Cardfight! Vanguard – Override
Sendou Aichi is a timid student whose life is changed by the card game, Vanguard. But as Aichi and his friends reach new heights, the dark and troubling side of the game, combined with a war on Cray, threatens to destroy the players and their new world.
Contains violence, language, character death.
-Hitsue City: Stadium-
Aichi reached for the card, eyes sliding shut briefly whilst his fingers closed in against it and removed it from the collection in front. His eyes snapped open, raising the card blazing blue and white above his head.
"Tachiagare, boku no bunshin! Raido! Burasuta Bureido!" [1]
A wild gust consumed Marron, replacing him with the white-armoured knight whose body was concealed by a dark blue suit underneath, lit by neon teal patterns. The large blade from which his name originated planted its tip into the soil, his hands resting atop it. From the spiked helmet, Aichi's blue hair emerged, covering the right side of the warrior's face, glaring ahead with the one exposed eye, rendered blue by the adoption of his player's features [POW 9000]. Aichi replicated the stern stare across the field, set on his adversary, unfazed by the appearance of the rare card.
'I've just got to believe,' Aichi reiterated to himself. 'In Kamui-kun, in Kai-kun, in Blaster Blade. I'm sure they'll be enough to get me through this battle until a Grade 3 emerges. This deck has given me strength in the past, if we work together; we can give each other strength again'.
Standing stoically on the battlefield, aided by none other than the two canines over his spiked shoulders, unfazed by the clustering Megacolony forces gathering despite the location being set deep within the United Sanctuary, far from Zoo and where the Royal Paladins were centred.
"Blaster Blade's Counterblast," Aichi declared, turning over the two cards in his Damage Zone. "The Rear-Guard Giraffa is retired".
The knight raised his sword, grasping it tightly with both hands and using his immense strength to plough the tip back into the ground, igniting a stream of lightning which burst through the ground, ripping through to the surface and electrocuting the intruding insect soldier. The beast's back arched and a choking cry as its skin bubbled and its body disintegrated.
"Call!"
Aichi's hand returned swiftly to the cards in his possession, snatching a trio and throwing them in quick succession onto the field, each occupied circle flashing whilst registering the arrivals. The space before the mechanical canine was ablaze first; welcoming a man coated in silver armour compiled over a violet shirt with its edges line with gold, his fabric legs made of black. Turquoise crosses had been carved into the kneecaps of his stronger suit; two orbs implanted in the centre of his waist and from the codpiece hanging underneath; single horizontal stripes cut into his curved shoulder plates and a lone vertical crack marked on his chest. Frilled white fabric white silk exposed itself from the base of his neck, its elegance not to be hidden by the wartime suit. Lengthy golden ribbons were draped from his underarms and waist, fluttering in the wind, while his long cream-coloured hair had been tamed by a bow of the shade as the strips. A narrow blade, much like those used in the sport of fencing, had been his – Knight of Truth, Gordon's – weapon of choice [POW 8000]. The final column was filled by the presence of a white steed; the mane and tail a variety of bright shades blending into one another, not unlike a stolen rainbow; reds, blues, greens, pinks and yellows among the clearest shades. The steed's body had also been decorated with a collection of golden plating; circular guards at the tops of its front legs, connected by a narrow chain, three gleaming jewels fixed onto the bridge. The animal's held shielded its forehead, wrapped around the ends if its jaws and sporting a long, narrow horn that gleamed under the United Sanctuary sun. The creature – Starlight Unicorn – snorted, tilting its head left and right in anticipation ahead of battle [POW 6000]. The final member of the cavalry blocked any charge the young steed could attempt; thick violet hair sprouting from his skull, wrapped in a golden band, with the shape of an eye chiselled into the front above the scarlet fabric that blinded the man. A thick scarf of the same colour tucked his chin and neck into hiding. His shoulders had been fitted with two layers of plating, standing at separate angles so a small distance had been made between the rugged edges. A purple suit covered the vast majority of his body, squeezed by sections of brown armour like these had, boots and gloves fitted with the same sturdy material to strength his limbs. The man – Knight of Silence, Gallatin – wielded a long plain blade, its handle also gold with elaborate carvings across the hilt [POW 10000].
"Starlight Unicorn's skill gives an additional 2000 power to any other Royal Paladin," Aichi continued. "I'll choose Blaster Blade".
