Hello everyone! How've you all been? Sorry I've been so late in the update of this chapter, but I've had a lot of things to sort out with my personal ends. Now that's been sorted, welcome back to the fic! I hope I haven't kept any of you waiting for too long. Without any further ado, I hope you all enjoy this new chapter!
EDIT: 12/06/2019 - Fixed an error with Foivos' skill.
Sendou Household
"Wow. So that's your old deck?"
"Yep! I had a blast playing with the old version around the time Aichi got out of that slump of his."
Ruko and Emi were busy chatting with one another over the reconstruction of the latter's very first Bermuda Triangle deck that she had used after her own introduction to the game of Vanguard. This had gotten the attention of a very curious Tama who had been previously introduced to Shizuka along with Yuki, much to the bewilderment of the Sendou Family's mother. The fact that there were indeed girls living inside two of the cards she had seen was still a concept that she had yet to fully grasp on her own, but she warmed up to the girl of white's enthusiastic nature almost immediately. Sat at the table opposite from her chair was Kai who had merely been glancing upon the Selector and Bermuda Triangle user as they continued to chat with one another. Yet despite the somewhat happier mood compared to the day before in the room, something was not as it seemed to him.
"She's quite the friendly person, isn't she?"
The Kagero user turned to Shizuka who smiled as she looked upon the two girls, before her expression turned a little somber after only a few moments.
"Though to be honest, I feel rather sad for her too," she continued quietly "It's already harrowing enough that her own mother is playing a major part in whatever's been going on with your lot lately, not to mention seperation from her only remaining relatives."
Kai said nothing in response, but the mere mention of Miyako even if not by her own name, was enough to silently put him on edge. Then the fact that Ruko had seemingly encountered Morris briefly in the midst of Tawil's, or rather Ut'ulls' assault on the city roads last night and had not returned back to Kiyoi until much later after her chase had only kept him curious about her recent behaviour. Was there something she was hiding from him and the others or was there more to what transpired that he didn't have knowledge about? Taking Shizuka's recent words into account, he suddenly became quite puzzled when she mentioned that Ayumu and Hatsu were the Selector's only other living relatives.
"She never mentioned anything about a father when Ayumu told us about what happened in their world six years ago," he murmured "Could the reason Miyako's intial schemes went unimpeded have something to do with him?"
Despite his efforts to keep the conversation as quietly as possible, the mere mention of Ayumu along with the lack of a father figure had only made Ruko's heart skip a beat as Emi looked at her in concern.
"Ruko-chan, are you alright?" she pondered.
The Selector could only bite her lip and remain silent for several long seconds before she got up from the table in the living room and walked over to Kai, uncertain of what to say to him at this point.
"Well..." she murmured somberly "The truth is... my father is actually dead. I know he and mother didn't get along all that well leading to a divorce before the day she tried to make me a vessel for Ut'ulls. But I can't remember anything about how he died because my memories a little before and after what happened then are still foggy." Her overall posture then drooped slightly. "The last thing I can remember before mother left is her and grandmother getting into a fierce argument... and then I chased her into the rain to try and convince her to stay."
The Kagero user merely said nothing back to her, having known this was a difficult subject for her to bring up, especially with the recollection of a certain day in those six years having only been recent knowledge thanks to her brother. He knew that with all of the answers surrounding that year not yet uncovered, it was best to not press her on any further for the time being. Shizuka then motioned for Ruko to come over to her as the sad girl could only look up into her eyes with both guilt and a small bit of shame that lay within her expression.
"I know she's one of the people doing all of this horrible stuff, both here and in my world," she sobbed "But... I can't stop thinking that I should have done something back then."
Then before she could realize it, the mother to the Sendou siblings had left her seat and gently pulled her into a calm embrace.
"Even if you're not back there, there will always be people like us that will be there for you," she whispered softly "But whatever you do, don't put yourself down for whatever may have happened in your past."
Ruko couldn't help but sob into her arms as Emi could only offer her a gentle pat on the back in sympathy. She turned to where Kai was sitting, only to find that the Kagero user had already left the room much to her surprise. One could percieve that it was to give the Selector some privacy and they would be somewhat correct. Over on the stairs, he was in thought about what had been further revealed about the Kominato family's history and though he felt some sympathy for the Selector herself, he couldn't help but clench a fist when he recalled everything that she had been saying.
Even after all we've learned... you still wish to be family again with that monster?!
City Ampitheatre
Meanwhile at the destination that had been chosen for the site of this battleground, Kiyoi and Remember were making final preparations for their fight whilst their only spectators, Kourin and Kamui had followed them there. The Nova Grappler user couldn't help but feel a little bewildered at this particular setting, knowing that this was the exact place that the former LRIG had first approached him when he didn't know it was really her at the time. Kourin was the only Ultra Rare member to join them, if only out of concern for Remember potentially using Rekka or Suiko in some underhanded means had she gathered a large enough crowd for the fight.
The former blue LRIG kept a close eye on her former associate, suspecting that there was no way that this fight would merely unravel as simply as most others. She knew Remember better than most in her world from personal history alone and that was enough to keep her on edge despite her otherwise restrained expression. Sensing the venom that was between them, the second eldest of the three Tatsunagi sisters briefly glanced to Kamui, pondering if he had any personal insight into their grudge. She did not recieve an answer, but could tell that the Nova Grappler user was hesitant to speak out of line, if only to avoid incurring Kiyoi's wrath upon him once again.
