Link Joker Fight Field
(Selector Infected Wixoss OST: Battle ~ Even if I Hurt Someone)
The air of the space surrounding Kamui and the emotionless Amika went eerily cold as the Nova Grappler user stared down at the surface of the table, trying to make of the situation before him. The Selector, despite being reversed was still under the jurisdiction of the rules of the Selector Battles, meaning that even if he were to defeat her, if only to free her from that power, he would still end up tainting his wish and presumably bringing the worst to befall her mother as a result. At the same time however, he knew if he were to throw the battle, he would end up being reversed himself and with what Kiyoi planned to do about her wish, the same result would apply.
"Amika has already lost twice," Piruluk spoke in her usual monotone "No matter what you attempt, the outcome will always be the same. Regardless of whether her wish is tainted here and now or she becomes an Eternal Girl, her mother will die. That will be all to it."
"Damn it all...!" Kamui growled as he slammed a closed fist onto the table in front of him "Just what am I supposed to do now?!"
He closed his eyes and clenched his teeth, trying desperately to think of a solution to the deadlock that he and Amika had now seemingly found themselves trapped in, the stakes already being far too great for either one to end up dismissing completely. Ethics Buster gazed back at the cardfighter, noting his turmoil on the moral implications of what could happen next before staring back at Piruluk, who remained almost as disinterested as she would normally appear.
"How can you be certain that outcome will come true?" it emitted in a vocal tone.
"I already told him," she coldly replied "I have disposed of several Selectors to reach this point. Whilst I may not have been there personally after their losses to witness their tainted wishes, each of my suspicions were already confirmed by Mayu or one of her companions."
The giant Nova Grappler unit's eyes narrowed in response to the LRIG's answer, sensing that there was at least some credible truth to her words just now. Kamui meanwhile was still trying to think around of the danger that was presented before him.
There's gotta be a way out of this for both of our sakes! he muttered in his thoughts Think Kamui! There has to be a loophole or something in what Mayu said to Kiyoi!
He groaned as he ran the situation through his head again and again, unable to think of a way around the Selector System if it had meant Amika's mother would not die as a result of tainting her wish if it had meant freeing her from Reverse. Ethics Buster clenched a fist as it turned around to face the cardfighter, sensing the discord in the difficult decision that he now had to make.
"Partner, if we don't stop her now, she'll Reverse us and continue to do the same to whoever else is in this world!" it called.
"I know that!" Kamui replied "If only Amika hadn't gotten reversed by Remember...!"
Upon uttering the name of the former LRIG and recalling that Piruluk mentioned that she was the last opponent they faced, a memory suddenly flashed in the back of his mind to the day that he had arrived in this world. And it was something that the blue LRIG had said to both him and Amika on that day before she had left him on his own for her mother.
I will only warn you and Amika once. For the sake of your wish and safety... do not involve yourselves with Mizushima Kiyoi.
"Wait a second..."
Looking back to his hand, he immediately summoned two Beast Deity, Yamatano Drake onto the field in front of Ethics Buster and alongside the frozen Hatred Chaos who remained trapped in the icy column that enveloped it. Piruluk remained unfazed, not seemingly caring for what Kamui had planned to do next whilst Amika remained motionless, still with a lack of free will from what had happened prior.
"And here's my own ARTS!" Kamui called as he picked out a card from his LRIG deck. The artwork depicted the image of a unit that he had not used in a very long time. "Azure Dragon's Roar! I put White Tiger back under Ethics Buster and double the power of all of my Beast Deities!"
As the eyes of all the heads on both Yamatano Drakes flashed for a brief instance as power from the newly acquired Silver ARTS surged through them, the ice around Hatred Chaos began to crack before shattering all at once. The once frozen Beast Deity leaped into the air and took up an offensive stance, it too receiving a power surge from the ARTS.
"Oh...?" Piruluk murmured quietly to herself, having partially not expected this turn of events.
"Let's go everyone!" the Nova Grappler user declared loudly.
Both Yamatano Drakes unleashed multiple torrents of fire that struck down both Code Heart VACs on Amika's side of the field, banishing the most powerful SIGNI that she had available to her in the entire deck. As Hatred Chaos banished Code Art KEY with a large kick after taking a massive leap across the dark space around the combatants, Piruluk simply gazed ahead to Ethics Buster who was reeling back its right fist and letting out a mighty roar as it swung it forwards towards her. The blue LRIG simply closed her eyes as Servant D2 appeared in front of her, shielding her from the attack much to the unit's annoyance.
"Darn it, I couldn't damage her...!" Kamui muttered as he watched Amika wordlessly draw her next two cards.
As Code Art WTC appeared onto the battlefield, Hatred Chaos was once again trapped inside of a large column of ice which materialized around it. Code Art DEF then joined the SIGNI before using her shield's cross marking to shatter the ice and banish the Beast Deity from the field, much to Kamui's annoyance. Piruluk then pointed her staff at DEF, Locking her inside of a pair of black rings as her eyes became obscured by a flash of a whitish light shade of blue, gazing towards the Nova Grappler user himself.
"This time, I will use my second power," she spoke "I use one Blue ARTS this turn without paying its cost."
"Then you're using...!" Ethics Buster exclaimed, having recalled what had happened in the previous clash.
"It's 'that' card!" Kamui muttered, looking over what he held in his hand.
Indeed, it was as both of them had just feared. Hovering out from Amika's LRIG deck on the aura of Reverse and revealing itself to all was the Peeping Analyze ARTS as evidenced by the rippling visibility of the bright light over Piruluk's eyes.
"I intend to teach you a lesson that hope does not exist in this reality and just as 'she' said, wishes can never come true," she spoke harshly "Perhaps if you weren't so quick to choose your own, you might have a better understanding."
"But you still have to guess!" the Nova Grappler user called as he held out the cards he held "And I'm definitely prepared this time!"
The blue LRIG ignored his response and began analysing her options based on what she had already known of Kamui previously and from what he had already played throughout this battle.
"Earlier, you seemed desperate to find a solution to Amika's dilemma," she continued "However, it seems that you've chosen to already accept her mother's fate."
