Selector Battlefield

(Selector Spread Wixoss OST: Battle ~ Limit)

Kai could only remain still as he allowed the realization of his current state to sink into his mind. It was hard enough already that he was continuing to struggle in keeping back the Reverse aura that surrounded him, but the fact that he was actually experiencing what was now confirmed to be his own worst fear was something he had not anticipated as his right hand continued to shake before him. Blazing Flare Dragon simply grunted under its breath, seemingly sharing the same amount of annoyance displayed in its own expression with their current opponents on the opposite table at the far end of the battlefield. Noriko immediately started her turn as she placed Berserk Dragon from her hand into her Ener Zone before Servant D2 and it moved straight to her Trash Pile.

"Kaen, Grow!" she declared.

A whirlwind of flames swirled around Kaen as a pair of small black wings materialized on her back and the orange slashes that covered over her body illuminated brightly for a brief moment. When the fire had vanished, a bright yellow glow appeared above the empty SIGNI space to the right of Scarlet Reverberator as a SIGNI was now summoned for the first time throughout this battle. Kai immediately recognized it to be Scarlet Dracowing, recognizing its brief appearance from the Quintet Wall that Noriko had used on his very first turn.

"Next I'll use a Charging ARTS to Ener Charge and Salvage afterwards to add the other Scarlet Dracowing in my Trash back to my hand."

As the top card of the Selector's deck revealed itself as Berserk Dragon through the effect of the first Colourless ARTS, the second ARTS revealed itself and sent the revealed SIGNI card to her Trash Pile, bringing out Scarlet Dracowing into plain view. The card hovered for a few moments before she took ahold of it and tossed it out onto the table, summoning the second Dracowing as she flexed her arms and yawned loudly, albeit sounding more like a roar. As if on cue, that same SIGNI's eyes lit up as she stared towards Dual Axe Archdragon.

"Scarlet Dracowing's ability!" Noriko declared "At the start of either player's SIGNI Attack Step, the SIGNI on the field with the highest power is immediately banished!"

Kai could only clench his teeth as he knew that his strongest SIGNI as of this moment was Dual Axe Archdragon and he was already running low on the number of cards in his hand as he broke his gaze away from his trembling right hand and looked down to the cards he held.

"Since your SIGNI is about to be banished, the other part of Dracowing's ability now applies," Kaen spoke, interrupting his thoughts "You can avoid having that SIGNI banished, but it will require you to discard 1 card from your hand."

Before the Kagero user could make a decision however, the aura of Reverse intensified around him once again as he clutched his chest in pain, trying desperately to resist that power and focus on continuing the battle. His breathing grew hectic as he tried to move his right hand over to his cards, but whenever he attempted to do so, the trembling he was feeling within it had only grown stronger.

Is Noriko speaking the truth...? he muttered in his thoughts That I am afraid of something right now? If that's so... then what is that I'm afraid of and why?

"Now then, Kai Toshiki!" Noriko declared loudly, bringing his attention back to her "What will your choice be?! Or will you let that fear control you again?!"

Right now, there's two Scarlet Dracowings on Noriko's field. In that case...

"I choose... not to discard!" Kai replied as he continued to keep back the Reverse surrounding him.

The Scarlet Dracowing on Noriko's right opened her mouth and unleased a stream of flames at Dual Axe Archdragon, banishing the Kagero unit from his side of the battlefield. The Scarlet Dracowing on the left then roared loudly as she set her sights on its duplicate, a flash appearing in front of the eyes as Noriko glanced over the cards in her hand.

"I discard to pay the maintenance cost of my other Scarlet Dracowing!" she replied as she placed Scarlet Lancer from her hand into her Trash Pile.

"Eh?" murmured Chiyori "Why did she have to discard?"

"Each Scarlet Dracowing banishes the SIGNI on the field with the highest power at this timing," Eldora replied "Since Kai willingly allowed Dual Axe Archdragon to be banished by the first one, her other Dracowing made it vulnerable to that effect unless she discarded herself to keep it around to attack with."

The younger Selector quietly gasped in an "Oh!" fashion as evidenced by her realization of the scenario before she looked back down to the battlefield with her LRIG from the tower windowsill, wondering how the battle would turn out, especially given the circumstances Kai was currently trying to deal with for himself. The Kagero user could only watch on as the two Scarlet Dracowings respectively made short work of Berserk Dragon before turning their wrath upon Blazing Flare Dragon as it shielded its face from their flames with its weapon. His next Life Cloth revealed Gattling Claw Dragon as he immediately drew 1 card from its Life Burst before clutching his chest in pain once again, the aura around him continuing to intensify.

"Go Kaen!" Noriko declared.

Kaen growled under her breath as she took flight on her small pair of wings and charged towards Blazing Flare Dragon who pointed its double barreled gun towards her and fired a shower of multiple fiery bullets towards her. The LRIG weaved her way around the barrage that was aimed at her and soared a little ways above Kai's table as she clenched her right fist within the 'clawed' glove before reopening it as it was enveloped in a blaze of fire. The Flame Dragon held out the blades in its other three arms in front to defend itself as Kaen with a mighty yell punched as hard as she could with her blazing gauntlet, sending shockwaves across the table as the Kagero user noted from having to shield his face not from the heat, but the force that was sent out from the impact.