"Now that we're personally reacqainted without you taking over someone's battle, I must say it's very pleasing to finally be with you again, Kiyoi-chan," Remember spoke as her lips curtailed slowly into an unnerving sneer.
"I'm not here to exchange insults with you Remember," the former LRIG replied before she narrowed her eyes "I will stop you and close the door on our twisted history, once and for all."
"Tsk tsk, a bit more impatient than usual, eh?" her opponent taunted before the two walked away from one another until they were quite a reasonable distance from each other "But you were always one that preferred to cut to the chase. So consider my impatience to start this fight my reward. Just like the reward I gave you when I made your wish come true."
A spark of anger flared off inside Kiyoi as that horrifying image became apparent in her mind once more before she quickly cleared her thoughts and placed her deck along with her starting Vanguard on the transparent red surface that appeared before her. When Remember did the same, the familiar purple boundry of flames encircled both them and their two spectators, nearly scaring Kourin at how close the walls had been created next to her and Kamui.
"So this is to prevent their opponents from running away?" she pondered.
"Yup," the Nova Grappler user answered "And it also makes their images and all the damage real."
"Either way," Kourin murmured "You said this fight is personal between them. Does it have something to do with that wish Remember mentioned?"
"Well, that's..."
"It's fine Kamui," Kiyoi interrupted as he turned to her "If you don't tell her, Remember's likely to gloat about it anyway."
Swallowing a gulp, knowing that even that image he saw from her memories was enough to even put him on edge, he nodded and turned to Kourin, beginning his detail into Kiyoi's past and part of the Selector System itself. As soon as they were engrossed in their coversation, the former LRIG and her traitorous companion then reached out for their starting vanguards.
(Selector Destructed Wixoss OST: Delete the World (for destructed))
"Stand Up/Open, Vanguard!" they called in unison as they turned the cards over, summoning auras of blue and neon green to their respective sides of the field.
"Remember, Tide Miko of the Blue Wave!" Remember announced as a new Grade 0 version of her LRIG self appeared, dressed in a naval outfit with a crystal ball attached to a staff of some kind.
"Young Blaufechter!" Kiyoi countered as a new unit of her own appeared, that being an armoured mech suit with green colours over the white body, wielding a blade in one hand and a shield in another.
Kamui suddenly stopped in his explanation briefly in surprise that it was not Morgenrot that his friend had now used as her starting Vanguard, pondering if what happened back at Card Shop PSY had some kind of effect on her deck. Coughing for a brief moment to get himself back on track, a card bound itself face down from Remember's deck before the former LRIG immediately took the first turn as she drew her card.
"Ride!" she announced as her other self vanished "Blue Wave Soldier Senior, Beragios!"
The familiar Aquaroid burst onto the battlefield out of a torrent of water that had briefly manifested before it took up a defensive stance as it emerged from the raging sphere. Kiyoi immediately began her turn afterwards as she took out one of the cards in her hand and rode it on top of Blaufechter's card.
"Ride!" she declared as a brown armoured mecha with a giant jet pack on its back appeared whilst her starting Vanguard moved away to the right "Riema Blaurakete! Attack!"
Blaurakete then boosted its way over towards Beragios on its somewhat oversized jet pack before reeling back its right fist and smashing it right into the Aquaroid, sending it skidding across the ground as a result of the direct hit. As Valeos' card landed in the damage zone, Remember merely scoffed as she began the next turn by immediately drawing her next card and throwing it down onto the Vanguard Circle.
"Ride!" she announced as Beragios vanished and Foivos took his place "And call!"
Then a new aquaroid with two regular blades appeared onto the battlefield to her Vanguard's left before charging straight towards the brown coloured battleroid that opposed it. He slashed down the front of the mecha, creating a large score across its chest before it was immediately pounded on by multiple bullets from Foivos' minigun, creating even more dents as Clay-doll Mechanic joined Schnee Regen in Kiyoi's damage zone. The former LRIG merely glanced at the result of the successful attack, pondering over her options in the turns to come.
"Don't you think you should have guarded that?" Remember chuckled darkly "After all, I was able to teach you Wixoss at least after Sakaguchi-chan was, you know, out of commission."
A quiet hiss was heard as Kiyoi began her turn, doing the best she could to block out the noise of her opponent's taunts of that very sensitive subject, given that the latter was the direct cause of the aftermath. She knew that she could not change the past, nor could she disturb Sakaguchi's spirit from the dead once more, knowing it wasn't right in spite of her once miserable desires. But that had not made the ordeal of moving on from it any easier for her and she was hoping that defeating the one who had betrayed her on her own terms would be the way to finally do so.
"Ride, Mars Blaukluger!" she declared as the familiar orangish red Battleroid took the place of her previous Vanguard "Call, Regia Blaulanze!"
In front of Blaufechter, a new Blau mecha appeared in bright blue colours with yellow accents across its armour and the large drill that it carried for a weapon in its right arm.
"Mars attacks your Vanguard!" Kiyoi commanded as Mars Blaukluger's hover jets roared to life as it soared towards Foivos "Drive Check!"
