Fashion Studio

Long after the earlier battle had concluded, the fangirl that had challenged the 'Queen' earlier was now on her knees, just like the two beside her as they could not muster the willpower to look back up at the opponent that had defeated them effortlessly. Noriko with her eyes closed let out a small huff from under her breath before she glared towards Akira, prompting the rest of the Selector's fanclub to back away slowly from her presence. Milulun, having observed the battles that were waged within the Selector Battlefield couldn't help but stare in shock towards the card that Noriko held, knowing that it contained Kaen within it, despite not being able to see the LRIG in question at this very instance.

Recalling everything that had transpired over these last few minutes, the blue LRIG didn't have to words to describe the sheer brutality of what the two of them had displayed. She only felt even more nervous when it soon became apparent that Akira would presumably battle the opposing Selector next and that would mean she would have to overcome Kaen herself to prevent her own Selector from getting her third loss for a second time. As Noriko was about to step forward to confront her next opponent, the sound of a nearby voice broke her focus, preventing her from advancing.

"Akira, your schedule requires you in 5 minutes!"

"I'll be right over!" the Selector called back, reverting back to her usual demanor prior to the 'Queen's' uninvited entrance.

Seeing that her presence would only result in more of a hassle for both herself and the staff of the studio at this point, Noriko reluctantly glared towards Akira and Milulun before turning around and beginning to take her leave from the room, much to the inner relief of a few of the other Selectors present amongst the fanclub. A low growl sounded from Kaen's card before any of them could utter a word, prompting them to remain silent at this point. Akira herself however wasn't quite finished with what she had to say.

"I'll be lenient in letting you go this time," she spoke "After all, if what 'she' says is true, you haven't been the 'Queen' forever after first becoming a Selector, right?"

As some of the fanclub members looked to each other in confusion, Noriko stopped when she exited outside the doorway, looking back to the Selector.

"She's a resourceful one," she replied "But not the true person that inhabits Urazoe's body, for your group's interest."

And with that, she took her leave from the premises which only left even more confusion amongst Akira's fanclub, none of them knowing what exactly she had meant before walking away from them. The Selector herself though looked down to the floor and was left deep in thought.

So you know about Ulith-chan already, huh she muttered in her thoughts, smiling sinisterly for a brief moment I suppose the rumors of your sharp perception are true, 'Queen'.

"Anyway, if you'll excuse me lovelies," she spoke out, bringing the fanclub members to attention "I've got a schedule to keep up right now. Aki-lovely will see you all once again, same time as always."

"Right away, Akira-san!" all of them replied in unison.

Akira then hummed to herself and picked up Milulun's card before leaving the room, now heading off to attend her session for the evening, expecting that she would run into Ulith at some point during the model shoot. Needless to say, she enjoyed the presence of the cruel demanored Selector in this very instance, knowing that it was her who had helped her to recover her fashion job after being scarred initially, said scar of which was still hidden under multiple clusters of makeup on her right cheek. Bringing out a pocket sized mirror from her hoodie to double check that she had applied enough for the evening shoot, she remained inwardly confident and decided to be on her way with nothing else to worry about.


Kai's Apartment

(Cardfight! Vanguard Unreleased Soundtrack: Unsettling)

The very next morning, after Ruko had previously departed back to her own apartment during the rest of the evening, Aichi and the other cardfighters amongst the group with the exception of Kai were gathered around the living space table, all of whom were deep in thought over what had happened over the course of the previous battle. It was clear that the Kagero user wasn't lying when he said that the overloaded power of the Seed fragment within him still posed an issue as it did resonate with Dragonic Overlord's own power, as he initially suspected after his first battle with Ruko.

But at the same time, that was what was bothering the six of them at this very moment as they knew that there had to more to the situation that perhaps they and not even Kai were even aware of. Umr from her card was also silently contemplating what had happened over the course of the battle, she too being curious as to why the Reverse within the Kagero user's Seed fragment was still interacting with Dragonic Overlord, even after Yuki had been purged of Reverse through the combined efforts of Tama and Blaster Blade or so Aichi had told her.

"Man, I still don't get everything about this 'Seed' business since you came back onii-san," Kamui said with a slight moan, still somewhat struggling in comprehending the scenario since that day "But I don't get why it's only proving to be an issue for Kai and not any of you."

"I wish I knew myself," Aichi replied, his voice seeming concerned, if only for how Kai was holding up at the moment.

"From what I gather, this sort of behavior he's exhibited lately isn't like him if I am not mistaken?" asked Umr.

The Royal Paladin user nodded his head to confirm the answer to his LRIG's question, his expression not changing in the slightest. The following silence in the room was then broken as they heard a nearby door open, to which Kai himself emerged into the living space of the apartment, bringing everyone's attention over to him.

"Are you certain that you are alright?" asked Leon.

"The Seed's power hasn't attempted to consume me since Aichi helped to restrain it," he spoke "But, I'm still remaining wary as of yet."

"And wielding the unit that represents who you are will endanger those you battle," Ren interjected "Or at least, that is what you believe."

"I don't believe Overlord is entirely at fault for the way I am now," Kai replied "When I talked to it before the battle, it said something about dominating that same power within its own veins and wielding it as its own unbound strength. If traces of that are interacting with the Seed fragment within me, then I cannot battle alongside it."

As Naoki blinked in confusion for a moment, the Kagero user approached the table towards where Aichi was sitting, holding out something that was rather familiar to everyone in the room. There were six cards that he held, each with the white LRIG backing on them and depicting Dragonic Overlord in different forms. 4 of them were copies of the End, one represented the original Overlord and the sixth represented the one with the power of a Break Ride.

