(A/N: For background information clarification, be sure to check out Digimon TCG: Cyber Drive Chapter Zero)
…I'm gonna meet Agumon…!
…Leave it to a doofus like you to do something reckless like that…
MetalGarurumon…!
WarGreymon…!
Every night it was the same scenario. Every time the world would be on fire. Smoke enveloping the room in a cloud of thick smog. Adrenaline, breaking the speed of sound. Screaming that ripped the senses apart…
…Adam! Adam where are you…! ADAM…!
And a little boy in the middle of the deadly inferno.
He would sift through the smoke, each step potentially one away from being swallowed by the sea of flames. He would search for the voice. The panic-stricken voice of the adult who herself was as anxious as he felt…
But he would never find it. No matter how hard he searched, no matter how loud she'd scream…
…until the world fell to a silent black…
Adam Russo dreamt that dream nearly every night for five long years. So much to the point, it's routine. At first, he was terrorized by it. Waking up at night in a cold sweat, afraid to go to sleep. Therapy visits that went nowhere. And an annoying best friend who eventually gave up in encouraging him to play a card game that's simply all the rage.
The Digimon Card Game first premiered several years ago. A game published by SAIBA Enterprise, it was initially called a "love-letter" to gamers and newcomers alike, offering easy-to-learn strategies and hard-to-master playstyles that pleased everyone.
Despite that though, Adam could care less if it were up to him. While he admits he was initially enthusiastic to play the game, and while he admits that he enjoyed himself that day he was able to test it out…he was satisfied. Like most children, his interests eventually moved on and he…for lack of a better term, just grew out of it as fast as he got into it.
And yet, here he was, staring at a box of Digimon Cards meant as a birthday gift from a family friend of his. The young intern he met five years ago was now SAIBA's Community Manager for the game, and, against his word, went through and gifted him a deck for his 15th birthday. As much as he loved Melissa, her insistence for him to give the game a second chance, attempting to entice him with the game's newer updates and changes were getting as redundant as the nightmares.
And yet, whether it's just to humor her, or out of nostalgia, he keeps the deck on him. Maybe someday he'll budge. Maybe one day a reason will pop up for him to crack it open and play it. Surely when that happens, it won't be up against Cisco City's prodigy, Trevor McKnight, that's for sure.
One beating's enough for a lifetime.
Chapter 1: Flame of Beginning
"Yo, sick Exhibition match the other night Trevor!" A voice called out from down the hallway.
A Caucasian teen with short black hair, wearing a blue plaid shirt underneath an open black fleece vest and blue jeans, turned from his locker, and waved back. The dog tags around his neck waved along with him as he motioned.
"It's nothing special. The new MetalGarurumon's amazing for what it does after all."
"No kidding! It's like SAIBA's just loves using you as a beta tester, don't they?" another student added on overhearing the conversation.
"If only they knew…" Adam muttered to himself, keeping his head dug into his locker as he collected his things. He was also a Caucasian teen with short brown hair, wearing a white-sleeved red hoodie and black jeans.
Trevor scoffed as he closed his locker, playing it off. "They keep giving new toys to experiment with, what can I say?"
Adam once again rolled his eyes. Getting popular over a children's card game; what kind of fantasy world is he living through?
Trevor waved off the fellow student and exhaled. "So glad the season's over…"
"You do realize as a Pro Tamer you don't get breaks, right?" Adam reminded.
Trevor glared, "don't remind me…" He let out a yawn. "Last minute training session and dragging your butt out the house? Why do I do this to myself…?"
Adam finally closed his locker, "because A) you are a professional card game player and have a reputation to uphold, B) you have a massive crush on the girl who would've done so if she could, and C) …you like to torture yourself." Adam crossed his arms. "Face it, got no one to blame but yourself."
Trevor groaned. "Soon as I get home I'm going to sleep."
"Mom's on another business trip?" Adam asked as they began to walk to their first-period class.
"No, but she is working late. And Dad's busy on his side of things so that means I can have some time just for me. Which I wholly plan on using. Assuming no one asks me for any more favors."
"That empathy of yours is gonna drive you into the grave one of these days bro."
"Shut up."
As they approached the staircase, they noticed someone carrying a large box down the staircase, lab equipment sticking from the top. She struggled to come down, the weight of the box and gravity attempting to take advantage of her situation. Without hesitating, Trevor swooped in from behind and caught the box before it slipped.
"Whoa, easy there. You need a hand with that?" Trevor asked the person.
The girl looked over, her chocolate skin and curly bang revealing themselves from behind. "Thanks, Trevor, I think I got it."
"Seriously Megan, I insist, really!" Trevor gripped the box, so it stayed immobile.