"What vigor...!" he muttered as he stared towards the LRIG who had knocked Blazing Flare Dragon backwards a little before flying into the air once again. Briefly, he clutched his chest in pain once again as the aura surrounding him continued to increase in strength. Dragon Monk, Genjo landed in his Ener Zone, the Life Burst allowing him to regain another Life Cloth.

"I've been disappointed so far!" she growled "I was told that you were meant to have more spirit than this! The next turn will be your last chance to prove us wrong!"

Kai could only clench his teeth as he watched Kaen fly back into the air and raise her right arm, the gauntlet she wielded now completely ablaze as a ball of fire materialized above the palm of her hand.

"Since Kaen's attack hit Blazing Flare," Noriko spoke "I banish Calamity Tower Wyvern and crush 1 Life Cloth as Scarlet Reverberator did not attack it this turn!"

The Kagero user said nothing as he could do nothing, but watch as the fireball in the LRIG's right hand grew even larger before she gazed down upon his table and prepared to hurl it all the way there.

"This will be a reminder of your POOR performance now!" she bellowed "Scarlet Meteor!"

Kaen then hurled down the 'meteor' as she had promptly called her large projectile, soaring down towards Kai's table before it collided with Blazing Flare Dragon, engulfing it and him in a large explosion as he cried out loud, the card Servant D2 flying past him and landing in his Ener Zone, mostly filled to the brim with Red cards throughout the course of the battle thus far. When the smoke cleared, the aura that surrounded the Kagero user had not faded as he fell forwards for a brief moment, feeling as if he could no longer hold it back for much longer, looking over towards his deck and considering his options that he had.

If I really cannot finish this without slipping back into Reverse again... he muttered in annoyance as he tried to move his trembling right hand towards it Then I...!

"I will NOT accept a surrender!"

Kai stopped moving his arm as he looked back to Noriko who had called out to him on his attempted action just now, presumably to throw the battle to put himself and presumably her and Kaen out of danger.

"If that aura does have something to do with what you fear, then you won't accomplish anything by fleeing this battle!" she yelled "This is your final chance to try and redeem yourself now!" She then clenched her right fist tightly as she continued speaking. "Show me the spirit that those who have spoken about you said you had! Rage back against Kaen and show me, the one they call Dragonic Overlord!"

(End Music)

The Kagero user could hang his head down, knowing that no matter how he answered back to her, the truth was that Dragonic Overlord would not show itself in this battle as he had given all the cards representing to Aichi earlier in the morning. Then there was the fact that Noriko had called him out on his attempt to throw the battle, believing that he was just running away from his dillema and not getting closer to overcoming it. As the aura covered over him completely as he bit his lip to prevent himself from screaming, he could only close his eyes in frustration about everything that had happened to him lately.

"Kai Toshiki."

Kai's eyes suddenly opened in shock as he heard a familiar voice echo into his head and one that he had not expected to hear from again so soon since 'then'. It was definitely female, yet there was something about it that made him feel even more unnerved.

"You cannot deny it," the voice echoed "You already know that you can hear me."

Looking around for the source of it, he looked ahead to see some of the overflowing aura in front of him move to the side to reveal a pitch black 'space' as a familiar face suddenly appeared from within it. Her gentle, yet unnerving smile made it easy for him to recognize who was calling out to him now.

"Mayu!" he muttered.

"I'm really sorry you haven't managed to perform as well as you would lately, if your last battle against Aichi was anything to prove it," she spoke "But, I never thought you would think of abandoning Dragonic Overlord in an attempt to save your own skin."

"You're wrong!" Kai yelled "I haven't abandoned it...! I've entrusted it to Aichi until I can overcome my issue!"

Mayu's expression did not change in the slightest, aside from a small, yet noticable increase in her smile as she 'moved' closer towards the viewing 'portal' from where the Kagero user could see her, briefly flinching to avoid being overcome by another surge of power that was all around him.

"Entrusted, huh?" she mused "Then if that's so, I wonder why you were trying to run away again. Especially since you thought it was the reason the Seed's overloaded power is trying to consume you again. Could it be fear as the 'Queen' as pointed out? Reluctance of using that power for yourself again? Or fear that it is already beyond even your own will? But rest assured, it doesn't have to end the way you wish to prevent."

Kai simply narrowed his gaze at the mastermind of the Selector Battles, knowing from their last confrontation when she attempted to hijack Ruko's body to conquer the outside world herself that she was one that was not to be trifled with.

"I am willing remove that burden from you and declare a ceasefire from my associates' efforts on your world," Mayu continued "I will be even willing to not mark off your second loss in the Selector Battles for surrending this current battle. The condition for that... is if you surrender all your units, including Dragonic Overlord to Miyako afterwards."


Kai's Apartment

"Yuki, grow!"

Ruko placed down the single card that represented Yuki's Level 2 form, named Iona, Half/Maiden, on top of her Level 1 form, Iona, Crescent/Maiden as she begun the start of her next turn in the friendly battle that she was currently having against Aichi, who sat opposite her on the table. On his side of the field was Little Sage, Marron as his LRIG with Hallowed Breath Dragon in the center SIGNI space. Umr, Yuki and Tama watched closely from their cards to see how the battle would progress out with the mysterious black LRIG being intrigued in the girl of black's potent, given that this was the first time she had seen the Selector use that deck in action, having not been present the last time she had used it.

