Hello again everyone! First of all, my most sincerest apologies for the long hiatus but I kindly welcome you back to part three of the second arc's finale. And for those who have also taken the time to read my side-story (whose opening chapters are/will also act as a partial prequel) 'The Outcast and the Sword of Determination', as I have promised there previously, I have also bundled the third chapter for that in this update. Hope you enjoy what is in store.
The White Room
(Selector Spread Wixoss OST: Empty Existence)
Mayu gazed out into the window in front of her, observing the battle that had been ongoing within the domain of Link Joker for some time now. Her attention was mainly focused towards Ruko as she continued to struggle onwards, resisting the mind controlling effects of Reverse for as long as she could possibly hold out on her own will whilst risking damage to her body in the same way. The mastermind had already expected this confrontation to be instigated because of Ruko's refusal for aid in her scenario from Aichi and Kai, although she never expected a Battle Royale with all three of them involved to be the case. She then switched her view of the battle towards Tama, Kuro and Blaster Blade, the sudden change in the image displayed before her now having attracted the attention of someone else.
"So he's finally appeared before the girl of black."
Photon leapt down from one of the higher windows of the White Room and landed on his feet beside Mayu's negative hued throne. He turned his attention towards the window that was displaying the battle he was now seeing. His eyes, if they were visible to anyone from beneath his opaque visor, remained trained on the Swordsman of Light like a cold stare. This in turn had gotten the attention of the mastermind of the Selector Battles over towards him as she turned her gaze upon him.
"I trust that Takuto has been cooperative?" she asked.
The Cyberoid glanced over to Mayu who had spoken out to him. She seemed intrigued at first glance, though he could tell there was somewhat a hint of impatience beneath her expression.
"Subject has remained cooperative thus far," he replied "Project: Locked Soul as of this moment is 75% complete."
"And what of the Reverse that has consumed Kominato Ruko?" she continued.
"Vital signs show that although her mind hasn't been influenced, her own will has been steadily decreasing from the strain," Photon responded.
"Excellent Photon. Perhaps my patience won't wear as thin after all."
Mayu got up from her throne and walked towards the window that was displaying the battle right in front of her. She glanced closely at the image displayed before looking back towards Photon, expecting the Cyberoid to quickly catch on to what she would ask of next.
"Assume command of the White Room and have Ulith watch over Takuto in my absence," she spoke "I must attend to both your superiors and my prize."
"As you wish," the Cyberoid answered.
The mastermind of the Selector Battles simply smiled in response before holding out her hand, opening out a portal in front of her to take her to the destination that she had in mind. When Mayu had stepped inside, she simply vanished along with the vortex that she had opened up. As the White Room remained seemingly silent once again, Photon merely stood still, awaiting the outcome of what was to come from the confrontation stemming out between the Selector and the two cardfighters. His sharp gaze, hidden from outside view because of his visor, trailed upon Blaster Blade and Tama once more, as if he was expecting something from them. What that could be though would be anyone's guess.
"So she's gone off."
The Cyberoid looked to the right to see Ulith had entered the vincinity of the White Room, sneering as she did so.
"Mayu has assigned you to watch over Takuto," he spoke.
"So I need to play guard duty to that 'prisoner' she's had locked up," she mused "Well then, can't say I can argue with that, can I. Then again, if he tries anything funny, I look forward to hearing him scream."
Photon said nothing more as the dual Selector/LRIG exited through one of the open windows in the White Room to carry out Mayu's orders. Unbeknowst to him, Ulith was smiling to herself the whole time, as if she had something sinister planned within the confines of her twisted mind.
(End Music)
Link Joker Fight Field
Back on the battlefront, everyone with the exception of Ruko could only stare towards Kuro in her strongest and most dangerous form. Fueled by the Reverse that was continously seeping away at the Selector's willpower and damaging her body in her attempts to resist, the LRIG could only smile maliciously towards Tama, the expression in her eyes having seemingly been twisted by the power flowing through her. Whilst Tama herself could only look back in utter shock, Blaster Blade and Kai had sharpened their respective gaze towards the girl of black. Aichi however couldn't find the words to speak out for the scenario the four of them, or five if they were officially counting Ruko given her circumstances, had now been faced with.