A stream of light parted from the pale steed, circling around the white knight at the head of the army, tightening his fingers around the hilt of the sword, pressing deeper against his gloved palms [POW 11000]. From the warrior's perspective, Aichi was enabled a clearer view of how his united forces outnumbered Minami's grotesque collection; even if the reality was he was standing alone in the centre of a grim mist. Clutching the lone card in his possession, the boy's eyebrows sank to the tops of his sockets, mirroring the cold stare of his warrior.
'This is it. This is what Kamui-kun meant. I have to believe in my allies. I'm not fighting alone,' he recited inwardly. 'Kai-kun, Kamui-kun, Misaki-san – they're all my teammates working towards the same goal. Blaster Blade and the Royal Paladins are fighting by my side. We're the same and, even if we're struggling, we can still fight. So I'll put my faith in everyone'.
The fingers of his empty hand curled into a fist, fingertips rubbed against the fabric of the Fighting Glove. A flash flickered across his eyes; the tip of the flame that had burst to life inside his heart. The fist inched towards it, resting against the thick burgundy jumper hanging off his torso, sinking against it.
"I'll fight with everyone," he declared firmly, even confidently. "We'll move forward together".
Ride 7: The Lost Leader
[Ushinatta Sendōsha]
-Hitsue City: Stadium-
With renewed passion, Aichi leaned forward, his fingertips throbbed from the intensity of his hold on Gallatin's card, snapping it to lie, following with its comrade behind.
"Starlight Unicorn boosts Gallatin," he stated, throwing his right hand up, relieved of its first duty. "And they attack Pupa Mutant Giraffa".
Minami showed no emotion in response to the first attack launched by the enemy; his mocha eyes as tapered as ever, dim from boredom. Aided by the unicorn's power, Gallatin lunged forward, positioning his sword behind whilst charging at his target with a fearless yell [POW 16000]. The mutant insect made no action while the warrior rushed forward, raising its melted hands only when the long, narrow blade emerged from the aggressor's back, slicing through the air and the upper layers of skin, causing the monster to stumble backwards as searing pain flooded inwards. One of the clawed hands rose, claws flexing in anguish without touching the wound lest the touch make it worse. Minami reached for his deck, revealing the first card to fall victim to his Damage Zone as Evil Shell Shogun Giraffa – a card already in his hand.
At the head of the field, Kamui clenched his fists, grinning wildly as the counterattack had begun successfully. "Alright, Onii-san!" he yelled. "Show 'em what we're made of".
Aichi beamed over his shoulder at the excited youngster, who was in the process of punching air multiple times as he crept in and out of the active fighter's vision. Focus was quickly handed over to Blaster Blade, rotated to match Gallatin's resting stance, joined by Wingal immediately.
"Wingal's skill increases the boost he gives to Blaster Blade by 4000," the boy claimed, leaning over the pair with a determined stare cast in the direction of his adversary.
Minami's expression remained sour; shrugging his shoulders lazily. "No guard," he sighed.
Energy flowing into his being, the blue-haired knight charged, taking several steps before his boots landed inches apart, springing into the air, flying through raw power surging throughout his body. He seized the mantle of his weapon, grasping it firmly and plunged towards the head of the forces below, surrounded the entire time by the radiance of Wingal's assistance [POW 21000].
"Drive check," Aichi uttered, reaching for the deck and grasping the top, sliding away Stardust Trumpeter. "No Trigger".
With a mighty cry, Blaster Blade raised his sword, removing it from the air beside his hip and sliced into the monster beneath, deepening the wide wound it had already sustained. In a vain attempt to end the torment prematurely, the creature grasped the tip of the sword, attempting to pry it from its chest without tearing its body apart. Blaster Blade's converted azure eyes narrowed, watching the struggle curiously and removed his weapon, though not through mercy. As the heels of his boots clapped the earth, Minami's hand fell upon his deck.
"Damage check," he mumbled. He held up the card to show the Phantom Black lost as a result of allowing the attack to pass.
"Nice, now Onii-san has pulled back," Kamui commented jovially.
"It's like he's ignoring all the pressure he felt before," Izaki murmured, eyeing his classmate with astonishment at his competence under the eyes of so many spectators. "He was afraid he'd crack under the pressure, but there's no sign of that".
"What are you mumbling about?" Morikawa questioned irately. "He never told us that".
