Hello everyone! Welcome back to part two of the second arc's endgame between Aichi, Kai and Ruko. As of this moment, the poll to my profile is now officially closed. In this part, more secrets will be revealed as the battle rages on. Hope you enjoy!
Photon's Lab
(Cardfight! Vanguard Unreleased Soundtrack: Presence of the Void)*
Takuto looked up at one of the many screens that were hanging from the walls of the lab, now depicting the battle that had been taking place between Aichi, Kai and Ruko. Upon hearing everything that had been going on with the Selector involving Reverse, he could only silently pray that the two cardfighters would be able to bring her out of the catastrophe that she had ended up being a part of. He suddenly felt a jab to the back as the Cray being turned his head back a little to see that one of the two Radons that Photon and Mayu had assigned to watch over him had poked him in the back with the beam rifle it carried. In his struggle so far, Takuto had reluctantly agreed to aid in cooperating in the work on the completetion of Project: Locked Soul in exchange for the mastermind not dragging the remaining cardfighters on Aichi's Earth and the other units of the Planet Cray into her game. Or at least, that was what he hoped had happened.
"Subject; Tatsunagi Takuto, resume work immediately," the Radon on the left spoke as a whirring noise from its beam rifle sounded, indicating it was being charged up.
The Cray being reluctantly gritted his teeth as he turned his attention back to the console in front of him, which was in turn in front of the giant cylinder at the center of the room. As he did so, the noise from the beam rifle pointed at his back died down much to his hidden relief. As the Cyberoid lowered his firearm, Takuto turned his attention back down to the console that he was stationed in front of, taking note of the small screen in front of the controls and what it had displayed on it. It appeared to be the outline of a human like figure, with what appeared to look like 3 seperate pairs of wings sprouting from the head, the back and another separated into a separate wing for each of the figure's legs.
A red blip that was bleeping out over the top of the figure's head from the display, indicating where Photon and Mayu wanted his expertise in PSY Qualia in order to fix the problem they saw, unbeknowst to him was the reason that Umr was able to aid Aichi in his previous bout with Ulith which had remained unheard of to him. Upon looking further into the 'schematics' of Project: Locked Soul through the console, what he had found felt somewhat most disturbing to him. After fiddling around with a few buttons of the console's keyboard, he had discovered something that he could only describe as somehow impractical, even to certain denizens of the Planet Cray that he was already well familiar with.
Displayed in front of the figure that represented the intended end product of Project: Locked Soul, were the faces of two human like figures, each with a name labeled beneath the pictures showing them. The first one was Umr, evidenced by her bright blue eyes and dull blonde hair. The other person's face showed an aqua blue like shade of eye colour and her hair was a bright pink. The name displayed beneath the picture of this girl in particular was simply worded, 'Tawil'. Gazing back to the image representing said end product, Takuto could only stare in wonder, but mostly discomfort upon realizing what he had gotten himself into.
They're intending for me to complete the creation of a fusion using these two girls?! he thought Just what is Mayu...?
Upon glancing back for a brief moment, he quickly removed the images from the sight of the Radons that were keeping watch over him and began pressing various buttons, to indicate that he was resuming work for them immediately. Takuto could only grit his teeth as he briefly looked back at the monitor at the far side of the room, now displaying Blaster Blade charging towards Iona before returning his attention back to the console in front of him. All the while whilst Photon from the farthest podium kept his cold and calcuting gaze upon the Cray being.
Sendou Aichi, Kai Toshiki... You must hurry! That girl you're battling isn't the only one in danger! Keep fighting for as long as you can until I can think of a way out!
(End Music)
Link Joker Fight Field
(Selector Infected Wixoss OST: Battle ~ Even if I Hurt Myself)
Blaster Blade let out a loud battle cry as he swung his weapon at Iona who gracefully dodged as she manifested a small, but durable sword like weapon from the Reverse that she was commanding. She took ahold of the blade she created before striking blow for blow with the Swordsman of Light, keeping on even ground with him as she eventually brought down the clash between them to a stalemate. Everyone watching from the sidelines gazed closely towards the unit and the LRIG, curious as to what was going to unfold between them.
"I'm pleased your skills haven't disappointed me thus far," Iona spoke "I suppose the rumors I've heard about your weapon beforehand have now come to pass."