Over on the sidelines, out of striking range from the two LRIGs and the Royal Paladin unit, Naoki, Hitoe and Yuzuki could only watch on in great concern, knowing at this point, there was nothing more they could do but hope that the two cardfighters in the Battle Royale could save Ruko from being bound to a terrible fate. A fate that even the Narukami user was more than acqainted with, even if it was only for a while. Leon and Ren simply remained still, watching over the confrontation unfolding out before them knowing at this point for an iron clad fact that things were not going to get any easier for Aichi, Kai, Blaster Blade and Tama in their efforts to save the Selector who was their opponent.
Kai gritted his teeth, knowing full well that from the current turn's standpoint, he and Tama were within striking range of Kuro's next attack and he had very little options on hand to fend for himself, knowing full well of what happened the last time he faced the girl of black like this.
"With Kuro's skill," Ruko spoke "From this point onwards, all of us can only have one SIGNI on the field at a time and we can only draw 1 card at the start of each of our turns."
Then that means Alfred's Legion skill will be useless here Kai muttered in his thoughts From the way this battle has now progressed, Aichi's strength of battling with a full formation has been sealed.
"Well then, Kai Toshiki, Shiro," Kuro mused as the dark aura of Reverse flowed fiercly through the palm of her free right hand. "Are you prepared to suffer for a second time?"
Both the Kagero user and the girl of white said nothing in response as Ruko placed down Code Anti Vimana's card into the left SIGNI space on her table as the black SIGNI itself materialized onto the field. She held out her palms towards Tama who could only brace herself for the worst to come as a black sphere of energy materialized in the SIGNI's hands. Aichi and Blaster Blade could only watch on anxiously as Vimana prepared to unleash her attack on the LRIG.
"Attack!"
(Cardfight! Vanguard Unreleased Soundtrack: Contention)
As soon as the command was given by Ruko, Code Anti Vimana unleashed a large beam from the sphere she had created, striking Tama right in the stomach at point blank and knocking her over onto her back. She coughed loudly upon attempting to stand up from the impact of where the blast had hit her which greatly concerned Kai, Aichi and Blaster Blade who could only remain tensed up as they anticipated what was to come next. Kuro took flight into the air by flapping her stained black wings which summoned up a brief, but strong gale that swept across the entire field. She then dove down towards Tama as Kai quickly pulled out a card from his hand whilst doing his best to also shield his face from the gale that the girl of black's wings had caused.
"Guard!" he called.
As Kuro brought down her spear's tip towards the defenceless Tama, a blinding white light suddenly appeared in front of the LRIG, preventing the girl of black from advancing any further. She gritted her teeth in annoyance as the figure revealed itself to be Flash Shield, Iseult having already deployed a pratically impenetrable barrier from her large left gauntlet, just as the wind summoned up the from the LRIG's wings had eventually died down.
"So you avoid my vengeful wrath once again...!" Kuro muttered under her breath.
Her expression now gained a hint of annoyance as she turned her attention to Shiro who was panting from the last attack that she suffered from. Kai could only inwardly sigh in relief that managed to hold off the girl of black's onslaught for the moment, but he was still concerned for what lay ahead for Ruko. He knew that the longer the battle was drawn out, the closer Reverse would have to fully taking her over. The Kagero user turned over to Aichi who had drawn his single card for the start of his turn. Looking over what little options he had, he turned his attention over towards his white deck, before picking out a single card from amongst the selection that he had available. Taking a deep breath and going deep into thought for a brief moment, he held the card that he picked out high above him.
"Brilliant light, shine through the darkness before us and clear a path for us!" he called "Grow!"
As Blaster Blade vanished from the space, a brilliant light shone throughout, nearly blinding everyone that was present, regardless of whether or not they were involved in the battle. A figure's shape began to emerge from the source of the white glow, one that was even familiar to Kai as he struggled to see who exactly Aichi had been calling upon at this very moment. As the light eventually died down, his answer came to him as Aichi spoke out the name of that unit.
"Pure Heart Jewel Knight, Ashlei!"
The Royal Paladin unit that had entered the battle was not human like Blaster Blade, File or Alfred, but was an elf instead much like several other units from the clan. She wore a white dress etched with several turqoise lines to symbolize her allegiance with the clan that she was a part of and wore long white boots and gloves to compliment her complete outfit. Ashlei had long wavering light blonde hair, a golden shield with several white folds on the edges and a sword with a golden hilt attached to a long, gleaming white blade. It was thinner than that of most other blades from the Royal Paladins such as Alfred's, but it made it for its lack in size with grace and the skill of its user.
"She's... beautiful..." Hitoe murmured.
"For once when it comes to looks... I agree..." Yuzuki said in agreement.