Naoki, Kamui, Ren and Leon observed the current battle from one side of the living space table, knowing that it was still early on in the game itself and that there was no telling what could unfold in the coming turns.

"I summon Code Maze Triumph and down her!" Ruko called as she placed the card into the middle SIGNI zone before downing her immediately "With this, I'll add Quesal to my hand."

After revealing the Shadow Paladin unit to Aichi, the Selector concealed it amongst the remaining cards in her hand before she placed down Healing Revenger and Skull Witch, Nemain into her remaining spaces. After paying the cost for the latter's skill, she turned her attention to Aichi's current fielding, noting his stance from the first turn that he had taken previously.

"Rugos and Nemain attack Marron!" she called.

In a imaged scenario playing out within Aichi's mind, both Rugos and Nemain attacked Marron with a shower of purple lighting and a massive slash by the Darkness Revenger's larger blade. The Little Sage fell backwards a little ways as afterimages of the cards representing Knight of Silence, Gallatin and Bringer of Good Luck, Epona flew by, the latter glowing yellow for a brief moment. An aura of the same colour enveloped Hallowed Breath Dragon as it powered up from the Life Burst that had been triggered by Rugos' attack.

Seeker, Hallowed Breath Dragon: 2000 - 7000 + Lancer

Yuki then gathered a dark aura that manifested into a sphere which materialized in front of her two hands before she grabbed ahold of it and sent it hurtling towards Marron who had barely gotten up from the ground. A blinding white flash appeared in front of him as Shiron appeared and summoned a barrier that easily deflected the attack, much to the girl of black's slight annoyance as Aichi had imaged through Ruko's expression at the moment. Back in the apartment, the Selector could only sigh a little as she had no other option but to end the turn right there.

As Aichi drew his next two cards and looked over what he had available to him, he looked back to the Selector who didn't seem the least bit happy as her two LRIGs could tell from watching from their cards.

"Is Ru alright?!" Tama cried in concern.

Ruko blinked for a moment, seemingly unaware of how she was appearing to everyone whilst being caught up in her own scattered state of emotions, unsure of how to feel towards everyone given the events that had been occurring as of late.

"Is something up...?" Naoki pondered.

"Sorry Ishida," she spoke "I've... just had a lot on my mind lately. Not with what has been happening with Kai and onii-chan lately, but..."

"But what exactly?" asked Kamui.

"Ever since Kai freed me from Mayu... I've been able to get used to playing with Tama again," Ruko answered "But when he visited me two nights ago and even now... I'm wondering if I can even meet the expectations that Yuki had set out for me when I first used this deck."

"Ruko..." Yuki breathed, having been curious as to her performance with her particular cards as of late.

As everyone looked over to the Selector, seeing the extent of her troubles thus far in reacqainting herself with Yuki's cards without the power of Reverse fueling the both of them unlike 'that' time, Aichi moved Loving Healer's card from his hand to his Ener Zone before facing the person that sat before him.

"You're worried about letting down Yuki, right?" he asked.

"I... suppose you're right," she answered as she looked down to the girl of black, seeing that her stoic expression did hold a hint of concern amongst it.

"Um... I'm guessing Kai-kun told you about the game of Vanguard when he visited you that night, right?"

Ruko looked up to Aichi, breaking out of her brief stupor and now curious as to why he had asked this particular question.

"He did say something about it when I asked him about Cray," she replied "He said it was about using one's imagination to become a Vanguard to lead the way to victory. I... never quite understood about how it worked though."

"I know that Wixoss isn't exactly within the right context to bring up the subject..." the Royal Paladin user murmured "But if you're not battling within the battlefield as we are now... maybe you could try it."

"Try it...?"

Now the Selector seemed somewhat confused, wondering why Aichi had suggested for her to try and use her own imagination to how she was battling now, even if it was just a friendly contest that the two of them were engaged in. Then after several moments of near utter silence had passed by the two of them, something then sparked at the back of her head as she looked down to Yuki and then to the card that was currently representing her.

"Wait a second..." she murmured to herself before looking back to Aichi Maybe if I imaged myself as Yuki now... "So... I just have to image it, just as Kai said."

(Cardfight! Vanguard OST: Yobisamasu Koe)

Closing her eyes for a moment and breathing in for a moment, the world around her seemingly faded out into white as her vision before her completely changed into one of the many rocky plains of the Planet Cray, where a majority of battles within the game of Cardfight! Vanguard were imaged in the minds of many cardfighters and in this case as of now, herself. Seeing the image that she formed in her mind, she looked down at herself to find that not only was she standing up on the ground in Yuki's current costume and attire from her Half/Maiden form in the stead of her current clothes, but that her three SIGNI were taking up defensive stances right in front of her.

In front of the four of them was the powered up Hallowed Breath Dragon and Aichi who appeared to be in Marron's own attire, even with the pair of glasses that the Little Sage wore. Upon seeing that the Selector had conjured up an image of her own, he smiled gently before closing his eyes, knowing exactly what he was going to do next.

"Stand up, my avatar!" he called "Grow, Blaster Blade!"

