Mayu's Domain: The Pit
(Cardfight! Vangaurd Unreleased Soundtrack: Presence of the Void)
Takuto wearily opened his eyes as looked across the dark space that Mayu had dropped him into, after previously being shot in the back by a Neon footsoldier in his efforts to try and get Tawil to Aichi. The burning and stinging sensation from the Cyberoid's gauntlet blaster was still very much present as he could very much feel it, the scorched open hole on the back of his jacket being an indicator of that. Cringing in pain for a moment, he slowly moved forwards as his eyes began to slowly regain their foresight, allowing him to look up to see nothing but a shimmering dim light at the top of the Pit. All the way up, he could see that the walls around him and leading up to the top of his new prison had similar structure to the walls, windows and gates in Mayu's White Room.
Those walls here however were painted black with a shimmer of a purple hue amongst them, presmably cast by the dim light from the very top. Hearing some groans from behind him, the Cray being turned around to see that the Raizer maintenance crew and several others that were affiliated with them were now regaining consciousness after having previously been deposited into the Pit, much like he had been earlier. Hurrying over to them on his feet, still feeling weak after the punishment that he had taken earlier from the backhanded attack that knocked him unconscious earlier, he knew there was much that he had to ask in what had just happened to them.
"Are you alright?!" Takuto called as he came over to one of the men who had regained consciousness.
"Ugh..." the man groaned as he looked up at the Cray Being "You're... you're the guy that visited us, when the Void infested Cray. They got to you as well?"
"Indeed," he replied "Mayu captured me and as such, much has happened since my imprisonment. Fighters from Earth have stepped into the world outside of her domain, looking to bring an end to her plans and the battles that she had created. But already, our opposition has proven to be much more greater than I imagined."
As Takuto was explaining everything that was going on, a young man with light brown hair and blue eyes, dressed in a red suit which seemed to suit the attire of a pilot came up to him.
"That's not the worst of it..." he sighed "She's... she has them."
"What are you saying, Huey?" the Cray Being asked, addressing him by his name.
"Mayu has the Raizers," Kate answered, leading to a collected gasp from Takuto. "She had the Star-vaders lock them away in their 'storage' before we got acqainted with her."
"They knocked out all power to the Raizer units before we had a chance to counterattack and we were immediately apprehended," one member of the Raizer Crew interjected "Those damned demons also confiscated our tools when we were being rounded up, so getting out of here's not looking too likely any time soon."
Takuto's expression turned rather grim as he took everything he had just heard into account, knowing full well of what each of the Raizer units themselves were capable of. At the same time however, this had also raised many questions in regards to this scenario. How was Mayu able to summon these units from Cray all the way over to her domain and why did she target them specifically? Little did he know was that those units as well as the crew and pilots were only the first of what the enigmatic mastermind intended to capture within her domain. But for what purpose and why however were two different questions brewing in his mind that he still had very little knowledge of the answers to.
(End Music)
Wixoss World: Tokyo City Streets
Back within the streets of Tokyo within that world, the girl who had departed from the train station the previous afternoon and the current Selector of the green LRIG Midoriko, stepped out from a tall building and walked onto an empty street where there was seemingly no one present to disturb her for the moment. Now that she was seemingly alone for the moment, she took out the card containing the LRIG in question. Staring closely at the space that was within the card she held, the girl could see that Midoriko seemed somewhat pale in comparison to the last time that she had talked to her, only further raising her concerns.
"Midoriko, you're not looking so good..." she murmured "Are you sure you're holding up well?"
"I already told you... it's nothing I can't handle..." the LRIG coughed, still struggling to hold back the force within her, accounting for her current state.
"We shouldn't battle today," the girl replied "Not until we can figure out why you're feeling this way."
"Don't worry about me...!" Midoriko interjected "I'm more concerned about your well...!"
Before she could finish her sentence however, she suddenly fell to her knees on the space within her card, her face showing a rather agonized expression much to the shock of the girl who was holding her. Then from within the green LRIG, emerged a dark red aura that she had been trying to keep restrained within her for as long as possible, ever since the conclusion to that confrontation she was involved with. She screamed loudly in pain, trying desperately to not allow the power at hand to consume her or worse, her own Selector, knowing what exactly it was capable of.