She then turned over the top card of her deck to reveal Regenbogen for her Trigger Check, the card glowing green when it hit the table surface.
"Heal Trigger!"
As Blaulanze powered up, her Vanguard reeled up both of its fists into the air before slamming them right down upon the Aquaroid who screamed in pain from the sheer raw power of the blow. Mars then immediately retreated as its blue coloured companion then smashed its spinning drill into the side, sending Foivos flying into the air before crashing back down to the ground. Remember didn't react at all, even though her trigger check had also gotten her a heal trigger in the form of Refit Sailor. She merely drew her next card and smirked at what she had already held in her hand, keeping a sinister glance hidden away from Kiyoi as a gale of wind suddenly stirred within the battlefield.
No. Not yet, she pondered I want to play around with her for at least a little longer.
The former LRIG then held up the card of her choice into the air as the gale force winds she had summoned earlier continued to intensify.
"Behold Kiyoi-chan!" she announced "This is the further evolution I have now obtained! I can now read your utter defeat! Ride!"
As she threw down the card onto her Vanguard circle, a column of raging water enveloped Foivos before a familar shadow appeared from within. A crescent shape cut through the column and broke it away to reveal it was part of a staff that was wielded by her new Vanguard. It was her LRIG self once more, dressed in her usual outfit with the naval uniform blazer from Aqua Force flapping behind her like a cape, loosely cause by the fact she wasn't even wearing the sleeves of it. Despite her innocent looking smile, the true Remember giggled sinisterly as she announced the name of her other self's new form.
"Remember Twilight, Rising Miko of the Blue Wave!"
Remember Twilight, Rising Miko of the Blue Wave/Grade 3/Twin Drive!/POW: 11000/Aqua Force/Human;LRIG/Magallanica
"Rising Miko..." Kiyoi pondered quietly "It's different from the units Jillian and Sharlene mentioned."
To the right of the other Remember, appeared an all too familiar Code Art WTC whose eyes shone a neon blue colour as electrical sparks raged across the palm of her right hand. As this happened, Blaulanze was immediately trapped and encased within a huge chunk of ice with the effects even spreading to the card as a small patch of ice manifested over it as well.
"But freezing your rear-guard is the least of your problems," Remember scoffed "I use Lucianos' Counter Blast to add 2000 power and give it the ability to Stand on the second battle of the turn. Then again, this shouldn't be news to you if you've already met with those cursed twins."
As a bluish green aura enveloped Lucianos, the other Remember that was on the battlefield summoned a wave of water using her staff and sent it crashing in the direction of Mars Blaukluger. Kiyoi merely glanced down at the cards that made up her hand before glancing back at the attack that was coming right towards her by the second.
"No guard," she said calmly.
"Oh, a bit more daring than usual," Remember chortled "Then again, this is what happens when my former associate chooses giant toy robots as her new units. Twin Drive." Her eyes glowed a neon blue colour for a few seconds before her smile faded. "You seem to have lucked out, this time."
(End Music)
She then turned over her first card to reveal Emerald Shield, Paschal, followed shortly by Blue Wave Soldier, Brutal Trooper which shone brightly as it landed on the table.
"Critical Trigger! I give power to Lucianos and the Critical to my Vanguard!"
Blue Wave Marine General, Lucianos/POW: 11000 - 16000
Remember Twilight, Rising Miko of the Blue Wave/Critical: 1 - 2
The larger wave then rose up several meters before it crashed down right onto Mars Blaukluger, knocking it over whilst Kiyoi coughed and spluttered from a smaller portion hitting her head on. As this happened, Energy Charger and Red Lightning entered her damage zone.
"Critical Trigger!" she declared before glancing to her board for a brief moment "I give all the effects to my Vanguard!"
Lucianos then charged towards Mars with his blade before slashing down the front of it, causing it to stumble backwards when it recieved the damage as Galaxy Blaukluger entered the zone itself. The Aquaroid then threw away his weapon and immediately brought out a pair of pistols that were holstered on his waist, firing bullets from them immediately in an effort to try and land the final blow. That was not to be as a Clay-doll Mechanic took the full brunt of the attack before vanishing from the battlefield. WTC then followed up the assault with her own attack of an electrical stream, but Regenbogen like Clay-doll got in the way, saving Kiyoi from losing the fight for now. Before she had time to assess the situation, she heard a loud horrified gasp from where her spectators were.
"Please tell me this isn't some kind of sick joke!" Kourin exclaimed, causing the former blue LRIG to realize that Kamui had finally gotten to 'that bit' of her history.
"It isn't!" he replied "Remember pulled the plug on Sakaguchi and we can't prove it to the authorities there because she did it in Kiyoi's body!"
She didn't need to be told any more details to understand that without any way to prove it was truely Remember that had committed the murder of Sakaguchi all those months ago, any attempt now would only result in Kiyoi being the one that would be convicted.
"Now do you see why she's got to finish this?" he continued "If we can't convince... hang on, convict Remember, then she can at least take her down to protect the world and the game that Sakaguchi loved."