The Royal Paladin user was enveloped in a blinding white light as Marron vanished from the battlefield as Ruko couldn't help, but let out a silent gasp as he later reemerged in the armour of the Swordsman of Light, even carrying the very sword that he was named after. Certainly, seeing him this way through her imagination for the first time was vastly different to when she last saw him wield the Royal Paladin in battle against Hatsu, when she used Umr's deck that he now carried. The fact that the long strand of blue hair on the right side of his head had seeming grown larger to cover part of the same side of his face was also something she had not expected to conjure up within that image.

"With Blaster Blade's skill, I pass final judgement on Rugos!" he called as he held the Blaster Blade high into the air before yelling loudly and thrusting it into the ground.

A shockwave of bright coloured energy rippled throughout the ground until it hit Rugos head on, banishing it from the battlefield as Ruko was forced to cover her face from the force. Then in an instant, Cherin and Gallatin appeared beside the imaged form of the Swordsman of Light, the Knight of Silence immediately making short work of Healing Revenger before Hallowed Breath Dragon swooped over to the air above the Selector's side of the battlefield. It roared loudly before letting out a blast of azure coloured fire at Triumph, banishing the SIGNI from the field as the blaze immediately consumed her, causing her to groan in pain as an afterimage of the card Drei=Capsule flew past her, no Life Burst appearing to aid her. She then looked back ahead to see Aichi take ahold of the Blaster Blade preparing to wage his next attack, noticing the determined glint in his eyes now.

"Here I come, Ruko-san!" he called as he ran towards her.

Shaking her head to snap herself back to reality and noticing that same expression in his eyes, Ruko quickly looked down to the cards she still held and took out one of them, briefly returning back to the battle that she was still very much imaging.

"Mac Lir!" she called as the Shadow Paladin unit appeared in front to shield her from Blaster Blade's next attack.

Aichi, still imaging himself as the Swordsman of Light swung down the blade as hard as he could into Mac Lir's barrier on his right arm, kicking up dirt from the shockwave as he did so, but having no effect at all. Looking to Ruko who was still imaged as Yuki in her current appearance, he smiled gently almost in acknowledgment as he leaped back, just as the Shadow Paladin that deflected his attack vanished in a flash of black sparks. Eventually, the two combatants had regained their sense of reality as the Selector placed Mac Lir's card into her Trash Pile, her breathing having increased for whatever reason during her 'imaging' of the entire turn.

"Are you alright, Ruko?" asked Yuki.

"I... I'm alright," she replied as she eventually slowed down her breathing to a normal pace. I never thought imaging a battle could take a lot of focus...

"You might just get the hang of it," Ren interjected "Though given that you're more accustomed to battling with Tama and Yuki rather than imagining yourself as either of them, it may take longer as you aren't really a cardfighter yourself."

"That's certainly true," the Selector said with a little bit of a nervous smile "But in a way... I think I might understand my LRIGs a little more."

"What exactly do you mean?" murmured Umr, she too feeling seemingly unfamiliar with the subject itself.

"When I imaged myself as Yuki, I thought about how calm and collected she could be, whilst doing her utmost to keep her faith in me," Ruko explained "I guess... I was looking at it from her perspective this way. If I'm going to figure out why my mother is making onii-chan behave the way he is, I need to have just as much faith in both Yuki and Tama as they do with me."

Aichi nodded with a kind smile in acknowledgement, seeing that his suggestion had managed to make a somewhat positive impact with the Selector on how her outlook with both of her LRIGs and the trust they shared in one another.

"By the way Aichi..." she continued "Did you give this kind of advice to Hitoe?"

"Um... I told her about it before we left the library yesterday..." he murmured "Yuzuki-san was a little more curious about the game of Vanguard whilst we talking about Cray. We didn't actually battle then."

"I see," Ruko replied with a warm smile "Either way, I'm really thankful for everything you've done for her since you came here. She's really changed thanks to you."

"Yeah," he said "She really has come a long way from what happened before and now, she's back with her closest friends."

(End Music)

The Selector said nothing more, silently remaining in agreement with what Aichi had to say on the subject. Now that she had gotten part of her concerns out of her mind for the moment, she decided to continue with the battle as it was, now feeling somewhat refreshed from everything that had been occurring thus far.


Selector Battlefield

Kai could only stare at Mayu after she had presented him with the offer that she was seemingly willing to carry out for him. It appeared as if she was indeed willing to aid in removing the curse of Reverse from him, but at a hefty cost as he was already aware. That cost being that he would later have to surrender his units to Miyako and he knew from what she was capable of, there was no way for him to fool the mastermind as easily as one could think. At the same time, the mention of the name of Ruko's mother had immediately caught his attention, having not recieved the information from Kamui that she had briefly visited his world to claim Gaillard and Tetsu's units for Mayu.

"Miyako...?" he murmured "You can't mean..."

"That's correct. Ruko's mother, my closest friend to the ugly world outside of my domain is a part of my ranks," she replied "I never thought that Ayumu would be able to harness his willpower and imagination for the clone LRIG's potential though. But back to the point, will you choose to accept my offer and relieve yourself of your burden? Or will you refuse and continue to resist until you are forced back into that 'state' regardless?"