Izaki masked the secret with a small chuckle. Miwa watched the pair with intrigue, smiling once it dawned on him that Izaki's unusual outburst must have come from a heart-to-heart with Aichi. They had both been nervous, afraid they would fail at the Shop Tournament, but pushed aside their fears in order to fight. To have fun. Morikawa, too, experienced that same pleasure, only through his dense nature.
"Some just won't learn," he chortled discreetly to himself.
"Gordon attacks Giraffa with a boost from Barcgal [POW 12000]" Aichi announced, shifting the final cards into place as he uttered their names.
"No guard," Minami huffed, loosely folding his arms over his chest.
Gordon started forward, stamping across the Cray soil gracefully despite the armoured suit he wore. His rapier gleamed under the sun, leaving a thin streak of light after its vicious movements through the air, piercing Giraffa numerous times as Gordon took the opportunity to utilize his fencing skills in order to deal the most damage possible.
"Damage check," Minami responded, flipping over the next card, Shelter Beetle, and dropping it onto the filling column at the other end of the field. As it touched the console, the card began to resonate a golden light, prompting the pale-haired fighter to sigh. "Of all times to get a Critical Trigger…"
AICHI - MINAMI
2 -DAMAGE- 3
"Turn end," Aichi proclaimed.
"Sendou has recovered in the second match between Teams Q4 and Unearther," MC Miya hollered into his microphone. "He's come from behind to deal three damage in a single turn. Minami isn't even trying to defend, could it be that his deck has worked against him?"
Kamui tensed his shoulder, arm bent and an excited fist hovering close to his head. "Alright, there was nothing to worry about," he cheered. "We're going to get through this easily".
"Don't prepare for the next fight just yet, Kamui-kun," Shin muttered. The boy rotated, sight landing on the manager with a puzzled look. "It's just like he said; that man isn't guarding at all. He's letting Aichi-kun's attacks go through without any sign of resistance. It could be part of his plot to strike when his opponent's guard is down".
"No way. You mean Onii-san could be walking into a trap?" Kamui gasped.
"I can't be sure, but it's a possibility," Shin confessed.
Kamui whipped around, his expression shaken by the mere suggestion; there was nothing they could currently go by as evidence either for or against the idea. But interfering would only harm the team's chances, meaning there was no means by which they could warn the unsuspecting fighter of his enemy's scheme. Minami shifted his cards back vertically and moved to his deck, there being no change in his attitude after falling behind.
"Stand and draw," he said plainly.
FOURTH TURN – MINAMI
The new card slipped into the others, replacing the central offer that Minami slid away. "Ride," he barked coldly, throwing the new leader onto the table fiercely. "Elite Mutant, Giraffa".
An eruption of wind and dust concealed the injured Vanguard, the miniature storm peeling away its scarlet skin. In its place, midnight-blue armour covered the wounds its form had sustained, decorated with lime plates, including spikes and the jagged collar fixed around the base of the creature's neck. One hand clutched a crimson spear, divided into two above its grip, laced with foliage of the same brighter shade as the menacing fanged claws that emerged from the head of a device wrapped around the other wrist. The fingers underneath wrapped themselves around the black bar, fixing the weapon as an alternative mode of attack. Four wings buzzed from its back; clear scales expanding from scarlet frames. Underneath the lime crown, the creature's red eyes gleamed in search of vengeance.
"Elite Mutant, Giraffa's skill grants him an extra 1000 power if Pupa Mutant is present within the Soul," Minami declared. His representation on Cray shimmered with the newfound strength [POW 10000]. "Call; Elite Mutant, Giraffa and Karma Queen".
A replica of the Vanguard materialized by its side, the armour taking on a vague violent tint in order to separate it from the current commander. Behind Phantom Black, the additional insect made her entrance; her body taking the form of a giant hornet. Her torso was pale, chest wrapped in leather to cover the sizeable breasts, whereas the bulge making the lower half of her body sported the standard yellow and black combination. From the bulge, brown legs hung, razor claws at the ends of her feet, hands mimicking the jagged features. A golden helm covered her brown, two immense emerald eyes blinked, between them, a smirk made of thick scarlet lips. Shoulder pads and a neck brace of bronze were the only forms of support, the mask split open by two silver pincers that curled around towards the corners of her mouth. A trio of small grey wings emerged from the back of her headgear, hanging as nothing more than decoration, while four transparent wings hummed whilst shivering from her spine [POW 7000].