Blaster Blade said nothing in response as he kept his gaze trained upon the LRIG, looking to break their stalemate in the hopes of aiding Aichi and Kai in extending their current lead in the battle royale that he was now a part of. Pushing back against Iona's manifested blade with his own, he eventually overpowered the LRIG before thrusting forwards, grazing the left side of her outfit with his weapon as he did so. Suddenly, just like before with Blaster Dark when he struck her in a similar manner, Blaster Blade felt a strange sensation from the sudden hit. Over on the far side of the battlefield, Aichi who had signalled the attack several moments ago, glanced towards the Swordsman of Light in both curiousity and concern as he suddenly retreated back.
"Is something wrong, Blaster Blade?!" he called.
The Royal Paladin unit remained unresponsive for the moment, also bringing both Kai and Tama's attention towards his current state. His gaze was not directed towards any of them, as if he had something on his mind, greatly concerning everyone participating with the exception of Iona who had recovered from the blow by the Blaster Blade itself and Ruko who remained uninterested from what was going on with him. Nearly everyone that were watching on the sidelines were also primarily confused as to why this was.
"What's up with Blaster Blade?" Yuzuki murmured.
"You don't think Iona could have somehow have done something to him?" Naoki pondered. Ren didn't speak in response, but glanced towards Iona in curiousity, feeling that he had somehow figured it out as he believed that Leon would do so too. He glanced back to the Aqua Force user who simply nodded in agreement, much to the confusion of Hitoe.
Now then, Blaster Blade... the Shadow Paladin user thought Let's see if you'll find a similar answer as my avatar.
As Aichi remained worried over what had happened, he looked over the SIGNI that he had summoned earlier on his turn. From left to right, he had Knight of Silence, Gallatin, Seeker, Loving Healer and Margal who were now taking up defensive stances to brace themselves for an oncoming onslaught. Finally, he could see Blaster Blade raise his head before glaring sharply towards Iona.
"I see now..." he spoke, grabbing the LRIG's attention towards him, a hint of curiousity on her face.
"The figure I now face... this person called Urazoe Iona..." Blaster Blade continued as he paused for a brief moment. "I can now see... that you're not the same person Junos was acqainted with on Cray!"
Everyone else turned their attention to the Swordsman of Light, confused about his sudden conclusion to the LRIG that he was now facing. The only ones that did not appear this way were Ren and Leon whilst Kai glanced over towards Iona herself, believing that an explanation as to why this could be would be coming their way. The LRIG herself seemed unfazed by all of this as she simply kept her eyes closed whilst Ruko glanced over towards Blaster Blade himself, curious as to why he decided to speak out this way.
"What do you mean?" asked Aichi. Blaster Blade at this point turned his head back to his Vanguard before briefly glancing over to Kai and Tama, who nodded in compliance in that they were willing to listen to what the Swordsman of Light had to say.
"I first knew of this complication not too long ago, from Junos or Blaster Dark as most of you know him as, back on the Planet Cray," he began.
Flashback; Blaster Blade's POV
"I recieved word from Marron that he intended to meet me on the outer boundaries of the United Sanctuary."
Several hours ago, all the way back on an open plain of the Planet Cray itself, the Swordsman of Light looked across towards the one that had requested to meet him. Blaster Dark eventually moved from where he was standing and took several step forwards towards Blaster Blade, whose expression remained sharp as he wondered as to why the Shadow Paladin had requested to meet him at this very spot.
"From what I heard at that time, he said he needed my aid to confirm some suspicions that had recently arose."
And indeed, this message that the Swordsman of Light had recieved through the Little Sage had proved to be correct. Blaster Dark had mostly spoken about his previous confrontation with Iona and Ruko, seemingly informing his former comrade about the power of Reverse now in the distant world that they would be drawn to in the battles that took place there. In response however, Blaster Blade also briefly shared information about his previous bout with the reversed Tama and Ulith, noting that it was now confirmed that the entire planet was now a part of this new calamity.
"I soon learned that my aid to him was through a battle with a guest he had been hiding within the Shadow Paladins from the rest of the Sanctuary."