"No way I'm doing that!" Kamui replied, causing her to raise an eyebrow slightly "I know that I don't want to taint her wish and I know there's still a chance her mom could die, win or lose...! But, that's also got me thinking of something."
As Piruluk continued to remain silent in response with a blank stare, he breathed in for a moment to regain his composure, briefly bringing the attention of Ethics Buster itself back to him.
"Kiyoi, you said that you wanna get revenge on Remember," he began "You even warned me and Amika to stay away from her, but then all of this happened. If you really didn't care about Amika's mom... you would have lost on purpose, right?!"
"What are you saying?" she asked.
"If you really wanted Amika to stay away from Remember... you wouldn't really want her mom to die, right?!" he asked "How do you know that wish would affect Amika's mom right away whilst you've just got your sights set on Remember?!"
"And...?"
"What I believe my partner is saying is... I think you're just saying 'that' because you're scared of losing to us, meaning you'll have to start all over again to get another shot at this Remember!" Ethics Buster declared, pointing one finger from its right hand towards the blue LRIG.
Piruluk didn't appear to be shaken or visibly unnerved by the Battleroid's words at this moment, but the sight of her eyes narrowing was enough to tell that they were enough for her to briefly change her current stance.
"What nerve..." she spoke coldly "I told you once before. Feelings alone would result in your self-destruction and knowing how primitive you have behaved, your fate has already been written. I know your deck and stratagem, therefore it stands to reason that the Level I will declare... is 2."
Upon finishing her declaration, the blue LRIG gazed at the cards Kamui held, a blue aura surrounding his arm and forcing him to turn them around to show them to her. His expression seemed scrutinized as he knew that there was a high chance of her destroying what little defences he had leftover to keep in within the battle as the cards slowly turned over to reveal themselves. As Ethics Buster kept an eye on the cardfighter, it saw his expression suddenly change to a smirk as Piruluk suddenly gasped for a brief instance. She had managed to discard a single copy of Hatred Chaos from his hand through the ARTS effect, but the lineup she saw was not as she had initially predicted.
"Impossible..." she muttered "He had Guards as I suspected... but all of different Levels?! And a white Quintet Wall...?"
"Alright! I'm still in this!" Kamui called as he concealed what wasn't discarded from his remaining cards, now that the ARTS's effect had come to an end. "I suppose you won't bother looking at my wish, even if I don't plan to use some 'Ritual' or whatever to get it myself. Someday, no matter how long it takes... I'll make it to Emi-san, with my own feelings!"
(End Music)
Piruluk clenched her teeth slightly, showing that despite being surprised at the changes that the Nova Grappler user had made to his deck, her composure was still mostly intact and that she intended to keep it this way.
"Because I used Peeping Analyze at no cost... I can no longer use Spells or ARTS for the rest of this turn..." she muttered "But..."
(Selector Spread Wixoss: Battle ~ Limit)
Tidal Assault then materialized in the middle SIGNI column on her side of the field before priming his blades and leaping over a jet of water towards Ethics Buster who shielded its face with its arms. The Battleroid screeched in pain for a moment as Kamui then revealed his next Life Cloth as Beast Deity, Rescue Bunny, the card glowing as it was turned face up.
"Alright! I recover one Life Cloth!" he called as he moved the top card of his deck to the pile.
"Tidal's skill..." Piruluk spoke "I decrease his power and attack Ethics Buster again!"
The Aqua Force unit landed back on his feet, only to leap high into the air once more, this time succeeded in slashing down the front of Ethics Buster, leaving a massive score down the front of its chest.
"Hang in there!" cried Kamui.
"This is nothing...!" the unit replied "I've been through worse! Much worse..."
Its voice had turned bitter at the last two words it said, glaring back towards Piruluk, briefly imaging the form of Chaos Breaker Dragon standing behind her as the aura of Reverse continued to flow through her.* Kamui although concerned for the state of his 'partner' knew there was more pressing concerns to worry about as he revealed his next Life Cloth, that being Servant D.
"Yes! Things are starting to shape up now!" he cheered "I Ener Charge!"
Piruluk remained unfazed as she took flight on her darkened crystal wings into the air once more, materializing even more ice spears around her which were pointed in the direction of her two opponents. This time however, larger clusters of ice began to also take form amongst the thinner and sharper spears that were about to be fired. The blue LRIG glared directly at Kamui as she sent all of the projectiles flying towards the other side of the field, Ethics Buster immediately bracing itself for the worst to come before it.
"Come on in, Plume Angel!" he called.
The Royal Paladin unit then appeared in front of Ethics Buster, generating a barrier to shield it from harm as Desert Gator, Govannon, Servant T, Hatred Chaos and Rescue Bunny appeared from the five green circles that were generated behind him. Each of them managed to deflect the icy projectiles with ease as Kamui quickly stepped to his right to avoid being struck by one that was aimed right for him. Ethics Buster looked back for a moment before gazing back at Plume Angel who vanished along with the units she briefly summoned to the defence.
"Being saved by Royal Paladin in this situation..." it muttered to itself as it closed its eyes "Honestly..."
This boy... Piruluk muttered in her thoughts as she looked over his table He's gotten fortunate through two Life Bursts and he took advantage of the Quintet Wall mechanic's lack of a colour restriction on the LRIG. Just what is he planning with White Ener in that deck...?
The Lock that trapped Code Art DEF came undone as her turn immediately came to an end.
End of Turn 6
Kamui vs Kiyoi
Hand - 2 : 3
Life Cloths - 3 : 3
Current LRIGs - Beast Deity, Ethics Buster : Black Heart Avenger, Code Piruluk Яeverse
SIGNI : Beast Deity, Yamatano Drake - EMPTY - Beast Deity, Yamatano Drake : Code Art WTC - Tidal Assault - Code Art DEF
Ener - 4 : 3
"The great Kamui Ups and draws!"
Kamui immediately got together his next two cards after drawing from his deck and looked over the field before him. Taking out Beast Deity, Desert Gator from his hand and placing it in his Ener Zone, he summoned Brutal Jack into the center SIGNI space. The large black Battleroid appeared between the two Yamatano Drakes as the three of them roared in unison, sending a slight gale across the battlefield. As Ethics Buster took up a stance in preparation for the next attack, the cardfighter looked over to the motionless Amika.