"Karma Queen's Counterblast," Minami called, turning over two of the cards in his Damage Zone. For the first time since the fight began, his tone brought with it emotion – the anticipation of fighting. "She can prevent one of your units from standing during the beginning of your next turn. Karma Queen, bind Knight of Silence, Gallatin".
The female insect clasped her hands, trembling from the force of the grip they had on one another prior to inching apart. Between the palms, a gel-like substance stretched. That product shot forward, lunging across the field and crashing into Gallatin, throwing the blindfolded warrior back, sword clanging as it hit the ground. Blaster Blade spun around to find his ally downed, climbing onto one knee, but unable to rise any higher.
"Gallatin!" Aichi cried through his avatar.
"It's a shame that it's not possible to use it on the Vanguard," Minami mused, shrugging his shoulders. "It would be much more fun to watch you squirm without the power to even swing your sword. There's nothing you can do to salvage your chances".
"What?" Aichi sounded anxiously.
"Elite Mutant, Giraffa attacks Blaster Blade," Minami snapped, locking onto the Rear-Guard card.
The violet-armoured copy thrust itself forward, wings vibrating violently to carry it across the field, grasping the spear underneath its chest. The device on its hand chomped furiously, crashing into Blaster Blade's sword, used as a barrier against the peculiar item, but leaving him vulnerable to the lance. The twin-pronged weapon pierced through the blue bodysuit, reaching into Blaster Blade's abdomen. Aichi choked, his head falling forward, his warrior was experiencing excruciating pain and there was nothing he could do but watch from his perspective. These were the kinds of battles happening all the time; every time Cray forces encountered one another and even more clearly when the players envisioned the battle in the virtual manner. Blaster Blade's weapon grappled with the pincers, its edges shredded while the knight pulled down on the weapon, freeing it and slamming it into the lance, ripping the tips from his body, though not without another searing flood of pain gripping him. Aichi averted his eyes, searching for his deck and reached out towards the stack.
"Damage check," he grunted, turning over the card – Flash Shield, Iseult – and transferring it to the Damage Zone.
"Now the Vanguard Giraffa will go in," Minami reported, setting his narrow eyes.
As soon as its impersonator touched on the field, the leading insect darted forward, readying its own spear to replicate the attack. Aichi snatched a card from his hand, slamming it onto the green guard circle in front of his wounded Vanguard.
"Guard with Stardust Trumpeter," he snapped in protest.
"Drive check," Minami stated, redirecting his vision from the battle. He snapped his wrist whilst turning over the card, its other face ablaze with a golden radiance. "Critical Trigger – I'll apply all effects to Phantom Black".
A redheaded girl materialized in front of Blaster Blade, who had fallen onto one knee as the extent of his wound began to take hold, a small amount of blood seeping through the bodysuit. The child held her trumpet diagonally in a feeble attempt to shield herself and the man behind from the coming attack. The pincers device was first, easily breaking through the instrument, leaving the girl defenceless. With a gasp, she froze as the spear cut through the air, piercing through her small body and removing her from the field immediately. Blaster Blade cast a glare of abhor at the creature responsible, the pair exchanging equally venomous looks until the Megacolony thug took its moment to return to the opposite edge of the battleground.
"Karma Queen boosts Phantom Black," Minami declared, twisting the cards into their new position. "And he has the power from the Shelter Beetle Critical Trigger. This is how the Hunter works".
The ant man began his charge, fuelled by the multiple sources of energy flowing into him [POW 23000]. Aichi clenched his teeth, quickly throwing forward the last remaining card and then reached for Gordon, placing the two in front.
"Guard with Margal," he argued. "Gordon intercepts".
In the way, a mechanical scarlet dog appeared, joined by Gordon, who dove in front of Blaster Blade, his rapier aimed at the enemy [SLD 24000]. The approaching humanoid sprung from the ground, leaping forward with his legs outstretched. In spite of his attempt to strike back, Gordon was pushed back, landing roughly on the floor in front of the injured white knight, whose eyes tapered with frustration over his powerlessness. Margal quickly followed suit, draining Phantom Black of its power to deal another blow. Disheartened, he paced away hastily, returning to his comrades.
AICHI - MINAMI
3 -DAMAGE- 3
"Phew, he was able to defend against it all," Izaki sighed, wiped his brow with the back of his hand.
"Maybe, but it's come at a cost," Miwa griped. The others cast their eyes to the blonde, who pointed to their friend, his hands clenched into fists either side of his waist. "He's drained of cards; there's nothing more to work with outside what's already on the field".