Kai clenched his fists as he looked down at the table, now completely covered in the aura that he was almost consumed by throughout the majority of the battle. He did not anticipate that he would battle as poorly as Noriko had pointed out to him earlier, nor did he think that he would be caught in the grip of Reverse that soon, even if Dragonic Overlord was not in his possession as he originally believed. He closed his eyes as he delved into his thoughts and memories, trying to make sense of the situation he was in.

It's obvious. I shouldn't accept that power again! he ranted in his thoughts And yet... Why is Blazing Flare urging me to wield it just as Overlord told me before?! Doesn't it realize that the crisis I had started before could happen again?!

The Kagero user with his eyes now closed, keeping his teeth clenched to try and resist another surge of power from the aura that completely covered over his seat at the table from which he was battling from, ran through more of his memories from this present moment in the battle all the way back to his first battle with Ruko.

"I can see it in your eyes! You're afraid of something and that aura I have been noticing is connected to it in some way!"

"It seems Overlord's words haven't gotten through to you yet!"

"Unless you wish to be consumed as you are, then control it or let it control you!"

"You may believe you have let go of it, but Reverse will always remain a part of you."

Kai then silently gasped upon remembering what his 'mirror image' after his first battle with Ruko had said to him, when he had seemingly been hallucinating after escaping defeat and the clutches of Reverse after Tama had brought him back to his senses. He loosened his expression as he remembered everything back from that time and compared it to everything he had been told now in contrast to this dillema.

I see now...! How could I be so foolish?!

"Well then Kai," Mayu spoke, interrupting his trail of thought there "What is your decision?"

Upon now reaching the decision he had made, the Kagero user took a deep breath to calm himself down as the aura around him suddenly began to calm itself as well, as if it was no longer 'attacking' him or even attempting to consume him as it did earlier.

"I will decline."

The mastermind of the Selector Battles raised an eyebrow in confusion as Kai sat up straight back into the seat of his table, opening up his eyes to face her properly once more. He then clenched his right fist and held it up to his chest as the dark aura that surrounded him suddenly began to swirl around him, faster and faster as it disappeared slowly, but surely into his body at a rather quick pace.

"W... What is this?!" she gasped.

"Mayu...!" Kai spoke as he glared at her "I will no longer run away from myself! And... the Kagero units that fight beside me, even Overlord who does not fight beside me now, will never be yours!"

Mayu could only clench her teeth in disbelief as she waved her hand to make the 'portal' she had viewed him from disappear as the rest of the dark aura of Reverse began to seep into him, eventually restoring his full view of the battlefield that was previously obscured during that confrontation. Blazing Flare Dragon, Kaen and Noriko returned to view as he regained his vision of his surroundings. The Selector had still kept her eyes closed with her initial angered expression, having seemingly been unaware of what just happened to him moments ago. He breathed in and out gently, just to remain certain that he was indeed still himself, much to his inner relief. With his confidence restored, he looked to Blazing Flare Dragon who stared back, now seeing the change in his 'Vanguard' compared to earlier, now not seeming as annoyed as it was before.

It is finally at ease he murmured in his thoughts I will no longer be controlled by my own fear. Now then...

"Final Turn!"

(Cardfight! Vanguard OST: Kai no Theme)

Upon declaring the two words that he had been known for saying in important situations, be they for cardfights and Wixoss, Noriko suddenly opened her eyes as she stared back towards the Kagero user, now seeing the change in him as of now. Kaen who had remained stoic and fierce throughout the battle couldn't help but narrow her eyes towards him.

"His spirit... it's suddenly changed...!" she muttered "Was he consumed by 'that' aura... or...?!"

"Up and draw!"

Kai drew his next two cards, gazing down at them to see that they were both copies of Dragon Monk, Genjo. Under normal circumstances, he knew that they would not help him much against Noriko's current formation. But at the same time, upon seeing that his Ener Zone was brought back up to 12 cards, he could see that there was still opportunity for him to make a counterattack right now.

"First, I'll summon!" he declared as Dragonic Neoflame, Genjo and Berserk Dragon appeared on the field from left to right "Then with Berserk Dragon's skill, I banish Scarlet Reverberator!"

Berserk Dragon opened both mouths of its two heads and unleashed fireballs that flew across the battlefield and struck the center SIGNI space on Noriko's table, banishing Scarlet Reverberator in an instant. A fiery red aura surrounded Berserk Dragon as it powered up through Blazing Flare Dragon as a result of successfully banishing the Devil SIGNI.

Berserk Dragon: 5000 - 8000

"Next, I use Blazing Flare's skill to trash 1 of your Scarlet Dracowings!" Kai continued.

Blazing Flare Dragon's eyes lit up as it pointed its double barreled gun towards the Scarlet Dracowing that was in front of Dragonic Neoflame before letting loose a barrage of fiery bullets that showered all over the Dragon Beast SIGNI, sending the card straight to Noriko's Trash Pile.

"Neoflame's skill! I pay a Red card to send the Scarlet Reverberator that's in your Ener Zone to your Trash Pile!"

As Neoflame growled under its breath, Kaen's eyes widened for a brief moment as she turned to the Selector's Ener Zone to see Scarlet Reverberator's card hover up into the air before moving and dropping itself straight into the Trash Pile, leaving her with no cards there anymore. Noriko however was still feeling far from impressed with the current waves of consectutive banishes and Ener trashing that her opponent had managed to chain together.