"Amika, can you hear me?!" he called "I'm not giving up on you, Kiyoi or your mom yet!"
Whilst the Selector did not answer or move, this however had managed to get the attention of Piruluk back to him as she kept her harsh gaze trained upon him.
"Why are you ignoring reality...?" she murmured "I already told you that whatever happens, her mother will be sacrificed as a result of her wish."
"There's no way I'm just gonna accept that right away!" the Nova Grappler user replied "Even if it's just a hunch I have... I still won't hold back!"
The LRIG narrowed her eyes as both Yamatano Drakes and Brutal Jack roared loudly as they were about to wage their attacks on the SIGNI she had assembled in front of her. She held out her staff as another card from Amika's LRIG deck revealed itself as Don't Move, the ARTS immediately activating as it did so. Several coils of energy wrapped around Brutal Jack and the Yamatano Drake on Kamui's left, much to his annoyance as the cards downed themselves.
"My other Drake attacks!" he declared.
The Yamatano Drake on his right pointed all of its heads towards Code Art WTC and roared loudly, unleashed a torrent of fire that engulfed the Electric Machine SIGNI, banishing her from the battlefield as the embers flew past a non-interested Piruluk.
"Ethics Buster, throw her for a loop!"
Ethics Buster nodded in response to Kamui's command and dashed across the battlefield towards the blue LRIG, its left claw glowing as it did so. It then leaped high into the air, reeling back that same arm in preparation to land the coming blow.
"Tell me something...! Are you really satisfied with allowing that 'false' power to control you?!" it yelled as it dove down towards Piruluk.
"Quintet Wall," she calmly spoke in response.
In a bright flash, Icefall Dragon materialized in front of her, summoning Code Heart VAC, Servant D2 and Code Art KEY to its aid to block the attack. Ethics Buster growled loudly as its fist crashed into the barrier that was now in front of it, seeing that its attack wasn't doing any damage to its opponent. When the barrier expired, it retreated back to Kamui's side of the field, much to his disappointment as the SIGNI and the Aqua Force unit vanished from sight.
"Come on... No damage again?!" he groaned as he clenched an open fist, knowing that there was nothing more he could do this turn.
Piruluk kept her eyes closed as Amika once again drew another cards from her deck, remaining otherwise motionless as she did so and not emoting a sound or a word. The 'third eye' on the LRIG's forehead illuminated brightly as she raised her staff into the air, a black Vanguard circle flashing above her as she did so.
"Limit Break!" she declared "I Lock Tidal Assault to activate my third and final effect!"
Once again, a pair of black rings surrounded the Aqua Force unit as he screamed loudly in pain before being Locked. As Ethics Buster narrowed its eyes towards its opponent, she then pointed her staff towards Kamui's side of the field. To his shock, both of his Yamatano Drakes were encased inside two separate columns of ice, indicating that she had somehow frozen all of his SIGNI at once. He looked down at the table to see the cards covered over in a sheet of ice as well to confirm that suspicion.
"All of my SIGNI gain Lancer when attacking a Frozen SIGNI," Piruluk spoke "And I can Stand up to the number of frozen SIGNI."
"You can Stand because you froze my SIGNI?!" he cried.
"It is over," she replied harshly "You couldn't change fate, just as I said. You'll be reversed because of my efforts, Amika's mother shall be sacrificed and I will come one step closer to settling things with Remember myself."
As she finished those words, Code Art JV appeared to the far left of her formation before another ARTS hovered out of Amika's LRIG deck. It revealed itself as the red coloured ARTS, One Rule, Two Birds that the Selector had used to defeat Kamui previously. A fiery aura enveloped Piruluk as she gazed upon Kamui and Ethics Buster with a harsh glare.
"It's the end of this pointless struggle," she spoke "You've learned nothing and as such... even if you are saved from Reverse, the same result will apply to you as it would to Amika if you won."
"Hey Kiyoi!"
The blue LRIG narrowed her gaze as Kamui looked down on the table before reaching out for one of the cards in his LRIG deck and looking at it closely.
"If you think I haven't learned anything... think again!" he replied as he revealed the ARTS Doping "I power up my left Yamatano Drake!"
As the card illuminated brightly, the eyes of the frozen Yamatano Drake on his left flashed, indicating that it had powered enough to endure the next attack that Code Art DEF would throw its way, much to the Electric Machine SIGNI's annoyance as evidenced by her expression. In retaliation, Code Art JV leaped into the air and unleashed two large blue coloured beams from the floating appendages on either side and struck the other Yamatano Drake. The column shattered in a large explosion, sending large chunks of ice flying across the whole battlefield.
Several of them crashed into Ethics Buster who screeched in pain as Kamui's next Life Cloth revealed itself as Beast Deity, Hatred Chaos. Before the Nova Grappler user had time to assess the situation properly, he looked ahead to see a large chunk of ice that was coming in his direction. Unable to react in time, the large piece crashed right into his abdomen, causing him to cry out in immense pain from the impact as well as dropping all of the cards that were being held in his hand. Falling to his knees and clutching where he had just been struck, Ethics Buster looked back in utter concern and began to run over towards his table.
(End Music)
"Worthless effort," Piruluk spoke in her monotone.
The reversed blue LRIG then immediately hovered up and took flight on her darkened crystal wings in pursuit of the Battleroid, materializing multiple spears of ice around her. Ethics Buster glanced behind itself and came to a stop, turning around to intercept the attack whilst standing right in front of Kamui's table, in the hope of shielding him from any more leeway shards of ice like the large piece that had struck him. Piruluk then unleashed the multiple projectiles around her at the Beast Deity, forcing it to shield its arms as it cried out in pain, falling onto one knee as it did so.
"E... Ethics Buster!" cried Kamui.