"W... Wait a minute Kai!" the Narukami user exclaimed as he stared at them "Did you take them out of your deck?!"

"Until I can sort out this issue for myself, I cannot risk wielding Overlord in battle," Kai said as he looked back to Aichi, holding out the cards to him "Can I trust you to hold on to these until I can put this behind me?"

The Royal Paladin user seemed hesitant to take the six cards that his friend was requesting him to look after until he could get to the bottom of his current dillema, not just from already knowing that they as a whole represented Dragonic Overlord, but from the fact that Kai wasn't certain he could wield them as he normally could from what he was going through. Sighing for a moment in the back of his head, Aichi looked up to the Kagero user, hoping that he was making the right decision.

"Alright Kai-kun," he said "You can count on me to look after Overlord until we can sort this out."

"Thank you," Kai replied as he placed the cards down beside Umr's own card before heading over to the front door.

He stopped in his footsteps however as he heard a knocking sound echo from the other side. Wondering who it was that had planned to visit the group at this very moment, he opened the door to find that it was Ruko who has standing outside.

"Ruko..." he murmured.

"Are you alright Kai?" she asked, to which he only gave a single nod "Listen, about what happened when we first battled, I..."

He placed a hand over the Selector's right shoulder and shook his head, his way of silently telling and reassuring her that whatever happened between the two of them in their first battle was beyond her control at the time. Though he could see that it had done little to lift the Selector's spirits as her expression did not change in the slightest.

"All I'm saying is if there's anything I can do to try and fix this," she continued "Just ask."

Kai said nothing more, but silently acknowledged her concern before leaving through the doorway of the apartment, presumably leaving for the city to try and sort out this manner on his own terms. Everyone else in the room looked to Ruko, seeing why she seemed just as concerned for the Kagero user as all of them were at this very instance.

"Is something wrong?" Kamui asked, deciding to break the silence in the room.

"I don't know Kamui..." she sighed "Between whatever Kai has been going through and why my brother's been acting strangely because of my mother... I just don't know what to think."

"Tama can help!"

The Selector suddenly blinked as she heard Tama's voice call out from her card, which she immediately brought out of her pocket, along with Yuki's card as well.

"What do you mean Tama...?" she asked.

"Tama helped Kai before!" the girl of white called "Tama could help Kai again!"

As Ruko remained silent, unsure of how to respond to the LRIG's suggestion at this instance, Yuki however seemed to think otherwise as she looked over to Tama herself.

"I can understand your enthusiasm to aid Kai," the girl of black replied "But from what I've observed, this is an issue he needs to sort out on his own. That is, if what I think is true."

As everyone else with the exception of Umr, who was already deep in thought on the subject, looked over to Yuki's card, they began to ponder on what it was that she was hinting at. If it was anything to do with Kai's dillema, something that he had to sort out on his own, they knew that it was worth listening to the LRIG on what she had to share with the group.

(End Music)


City Streets

(Selector Spread Wixoss OST: Chiyoringa, Chiyorunba, Chorizo)

Meanwhile in a quieter portion of the city, Chiyori was hurrying on her way to wherever she had planned to be for the day. Excitement glistened from within her eyes as she hummed to herself, unable to contain the feeling that had overwritten some semblance of logic from the back of her mind as Eldora could so much tell. Her exasperated expression was more than enough for anyone to tell that even she couldn't help but question why her Selector was in this kind of mood, given that she had not bothered to tell her before leaving her home.

"Just what is it that's got you all excited?" she asked, curious as to Chiyori's excitement.

"Don't you know? It's the Selector that some Selectors around Japan call the 'Queen'!" the younger Selector replied "She's meant to be really strong on own her terms Eldora! I just wanna see her in action, even if we don't get to battle her!"

"Well if what you say is true, keeping your distance from her is probably the smartest thing you said all week."

Chiyori took no notice of her LRIG's offhand comment, not wanting to start another 'pointless' argument with her as she continued her search for this particular Selector, hoping to see her and whatever LRIG she may have in action the next time she entered a Selector Battle. As always, she seemingly wasn't concerned in the slightest with whatever the darker turns of those battles had in store for her, if only to figure out what was next from the word of Futase's novels. As she continued humming in anticipation and exitement to herself, the young Selector after looking to her left suddenly skidded to a halt abruptly in her footsteps as she saw Kai walking nearby in the distance around a near empty square of the city.

"Hey Kai!" she called as she ran over to him, catching his attention.

"Chiyori..." he murmured as he looked over to her.

"So, looking for more things about the Selector Battles, huh?" the Selector murmured before immediately pausing in her speech "Wait, don't tell me. You're looking for the 'Queen' as well!"

"Queen?"

Kai simply blinked in response to Chiyori's presumption, having not heard of or even encountered the Selector in question, unaware of her prior knowledge of him from the previous night.

"Well... I haven't actually met her in person," she replied "But I've heard word that although she's not native to Tokyo, she does travel across Japan in search of strong Selectors to challenge. Some Wixoss players I've met unofficially call her 'Queen' because she's meant to be really strong!"

"If you happen to find her first," Eldora murmured offhandedly.

"Eldora!" the Selector moaned in reply.

"I see."

The Kagero user, though more focused to the attention of his own dillema at hand, couldn't help but express a little bit of interest of this 'Queen' that Chiyori had brought up. If what the younger Selector was telling him did happen to be true, then perhaps talking to her about the truth of the Selector Battles and what was really going on behind the scenes was a possibility for debate. At the moment however, he was only relying on what was simply gossip that his current acqaintance had heard about from other Selectors that she had encountered and even Eldora had shown to express her doubts to the legitmacy of this Queen's actual existence, not to mention that he still needed to find out why the Seed fragment's power from within him was resonating with Dragonic Overlord's own power.

