Hello, everyone! This is a new chapter! Chapter 2! I hope everyone will enjoy it and without further ado, let's start!
Normal POV
While Aichi and the others were walking inside the space, outside the portal, Shin and the others were watching them with the screen Suiko pulled up.
" I'm so glad everyone's alright... But what exactly is going on?" Shin ask
" Void..." Kourin muttered
The Ultra Rare girls all looked at each other and looked back at Aichi and the others before hearing footsteps behind them to see Naofumi.
" Who are you?!" Tetsu exclaimed
" No one you need to know for now. Darn it... This portal is such a pain. I can't enter it." Naofumi said
" This portal only allows those chosen fighters to face this crisis. No one else is allowed to enter it." Suiko said
" And how did you get up here?" Kourin ask
" Stop asking me questions and answer mine. How do we get them out of there? That thing inside there is dangerous." Naofumi said
" We don't know either." Rekka said
" But if we let them out, then the nothingness will leak out into this world." Suiko said
" Of course I know that. I just want to get one person out of there. I guess even that is hard." Naofumi said
Naofumi looked back at the screen in front of them and gasped as he quickled snatched the pad out of Suiko's hand and placed a shield keychain near it. The core glowed after that.
" Hey!"
" Hurry up! Hurry up and run!" Naofumi shouted
" Huh?!"
In the space, Aichi's necklace glowed as he took it out.
" ... rry... un!" A voice shouted
" Naofumi-san!"
" Stop walking and run!" Naofumi shouted
That was when a giant hand made out of black mist shadowed over him as Kai quickly pushed him out of the way and pulled him up when the hand directed towards them again.
" Hurry! We need to run!" Kai exclaimed as he pulled Aichi to run
" Let's go!" Ren exclaimed
The hand came after them as they continued running and dodging. Before they knew it, they were all separated as Kai looked behind to see that the hand wasn't chasing them anymore as he sighed in relief and looked over to Aichi.
" Are you okay?" Kai ask
" Y-Yes..."
" ... We've been separated from the others." Kai said
" N-No way!" Aichi exclaimed
" They'll find us eventually. First, we need to hurry and find Leon to end this." Kai said
" O-Okay..."
Aichi fidgets a little after that while muttering something while his cheeks were flushed as Kai blinked in confusion.
" Say it louder. I can't hear you." Kai said
" Hands..." Aichi muttered
Kai then remembered that he was still holding onto Aichi's hand as he hurriedly let go.
" S-Sorry, I forgot. Come on, let's go." Kai said
" Yeah..."
Aichi looked around while they navigated through the black mist.
" Can you still sense Leon?" Kai ask
" Yes. The presence seems closer." Aichi replied
" Once we defeat him, we can get our clans back." Kai said
" Yeah."
That was when they realized that a shadow was looming over them as they looked up to see the hand again.
" Shield Prison!"
A ball of shield and chains closed around them just before the hand could grab them as they felt it shaking.
" Are you okay?!" Naofumi ask
" Y-Yes..."
Aichi squeaked in surprise when they felt the prison getting lifted up as Kai quickly grabbed his arm while it shook.
" Brace for it! It's going to throw you!" Naofumi exclaimed
" Huh?!"
Right after he said that, a sudden force threw both to the other side as Kai held onto Aichi once the shaking stopped and they landed once the shields touched the ground. Kai groaned as Aichi got up from his body and checked on him.
" A-Are you alright?!" Aichi exclaimed
" Yeah... Just a little bruised up from the rough ride..." Kai said
Aichi took out the necklace and held it out to Kai as a green glow surrounded him and he felt the pain fading away before sitting up.
" The pain is gone..." Kai muttered
" What a relief!" Aichi sighed
" ... Once I release this skill, get ready to fight. Make sure you get this done and come back." Naofumi said
" Y-Yes."
The ball of shields and chains then retracted as they saw Leon and the twins in front of them. Kai then stepped in front of Aichi and took out his deck.
" Fight me, Leon Souryuu." Kai said
" Kai-kun!"
" Brother Aichi!"
The two turned behind to see Misaki and the others running towards them as the twins blocked thier path.
