Sitting in the stadium cafetera, Anthony and his team were enjoying lunch, while watching the current match of A block.
The preliminaries had been in full swing for the last few hours. However Anthony and his team haven't had their chance to fight yet.
Team Crusade on the other hand was the first match of the day.
Even so they won with sweeping two straight wins in a row.
As for team Victories their first match is taking place after lunch.
Anthony put down his milkshake. "So, our first opponents are some team named Grimm Fairy Tales. Either of you heard of them before?"
Elizabeth and Eric shook their heads.
"Sorry, we haven't." Eric said.
"Looks like they are competing for the first time, just like us." Elizabeth said.
"I see." Anthony said, adjusting his glasses. "Well anyway, let's do our best and aim for victory."
"Sure." Eric said.
"Yeah." Elizabeth added.
Anthony nodded. The team then went back to their lunch.
That is until a familiar face came up to their table.
It was Teressa.
Elizabeth turned to look at her immediately. "Resa." She said.
Teressa turned to Elizabeth, and gave a small smile. "Ellie, you look good. Your team does as well."
"Thanks." Elizabeth answered back. She then took a deep breath. "So um listen Resa, about everything between us. I-"
Teressa held up her hand, causing Elizabeth to stop talking.
"Ellie, it's fine." Teressa said. "What happened happened, nothing we can do to change that. All we can do is move forward."
"Y-yeah." Elizabeth muttered. She is also shocked at how Teresa is acting towards her. Considering how she's been acting over the past two years, the way she's acting right now is a complete shock. She can't understand it at all.
"I'm glad you agree." Teressa said, widening her smile a bit. "So on that note I want to wish you luck. Because we won't lose the coming match."
"Wait, you are part of Grimm Fairy Tales?" Anthony asked.
Teressa gave a curt nod. "I'm the team captain. Anyway see you later Ellie, and remember let's have a good match." Teresa then walked away heading back towards her own table.
Meanwhile team Victories were looking at her with confused gazes until she was out of their sight completely.
"Ok, I'm not the only one who thought it was super weird right?" Eric asked. "I mean I know I haven't met Teressa before like you guys, but something was definitely off about that whole thing, right?"
"Absolutely." Anthony said.
"There is something really wrong here." Elizabeth stated. "Resa has never acted like that as long as I've known her. And even with the way these last two years have gone between I still know her. That was not her."
"But it definitely was." Anthony retorted. "Maybe she's just nervous and that's her way of coping with the upcoming match?"
"I can say for sure it's not." Elizabeth said. "When Resa gets nervous she starts messing around with her hair. Clumps even start falling out. No she wasn't nervous. I don't know what that was."
"Well then there's only one option," Eric proposed. "Fight her in the upcoming match. After all a cardfight reveals a person's true nature."
"I intend to do just that." Elizabeth stated, a fire in her voice.
She is going to find out why Teressa is acting so strange, and nothing will stop her.
"Attack the vanguard!" Anthony said.
"Damage check." No trigger.
"And there you have it folks. The first match goes to team Victories." Cecilia called out over the mike.
The crowd then started cheering.
The battle between teams Grimm Fairy Tales and Victories had begun.
Anthony had just secured the first win for his team. As he walked back to their waiting area, he passed by Elizabeth and gave her a small smile and a thumbs up.
She smiled back and made her way to the fighters board in the middle of the arena.
While on the other side Teressa did the same.
The two of them then took their positions and set up their decks and hands.
Then in unison they said "Stand up! Vanguard!"
At that moment an intense light covered the battlefield and it changed completely. It was now a dark castle within the United Sanctuary nation on planet Cray in the territory of the Shadow Paladin Clan.
That was because the entire stadium where the preliminaries were being held was outfitted with the motion figure system that was used by pro fighters across the world. Not only to enhance the experience of the tournament for the viewers, but also for the participants as well.
"Witch of Midnight, Melarious."
Witch of Midnight, Melarious
Grade 0, Power +5000
"Lingering Knight Revenger, Conrad!"