Seeing that he had explained all that he needed to, he turned back to the fight before them as Kiyoi was beginning her third turn. Kourin glanced at the battleground around them to get a sense at how far it had progressed, but the moment she took notice of the red table that the former blue LRIG's cards were, a sharp pain suddenly coursed through her head as she cringed at the sensation, grabbing the Nova Grappler user's attention back to her.
"Hey, you okay Kourin?!" he asked in concern.
When she turned to face him, an image that was supposedly unrecognizable to her, flashed before her eyes. In that image, those same red tables along with herself and Kamui were present and it appeared that they were cardfighting using them. It was then that she heard her own voice, announcing the name of a unit she was bringing forth to the battlefield then. That unit being Broken Heart Jewel Knight, Ashlei "Яeverse". She then found herself back in present day, questioning what it was that she had just witnessed. That image felt more familiar to her than she had supposedly known and that meant only one possibility was certain.
"That was... one of my lost memories now, wasn't it?" she breathed.
"Not gonna lie, those table designs bring back a lot of bad memories," said Kamui "I'll fill you in later once this fight is over."
As the two turned back to the battlefield, Kourin first looked upon Kiyoi as she began her turn. Her once curious intrigue from meeting her at Card Shop PSY in wanting to know the former blue LRIG better had turned to sympathy from learning the atrocity that Remember had committed after what she had promised for Sakaguchi intially. The fact that they could not prove it was her using Kiyoi's body to commit the murder had only helped her to understand Kamui's frustration about the whole situation, as if the opponent in front of them was getting away scott free on the topic alone. Suddenly, something had became present within her mind and she leaned towards the Nova Grappler user, whispering something into his left ear.
Right as she finished up, he attempted to open his mouth only for the second eldest of the Ultra Rare tro to quickly hush him, not wanting any of the combatants on the field to overhear him. After a few tense seconds had passed, he meekly nodded and looked back to Kiyoi who had merely stared at him for the duration of the somewhat awkward silence.
"Um... sorry for distracting you Kiyoi!" Kamui apolgized with an awkward smile before his expression became serious "Go and kick Remember's butt!"
Pushing her utter confusion to the wayside, the former blue LRIG then glanced at the cards in her hand before taking into account at how huge of a lead that her opponent had gotten up on her. She then picked out one of them and held it up into the air.
(Cardfight! Vanguard G OST: Mission)
"You who fights among the stars above your mother planet, revive now!" she called out before placing it down, causing Mars Blaukluger to vanish.
In a bright neon green flash, the familiar giant blue mecha Battleroid appeared onto the battlefield as it landed on the ground with a loud thud. The unit's green eyes flashed for a second before it extended its blade and primed its beam rifle weapon in preparation for the attacks to come. As Remember merely glanced up at her new opposition with slight intrigue, Kiyoi announced the name of her deck's key Grade 3.
"Galaxy Blaukluger!"
Galaxy Blaukluger/Grade 3/Twin Drive!/POW: 11000/Nova Grappler/Battleroid/Star Gate
"Dunno why she isn't setting up for the break ride, but this is good!" Kamui said with excitement.
Kourin said nothing, but nodded in agreement that things were beginning to look up for the former blue LRIG and perhaps she had a chance in turning the tide of this seemingly one-sided fight. All the while, resisting the urge to turn her attention elsewhere for fear of Remember catching onto whatever it was whisphered to the Nova Grappler user.
"Blaufetchter's skill!" Kiyoi announced as she turned over one of the cards in her damage zone and pushed Blaufechter's card into the soul "I look at four cards from the top of my deck and put a Blau card into my hand!"
Upon completing the action, she revealed Jupiter Blaukluger and shuffled the remaining three cards back into her deck, immediately calling that unit along with Energy Charger to the right of Galaxy Blaukluger. She then immediately rested the two units in preparation for the next battle, eventually picking out her target as the green Battleroid soared ahead of her formation.
"Jupiter attacks Lucianos!" she declared, causing her opponent to suddenly raise an eyebrow in surprise.
"Alright!" Kamui cheered "Remember won't be able to get to the fourth attack if this goes through!"
Hissing at the realization she would have to waste more shield than she would have liked to defend one rear-guard that would be an enabler to her fourth battle on the next turn, Remember merely picked up the card and slammed it right into her drop zone out of frustration as Jupiter slashed down the front of Lucianos. The Aquaroid screamed in pain from the direct hit before vanishing in a flash of blue sparks.
"Next, Galaxy Blaukluger!" Kiyoi continued as the giant blue Battleroid aimed its beam rifle right at the Remember that was on the battlefield.
"Much less troublesome without a boost!" the former LRIG interrupted with a sneer "I...!"
"I'm not done yet!" she interrupted before turning over another card in her damage zone and removing Blaufechter's card from the soul "Regia's skill! I stand this unit with an extra 2000 power!"
Right on cue, yellow eyes flashed within the icy prison before the large formation immediately shattered apart, freeing Regia Blaulanze from Code Art WTC's earlier ability. It then swung down the lance it wielded and pointed it right in the direction of Galaxy Blaukluger's current opponent before a yellowish aura enveloped it briefly.
Regia Blaulanze/POW: 9000 - 11000
"Tsk!" Remember muttered in annoyance as she took out a card from her hand "It's going to take more than a cheap skill to get all of your rear-guards free from my freeze abilities! Perfect Guard!"