"Take advantage of it while you can Meg, might not get another opportunity to have your own lapdog."
"Shut up you doofus!" Trevor snapped with his cheeks flaring up.
Adam chuckled and walked over to help with the box. Much to her insistence, before she knew it the pair were already down the stairs.
"You know in this day and age women are more than capable of taking care of themselves," Megan said, adjusting her lime-green beanie and taking the box from the pair.
"True, but as I said, Trevor's on duty until 3 PM so get any, and all favors out there before he clocks out." Adam continued.
"Keep talking and I'll clock you out!" Trevor hissed. Adam scoffed, "Oh yeah, Bring it on, Agumon and I'll—" Adam hesitated. "Never mind…"
Trevor furrowed his brow. "What was that? I didn't quite catch that. You and who else?"
"I said forget it!" Adam skipped up the stairs.
Trevor grinned and followed him, "Nah nah nah, come back here I heard what you said!"
"Bro chill! I didn't mean it!"
"No no no, come on, I know it's in your bag! Let's go, you and me during lunch, just like back then!"
Adam felt something tug against his arm and he reacted. "I said back off!"
The staircase froze in silence, as the three of them were reminded of the people in the surrounding area. In a brief, and awkward silence, Adam hoisted his bag and ran up the stairs, leaving Trevor and Megan standing silent.
"You shouldn't have pushed him like that."
"Look, I'm tired, what do you want from me?"
"He's right, though." Megan sat the box on the desk. She wiped the sweat from her brow and turned to Trevor who stood by the door of the science lab. "You know he's not going to budge no matter how many times you try and convince him otherwise."
"Trust me, you don't know him as well as I do," Trevor noted.
"I'm pretty sure he's been my best friend longer than you." Megan countered. "Don't forget you're the addition to our clique." She walked up to him.
Trevor shuffled his stare away to keep from meeting her hazel eyes. "Don't you remember how annoyingly enthusiastic he was when he first found out about the game?"
"Of course, I do! He wouldn't shut up about it the days leading up to the beta test." Megan remembered, thinking back to when they were kids. "He was so obsessed he got me curious about it sure enough when it finally did come out."
"And it doesn't bother you that he of all people hasn't want anything to do with it since then?"
"Are you sure you just didn't beat him that badly? He did mention that you were kind of a stuck-up, know-it-all jerk back then."
Trevor shook his head, "even then, he was too passionate about the game to just suddenly give it up like that."
Megan felt the side of her waist, where a green and pink deck case sat perched. Her fingers ran across the design of it as she contemplated Trevor's words. "Some people just outgrow things. The least we can do is just respect his decision for choosing. After all, it's not like the world depends on whether he plays or not."
Trevor yawned. "If it did, we'd be screwed right now."
"I still think you need to apologize."
Trevor unhooked the blue and white case from his belt and pressed the side of it, a projection of a yellow reptilian creature with a fur coat draped over it to help it resemble a canine creature.
"You really are gonna play my conscience today, aren't you, Gabumon?" Trevor asked the projection.
Gabumon crossed its arms. "If necessary."
Trevor shifted his gaze away to the floor, knowing that this was a losing battle. "Okay, fine. I'll make up with him after school, I promise. And from this day forward, I'll drop any mention of the game. Deal?"
"That's all I wanted to hear. You're such a good friend." Megan smiled, patting him on the shoulder, causing Trevor's chest to beat slightly off rhythm.
"Well, with that aside…!" he attempted to change the subject, "What was with the science equipment?"
"Helping out Mr. Morris with setting up his new classroom."
"Didn't know you and Mr. Morris were close like that."
Megan perked up. Her lips curled and a devious thought crossed her mind. "Jealous?"
"Ew gross!" Trevor snapped, getting a laugh out of her.
"It's the way you said it, I'm sorry!" She laughed harder.
"Anyway…!" Trevor said annoyed. "Why science equipment?"
Megan wiped the tears from her eyes. "Like I said, I'm helping Mr. Morris set up for his classroom. He's not going to be using it today, but he asked me to start helping him move boxes down here so he could finish during his break later."
"Why's he switching rooms anyway?"
"Didn't ask, and it's none of my business." She walked out of the room.
"Why not?" Trevor followed behind as she locked the door.
"Wow, do you just turn into some question machine when you're exhausted or something? What's next, are you gonna ask me out or something?"
Trevor cut himself off, and Megan stifled her laughter. "You are too easy."
Trevor scoffed, "kick rocks, flower girl."
As the pair began to walk to class, they both stopped, seeing a larger teen notice them exiting the room. He proceeded to break off from a group of peers to come down the hallway towards them. Tyrone "T-Rex" Kingston was Norbert High's resident "jock" as well as "jerk." As brash and aggressive as he was on and off the field, none really bothered to stand up to him and live to talk about it.