"So Aichi's using Kourin's unit..." Ren murmured, having recalled seeing it from a previous fight between Kourin and Asaka.
Leon however was looking closely at the Royal Paladin user, having noticing his expression had gone a bit, no doubt from feeling some guilt about what had happened to the Ultra Rare member. Tama said nothing in response to the appearance of the Jewel Knight, her concerns still lying with Ruko and how the Selector was holding up, but even she couldn't help but somewhat admire the regal appearance of the Royal Paladin unit. She turned her head around to the cardfighter that had called her into battle, also noticing his expression much like Naoki at this very moment.
"Sendou Aichi... We meet once more."
"A... Ashlei-san," Aichi murmured.
"Although I wasn't brought into play the last time you went into battle, I could hear everything that had gone on," she spoke "I'm thankful that Umr, if I recalled hearing her name correctly, had broken you out of that state."
"Yes," he replied "Even so... the fact that Ulith is out there still scares me. I can't imagine to think what any Selector or LRIG could have gone through because of her."
"I understand," Ashlei answered "Also... what happened with Kourin wasn't your fault."
Kai and Tama looked over towards Aichi, noticing that his expression had been slightly dejected when the Jewel Knight had brought up the subject. Even Hitoe who had been watching on the sidelines could notice the guilt that was present in his eyes. She remembered being brought up to speed by Kourin's current state and even then, she couldn't help but feel sorry for him. The Selector then inwardly sighed in relief when she saw the cardfighter turn his attention back to the battle in front of him and to Ruko as he summoned Gallatin to join the Jewel Knight on the field.
"Gallatin attacks!" he declared.
The Knight of Silence nodded in response to Aichi's command as he clutched his sword tightly before charging across the space towards Kuro who remained perfectly motionless. The girl of black's smile did not leave her lips as Ruko then suddenly revealed a card out of her hand in response to the attack.
"Quintet Wall!" she called.
Gallatin took a mighty leap into the air raised her sword high above her before bringing it down right upon her intended target. However, Hellrage Revenger, Quesal suddenly appeared in front of her, alongside two Servant D2s and Drei=Capsule. The Knight of Silence could only clench his teeth as he could sense that he had no choice, but to retreat back to Aichi's side of the space as the Shadow Paladin units and the SIGNI vanished from the battlefield. As this had happened, the two copies of Inhaling Hole that were revealed were sent to Ruko's Trash Pile.
"Ashlei!" called Aichi.
"Mac Lir!"
The Shadow Paladin unit appeared in front of Kuro, deploying a shield by combining two of the larger pieces of armour on his shoulders together. Ashlei could only remain still, knowing that her efforts would not be enough to break through the barrier. After several moments had passed by, Mac Lir vanished from battlefield as Aichi could do nothing more than end his turn there. Ruko begun her turn by simply drawing the last card that was present on the deck space of her table. All of the cards that were present in her Trash Pile hovered up into the air and rearranged themselves before settling face down on the deck space. The final Life Cloth flipped face up, which was Hellrage Revenger, Quesal, and landed in the space where her Trash Pile formerly was.
"With this rule from the Battle Royale," she spoke "For this one time only, I regain the top 7 cards of deck as additional Life Cloths!"
And indeed, it happened. The top 7 cards then entered the zone where her last Life Cloth was present, face down in order from Ruko's right to her left. She then gazed upon Aichi as she immediately downed Vimana's card. The black SIGNI much like the last time held out her hands to charge up energy for her attack as a black sphere crackling with energy began to form within her palms. The beam from before then erupted from Vimana's hands and hit Ashlei head on, causing the Jewel Knight to scream loudly in pain as she fell to her knees.
"Kuro!" called Ruko.
The girl of black flapped her darkened wings as she took flight towards Ashlei who could only brace herself for the oncoming attack that was coming her way. She swung her blade towards the tip of Kuro's spear, leaving the two of them locked into a stalemate. The Jewel Knight could only stare into the eyes of the LRIG, shocked to see something she thought she would never have to see again. It was herself, but not the way that she remembered. Behind her back in the reflection, she could see a black ring with several incomprehensible red runes ingraved into it and that she had a transparent black visor covering over her eyes. Taking the opportunity she had from this distraction, Kuro pulled back her spear and then slashed down the front of Ashlei.
(End Music)
"Ashlei!" cried Aichi. Before he could think of anything else, an all too familiar aura suddenly surrounded him as he cried out loud in pain, trying to resist being taken over by that feeling.