Emerald Shield, Paschal then appeared right in front of the Remember that was her Vanguard, projecting a hexagonal barrier to shield her from complete harm. Galaxy Blaukluger then charged up its beam rifle and unleashed a massive neon green coloured beam that struck the shield, but the attack was ultimately futile as it eventually subsided and Paschal himself left the field in turn.
"Don't you see it's utterly hopeless against me?" the former LRIG said in a somewhat agitated tone "The only reason you even have got this far is because I gave you every bit of knowledge of Wixoss. Even if that has transferred to Vanguard, I still know all of your tricks and I know you're still the same scared girl I had in the palm of my hand all those years ago!"
"Twin Drive."
Kiyoi merely ignored her opponent with her recent and somewhat calm declaration for the next portion of her attacks, turning over the first card to reveal Clay-doll Mechanic. She then immediately turned over the second card to reveal Schnee Regen, the card glowing brightly as she revealed it.
"Draw Trigger," she spoke "I draw a card and give power to Blaulanze. Attack Remember."
Blaulanze then leaped into the air before throwing its lance down at the Vanguard Remember, striking her with a blow to her right side that caused her to scream loudly in pain as Blue Wave Senior Soldier, Beragios entered the damage zone.
"The conditions are now met," she continued before spreading out her open right hand "Limit Break!"
As a turqoise coloured Vanguard circle flashed above Galaxy Blaukluger, it took up a fighting stance once more before charging over towards its opponent as Remember merely looked on, somewhat unimpressed with a pouty face as she could do nothing but watch the former blue LRIG conduct her second Twin Drive. Firstlly appeared another Blaulanze followed by a second Regenbogen.
"Heal Trigger," Kiyoi said calmly "I recover another point of damage."
As soon as she finished with her checks, the blue armoured Battleroid then armed its giant blade before slashing the Vanguard Remember with a successful attack this time. Code Art KEY then entered the damage zone of the real Remember as she swiftly pulled the top card of her deck to her hand, muttering quietly to herself in annoyance as she did so.
(End Music)
End of Turn 6
Kiyoi vs Remember
Hand: 8 - 5
Soul: 0 - 3
Damage: 3 - 4
Kiyoi's Formation:
Regia Blaulanze - Galaxy Blaukluger - Jupiter Blaukluger
EMPTY - EMPTY - Energy Charger
Remember's Formation:
EMPTY - Remember Twilight, Rising Miko of the Blue Wave - Code Art WTC
EMPTY - EMPTY - EMPTY
"Way to go Kiyoi!" cheered Kamui "You just flipped the score with that last Heal Trigger!"
"It seems she's managed to guide the flow of the fight her way now," Kourin interjected "But Remember hasn't released the full power of the Aqua Force that backs up her other self."
Remember then immediately drew another card to start her turn before gazing back at Kiyoi who returned an equally venomous gaze to her, not willing to let her off easily, neither for the fight nor her crime, no matter what.
"Now that Sakaguchi's spirit is resting in peace once more after our last bout," she spoke fiercely "There is only one thing left for me to do."
"And what would that be?" the former LRIG asked.
"There's three reasons I want to settle the score with you now," Kiyoi answered "One, to make a dent in the plans that Mayu and Chaos Breaker have for this world. Two, to close the door on our history that has haunted me throughout my life. Three, to make you pay for the crime you committed in the murder of Sakaguchi Ayumi, the girl I wanted to save with my wish!"
"Murder?" she scoffed "I just fulfilled your wish like you asked! Releasing her from her suffering was the perfect way to save her as you wanted!"
"I don't believe that!" Kamui interrupted "If anything from what Aichi onii-san and Kai told me, you just took the chance you had to escape whatever burden Kiyoi's wish put upon you and murdered Sakaguchi to do it!"
All became silent after the Nova Grappler user had voiced his opinion into the motive that Remember had for killing Sakaguchi and escaping Kiyoi's wish the way that she had intended. The former LRIG then giggled sinisterly to herself, unnerving the three that were inside the battlefield as they could only stare at her, wondering why she was laughing in the face of what she did.
"Chance?" Remember chortled before closing her eyes, sneering deeply "If only you two knew how wrong you were!"
"What are you saying?" Kourin questioned.
"Tell me something Kiyoi," she spoke "Why is it you couldn't be approached by my little circle of 'friends' a little before Sakaguchi started approaching you?"
Kiyoi's calm expression suddenly faded into one of confusion as she let Remember's question sink into her mind. Even back then, she had been somewhat confused in her uninterested self's thoughts about why she had not been subjected to the bullying and teasing of the former LRIG and her cohorts before Sakaguchi first approached her. Then upon sensing that Remember herself had no qualm in telling her of why her opportunity to kill the girl was not by chance, a horrible feeling then began to well within her stomach, her face turning into sudden realization.
"Sakaguchi was the one who had blown our cover to the teachers, leaving me with a great deal of hatred towards her," her opponent answered "So that was why I sought to claim my revenge on her for ruining my schemes back then and ensuring I couldn't hurt you whilst she was around!"
(Cardfight! Vanguard OST: Nuguenu Kako)
"No..." Kiyoi breathed in horror, shocked that the murder wasn't just an open opportunity by chance.
