Don't mind if I do. My turn. Stand and draw." Anthony said.
[Turn 5: Hand; Mathias (5) Anthony (6)]
"Well you asked for it Mathias, and here it is. I ride. Chronojet Dragon "NEXT"!" Anthony exclaimed.
Chronojet Dragon "NEXT"
Grade 3, Power +11000
"I then call. Pulsar, Transit Dragon. Now with a boost from Zerostage, "NEXT" will attack your vanguard."
(11000+5000=16000)
"That's a no guard." Mathias said.
"Twin drive check. No triggers."
"Damage check. No trigger."
"With a boost from Pulsar, Lugal-ure will attack your vanguard. And with her skill add another +2000 power."
(9000+2000+7000=18000)
"That's a guard, and I'll also intercept."
"Then I'll end my turn." Anthony said. "Your move."
[Damage: Mathias (2) Anthony (3)]
"Which I will take." Mathias said. "Stand and draw."
[Turn 6: Hand; Mathias (5) Anthony (6)]
"It's time. Time for me to see you crying, and for you to become a part of my team." Mathias said, raising a card into the air slightly.
"Sure, sure, just get on with it." Anthony mused.
Matthias gained a tick mark on his head. "You know I've always hated that attitude of yours Blackwell, and I think it's time someone put you in your place."
"Took the words right out of my mouth." Anthony retorted.
"Enough talk. Time to send you into darkness. I ride. Evil God Bishop, Gastille!"
Evil God Bishop, Gastille
Grade 3, Power +11000
Upon seeing Mathias ride his grade 3, the kid next to Christina began clinging to her.
"T-that's the unit he used when he beat me." The kid said.
Christina just patted him gently on the head. "Don't worry, Like I said, Anthony won't lose."
"And I'm not done yet." Mathias said, putting a grade 3 in his drop zone. "Generation stride! Evil God Pontiff, Gastille Daimonas!"
Evil God Pontiff, Gastille Daimonas
Grade 4, Power +15000
"Then I call. Glanzend Vampir and Covetous Succubus." Mathias said, filling his entire front row. "Now the fun can begin. First is the skill of Glazend Vampir." Mathias counter blasted one card. "Look at the top five cards of the deck, and if any have the Darkness ability I can place them in my soul." Mathias then put all five cards into his soul. "Would you look at that, all five went in?"
"Stop acting like you didn't know that would be the case." Anthony said. Having played Mathias before he knew his deck revolved around the Dark Irregulars Darkness ability. He wasn't impressed.
"Sure, sure." Mathais mused. "Anyway, thanks to the fact that all five went in, Glanzend gains +5000 power. Also since one of the cards I put into the soul using this skill was Revolting Bolt I give another +4000 to Glanzend. Now the skill of Covetous." Mathias counter blasted one card. "I soul charge one more card. But that's not all. Now I can use Covetous's skill. Since there are six or more cards in the soul I can counter charge one card. In addition, since ten or more cards now reside in the soul I can draw two cards, but I must discard a card from my hand. Even so, that's two for the price of one. Oh, and let's not forget the skill of Gastille Daimonas. During the turn he is placed on the field for every card put into the soul the entire front row gains +3000 power. And by my count six cards just went into the soul, meaning the entire front row gains an additional +18000 power." He finished with a smirk.
Even though Anthony knew this was coming facing all that power is not easy, even for him.
Matthias may be a trash human being, but his cardfight skills are nothing to sneeze at.
"But don't think I'm done yet." Mathias said. "There is still the matter of Gastille Daimonas's skill." Mathias counter blasted one card, and then flipped over a card in his G zone. "I select two cards from my deck and put them in my soul, then for the rest of the turn Daimonas gains their abilities. The cards I chose are another Glanzend Vampir, and also Baleful Repressor. Now then, time to start the fall of the hero! Glanzend attack the vanguard!"
(11000+5000+4000+18000=38000)
"That's a no guard. Damage check. No trigger."
"That won't help you at all. Gastille Daimonas, attacks the vanguard! Also the skill he obtained from Baleful Repressor. Since there are more than eight cards currently in the soul Daimonas gains another +10000 power, and you cannot call any grade 0 cards from your hand to guard against his attack."
(26000+18000+10000=54000)
"Complete guard!" Anthony exclaimed.
"That still doesn't matter!" Mathias said. "Triple drive. First check. No trigger. Second check." Mathias smirked. "Stand trigger. Glanzend stands, and the power to Covetous. Final check. A draw trigger. Power to Glanzend and I draw one card."
'A double trigger now, really?' Anthony thought.
"I can see it, that look of despair on your face." Mathias raved. "But sadly it looks like you'll get a chance to struggle in vain for a bit longer. Only it won't be without pain. Glanzend will attack once more, but this time Lugal-ure."
(38000+5000=43000)
"No guard."
"Yes, and now Covetous attack the vanguard."
(9000+18000+5000=32000)
"No guard. Damage check. A heal trigger. Recover one damage."