He winced in pain as he struggled back onto his feet after placing his dropped cards face down onto the edge of his table, clutching his stomach as he did so. He looked down to see that his final crushed Life Cloths were Brutal Jack and Servant D2, clenching his teeth in annoyance at the lack of Life Bursts that were present. The Nova Grappler user looked up the tall form of Ethics Buster, noticing the gashes in its armour caused by the endless attacks it had to endure from both Piruluk along with the SIGNI and units Amika had commanded in her deck. The blue LRIG hovered high in the air above the two of them, materializing even more spears and large chunks of ice in preparation for the next attack.
"No Life Bursts," she murmured as she briefly gazed upon the table "Now vanish."
"Not yet...!"
(Cardfight! Vanguard Unreleased Soundtrack: Яeverse Rampage (Episode 138 version))
She blinked for an instance as Ethics Buster rose back up onto its feet whilst Kamui looked over the cards he had previously dropped, the two of them now ready to take one final stand in the most dire of situations throughout this battle. He clenched his teeth before gazing up at Piruluk, now seeing that she was prepared to finish the two of them off along with any chance of saving both her and Amika once and for all.
"Don't you see you're just doing what Remember wants you to!" he yelled "Would Amika be happy that her mom died just so you get revenge?!"
"And why do you still persist on that?" she asked coldly.
"You're just gonna do the same thing to her as what she did to Sakaguchi!"
As soon as the Nova Grappler user had uttered that name once again however, Piruluk's gaze suddenly wavered, if only for a brief moment as the memory of Remember's cruel act flashed before her again. Regaining her focus once more, she clenched her left fist and twirled her staff, summoning multiple large chunks of ice alongside, her furious gaze now trailed upon Kamui. Unbeknownst to the two of them, Amika's otherwise emotionless gaze wavered for a brief instance, almost as if the Nova Grappler user's words to Piruluk were having an effect on her as well.
"Again...!" she growled under her breath "You say that name... when you know nothing about Sakaguchi!"
"I know enough that she's important to you!" he replied "But if you were looking to kill Amika's mom just to make yourself happy... you wouldn't have bothered trying to win against Remember or even warn me and Amika about her, right?!"
"You're incorrect...!" the blue LRIG yelled "I...!"
Before she could begin her next sentence, she clutched her head in pain as memories from her last stand against Remember and the Link Joker units she commanded began flashing through her head. She remembered her saying to herself that she wouldn't allow her hated nemesis to bring despair to Amika or her family before the memory changed back to the day where she and the Selector left Kamui to their own accord. This was of course not without the prior warning that she had given them, as the Nova Grappler user had briefly reminded her of. As the flashbacks ended, she clenched her teeth in seething fury and pointed her staff straight towards the seemingly defenceless Ethics Buster who shifted its stance a little.
"Unforgivable...!" she growled as the aura of Reverse intensified around her "How dare you... insult her memory like that!"
All of the shards and chunks of ice then immediately came hurtling down towards Ethics Buster as it braced itself for the worst possible outcome to befall it. Kamui however was prepared this time for the offensive.
"Guard!" he declared, briefly cringing in pain from his earlier injury.
Servant T materialized onto the field once again as she projected a barrier large enough to send all of the icicles crashing into it alone, the sharp projectiles shattering on contact as they did so. A surge of black flames from the effects of both Reverse and presumably the side effects of One Rule, Two Birds enveloped the reversed Piruluk, making it clear that she was now almost beyond the point of reasoning.
"This will end it!" she declared as she pointed down her staff and flew down towards her target "DISAPPEAR, KAMUI!"
"Not gonna happen!" the Nova Grappler user replied as he placed down Servant D.
As the guard SIGNI materialized in front of Ethics Buster, creating another barrier in front of the weakened Beast Deity, Piruluk smashed the 'Lock' of her staff into it as hard as she could. But it was to no avail as she found that her attack was having no effect on any of Servant D's own powers whilst the unit she was protecting looked back at its opponent with a forlong gaze. The blue LRIG scowled deeply as she retreated back to Amika's side of the field, the Lock around Tidal Assault coming undone to signal the end of her turn.
Wait... why am I feeling this pressured?! she ranted within her thoughts I have three Guards of my own and three Life Cloths... Katsuragi's fate has already been sealed.
Kamui sighed in relief in that he was able to keep Ethics Buster safe for another turn to give him one final chance of determining the battle's outcome once and for all. He took a deep breath as he recalled everything he had been considering in his options up to this point in the battle, even factoring in the supposed 'determined' outcome for Amika's mother in regards to whether or not the Selector's wish was tainted. At this point, he once again recalled a memory that he had of the subject at hand.
(End Music)
Flashback
On the previous night where Aichi and Kai's battle had come to an abrupt end, whilst the Kagero user was alone in his room as a result of what had happened previously, everyone was gathered at the kitchen table in thought over the situation. Or at least, almost all of them. Kamui himself was still pondering about everything the group had told him about the Selector Battles which Chiyori had left out in her battle with him. Everyone around him knew now that he was concerned for Amika considering the state of her wish and what consequences it could have on her mother if she were to have it tainted. At the same time though, that did raise a bit of a curious question in regards to the subject itself.
Looking over to Ruko who sat beside Aichi, he recalled the cardfighter he referred to as 'onii-san' or 'big bro' at times had told him about how the Selector's LRIGs were the very first Mayu had created in her imagination before the Star-vaders had assisted her in the physical construction of the Selector Battles. Seeing that Tama and Yuki's cards were on the table beside him, he felt now was the time to ask a question that had been bugging him since the end of his previous battle.
"Hey... Yuki was it?" he pondered.
"What is it, Katsuragi?" she replied.
"You know all about whatever goes on in these battles?" the Nova Grappler user asked.
"It's about Amika's wish, I presume," the girl of black spoke to which he nodded "If her mother is indeed ill and this Selector is aiming to save her through this wish... then a tainted wish would definitely affect Amika's connection to her in the least."
"Then... do you know what will happen to her mother if that happens?" asked Ruko.
"I cannot tell," Yuki answered "I only know from how tainted wishes work in that they definitely affect the Selector depending on what kind of wish they made. I haven't seen any other people involved with those wishes affected directly because of them."