"Then that means…" Izaki gasped. "He can't do anything more?"
"Damn it, Aichi!" Morikawa howled. "You didn't have a Grade 3?"
"A Grade 3…" Kamui exhaled.
His mind cast itself back a couple of hours when the pair had been in the camper and the Royal Paladin deck lay bare – there had been something that bothered Kamui, despite having assessed every individual card. Only when Morikawa's lamenting reached him did it dawn on him what had been bothering him.
"Onii-san's deck… it's still imbalanced," he mumbled. "Alfred, Gancelot, Gigantech Charger; they're the only ones we've seen him use. But he doesn't have any Grade 3s outside them. He doesn't have that much to work with, so he's got his back against the wall if he can't draw one early on".
"Hm… if only we'd noticed earlier," Shin commented. "Aichi-kun has been doing well until now, but being backed this far into a corner will shake him up all over again".
"Onii-san…" Kamui exhaled, casting his sight back to the field ahead.
FIFTH TURN – AICHI
"Stand and draw". Habit moved Aichi's hand towards Gallatin, but he froze upon recalling Karma Queen's ability, paralyzing the knight for now. With a grimace, his fingers moved instead to Starlight Unicorn and set it upright with the remainder of his forces. His hand then travelled over the field, falling onto the deck and stripping it of the top. A frown flickered into view when the card revealed itself. With a glare forward, he threw down the card. "Call, Wingal".
"No luck…" Reiji sighed.
"NL…" Eiji added.
"And he knows that his opponent has a Grade 3 waiting, so the pressure will be on to deal as much damage and get through the next turn," Miwa explained without removing his eyes from the misty field.
"Wingal attacks the Vanguard with a boost from Barcgal," Aichi insisted, shifting the two quickly to rest.
The blue-furred canine leapt forward and bounded across the battlefield, snatching the knife from its pouch attached to the animal's front leg [POW 10000].
"Guard with Raider Mantis," Minami responded, holding up the defending card.
Towering over Wingal, a cluster of particles gathered, forming the immense insect glaring down at the advancing pet. Nonetheless, Wingal jumped, soaring up to the creature's torso and carved through it with the curved blade, removing the barrier as quickly as it had been erected. But once its paws touched down, it was already aware that its strength to tackle the matter at hand had diminished and it begrudgingly paced back to the Royal Paladin squad.
"Wingal boosts Blaster Blade," Aichi continued. "Attack the Vanguard Giraffa".
The warrior raised his sword over his shoulder, charging forward; a handful of steps crossed his path with the returning Wingal's, who watched as Blaster Blade raced by.
"Shelter Beetle and Gloom Flyman," Minami stated, holding up the two cards.
Two beings arrived – the first was a dark-skinned creature with four wings sprouting from its back, enlarged rose-shaded eyes that glared ahead while sporting a scythe. A large golden beetle emerged hovering in front of the targeted Megacolony leader, not unlike the insect that Epona was known to ride upon [SLD 24000]. Nonetheless, Blaster Blade continued with his attack.
"Drive check," Aichi called, discovering a blue aura around the Quiet Sage, Sharon he obtained from the stack. "A Stand Trigger".
"Karma Queen's ability is no longer in effect," Minami confessed.
"If that's the case, I'll stand Gallatin," Aichi answered, reaching for the neglected warrior. "And the power goes to Blaster Blade [POW 24000]".
With a mighty swing of his weapon, the knight mowed down the two units that had rushed onto the front lines in order to defend their stronger comrades. Both disappeared into a shower of sparkling particles that dissolved into the air, leaving the mutant insect vulnerable and facing the knight after revenge for his army's suffering. He inched closer, throwing the blade around again, the force behind its swing knocking the monster onto the gravel, shuddering from the attack it had endured.
"Damage check," Minami grunted, twisting the card. An aura of green burst to life, shimmering warmly from the card – Medical Combatant Lamprey. "Heal Trigger, I'll restore one damage and give the power boost to the Vanguard Giraffa".
"It won't be enough; Gallatin attacks with a boost from Starlight Unicorn," Aichi barked, snapping his right arm forward.
Ready to strike back for his paralysis, Gallatin yelled as he leapt into the air, raising the sword above his head and dropping towards the head of the enemy force. Minami's eyes tapered, snatching another card from his hand and presenting it in the face of the unexpected assault.