"Midoriko-san!" her Selector cried "What's wr...?!"
Before she could finish her question, she suddenly gasped for a moment before she fell to her knees, dropping the card as a result of this sudden pain she was now in. The aura that had enveloped Midoriko just moments earlier suddenly spread quickly to her, causing her a great deal of pain as she felt both her consciousness and her own free will slipping away from her, into the grasp of the Void itself. The Selector struggled to try and get back onto her feet, but was finding her struggles in vain as her foresight became blurry by the second.
"Hitoe...!" she cried under the strain "Someone...! Anyone...! Please help me!"
City Park
Meanwhile, only several minutes away from where the calamity was occurring, Aichi and Hitoe were walking through the park together as they heard a rumbling sound from the sky above them. Looking up, they could see that several dark grey clouds had begun to block out the blue afternoon skyline that they were acqainted with earlier in the day and from the way it appeared, it sounded like the rumbling of thunder would befall upon them sooner or later. At the same time though, the two of them couldn't help but feel a little uneasy from the way the atmosphere around them was concerned.
"You feeling that way too?" Yuzuki murmured from her card as the two looked to her "Then again, grey skies are never usually a good sign."
"I suppose..." Aichi replied "The last time I felt like this... was the day Kai-kun had taken up Link Joker as his own. And I didn't even know about it then."
Before Hitoe could reply in response, she looked ahead of Aichi whilst he still had his back turned to whatever she was seeing and gasped in shock. Then, immediately without warning, she grabbed his hand, much to his surprise as he found himself being pulled forwards and to his left, just in time to notice what appeared to be a sharp knife that flew past him and struck the stone wall that was beside the steps they had come down. Realizing he would have been struck had it not been for Hitoe's unexpected action, he breathed heavily for a moment, feeling lucky to have avoided something like that and grateful that the Selector had pulled him out of harm's way, at least for the moment.
"A knife...?!" he murmured "Don't tell me...!"
(Selector Spread Wixoss OST: Confrontation and Pain)
The Royal Paladin user immediately turned around, seeing who had attempted to attack him at this very moment and given the weapon that was used, it was no surprise that he would recognize who had targeted him at this very moment.
"Akira...!" gasped Hitoe.
"You know, your little shtick with knives and other sharp objects is really starting to get old," Yuzuki muttered.
"Well excuse me, incest lover," the Selector spat back, keeping her trademarked sneer plastered on her lips "But as it's Sendou I'm after, I'm saving you for a later occasion."
"Run Hitoe!" called Aichi "Find Kai-kun and the others!"
As Hitoe began to back away from the park, Akira immediately turned her gaze upon her for a moment before returning her attention back towards the Royal Paladin user, lunging towards him with a mighty leap and a thrust of her knife. Quickly jumping aside, Aichi briefly gasped for a moment before the Selector immediately without warning lunged towards him again, this time leaving him with no window of opportunity to jump out of the way in time. Realizing he would have to try and defend himself, he braced himself before immediately grabbing ahold of Akira's arms, leaving the two locked in a grapple as he tried his best to prevent her from overpowering him so she could not stab or slash him immediately afterwards.
"Akira, why are you helping Ulith?!" he cried "Don't you know the terrible kinds of things that she's even capable of?!"
"Of course, that's why I feel like helping her," she mused as she gazed into his brave, yet somewhat terrified eyes "You thought I was vying for 'Hittoe' so you could play the hero? I know from Ulith that outside of battles or cardfights, you're nothing more than a pacifist, a coward whose afraid of breaking his own morals just for survival in this world!"
Aichi ignored her words and tried desperately to stand his ground and keep the stalemate for as long as he could, but Akira's more offensive stance, not helped by the fact that her knife was mere inches from his left wrist, was quickly overpowering him. But that was far from the least of his concerns. Deep down, he was hoping that Hitoe had fled the park and sought immediate safety with Kai so that Akira wouldn't dare to attack them as a group. That brief moment of concern was all the Selector needed as she stopped her push on Aichi before immediately pulling back and thrusting her head right into his own, causing him to cry out in pain and fall to the ground, giving her the time she needed to pin his torso with her right shoe.