"Finally, by using Servant D2 as a white Ener, I use it to pay the white cost for the ARTS, Arc Destruct!" he declared as the white ARTS revealed itself, causing the blades that Tama was holding in the card's artwork to materialize and replace the ones that were currently being held by Blazing Flare Dragon in its other three arms.

"A... Amazing!" Chiyori called from the tower windowsill "It looks like Kai is on a roll again!"

"More importantly... it seems he's gotten rid of that aura," Eldora murmured. Did he overcome that 'fear' Noriko stated to him?

"Interesting..." Noriko muttered to herself, her stern expression having not wavered.

"Noriko."

The Selector looked ahead to see Kai with his composure now fully restored and prepared to go all out with the 'Final Turn' that he had called out.

"In the end, you were correct," he spoke "I was scared of becoming the person I was when I wielded Reverse once before under my own free will. The fact that I was already overtaken by this power once before had only deepened that fear to the point of affecting my performance throughout this battle. I always knew that no matter how I let go of it, Reverse and all I did with it will remain a part of my life."

"And what does that mean for you?" she asked.

"I now understand what Overlord and Blazing Flare were trying to tell me," the Kagero user continued "They weren't implying for me to control that power to wield it as I did before. I had to control that power so that I would not unleash it nor have it take me over again. I never realized it was my own fear further stirred by my misassumption that was allowing that power to consume me and as a result, I placed all of the blame on Overlord without being completely aware."

The battlefield remained silent for a brief few moments as everyone else, even Chiyori and Eldora allowed what was just spoken out to enter their minds, now seeing the struggle that Kai had just gone through to seemingly overcome. Kai then turned his attention towards Noriko as she did not seemed fazed in the slightest, much like her LRIG who had regained her composure.

"Scarlet Dracowing's ability!" she called "You must discard 1 card or your Berserk Dragon will be banished!"

"Naturally!" Kai responded "I discard Genjo and begin my attacks!"

Berserk Dragon roared loudly before letting off a pair of fireballs that struck Kaen head on, causing her to groan loudly in pain amongst the explosion that rocked the table. The serpent like dragon that Genjo stood atop unleashed a stream of fire at the LRIG who was still obscured by the smoke, causing another explosion that engulfed the LRIG space of the table. A bright glow dispelled it immediately however as Noriko's Ener Zone revealed the crushed Life Cloth to be her Scarlet Daemon Queen, the Level 4 SIGNI that Kai saw from an earlier Quintet Wall with its Life Burst glowing brightly. Immediately into the empty zones on the Selector's table appeared another Scarlet Reverberator and Scarlet Marauder.

"Continue, Blazing Flare Dragon!" Kai called as the Flame Dragon took aim at Kaen. If this hits, then the next attack from Arc Destruct will end it!

"Even if you claim to have overcome your fear, that is still not enough!" Noriko yelled as she moved Scarlet Daemon Queen's card to her Trash Pile "Quintet Wall!"

Dragon Knight, Gimel appeared in front of Kaen once again, summoning Berserk Dragon, two Scarlet Daemon Queens and Servant O, with more than enough SIGNI to block Blazing Flare's first attack as it was deflected off the shield. Kai could only frown a little to see that the third necessary attack for him to get one step closer to completing his 'Final Turn' had failed.

"Blazing Flare, stand and attack again!" he declared.

Blazing Flare Dragon aimed its doubled barreled gun at Kaen and fired off multiple fiery bullets at the LRIG, who used her small, but wide enough wings to deflect some of the bullets, effectively reducing the physical damage that she would have taken from that attack head one. Servant D2 flew into Noriko's Ener Zone, that being her last Life Cloth with no further effects in play. Kai simply kept a close gaze upon the Selector and her LRIG, knowing that there was nothing else he could do as his turn came to end.

"Aw, dang it!" groaned Chiyori "He was so close! If only he could banish that other Dracowing!"

"That's certainly true," Eldora interjected "But... something's bothering me."

"Huh?" the Selector pondered.

"Haven't you noticed?" the LRIG replied "The one unit that Kai is known for using... it's not been played throughout this battle."

"Ah...! You're right!" she gasped "Where the heck is Dragonic Overlord?!"

(End Music)

Kai remained silent as he knew that Noriko's turn was about to come up and with Kaen still at Level 3, he knew from previous experience that this form alone would not be the pinnacle of the LRIG's full power. The Selector huffed for a moment as she drew her next two cards before looking back to it.

"I will certainly give you credit for no longer being dominated by your fear of Reverse," she spoke "But... you've disappointed me! Not only has your performance throughout the previous turns been mediocre because of that same fear, but you've denied me and Kaen the full potential you wield!"

"You're referring to Dragonic Overlord, aren't you?" he murmured as he closed his eyes "I apologize that this battle did not satisfy your expectations and that allowing my fear to control me hasn't made it any better... but because of that same fear earlier today, you should have the right to know. Overlord right now because of my earlier actions, is not in my deck."