"Phantom Black," he repeated, a replica of the humanoid soldier in black forming for mere seconds before being torn apart by Gallatin. After moving the card into the Drop Zone, Minami returned to the field's layout with a dark smirk. "That's right, kid. Struggle, it makes the hunt more fun that way, even if you're not worthy of being sought. If I can't have a least a little fun while doing this job, then there's nothing to look forward to".
"Seems Minami's really getting into this," Masato mumbled from the Unearther benches.
"Yeah, guess he's been itching to fight for a while now," Haruto commented. "We haven't done anything since qualifying for this tournament; all the boss' orders. He must have been looking forward to this really, just hiding it".
With a heavy heart, Aichi straightened himself; he held one card and his active units were taking a battering – how long was he going to be able to hold on for? Had the Grade 3s in his deck been buried too deep to be found? Beads of sweat clung to his forehead, minor signs of his stress, none of which were ignored – Minami was well aware that the boy was struggling to keep his nerve. Although he had come to the tournament seeking out opponents worthy of their place, he did enjoy toying with the weak, stripping away their false sense of strength and confidence; tearing them down until they were reduced to a wreck. His bored attitude towards the fight had come down partially to the matter that Aichi's personality left him in that state already. He was plotting to improvise; how was the question.
SIXTH TURN – MINAMI
"It's my turn," the pale-haired man claimed, shifting his cards back, ready to fight on and drawing from the stack at the edge of his console. "Ride; Evil Shell Shogun, Giraffa".
The blue armour of the insect head exploded, jagged golden curls crawling outwards. The creature's body grey immensely, towering over all others surrounding it – a trio of purple orbs had been implanted into its body – two at the base of immense vertical pincers with deadly teeth lining them, while the first had been fixed just beneath the base of its breastplate. Like those rising, two curling blades made of the skin armour touched the soil, sprouting from the being's forearms. Its four wings had grown considerably, stretched horizontally from the base of its spine. Minami grinned menacingly once more, taking in the thrill of overpowering the enemy – the very scenario he could play out to his heart's content.
"As Elite Mutant, Giraffa is in the Soul, Shell Shogun gains 1000 power, just as before," he stated.
"The more it evolves, the more its past forms boost it," Shin murmurs. "It's growing just like a person".
"Call; Lady Bomb," the man added, dropping the new card onto the back row. A woman clad in crimson emerged behind the leading unit; teal hair curled out from the helm resembling a ladybird, matching the dress over her slender form [POW 9000]. "Evil Shell Shogun [POW 11000] attacks Blaster Blade" Minami snapped.
Aichi's shoulders shuddered; there was nothing he could do – he was a spectator, linked to Blaster Blade's form but with no way to fight. The feeling of helplessness frustrated him; he wanted to seal his eyes shut and turn away from the inevitable, but he was determined to see it through; not to run, Blaster Blade wouldn't.
"No guard," he choked.
"Twin Drive," Minami responded, reaching for his deck. He drew, revealing Lady Bomb, then another; a Raider Mantis that burned within a red light. "Draw Trigger. The power goes to Elite Mutant Giraffa".
The immense insect lunged forward, its scythe-like weapons, its wings buzzed suddenly, carrying it into the air above the opposing unit. With its deadly arms raised, the creature dropped down like a lead weight, swinging the limbs violently, striking down against Blaster Blade's shoulders and torso. The stinging sensation flooded the knight's body, choking on another cry that he was determined not to let loose.
"Damage check," Aichi grumbled, removing a card from his deck and laying it into the Damage Zone. His heart sank tremendously when he discovered it had been Gancelot to fall victim. He'd finally unearthed a Grade 3, only to have it snatched away. His throat tightened; disheartened at the bitter twist. "Now of all times…"
"Evil Shell Shogun's Counterblast," Minami announced, flipping the two face-up cards in his Damage Zone. "I retire Karma Queen and Lady Bomb. Barcgal and the Wingal behind Blaster Blade are retired".
"No way!" Aichi cried.
"That's why he played a Grade 2 on the back row," Izaki spoke. "It didn't make sense, but he built up his forces just to sacrifice them and enable that ability".
"It's the strength of a Grade 3," Morikawa grumbled. "If Aichi's not going to draw one, he's going to get walked over".
"Go easy on him, Morikawa," Izaki requested.