"Ah I wanted to make you suffer more." Mathias mused. "Oh but wait, I can. The skill of Glazend obtained by Daimonas. I send Covetous to the soul, and since I did I get to draw one card since six or more cards are in the soul. With that I end my turn."
[Damage: Mathias (2) Anthony (4)]
"Stand and draw." Anthony said.
[Turn 7: Hand; Mathias (7) Anthony (5)]
Looking at the board the boy tilted his head. "Am big sister, why didn't the bully finish off the man with glasses last turn?"
"He wanted to, but he didn't want to take the risk that Anthony might survive." Christina explained. "So instead he focused on building his guard for this turn, and also destroying Anthony's formation, not that it will matter in the long run. Just watch, the real show is about to begin."
"Yes." The boy said. His eyes glued to the fight table.
"Mathias, time to put you in your place for good." Anthony said.
"Bring it on Blackwell." Mathias mused.
"You should've finished me off when you had the chance." Anthony stated. "Now there won't be another one. Generation stride! Metapulsar, Split Pegasus!"
Metapulsar, Split Pegasus
Grade 4, Power +15000
"Stride skill. My opponent selects one rear-guard unit and sends it to the bottom of the deck. Since you only have one, there is no other choice." Anthony said.
Glanzend went to the bottom of the deck.
"Now I can superior call a unit from my hand to the board." Anthony called Delayed Blazer Dragon. "But he won't be sticking around for long. Since he's about to Time Leap. Here comes Chronofang Tiger G, in addition, add +4000 power to Chronofang and the vanguard. I then call Chronoclaw Monkey. Then the skill of Split Pegasus." Anthony counter blasted one card and flipped over a copy of Pegasus in the G zone." Chronoclaw to the bottom of the deck, and then I superior call two units from the deck with grades less than his. I call two Chronoethos Jackal units. Here we go. With a boost from Zerostage, Split Pegasus attacks your vanguard! Also with his skill add +2000 to the entire front row."
(26000+2000+5000+4000=37000)
"I won't guard that."
"Triple drive. First check. No trigger. Second check. No trigger. Final check. A critical trigger. Power to Chronoethos in the front and the critical to Split Pegasus."
"Damage check. No triggers."
"Boosted by the Chronoethos in the back, the one in front will attack and with his skill add another +4000 power."
(7000+2000+5000+4000+7000=25000)
"Generation guard! False Dark Wings, Agrat bat Mahlat!"
False Dark Wings, Agrat bat Mahlat
Grade 4, Shield +15000
"Then using her skill I will soul charge two cards and add +5000 to the shield."
"Chronofang Tiger G with a boost from Pulsar, coming at you!" Anthony exclaimed.
(11000+2000+7000+4000=24000)
"Guard!"
"The skill of Pulsar Transit. I place him in my soul, and then draw one card." Anthony said. "I then end my turn."
[Damage: Mathias (4) Anthony (4)]
"Stand and draw." Mathias said.
[Turn 8: Hand; Mathias (5) Anthony (7)]
"Well then, it's time to finish this little game." Mathias said. "Generation Stride. One who Hunts Souls, Balaam!"
One who Hunts Souls, Balaam
Grade 4, Power +15000
"I then call Gastille himself. Then the skill of Balaam." Mathias said. He then counter blasted one card and flipped over a copy of Balaam from the G zone. "Now I can select one rear-guard unit on my opponent's board and retire it. I chose Delayed Blazer." Blazer retreated. "I can then add that unit's original power to Balaam. So that's +9000 power. In addition Balaam gains +1 drive and for every unit face up on my G zone, I can soul charge two cards. Since there are four, that's eight cards to the soul." Mathias placed eight cards in his soul. "But no, the despair has only just begun. By the end you will be helpless against me. Balaam generation break 3, his Darkness. Since there are thirteen or more cards now in the soul, my opponent cannot guard against any of my attacks this turn using a grade 1 card. Then the skill of Gastille himself. Select two grade two units from the soul and send them to the drop zone, then for the rest of this turn Gastille gains their abilities." Mathias chose two units and placed them in his drop zone. "First up is the skill obtained from Demonted Executioner. I look at the top seven cards of the deck and place one in the soul. Then since there are ten or more cards in the soul Gastille gains an extra +3000 until the end of my turn. Now go Balaam, attack the vanguard!"
(26000+9000=35000)
"Guard!" Anthony exclaimed. He placed three grade 0's and a grade 2 in his guardian circle.
"Yes, struggle more." Mathias shouted. "Quadruple drive. First check. No trigger. Second check. Heal trigger. Power to Gattile and I recover one damage. Second check. No trigger. Final check. A critical trigger, all effects to Gastille. Now he will finish this. Also, the skill of the second card I place on my drop zone can now be used. Baleful Repressor, and since there are eight or more cards in the soul then add +10000 to Gastile. Also you cannot use grade 0's to guard against this attack. So no grade 0's or 1's, how does it feel to lose everything?"
(11000+3000+5000+5000+10000=34000)
"I'm not out of the game yet." Anthony retorted. "Generation guard. Interdimensional Dragon, Heteroround Dragon!"