Whilst Chiyori gasped in shock upon learning that Dragonic Overlord had been taken out of Kai's deck because of how he was really feeling earlier in the morning, Kaen's glare had narrowed whilst Noriko's expression had slowly grown scrutinized, slowly taking in the realization that the battle she intended to settle with Kai from the start, without his fear getting in the way earlier along with his earlier actions, was no longer possible in the current situation. That was when she clenched her right fist and stared towards the Kagero user.

(Selector Destructed Wixoss OST: Battle ~ Negative Chain (Breakdown mix))

"Unforgivable...!" she growled, almost on the verge of accidentally scrunching the cards she held in her left hand "You mean to tell me... that YOU decieved me from the very beginning, KAI TOSHIKI?!"

Kai did not flinch in response, but even he could not help but note the very angry tone in the Selector's voice and given the way the battle had played out up to the start of his last turn, he knew that to an extent, she had every reason to be. All he could do now was see how her next turn would play out for him and to see if he had any chance of surviving what was to come.

"First, I Ener Charge with Scarlet Marauder and then use Scarlet Reverberator's ability!" she yelled as Scarlet Marauder vanished from the field, its card first moving to her Ener Zone and then a few seconds later, straight over to her Trash Pile, glowing a bright orange colour "Now the cost for Kaen's next form is reduced by 2!"

"What the?!" gasped Chiyori.

"A normal Grow with a SIGNI effect?!" Eldora interjected in equal shock.

Kai could only clench his teeth as he watched on for what was about to happen. Scarlet Reverberator then swung its blade and tuning fork into each other, creating a loud sound as it vanished into a bright orange glow that reshaped itself into a large circular ring of the same colour that floated upwards into the air and surrounded Kaen. It then rotated 90 degrees before spinning vertically around the LRIG, faster and faster until it caught ablaze and obscured her in a sphere of fire with only her shadow visible, changing slightly with every passing second.

"The Queen's resonance will now file through you!" Noriko bellowed as she held a new card into the air with the all too familiar white backing "Those before you shall take witness to your infernal power to shake the foundations of divinity itself! GROW!"

As the card was placed down onto the LRIG space of the Selector's table, a pair of even larger fleshed black wings, each littered with a dozen of spikes burst out of the flames before opening up with great force to dispell the fire and reveal Kaen in all of her glory within her brand new form. She was covered in more damaged armour, some of which had broken spikes littered across it and only one of her breastplates had an extra sheet of metal in comparison to the other. The LRIG stretched her arms and legs with a loud yell, now finally ready to take to the battle once again.

"The ravaged soul... Sorching Hellfire, Kaen-Four!"

"So this Kaen's full power..." Kai muttered to himself "Just what is she capable of now?"

The Selector then looked forwards to Blazing Flare Dragon who had shifted its posture into a defensive stance, almost as if it was preparing for the worst to come. She first revealed a Charging ARTS from her LRIG deck which moved the top card of her deck to her Ener Zone.

"Behold... this is our strength!" she declared as she swept her hand across the Ener Zone, all six of the cards there glowing brightly afterwards "Kaen-Four by using 6 Red Ener can banish all Normal Summoned SIGNI from all of our fields and for every three banished, I crush 1 of your Life Cloths!"

"What?!" Kai gasped.

"She can do that?!" Chiyori exclaimed.

Kaen's scars glowed a bright orange as she took flight once again and soared towards the top of the battlefield, almost seeming level with the tower windowsill where she caught sight of both Chiyori and Eldora for a brief moment before looking to the ground before her. Her right hand soon covered itself in flames once again as Noriko was prepared to use the same ability that she had used before against those who had faced her, including several unfortunate members of Akira's fanclub from the previous night. The Selector then snapped her fingers as she called out the name of this signature and dangerous ability once again.

"Absolute Power Eruption!"

Kaen dived down towards the center of the battlefield with her right arm ablaze before slamming her clawed hand into the ground. The force of which was so great that it sent several cracks across both sides of the field towards both tables before they immediately caught ablaze and stuck both Kai and Noriko's tables, banishing all six of the SIGNI they had present in an instant as the Kagero user cried out aloud from taking the full brunt of the effect as his final Life Cloth, Dual Axe Archdragon flew past him and landed in his Ener Zone. His scrutinized expression made it clear that was not a good sign for him and that the next attack was enough to finish it.

"It finally ends," Noriko spoke before she opened her eyes and held out her hand in a fierce manner "Kaen, final attack! Scorching Crimson Inferno!"

Kaen took flight from the spot where she had landed 'Absolute Power Eruption' and charged towards Blazing Flare Dragon, letting out a fierce battle cry as she did so. As the Flame Dragon closed its eyes, preparing to accept the inevitable result, so did Kai after he had looked down at his hand.

"No guard," he spoke.

The LRIG's gauntlets then caught ablaze as she yelled loudly and slashed down the front of Blazing Flare Dragon, leaving several fiery scores across its chest for a few moments before she flew backwards and allowed them to detonate, dealing the finishing blow needed to end the battle in hers and Noriko's victory. However, despite the feat that was achieved, she still didn't feel quite satsified with herself as she looked over to Kai who looked back to her in turn.

He showed that spirit we desired... she murmured in her thoughts But without 'it', neither of us will be satisfied.

The battlefield then went completely dark at this point, showing that the battle had indeed concluded.