Kamui sighed for a brief instance, having expected that a vague answer was all he was going to get in regards to the topic he had at hand. Now pondering on the subject as well, Ruko suddenly remembered something from her initial run of the Selector Battles with Tama by her side.
"That reminds me..." the Selector breathed "When I tried to touch Hitoe when her wish was tainted, those sparks only seemed to be flying off her."
"Tama remembers that!" Tama called out "Tama didn't sense anything strange with Ru before that!"
"So there's a chance we could still do something for Amika's mom if something like that happens to her?!" asked Naoki.
"I'm still uncertain as to the exact conditions," Yuki answered "But if her wish to save her mother does get tainted... the only thing I could suggest doing is preventing her from making contact with her ill mother until she recovers, that is, if she is still alive. Even so... the chances of her possibly dying immediately as a result of losing could still be very likely."
Present
Recalling the last of Yuki's words to the group on that night, Kamui looked over to the Selector in question, seeing that her otherwise emotionless gaze was slightly wavering, presumably as a result of Piruluk losing her temper at him on the previous turn as well as some of the restraint she had kept over her. Ignoring the pain that he still felt in his abdomen from the leeway ice fragment that struck him, he knew that he had to make a decision that even he still had uncertainty with carrying out, given the possible risk that came with it.
"Just hang on a little longer Amika!" he called "I'll get through to you and Kiyoi on this turn!"
"You should cease your worthless prattle," the blue LRIG interrupted bluntly "Endless despair... false hope... playful deceit... That is all what awaits her mother and she should already realize that it is futile throwing yourself away for a single life that will pass away anyway."
"Then is that what you really thought when you were trying to save this Sakaguchi?!" Ethics Buster questioned fiercely.
Piruluk raised her eyebrows in response to the Nova Grappler unit's question, wondering what it was that it and Kamui were trying to tell her at this very moment.
"You said you were always trying to go about things alone from your memory!" the cardfighter continued "You just had some rotten luck that Remember had other plans for your friend, but that's no excuse to take it out all out on Amika or her mom!"
The blue LRIG remained unfazed at first, struggling to keep her composure as she glared at the Nova Grappler user, thinking of what to say next to him. Before she could however, everything around her seemingly faded away as more memories flashed before her eyes. This time, they were various memories depicting the times she had remembered Sakaguchi Ayumi being around her, with her innocent smile, trying to befriend the girl that was now trapped within the very power the Star-vaders commanded. The first image she saw was Sakaguchi trying to get her into the game of Wixoss, promptly declaring that "I've made my decision! I won't stop until you played Wixoss with me!". The second image Piruluk experienced was when she in a fit of anger was not paying attention to her surroundings as she stumbled onto a road, until it was already too late.
Looking up at the truck that was speeding straight towards her, knowing that she could not leap to the other side in time, she felt herself being pushed there as her eyes trailed to her right. Time seemed to slow down as she witnessed Sakaguchi shove her to safety, just as the front of the truck collided with her body. The memories that Piruluk was seeing once again was causing sparks to fly out from her eyelids, presumably having some effect on the lenses that Photon had 'given' her. Opening up her eyes once more, she could see an afterimage of Sakaguchi herself seemingly standing in front of her SIGNI formation on the battlefield.
"S... Sakaguchi...?" she breathed.
The imaged Sakaguchi then turned around to face her 'friend', a hint of disappointment seemingly present in her expression as her eyes were shadowed out of view from the way her head was gazing. The afterimage then began to fade away, as the blue LRIG then tried to reach out to her.
"W... Wait..." she breathed, now seeing the image in front of her disappear "I..."
Kamui simply stared at the seemingly broken Piruluk, initially confused as to why as she was seeming talking to herself as he did not witness the afterimage at all during her brief trip through her memories. It wasn't until he heard her mention Sakaguchi's name did he immediately realize what was going on, the aura of Reverse around her seemingly growing slightly weaker from what was happening. Taking a deep breath and drawing two cards to begin his next turn, he placed Solar Falcon into his Ener Zone before taking it and two other Silver cards he had there, a bright glow coming out from the LRIG deck.
"Go! Burning Fire! Roaring Thunder!" he declared "The great Kamui Crossbreak Grows Strongest Beast Deity, Ethics Buster Extreme!"
(Cardfight! Vanguard OST: Ore-sama Saikyou! Nova Grappler!)
In a bright flash of neon green light, Ethics Buster began to change into its strongest form once again as evidenced by the extra armour and the floating bits that now hovered around it. As soon as the transformation had been completed, it landed back onto the 'ground' of the space with a loud thud that was enough to shake the area. Amika although still stripped of her free will was able to emote a silent and slow gasp of some kind as she gazed upon the familiar evolved Battleroid in all of its defining glory as it took up a stance in preparation for battle.
"So you're using that form again..." Piruluk muttered, having seemingly recovered a bit of her lost composure "It seems that I was correct in you learning nothing."
"I already told you, I'm not the same person you beat before!" Kamui replied "And I'm about to show you that now!"
After Beast Deity, Hatred Chaos materialized onto the empty spot on the far right of the Nova Grappler user's formation, the blue LRIG seemingly gazed at Ethics Buster, having been more than familiar with its tactics, wondering why her opponent was even bothering to use the same tactics from before that she endured. Nothing was seemingly out of the ordinary, this being the same old strategy she had overcome before.
"Wait..." she murmured, looking back at Kamui's table "Those white cards!"
"Let's go!" Kamui called out loud as he picked out another card from his LRIG deck, this time being a White coloured ARTS "I use Arc Destruct!"
As the card illuminated brightly, a white coloured aura mixed with the neon green that already enveloped Ethics Buster, seemingly strengthening the evolved Battleroid in preparation for the next attack.
"You ready to do this partner?!" it asked in anticipation.
"You got it!" the cardfighter replied "I release Brutal Jack's restraint and Hatred Chaos attacks!"
Piruluk remained still, knowing that Ethics Buster's Cross Grow bonus was more than enough to allow Hatred Chaos to overpower Code Art JV who tried to land a kick on the charging Beast Deity. In response, it moved to the left swiftly before uppercutting the Electric Machine, banishing her from the field.