(End Music)

He knew there were options he could consider for the moment, but he knew that he had one concern that he had to deal with first and that to him was more important that whatever it was that Chiyori was interested in. But before he or younger Selector could say or do anything more...

"So we meet, Kai Toshiki."

Upon hearing the somewhat bold tone that addressed him, Kai looked across the empty square to other side of the street to see that Noriko was staring right towards him. The lower half of her trench coat flapped behind her in the breeze that had stirred up moments earlier as both she along with the Kagero user and Chiyori looked to each other.

"Who are you?" he asked, his eyes narrowing in response.

"I am Noriko," she spoke "I heard word that you are somehow involved with the battles that a select of Japan is amidst. If that is so true, then perhaps you will be an opponent worth seeking."

As Eldora looked at Noriko from her card, now seeing her in person for the very first time as she walked over towards Kai, something clicked in the back of Chiyori's mind as she suddenly gasped.

"Wait, Noriko?!" she gasped "As in... Kōgō Noriko?!"

"And what of it?" the Selector asked, her tone seeming somewhat vexed which only deepened Chiyori's excitement even more.

"I can't believe I didn't remember that name until now!" she gasped as she looked back to Kai "Kai, this really is her! The one that some Selectors know as 'Queen'!"

The Kagero user didn't change his expression upon seeing that Noriko was indeed the 'Queen' that she had described to him moments earlier, though Eldora was surprised to hear about this given how little knowledge Chiyori had prior to this moment. Upon seeing the sharp glint that the Selector had in her purple eyes which seemed to hold a fierce expression from amongst them, the LRIG felt it was best to try and do something to avoid any trouble between her and Chiyori, knowing how much the latter could seem oblivious to the mood of tense situations as seen before.

"Um... I apologize," she said whilst scratching her head, bringing Noriko's attention to her "I can understand if you're not in the best of moods because of my Selector."

(Selector Infected Wixoss OST: Akira)

"She still lacks experience," a voice spoke out as Noriko dug into her pocket for the card that it had come from "Such excitement gives that away."

As Chiyori tried her best to not feel offended in the slightest from the new LRIG's sudden criticism of her current state in the Selector Battles, Kai kept a close eye on the LRIG card that was shown before them, before the Selector in question turned it around to reveal Kaen, who seemed to be in just of a less pleasant mood, even with her eyes closed. Both he and Chiyori couldn't help but feel somewhat curious about the many slashes and scratches that covered over the LRIG's body as well as the tattered and torn outfit that she wore.

"Rumor says that you possess LRIGs which are more like the unsual creatures that have been appearing as SIGNI," Noriko spoke "So then, will you provide the challenge I seek? Or are you no different from most other Selectors that I have faced?"

"You wish to battle with me then," he replied "Very well then. Before we begin though, I take it that you are already aware of what truely happens in the Selector Battles. What truely happens to those that are unfamiliar with the methods of Mayu."

"And what if that is case?" she asked.

"Why is it that you seek to battle me?" he questioned "If not for upholding your supposed title of 'Queen', then what is it that you seek to achieve through battling other Selectors?"

As Chiyori pondered in confusion for a moment, now wondering about whatever it was that Noriko wished for in regards to her own participation in the Selector Battles to make that same wish come true, Noriko narrowed her eyes in response.

"I have but one desire," she spoke boldly "And I do not require 'her' methods to achieve it."

"Then what is that desire?" asked Eldora, feeling just as curious to know the answer.

"To burn the souls of myself and my LRIG Kaen to our very limits, I battle to find opponents worth my time amongst the Selectors of this world, regardless of who they are or what they wish for," the 'Queen' replied "So that I may defeat them and prove only one point to the world and to 'her'."

As Kai watched closely to see Noriko turn around Kaen's card to reveal its backing to him, preparing to initiate her battle with him, Chiyori instinctively backed away by a few steps, feeling it was best to not accidentally interfere with the upcoming clash between the two of them.

"There is only one 'Queen' and her avatar of these battles!" she boldly proclaimed "And that is us! Open!"

And with her declaration, a series of rectangular flashes enveloped Kai as everything went white, bringing him to the battlefield.

(End Music)


Selector Battlefield

As soon as the two of them had regained consciousness, both Kai and Noriko looked to one another, briefly noticing the colours of their respective sides of the battlefield were exactly the same as each other. As Kaen stood firmly on the table of her Selector with her eyes closed and her arms crossed, a new unit was shown on the Kagero user's own table as unlike Conroe or Undeux, this one appeared to be human. He had brown hair with eyes of the same colour and wielded a spear whose tip was covered by scorching orange flames.

Up in the tower near the center of the battlefield, Chiyori and Eldora were watching closely from the windowsill near the very top of the structure, the younger Selector of whom was just as excited to see what would unfold from the upcoming clash. The LRIG however remain pensive, sharing just as much intrigue, but mostly from her perspective of Kaen and what could have happened to recieve such scars that covered her. A creaking noise was heard as everyone looked to the giant arrow that was in the place of the roulette wheel, given that Kai and Noriko were using decks that primarily revolved around the same colour. Eventually, the spinning arrow came to a stop, the tip of it pointing in Noriko's direction.

"I give the first move to you, boy Selector," she spoke, her low and somewhat bold mannerism remaining as it was.

(Selector Infected Wixoss OST: Battlefield)

The Kagero user nodded as he drew his single card and looked over what was available in his opening hand for the course of the battle.

Certainly, I had to extensively change my deck... he muttered in his thoughts But even so, I won't allow this to hold me back. Especially since there is a more pressing issue for me to overcome.