"You messed with Ulith-chan..." she spoke as her knife shone for a moment "Now I'm gonna mess you up, starting by scarring that 'brave' face!"
As Aichi closed his eyes, expecting the worst to befall him immediately, he suddenly reopened them from the sound of a struggle going on above him as he gasped to see what was going on before him.
"Hitoe?!"
And indeed it was. Hitoe who had seemingly begun to fled the park when the game of cat and mouse had been laid down had actually remained for the duration of the conflict and for whatever reason on her mind had decided to help Aichi in this dire moment as she struggled to hold back Akira's right arm, in the hopes of making the Selector drop the knife in the ensuing struggle.
"Let go of me you weak-ass bitch!" she screamed.
"L... Leave Aichi-kun alone!" Hitoe replied, trying to muster up her own bravery in this most dangerous of situations.
"What are you doing Hitoe?!" cried Yuzuki.
"Fine, there's plenty of room for me to scar both of you at once!" Akira growled.
The Selector slowly began to rise up from Aichi and immediately spun in a violent manner, sending Hitoe falling to the floor at a small distance away from her. As Aichi got up from the floor and began to run over to Hitoe in concern, Akira immediately turned his attention back towards him as she pointed her knife right at him, stopping his advance immediately. He remained still for the moment, knowing that there was no telling if any action he took to back away immediately would result in her turning her wrath upon the fallen Selector. Before Akira could do anything else as she moved closer and closer to Aichi, preparing to strike him down, a familiar voice suddenly echoed into her head, one that only she could hear at this very moment.
"Akira, stop this at once!"
U... Ulith-chan...?! Akira exclaimed in her thoughts, wondering how it was that the cruel demanored Selector was contacting her this way.
"I need Sendou alive for my plans to succeed!" she growled "You won't ruin them by having him bleed to death or fulfilling whatever pointless agenda you have planned! Is that clear?!"
Whilst Aichi and Hitoe saw that the Selector was briefly startled for the moment, unaware of how Ulith was contacting her in the first place, they were confused as to why she did not resume her attack on them immediately afterwards. The Royal Paladin user however had tensed up on his own accord, sensing a familiar feeling of dread in comparison to a previous encounter. Akira hissed under her breath for a moment as she put away her knife before leaping up to the top of the stone steps that led out of the park, taking her leave immediately afterwards. Silence immediately fell as Aichi almost shivered for a moment, feeling a small bit of anxiety creep up into his mind at this very moment.
(End Music)
That was close... he murmured in his thoughts But just now, it felt like that Ulith was...
After a harsh breeze whistled over the park followed by the reassurance that Akira would not return at this very moment, he immediately breathed a sigh of relief and hurried over to Hitoe, helping her back onto her feet. After she shook off the dirt from her clothes caught by the earlier fall, she looked at the card containing Yuzuki, that was still hung in the neck wallet she wore.
"Hitoe, that was completely idiotic, even for you!" the LRIG yelled in a scolding tone "If Akira ended up stabbing you, how was Aichi was going to explain this to your mother?!"
Whilst the Selector remained seemingly motionless at first, her breathing could be heard as somewhat hectic as she tried to gather up her thoughts together from what had happened moments earlier.
"Hitoe-san...?" murmured Aichi.
"When I saw you struggling to hold back Akira's knife..." she stuttered "I... couldn't... I couldn't run away."
"What do you mean?" Yuzuki murmured, raising an eyebrow in response.
"Instinct..." Umr murmured, bringing everyone's attention to the black LRIG as Aichi brought out the card containing her "Hitoe couldn't bear to see Aichi, the one that had helped her to open up and grow in her self-confidence... become fatally wounded."
"If he was scarred or stabbed... I..."
Unable to finish her sentence, Hitoe closed her eyes and suddenly leapt right into Aichi as he just stood still, almost completely startled by her sudden action that had just happened right in front of him. The Selector had unexpectedly caught him in an embrace, presumably from out of a sudden jolt of fear from the thought of him being wounded by Akira having crossed her mind. As she kept herself rather close to the Royal Paladin user with her arms held tightly around the top half of his jacket, just underneath his elbows, the right side of her face was up against the front of his chest, just below his neck. Unsure of what to do, Aichi simply looked at the card he had held with Umr simply holding an expression of confusion as the entire area around them became completely silent over the course of the next minute or so.