Blaster Dark gazed back to the rocks behind him and nodded, as if he was signalling for someone to emerge and show themselves into the presence of the two Swordsmen. Blaster Blade tensed in partial shock as he watched a shadow emerge from behind the wall of rocks before the figure it belonged to eventually revealed itself, or rather, herself. First came an armored black boot, with a high heel embedded beneath the higher half. Then a piece of dark red fabric, matching the exact colour seen on the cloaks of the Revengers, that Blaster Dark himself had founded, appeared into view before the figure herself appeared into full view. All the way from her boots up to the top of her chest, the newcomer was clad in black armor in addition to the gloves that she wore and the full red cape flowing on her back. Resting on her back on top of the cloak was what appeared to be a spear like weapon with a large blade across a third of the length.
"That was when I met, Urazoe Iona."
And indeed, it seemingly was. The girl's head, eyes and facial expressions were almost completely identical to the opponent that Blaster Blade was facing at this very moment, only her hair was completely jet black and her gaze was not as sharp.
"Junos... who is this?" Blaster Blade asked.
"I am Urazoe Iona," she spoke, her tone seeming not as arrogant or smoothly as the other Iona back in that other world. "I suppose Junos has now told everything?"
"Indeed," the Swordsman of Light answered, taking up a brief stance to prepare himself for the clash that the 'Sword of Determination' had arranged for the two of them. As she brought out her spear from her back, Blaster Dark quickly leaped back out of the way, to give the two combatants space for their battle. When a brief breeze had whilsted across the plain, both Blaster Blade and Iona charged towards one another to begin their clash. Eventually, after several minutes of dealing blows to one another and trying to outmatch each other, the two were locked in a stalemate with both blade and spear being pushed against one another as the swordsman and girl were looking for one of them to make a mistake that would cost them the battle.
(End Music)
Eventually, Iona lost her concentration for a brief moment, leading Blaster Blade to knocking her off balance before slashing past the right side of her armour. When she fell to her knees, the Swordsman of Light glanced over her form for a brief moment, as if he was trying to sense something, evidenced by the bright white glow surrounding him and the weapon he carried. When he eventually saw that aside from a strange familiar presence he felt when he was previously battling Tama before she became fully reversed, most likely to do with the dark element he sensed during their clash, he could now see that there was nothing out of the ordinary. He turned towards Blaster Dark, who nodded in agreement to stop the battle there as he came to join him and Iona who got up from the ground.
"I did what you asked of," Blaster Blade spoke sternly "I sensed no presence of Reverse from within her. Now tell me, what was the purpose of this battle?"
(Selector Spread Wixoss OST: Hesitation)
"I... I can explain that, Ahmes," Iona interrupted, bringing his attention to her "Junos... he faced someone in my world that looked identical to me. He wanted me to battle you to determine if I was really telling him the truth."
"Then it would appear that I owe you an apology, Iona," Blaster Dark said before turning his gaze over to the Royal Paladin.
"Now that we are all aware of everything that has happened, I only have one piece of advice," he spoke as he turned his back to the Swordsman of Light "If you face her look-a-like, do not let your guard down. My Vanguard, a handful of my comrades along with myself only escaped unscathed because of a merciful act from her wielder."
Blaster Blade said nothing in response, but nodded in agreement with a grim expression which had Iona slightly concerned. Blaster Dark gazed to her and began walking back to the territory of the Shadow Paladins, signalling for her to come with him. Iona nodded in response and hurried after the 'Sword of Determination' as Blaster Blade looked on into the distance, wondering about what was to come. Part of him was still concerned for Aichi, given how Ulith had managed to get inside his head though he was still thankful for Umr's aid at the last second when it was needed. After remaining still for a few moments, he began his trek back to the Royal Paladins, where he knew that Alfred and the rest of his comrades would be waiting.
Present
"And that is why I'm convinced... that the opponent we now face is not the real Urazoe Iona," Blaster Blade concluded.
Everyone aside from the Swordsman of Light, Ruko and Ren whose expression seemed to give off an 'I told you so' impression to anyone who looked at him out of curiosity, could only stare at the LRIG in shock, wondering why this happened to be the case.
"But if that's not the real Iona..." Hitoe murmured "Then who is the LRIG that Ruko's had this entire time?!"
"I have a feeling that we're about to find out for ourselves," muttered Yuzuki.
"So the name of the Selector's body was Iona... then we get an LRIG whose not Iona, but looks like her... Damn, I'm still lost!" Naoki groaned, struggling to make sense of the situation.
"It would be most appropriate to assume that the two of them were acqainted at some point in the Selector Battles," Leon spoke, trying to make light of the scenario before them "Hence why both Blaster Blade and Blaster Dark have been acqainted with two identical figures. But how the real Iona made it to Cray is still a mystery in itself."