"But he's got a point," Miwa intervened. "Without a Grade 3, he's at a horrible disadvantage; his opponent has the Twin Drive over him and more power to wipe out any unit that defends Blaster Blade. If he wants to stand a chance, he best hope he can get one as soon as possible or this fight isn't going to last much longer. He's drained of resources, the best way to start replenishing them would be by drive checking more cards".
Barcgal and Wingal landed atop the pile growing in the Drop Zone, leaving the back mostly empty and the three foremost units with only one behind to support them. In spite of their policy to stand together and refusing sacrifice, the Royal Paladin squad had been whittled down to a pitiful state; their power to guard one another had dropped dramatically. They weren't going to survive much longer with their dismal fortune.
"Evil Mutant, Giraffa attacks," Minami snapped, leaning over the field whilst adjusting the next card.
Aichi swallowed the lump in his throat, observing as the younger insect stomped ahead, raising its dreaded spear once again and slammed it against the knight's chest. No piercing of his flesh, but the wound already sustained throbbed, aggravated by the repeated hits. Aichi transferred a Wingal from the deck to the Drop Zone.
"Minami has pushed Sendou into a tight spot!" MC Miya hollered excitedly down his microphone. "He's knocking around Sendou's units without any obstacles to move. Sendou's at 5 damage and Minami has an attack left; if he doesn't guard, Unearther will even up the score".
"Onii-san. This can't be happening," Kamui sighed.
"Don't worry, Kamui-kun," Shin muttered, wearing a faint smile. "Aichi-kun will make it to the next turn".
"Huh? How do you know?" Kamui asked.
"Phantom Black attacks," Minami commanded. "Have you given up? If that's the case, let me put you out of your misery".
The black-clad ant soldier stormed across the field, his sights set on the white knight with the tip of his blade buried in the ground. Aichi sharpened his eyes, sending a weak glare ahead and snapped his arm forward, throwing down his lone defence.
"Sharon!" he barked.
A blue-haired woman descended onto the field, clutching a book and adjusting her glasses by the corner of the frames. In spite of her gentle appearance, sporting a green dress that matched her cap, the woman was defiant not to allow the enemy through [SLD 10000]. Phantom Black skidded to a halt; alone, he didn't possess the power to even tackle Sharon, let alone have any energy left to challenge the knight over her shoulder. Once the humanoid turned his back on the guardian and slinked back, Sharon's body disintegrated.
With a thin smirk, Minami shrugged his shoulders once more. "That's fine with me," he said. "It's no fun if you just roll over and accept it. Turn end".
AICHI - MINAMI
5 -DAMAGE- 3
SEVENTH TURN – AICHI
Aichi's eyes rotated to the deck at the edge of his console; he had nothing to work with except the top card and if that wasn't a Grade 3, the fight was over there and then. Wingal lacked the ability to intercept, Gallatin would only be able to prevent one attack and Blaster Blade would fall. Sweat clung to his cheeks, fearful that he would turn over the next only to discover a Trigger or another card that would only be counter-productive. His heart thumped wildly whilst his fingertips brushed the back of the card, swallowing the lump in his throat.
"Stand and draw," he cried, quickly removing the card.
He held it face-down, dreading to learn what had been granted and twisted his wrist slowly. The air had become thick with the suspense; Q4's supporters all leaning ahead eagerly in the hopes of catching any sign of what Aichi had managed to pull, Kamui's fists tightly clenched with a silent prayer offering support for the boy. Kai was the only one who showed no emotion whatsoever, watching the scene with the same unreadable expression. Aichi's eyes widened once the card rotated enough to discover what he had drawn. His arms snapped up, raising it above his head, the sudden movements throwing his hair around.
"Korinsiyo, senshi-tachi no aruji! Raido!" he yelled, slamming the card against the Vanguard Circle, finally relieving Blaster Blade of his duty. "Kishioh Arufureddo!" [2]
A miniature whirlwind burst from the ground, obscuring Blaster Blade's departure from the front lines and dispersed only to unveil Alfred's belated arrival. The flaming steed let loose a wild neighing, balancing on its hind legs while the front circled wildly in a threatening pose to the opposition. Alfred's stern glare remained fixed on the leader of the invading squad, his features adopting Aichi's, the blue hair hanging from his helm obscured the right side of his face more so than it had Blaster Blade's. Hanging from his left hand was his broad and heavy sword. While the winds settled, Alfred's cape continued to flutter majestically [POW 10000].