"Um... H... Hitoe-san?" he pondered as the Selector finally opened her eyes, having realized what she had just done. Slowly, she let go of Aichi before backing away a little from him.
"I... I'm sorry..." she murmured as her cheeks flushed a bright pink for a brief moment "I... just panicked for a moment. Are you okay?"
"I'm alright," Aichi said in reassurance "You were just worried about me."
Hitoe breathed for a moment as she finally calmed down from what had just transpired moments earlier, feeling happier for his safety and also relieved that they had managed to avoid another attack by Akira, for now at least. Meanwhile, Yuzuki had been pondering deep in thought over the whole event and what had happened after it.
Why did Akira just leave us like that? she pondered She was in a position to attack Aichi again, but for some reason she didn't.
As she continued to delve deeper into her thoughts, the LRIG looked up to see Aichi and Hitoe talking with Umr over what had just happened, particuarly the aftermath scenario where the Selector had hugged him out of panic and concern. As the Royal Paladin user tried to explain everything to his own LRIG, hoping to clear up any confusion that she had from being unfamiliar with this kind of action, Yuzuki also couldn't help but think over Hitoe's behavior around him thus far and up to this point.
Now that I think about it... Hitoe does admire Aichi's bravery and he has been kind enough to help her with her anxiety. But if what I think is true... is she actually...?
"Hello... Hitoe-chan..."
Upon hearing the voice that had addressed her at this very moment, Hitoe suddenly gasped as she looked behind Aichi to see who it was. She gained a hopeful smile upon recognizing how the person appeared, with her black hair tied up in a bow around the back, her orangish eyes and the white coat she wore. That was all the Selector needed to confirm as the Royal Paladin user turned around to see who it was that approched them.
"S... Sakuya!" she cried as she ran over towards her old friend "I can't believe it's really you!"
As Hitoe went over to greet her, Aichi was about to join her when he looked on ahead and stopped in his advance. He looked down to Umr who nodded in agreement with him, having shared the suspicions as him.
"Wait, Hitoe...!" the LRIG called, prompting her to halt in her progress.
(Cardfight! Vanguard Unreleased Soundtrack: Ominousity)*
As the Selector stopped in her tracks and looked back to Aichi and Umr, confused by their sudden suspicion at this very moment, she looked back towards Sakuya and soon realized that something indeed was very wrong. Her smile and overall expression seemed rather unnatural compared to what Hitoe had remembered back in their time together when she was still living in Aomori. Then there was also the fact that her orange eyes had now become a dull shade of their former self.
"I never thought you'd actually become one..." she giggled "I was curious as to what you were up to since you moved here."
"S... Sakuya... what's going on?" Hitoe asked nervously.
"Why... our battle that will commence of course," Sakuya spoke in a rather creepy tone as an all too familiar aura suddenly surrounded her, leading the others to gasp in horror.
"What the... Reverse?!" exclaimed Yuzuki.
As Aichi breathed in worry, knowing that Sakuya was more than likely to initiate a Selector Battle with Hitoe at this very moment whilst being under the control of the Void's power, he immediately began to dig through his pocket to bring out one of the deck cases he had on hand so that he could challenge the reversed Selector in Hitoe's place. As he had made his mind on which deck to use, he suddenly saw Hitoe holding up Yuzuki's card.
"W... Wait Hitoe-san...!" he gasped.
"Please...!" she cried "I don't know how Sakuya got into this mess... but I want to save her! I couldn't do anything when Ruko was trapped in Reverse, so...!"
"Mess...?"
Hitoe looked back towards Sakuya, feeling slightly nerved by her creepy expression exhibited by the power of Reverse that had already overwhelmed her. She knew deep down, she was scared to face one of her closest friends in a Selector Battle, regardless of whether she was reversed or not. But at the same time, she knew that if nothing was done to stop her in her current state, other Selectors and their LRIGs would be in danger of being reversed by her, not knowing how many she may have faced before their encounter at this moment.