"Ethics Buster attacks!" Kamui declared, downing the card "Break Grow skill, I Up Jack and Hatred Chaos and I choose not to activate Ethics Buster's Limit Break!"
"Guard!"
The blue LRIG declared this out aloud, causing Amika to unconditionally use Emerald Shield, Paschal from her hand to block the attack. Ethics Buster swung its right fist right into the barrier, throwing the Aquaroid off balance before smacking it to the side with its left fist. A white aura surrounded it as Tough Boy and Damned Leo's cards were Exceeded from beneath it and sent to Kamui's LRIG Trash, allowing him to Up the giant Battleroid.
"I already told you... Hope is nothing more than an illusion!" Piruluk shouted "I am already aware of Arc Destruct's properties and that you can attack with Ethics Buster two more times, but your efforts will not come to pass!"
"We'll see about that!" Kamui replied "Go, Jack and Hatred!"
Whilst Brutal Jack unleashed a giant orange laser from its jaws towards Tidal Assault which could do nothing to block the assault, being vaporized in an instant as it made contact, Hatred Chaos leaped high into the air towards Piruluk who held out her staff in front to reduce the damage of the blow. Her next Life Cloth revealed Code Heart VAC, triggering its Life Burst. Kamui remained unfazed as he simply threw the last card he held into his Trash Pile before looking down to Ethics Buster's card.
This is it… he murmured in his thoughts So it could be Amika's mom… or this world. I don't wanna be labelled as a murderer if her mom does die… But if I don't stop Amika and Kiyoi now, there may not even be a world for them or anyone to live in…!
Ignoring the slight welling feeling that was increasing in his heart by the second from the potential weight of the decision, he looked back to Piruluk and Amika, doing the best he could to battle like he always had before.
"Go, Ethics Buster!" he declared.
As Ethics Buster charged towards Piruluk with its left fist clenched, Emerald Shield, Paschal appeared once again between the reversed LRIG and Ethics Buster's right fist, blocking the attack with the greatest of ease through the barrier he projected before disappearing moments afterwards.
"This is the end..." she murmured.
"Not yet! Arc Destruct and then the Break Grow skill!" Kamui replied "I stand Jack and Hatred Chaos again and get another attack step with them!"
This time, it was Piruluk's turn to be shocked at what was happening as she could only watch as both Brutal Jack and Hatred Chaos stood back up, preparing to attack once again.
"Wha... That skill can be used more than once this way?!" she gasped.
"You've got that right!" Ethics Buster boldly proclaimed "And once I attack you after those two for the last time...!"
"Then... between the Break Grow skill and Arc Destruct..." the LRIG breathed in horror "He's managed to acquire another five attacks?!"
Kamui nodded briefly to confirm her suspicions, briefly wincing in pain once again as he clutched the part of his abdomen where the earlier injury had landed for a brief instance. He then looked up to the tall and proud form of Ethics Buster who hovered into the air, preparing to do battle for the last time when the next LRIG attack step would come to his cardfighter. Piruluk, having realized that there was nothing she could do to stop the coming assault that was about to befall her could only stare up at Ethics Buster, briefly dropping her staff as she did so, the Lock on it smashing into pieces at it hit the 'ground'. When this happened, the pinkish aura that was previously around Amika began to fade away along with the dullness to her eyes. Tears began falling from her eyelids to the floor for a brief instance, seemingly recalling everything about the stakes that Piruluk and Remember had laid out to her previously.
(End Music)
"I... I've failed..." the blue LRIG murmured, the black colour in her eyes fading out "I couldn't save Sakaguchi... nor could I even save Amika's mother..."
Kamui breathed in for a moment as he looked over to Piruluk, wondering if he was starting to break through the power of Reverse to her and the Selector that was on the far side of the field. As he reached out for Brutal Jack's card, he suddenly found the welling feeling in his heart course through him again, this time with the same amount of pressure he felt when the reversed LRIG had laid out the 'deadlock' that was in effect to him.
"Partner..."
He looked up for a brief instance to hear that it was Ethics Buster itself who had called out to him.
"Even if 'that' does happen... we won't turn our backs on you," it spoke "In the end... sometimes to do the right thing, we've just gotta do everything we can."
"... I got it," the Nova Grappler user replied, not in the usual energetic mood he was in, having accepted that what would happen next would be determined solely by his own hands.
(Cardfight! Vanguard Unreleased Soundtrack: Triumph of the Shadow Paladins)
Brutal Jack roared loudly as it unleashed another orange coloured laser that crashed straight into Piruluk, causing her to scream in pain as the blast pushed her further back towards Amika's table. Using her 'third eye' forehead marking, she immediately saw that the next Life Cloth was Medical Officer of the Rainbow Elixir, the Life Burst being useless as she had one Life Cloth whilst Kamui had none. As got up, she was too late to see Hatred Chaos land a large kick right into her stomach, causing her to gasp in pain whilst the shockwave destroyed part of the black ring that was behind her back.
"Now to see what happens next..." Kamui murmured as he placed two fingers onto Ethics Buster's card "Let's go Ethics Buster! The great Kamui's last strongest attack!"
Upon downing the card, Brutal Jack and Hatred Chaos' cards upped themselves to indicate that even if the attack was blocked now, they would be more than enough to finish the battle there and now. Piruluk could only stare at the tall form of Ethics Buster as it dove down towards her, closing her eyes in frustration to accept the inevitable outcome that was about to befall both her and Amika. Knowing this was his last shot of ending things here and now, Kamui looked back towards the pair, hoping his words this time would be enough to break the spell that they were cursed by.
"Wake up! Amika! KIYOI!" he yelled.
As if his words had acted as a trigger of some sort, Piruluk's eyes suddenly returned to their fully normal appearance as she looked forward amongst the neon green glow that was emitting very brightly from Ethics Buster to see that a figure both seemingly and suddenly appeared from in front of Kamui. This girl was one that the blue LRIG had already been more than acquainted with throughout her time prior to the Selector Battles and the one person that she had felt she had failed all along, for more reasons than one.