At first, all remained silent after the truth about the Iona that was standing before them in this very space where the battle would soon resume its course. Even Tama herself was somewhat shocked from this sudden turn of events. Now that Blaster Blade had seemingly figured out the truth behind this Iona doppelganger, it would make sense for Ruko to have some sense knocked into her about the whole scenario. However, she felt that something still felt rather odd. If this was not the real Iona, then who was it that she remembered encountering in her previous skirmish with Chaos Breaker Dragon and why did she know her real name? As Tama resumed her attention on the LRIG herself, she opened her eyes with a small smile.
"So you figured it out, huh," she mused "You are correct, Blaster Blade. I may bear the appearance of the real Urazoe Iona and was in possession of her body before becoming an LRIG once more, but as you have found out, the two of us are not one of the same. My real identity is Kuro, the girl of black."
"Girl of black?!" Tama exclaimed.
"Then she must be the other girl in Fumio's novel!" Aichi gasped.
"I see..." Kai muttered as he gazed upon the LRIG "From the moment you assumed Iona's identity as a Selector, you've been seeking to find a Selector who you wanted as a compatible match for your power, to become the strongest pair in the Selector Battles, even if it meant becoming an LRIG. I can only assume that Ruko was that perfect match."
"Even so..." Tama murmured "Is that what Kuro wanted?! For Ru to suffer the same way Tama suffered when Tama was with Ulith?!"
Kuro remained unfazed by both the Kagero user's deduction and the girl of white's question, not concerned with whatever they had to say towards her. Ruko looked over towards the LRIG, now having realized that this was not the exact same person that she thought that she was somewhat familiar with. As she winced a little in pain from another surge of Reverse having coursed through her veins, the Selector decided to speak out for herself.
(End Music)
"Is this true... Kuro?" she asked "That you're not really called Iona?"
"Indeed," the girl of black replied before gazing towards her. "I assume your opinion your situation has changed?"
"Even if I'm somewhat bewildered... This still changes nothing!" Ruko responded "I will continue this battle as it is, to make both Aichi and Kai turn back! Even if I have to hold back the power that's trying to control me... I need your strength to accomplish this!"
"Very good," Kuro spoke as she turned her attention back towards the two cardfighters along with Tama and Blaster Blade who both took defensive stances to prepare themselves for what was to come. As Ruko drew her cards to begin her turn, she reached out into her white deck before holding out one card with its back held out towards her opponents. As she did so, streams of dark red energy began pouring out of the card, causing her to wince in pain for a brief moment, much to the concern of Tama, Hitoe and Yuzuki. Whilst this was going on, three of the cards in her Ener Zone, including a Code Maze Triumph that Blaster Blade's previous attack had crushed moved over to her Trash Pile.
"Prideful darkness, swallow up all that oppose you and force them back!" she called as she placed the card down on top of the one that represented Kuro's Level 3 form. "Grow!"
(Insert Song: World's End, Girl's Rondo by Kanon Wakeshima)
A sudden vortex of black energy enveloped Kuro as the blackened wings she had doubled in both size and number, all whilst retaining a hint of dark red to indicate the tainted power of the Reverse flowing through the LRIG. She let out a brief smile beneath her current expression as she appeared in her Level 4 form, one that was all too familiar to both Kai and Tama.
"Iona... or rather Kuro, Full/Maiden!"
As soon as the dark aura had vanished from around Kuro, three more figures suddenly materialized around her. Kai immediately recognized those SIGNI to be another Drei=Capsule from the center and Code Anti Vimana.
"Aichi, keep your guard up!" he called.
'Ubaware kanatte'
'Risō ha kuri kaesu game suri nuketeku'
'Nichijō ha utarete ana darake'
'Tatte iru no ga yatto ka na'
The Royal Paladin user nodded before turning back to the battle, just in time to see Gallatin fall to his knees in a bright purple flash that was conjured up by Drei=Capsule. When the flash had faded, the unit had fallen into a deathly like state before vanishing from the battlefield, his card moving straight to Aichi's Ener Zone as a result of being banished.
"My first Vimana attacks Margal!" Ruko declared.