"Oh... I can assure you it's far from a mess..." Sakuya continued "I simply have Reverse as a bonus to obtain my wish. And that wish is... to bring you back to where you truely belong!"
As the park fell silent from the Selector's words at this very moment, Aichi was almost hesistant with allowing Hitoe to go through with a battle at this very moment, if only out of concern for not wanting her to fall to Reverse herself. But at the same time, he knew that she had made a point. She wasn't as strong as Ruko which was why she couldn't do anything to save her when she had her own problems with that power and this time, the dillema lay with a friend that she had not seen for a long time. Umr looked up from her card to the Royal Paladin user, as if she was expecting an answer from him.
"What should we do?" she asked.
"I want to battle in Hitoe's place..." he murmured "But... Sakuya means a lot to Hitoe-san. She was the reason she had hope for her wish to make new friends. Interfering now just won't feel right and she's come a long way from battling Akira. Umr... Hitoe deserves a chance to save her friend."
"Very well then."
Aichi nodded in reply and walked over to Hitoe as she looked back towards him. Sakuya briefly stared at him for a moment, not knowing of his connection to Umr or the Royal Paladins at this very moment.
"Hitoe-san... please be careful," he spoke.
"I promise... Aichi-kun," she replied as she held out Yuzuki's card in front of her, the LRIG herself feeling slightly nervous for what was to come.
"Let's go then, Hitoe-chan..." Sakuya spoke as she brought out her LRIG card, it too covered in the dark flowing red aura of Reverse "Open!"
And with that, the red streams of Reverse swirled around the three of them, bringing them over to the battlefield that they would be stationed at.
(End Music)
Link Joker Fight Field
When everyone had regained their sense of reality, Hitoe and Yuzuki glanced around to find that they were not within the usual battlefield that most Selectors would be playing in. Instead, recognizable to the two of them from the black void and the stars all around them was the exact same field that Aichi and Kai had previously fought Ruko and Mayu in, also evidenced by the single red surface that was in front of the Selector and the fact that Yuzuki herself was now back to her normal size as a human within this space. Looking to the side, they could see that Aichi and Umr, who was now back to the size she was when Takuto was helping her in fleeing the White Room, were observing from the sidelines in a spot that would hopefully be out of range from the attacks that would be exchanged.
"This place again?!" Yuzuki groaned.
"L... Looks like it..." Hitoe murmured as she took the time to get her thoughts together from seeing the cards that were currently laid out on the table.
(Cardfight! Vanguard Unreleased Soundtrack: Contention)
"It's been a long time..."
Immediately, the two of them gasped as to the new voice they had heard at this very moment, one that was instantly recognizable to the both of them and one they thought they wouldn't hear from again for a very long time. Shivering upon realizing who that voice had belonged to, Hitoe looked forward to see Sakuya prepared on the other side of the field with a familiar LRIG standing in front of her table. Yuzuki eventually looked forward to see the LRIG herself and needless to say, her expression shared just as much shock as her Selector was feeling.
"M... Midoriko?!" they gasped.
Indeed, it was. Midoriko herself still retained the same appearance that she did as she would whenever a Selector Battle would begin as her being a Level 0 LRIG. Like her current Selector however, her expression was also one that was displaying some kind of malicious intent, twisted by the power that had now corrupted her, all because of Photon who had infected her prior.
"I never thought I'd battle you two... let alone like this..." she murmured, her smile taking a creepy turn to it.
"That's... Midoriko?" Aichi murmured.
Whilst Umr remained silent for the moment, having no comment of her own to add to the current situation at hand, Sakuya gazed at Midoriko for a moment, curious about her prior knowledge of Hitoe and Yuzuki.
"You know them already?" she asked.
"Of course," the green LRIG answered "They were old accomplices before I met you. But with Link Joker's power, a permanent reunion will be possible. Then, we'll never lose the person we care about to anything ever again."
"That is true," Sakuya replied as she looked back towards Hitoe who looked far more nervous than she had ever been.