"Aichi!" called Kai and Tama.
The Royal Paladin user groaned for a few more moments before his blue eyes suddenly flared up a bright pink, driving away the darkness of Reverse from his body. At least, for the moment. Looking over to his Ener Zone, he could see that Ruko's previous attacks had revealed both Seeker, Tranquil Unicorn and Knight of the Explosive Flames, Palamedes. No Life Bursts were revealed amongst them, making the situation rather dire for Aichi as he glanced over towards Ruko. The Selector herself, still covered with the aura of Reverse looked back towards him who could only remain concerned for her state.
"I don't understand Aichi..." she muttered.
(Selector Infected Wixoss OST: Battle ~ Even if I Hurt Myself)
"Huh?" the cardfighter pondered, blinking for a brief moment.
"Why do you side with them?" asked Ruko "You're not like Kai or Tama. From what I could see from the previous times we encountered each other, even the first time when you were with Hanayo, you were somewhat clueless to the Selector Battles and what they held, just as I once was before my final battle with Kuro and Ulith. You could have been the only one to understand everything about them and done something right about it."
"Ruko-san, going off on your own with Reverse isn't right!" he replied "I know you don't want your grandmother and brother endangered by it, but they're just as worried about it as your friends and Tama! Please believe me!"
At this moment, Kai then turned his head over to the Royal Paladin user, feeling that there was something more to what he was saying. Tama looked over towards him, having been trapped in the possession of Ulith when this had occurred.
"You've met them?" he asked.
"Yes," Aichi answered "On our way to your apartment yesterday, we ran into them and Hitoe introduced us to them. I didn't say anything to them about Ruko-san's involvement with the Selector Battles or the fact that I ran into her earlier that day to avoid raising a panic or making things worse for her."
Ruko silently gasped in response to this sudden revelation that was now brought before her. Part of her was angered that Aichi had ended up running into both Ayumu and her grandmother, but part of her couldn't help but wonder if what he said was true. Had he actually kept true to his word and kept everything about the Selector Battles and her current predicament from them? From the two encounters that both the Selector and Cardfighter had on the previous day and night, he did seem sincere whenever he tried to speak out to her. Kuro who had noticed Ruko's sudden change in mood seemed less than happy from everything that was unfolding.
"Nonsense!" she yelled as she then pointed her spear towards the Selector, causing everyone else to gasp in shock.
"Stop, Kuro!" cried Tama.
"I won't allow you to prolong your envitable defeat any further!" the girl of black replied "One more word of your 'advice' and I will not hesitate to force that full power onto Ruko."
"Will you just stop thinking about victory for once in this battle and listen to what we're saying!" Kai demanded fiercely "Right now, Ruko's very own life is being weakened by the power the two of you have been cursed with! Are you willing to overlook that fact just for a satisfactory conclusion to this battle?!"
The girl of black simply remained still, her stern gaze remaining unwavered by the Kagero user's words at this very moment. The tip of her spear was still pointed in the direction of Ruko, coursing with the power of Reverse much like the dark red aura that was surrounding both the Selector and the LRIG. The Selector was now cringing from her foresight being affected by the power again and now skin was even beginning to flake from her right cheek. But the cardfighters, Tama, Yuzuki and Hitoe knew that all of this didn't seem to matter to Kuro in the slightest, with her seeing this as nothing more than minor inconveniences for her and simply the means to an end for this battle.
"You are a fool..."
The girl of black then stared on in disbelief to see Ashlei struggling back onto her knees as she spoke those words. She panted heavily, the memories of 'that time' and the pain from the previous attack having an effect on her composure and her mood to an extent.
"I can see it in your eyes," she spoke as she looked back at the LRIG "You may hold a strong front with your own will, the Reverse coursing through your veins. But, I can sense a great deal of hurt behind that determination. Believe me when I say that I have known this firsthand, Kuro."
"It hardly changes anything," Kuro replied "Very soon, you, Tama and the whole of the Planet Cray will be beneath me and Ruko. Even now, there is not a force on this world or any world that can stop us and I intend to see that there never will be."
(End Music)
Whilst Ruko had struggled to regain her foresight after the brief surge of Reverse that had gone through her, she looked towards Kai as if she was expecting him to already begin his turn. Needless to say, the Kagero user already knew this beforehand as he drew his single card, looking amongst the options in his hand and making a decision. He placed Servant O into his Ener Zone and looked towards the Selector with something in mind that he wanted to say to her and more specifically, the LRIG she had.