Except for Trevor, naturally, who was equally as popular in his own regard, both being a Pro Gamer and Honor Roll student.
"Speaking of which…" Megan muttered.
"I got it," Trevor whispered back.
"Hey there Megan, you didn't text me back the other night. Was wondering something happened to your pretty face." Tyrone approached them. The larger dark-skinned teen towered over them like a literal T-Rex, hence his nickname.
Before Megan could speak, Trevor spoke up for her, "she had plans the other night."
Tyrone turned to Trevor, acknowledging his existence. "Well, well well, if it isn't the 'McKnight in shining armor?'"
Megan had to catch herself. She had to admit it was cheesy but clever enough. Naturally didn't help Trevor at all.
Trevor sighed. "Right then; we have to get to class so if you'll excuse us…"
"You're excused." Tyrone shoved Trevor off to the side to get closer to Megan. Trevor stumbled, being propelled by the spring-like bicep Tyrone hid under his jacket.
"Anyway, like I was saying…"
"A D-Case…?" Trevor noticed the crimson/olive deck case on Tyrone's waist, being mostly hidden under the jacket. "Didn't think you'd stoop the level of us commoners oh great King."
Tyrone's gaze went from Megan and back in the direction of Trevor. "Did you get lost on your way to Mr. Jackson or something?"
Trevor shook his head. "Just fascinated that you're bold enough to cross into uncharted territory."
Tyrone turned back to Megan. "One sec, babe."
Trevor tensed up. Megan silently gagged after the jock turned his entire body towards Trevor.
"Big talk coming from you of all people. Just because you made a name for yourself playing a kid's game you suddenly think you can step up to me?"
"Just saying, I wouldn't cross you on a football field. So…? What's up? Feeling threatened?"
Tyrone's eye twitched. Trevor on the other hand smirked to push it further. "How about it? Wanna take a shot at the champ? Settle your insecurities? Hm?"
Tyrone relaxed and smirked himself, "Alright McKnight, you're on. I'll remind you who runs this Kingdom. And when I'm done with you…"
He leaned in and whispered, "…I'm coming for my queen…"
He patted him on the shoulder and walked off, laughing as he distanced himself from them.
Megan watched as he walked off and turned to Trevor. "What was that just now? And what did he say to you?"
Trevor took a deep breath and cleared his throat. "Don't worry about it. It's nothing serious."
"I don't like the sound of that…" Megan noted.
Trevor chuckled as he began to walk off, "Just trust me on this one! I got a plan in mind."
Megan watched as Trevor walked off as well biting down on the nail of her thumb out of anxiety. "Don't like the sound of that either…"
Before anyone knew it, the halfway point of the school day rolled around, and lunch was finally upon the student body. Adam himself was grateful for the opportunity to relax his mind, Trevor's words racing around his head as they tend to do. When he thinks back, it's admittedly odd how two polar opposites became such good friends as time went on. Back then, Adam was a hyperactive brat with an unhealthy obsession with a dinosaur, and Trevor was a hyper-serious nerd with little patience and a tendency to not want to waste time. Opposites attract maybe? Who knows. At the end of the day, Adam had to be honest with himself; had it have not been for that opportunity he would've never met him. Trevor would've never met Megan, and the three of them wouldn't be as inseparable as they have been since then.
As for the game itself…
"THIS IS BULLCRAP!" A voice boomed in the middle of the wide room, bouncing off the walls in all directions. Adam knew exactly whose voice that was, and curiosity got the better of him. Who was the idiot who pissed off the T-Rex of all people?
Adam followed the sound of the voice to a budding crowd of people at a table across the room. As he approached, he noticed Megan from behind, deeper within the crowd. Weird, being that Megan low-key loathed T-Rex, so it wouldn't make sense for her to be anywhere near him willingly.
Unless…
Adam picked up his pace. He knew what idiot would push T-Rex to the brink like this; there was only one who could pull it off.
Adam reached the crowd and pushed his way through until he got to Megan. He looked in between the crowd of people and found cards set up on the table, the holographic counter that hung suspended between the deck cases and the two players, one pissed off T-Rex, and Trevor, whose confidence was showing hard.
Trevor looked over his shoulder, noticing the guest and he nodded upward, "What's up? Just having a quick warm-up match before we play our match. You don't mind right?"
Adam was taken aback.
"Nice try. Told you I don't play, so give it a rest already." Adam turned back.
"Well at least stay and watch me finish—"
Before Trevor could finish his sentence, Tyrone swiped the table, scattering everything across, catching in between his fingers, one particular card.