A creaking noise was then heard as everyone looked up to see that the roulette from the regular Selector Battlefields had appeared above their heads and had already begun spinning, each of its slots being adorned with a red and green colour. Eventually, after a few tense moments had passed over, the wheel eventually stopped on a green slot, much to the annoyance of Yuzuki as she briefly groaned under her breath.
"I go first," Sakuya spoke as she drew her single card before gazing over to Hitoe. "I'll tell you a hint. With this newfound power, the battle will end exactly on the seventh turn!"
"T... The seventh turn...?" she breathed.
"You can't be serious!" Yuzuki exclaimed "There's no way you'll know how the battle ends!"
"Then, I'll have to prove it to you," the Selector spoke as she held out her hand "Midoriko, grow!"
A series of rectangular flashes rose up around Midoriko, not changing her current appearance by much other than adding a transparent green scarf that wrapped around her neck and a large pair of dark green gloves that materialized around her fists. In front of her appeared a single SIGNI by the name of Hyakko, Phantom Beast. It appeared to be feline like as evidenced by both the tail and ears it had. Hitoe looked closely at the field before her for the moment, almost as if it was somehow familiar to her.
I've played with Midoriko before... she murmured in her thoughts But now that she's reversed...
"Hitoe!" called Yuzuki "I know Midoriko was your LRIG before, but you need to focus if we're going to save them!"
"Y... Yes!" she replied as drew her two cards to begin her turn "Yuzuki, grow!"
A series of fiery rectangular flashes rose up around Yuzuki, giving her small draconic like wings that were attached to her back and the two gunmetal single barreled cannons she now had as a result of the power she recieved from Dragonic Overlord and several of Kai's Kagero units. In front of her appeared Gattling Claw Dragon and another unit that was unfamiliar to her at this moment. It appeared to be a human male with greyish hair, wielding a trident like spear.
"Here I come, Midoriko, Sakuya!" she called.
"Naive," Sakuya murmured as she revealed a card from her LRIG deck "Doping. I add 3000 power to Hyakko."
As a golden aura surrounded the Earth Beast SIGNI to increase its strength, Yuzuki seemed a little worried for the moment, concerned that Hitoe's first few attacks of the turn would be reduced from this sudden turn of events. However, the Selector herself whilst concerned for the state of her friend and the LRIG she once fought beside was not worried about the situation that was before her.
"I attack Hyakko with Perdition Dragon Knight, Gia!" she declared.
Whilst Midoriko and Sakuya gasped in shock to this sudden declaration, Gia dashed across the space towards his target before a bright red aura surrounded both him and Yuzuki, as if the Kagero unit was somehow drawing strength from the red LRIG herself.
Perdition Dragon Knight, Gia: 2000 - 5000
The Dragon Knight then slashed across the front of Hyakko with his trident-like spear, immediately banishing the SIGNI from the battlefield in an instant. Gattling Claw Dragon then pointed its right arm towards Midoriko and opened fire upon her. The LRIG shielded her face from the fiery hot bullets, cringing briefly in pain for several moments as the attack then came to an end after that. The first crushed Life Cloth on Sakuya's table was Beagle, Phantom Beast as the Selector herself looked down in surprise, having not expected that manuver to come before her.
"Yuzuki attacks!"
She looked back ahead to hear Hitoe call out her next attack as Yuzuki pointed one of her cannons towards Midoriko who could only brace herself for the incoming impact. Sakuya then glanced back at the cards she held before picking out one of them.
"You are full of surprises today, Hitoe-chan," she mused, having recovered from her brief surprise of Gia's effect "But you're not the only one with new tricks in store. Guard!"
As the stream of fire erupted from Yuzuki's cannon and hurtled across the battlefield towards Midoriko, a flash of light appeared in front of the corrupted green LRIG as a figure materialized before her. A female human like figure, dressed in white robes and having black hair with bluish eyes and a headdress of her own, held out both of her hands in front of her as she projected a barrier around Sakuya's side of the field, deflecting Yuzuki's attack with the greatest of ease. As the figure then departed from the space, both Hitoe and her LRIG were surprised by what had just occurred at this moment, but none were more shocked than Aichi who had easily recognized the unit that was used at this moment.
"B... Be careful Hitoe!" he called "Sakuya has Genesis units!"