" I'm leaving them to you two." Leon said
" Yes!"
Black mist then surrounded them after that.
" Everyone!"
" Now, shall we begin our fight?" Leon ask
" Just what I wanted." Kai said
" Wait, Kai-kun! Let me fight Leon-kun!" Aichi said
" Aichi... Can I count on you to get our clans back?" Kai ask
" Yeah!"
" Alright then. Go ahead." Kai said
Aichi nodded as he took out his deck and a fight table rose from the ground and they prepared their decks.
" Stand up, Vanguard!"
" Stand up my Vanguard!"
" I go first. Draw! I ride Advance of the Black Chains, Kahedin! Corron moves back! Turn end." Aichi declared
" And now it's my turn... The wind had told me... the end result of this fight!" Leon said as his Psyqualia activated
Images flashed in front of Aichi as he gasped when he saw a different Maelstrom defeating Blond Ezel.
" This is the moment of my victory. And the result..." Leon said
Another image flashed as Aichi saw Blaster Blade, Dragonic Overlord and Blaster Dark in their sealed states with a black sword rising behind them.
" Blaster Blade!"
" This is inevitable. An unavoidable fate. Your resistance will come to nothing." Leon said
" I won't let you do it!" Aichi said
" I'm positive the wind won't blow on you. I ride..." Leon declared as he rode Cyprus, " Tri-holl moves. Call! And then I attack!"
The rear guard Cyprus attacked as Aichi took the damage.
" Vanguard, Cyprus!" Leon declared
" Tri-holl! With its skill, if it's the third battle or more, it gets +3000 power!" Leon declared
" I guard with Silver Fang Witch!" Aichi declared
" Turn end."
" The image you showed me... I won't let it happen!" Aichi thought
That was when his vision started blurring and quickly blinked it away.
" Draw! I ride Knight of Superior Skills, Beaumains! Call! Gareth attacks!" Aichi declared
" No guard."
" Beaumains attacks with a boost from Corron!" Aichi declared
Aichi checked his trigger but checked none as Leon checked his damage trigger.
" Critical trigger! I add +5000 power to the Vanguard Cyprus." Leon declared
" Knight of Passion, Bagdemagus... attack his rear-guard Cyprus!" Aichi declared
" Guard!"
" Turn end..."
" Stand and draw. I ride Tear Knight, Lazarus! Cyprus moves back. Call! Lazarus, attack Beaumains!" Leon declared
Leon then checked his drive trigger but checked none as Aichi checked his damage trigger.
" Critical trigger... I add +5000 to the power of Beaumains!" Aichi declared
" Cyprus boosts. Coral Assault attacks Bagdemagus!" Leon declared
" I guard with Flame of Victory!" Aichi declared
" Tri-holl attacks Gareth! With its skill, it gets +3000 power!" Leon declared
Gareth was taken out and placed into the Drop Zone. That was when they heard cracking and looked up to see the sky cracking up.
" The sky!" Aichi exclaimed
" The space is falling apart!" Naofumi exclaimed
" Aichi!"
" We have to hurry! White-hot warrior, use your explosives flames to lead the despairing people to hope! I ride Incandescent Lion, Blond Ezel! Call! Everyone, give your power to Blond Ezel! Battlefield Tempest, Sagramore, attack Lazarus!" Aichi declared
" No guard."
" Blond Ezel attacks with a boost from Corron!" Aichi declared as Leon took the damage, " Next! Bagdemagus!"
" Guard! Tear Knight, Theo!"
" ... He blocked it..." Aichi muttered
That was when his vision became weirded before turning back to normal.
" Wh-What?!"
" Stand and draw. All your struggles here are for naught. The wind is on my side! Behold! Wash away all vice in the flow of a furious flood. I ride Blue Storm Dragon, Maelstrom! Tri-holl moves back. Call! Lysander, go!" Leon declared while resting Lysander
As Aichi placed the fourth damage in the damage zone, black mist suddenly started surrounding him as he gasped and screamed in pain before falling to his knees.
" Aichi!"
Kai quickly ran over to his side as a black aura started to appear around Aichi.