"Whoa there, can't take a loss so easily huh?" Trevor teased. It's then he realized what was in his hand.
"It's no wonder you were gonna win, you're using cards that aren't even in the game yet, aren't you?"
Trevor took a deep breath, his eyes locked on his MetalGarurumon. "Give that back."
"Or what? Can't win without it, can you? Gotta cheat your way to a championship using cards that don't even exist yet?"
"I said give it back!"
Tyrone laughed, "Not a chance! Cheaters like you don't deserve the status you've gotten. Not in my kingdom, or on the world stage…"
"He's not a cheater you moron…" Adam suddenly spoke up, drawing attention to him.
Tyrone furrowed his brow. "What do you know?"
"Obviously more than you." He continued. "Take it from someone who's also a Beta Tester for the game."
Tyrone paused. He then stifled his laughter until he couldn't, causing a chain reaction amongst everyone. Afterward, he wiped the tears from his eyes. "Thanks for that, I needed a good laugh to calm me down."
"I'm serious." Adam reiterated.
Tyrone looked up at him. "So what?"
"You think Trevor cheated? Then play me."
"You serious? You?"
"Yup. Me. I haven't touched a deck in like what? Five years? I'm basically new. Shouldn't be an issue for you right? You win, you get both our decks."
Trevor's neck snapped around, "Shut. Up!"
"You're in no position to talk," Adam countered.
"That's not the point!"
"And what happens…if you win?"
"I get the card back; you leave Megan alone and you be a man and take your L."
"Sounds like an unbalance trade."
Adam groaned. "Fine, you can have Megan if you win."
Now Megan's neck snapped. "I didn't agree to this!"
"Both of you just let me handle this?! I promise I got this!"
"Right, you got this alright." Trevor scoffed.
"Shut up and scoot over," Adam said, squeezing next to him. Trevor collected the remainder of his cards and put them back into the deck case, while Tyrone also collected his cards, shuffling them to begin a new game. Adam noticed immediately the red color of his cards.
Fighting fire with fire. If anything, this will be a good way to see if Melissa did him justice. Adam opened his back and grabbed the case from his bag, to the surprise of everyone around him, his two friends especially.
"So, you really did have it on you?" Megan asked.
"I always did," Adam admitted. "In case Trevor found a reason to get me to break."
Megan turned to him. "That's what you meant when…?"
Trevor shrugged. "Whatever would get the job done."
Adam opened the case and pulled the cards out of the case for the very first time. A wave of nostalgia hit him as he did so. It was familiar and exhilarating, to his surprise. However, when he flipped it around…
Fire.
Adam was taken aback briefly by the brief image that flashed in his head. Agumon stared back at him, waiting for Adam to shuffle the deck. Adam swallowed the image until it disappeared, and he regained his focus, setting aside the white Digi-Egg cards in their section, and shuffling the rest of the deck. Setting five cards face-down on his left and drawing five of his own he was ready to get started.
Tyrone was also set up and ready to get started as well. "Gonna have fun burning you alive."
"You can try, you big oaf. Time to knock the king off his throne."
Tyrone grinned. "Ready?"
Adam nodded. "Digi-Gate Open!"
Both of the Tamer's Deck Cases began to flash as they emitted holographic projections across towards each other. The projections formed a 21-spaced Memory Counter, ten spaces going in both directions with "0" in the middle. The entire combined projection was red, indicating the color of the decks the players were using.
"I'll start!" Tyrone said, moving his hand to his Digi-Eggs. "I hatch Babydmon!"
Flipping the card over, caused a small, green-scaled baby dragon Digimon to materialize over the face of the card. It had red-tipped black horns extending back from its head, small green wings, and a whitish-blue wisp of a tail.
Babydmon (BT1-002)
Color: Red
Level: 2
"Then, I'm gonna digivolve it into Dracomon!" Tyrone set the new card on top of Babydmon, the creature phasing through the card.
Once the card was set on top of it, a small trail of binary code enraptured it and turned it into a more dragon-like creature, the black horns turning completely red as well as the wings, in addition to the dragon sprouting limbs both arms and legs. The tail fell back and thickened, becoming more lizard-like.
Dracomon (ST1-04)
Color: Red
Level: 3
DP: 4000
Tyrone drew for Digivolving. "And finally I'll play Agumon from my hand for 3 memory." Tyrone finished his play by setting the card down, an orange dinosaur-like Digimon roughly the same size as Dracomon materialized similarly.
Agumon (BT1-01)
Color: Red
Level: 3
DP: 2000
MEMORY
0-3 (Turn Change: Adam)
"Agumon when played reveals the top 5 cards of my deck. I pick a tamer from amongst them and add the rest to the bottom of my deck." Tyrone explained, taking the top cards off and turning them over. He revealed another Agumon, Monodramon, Nuclear Laser, MetalTyrannomon, and Tai Kamiya.