'Ketsuron no nai kūron'
'Mienai rule no ue de odotteru step de'
'Kuzurete iku kyō wo tsunagi tomeru saishū bell ga nari dasu'
The Vimana to the right side of Drei began charging up energy for her attack before launching a devastating beam of black energy towards Margal. The attack hit the High Beast head on in a massive explosion, banishing it from the battle as the smoke from the impact vanished. The card then moved over to Aichi's Ener Zone.
"Then my other Vimana attacks Blaster Blade!" the Selector called.
"Quintet Wall!" Aichi called as he revealed Plume Wall Angel's card from his hand.
'Ukabu omoi no jōkei ni ha'
'Kimi ga irun da yo'
'Waratterun da yo'
The top five cards of his deck revealed themselves to be two copies of Knight of Silence Gallatin, Axe, Large Breaker, Seeker, Hallowed Breath Dragon and Seeker, Tranquil Unicorn. When the five SIGNI along with Plume Wall Angel's combined might deflected Vimana's attack, Kuro took the opportunity to unleash a pitch black beam of energy, with a hint of dark red to it, right at Blaster Blade which struck him point blank in the chest. Before Aichi could ask the Swordsman of Light if he was alright out of concern, an all too familiar aura surrounded him as he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his chest, causing him to cry out loud. As he did so, his next Life Cloth revealed God Eater, Ultimate Sword.
"My... Vanguard!" called Blaster Blade as he struggled to stay on his feet.
'Yurushitaku nai no? Motomete nai no?'
'Sore demo mada'
"Aichi!" cried Hitoe.
"This is just what happened last time...!" growled Yuzuki.
"Stay strong, Aichi!" called Kai "Don't let that power consume you as it once happened to me!"
Aichi clenched his teeth as he eventually found the power within himself to ward off the Reverse from his well being, now suspecting how this had come to be.
"The seed fragment..." he muttered "Kai-kun warned me this would happen..."
'We cry「OPEN」'
'Tori modoshitai mirai kowashitai sekai'
Ruko said nothing, simply noting what had occured in front of her as a result of Kuro's attack just now. As far as the Selector knew, this only happened to Kai when she used Kuro's Ultima/Maiden form whilst everyone else that had faced her had not had this effect up to now. Sighing for a brief moment, she glanced over towards the Kagero user and Tama, signalling the end of her turn.
End of Turn 9
Aichi and Kai vs Ruko
Hand - 1 : 5 : 4
Life Cloths - 5 : 6 : 2
Current LRIGs - Blaster Blade : Tamayorihime, Shooting Star Miko : Iona, Full/Maiden
SIGNI : EMPTY - Seeker, Loving Healer - EMPTY : EMPTY - EMPTY - EMPTY : Code Anti Vimana : Drei=Capsule : Code Anti Vimana
Ener - 7 : 3 : 8
'Ake hanachitai negai GOT IT?'
'Ima kōsa suru'
Kai could only inwardly sigh in relief that Aichi had managed to ward off the Reverse from Kuro's attack resonating with the fragment of the Seed that remained embedded within him, for now at least. Although Tama wasn't showing it at the moment, she too could only feel relieved at the scenario. The Kagero user began his turn by drawing more cards and holding up a card from his White deck high into the air before placing it down on top of Tama's Level 2 form.
'I wish you don't cry.'
'Hikari to yami no saki kasanatte mata iro ga tsuku yō'
'"Sono saki" wo shinjite miyou ka'
"Grow the LRIG!" he called "Tamayorihime, Sixteenth Night Miko!"
In a blinding white light that had engulfed the LRIG, Tama's appearance changed once more as her white hair gained an azure hint to it and gained two clean white feathery wings onto her back. In addition to that, she now held a spear with a large, sharp orange point at the far end and the wings on her boots had also grown in length, now about as long as the wings that she now possessed on her back. Her eye colour had also changed somewhat, also gaining an azure hint to it, much like her hair for the moment. Kai gazed on towards Ruko and Kuro as he continued on with his turn.
'Honki ga mitai'
'Yokubō ha soko no mienai addiction'
'Himitsu ni shitai no ni aragaenai'
'Rifujin na ketsumatsu
"Using her skill, I search for Arc Aura and add it to my hand!" he continued.
A file of light scanned through the main deck as the Spell card revealed itself to all before the Kagero user concealed it amongst the other card that were in his. Ruko glanced closely at him, having suspected this would happen.