" What's going on?!" Kai exclaimed
" You guys have already overstayed your welcome! That black mist is starting poison him!" Naofumi exclaimed
" What?!"
" Huh...? My strength... My drive to win this battle is..." Aichi muttered while trying to stand
" Aichi!"
" Lysander's skill... Counterblast." Leon declared as he switched the places of Lysander and Tri-holl, " You're shivering. Tri-holl, attack!"
" With a boost from Cyprus, Coral Assault attacks! Since this is the third attack, it gets +3000 power!" Leon declared
Aichi took the fifth damage after that.
" Concentrate, Aichi!" Kai exclaimed
" And then, Maelstrom... Limit Break! This is the fourth battle. Maelstrom gets +5000 power. You already have 5 damage, so if this attack hits..." Leon said
" I won't let it! I guard with Dantegal and Viviane!" Aichi declared
" Twin drive check. Critical trigger! I give all of the effects to Maelstrom. Second check..." Leon declared as he flipped the second card to reveal Lysander
As Maelstrom attacked the guardians, a fierce wind blew around and created smoke. Once it started to dissipate, Kai gasped when Aichi fell to the ground.
" Aichi!"
Just before Kai could rush over to him, a black sword rose above Aichi.
" No!"
" Meteor Shield!"
A semi-transparent shield surrounded them from the sword as Kai ran over to Aichi and kneeled down beside him.
" Wake up, Aichi! You can't let it end like this! Aichi!" Kai exclaimed
" Why? I... can't move... I can't save Cray... Can't save Blaster Blade... It's... over..." Aichi thought
" Not yet! You're not the kind of person to give in like this! If you give up here, this world and everyone in it will be destroyed! Are you really okay with that?!" Naofumi ask
" This can't... happen..." Aichi thought as he tried moving his fingers
Kai noticed the twitching of his fingers and his face scrunching up.
" That's it! Wake up, Aichi!" Kai exclaimed
" Kai-kun... Kamui-kun, Misaki-san... Ren-san... Asaka-san... Everyone in Genius... Everyone at Card Capital... Emi... Mom! N-No... This can't be allowed to happen! It can't! It can't... I'm still..." Aichi thought
" Can you keep fighting?" A voice ask
" That's right... I want to fight..." Aichi thought
" In that case, we'll lend you our power." The voice said
That was when a glow came from Aichi's deck as Kai turned to it before hearing a soft groan. He turned back to Aichi and saw him getitng up and helped him.
" Aichi..."
" I'm not done..." Aichi muttered
The deck glowed brighter and dispelled the black mist trying to poison Aichi again as he turned to it.
" Thank you... You all gave me strength. I'm not giving up on this fight! I'll fight to the end with these friends... and I'm going to beat you!" Aichi said
" ... Friends?" Leon muttered
" Stand and draw! My friends, you helped me... and together, we'll break through the limits! Blond Ezel... Limit Break! Counterblast! I superior call one Gold Paladin unit!" Aichi declared as he looked at the top card of his deck, " ... Stand up, my avatar! Blaster Blade Spirit!"
" Blaster Blade!" Kai exclaimed
" Welcome home. Now, let's fight together!" Aichi said as Blaster Blade nodded while he did the same, " The amount of Blaster Blade's power is added to Blond Ezel's power! Blaster Blade Spirit's skill! I retire Coral Assault from the field! I call Silver Fang Witch! Soulblast. Draw! Blond Ezel's power increases for each of its friends on the field! Bagdemagus attacks!"
" Damage check. Draw trigger! I give the power to Maelstrom. And then draw." Leon declared
" With a boost from Corron, Blond Ezel..." Aichi declared as he rested both units
" Perfect defense with Paschal!"
" With a boost from Silver Fang, Sagramore!" Aichi declared as he rested both units
" Guard!"
" Turn end."