Kamui and Kourin could only gasp in complete shock that this whole affair was no coincidence from the very beginning. One way or another, Remember had planned to dispose of Sakaguchi from the very beginning and her time as Kiyoi's LRIG has only led to that success.
"I'm afraid so," the former LRIG sneered, regaining her smile "One of your other classmates who was my original LRIG told me about your bond. So before I became an Eternal Girl, I pulled a couple of strings to make sure that Sakaguchi would do anything to save you, even if it meant paying the ultimate price."
"You set up Kiyoi!" growled Kamui.
"Yes, I did," she scoffed before her expression became a scowl once more "But you Katsuragi Kamui. How is it that you were able to change Kiyoi-chan and defeat the greatest fortune mistress of all time?!"
"Why do you care you heartless bitch?!" he snapped back, not caring that he had cursed heavily to make his point.
"Don't you two realize it yet?" Remember replied before she held up her arms wide as a gale of wind surged throughout the battlefield, forcing everyone else to shield their faces "I am Remember! The greatest Selector and LRIG in existence!"
The monstrous sounding storm continued to blow all around the remaining three, forcing them to stand their ground as the former LRIG began cackling louder and louder with each new blast of air that erupted from her. When the maelstrom eventually died down, her expression was just as crazed as ever, believing that even with the truth now out, it had not changed the result of this fight and that she had brought Kiyoi to her knees in despair once more. However, her expression then dropped as she saw that Kiyoi was nearly unfazed by the aftermath of the revelation and the sudden storm she briefly summoned in an effort to knock down her confidence.
(End Music)
"Sorry to disappoint you," the former blue LRIG spoke before her gaze met with her opponent's once more. "But the greatest Selector and LRIG in our domain is Noriko and Kaen."
"Not even the traitor Queen coud hope to match wits with the likes of me!" Remember snapped back "And your boyfriend certainly won't be able to save your neck this time!"
"B... Boyfriend?!" Kamui exclaimed, his cheeks having turned a bright shade of red at the sudden way she had phrased his support for her.
"Calm down," she muttered, not fazed by her opponent's sudden comment "It's no wonder you haven't gotten close with Emi if you're flustered by juvenile remarks that easily."
The Nova Grappler user then chuckled awkwardly as he rubbed his nose to fight off the blush that had ended up on his face as a result of Remember's taunt. He then looked up at Kourin who had merely looked on in confusion at the whole exchange, puzzingly raising an eyebrow as she did so.
"What?" he muttered.
Remember then held her hand over her Vanguard circle before glancing towards her deck and sneering for a brief moment before looking back down at the lone card that was on there.
"Seek mate!"
(Cardfight! Vanguard G Z OST: Valeos Fight)
A bright white light then erupted from the Vanguard circle, shrouding the entire field in that colour as the eyesight of everyone other than the former LRIG was robbed from them as they were forced to shield their faces from the intensity.
"Come to me! My mentor and my partner!" she announced before throwing a card onto the table as it landed alongside Remember Twilight's "Blue Wave Marshal, Valeos! Legion!"
The light then died down as a column of water erupted from in front of Remember's table as the familiar Marshal that was previously unknown to all had shown itself once more. He opened his only visible eye before slashing away the torrent with the giant spearend of his chained weapon, revealing his full appearance to Kiyoi and Kamui for the first time before he landed beside the Vanguard Remember. The Legion symbol then appeared to all, signalling the completion of the ability itself.
Blue Wave Marshal, Valeos and Remember Twilight, Rising Miko of the Blue Wave/POW: 22000
"So this is Valeos..." the former blue LRIG murmured, having wondered whether or not she would see him after learning what little information she had from Jillian and Sharlene the previous night.
"Come out, Foivos and Beragios!" Remember declared as the familiar Marine General took to the rear-guard this time along with three more units, those all being the Critical Trigger unit, Brutal Trooper. "Now with the Brutal Trooper skills, I return them to the deck to give Valeos and myself triple skills! Then call!"
As Beragios emerged onto the field behind Foivos, a dark purple aura then enveloped both her Legioned units as she then prepared to go on the offensive once more.
"Next, the Legion skill of my other self!" she announced "I bind a Blue-Wave Grade 3 unit from my deck and she gains that unit's effects until the end of the turn! I bind Tetra-drive Dragon!"
A transparent apparition of Leon's ace unit then appeared to the battlefield briefly, roaring loudly as it did so, before it transformed into a purple coloured aura that was absorbed by the other Remember who sneered in glee at recieving the present first Admiral's powers for herself. Unbeknownst to everyone other than Kiyoi's opponent, a similar aura had also blocked any of their view from her deck for several seconds until it faded away, allowing her to resume with her turn.
"Finally, Valeos' skill!" she declared as she placed another Valeos card from her hand into the soul "Now whenever Foivos attacks you, if it is that unit's first attack, it gains 2000 power multiplied by Lucianos' Grade!"
So she's finally coming at me with everything she's got Kiyoi murmured in her thoughts, tensing up slightly in preparation for the onslaught.
"No matter what you have in store for me, it's useless!" Remember cackled as Code Art WTC charged towards Blaulanze and landed a hard kick with sparks flying off her feet, crippling the Battleroid and retiring it from the field. "Next, myself and Valeos attack you! With my Brutal Trooper's skills, I draw 3 cards!"