"That card..." she muttered "So you're planning to end this quickly." Eyeing her deck closely, noting that at this very moment that there were only 8 cards left and that she had two Life Cloths remaining. "But with the way things are... that Spell is meaningless to you."
"Did you think I would use prematurely?" he replied.
'Kimi ga warau fūkei janakya'
'Imi ga nain da yo'
'Tatoe donna ni'
"I see your perceptiveness hasn't changed a bit, Kai Toshiki," Kuro mused as she then gazed over towards Tama who clutched her spear tightly in response, gritting her teeth as she did so. Kai briefly noticed this change in behavior as he quickly placed down Catapaul, Large Bow into the center SIGNI space.
"Catapaul's skill!" he called as he revealed the top card of his deck. The flipped card was revealed to be Hastall, Medium Spear. "Superior Call!"
The two White SIGNI appeared in front of and to the left of Tama, taking up battle stances in preparation for the Kagero user's command. To the LRIG's right appeared Yggdrasil, Maiden Elaine in a bright green flash of light that almost blinded her. Kai then glanced over to Aichi who nodded in response, as if he knew what he had planned next.
'Fukai yume no oku todaete ite mo'
'Shūen ja nai'
"I use five of Aichi's Ener to use Roccoco Boundary!" he declared as the ARTS revealed itself from his White deck. Two bright white beams erupted from the card and struck the Code Anti Vimanas head on, causing them to vanish from the battlefield. Ruko grimaced as the cards reappeared in her hand, meaning that Kai could break through her defences at this moment.
"Ru!"
'I cry「OPEN」'
'Wasure rare nai omoi mamoritai kioku'
'Te ni iretai kibō TAKE IT.'
'Mata kōsa suru'
'I like to see your smile.'
'Sen to sen no saki de karamatta unmei dakara'
'Kono koe ga kikoeru uchi ni'
The Selector turned her attention towards Tama who had called out to her at this very moment. The girl of white's expression seemed worried and riddled with concern but Ruko could also tell that there was still a hint of determination present. She knew that expression all too well, from all of the times that the two of them had battled together before the moment where everything fell apart between them.
"Tama doesn't want to lose Ru to Reverse!" the LRIG called. "And... Tama's sorry for what happened before..."
"If you came all this way to apologize..." the Selector replied "You're already too late! Because of you... I've had to leave the only family and friends I had to keep them safe..."
"Ruko-san..." Aichi murmured.
After the Selector had finished speaking, another surge of Reverse began coursing through her as she began breathing heavily and wincing in pain even more than she had done so before. Upon looking closely at her, Blaster Blade's eyes widened in horror as to what he was seeing.
"My Vanguard, look!" he called.
Aichi looked forwards towards Ruko and gasped in horror. This also prompted Kai and Tama to look onwards and the result was equal reactions to the Royal Paladin's own. The same could be said for those that were watching the battle over on the sidelines. From what they could all see, Ruko's skin was now beginning to flake, with tiny bits having already left the bottom of her left cheek and falling to the floor of the space from where her feet were. She lifted her head up towards both of the cardfighters as she pulled out a card from her White deck and revealed it to them.
"I use Dark Matter...!" she called as a dark black aura surrounded Kuro. "Each of us sends a SIGNI to our Trash Piles and then I recover 1 Life Cloth!"
The black LRIG smirked briefly before thrusting out her right arm with her open palm out wide. Three purple lightning bolts struck Loving Healer, Elaine and Drei=Capsule as they left the field after being struck down by the power of the ARTS. After that had happened, the top card of Ruko's deck moved over to her remaining Life Cloths, face-down in that manner. Kai glanced forwards towards Ruko, a serious glint present in his green eyes, but also with a hint of concern riddled within.
"Ruko!" he called "If you're wanting to save everyone involved in the Selector Battles like you said, then why are you not accepting our help to free you from Reverse?!"
"I wanted my friends and family safe from all of this..." the Selector replied "None of you would understand. I won't let you intervene! After all, if I don't save everyone from Mayu... Then who will?!"
"You don't have to do this alone!"
'Ukabu omoi no jōkei ni ha'
'Kimi ga irun da yo'
'Waratterun da yo'
Ruko turned her attention towards Aichi who had suddenly called out to her.