"Genesis...?!" gasped Hitoe.
"Then... some of those cards must be the same units from this Misaki Kai told us about," Yuzuki muttered as she looked back towards her opponents.
Midoriko remained silent for the moment as her gaze trailed upon Hitoe, noticing her regain her composure after turning her attention away from Aichi to resume the battle.
Hitoe... you've definitely changed since we were last together... she murmured in her thoughts as she began recounting the times they spent as friends You're still nervous as always, but... your resolve has hardened. I don't know if Yuzuki had something to do with it after she learnt the truth for herself, but I can sense that isn't the only factor involved.
The green LRIG then gazed over to the sidelines towards Aichi and Umr, who looked on for their friend in concern, hoping she would be able to overcome the challenge that was posed before her and emerge safely from it with two of her closest friends liberated from the grip of the Void.
I heard whispers going around Tokyo before Sakuya and I obtained this blessing of Link Joker that a boy through the name of Kai Toshiki, one who commands the flames of purgatory and a dragon for an LRIG was able to participate in the Selector Battles. This one doesn't match the description, especially with 'that' LRIG he has, but I can sense Hitoe somehow shares a connection with him. Could he be the reason she's gained more confidence since our last battle together?
"Midoriko-san!" Hitoe cried, bringing the LRIG's attention over to her "How did you get to Sakuya and how did you two get reversed?!"
Before Midoriko could consider speaking from her point of view, Sakuya made a hand motion for her to stop immediately, causing the others to presume that she would tell her side of the story so far first.
"When you moved away from Aomori, things seemed rather lonely," she began "Neither of us had the power to change the mind of your parents at that time. I couldn't imagine how you must have been feeling, being so far away from your true home."
"It's true that things were lonely when I first came to Tokyo," Hitoe murmured "B... But, I recieved your letter a month or two ago and I was able to find some new friends. Midoriko-san was one of the closest friends I ever had then."
"Exactly..." the reversed Selector replied "But then, something happened to you and for whatever reason, I was not permitted until recently to go to the city myself to investigate for myself. But now that I command Reverse as my own, you can come back with me and together with Midoriko, we can reverse even more Selectors and prove that your ignorant parents were wrong all along!"
(End Music)
Yuzuki breathed in worry for a moment, knowing that Midoriko had not told Sakuya anything about her time with Hitoe until now and she was still unaware that it was because of the Selector's tainted wish from losing to Yuki and Ulith that was responsible for the 'something' that even she was still in the dark about. The green LRIG herself then looked up towards the pair, intending to answer the question that she had been asked at this very moment.
"Certainly, I'll admit the process was painful..." she mused, her tone holding a hint of malice to it "But now that both I and Sakuya can command Reverse as our own, I'm now certainly thankful for the reward that was given to us, by Photon."
(Selector Infected Wixoss OST: Battle More)
Aichi suddenly froze up in shock, realizing who exactly was responsible for infecting Midoriko with the power that flowed through her and Sakuya. Umr herself grimaced also, having recalled the name of the Star-vader himself.
"M... Midoriko-san..." he breathed.
"Now then Hitoe, I believe your turn has come to an end has it not?" Midoriko asked.
The Selector simply nodded in response, knowing that she had used up all of her possible attacks during this turn and that for the moment, there was nothing more she could do but wait and see what other tricks that Reverse had in store for her.
End of Turn 2
Hitoe vs Sakuya
Hand - 5 : 4
Life Cloths - 7 : 6
Current LRIGs - Yuzuki-One, Ember of Perdition : Midoriko, First Girl
SIGNI : Gattling Claw Dragon - Perdition Dragon Knight, Gia - EMPTY : EMPTY - EMPTY - EMPTY
Ener - 0 : 2
Sakuya kept her confident smile as she drew her next two cards before moving one of the two cards in her Ener Zone to her Trash Pile before placing a new card from her LRIG deck on top of the one that represented Midoriko's Level 1 form.
"Grow!" she called "Midoriko, Second Girl!"