"I retrieve Tai from the cards and return the rest to the bottom of the deck." He said, doing just that. "It's your move."
Adam nodded, drawing his first card. He took a deep breath and reached for his Digi-Egg deck, flipping over a familiar pink ball. He took a moment, feeling the wave of memories wash over him as the Koromon materialized as a miniature version of itself atop the card.
"I…I hatch Koromon…" Adam hesitated to utter.
Koromon (ST1-01)
Color: Red
Level: 2
Trevor noticed the sudden shift in Adam's demeanor. "You got this…"
Adam picked up on Trevor's whisper and swallowed. Whatever that dream was, it had nothing to do with the here and now. He took another card and flipped it over. "Koromon digivolves into Agumon!"
Trevor watched as he witnessed something that he's waited five years to see again. Adam set the card on top of Agumon and the ensuing reaction as Koromon took on the form of the orange dinosaur sent the boy into a state of awe, as the data stream surrounded it and reformed it into his childhood obsession.
Agumon (ST1-03)
Color: Red
Level: 3
DP: 2000
Impulsively, Adam went to reach for Agumon. But like before…
Fire…
Adam pulled back and caught himself further when Agumon turned back to him and looked up.
And smiled.
Adam didn't know how to respond. Was this…the same Agumon from that day? Was that even possible?"
"Hey, are you gonna draw or what?" Tyrone snapped.
Adam looked up and nodded. "Sorry, it's been a while since we've seen one another."
A few chuckles echoed from around them, including one from Tyrone. "What's that supposed to mean? He's your imaginary pet or something?"
Adam drew his card. "Not 'pet;' he's my partner."
Tyrone blew up in laughter. "Oh, that's rich! All you beta testers like that or are you just special?"
"Come and find out for yourself," Adam smirked. "I pay 4 memory to play the tamer Tai Kamiya!"
Adam set the tamer card down and a holographic version of the character materialized as well.
Tai Kamiya (BT1-085)
Color: Red
Tyrone looked closer. "A 4-cost tamer? Where did you get that from?"
Adam smiled at the humored feeling inside, "Gift for my birthday."
Tyrone snickered as he watched the Memory Counter shift.
MEMORY
3-1 (Turn Change: Tyrone)
Tyrone drew his card. I move Dracomon to the Battle Area and play the Option Card Gravity Crush, which grants me +2 Memory.
MEMORY
1-3
"Agumon's gonna digivolve into Tyrannomon for 2 Memory!"
Tyrone's Agumon was wrapped up in binary code until it re-emerged as a bulky red dinosaur with green scales running down its spine.
Tyrannomon (BT1-016)
Color: Red
Level: 4
DP: 4000
MEMORY
3-1
"Tyrannomon, Security Attack!" Tyrone declared, turning the card sideways, which sent Tyrannomon charging. A holographic wall intercepted Tyrannomon which it slashed through, indicating a Security Check on Adam's part.
Adam
Security: 5-4
"Security Check," Adam responded, flipping the card over. "I reveal Muchomon with 5000 DP. That's 1000 more than Tyrannomon."
Tyrone waved his finger. "Too bad. Tyrannomon's Jamming effect protects it from being deleted when it battles a Security Digimon."
Adam bit the inside of his cheek. Of course, it'd have an effect like that, he thought to himself. He moved the card to his trash and watched as Tyrone continued. "I'll end my turn by playing my Tai Kamiya for 2 Memory. Lucky for you, Gravity Crush takes two memory away from me at the end of my turn.
Tai Kamiya (ST1-12)
Color: Red
MEMORY
1-3 (Turn Change: Adam)
Adam drew, "I move Agumon into the Battle Area and pay 2 Memory to digivolve him into Greymon!" He moved the cards out from the Breeding Area and set the card on top. Agumon, subsequently turned into a bigger dinosaur, the size of Tyrannomon, with a brown horned faceguard and blue stripes going around its body.
Greymon (ST1-07)
Color: Red
Level: 4
DP: 4000
MEMORY
3-1
Adam drew his bonus card. "Agumon's Inherited Effect grants Greymon +1000 DP. With it, I attack Tyrannomon!"
Greymon- 4000-5000 DP
Tyrannomon- 4000 DP
Greymon pulled back and shot a holographic stream of fire that turned Tyrannomon into binary code, forcing Tyrone to set the cards in his Trash.
"I'll finish by playing Biyomon from my hand for 2 Memory.