"I understand how you feel!" he continued "When I was under the strain of Link Joker once before, I thought that there was nothing anyone could do to help me fix the problem. But, I learned that if I had just trusted the people I cared about, I could have sorted out the situation sooner. That's why... Kai-kun and I can't let the same thing happen to you!"
'Yurushitaku nai no? Motomete nai no?'
'Sore demo mada'
The Selector simply chose not to make any response to his explanation, remaining completely silent as she did so. Unbeknowst to her and everyone else within the field, Kuro had kept a smile hidden from them, as if she was somewhat expecting this reaction to be the case. Kai held out his hand over the field before downing Hastall's card immediately.
'My wish is that you end this world.'
"Attack!" he declared.
'Tori modoshitai mirai kowashitai sekai'
'Ake hanachitai negai GOT IT?'
'Ima kōsa suru'
'I wish you don't cry.'
The White SIGNI along with Catapaul nodded in response to Kai's command and charged across the vast expanse of the field towards Kuro who had remained motionless as the blows from her attackers eventually struck her. Aside from the impact crushing two of Ruko's Life Cloths, the girl of black seemed hardly fazed by this turn of events at all. As the two White SIGNI retreated back to Kai's side of the field, Ruko's crushed Life Cloths revealed another Code Anti Vimana and Code Maze Skyju, the first card glowing to indicate its Life Burst going off.
"With the effect," the Selector spoke "I banish Hastall!"
As Hastall immediately vanished in a cloud of black mist with purple sparks raging throughout, Kai gritted his teeth as the card moved to his Ener Zone. Looking over towards Tama, the LRIG turned her head towards him, nodding for his approval.
"Tama attacks!" he declared as he held out his hand, downing Sixteenth Night Miko's card as he did so.
'Hikari to yami no saki kasanatte mata iro ga tsuku yō'
'Aeru yō owaru yō'
'I like to see your smile.'
'Sen to sen no saki de karamatta unmei dakara'
'Kono koe ga kikoeru uchi ni'
Tama took flight using the wings that she had acquired in this form to ascend high into the air before charging down towards Kuro head on. Letting out a loud battle cry and thrusting the spear she wielded forwards towards her opponent, Kuro remained simply motionless and smirked. Ruko however was more than prepared for this scenario as she threw down a card from her hand down onto the table in front of the LRIG's card.
"Perfect Guard!" she called.
Tama gasped in shock as Mac Lir suddenly appeared in front of Kuro, blocking her attack towards the girl of black. The Shadow Paladin unit grabbed ahold of the LRIG's right arm before tossing her spear aside and with a mighty throw sent her hurtling backwards through the air right back towards Kai's side of the field. Realizing that she was coming in right over the top from where he was standing, Kai quickly placed all the cards that he had in his hand face down at the base of the table in front before leaping backwards just in time to catch the LRIG in both of his arms. Tama although surprised from the action managed to catch her breath from the ordeal as the Kagero user helped her back to her feet. She then jumped over the table and back into the battle as he took his place at the table once more, much to the relief of Aichi.
"He didn't make it through!" groaned Naoki.
"If he succeeded, then not only would Ruko have been only able to get 1 draw out of her next turn," Yuzuki muttered "But they would only have just another 7 Life Cloths to worry about."
"I'm worried..." Hitoe murmured as she kept her hands together, worried about what was to come. Leon said nothing in response, but glanced over towards Ruko and Kuro, just in time to see another surge of Reverse course through the two of them. Kai made a simple 'TSK!' under his breath as he was forced to end the turn right there and then.
(End Insert Song)
"Pathetic."
(Cardfight! Vanguard Unreleased Soundtrack: Omega Lock (Glendios Version))*
"Huh?"
Tama's eyes blinked in response to the word that was directed towards her, Kai, Aichi and Blaster Blade. The Swordsman of Light and the Kagero user gazed sharply at Kuro, having heard that it had come from her.
"I expected more from the two of you," the girl of black spoke "But it seems that I was mistaken. I suppose that even under the command of the person who wielded Dragonic Overlord... the girl of white is now powerless before me!"
As the group on the sidelines were wondering what the LRIG was talking about, Ruko had already started her turn by drawing her two cards. The dark red aura of Reverse was still flowing through her as she turned her gaze towards her four opponents.
"Now that you've pushed me this far..." she spoke, her voice feeling strained from having to hold back the power that was within her "You leave me no choice!"
"Ru, don't do it!" cried Tama.