"A double-edged sword that restricts all of us in an attempt to Lock me and Aichi out from advancing," he murmured before looking over to Kuro. "Kuro, this is what you had in your mind." The girl of black said nothing in response as Tama looked back to Kai. "But even so, I will advance!"
He then took a single card from his white deck after moving all the only card left in his Ener Zone to his Trash Pile whilst two cards from Aichi's Ener Zone moved to his own Trash Pile. Kai then held up the card he had chosen high into the air as a brilliant white light radiated both from it and Tama as she looked down upon it. Kuro could only stare towards the card that the Kagero user held and the moment she could somehow recall the light emitting from it, she could only clench her teeth in partial shock and annoyance.
"A pure white glow that emits through everything before you," he spoke "Descend now and illuminate our path to victory! Grow... the... LRIG!"
(Cardfight! Vanguard Unreleased Soundtrack: The Thunder Dragon Descends)
As Kai spoke those words out aloud, he threw the chosen card right on top of the card representing Tama's Shooting Star Miko form as it shone brightly in a blinding white glow. The same effect happened to Tama as she closed her eyes, her body being completely enveloped in that same blinding white light, making it difficult for anyone, with the exception of the Kagero user to see what was going on. In a few short moments, the LRIG reappeared with several red additions to her dress, her gloves, between one of her hair ribbons and on the metal that was now coating her feathered wings.
"Tamayorihime... Vermillion Miko!"
Tama floated down onto the 'ground' that was present on the field, now with determination and resolute confidence brimming in her eyes amongst her now serious expression, her gaze directed towards Kuro who could only clench her teeth in response. Even Ruko, who had refused to listen to her former LRIG and the cardfighter that was using her now couldn't help, but somewhat look more closely at her as memories beginning to flood back to the Selector about the times that she had spent with her. Even with the dark grip of Reverse eating away at her willpower by the second, there was something about Tama at this very moment, something that she felt that she couldn't ignore.
"So you've finally surpassed the strength you had before you came to Ruko," Kuro muttered "Even so, your efforts remain futile."
"Is that so?" Kai replied as he looked over to Aichi who nodded in agreement. "By borrowing 1 of Aichi's Ener, I use Tama's skill to add Rococo Boundary back to my LRIG deck!"
The ARTS then lifted itself up from his LRIG Trash pile before setting itself face down back on the top of the pile where his remaining white backed cards were placed for the moment. A SIGNI by the name of Energe, Original Spear then appeared in front of Tama as she took up a stance to prepare for battle as it stared on into Code Anti Vimana. Kai then searched through the remaining white backed cards that he had before picking one of them, causing the Servant O card in his Ener Zone to move to his Trash Pile.
"And finally, I use One Rule, Two Birds!" he called, revealing the red ARTS to all. Unbeknowst to Kuro and Ruko and almost everyone on the sidelines, something seemed quite different about this card in particular.
"So now you've restricted the cards that Ruko can guard with," Kuro murmured "Even so, putting that kind of card into a deck around Tama seems impractical even for your knowledge."
A fiery aura then surrounded Tama as she could feel the warmth of the flames coursing through her veins as she looked on towards the girl of black. Kai then turned his attention towards Vimana as he downed Energe's card.
"Energe attacks Vimana!" he declared.
The white SIGNI nodded to his command as she let out a battle cry and charged towards Vimana who decided to take a different approach to using her attacks. She manifested two small black spheres in the palms of both of her seperate hands and began volleying multiple shots of that shape towards Energe. Energe however leapt from side to side, occasionally parrying off some of the shots before coming in close and slashing down the front of Vimana with her spear. The black SIGNI then vanished from the field as the card representing her then moved to Ruko's Ener Zone as she looked back towards Tama. The fiery aura around her suddenly began to take on a form of its own.
The flames grew even taller as their shape began to change, seemingly taking on the shape of someone or rather, something. Something that was all too familiar to anyone who knew well of Kai and what was well asscociated with him. Within the haze of flames, an astral like figure, representing a well known Flame Dragon appeared in the vicinity of everyone within and watching the battle. Its loud roar was more than enough to grab their attention and for them to recognize almost immediately as to who appeared at this very moment.
"What the...?!" Kuro gasped in disbelief "Why is Dragonic Overlord...?!"
"That's right," Kai replied as he showed the full image of the ARTS, now with Dragonic Overlord imprinted on it instead of a different figure. "This copy of One Rule, Two Birds that I played now, is infused with Overlord's own will and power. With this, Tama and I will break on through to Ruko, with the apocalyptic flames that reduce everything in this world to ash!"