Lingering Knight Revenger, Conrad
Grade 0, Power +4000
"And here it is, the second battle of the match between teams Grimm Fairy Tales and Victories. Will the Victories sweep with two wins in a row, or will Grimm Fairy Tales make it until the very last match? We're about to find out." Cecilia spoke.
The crowd gave off a small cheer before falling into silence.
Teressa and Elizabeth then shot rock, paper, scissors, and Teressa won meaning she would have the first turn.
"Yay, I hardly ever beat Ellie at this." Teressa said. "Today must be my lucky day."
Elizabeth kept eyeing her childhood. She definitely knew something was wrong for sure now, she just didn't know what. But she was going to find out.
"I draw. I then ride. Witch of Precious Stones, Dana."
Witch of Precious Stones, Dana
Grade 1, Power +7000
"Melarious moves back and I end my turn." Teressa said.
[Damage: Teressa (0) Elizabeth (0)]
"My turn then." Elizabeth stated. "I draw."
[Turn 2: Hand; Teressa (5) Elizabeth (6)]
"I now ride. Revenger, Weitgore Dragon."
Revenger, Weitgore Dragon
Grade 1, Power +7000
"Conrad moves back. Then with a boost from Conrad, Weitgore attacks your vanguard."
(7000+4000=11000)
"No guard."
"Drive check. No trigger."
"Damage check. No trigger.
"I end my turn."
[Damage: Teressa (1) Elizabeth (0)]
"My turn then." Teressa stated. "So I'll draw once more."
[Turn 3: Hand; Teressa (6) Elizabeth (6)]
"I then ride. Witch of Secret Books, Arda."
Witch of Secret Books, Arda
Grade 2, Power +9000
"I also call. Witch of Reality, Femme. I'll then have her attack your vanguard. And with her skill add another +3000 power."
(9000+3000=12000)
"I don't guard. Damage check. No trigger."
"Next up is Arda with a boost from Melarious."
(9000+5000=14000)
"Once more, a no guard."
"Drive check. A stand trigger. Femme stands and she gains another +5000 power."
"Damage check. No trigger."
"Now my beautiful Femme will attack you again."
(9000+3000+5000=17000)
"I'll guard that one."
"So be it. With that I end my turn." Teressa stated.
[Damage: Teressa (1) Elizabeth (2)]
"Stand and draw." Elizabeth stated
[Turn 4: Hand; Teressa (5) Elizabeth (5)]
"I ride. Ferocious Attack Revenger, Dylan."
Ferocious Attack Revenger, Dylan
Grade 2, Power +9000
"I also call. Revenger, Detonate Heat Dragon. With a boost from Conrad, Dylan attacks your vanguard."
(9000+5000=14000)
"That's a no guard."
"Drive check. No trigger."
"Damage check. No trigger."
"Detonate will attack Femme next."
(9000)
"I'll guard that. I can't have you getting rid of one of my star performers before the show even reaches its climax." Teressa stated, a small smile appearing on her face.
"I end my turn." Elizabeth said.
[Damage: Teressa (2) Elizabeth (2)]
"Stand and draw." Teressa said.
[Turn 5: Hand; Teressa (5) Elizabeth (4)]
As Teressa selected a card from her hand she looked at Elizabeth. "Hey Ellie, doesn't this remind you of the cardfights we had as kids?"
"It sure does." Elizabeth simply stated. All the while watching for any clues as to what was wrong with Teressa.
Up in the stand Allison was watching the match. She had bought a ticket to come and see both her friends compete with all their hearts, but now watching them fight against each other even though she knew something was wrong.
Not with the match itself, but with Teressa. She didn't know why she now had such a bad feeling while looking at her childhood friend, but it was only getting worse as time went on.
'Ellie, please help Resa.' Allison thought.
"Yes, well let's continue then. I ride. Black Hearth Witch, Angelica."
Black Hearth Witch Angelica
Grade 3, Power +110000
An intense light covered Teressa's vanguard circle. And when it died down there was a witch at the center of it.
She was dressed in a blood red shoulderless dress along with dark black heeled boots that stopped just below her knees. Atop her head she wore a black pointy witches hat. She is also sitting on a broomstick floating slightly in the air. Angelica was oozing sex appeal, yet anyone would experience could tell, getting too close to her would spell death.