A Pink bird Digimon materialized aside Greymon in response,
Biyomon (ST1-02)
Color: Red
DP: 3000
MEMORY
1-1 (Turn Change: Tyrone)
Tyrone drew and hatched another Digi-Egg, revealing a new Babydmon. "Don't think you're gonna win this punk."
"I haven't said anything," Adam responded. "You…wouldn't be projecting by any chance, right?"
Tyrone gritted his teeth. "Babydmon digivolves into Monodramon," he drew. "Next, Dracomon is going to digivolve as well into Coredramon!"
A purple dragon-like Digimon with finned claws and yellow markings on its head, claws and its shoulders, and red markings on its chest materialized in Tyrone's Breeding Area
Monodramon (BT1-009)
Color: Red
Level: 3
DP: 3000
Meanwhile, Dracomon roared as the binary code took it over, turning it into a bigger, more ferocious-looking olive-green dragon with tattered wings and sharper red horns.
Coredramon (ST1-06)
Color: Red
Level: 4
DP: 6000
MEMORY
1-1 (Turn Change: Adam)
"That's why you just played a blocker." Adam continued to egg him. "Anyway, my turn?"
Tyrone didn't bother to respond. Trevor and Megan on the other hand watched as Adam conducted himself, definitely noting the change in attitude since the game started. Trevor had a smirk slowly grow on his face, seeing the enthusiastic kid begin to re-emerge from him as the moment passed.
"Well, Tai sets my memory to 3 due to his effect, to start."
MEMORY
1-3
"And let's turn up the heat, shall we Greymon? I digivolve Greymon into MetalGreymon!"
Greymon roared and allowed the binary code to take over, beefing it up even more and coating it with robotic plating and armor, making it resemble a cyborg version of itself.
MetalGreymon (BT1-021)
Color: Red
Level: 5
DP: 7000
MEMORY
3-0
"MetalGreymon gains not only Agumon's IE effect of +1000 DP but Greymon's as well. +1 Security Attack!" He explained as he drew.
"Are you kidding me?!" Tyrone scowled.
MetalGreymon: 7000-8000 DP, +1 SA
"Ready to take your L or do I gotta make you?" Adam asked.
Tyrone was getting heated. "Keep pushing your luck, watch what happens."
"Oh, trust me," He suspended MetalGreymon, "I'm looking forward to it; Double Security Attack!"
MetalGreymon puffed its chest out and fired two missiles that soared across the lunch table towards Tyrone's side. Two Security Cards blocked the attack but were destroyed in the process.
Tyrone
Security: 5-3
Tyrone reluctantly flipped the first card: Dark Tyrannomon
MetalGreymon: 8000 DP
Dark Tyrannomon: 6000 DP
Setting Dark Tyrannomon into the grave, he flipped the 2nd card over for a second chance to delete the massive Digimon: Monodramon, to his dismay.
MetalGreymon: 8000 DP
Monodramon: 3000 DP
"Oh, one last thing before I forget," MetalGreymon gave me +3 Memory for attacking.
MEMORY
0-3
Tyrone growled in anger.
"Relax, I lose three at the end of the turn so—"
"JUST GO!" Tyrone roared.
Adam was taken aback. "Right… in any case, Biyomon digivolves into Birdramon for 2 memory…" he drew. "And then one step further digivolves into Garudamon for another 3."
Biyomon rapidly grew, shuffling through the phoenix-like Digimon into a more muscular, bipedal Birdman Digimon, carrying with it a tribal-like motif about it.
Garudamon (BT1-022)
Color: Red
Level: 5
DP: 7000
MEMORY
3-2 (Turn Change: Tyrone)
"Also because of MetalGreymon's attack, since I gained +3 Memory, I lose 3 Memory at the end of my turn."
MEMORY
2-5
Tyrone drew. By his expression, it wasn't a card that was gonna help him get rid of the two Level 5 Digimon before him, even with the amount of Memory he had. That in of itself was frustrating. His deck was failing him, and he didn't know why. They had to be cheating he thought, they're beta testers so of course, they have stronger cards than him. That's the only logical thing.
But then again, how is this kid who hasn't played in so long so good? It didn't make sense!
"You're playing this deck as if you know it inside and out…" Megan suddenly spoke up, catching Tyrone's attention.
"Yeah, right? What gives? I thought you haven't played in five years?" Trevor added.
Adam looked away, "Yeah…much rather not say."
"Come on Adam, how did you get so good?" Megan pressed.
Adam looked at the two of them and groaned. "Ugh fine…! At the risk of swelling your head up any more than it already is, I've been watching replays of your matches every now and again…"
Trevor blinked. "In other words…"
"Yes! I've been studying the game for years!" Adam admitted. "But up till this point, I couldn't get myself to play it for some reason. Can't explain it but I've been trying because I felt like I just…had to."