"Amazing..." murmured Aichi as he looked on at the sight beside him.
"To think they could harness Overlord's power through a card like that," said Ashlei.
The Jewel Knight then looked on at Tama and the figure of Overlord that was present throughout the flames. Everyone else on the sidelines however had no words to describe what they were seeing before their eyes. The fact that Kai had made it possible for a unit's power to be infused into an ARTS almost sounded like an impossibility, but then again, with the strange possibilities that arose throughout the Selector system and battles, there was no doubt that such a thing was possible. Kai then held his hand over Tama's card.
"Tama attacks Kuro!" he declared.
Ruko said nothing in response after briefly looking through her hand, upon seeing that she didn't have the necessary cards that she wanted to defend herself with. Tama flapped her wings and took flight towards Kuro as the fiery aura of Dragonic Overlord trailed behind her. Staring on into the fiery inferno that was coming her way, Kuro could only clench her teeth as she held out her spear in front of her in attempt to defend herself. Then in an instant, Tama's right fist became enveloped in a haze of flames as she let out a loud cry before uppercutting the girl of black from the front, causing her to drop her spear. After being knocking up into the air, Kuro could only stare into the face of Dragonic Overlord as it let out a roar before unleashing a torrent of crimson flames right at her, engulfing the LRIG and Ruko in an instant.
(End Music)
The Selector cried out loud as she shielded her face and the cards in her hand from the intense heat and force from Overlord's Eternal Flame as more images suddenly began to seemingly appear before her. As she was knocked into the air from the force of the attack, she began to recollect the memories that she was seeing at this very moment. First was the memory she recalled earlier in the day of her mother leaving her in the care of her grandmother, the pain of that event now having returned to her. Then, she remembered the first time that she met Tama when she had no basic idea of the Selector Battles. Next, she recalled the first times that she had met both Hitoe and Yuzuki before coming to terms with the consequences of the Selector Battles and finally, the battle that she and Hitoe had, before she confronted both Kuro and Ulith on that same evening, where everything went wrong.
When the final image had passed, she had landed on her back and was now lying down on the 'floor' of the space, struggling to process the memories that had just flashed before her as Kuro fell to her knees. She growled under her breath as she glared back at Tama and Dragonic Overlord, who vanished from the field now that Kai's turn had come to an end, along with the effect of the ARTS.
End of Turn 14
Aichi and Kai vs Ruko
Hand - 1 : 4 : 5
Life Cloths - 3 : 5 : 5
Current LRIGs - Pure Heart Jewel Knight, Ashlei : Tamayorihime, Vermillion Miko : Iona, Ultima/Maiden
SIGNI : Knight of Silence, Gallatin - EMPTY - EMPTY : EMPTY - Energe, Original Spear - EMPTY : EMPTY - EMPTY - EMPTY
Ener - 1 : 0 : 9
As Ruko finally stood up onto her feet and got back to the table, she saw that Tama's attack on the previous turn had crushed Revenger, Dark Bond Trumpeter and Servant D2, neither of which had any Life Bursts. She then looked over towards Kai and Tama, wincing a little in pain from Reverse that was still attempting to consume her.
"Is Ru alright?!" cried Tama.
"Tsk... damn it...!"
The girl of white was surprised to hear Kuro respond instead, as she struggled back onto her feet. The previous attack had burnt her entire outfit, leaving scorch marks present on several patches and her already pitch black wings had now gone into a charcoal like shade of that colour, with several small cinders still burning as a result of Dragonic Overlord's Eternal Flame. She looked over towards Tama, her expression now a mix between annoyance and fury.
"You always had to be Mayu's favourite back then, didn't you?!" she snapped.
"Mayu's... favourite...?" the girl of white pondered in confusion.
"What do you mean?" Ruko asked, a hint of curiosity and suspicion having now arose from hearing about this. Aichi, Ashlei and Kai along with everyone on the sidelines simply looked towards the girl of black in curiousity, having also wanted answers to Tama's involvement with the Selector Battles. Kuro simply closed her eyes, now feeling that this was the time to bring everything that she knew about the girl of white from the beginning.