"Grow!" he called "Embodiment of Armor, Bahr!"

A column of fire enveloped Sadegh as Bahr moments later emerged from it and took up a defensive stance on the LRIG space of Kai's table. Shortly afterwards, two Iron Tail Dragons appeared to the left and right SIGNI spaces as the Kagero user's turn then came to an end there. Kaen then immediately opened her yellow eyes and let out a low growl under her breath, the irises having shrunk down to what appeared to be almost a single line from an outsider's perspective. Noriko upon seeing that it was now her time to show off what she had to offer, immediately thrust her right hand to the top two cards of her deck.

"My turn!" she declared "I grow Kaen!"

A fiery aura surrounded Kaen as the scars covering her face glowed a bright orange, just as a pair of small dark red gauntlets with small spiked gloves materialized over her hands. This alone gave the impression that the LRIG's hands appeared to look more like razor sharp claws, like those belonging to a fierce dragon or whatever other creature of demonic malevolence had for 'hands'.

"Then I summon Servant O!"

To Chiyori and Eldora's surprise, the Guard SIGNI in question then appeared onto Noriko's center SIGNI space within a brief cloud of mist that emerged onto the field for a few seconds.

"She summoned a Guard SIGNI on her first turn?!" the Selector exclaimed.

"Strange..." the LRIG murmured "But if she is as strong as some people claim she is, then she wouldn't leave herself that vulnerable without reason."

Kai simply stared at Noriko's current field, assessing what was laid out before him. Like Eldora, he too knew that there had to be a reason that Noriko had chosen to summon a Guard SIGNI as her only lineup aside from Kaen.

"Servant O attacks Bahr!" Noriko declared.

Servant O nodded in response and flew across the battlefield on a trail of mist, before hurling a sphere of energy right into the Embodiment of Armor, knocking it off balance slighty. Kai's first Life Cloth revealed Perdition Dragon, Dragonic Neoflame, not having a Life Burst to aid him right now.

"Next, Kaen!"

Kaen flexed her hands before letting out a loud and fierce battle cry, then immediately dashing across the battlefield towards Bahr who held its blade in front of it for defense as Kai looked over the options that he had available in his hand. He then looked over to Kaen who was nearly towards his table as she leaped up into the air, preparing to strike.

"No guard," he spoke.

The LRIG growled slightly as she opened her right hand before using her left fist to knock Bahr's blade out of its hand. Then with her open hand, she let out a mighty slash which knocked the demon back slightly as the next Life Cloth flew up into the air and revealed itself to be Lintwurm, Phantom Dragon. It glowed brightly, indicating that the Kagero user had been lucky this time in finding a Life Burst to use.

"With Lintwurm's Life Burst, I add a Dragon Beast SIGNI to my hand."

Kai immediately picked up his deck and began searching amongst the cards that were present to pick the perfect one to add right to his hand. His eye immediately caught sight of Gattling Claw Dragon as he picked it out before shuffling his deck and placing it back on the table. Noriko said nothing more as her turn finally came to a close by the time Kaen returned back to her table.

(End Music)

End of Turn 2

Kai vs Noriko

Hand - 5 : 6

Life Cloths - 5 : 7

Current LRIGs - Embodiment of Armor, Bahr : Kaen-One

SIGNI : Iron Tail Dragon - EMPTY - Iron Tail Dragon : EMPTY - Servant O - EMPTY

Ener - 2 : 0

The Kagero user then drew his next two cards before moving Lintwurm's card from his Ener Zone to his Trash and picking out a single card from his LRIG deck.

"Grow, Blazing Core Dragon!" he declared.

(Cardfight! Vanguard OST: Fight 10)

Bahr vanished from the LRIG space of Kai's table in an eruption of flames before Blazing Core Dragon took flight into the air and landed on the same spot, stanced in preparation to confront its current opponent. As Gattling Claw Dragon appeared in the center SIGNI space between the two Iron Tail Dragons that were still on his side of the field, it along with the dragon that was to its left glowed bright orange as the last card in his Ener Zone moved to his Trash Pile.

"Three sealed gods of destruction, gain the power of destructive flames and rise!" he called as he held out a new card from his LRIG deck in his free hand "Superior Grow, Blazing Flare Dragon!"

As Blazing Core Dragon flexed its wings and soared high into the air followed by the left Iron Tail Dragon and Gattling Claw Dragon who turned into bright orange streams of energy as they ascended higher and higher before they were absorbed into the glowing central circle on the unit's chest. The result caused Blazing Core to glow brightly in a blinding orange colour as its shadow became larger and changed in shape before the glow disappeared to reveal Blazing Flare Dragon emerging from a torrent of flames, the embers of which surrounded it as it came back down to Kai's table.

"So he's mastered a Superior Grow through his own dragon," Noriko muttered to herself "At least he shows taste unlike those who possess Swift Advance."

As Kaen stared towards Blazing Flare Dragon who in turn gazed back at her, a low growl sounded from underneath both of their breaths as they stared off with one another. Two columns of flames burst open on Kai's table as Lintwurm and Perdition Dragon, Dragonic Neoflame slithered from out of the heat and took up offensive stances on the table.

"Lintwurm attacks Servant O!" he called.

The Dragon Beast SIGNI was the first to attack as it slithered across the battlefield towards Noriko's table, her prey being the lone Servant O that was directly in front of Kaen. With a lash of her tail, the Guard SIGNI vanished immediately as the card representing her reappeared in Noriko's Ener Zone as she remained unfazed.

"Next!"