(End Music)


City Streets

As the sense of reality returned to everyone in the square, Kai could only stare down at the ground in front of him as he breathed in and out slowly to regain his composure, knowing that this was now officially his second loss in the Selector Battles. Chiyori who had been quiet since the end of the battle couldn't help but even wonder if he was going to be alright at this very moment, as did her LRIG who watched closely from her card. Noriko had remained silent as she looked down at Kaen who was clenching her right fist, still not seeming satisfied with herself despite the victory the two of them had gained.

"We acquired victory over him..." the LRIG muttered "Even after what happened to him earlier, he seems to still show that spirit we've heard about."

"However, without the presence of Overlord, this victory is meaningless...!" the Selector growled to herself as she too breathed in and out to calm herself after her initial outrage.

After looking to Kai and Chiyori one last time, she turned around from the two of them and began to walk away deeper into the city, presumably to continue whatever agenda she had in mind for participating in the Selector Battles. The Kagero user however wasn't quite finished speaking with her just yet.

"Wait," he spoke, causing her pause in her footsteps "How much do you and Kaen know about Mayu?"

"If you want to know..." she spoke, her tone still seeming vexed but a little calmer compared to earlier "Then prove yourself with Overlord in your future battles, then find and defeat me. For now, this is farewell, Kai Toshiki."

And with that, she walked off further into the city until she was out of sight, leaving Chiyori almost speechless, if only from witnessing Kaen's sheer power throughout the battle and the fact that both the LRIG and her Selector were able to defeat Kai himself. He on the other hand remained staring in the direction that Noriko had walked in, now seeing that despite the loss he had taken today, whether he was willing to admit it or not, Noriko did have an impact on him overall. She did point out that it was his own fear that was preventing him from keeping the overloaded Reverse under control from within him and that part of him did not want to accept that regardless of what he did, it would always remain a part of him. At the same time, the potential that she knew something about Mayu that he or the others did not know was all the more reason to accept to her terms and conditions for a rematch in the future. Only when they would, he would no longer be haunted by his own past.

"Until we meet again, Kōgō Noriko," he murmured to himself "Or rather, 'Queen'."


The White Room

Mayu slammed a closed fist onto the right armhold of her throne from where she sat, seemingly frustrated that her initial offer to try and get Kai to surrender his Kagero units to Miyako after the battle did not go as she had planned it. Looking out from one of the windows of the room that displayed the Kagero user, this one having the outside view from Eldora's card, she breathed for a moment to try and regain her composure and reassure herself that this was only a minor setback in the grand scheme of what she had planned for the future of this world. Before she could rant to her, she looked behind her to her left to see that Remember had stepped into the White Room.

"Oh... am I interrupting anything?" she said musingly, seemingly mimicking the tone of Piruluk, or rather the tone of the real person who should have inhabited this body.

"What is it that you want, Remember?" the mastermind asked, barely managing to keep her earlier frustration in check.

"I believe it is time for me to make my move," Remember replied "If I may have 'that'?"

Mayu closed her eyes for a moment before opening up her right palm and materializing a small quantity of the aura of Reverse, a pile of cards materializing amongst it as they floated down to that same hand.

"Very well then," she spoke before getting up from her throne and handing them over to Remember "Do not fail me."

Remember nodded gleefully as a nearby window opened up to take her back to the outside world and the city of Tokyo from there, so she could carry out whatever twisted scheme she now had forged in the back of her mind. After the frame to the window had closed up, Mayu looked back to Kai from the window she was originally viewed him from, still taking note of his newfound determination since the dillema he had now managed to overcome.

Kai Toshiki. Do not think this is over.


And there we go! As soon as Kai realizes that his own fear was using Reverse as he did before, he finally gains the answer to what Dragonic Overlord has told him before and accepts that it will be always be a part of him for life. After doing so, he manages to seal it back within him and continue the battle as much as he can. An enraged Noriko who learns that Dragonic Overlord was not in his deck during the confrontation however, grows Kaen to her highest Level in retailiation and defeats him outright. She then leaves him, claiming that she and Kaen will only share information about Mayu if he proves himself with Overlord in his future battles and in a later rematch in the future. During her battle with Aichi, Ruko images herself as Yuki to understand her LRIG's own feelings in the heat of the Selector Battles and to better undertsand the trust they share with each other and Tama. Meanwhile, Remember acquires several cards forged from Mayu's control of Reverse and heads back to the outside world, preparing to carry out her next scheme. What will happen from here?

Join us next time on Stand Up, the LRIG! as the Peeping Analyze sub-arc will finally commence its beginning! Please share your thoughts and criticisms in the reviews and I'll see you all next time! Until then!

EDIT 28/3/2017: Made a correction in regards to Noriko's Ener Zone on her last turn.


Card of the Chapter:

Scorching Hellfire, Kaen-Four

Level 4

Colour: Red

Grow Cost: 3 Red

Limit: 11

LRIG Type: Kaen

Effect:

[Action] Pay 6 Red: Banish all Normal Summoned SIGNI on the field (min. 1 from all players). Then for every 3 SIGNI banished by this effect, crush 1 of your opponent's Life Cloths. Your SIGNI cannot attack your opponent's LRIG the turn you activate this effect. This ability cannot be used for the rest of that turn.