Trevor and Megan looked at one another and back to him. "We'll talk later. Just finish up before the bell rings."
"Yeah, alright." Adam nodded.
Tyrone cleared his throat. "You three done wasting my time already?"
Megan let out a disgusted reaction, "rude!"
Tyrone scoffed, "Get used to it, sweetheart, because it's my turn and I'm going all out!" Tyrone drew. "Coredramon, digivolve into Groundramon!"
MEMORY
5-3
Coredramon got on its front claws and roared as binary code wrapped around it, transforming it into a larger dragon-like Digimon with its wings replaced by two massive claws and its tail gaining a spike ball at the tip.
Groundramon (BT1-020)
Color: Red
Level: 5
DP: 6000
MEMORY
3-0
"And finally, digivolve one final time…into Breakdramon!"
Groundramon roared as a massive amount of binary overtook it, expanding its size in all directions as it towered over the other Digimon currently in play. Once it was revealed, it was shown to be a dragon built from various industrial tools such as drills and scoops. It's ferocious demeanor even caused some bystanders to grow weary for Adam's sake.
Breakdramon (BT1-026)
Color
Level: 6
DP: 11000
"That thing's huge…" Adam said as the projection nearly reached his height on the table.
"I was wondering why he didn't block MetalGreymon before. He's was building up to that monstrosity."
"Should I be afraid of that thing?"
"It has Piercing," Trevor stated.
"Meaning…?"
"Basically, if it deletes any of your Digimon, your Security's gonna take a hit. Surprised you missed Garudamon has the same effect."
Adam looked down, noticing the text on the card. "Hm, good to know that. Anything else?"
"His Digi-Egg Babydmon gives any Digimon on top of it +2000 DP if it has piercing."
Breakdramon
DP: 11000-13000
"Yeah, because why wouldn't it?" Adam sighed. "So, in short, if I attack, I risk getting my stuff axed by tall, dark, and ugly."
Tyrone laughed, humored by his description, "Why stop there? I'm gonna make sure you feel it. I pay 1 memory to play the option card Wing Blade on Breakdramon, stacking on another 3000DP!"
The three of them were taken aback, as the fire consumed the massive beast.
Breakdramon
DP: 13000-16000
"Um...ok then." Adam went along with it.
Tyrone scoffed. "Now, to take care of MetalGrey-" Tyrone paused, noticing the 1 Memory on Adam's side.
MEMORY
0-1 (Turn Change: Adam)
"You can't blame that one on me." Adam drew and looked at his card.
Tyrone, realizing his misstep, cleared his throat, "Not like you're gonna come up with anything to take Breakdramon down next turn."
"Based on how he's been all game, he's bound to pull a miracle out of thin air." Megan quipped.
Trevor's eye twitched at Megan's comment. Adam drew and took a moment to read the card's effect. "Um...wow."
"What did you draw?" Trevor looked over. He took a moment to read the card and scoffed. "Of course, you'd draw that."
Megan looked over herself and looked at Adam. "Should've placed a bet on this."
Tyrone was getting impatient. "If you're gonna sit there and chat, then I'll just go and beat you into the ground already!"
"Will you chill out for a second?!" Adam snapped. "Need to make sure I can pull this off." Adam looked at his field. "Alright, let's get this started. First, Tai sets my Memory to 3."
MEMORY
0-3
"I Hatch from my Breeding Area, Yokomon!"
A pink bulb-like Digimon with bright green eyes and a blue flower on its head materialized on Adam's side.
Yokomon (BT1-001)
Color: Red
Level: 2
"And she's gonna digivolve into Biyomon."
Biyomon reformed from the tiny bulb Digimon.
Adam drew. "Now that my plan B is set, I can go ahead with plan A. MetalGreymon, get ready to take to the sky, as you gain the power of the blazing sun! Digivolve into: WarGreymon!"
MetalGreymon spread its purple wings and took to the air as binary code coiled around it forming into an egg shape. From it, emerged a muscular armor-clad Dragon with large claw gauntlets and a wing-like shield on its back with the engravings of the sun etched into it.
WarGreymon (BT1-025)
Color: Red
Level: 6
DP: 11000
"Tyrone, Meet my Ace, WarGreymon," Adam said with confidence. "When he's digivolved, he gains Security Attack +1 during this turn. In addition, Greymon's IE effect adds Security Attack +1 to it as well. And Tai? Well, he also has a second effect; when one of my Digimon has 4 cards under it, they also get an additional Security Attack."
"Which means, if you're following, one attack from WarGreymon's gonna wipe your Security Zone clean." Trevor finished.