" ... I sense your wind... No... you and your 'friends'... I suppose you called them along with the wind. But to me, your wind is a foul fate. If my people, the Souryu, are defeated by you, we'll die out. I will not accept that fate! Ever victorious, and thus righteous! Someone who relies on friends wouldn't understand! I'm going to win! Absolutely invincible! Absolutely righteous! That's Aqua Force! Dragon spun into existence from the warp of the wind and the weft of the sea, love up to the legend in your ideal form! I crossride... Blue Storm Supreme Dragon, Glory Maelstrom! You remember, don't you, Sendou? The image I showed you of Glory Maelstrom... Even if the wind of you and your friends carries justice, there's no doubt that I'll destroy it! Together with this Blue Storm Supreme Dragon! Bear this in mind! Justice is on our side! In fact, we are justice!" Leon said as he laughed menancingly
Aichi looked up at Glory Maelstrom and gritted his teeth while the space above them continued to crumble even more.
" What's wrong, Aichi Sendou? Are you scared? Justice is on my side. There would be no shame in yielding to me." Leon said
" Wrong! This space is starting to break down! We all have to escape!" Aichi exclaimed
" Escape? You mean quit a fight that's already begun? Don't even joke about that! Do you mean to disgrace me, the Souryu child?!" Leon ask
" In that case, I can't afford to withdraw either! And I can't afford to lose!" Aichi said as he activated his Psyqualia
" ... When there's Maelstrom in the Soul, Glory Maelstrom's power is 13000. I switch Lysander and Tri-holl, and move Cyprus to the front. Cyprus's skill! With a Counterblast, he receives +1000. One more time. Call! Cyprus, attack Bagdemagus!" Leon declared as Bagdemagus was taken out, " Glory Maelstrom! Theo boosts! Now, when I receive the wind's blessing, I rise far above the limits! Ultimate Break! Counterblast! +5000 power and now you can't guard with any card that's grade 1 or higher. I shattered your hope of protecting yourself and called forth a great power. Take this! Divine Blowing!" Leon declared
" Guard! Flame of Victory, Dantegal!"
" Twin drive..." Leon declared but flinched a little as he saw his hand getting coated with black mist, " Has it come? ... I won't let Void have free rein! ... Twin drive check... Second check!"
" Heal trigger?!" Aichi exclaimed
Leon winced as he let his right hand down and placed the cards on his left hand down as well to move it to the damage zone.
" I heal one damage point, and give the power to Glory Maelstrom! ... The wind carried victory... right to me!" Leon exclaimed
Aichi's sixth damage flew towards the damage zone as he looked at it.
" My Vanguard..." A voice said
Aichi looked over to Blaster Blade and nodded as the sixth damage flipped up to reveal a heal trigger before he smiled.
" What?!"
" I heal one damage point, and give the power to Blond Ezel!" Aichi declared
" Tri-holl boosts! Lysander!" Leon declared
" I guard with Gareth!" Aichi declared
" Turn end..."
" ... Hurry, Aichi! The space is not going to hold out much longer!" Kai exclaimed
Aichi nodded.
" Stand and draw!" Aichi declared
That was when he looked over to Leon to see him struggling with his blackened right arm.
" N-Not yet..." Leon muttered
" Leon-kun?"
That was when he remembered Takuto's words.
" Don't tell me that's..." Aichi exclaimed
" I needed power... I didn't care if it came from Void or the devil. I happily accepted... If I could attain that power, I vowed to defeat my opponent, even if they happened to be a god! And you people are no exceptions!" Leon said
" ... That's not true power." Aichi said
" What?!"
" Getting something through the sacrifice of others... That's not true power!" Aichi exclaimed
" Nonsense!" Leon exclaimed as he winced
" I'll show you the true power that I believe in! Repel the darkness with the brillance of your proud soul! Crossride! Blazing Lion, Platina Ezel! Blond Ezel is in the Soul, so Platina Ezel has 13000 power! Blaster Blade Spirit moves up! And then I call! Jas as you want to save the Souryu people, I want to save my friends. That's why Platina Ezel is going to transcend the limits! Ultimate Break! Counterblast! I give power to all my friends! All of the rear-guard units get +5000 power! This is the power of friendship... If everyone supports each other and their faith become one, true power will be born! Spirit Unite Platinum!" Aichi declared
A bright light shone around them as Leon covered his eyes and soon realised that the wind stopped blowing around him.