Elizabeth raised an eyebrow at the unit Teressa had just played. "So, when did you get that, it wasn't in your deck before?"
"In two years a lot can happen." Teressa responded. Completely avoiding a straight answer to the question. "Anyway that's enough for now. With a boost from Melarious, I'll have my new partner Angelica attack your vanguard."
(11000+5000+=16000)
"That's a no guard."
"Twin drive check. First check. No trigger. Second check. A critical trigger. Power to Femme and critical to Angelica."
Damage check. First check. A heal trigger. Power to Dylan and I recover one damage. Second check. No trigger."
"Femme will attack your vangaurd next and with her skill add another +3000 power."
(9000+3000+5000=17000)
"Guard!"
"I end my turn."
[Damage: Teressa (2) Elizabeth (3)]
"Stand and draw." Elizabeth said.
[Turn 6: Hand; Teressa (6) Elizabeth (4)]
"Now help me achieve victory, my avatar, I ride. Morterm Dragon, Raging Revenger Crom Cruach!"
Morterm Dragon, Raging Revenger Crom Cruach
Grade 3, Power +11000
"So you've finally appeared, Crom Cruach." Teressa muttered. A dangerous gleam appearing in her eyes.
"Liberating the generation zo-"
Elizabeth paused for a moment as her vision became distorted. As she tried to refocus it she caught a glimpse of Teressa and saw something she couldn't believe. Overlaid with Teressa's body was a dark shadow, giving off a malicious aura.
As soon as Elizabeth laid eyes on that something else started to occur.
The top of her right hand started to experience a burning sensation.
And she wasn't the only one.
Anthony and Eric were feeling the exact same sensations on their own right hands.
The same with Cera up in the stands.
'What the hell is happening?!' All four of them thought at the exact same time.
But as quickly as the moment came, it passed.
Elizabeth was able to refocus her vision. Yet she couldn't help but stare right into Teressa's eyes.
Meanwhile Teressa was giving off a small smile like she had been doing since the match began.
She tilted her head slightly. "What's the matter Ellie, are you ok?"
"Y-yeah." Elizabeth muttered. "Just lost my train of thought for a moment. Anyway, back to what I was saying. Liberating the generation zone. Generation stride! Queen of Eternal Darkness, The Morrigan!"
Queen of Eternal Darkness, The Morrigan
Grade 4, Power +15000
"Stride skill." Elizabeth counter blasted one card. "Look at the top five cards of the deck. Then I can superior call any grade one or below units." Elizabeth looked at her top five cards, and superior called three units. "I call. Black-Winged Swordbreaker. Revenger, Meteor Black Dragon. And Revenger, Weitgore Dragon. Skill of Black-Winged Swordbreaker." Elizabeth soul blasted one card. "I draw one card. Then the skill of Morrigan." Elizabeth soul blasted one card and sent Swordbreaker and Weitgore to the drop zone. "I soul blast one card and send two grade-one or below units to the drop zone. Then my opponent must retire the same number of rear-guards that I did."
Since Teressa only had two rear-guards to choose from both of them went to the drop zone.
"In addition to that, Morrigan gains an extra +10000 until the end of my turn. Now here comes Meteor Black Dragon attacking your vanguard. In addition his skill. When he attacks and the vanguard is "Raging" then he gains an additional +3000 power for every unit retired from my side of the board during this turn. Since it was two, he gains an additional +6000 power."
(9000+3000+3000=15000)
"I'll have to guard that."
"Fine. Then here comes Morrigan attacking your vanguard with a boost from Conrad."
(26000+10000+4000=40000)
"Complete guard."
"Triple drive. First check. No trigger. Second check. A draw trigger. Power to Detonate and I draw one card. Third check. No trigger." Elizabeth said. "Well then Detonate will now attack your vanguard and with his skill he gains another +2000 power."
(9000+2000+5000=16000)
"No guard. Damage check. No trigger."