But the Selector's reaction from simply holding the back of one of the cards that she drew towards the LRIG and everyone else that was by her side in the battle, made it apparently clear that it was already too late. Kuro having somewhat sensed what Ruko had managed to obtain could only widen her smile, now that she had the chance to display the same terror that she had already displayed to Kai. As the Selector revealed the card to be a second copy of Swift Advance, Aichi gasped in shock.
"It's coming!" called Kai.
"The ultimate form of darkness, brought to its highest evolution from my pain, my sorrow and despair! Descend now and show all who oppose you that their efforts are meaningless! Superior Grow!" Ruko called as she held the card representing the all too familiar form high into the air before throwing it down on top of Kuro's Full/Maiden form.
A large aura of Reverse surrounded her and Kuro as this happened, the LRIG being enveloped within the power, her appearance changing as a result of the transformation and the all too familiar black ring from before materializing behind her back. Tama and everyone on the sidelines gasped in shock as they finally saw the result of the Grow through the full power of Reverse. Kuro's spear materialized in her right hand before she brought it down, pointing the tip in the direction towards Tama and Kai.
"Kuro... Ultima/Maiden!"
Blaster Blade took a defensive stance to brace himself for the worst to come whilst Aichi could only stare at Kuro's new form in shock, wondering how this had come to be and wondering how he and Kai were even going to overcome this obstacle in the hopes of saving Ruko from the power that was now constantly plaguing her. Ever since the LRIG underwent the transformation, the Reverse aura had remained flowing through the Selector as she strained her eyes to keep her foresight of the field in front of her into her vision. More skin began to flake from her cheek in her efforts to resist it as she gazed upon the two cardfighters.
"No way..." Yuzuki murmured "She brought that form out... already?!"
"Hang in there, everyone!" Naoki called "This is just like any other Reversed unit!"
"I can sense otherwise."
The Narukami user looked over towards Leon who had spoken out in response, but in a rather grim way. His attention was fixated on Kuro as was Ren's as the two gazed closely upon the girl of black, trying to make what little light they could of the situation.
"Leon's right," the Shadow Paladin user replied "Kai wasn't lying when he said this Reverse was different from the rest. Even from Dragonic Overlord "The Яe-birth"."
"Please don't give up..." Hitoe murmured nervously. "Aichi... Kai... Tama... Please save her."
Kai gritted his teeth as he looked towards Kuro and Ruko, now with the knowledge that he, Aichi and Tama that had sought to make things right for the Selector, were in for a long uphill struggle.
(End Music)
And there we go! Upon clashing with the LRIG opposing him, Blaster Blade ends up confirming that Urazoe Iona that everyone percieved as Ruko's LRIG was really someone by the name of Kuro whilst the real one is somehow stranded on the Planet Cray, in the company of the Shadow Paladins. Even with this information brought to light, still struggling with the scrunity of Reverse, Ruko continues the battle in her efforts to make both Kai and Aichi see that anything they attempt to do for her will be impossible to achieve. Unfettered by this though, the Kagero user pushes onwards with Tama. However, his efforts inadvertently lead to the conditions necessary in this Battle Royale for Ruko to access Kuro's Ultima/Maiden form, revealing the girl of black at the prime of her strength. What will unfold from this turn of events? Find out next time on Stand Up, the LRIG!
Now that the truth about the real Iona's whereabouts have been revealed, some of you may be wanting to know more about what happened with her on Cray up to this point. That is why to this end, at some point during December or January, I will begin writing a side story that will cover over the events surrounding Iona's own ventures, from how she ended up on Cray to how she came into the company of the Shadow Paladins up to the events that will lead up to her role in the third arc. If anyone has any questions regarding this, I will do my best to answer them without giving anything away. Though I will warn that despite this being linked to the fic which is an AU of Selector Spread Wixoss, the first chapter will contain some major spoilers to Episode 10 in particular. As always, feel free to follow, favourite and/or leave a review and I'll see you again next time. Until then!
*This first plays in Episode 99 when Team Quadrifolio and Takuto regain consciousness in the space between Cray and Earth.
*This is the first version of the track that plays in Episode 156 when Яeverse Takuto uses Star-vader, "Omega" Glendios to toy with the original Takuto before winning via it's Ultimate Break, World End. To those that recall the name I used for that track in Ride 15, that was the Dark Zodiac version which didn't have the choir in the background.