Dragonic Neoflame and Iron Tail Dragon took flight and charged towards the LRIG who simply shielded her face as she groaned from the onslaught of the first dragon's flames. When they dispersed, she grabbed ahold of one of the blades of Iron Tail Dragon with her right hand, clenching her teeth to endure the pain as she gazed at the Flame Dragon in its fierce yellow eyes, before violently throwing it backwards, causing it to retreat back to Kai's side of the field. A gust of wind stirred up and flipped up the first two of Noriko's seven Life Cloths up into the air before they flew back down to her Ener Zone, one by one. The first one revealed Dragon Knight, Gimel, the Quintet Wall unit that the Kagero user was already more than familiar with as it landed face-up on the table.

Before the other one had even completed halfway of its descent, it twirled around half of a full spin before briefly glowing and revealing what Life Burst Kai had set off. It was from a Level 1 Red SIGNI, one that was unfamiliar to him as well as Chiyori and Eldora as evidenced by their curious expressions. The image of the card displayed a Devil SIGNI dressed in red clothing with small black wings, a deep grin on her lips and wielding two different objects in her respective hands. In her left arm was what appeared to a large silver tuning fork of some kind whilst in her right, she wielded a relatively medium-sized blade covered in orange flames.

"Scarlet Reverberator?" the Selector murmured, having noticed the card's name "I haven't heard of that SIGNI..."

"With the Life Burst, I draw a card," Noriko spoke.

As Iron Tail Dragon flew back to its original space on Kai's table, the Kagero user himself preparing to declare his next attack of the turn as he gazed down to Blazing Flare Dragon's card on the LRIG space. He looked ahead to his opponents with a serious glint in his eyes.

"Let's go!" he called "Blazing Flare Dragon attacks Ka...!"

(Music Ends Abruptly)

Before he could finish his declaration, a throb of pain suddenly rang through him as he clutched as his chest. As this was happening, the all too familiar dark red aura that he was acqainted with began surrounding him once more, leading to yet another struggle for control. Whilst Noriko narrowed her eyes upon noticing this, Eldora could only gasp as she watched from the tower windowsill.

"Hey, isn't that...?!" gasped Chiyori.

"It's the same as 'that' time," the LRIG muttered "But what's causing it?"

It can't be...! Kai groaned within his thoughts as he struggled to stave off the power that was trying to consume him Even without Overlord's presence, it's trying to consume me again?!

Mustering up what little willpower he had at the moment, he groaned as the dark aura of Reverse faded out and vanished from him, for the moment at least. As Blazing Flare Dragon gazed back to him for a moment, Kai immediately resumed the command that he attempted to give earlier.

"Attack!" he called.

The Flame Dragon then turned around and aimed the two multiple barreled guns in its right hand towards Kaen who remained motionless with her eyes closed, a displeased look having crossed her initial expression. As the barrels began to whir loudly, several hot fiery bullets fired out of the weapons at high speed across the battlefield towards Noriko's table as she revealed a card from her hand.

"Quintet Wall!" she called as Dragon Knight, Gimel materialized in front of her LRIG and picked out the top five cards from her deck.

(Cardfight! Vanguard OST: Fight 6)

"Come and defend my avatar!" she continued as she picked out four of the cards and threw them out to the very front of the table "Scarlet Dracowing, Berserk Dragon, Servant O and Scarlet Daemon Queen!"

Out of the four green circles that were generated by Gimel's shield, the familiar two-headed Flame Dragon and Guard SIGNI appeared first before two more unfamiliar SIGNI appeared to join them. The first much like Lintwurm was a Dragon Beast SIGNI, however it had flames for its large wingspan to differentiate it from the former and much like Kaen was also covered in orange coloured slashes down its arms. The other Devil SIGNI that was named Scarlet Daemon Queen was much more humanlike in its appearance, clad in scarlet coloured armour and wielding two spheres of flames, each coloured red and black respectively in its hands. Another barrier materialized in front of the two Kagero units and the three SIGNI as Blazing Flare Dragon's attack bounced right off with no damage done at all, before all five of them vanished from Noriko's table as Kai gritted his teeth.

"Turn end," he muttered as he looked down at the table. If Overlord's power is not causing Reverse to appear from my Seed fragment this time... then what is?!

End of Turn 3

Kai vs Noriko

Hand - 4 : 6

Life Cloths - 5 : 5

Current LRIGs - Blazing Flare Dragon : Kaen-One

SIGNI : Iron Tail Dragon - Lintwurm, Phantom Dragon - Perdition Dragon, Dragonic Neoflame : EMPTY - EMPTY - EMPTY

Ener - 2 : 5

Noriko who had closed her eyes earlier drew her next two cards before looking amongst her hand and seeing what options she had available to her at this particular moment.

"Grow, Kaen-Two!" she declared as she held out her hand towards the LRIG space, keeping her eye on Kaen.

The LRIG was enveloped in a bright orange glow as more armour materialized on her shoulders, each adorned with several spikes over the top, though some of them, much like the horn on the right of the LRIG's head were broken and battered. As the glow died down, Kaen stared towards Blazing Flare Dragon, flexing her hands as she did so, seeming impatient for the next clash to come.

"I summon Scarlet Lancer and Scarlet Marauder!"

In both the center and right SIGNI spaces on Noriko's table, two more unfamiliar Devil SIGNI clad in scarlet red armour and clothing appeared onto the battlefield, each of them taking up offensive stances. Scarlet Marauder had a pair of horns that pointed forwards, sharper shapes in its armour and wielded two large blades in each of its arms. Scarlet Lancer on the other hand possessed only a single horn on the center of her head, had slightly thicker armour in comparison and wielded only a single long lance covered in flames, the hilt of which was held in her right hand. Finally in the SIGNI space to the Selector's left appeared the Kagero unit that was known as Cross-Shot Garp as he took aim towards Blazing Flare Dragon who narrowed its eyes in response.