"I end my turn. Skill of Detonate." Elizabeth counter blasted one card and then sent Detonate to the drop zone. "I can now add an Abyss Dragon with Limit Break 4 to my hand. Also the skill of Meteor Black." Elizabeth sent him to the drop zone. "At the end of the turn I'm forced to retire him. But because of this I get to soul charge and counter charge one card each." Which is exactly what Elizabeth did.
[Damage: Teressa (3) Elizabeth (3)]
"Stand and draw." Teressa said.
[Turn 7: Hand; Teressa (4) Elizabeth (8)]
"Oh what a marvelous turn for Elizabeth Greenhouse Smith!" Cecilia spoke, hyping up the crowd. "The damage count may be even, but from the looks of things for our fighters that is certainly not the case. Teressa Holice is in a pinch, so the question now is will she be able to turn it around this turn?"
The crowd cheered once more.
As for Teressa she simply placed a card in her drop zone and picked up a card from her G zone. She then put a sadistic smile on her face, which Elizabeth noticed all too easily.
"I think it's time I had my fun." Teressa spoke. "Generation stride. Witch of Deceit, Carmilla."
Witch of Deceit, Carmilla
Grade 4, Power +15000
Looking at the G unit in front of her Elizabeth got an ominous feeling in the pit of her stomach.
The same with Cera in the stands, as well as Allison.
Anthony and Eric weren't doing any better either.
"Something is very wrong here." Anthony murmured.
"Seriously, what happened to this Resa girl since the last time you saw her?" Eric questioned. "It's like she's the devil in human skin." He said. Because of the aura Teresa suddenly started to give off after striding.
"I don't know." Anthony mused. 'Ellie, stay safe.' He thought.
Teressa pointed a finger at Elizabeth. "Now then Ellie, let's see how much you've learned since the last time we faced off. I want to see if you can overcome my power."
"Resa, what happened to you?" Elizabeth asked.
"Nothing, just got a new lease on life is all." Teresa answered. "Now then on to the show. Stride skill. Reveal the top card of your deck."
Elizabeth did as instructed and it turned out to be Dylan.
"Excellent. Now then, for the rest. My opponent reveals the top card of their deck. That unit's original power is then subtracted from the power of the vanguard for the rest of the turn. Also the card in question is sent to the drop zone." Teressa explained.
"What?" Elizabeth questioned. She's never heard of a G unit with such an effect.
"Chop chop, we haven't got all day." Teressa mused, ignoring Elizabeth's shock.
Elizabeth too quickly regained her barring and did as instructed.
(11000-9000=2000)
"Now the skill of Carmilla." Teressa counter blasted one card and flipped over a copy of Carmilla in her G zone. "Select a card at random from the opponent's hand. Then they must discard that card and subtract its original power from that of the vanguards for the rest of the turn. I chose the card on the far right."
Elizabeth clicked her tongue, and placed that card in her drop zone. Which in fact was Raging Rapt Dragon.
"A grade 3, which means your vanguard power goes into the negatives." Teressa said, licking her lips in a sadistic manner.
(2000-11000= -9000)
"Great, now I can call my supporting cast. I call. Witch of the Black Fairy Tales, Alicia. And also Witch of Calamity, Emer. The skill of Alicia." Teressa counter blasted one card. "I can look at the top five cards of my deck and superior one unit to an open rear-guard circle." Teressa looked and selected a unit. "I of the Black Forest, Erisa. Also since she was successfully called, your vanguard loses another -2000 power."
(-9000-2000= -11000)
"Also the skill of Emer. Since a unit was placed on a rear-guard circle she gains an additional +5000 power." Teressa said.
"Simply amazing." Cecilia cried. "Not only did Teressa effortlessly rebuild her formation, but now it looks Elizabeth is in for one hell of a turn."
"You have no idea." Teressa murumed. "Let's begin. Emer is up first."
(10000+5000=15000)
"I don't guard. Damage check. Critical trigger. All effects to-"
"That won't work." Teressa interrupted. "When Carmilla uses her skill the vanguards power can't even be increased by triggers."
Elizabeth upon learning this just silently put the trigger into her damage zone.