Sakaguchi… I'm sorry... she breathed within her thoughts as the figure representing Sakaguchi vanished immediately.
When this happened, Ethics Buster stretched out its arms and legs with a triumphant roar as the floating bits around the Battleroid shot out several neon green lasers that struck and engulfed the LRIG in a series of small explosions. The black ring behind her cracked in several places before shattering into pieces and the lenses in her eyes flew out with small trickles of blood before also shattering in the brilliant neon green light. That in turn caused Reverse to flow out of both the LRIG and the formerly emotionless Amika, both of whom who cried out from the force of the power being drained right out of her as both the Reverse markings on her cheek and the card representing Piruluk's reversed form vanished in burning red embers.
Kamui shook all over for a moment, knowing that the battle was finally over and that hopefully, Reverse would have left both Piruluk and Amika for good. But the question that remained now was at what cost? He knew that the LRIG, even though she was reversed, was indeed correct. The Selector had already lost to Remember, marking it as her second loss and right now, he had contributed to the third. Before he could even contemplate on what could have happened now, he looked over to the far side of the space to see Piruluk, no longer stained by Reverse struggling back up onto her knees and looking over to Amika who was unconscious.
"Kiyoi!" he called as he ran past Ethics Buster who simply stared on at the sight from where it was hovering.
As he was about to pass Amika's table, Kiyoi looked over towards him and held out one hand as a motion for him to stop.
"H... hand me the Peeping Analyze card... quickly!" she called as she fell back onto her knees from her lack of strength.
Kamui, though unsure of what she was trying to tell him did not think twice before picking out the aforementioned card from the table and throwing it towards her. Though the card landed a little ways in front of her, the LRIG quickly picked it up as she was illuminated in a faint blue aura as her eyes lit up as she gazed towards the unconscious Amika who had remained motionless since the final attack. After a few moments, her tensed expression suddenly loosened as she let out a silent breath of relief for whatever reason she had on her mind. She then looked back to Kamui who was staring down at the space, wondering if he had made the right decision in what he had just done.
(End Music)
"Why are you about to cry…?" she murmured, her monotone having returned to her usual mannerism.
"You're one to talk!" he snapped, briefly clenching his right fist "I just saved you two from Reverse and Amika's wish is...! Because of that… how I can I face everyone right now, especially Aichi onii-san… after I might have just killed…"
"That won't happen."
Kamui blinked for a moment in response to the blue LRIG's interruption, wondering what she had just meant when it was seemingly clear that Amika's wish was indeed tainted.
"Amika isn't aware of it herself," she explained "But when she lost to Remember, before we were reversed… I used the power I had then in an attempt to change her heart's desire, which in turn changed her wish without anyone even realizing it. I was interrupted before I could properly finish, but it appears I managed to affect her heart enough so that her wish would be change on its own."
"Then… what did Amika's wish change to?!" Ethics Buster demanded.
"Before we were reversed," she murmured "It appears I was able to change it... to her wanting to lose her mother…"
"Wait, would this tainted wish would mean…"
"The exact opposite… With that, it should hopefully be impossible for her to lose her mother because of her own hands whilst she remains in care."
Kamui did everything he could to prevent his jaw from dropping over the fact that Amika had been very lucky that Piruluk had succeeded in saving her mother for the moment at the very last minute. He wanted to rant over the fact that he had seemingly been panicking over what was almost nothing but following the risk of Reverse this entire time, but given that the LRIG had no knowledge of her success in her last ditch effort until the conclusion to their battle, even he knew that this wasn't the time to be acting annoyed. Before he could comment on the whole matter now that it was behind them, he looked back to Piruluk who was looking down at herself, surrounded by a white aura.
"Good grief. Passionate feelings…" she muttered to herself, smiling bitterly afterwards "I didn't think they would hold that much power on their own…"
"Kiyoi," said Kamui "What's gonna happen to you?"
He stared on to see that although she had acknowledged his concern towards her at this moment, she believed that he may already figure out the answer.
"I finally understand…" she spoke, closing her eyes "The Sakaguchi I loved… would surely get angry if I told her about all this revenge and Reverse."
She then reopened them and struggled back up onto her feet, treading carefully towards Kamui in an effort to keep her balance.
"Kamui… I know you have your own score to settle against Remember," she murmured "That's why… I'm entrusting everything to you. I'm not requesting for you to continue my intended revenge, but I want you to stop her. For all the people that have been hurt by her and the units that were stolen by her hands. If she discovers that things did not go as we initially thought, she'll likely 'finish' what she thought would happen, by any means necessary."
"Huh?"
Piruluk then leaned towards his left ear and began whispering quietly into it, causing him to remain still as absorbed the information that she was telling him at this very instance. As soon as she had finished after a long few moments however, he immediately gasped, now understanding why it was important that she had whispered all of this to him instead of speaking out aloud.
(Selector Infected Wixoss OST: Profane Wish)
"Wait... you're thinking she might do that?!" he exclaimed.
"I'm not certain if she is listening at this instance as I think she is, but you must hurry," she spoke "Once she discovers that all is not as she expected, especially with Amika's mother still in a vulnerable state as Sakaguchi was..."
"You don't need to tell me twice!" Kamui replied "I'll get there and stop her myself if she tries to do anything!"
Piruluk didn't change her expression, but the glint in her eyes was enough for anyone to tell that she was somewhat relieved that the Nova Grappler user was now understanding how dire the circumstances could be now and that she was now putting all of her faith in him. It was a bitter pill for her to swallow, given the rough quips and harsh comments exchanged between the two of them and the fact he would be the last person for her to give this kind of request. But now that he had gone out of his way to save her and Amika, even understanding the relationship between her and Sakaguchi Ayumi, she felt that maybe this was the right thing for her to do. As the glow around her intensified, she faded away from the battlefield, much to Kamui's surprise.
"I've already whispered everything you need to know," her voice echoed "I'm counting on you... Katsuragi."
"You got it Kiyoi!" Kamui called as the battlefield went black "I'll save Amika's mom, for both of your sakes!"