"With Scarlet Lancer's skill, when another Scarlet SIGNI banishes one of yours by battle, I can pay the cost to crush 1 of your Life Cloths as if it had Lancer," Noriko spoke "Furthermore, when Scarlet Marauder attacks a downed SIGNI after paying the cost, she can attack one additional time!"

"So Kaen's speciality is in the Attack Phase?" Kai murmured.

"That's correct," the Selector replied "I don't entirely require cheap gimmicks in my Main Phase to overcome my opponent's defences. But before I attack, I use a Doping ARTS to increase Scarlet Marauder's power by 3000!"

Scarlet Marauder: 4000 - 7000

After recieving the power boost from the Colourless ARTS, Scarlet Marauder pointed her left sword towards Lintwurm before letting out a battle cry and charging towards the Dragon Beast SIGNI. Before Kai could make a decision however, the same feeling from before suddenly throbbed through his chest again as he found himself trying to restrain the power that the Seed fragment was leaking from within him. Noriko's eyes narrowed once again, seeming more displeased than she was earlier in the battle.

"Ggh...! Gimel!" he called as he immediately held up the card, barely managing to prevent the same aura from before surrounding him again "Quintet Wall!"

Dragon Knight, Gimel suddenly appeared in front of Lintwurm, generating five green circles which summoned Iron Tail Dragon, Cuélep, another Lintwurm, Gattling Claw Dragon and Servant D2 to join it. A barrier formed in front of them as Scarlet Marauder swung down her left sword with all of her might. It crashed into the barrier with enough force to send sparks flying across it and the whole of Kai's table. When the summoned units and SIGNI left the presence of the Lintwurm that was attacked, a red glow suddenly surrounded the Red Devil SIGNI as she lifted up her right sword, preparing to strike again.

"So your aim was to protect Lintwurm to power up your dragons? That's meaningless!" Noriko bellowed loudly "Since Scarlet Marauder still attacked a downed SIGNI, it can Up itself and battle it again!"

"Even though I blocked the attack with Gimel, since Lintwurm is still downed..." Kai muttered. Upon looking to Gimel's card in his Trash Pile, his eyes suddenly widened in realization.

"That's right," Kaen spoke, bringing his attention to the LRIG "Since Marauder can still pay the cost once again, she can attack Blazing Flare Dragon immediately afterwards. If you had saved Gimel for then, you would have avoided more damage this way."

The Kagero user could only clench his teeth as Scarlet Marauder leaped up into the air and slashed down the front of Lintwurm, causing her to scream in pain before vanishing from the battlefield. The Red Devil SIGNI gained another bright red aura as it leaped into the air once again and slashed down the front of Blazing Flare Dragon with both of its swords this time. Before Kai could react, a spiral of flames from Scarlet Lancer's weapon struck Blazing Flare Dragon immediately afterwards, causing a large explosion that covered over a significant portion of his table. Looking to his Ener Zone, the next two Life Cloths that were crushed were revealed to be Dual Axe Archdragon and Kannya, Phantom Dragon, nothing of which could help with through their lack of Life Bursts.

(End Music)

"What's wrong?! Have you given up already?!" Noriko yelled as Scarlet Lancer and Cross Shot, Garp immediately made short work of Iron Tail Dragon and Dragonic Neoflame.

As Kai could only stare across the battlefield towards the Selector, he looked back to his table just in time to see that Kaen was already running towards it before taking a mighty leap into the air, preparing to strike Blazing Flare Dragon. Flames then immediately covered her right arm as she dived down towards the Flame Dragon before Wyvern Guard, Barri suddenly appeared in front of her, generating a barrier to stop her attack in its tracks. The impact of her flame coated hand was still enough to send a shockwave across the table, causing Kai to shield his face from the heat as the LRIG then retreated when it subsided.

End of Turn 4

Kai vs Noriko

Hand - 2 : 5

Life Cloths - 3 : 5

Current LRIGs - Blazing Flare Dragon : Kaen-Two

SIGNI : EMPTY - EMPTY - EMPTY : Cross Shot, Garp - Scarlet Marauder - Scarlet Lancer

Ener - 10 : 0

"This battle is seeming one-sided," Eldora murmured as she brought up one hand to her chin "Especially with what Kai is dealing with now..."

"Ggh...! What's up with you Kai?!" yelled Chiyori "You don't get pushed around this easily!"

Kai could only stare towards Noriko and Kaen as he then looked over to his deck, preparing to draw to start his next turn. He picked up the next two cards before turning them over, seeing what they were. Looking over what little options that he had available to him in his hand, he took ahold of three of the four cards he now held and threw them out towards the empty SIGNI spaces on his table. One by one, Dual Axe Archdragon, Calamity Tower Wyvern and Berserk Dragon appeared from left to right, preparing to strike as the latter began charging up two fireballs in its mouths.

"Berserk Dragon's skill!" the Kagero user called "I banish Scarlet Marauder!"

Berserk Dragon roared loudly as it unleashed both fireballs from its two heads towards Scarlet Marauder, exploding the moment that they made contact with Noriko's table as the Selector in question remained unfazed by the shockwave of the blast. An orange coloured aura surrounded Blazing Flare Dragon as the first unit that Kai began with appeared in front of it.

"Furthermore with Sadegh's skill, I banish another SIGNI from your field!"

Sadegh hurled the flaming spear that he wielded towards Scarlet Lancer as it then struck the Devil SIGNI head on, engulfing her in a large explosion which briefly covered a portion of Noriko's table.