"Before we were LRIGs," she began "We're not human to begin with. Back then, before the Selector Battles, we were nothing more than figments of Mayu's imagination. As you have already figured out, we were originally known as 'the girl of black' and 'the girl of white'. One the instrument of destruction and the other the instrument of rebirth. However, Mayu at that time lacked the means to bring the Selector Battles and everything she could possibly imagine to life in her own image. In that case, in order to bring the two of us to life along with the original LRIGs and the system that she dreamt up of so that she could inflict despair on the world outside her domain, a deal had to made. And the force that she made deal with... was the Void."
The moment that name had been spoken out, Aichi, Kai, Naoki, Leon, Ren and Ashlei could only stare at Kuro in utter shock. They were indeed curious as to how Mayu was able to even create the Selector Battles the moment that each of them learnt about them on their own occasions, but the last thing that all of them were expecting or even thinking of was the Void itself having a hand in it.
"As the girl of black," Kuro continued "It was mine and Shiro's role to keep the system in balance in order to ensure everything was going according to Mayu's absolute will. At the time, both of us were essentially on the same side, but as I noticed that Shiro got even stronger from her experiences, I grew envious of the power she possessed and sought to claim it as my own. When I noticed Shiro's sense of right and wrong begin to waver as time went on, her belief in that what Mayu was doing was wrong, I saw an opportunity arise to overthrow her and that was by staging a conflict between her and Chaos Breaker Dragon. I fought her myself after 'The Clown' had weakened her, but I completely underestimated her willpower and our battle was evenly matched. Eventually when we clashed for the last time, Shiro suddenly vanished and although my plan to take her power had failed, I originally thought that I had finally surpassed her with my only goal left being to become the ultimate LRIG or Selector with the ultimate partner. Of course, that was until the day that I first met Kominato Ruko."
(Cardfight! Vanguard OST: Hontou no Kokoro wo Torimodosu tame)
Everyone remained silent as the girl of black eventually finished her tale of how she and Tama had come up through everything in their lives up to this point. Each of them were deep within their own thoughts on the matter as they tried to comprehend everything that they had been told about. The fact that the Void itself had aided Mayu in the creation of the Selector Battles, as well as both Kuro and Tama themselves was already a very disturbing fact in itself and the fact that it had been going on for a long while already meant that whatever plans that it had for this world were already well into fruition. Aichi looked over towards the girl of black, his expression having become somewhat infuriated from everything that he had just been told.
"You mean to say... that all of this time... even with Ruko being hurt by Reverse... you still see her as nothing more than a tool?!" he exclaimed.
"Ruko is no tool," Kuro replied, taking the Royal Paladin user aback somewhat "I simply want her to fulfill the role that I wish for her to accomplish. The superior Selector and the supreme LRIG, ruling over this unbalanced world side by side, fulfilling our own desires for battling as nothing more than equals."
"So in the end... you only seek power to achieve your goal," Kai muttered "And Ruko because of her natural skill and talent in the game of Wixoss was your perfect candidate."
"That is correct," the LRIG replied as she turned around to Ruko who had her head held down throughout the entire conversation. "Now then Kominato Ruko, take up the mantle that you were meant to possess, defeat Kai Toshiki, Sendou Aichi and Tama along with anyone who opposes us and fulfill your destiny! This world of Selectors, LRIGs and wishes is ours for the taking!"
"... No..."
Everyone looked over in surprise to hear the Selector's answer to Kuro's speech. The girl of black simply stared at Ruko in disbelief, unsure of what to make of the response that she had made just now.
"What did you just say?!" the LRIG demanded, clencing her right fist as she did so.
"You heard me... Kuro..." replied Ruko as she finally lifted her head up. "This wasn't what we agreed on."
"Ru..." murmured Tama.
"I only agreed to battle so that I could find a way to remove the Reverse that was trying to control me and so I could get to Mayu to try and convince her to stop all of this," she continued "But now that I've heard everything... I can see that this is wrong and that... I was wrong about Tama."
Whilst Kuro's expression changed from surprise to utter shock, Aichi, Yuzuki and Hitoe's eyes widened in surprise to see the sudden change in Ruko at this very moment. Even Kai was somewhat surprised that the Selector's mood had suddenly changed now that the truth about everything that was going on had been dropped out to everyone, including herself. Part of him, like everyone else was starting to feel that maybe, she was finally beginning to listen to reason that they had been trying to talk to her about from the start.
"Tama..." murmured Ruko, getting the girl of white's attention over towards the Selector as she did so. "I wanted to say that... I'm sorry... for being selfish on my own right."
"But... isn't Tama the one that should be sorry... for not following Ru's wish?" Tama asked in confusion. Ruko shook her head in response to the LRIG's answer.