As soon as she committed that action, the Legioned pair then rode together on a large wave that was growing by the second and right towards Kiyoi who could only glance back at them, preparing to await what was to come from this attack.
"Perfect Guard!" she announced as Blau Dunkelheit appeared in front of her and Galaxy Blaukluger, holding back the wave as best as it could.
"Twin Drive!" the former LRIG cackled as she revealed her first card as Brutal Trooper, one of three that she had shuffled back into her deck "Critical Trigger! I give all the effects to my Vanguard!" She then turned over the second card, revealing another Brutal Trooper.
"You've gotta be kidding me!" gasped Kamui.
"I give all the effects to Foivos!" she announced in glee as the giant wave eventually broke apart, signalling that her Vanguard attack was a failure.
As Kiyoi looked up at both units, knowing that it was only the first of many onslaughts to come before her, she couldn't but express some kind of surprise as Valeos glanced upon her.
(End Music)
"So you're the girl I've heard about," he spoke, a purple aura surrounding him as he did so "It is a pity you couldn't stay as the LRIG of Misfortune that my master's associate has informed me so."
"What are you saying?" the former blue LRIG asked in confusion.
"You've sunk into despair once before, before accepting the abosolute existence that lay before you as a LRIG, Piruluk," the Marshal continued, his tone stern but not overpowering. He then leaned forwards, gazing closer at her expression much to her discomfort "Your eyes though... They almost remind me of myself."
"Hm?"
"So then. Will you accept what lies before you or will you continue to struggle until death? That is the choice that lies before you."
(Selector Infected Wixoss OST: Battle ~ Negative Chain)
After that, both Valeos and Remember Twilight retreated from Kiyoi's table and back to her opponent's side of the battlefield as she sneered in preparation for the power that was she about to lay into the former blue LRIG.
"You said you wanted to close the door on our history Kiyoi-chan?" she began in an innocent tone before reverting back to her true nature "Then let me do it for you! Foivos attacks Galaxy Blaukluger!" She then rested the card. "With the skills of itself and Valeos, add 8000 power!"
Blue Wave Marine General, Foivos/POW: 14000 - 16000 - 22000
"Then with a boost from Beragios, I add more power!" she declared "And... Valeos' Limit Break!"
A turqoise Vanguard circle then flashed above the Legioned pair before Valeos then swung around his spearend before hurling it towards Galaxy Blaukluger. The weapon then pierced through the body of the blue armored Battleroid, causing it to thrash around much to the shock of Kiyoi and Kamui.
"With this, until the battle's end, your Vanguard's power is now 10000!" Remember called out in a crazed manner "Sure it may have been a small waste, but what fun would I have without this power at my free disposal!"
"No guard!" the former blue LRIG cried out.
Foivos then revved up his minigun weapon before firing multiple shots at the weakened Galaxy Blaukluger, causing the mighty giant to topple over and crash into the ground, sending up smoke into the air that covered Kiyoi's side of the field and forcing her to cough as she struggled for both air and sight. Jupiter Blaukluger and Mond Blaukluger then landed in her damage zone, putting her in a very precarious position as the turn was still not over.
"Kiyoi!" cried Kamui.
"Are you alright?!" Kourin called out in concern.
"I'm not finished yet!" Remember cackled "Foivos, attack her again!"
Foivos then released a second round of bullets that came rocketing towards both Kiyoi and her downed key unit. The attack didn't connect however as Regenbogen came to the defence once more, barely being able to shield the giant Blaukluger from harm before exploding as a result from taking the full brunt of the attack just now.
"Persistant to the end, eh?!" chortled Remember as her face became even more crazed as she still had one more powerful attack left at her disposal "Now, take the Limit Break of MY Tetra-Drive Dragon! Counter Blast and discarding 2 cards to Stand my Legion!"
After performing those actions immediately, the Remember on the battlefield raised her staff as a giant wave of water then began to arise once more, allowing her and Valeos to ride upon it once more as the final attack of the fight was seemingly at hand. Smoke was still obscuring Kiyoi from sight and a small portion of the downed Galaxy Blaukluger, leaving Kamui and Kourin worried that there was seemingly little she could do to defend herself from the coming battle.
"This is over!" the former LRIG screamed as she rested both her other self and Valeos "My Legion attacks you for the final time! With the Brutal Trooper skills, I draw 3 cards again!"
The wave then grew in size and began to accelerate forwards towards the Legioned pair's seemingly defeated opponents who had not ushered a word or noise since the skill had been used. Remember Twilight then moved in front of Valeos, wanting to personally deliver the final blow herself as she held out her staff, charging up energy for the attack itself. Once the wave was in range, she let loose a large beam that came towards Galaxy Blaukluger before a series of white sparkling lights gathered together. No one saw them as the wave was about to crash onto the seemingly defeated Kiyoi before the light manifested itself into a second Blau Dunkelheit who projected a large circular barrier of multiple hexagon patterns to block the attack.
Remember remained gobsmacked that her opponent had survived the onslaught before looking to a dirtied and slightly battered Kiyoi who held up the sentinel's card itself for confirmation. The former compatriot then huffed as she conducted her Twin Drive, revealing two Jet-ski Riders as her triggers.