"Now time for the star to take her place. With a boost from Melarios, Carmilla will attack your vanguard!"
(26000+5000=31000)
"Complete guard!"
"Triple drive. First check. No trigger. Second check. Stand trigger. Emer stands, and she gains power. Final check. Critical trigger. All effects to Alicia, now perish!"
As Carmilla attacked Elizabeth vanguard she suddenly found herself somewhere else.
Looking around Elizabeth found herself floating in space. Behind her was Earth, but there was another planet in front of her.
She also saw Teressa in front of her. But she was trapped in a bubble made of darkness.
As for the person holding the bubble it was Angelica.
Elizabeth looked her directly in the eyes, and then saw a sadistic smile appear on her face.
"Give her back. You give her back right now!" Elizabeth shouted at Angelica.
Angelica just fake pouted and shook her head. "Sorry no can do, we've become friends you see. So I won't be giving her back. Not now. Not ever."
Elizabeth ignored Angelica and instead reached out toward the black bubble containing Teressa.
And when she did her right hand lit up with the symbol of United Sanctuary.
A second later Elizabeth noticed a shadow behind her. So she turned around and found herself face to face with none other than her avatar, Crom Cruach.
"W-What's happening?" Elizabeth questioned.
But before she could get an answer her vision exploded once more.
Coming back to the cardfight Elizabeth eyed Teressa while also catching her breath.
As for Teressa, her smile had transformed into a maniacal grin.
"With a boost from Erisa, Alicia attacks your vanguard. Now fall into despair!"
(9000+5000+7000=21000)
"Generation guard! Dark Dragon, Plotmaker Dragon."
Dark Dragon, Plotmaker Dragon
Grade 4, Shield +15000
"With his skill add another +10000 to the shield."
"Tch." Teressa clicked her tongue. "Ener again then."
(10000+5000+5000=20000)
"No guard. Damage check. No triggers."
"I end my turn."
[Damage: Teressa (3) Elizabeth (5)]
"Stand and draw." Elizabeth said.
[Turn 8: Hand; Teressa (4) Elizabeth (5)]
"Marvelous, what a marvelous turn by Teressa Holice." Cecilia announced. Even though inside she felt there was something very wrong with Teressa.
Cera was feeling the same thing.
So was Allison who was praying that Elizabeth would win.
As for Anthony and Eric, they felt a heavy aura covering their bodies.
"What is she?" Eric asked.
"I don't know." Anthony responded.
As for Elizabeth she looked Teressa in the eyes without fear. "Who or what are you? Actually I don't care, just get out of my friend's body and give her back to me. Right now."
"No can do, that wouldn't be any fun now would it." Teresa spoke.
"Fine then. I'll force you out." Elizabeth said.
"Give your best shot, I know all your finishing moves by heart." Teressa pointed out.
"Not all of them. Elizabeth said, showing a smile. "We trained for this tournament, and gained new powers just for moments like this. Generation stride. Fomorian Frost Giant, Balor the Avenger!"
Fomorian Frost Giant, Balor the Avenger
Grade 4, Power +15000
"Stride skill!" Elizabeth counter blasted one card. "Look at the top five cards of the deck and superior call any grade one or below units." Elizabeth looked at her cards and called Elric, Meteor Black, Swordbraker, and Squire of Darkness, Lucious. "Skill of Back-Winged Swordbeaker." Elizabeth soul blasted one card and drew one card. "Now the skill of Balor" Elizabeth counter blasted one card and flipped over a card in the G zone. "I can retire the same number of units from my board as there are cards face up in my G zone. Since there are three, I'll retire three." Elziabeth sent Swordbeaker, Conrad, and Lucious to the drop zone. "Now the opponent must retire the same number of rear-guard units that I just did."
Teressa did, even though she didn't want to.
"Balor's generation break 3. If three or more units were retired from the opponent's board then Balor gains an extra critical until the end of the turn. In addition, all units in my front row gain +5000 power for each unit that my opponent sent to the drop zone!"
"What?!" Teressa shouted. "Then that means.."