"No..." she replied "Because... to tell you all the truth... at the time I was battling Kuro... whilst my wish remained the same to free everyone from the cards... I only thought about myself and how I only saw to end everything the way I wanted. I never took the time to understand how you, Yuzuki and Hitoe were feeling about everything at that time and that... I was too stubborn, even up to now to take a loss. Now that I think about it... even if I did make it to Mayu on my own whilst you were in my body... my plan wouldn't have worked."
(End Music)
"Ruko-san..." murmured Aichi.
"Aichi, Kai," Ruko spoke "If I now remembered... you said that Reverse would leave me if I were to lose to you. Right?"
"That's correct," Kai replied.
The Selector then nodded in agreement with the Kagero user's answer, having come down to the conclusion that she finally narrowed down her options to. Whilst Tama could only look on in wonder as to what Ruko planned to do next, Kuro's eyes suddenly widened in horror, having realized what the Selector was intending to do at this very moment in order to remove Reverse from both of them.
"You wouldn't dare!" the girl of black called.
"Kuro... this ends now," the Selector replied "I'm going to throw the battle to get rid of Reverse and save you two!"
"Then go for it," said Aichi.
Ruko nodded in agreement as she raised her whole right hand towards the top of the deck. Before she could place her entire palm over the face down pile of cards that lay in that spot on her table, a sudden surge of pain rushed through her as she cried out loud in agony before falling to her knees. Her hands instantly clutched her head as all the cards she held before that point suddenly dropped to the 'floor' of the space. As this happened, a voice suddenly boomed throughout the entire space to make itself known to everyone.
"This... I CANNOT ALLOW!"
(Selector Infected Wixoss OST: Nightmare ~ Reversing Wish (Second Half))
Upon hearing and recognizing who that voice had belonged to, both Leon and Yuzuki suddenly shuddered for a brief moment, having realized who had decided to enter the battlefield and interrupt Ruko's surrender at this very moment.
"That's...!" the Aqua Force user gasped.
"It's her!" the LRIG concluded.
Everyone else with the exception of Kuro suddenly gasped in horror as the Reverse aura, now stronger than ever, was covering Ruko from head to toe and flowing even more furiously throughout her entire body. She tried to stand back up onto her own two feet, but the force of the cursed power had already caused her legs to give up on her completely.
"Ruko-san!" cried Aichi.
"Ruko!" called Yuzuki and Hitoe.
"Ru!" Tama called in desperation.
"Don't give in to it!" yelled Kai "Ruko!"
As Reverse continued to overpower the Selector, she screamed out even louder in pain as she tried to resist being controlled by the very power that infested her since the night of her final battle with Kuro. Two red markings began flashing on Ruko's flaked cheeks, just beneath her eyelids as the pain was becoming even more unbearable for her to handle all at once. Eventually, as her screams died down, she dropped unconscious onto the space, the aura now covering her entire body completely as the two markings beneath her eyelids finally materialized. Then, before anyone else could react, another aura of the same colour suddenly appeared just behind Ruko as another figure suddenly appeared before them. After several long moments, it faded out to reveal who the new arrival to the battlefield was.
"Who are you?!" demanded Ashlei as she clutched her sword tightly.
The figure, now in her full appearance simply opened her eyes, allowing both Leon and Yuzuki along with Tama to confirm their worst fears as to who exactly she was.
"I am... Mayu."
(End Music)
And there! As the battle continues onwards, Kuro reveals more information as to the origins of both her and Tama, along with a larger clue as to why the girl of white lost all of her memories of that time. As Aichi and Kai struggle onwards and begin to find a way to turn the tide, Ruko finally comes to her senses and then tries to throw the battle in an attempt to get rid of the Reverse plaguing her. Sadly, her chance comes too late as the power fully consumes her, leading to the appearance of the mastermind of the Selector Battles herself, Mayu. What fate lies ahead for the two cardfighters and Tama and is there any hope left for Ruko? Find out next time on Stand Up, the LRIG!
Now that I've got this out of hiatus, please take this with a grain of salt but there may be a chance that some of the later chapters may require at least one month to work on them (partially because of the fact that I may have to incorporate plot elements from Selector destructed Wixoss, the upcoming movie), but I can assure you that this won't be the case for the last few chapters of the second arc as it draws to a close. Whilst this is going on, keep an eye out for any revamps of some of my earliest chapters that I may end up doing over time. Feel free to share your thoughts and I'll see you all next time. Until then!