Interdimensional Dragon, Heteroround Dragon
Grade 4, Shield +15000
"Using his skill, send Gastille to the bottom of the deck!"
"Tch!" Matthias scoffed. "So you survived this time once again, but the despair must be feeling you by now. So here's some more, I'll end my turn."
[Damage: Mathias (3) Anthony (4)]
"Stand and draw," Anthony said.
[Turn 9: Hand; Mathias (7) Anthony (3)]
Anthony holding his cards put a smirk on his face. "Despair you say? No, I'm not feeling that one bit. In fact, I'm going to keep going. No matter what you say or do."
"Why?" Mathias asked.
"Why? That's a stupid question. Because the harder the challenge is to overcome, the greater it feels when said hurdle is passed." Anthony explained. "And if I lose here then I won't even get to the starting line. So I won't. Simple as that."
"Easy to say." Mathias pointed out.
"Yeah, but I'm about to do it." Anthony retorted. "Watch me. Generation stride. Metapulsar, Mystery-freeze Dragon!"
Metapulsar, Mystery-freeze Dragon
Grade 4, Power +15000
"Two can play the guarding restriction game." Anthony said. "But first, stride skill. I call Lugal-ure. Then time leap. Chronojet Dragon G. Now both it and the vanguard gain +4000 power. And now the skill of Mystery-freeze." Anthony counter blasted two cards. "I now bind four cards from the top of my deck, and whatever grades are shown my opponent cannot use to guard against the vanguard attack this turn. In addition if a grade 3 is shown, then the vanguard gains +1 drive. Let's do this."
Anthony flipped over his first card, revealing a grade 2. He then moved on to his second card, revealing a grade 1. The next card was another grade 2 however. Anthony then flipped over his final card, and it was a grade 3.
"This means no grade 1, 2, or 3's can be used to guard against the vanguard's attack this turn. In addition he gains an additional drive. Which I will use right now. With a boost from Zerostage, Mystery-freeze attacks your vanguard."
(26000+4000+5000=35000)
"Stop taking me so lightly!" Mathias raged. "Generation guard! Accumulated Attachment, Druj Nasu!"
Accumulated Attachment, Druj Nasu
Grade 4, Shield +15000
"And with her skill since there are eight or more cards in the soul then add +10000 to the shield! In addition, guard!" Mathias said, putting down the critical trigger he draw earlier.
'Two trigger huh, then let's go!' Anthony thought. "Quadruple drive! First check. No trigger. Second check, a critical trigger. All effects to mystery-freeze. Third check. No trigger. Final check, a critical trigger. All effects to Mystery-freeze. Burst through!"
"No!" Matthias shouted.
In the end Mathias did not draw any more heal triggers.
[Damage: Mathias (6) Anthony (4)]
After he finished collecting his cards Anthony gave Mathais and his two lackied a pointed look. "Well, time for you to keep up your end of the deal." He said. "Get out, and don't come in until I say otherwise."
"Whatever Blackwell, just watch your back." Matthias warned. Grumbling as he left Victory along with his two cronies.
"Sure, I'll do that." Anthony whispered.
He then turned to Christina and the child, smiling at them.
While the child looked at Anthony with stars in his eyes.
Later that night Mathias was walking in an alley, kicking a soda can along the ground, an angry expression marred across his face.
"Damn Blackwell, who does he think he is, acting all high and mighty, should've minded his own damn business." Mathias muttered to himself. Each time kicking the soda can harder and harder, until finally it hit a wall and broke apart, ending his kicking fest.
"Tch, whatever." Mathias mused.
He then turned to walk out of the alley, but as he did he found himself hearing something.
"Hehehe…"
It was faint, but Mathias could have sworn he was hearing laughter.
'Probably just my imagination.' Mathias thought. He then started to move again, only to freeze in place a second later.
That's because he heard something that made him do so.
"No, it's not your imagination."
The voice that Mathias heard laughing actually spoke to him.
'Ok, did I hit my head or something, this is insane.' Mathias thought. He knew he couldn't actually be hearing a voice in his head.
"It's understandable you're upset, but do not worry. I will not hurt you. I simply wish to help you. You want power, right?" The voice asked.
Mathias decided to ignore it and try to move out of the alley again. But as soon as he did he saw a faint glow emerge around his deck case.
"Don't run, you want it right? Power. Power so no one will ever treat you like shit again. Power to crush your foes, like a certain glasses wearing young man, right?" The voice said.
"Yes." Mathias answered. But he sounded like he was in a daze. "I want power."
"Then work with me, and you will gain all the power you want." The voice said.
"Yes." Mathias answered.
The aura around his deck case then exploded and the Mathias and the entire alley were enshrouded in darkness.
A/N
That's chapter seven folks, hope you enjoyed it. As you can see it is setting up to something larger, but no spoilers.
Next time: Spending the day away from the others Eric has an encounter of his own with a mysterious individual. But knowing what to expect will he prevail, or end up just like his friends? Only time will tell.
Ninjas vs. Robots