Adam turned to him. "Couldn't let me have this?"
"You made me wait five years for this." Trevor countered. "Finish this already."
"Don't think you're safe yet. My security can still come through and help me come back!"
"Wanna bet? WarGreymon, Security Break!"
WarGreymon raised its massive claws in the air and generated a massive ball of energy above its head and hurled it forward. Tyrone's remaining Security Cards rushed in to block the attack.
Tyrone reluctantly flipped the first one: MetalTyrannomon, with 10K DP.
"Don't forget, Agumon's IE gives me +1000DP, and Koromon's now triggers, giving an additional +1000 DP.
WarGreymon: 11000-13000 DP
MetalTyrannomon: 10000 DP
The first Security card incinerated. Tyrone flipped the 2nd one: Coredramon, with 6000 DP.
WarGreymon: 13000 DP
Coredramon: 6000 DP
The 2nd Security Card fell as well.
With one chance left, Tyrone flipped the last card over. His eyes widened at the sight: "Security Trigger: Gaia Force! With it, I can destroy one of your Digimon instantly! I choose Garuda—"
"Nuh-uh." Adam cut him off. "WarGreymon's 2nd effect: Option Cards revealed during a Security Check by him have their effects nullified."
Tyrone went pale.
"Not such a great feeling getting jammed yourself, is it?"
And with that, his last Security—his last shield…was gone.
Tyrone
Security: 3-0
"Garudamon, Direct Attack!" Adam exclaimed ordering the final blow.
WarGreymon descended from its attack, revealing Garudamon leaping into the air, sending a flaming dropkick down on Tyrone's side of the table, ending the match.
WINNER:
Adam
The Memory Counter illuminated with the declaration, instead of the numbers it held for the last several minutes. The bystanders stood quiet along with the antagonistic jock, at the fact that the school star not only lost once but twice.
Even Adam had to take a minute to process what happened; he finally played a game after so long. And he enjoyed himself.
"Well, a deal's a deal," Adam said, collecting his deck. "Megan's off-limits, you admit defeat and Trevor gets his card—"
Adam was cut short by the sharp ripping sound of the card before him. Dumbstruck by what just unfolded Adam blacked out and lunged for Tyrone. The larger teen grabbed him and wrestled him on the table as the pair struggled to get hits on one another. Trevor and Megan grabbed hold of Adam while Tyrone's fellow teammates who were also mixed into the crowd got a hold of him as well. Despite that, both of the teens attempted to break free from one another so they could continue their fight.
That was until security finally broke into the crowd and took over the situation. In a matter of seconds, Adam, Tyrone, Trevor, and Megan, were all escorted to the Principal's office to discuss the matter in detail…
"Hey, Trev?" Adam leaned over to the boy next to him.
"I'm sleeping. What?" The Boy snarled, refusing to pick his head up from the desk.
"Sorry…you know about landing us in detention."
"Thought you were gonna apologize for the card being ripped."
"I didn't rip it so…" Adam defended. "Sorry about it though."
Trevor shifted his head over to look up at him. "Don't sweat it. One copy of it didn't really make a difference anyway. I have a SaberLeomon that can take its spot if any."
"Yeah…can I ask something?"
"If it means I can finally take a nap." Trevor sat up in his seat.
"Why set all of this up? Using Tyrone as bait to get me to play?"
Trevor chuckled lightly, "Because Melissa asked me."
Adam rolled his eyes, "of course she did."
"The original plan was to annoy you enough to just accept; but when Tyrone popped up earlier and I saw he had a deck, my plan shifted. He's so used to winning I knew he'd be a sore loser if I went all-out, so I kicked his butt so hard that he'd react the way he did. And knowing you, when are you ever one to not rescue someone?"
"You make it sound super lame when you phrase it like that."
Trevor laughed. "So, what made you finally change your mind? Because you didn't start off engaged, right?"
Adam shrugged honestly. "Maybe…it was seeing Agumon again after so long; as lame as that sounds. Something about it…just felt safe."
"Safe?"
"It's whatever, don't stress it." Adam played it off.
"Well, whatever the reason is, I'm glad you're back. Been waiting a long time to face that annoying brat once again."
"Well get ready then because he's here to stay, going forward," Adam confirmed.
Megan who could hear the pair whispering grew a smile as she flipped the page of her book, while Tyrone near the back of the room, couldn't help but eavesdrop as well, scoffing at the dialogue between the two boys.
He couldn't help but feel compelled to get something from their words though. He fished into his pocket and pulled a card out, revealing it to be Tyrannomon, the red Dinosaur Digimon reaching out to Tyrone due to its artwork. Is it really possible to develop a connection like that…?
A thought for another time, perhaps…