"I banish again with Burning Stone Flame!" Kai declared as the ARTS revealed itself, before a red beam shot out of it and struck Garp, banishing it from Noriko's table, leaving all of her SIGNI spaces completely empty.

"He's already cleared her field!" gasped Chiyori "Now this is more like it!"

"That's true," said Eldora "But his hand... it's almost completely empty."

After the smoke cleared from Noriko's table, Kai could see that the Selector was holding her head down with her expression having not changed in the slightest since the second time that the Seed's power attempted to consume him. Looking to his SIGNI formation, he knew exactly what it was that he needed to do next.

"Calamity Tower and Dual Axe Archdragon attack!" he called.

The two dragons of the Kagero clan roared loudly and set their sights upon Kaen who simply leaped over towards the center of the battlefield, preparing to clash with them as she flexed her sharp gloved hands like claws. Calamity Tower Wyvern unleashed a jet of fire at the LRIG as she ignited one of her hands in a coat of flames and used it to endure through most of the attack before Dual Axe Archdragon swung down the axe in its left arm straight into her, the blow being strong enough to knock her back towards Noriko's table as her next two Life Cloths revealed additional copies of Scarlet Marauder and Scarlet Lancer. Neither of which however had any Life Bursts at all to aid her at the moment.

Noriko still has five cards in her hand Kai murmured in his thoughts If she's not blocking my attacks on purpose, then she must be saving her SIGNI for an all out assault.

As he finished running through his thoughts, he looked over to Berserk Dragon as it snarled loudly and kept a sharp eye on Kaen who had recovered from the earlier blows. As he was about to give another command, seeing that he did not set off any Life Bursts at all, the same sharp throb in his chest began to happen once more as he gasped for breath, clutching his chest as he did so. Noriko although not looking at him by then, had only increased her hidden scowl, unbeknowst to everyone else but Kaen. As the red aura of Reverse surrounded Kai once more, he clenched his teeth as he attempted to stave it off whilst intending to continue with what he intended.

"Link Joker...!" he growled "I disowned your gift of power once before! I will not become that person again...! Berserk Dragon attacks Kaen!"

Berserk Dragon roared loudly in response as it lifted both heads, each with a fireball materializing within them as the twin-headed Flame Dragon prepared to continue the assault on Kaen. At this point, Noriko had finally had enough in remaining silent with her current displeasure.

"Pathetic...!" she growled "I use the ARTS, Phoenixian Infernal Rebirth!"

(Selector Infected Wixoss OST: Battle ~ Negative Chain)

As all five of the cards in her Ener Zone moved to her Trash Pile, the new Red ARTS revealed itself to everyone and spun around in a fiery tornado that swirled out and moved in front of Kaen, just in time to block Berserk Dragon's attack as it let loose the fireballs from its mouths. As Kai could only stare in shock and groan in pain from trying to strain the Reverse that was trying to consume him, Chiyori gasped in shock.

"What the...?! An Attack Phase ARTS that can be used when he attacks?!" she exclaimed.

"I'm suspecting that's not all," Eldora muttered as she stared towards Noriko, silently gasping when she noticed her expression.

"Ggh...! At this rate...!" Kai groaned as he struggled to keep the power consuming him in check.

"Weak."

He stared towards Noriko who had uttered that single word upon seeing the state that he was currently in, now hearing her sharp tone becoming much more harsh than what she sounded the first time that they had encountered each other.

"You dare show weakness in front of me... WITH THAT TREPID EFFORT?!" she yelled, raising her head to reveal her eyes in their angered state.

Kai could only look forward towards Noriko, still doing the best he could to restrain the aura that surrounded him at this very instance whilst listening to what she had to say to him.

"I approached you because I thought from word that you would prove a worthy challenge, but it seems that Kaen and I have expected too much from you!" the Selector continued, her temper having risen even further "I won't be satisfied with battling a person who holds back in any shape or form, let alone one who's dictated by their own fear to the point of making careless mistakes!"

"What are you saying?!" he muttered, still struggling to stave off Reverse.

"I can see it in your eyes! You're afraid of something and that aura I've been noticing has been connected to it in some way!" Noriko replied "So tell me Kai Toshiki... what is it that you fear?!"

"I...!" the Kagero user groaned "I do not fear you!"

The Selector simply huffed, having expected that he had not found the answer to her question as he initially believed.

"Phoenixian Infernal Rebirth has one additional effect!" she declared "I send all SIGNI cards from my field to my Trash and discard 2 cards to revive Scarlet Reverberator from my Trash!"

A column of fire erupted onto the center SIGNI space of her table as the figure depicted on the artwork of Scarlet Reverberator's card emerged from the inferno, still wielding her deep grin on her lips as she stared across to the opposite of the battlefield. As Kai could only stare at the newly summoned SIGNI, wondering what other powers it had at its disposal, the grip of Reverse around him suddenly tightened as he groaned in pain even more as an image from the past, depicting how he was when he accepted that same power as his own once before, flashed before him as his eyes widened briefly for a moment.

"Blazing Flare!" he declared, his strained voice almost sounding urgent for some reason.

As the Flame Dragon took aim at Kaen, she simply closed her eyes effortlessly as the bullets from the twin barrelled gun rocketed towards the table and exploded all around the LRIG space. Noriko's next Life Cloth revealed Servant D2 as it landed in her Ener Zone, her fierce and angry gaze having not wavered in the slightest from the latest attack. Kai could do nothing more as he continued to inwardly resist the aura around him as the turn came to a close.

"You're correct, this aura is a part of my recent troubles," he spoke "But, even so, I will not give in to neither it nor this battle!"

"You call this a battle?" Noriko muttered under her breath "You were just lucky from your own self-restraint. This isn't good enough to even be called a battle! Not whilst you are wallowing around in your own fear and dellusion!"