" The wind... stopped?!" Leon exclaimed and turned to see that Aichi's wind was still blowing
" With a boost from Mark, Blaster Blade Spirit attacks! The bond between friends, that's the power that will conquer nothingness!" Aichi said
" Damage check!"
Leon then placed his fifth damage in the damage zone.
" With a boost from Corron, Platina Ezel attacks!" Aichi declared
As the sixth damage landed in Leon's damage zone, the black mist started retreating as everything started to disappear. Aichi ran over to help Leon up.
" The time has come. The time has come!" He then heard Takuto's voice
A portal then opened up behind them.
" Is this... planet Cray? Please take care of Leon-kun." Aichi said as he handed him to Sharlene
" We will." Sharlene said
" This is..." Kamui said
" ... the planet Cray." Misaki said
" Aichi Sendou. Your clan is the leader of planet Cray. And now, we're at the true final stage. So, get out your deck." Takuto said
Aichi took out his deck and raised it up as a light shot out of it. That was when he felt a hand on top of his and turned to his side to see Leon.
" Leon-kun..."
" I can feel it... A wind that I've never felt before... This must be the true wind." Leon said
As the light from his deck dissipated, the black mist on planet Cray had retreated.
" Thank goodness..." Aichi muttered as he collapsed
Leon caught him just as he started collapsing. The other quickly ran over to him as they all started to disappear from the space to go back to Earth one by one. Aichi had briefly woken up after a conversation with his now freed Royal Paladin units as he turned to see Leon and the others disappear while he was now left with only Misaki and Kamui. That was when they also started to disappear as they were soon teleported back to Earth. As soon as they appeared from the portal, the three were already knocked out as Naofumi went up to carry Aichi up.
" Is there an infirmary here? You guys need to rest." Naofumi said
" Actually, the other teams already have their own rooms. We have also arranged rooms for Team Q4 too. This way." Kourin said
" Those who can still walk, just go. Those who have some strength, get those two down to their room too." Naofumi said
" Okay."
Naofumi followed Kourin to Aichi's room as he entered it and settled him on the bed before pulling up the blanket.
" What a troublesome kid... Always getting into trouble without telling me..." Naofumi sighed while patting Aichi's head
That was when he heard a knock on the door and opened it to see Kai.
" What is it?" Naofumi ask
" ... Can I come in?" Kai ask
" He's sleeping. If you want to talk to him, wait until tomorrow." Naofumi said
" I want to talk to you." Kai said
" ... Fine. Come in." Naofumi said as he closed the door behind him after letting Kai in
Kai then walked towards Aichi's bed and looked at him before reaching his hand out to him slightly. He then quickly oulled his hand back into his pocket after realizing what he was doing.
" So, what did you want to talk about?" Naofumi ask
" Why do you want to protect him?" Kai ask
" Because I want to." Naofumi replied
" And there's no other reason? It's just because you could relate to his suffering?" Kai ask
" Who knows... But once I saw him, I knew I couldn't leave him be." Naofumi said
" Why?"
" Why are you asking so much?" Naofumi ask
" Because it's weird. Aichi told us about your story. It does sound bad, but up until now, I still don't understand why would you risk so much to protect him." Kai said
" ... There's something I never told Aichi. I have another title other than Shield Hero." Naofumi said
" And that is?" Kai ask
" ... I'm also called a God Killer. I kill Gods that plan to rule over the world. Those Gods who don't give a damn about others." Naofumi said
" Then wouldn't killing Void be simpler?" Kai ask
" Void is an entity. It's not a God. It's harder for me to detect it than a God with evil intentions." Naofumi said
" So why Aichi then? It still doesn't make sense." Kai said
" ... What did that Leon Souryu say again? ... 'I vowed to defeat my opponent, even if they happened to be god!', or something along those lines." Naofumi said
Kai's slowly widened as he turned to Naofumi while clenching a fist.
" You don't mean..." Kai exclaimed
" I still don't have any evidence. He never shown any signs either. But I could sense it... Inside him, he definitely has a power of a god." Naofumi said
And that's the end of this chapter! Thank you for reading! I hope everyone enjoyed this chapter and I'll see everyone in the next chapter!