"My entire front row gains an extra +15000 power!" Elizabeth exclaimed.
"Oh, what a powerful play!" Cecilia shouted.
"Balor attack the vanguard!" Elizabeth shouted.
(26000+15000=41000)
Looking at her hand Teressa knew she would only be able to block one of the attacks, so she decided to let the vanguard through.
"No guard.
"Triple drive. First check. No trigger. Second check. No trigger. Final check. A critical trigger. All effects to the vanguard!"
Balor slammed into Angelica.
As it did Elizabeth's spirit reached out towards Teressa.
Unfortunately it was pushed back, or rather it was blocked.
"Damage check." Teressa managed to say. "No triggers."
[Damage: Teressa (6) Elizabeth (5)]
"And there you have it folks, team Victories won their first matchup of the tournament with a two-round knockout!" Cecilia announced.
As she collected her cards Elizabeth noticed that Teressa was hurriedly moving to leave the arena, heading down the courier on her side of the field. While also holding onto the top of her right palm.
When she saw this she started to run after her without a care in the world.
Anthony and Eric, seeing this immediately got up and decided to follow her.
Making it to the corridor Elizabeth started running even faster. She saw Teressa's shadow and tried to catch up with her, but before she could Teressa picked up the pace and managed to exit the corridor a few minutes before her.
So when Elizabeth managed to make it out all she saw was a crowd of people. But when she looked for Teressa she couldn't spot her at all.
She had disappeared into thin air.
Leaving so many questions and not one answer.
A/N:
That's chapter 11 folks.
Next Time: While Elizabeth frantically searches for any trace of Teressa, Anthony and Eric hanle their next matchup, a team of ninjas. Which is perfect, since Eric has been itching for a fight since he got his new avatar card.
A Battle of Shinobi
Fanon Cards:
Grade 0:
Witch of Midnight, Melarious
Power +5000 Shield +10000
Skill: Generation Break 1: [Place this unit in your soul] If the opponent has two or more grade 0 rear-guards then add +5000 to your vanguard and -5000 to the opponent's vanguard.
Stand Triggers:
Squire of Darkness, Lucious
Power: +4000, Shield +10000
Stand Trigger (RC): When he is retired from the board for the cost of any skill with a card with "Raging" in its name then it counts as two units.
Grade 1:
Witch of the Black Forest, Erisa
Power +7000 Shield +5000
Skill: [Auto] (RC): When this unit attacks, if the opponent has two or more grade 0 units on the board then this unit gains +4000 power.
Grade 2:
Witch of the Black Fairy Tales, Alicia
Power +9000 Shield +5000
Skill:(RC): Generation Break 1: Soul blast (1) card with "Witch" in the name. If you do, then look at the top five cards of your deck and superior call one unit to an open rear-guard circle. If you do then -2000 from the opponent's vanguard.
Grade 3:
Black Hearth Witch, Angelica
Power +11000
Skill: (VC): When a G unit stride the opponent looks at the top card of their deck, then whatever the original power of the card is, subtract from their vanguard's power for the rest of the turn. Then place the card in the drop zone.
Grade 4:
Witch of Deceit, Carmilla
Power +15000
Skill: [Auto] (VC): Counter blast (1) card and flip over a card in the G zone. Select a card at random from the opponent's hand and they must discard it, then the opponent's vanguard loses the same amount of power as the card discarded from the hand for the rest of the turn. It can't be increased with effects from other cards.
Queen of Eternal Darkness, The Morrigan
Power +15000
Skill: [Auto] (VC): Soul Blast (1) card, then retire 2 grade 1 or below cards from the board. Your opponent must then retire the same number of rear-guards as you did, then add +10000 power to the vanguard.
Fomorian Frost Giant, Balor the Avenger
Power +15000
Skill: [Auto] (VC): Counter blast 1 and turn over a card in the G zone. Then for every face up card in the G zone retire units from the board, then your opponent must retire the same number of rear-guard units. Generation Break 3: If three or more units were retired from the opponent's board then Balor gains +1 drive and all remaining rear-guards gain +5000 power each unit on the opponent's board that was sent to the drop zone.