City Streets
When reality set itself all around them, Kamui hurried over to Amika's unconscious body and caught it just before she hit the ground, the now empty LRIG card that formerly housed Piruluk now dropping to the pavement. He knew there wasn't much time before Remember would suspect that something was indeed off about what the presumed result of the now changed tainted wish would occur and would be looking to do something about it to torment both Amika and Piruluk by whatever twisted scheme she had in mind for them. Looking to a nearby bench, he heaved her over to it and laid her down, hoping that it wouldn't be too long before would have recovered from the experience she had gone through.
"Kamui!"
His ears suddenly twitched as he looked behind him to see Hitoe running over to where he was. The Selector gasped slightly as soon as she saw Amika, recognizing her from the time she helped her carry Kai to the hospital after he had been previously wounded by Akira. Midoriko and Yuzuki looked out from their cards towards the latter, curious as to why she was like this.
"Hey... what happened to her...?" the green LRIG breathed.
"Do you any of you know where the hospital is?!" Kamui asked desperately.
"Um... about 5 minutes away from where we are now in that direction," Hitoe murmured, pointing just ahead in the direction of where one of the pathways exited from the park "What is...?"
"I don't have time to explain, but I need you to keep an eye on Amika for me!" he exclaimed as he began to run off.
"Wait Kamui!" called Yuzuki "What the heck's going on?!"
"I'll talk later! I've gotta hurry there!"
And with that, the Nova Grappler user ran in the direction that Hitoe had pointed to him earlier as fast as he could, hoping that he could reach the hospital and Amika's mother before Remember had realized something was off. Whilst she looked over to the currently unconscious Amika, still unsure of why she was in such a state before she had arrived, Yuzuki and Midoriko just stared on to watch Kamui as he continued running towards the hospital from the direction that their Selector had given him, wondering about what it was he had to go there for.
After rushing across a footbridge that crossed over the busy traffic on the road below, Kamui leaped down the stairs and continued along his way towards the hospital, praying that he at least had some kind of head start over Remember's awareness on the subject. He briefly winced in pain, clutching the part of his abdomen where one of Piruluk's wayward attacks had struck him previously, but ignored it and pressed on.
Kiyoi... I don't know where you've gone now... but for you and Amika... I will definitely protect her!
After finally seeing the familiar red cross on a nearby building in sight, just ahead from where he currently was, he sped up his pace and rushed down the streets, barely managing to avoid bumping into any large crowds of people that were nearly in his way.
(End Music)
And there we go! After outlasting all of Piruluk's attacks and fury with an injury to his stomach, Kamui decides to take on the full responsibility of whatever happens to Amika's mother at the end of the battle whilst also calling out the reversed LRIG that her reasoning for revenge would only start the same chain of events from Amika's perspective. Upon freeing her however, the two soon discover that the LRIG's efforts at the end of her battle with Remember were not in vain and that she had unknowingly succeeded in altering Amika's desire enough to change her wish, thus saving her mother for now. Piruluk suspects that her former LRIG however would most likely not take this news sitting down and urges Kamui to hurry to the hospital to protect Amika's mother from her hands.
Can he reach the hospital room in time and defend Amika's mother from Remember? Find out next time on Stand Up, the LRIG! as the Peeping Analyze sub-arc draws closer towards its climax. Please share your thoughts and criticisms in the reviews and I'll see you all next time!
*This is a reference back to Ethics Buster Яeverse's lore when Chaos Breaker attacked it from behind.
Cards of the Chapter:
Azure Dragon's Roar (Story Original Card)
ARTS
Colour: Silver
Cost: 1 Silver, 1 Colourless
Limiting Condition: Nova Grappler LRIGs only
[Use Timing - Main Phase]: Activate only if you control a Level 3 or greater LRIG with "Beast Deity" in its card name. Double the original power of all SIGNI you control with "Beast Deity" in their card names and if you do, Up all your Downed SIGNI, but you cannot Up your SIGNI with other non-LRIG card effects for the rest of this turn. Then you may choose up to one 《Nova Grappler》LRIG card from your LRIG Trash or LRIG deck and stack it beneath your current LRIG. You cannot activate other ARTS or Spells during the turn you activate this card.
Black Heart Avenger, Code Piruluk Яeverse (Story Original Card)
Level 5
Colour: Blue
Grow Cost: 3 Blue
Limit: 12
LRIG Type: Piruluk
Effect:
(Grow) Choose a card named "Code Piruluk ACRO" from your LRIG Deck and place it underneath your Level 3 LRIG: If you would Grow a Level 4 LRIG, you may pay the cost instead. If you do, this card's Level becomes 4 and its Limit is reduced to 11 the next time you Grow it. These changes last whilst this card remains on the LRIG Zone for your next two turns.
[Action] Limit Break (This ability is active whilst you have 3 or fewer Life Cloths) Pay 1 Blue and choose 1 of your SIGNI and Lock it: Activate one of the three following effects until the End Phase of this turn;
* Choose 1 of your opponent's SIGNI, Freeze it and then Down it if it's in an Up state. During your opponent's next turn, they cannot move that SIGNI to their Ener Zone during their Ener Charge Phase, nor can they summon SIGNI with the same name as that frozen SIGNI.
* Activate 1 Blue ARTS from your LRIG deck without paying its Ener cost. If you do, you cannot activate other ARTS or Spells for the rest of this turn.
* Activate only if you have already played the other two effects at least once during this game. Freeze as many SIGNI your opponent controls up to the Level of the Locked card and all of your Blue SIGNI gain Lancer for their first attack until end of turn. Until end of turn, this LRIG also gets "[Use Timing - Attack Phase] Pay 1 Blue: At the end of a battle this LRIG attacked whilst your opponent controls a Frozen SIGNI you may pay the cost. If you do, Up this LRIG. You can only use this effect up to the number of Frozen SIGNI your opponent controls and you cannot Up this LRIG through other card effects for the rest of this turn."
This ability cannot be used for the rest of that turn.
[Constant]: If you have a Level 3 or greater 《Piruluk》 LRIG other than an LRIG of the same name stacked beneath this card, all of your Blue SIGNI gain +2000 power.