A series of flashes once again enveloped Midoriko, though her appearance had hardly changed at all with the only difference being the addition of a few extra green markings that were present on top of her forehead. Three bright glows appeared in front of the reversed LRIG, revealing that Sakuya had summoned yet another Hyakko to the field, but this time, it was not alone. To the right of the Earth Beast appeared another Green SIGNI by the name of Koalan, Phantom Beast and to the left was another Genesis unit, this time going under the name of Battle Maiden, Sahohime as evidenced by the similar clothing of the unit used to block Yuzuki's attack previously. A green aura surrounded Hyakko as it powered up from Koalan's own aura.
Hyakko, Phantom Beast: 1000 - 4000
"Hyakko attacks first!" Sakuya declared "With her skill, I Ener Charge!"
As the top card of her deck moved to her Ener Zone, Hyakko swiped her claws down across Gia, immediately banishing him from the field, leaving only Gattling Claw Dragon on its own as it was quickly overpowered by Koalan. Then after the chaos had settled, if only for a few mere moments, Sahohime summoned two pink circles that rotated around her weapon before she pointed it right at Yuzuki, sending them hurling as projectiles right towards her as they immediately exploded on contact, engulfing her and Hitoe in a cloud of smoke. The red LRIG coughed loudly in pain, failing to look ahead just in time to see Midoriko leap through the black smog and deal a devastating right punch into her cheek, sending her flying back a little way across the battlefield towards Hitoe who gasped in concern.
"Y... Yuzuki!" she cried as her second Life Cloth flew past her.
"Don't worry about me...!" Yuzuki replied "Just focus on your end!"
The Selector nodded as she looked back to her Ener Zone to see that the second successful attack had crushed Lintwurm, Phantom Dragon giving her a Life Burst in this moment of need. The first crushed cloth was Perdition Dragon, Whirlwind Dragon, nothing at all to have helped her then.
"W... With Lintwurm," she spoke "I add Menace Laser Dragon to my hand!"
"Fine with me," Sakuya mused "But since Sahohime's attack already hit you earlier, my Ener Zone has already been buffed up to four cards!"
Hitoe then stared towards the reversed Selector's table, briefly sweating for a moment upon realizing the situation she was being dragged closer and closer to, having been more than well acqainted with Midoriko's playstyle, now strengthened by both the Void's power and the units of the Genesis clan. Aichi looked over at the Selector, worried for her safety at this very moment.
"I knew Midoriko's playstyle was similar to Genesis' speciality of manipulating the soul..." he murmured "But..."
"When they are in combination together," Umr interjected "The speed of Ener Charging for the more powerful attacks accustoms her the best."
After taking a few deep breaths to calm herself down, Hitoe looked over towards Aichi, noticing his concern for her at this very moment. When the brief silence was over, the Selector knew she could begin her turn as she looked down to the table in front of her before looking back to Midoriko and Sakuya.
If there's one thing I know, I wasn't able to do anything for you the way I was then... But things are different now, she murmured in her thoughts Watch me Aichi-kun. With everything I've learned from you, Yuzuki and I will definitely save them!
(End Music)
And there we go! As Aichi and Hitoe emerge unscathed from a physical confrontation by Akira, they are approached by a reversed Sakuya who is also the current Selector of the infected Midoriko. Realizing the danger that every other Selector in the city is in and hoping to save her friend from Reverse, Hitoe steps up to the battle, remaining even thus far with the new Perdition units she has obtained. Meanwhile in the Pit of the White Room, Takuto learns from the Raizer crew of their abduction from Cray, unaware of the circumstances involved in their scenario. What will unfold next? Find out next time on Stand Up, the LRIG!
Please share your thoughts and criticisms on the story so far and I'll see you all next time! Until then!
*This first plays in Episode 126 when Kai discovers that the Takuto standing in front of him is the Reversed copy.
REVAMP NOTE 15/11/2016: Changed Midoriko's second form as that has a Limit of 5 instead of the one used originally.
Card of the Chapter:
Battle Maiden, Sahohime
Level 2
Color: Green
Class: Noble
Limiting Condition: None
Power: 5000
Effect:
[Use Timing - Attack Phase] Pay 1 Green: When this SIGNI's attack damages an LRIG (even if the damage is dealt by Lancer), if you have a Green LRIG, Ener Charge 3.