"Thank goodness..." Kamui breathed in relief.
"If she didn't have that other Dunkelheit, even a double Heal Trigger wouldn't have saved her," Kourin replied, knowing that this fight was not going to get any easier from here on out.
Kiyoi breathed heavily as she held on to her remaining 3 cards before struggling back onto her feet and back to the table, the force from the recent attacks having had an effect on her overall posture.
"You know what, I'm glad you've held out this long," Remember said gleefully, regaining her smile "But my hand's filled to the brim with 8 cards thanks to my fortutious mastery of the wind. Your next attacks won't reach me and my next peak will finish you off on the final turn."
The former blue LRIG then stood up her remaining units one by one as she breathed heavily before drawing her next card. Though disappointment set in on her face, she chose not to let it bother her as she called Mond Blaukluger to the rear-guard.
"Oh, still fighting defiantly, are we?" she scoffed "Well then, I hate to break it to you, but even if you do happen to win this fight, I'm afraid you'll only set yourself up for disappointment, just like you did in our last battle together."
"What are you saying?" Kiyoi huffed, eventually regaining her breath.
Her former compatriot then sneered and snapped her fingers, summoning a bright light to the far opposite of the battlefield from where Kamui and Kourin where standing, grabbing both theirs and her attention toward it. Several streams of water then covered around it before freezing into ice as the lights finally died down to reveal what it was that Remember had summoned to this strange structure. The Nova Grappler user then gasped in horror upon seeing who they were.
"Before we resume our contest, say hello to Reiji and Eiji!" she announced as the two worried boys looked at their surroundings, now seeing that they were in deep trouble.
(End Music)
Meanwhile, high above the rooftops of the city itself, Akira was watching the fight itself with a more vacant expression on her face compared to usual. Her attire had also changed dramatically since the previous night, her traditional pink hoodie and black skirt now replaced with an appearance that most would otherwise think was regal. Her new wardrobe consisted of a set of black robes with dark purple highlights all around the edges of her clothing and an arrow like symbol with several rectangular shapes carved into it was present on the top of the piece of clothing. In fact, the only thing that had not changed were her usual shoes.
She had been monitoring the fight for herself through a holographic screen created by her own card that was used to travel between the two worlds for herself. Akira had been watching to pass the time whilst she was awaiting her long intended rematch with Kai, yet if anyone was present enough to grasp a closer look at her, they would have seen that the usual malice that was within her eyes was all but completely gone. Instead, those eyes had been rather stern for a very different reason.
Swiping the screen with her right hand, the present footage stopped at the point where Remember had summoned Reiji and Eiji to the battlefield for whatever reason. She then moved the image to the right, seperating it from the screen as it was paused at another point in the fight where the former LRIG's deck had been covered in an opaque purple aura, leading her suspicions to one possible reason why that was the case. The screens then vanished as she turned to leave, only to be greeted by Urith who arrived at the doorway.
"Oh? Going off to search for Kai on your own?" she mused.
"No. Just something I need to take care of," she replied, her tone having also changed dramatically to a somewhat stern, but not authoritive tone "Inform me if he arrives at our designated spot before I return."
"Of course, Aki-lovely," Urith replied with a bow, keeping a sneer to herself.
"Urith, do not call me by that anymore," Akira interrupted "That has died in the past, along with Aki-lucky."
And with that, she stepped out of the cruel demanoured Selector's way and down the stairs that lead to the streets below, her recent answer even surprising her companion a little. Immediately though, she had regained her composure as she knew it was bound to be a side effect, of whatever transformation that Aoi Akira herself had gone through before this day.
And there we go! As Kiyoi and Remember duke it out in a long awaited grudge match, the latter then summons Reiji and Eiji to a mysterious structure she has created within the battlefield. Meanwhile, a changed Aoi Akira observes in the battle during her wait for Kai and immediately sees herself off to attend it in person, for whatever reasons she has in mind. What does Remember have planned for Reiji and Eiji? Can Kiyoi defeat her once and for all? And what is it in this fight that Akira seeks to attend to? Find out next time on Stand Up, the LRIG! I'll see you around next time and I hope you've enjoyed it! Please share your thoughts and criticisms, I'd really appreciate it.
Story Original Cards debuting this Chapter:
Remember, Tide Miko of the Blue Wave
Grade 0
Boost
SLD: 10000
POW: 5000
Aqua Force
Human;LRIG
Magallanica
[AUTO]: When rode upon by a card with "Remember" or "Blue Wave" in its card name, search your deck for up to one Grade 2 or greater card with "Blue Wave" in its card name.
Remember Twilight, Rising Miko of the Blue Wave
Grade 3
Twin Drive
POW: 11000
Aqua Force
Human;LRIG
Magllanica
[ACT](VC)[Legion|22000|"Blue Wave Marshal, Valeos"]
[ACT](VC)[1/Turn]: If this unit is in [Legion], {COST|Search your deck for a Grade 3 card with "Blue Wave" in its card name and bind it}, shuffle your deck, then choose 1 of the [AUTO] abilities of the bound card and this unit gains that ability until end of turn. During the end phase, move the card bound by this effect into your soul.
[CONT](VC): This unit also counts as a Vanguard with "Piruluk" in its card name.