As Kai clenched his teeth, he focused his attention on trying to stave off the Reverse that was still trying to consume him, he looked down to the table in front of him and looked over his right arm, seeing the aura was tightening its grip.

"It seems that Overlord's words haven't even gotten through to you!" Blazing Flare growled under its breath "Are you going to control it or let it control you?!"

"I won't use it as I did before!" the Kagero user groaned before closing his eyes and recalling all of the past memories "I...!" He then reopened them and looked over to his right hand, gasping in shock immediately afterwards at the sight he was greeted with.

"What is...?! Why is my hand trembling?!"

"So we've discovered it at last."

Upon hearing Noriko's words towards him, Kai stared towards her, his composure having faded slightly since he saw that his hand was trembling without his knowledge, now feeling the trembling feeling in that same hand for himself.

"We've finally discovered... why it is that you're afraid!" she bellowed.

"It can't be...! I'm... afraid...?" he murmured as he stared down at his shaking right hand once again as it was still covered in the aura of the power trying to consume him, still in disbelief as to what he was being told and finding himself unable to close it at all.

(End Music)


Kai's Apartment

"Wait... you're thinking that Kai's scared of Reverse?!"

As Naoki asked the question in utter disbelief to Yuki, who had stated her earlier theory as to his behavior lately, particuarly in the last battle he had against Aichi the previous night, the girl of black closed her eyes as she continued her presumed explanation.

"I don't believe Kai is afraid of confronting that power if it is an opponent he can fight," she spoke "But the fact it is within him and trying to take him over, there's little else to say what else the cause of his late behavior is concerned."

"But if that's so... why didn't he tell us about how he was really feeling?!" asked Kamui.

"I imagine it's his own pride," Ren said, almost slipping into his usual tone "After all, he knows what he did in the past was of his own will. And the fact that the Seed fragment's overloaded power is trying to force him to do those same things again..."

"This is all my fault..." Ruko said sadly "If I didn't use Yuki's reversed form against him...!"

Unable to finish her sentence, the Selector could only slam a closed fist onto the topmost cushion of the couch in the living space, the soft fabric lessening the impact of the blow in her frustration. Tama could only stare from her card towards Ruko in worry, knowing that this wasn't the first time that she had entered such a mood throughout the course of the Selector Battles, prior to Kai's entry into this world. Whilst Aichi could only look at her in concern, Leon got up from his seat and approached her, his gaze seeming rather serious.

"I can understand your frustration in this situation," he spoke "But if what Yuki theorizes is true, then this is something Kai has to confront on his own. If becoming the person he was at that time again is what he fears the most, then it is up to him and only him about how he can overcome it."

Ruko turned to the Aqua Force user, still feeling unconvinced for the moment as she got up from her slumped position and went back to the table where everyone was sitting.

"Just what can we do?" Aichi murmured, now worried for Kai's safety at this moment.

"For the moment, we can do nothing," Umr replied "Kai was unwilling to leave you in harm's way, so attempting to battle him again may be out of the question for now."

"Yeah," he said "But... I'm also worried about Ruko."

Looking over to the Selector in question, the Royal Paladin user could see that she was seated beside him and looking down at her two LRIGs, feeling uncertain and unsure of what to do or say next to try and help them in any way. A few moments later, an idea formed in the back of his mind.

"Um, Ruko-san..."

"Yes Aichi?" she murmured.

"C... could we perhaps have a practice battle?" he asked "I know we're just as worried about Kai-kun now, but you also have the concern of Ayumu now."

"T... that's true," Ruko replied "Thinking about it... we were never able to battle one on one before that Battle Royale." Letting out a small sigh under her breath, she turned to face Aichi with what little self-assurance she had. "Alright then. If we won't use the Selector Battlefield, I'll accept."

Aichi smiled a little and nodded in response, acknowledging her brief concern for the friendly battle before looking out to the single large window in the apartment, wondering where Kai was in the city and how he was doing.


And there we go! Kai accepts the challenge by the 'Queen' and Kaen, but finds that even with the lack of Overlord's presence, the Seed's power is still trying to consume him as he falters throughout the battle. As Noriko harshly scolds him for allowing his fear, whatever that may be to control him, Yuki shares the matter of her presumption of Kai's fear with the rest of group. Will Kai overcome the daunting challenge that is posed before him or has Noriko already proven to be too much for him to handle? Find out next time on Stand Up, the LRIG!

Before I go, I would like to thank everyone who has been following the story up to this point and getting it to at least 100 reviews. I really appreciate what you have to say. A link to all of Noriko's Scarlet cards and Kaen's forms are below the Story Original Cards link in my profile (idented by a bullet point). Please share your thoughts and criticisms in the reviews as always and I'll see you next time!


Cards of the Chapter:

Scarlet Marauder

Level 2

Colour: Red

Class: Image Spirit: Devil

Limiting Condition: Kaen LRIGs only

Power: 4000

[Use Timing - Attack Phase] Pay 1 Red: At the end of the battle this SIGNI declared an attack on a Downed SIGNI, you may pay the cost. If you do, Up this SIGNI. Cards with Multi-Ener cannot be used to pay the cost.

Scarlet Lancer

Level 2

Colour: Red

Class: Image Spirit: Devil

Limiting Condition: Kaen LRIGs only

Power: 5000

[Use Timing - Attack Phase] Pay 2 Red: When your other Red SIGNI with "Scarlet" in its name banishes a SIGNI by an attack and that SIGNI did not have Lancer, you may pay the cost. If you do, crush 1 of your opponent's Life Cloths. This SIGNI cannot attack your opponent's LRIG or damage it the turn you use this effect.