"The King of Knights?" Minami scowled. "A kid like this has both that card and Blaster Blade?"
"Minami's got his work cut out for him now," Haruto commented, eyeing the misty battlefield ahead with astonishment. "Who know someone around here would have cards like those rare Royal Paladins?"
"Who is he?" Masato wondered aloud. "If only I could fight him and that deck. This is gonna get good".
"Starlight Unicorn boosts Gallatin," Aichi commanded, switching the cards' positions. "Attack!"
The wild-haired warrior charged ahead, aided by the pale steed's energy. Unsheathing his sword, he set his sights on the grandiose monster ahead, from where Minami watched the scene with a scowl. He tore a card from his hand, dropping it onto the Guard circle. A ghost of the golden beetle that appeared temporarily returned [SLD 10000]. Nonetheless, Gallatin continued with his assault, driving his blade through the revived body and shattering the creature's presence, reducing it to a shower of glittering particles once again. That, however, left him powerless to continue and begrudgingly falling back.
"Alfred attacks Evil Shell Shogun," Aichi commanded, his new Vanguard surrounded by streams of power leaking from those around him. "Alfred's skill grants him 2000 power for each Royal Paladin comrade on the field [POW 16000]".
Minami scowled; the royal had been an unexpected arrival, but he refused to allow that reason to deem his opponent worthy of fighting. Vision falling to the cards in his hand, he wasn't prepared to guard with several cards in order to prevent one attack when another could follow with the same, if not more, destructive force.
"No guard," he grunted.
"Twin Drive," Aichi shouted, pulling the cards up – Iseult and Lien. No Triggers, nothing to make the most of the opportunity.
A frown flickered onto his face, but it was enough; Alfred's attack was going through unopposed. The flaming steed galloped forward, Alfred's sword hanging by its side while his soldiers watched in awe from a safe distance. The horse raced until it was mere feet from the target, when its body shot around, skidding to enable Alfred to carry on, and with a yell, the king rose his blade, slicing through the exterior of the towering insect monster, ripping open the thick casing over its torso. Minami grunted, picking a Karma Queen and laying it in the Damage Zone.
AICHI - MINAMI
5 -DAMAGE- 4
"An impressive move; Sendou is able to call one of the strongest Royal Paladins and start on a counterattack!" MC Miya hollered, leaning forward with enthusiasm, captivated by the battle playing out in front of him.
'Without a Trigger, Wingal doesn't have the power to attack,' Aichi thought, checking his cards. 'And I don't have enough to guard against three attacks. I was being reckless and left myself in a dire position. I was hoping he would try to guard and use one of his units to intercept, but he didn't do anything. Maybe he knew this was coming; Alfred came, but it might be too late'.
The beads of sweat clinging to his face remained; his Royal Paladins were recovering, inspired by Alfred's very presence, but they were far from out of the woods. The extent to which they could strike back was limited and all the units with the power to fight were in need of rest. Aichi's eyes rose from the exhausted field and to the leather-clad man opposite, whose expression was difficult to read – sinister pleasure in his opponent's failure to claw back the match or bitterness that he had managed to begin such a task.
"Turn end," he reluctantly sounded.
EIGHTH TURN – MINAMI
"Stand and draw," Minami reported, shifting his cards vertically, ready for their battle against the king. He lifted the next card, smiling thinly once learning what had joined his arsenal. "Well, it was fun while it lasted. Or maybe just for a moment at the end".
Aichi recoiled from the smug declaration, clenching his jaws and bracing himself; was the man simply being arrogant, or had he already predicted that his advantage was now too great for anything Aichi did to overcome it? Anxiety rushed through him, quickening his already frantic heart. Minami reached forward, pressing down on Phantom Black and dragging it backwards.
"Phantom Black moves to the back row," the older combatant commanded. "And in its place, I call Violent Vespa".
In the abandoned space, a towering insect climbed through the glowing floor. Around its neck was a crimson scarf fluttering in the winds kicked up by its arrival, its multiple wings twitching from behind [POW 9000]. The golden cannon attached to its left arm intrigued Aichi; he had seen the weapon before, but had only played against a Megacolony deck once in the past – against Osamu Kishida – but there had been no sign of this particular unit. Once the radiance around it dimmed, a gasp slipped out from the boy and his head snapped back.
"That's…" he started.
The platform in front glowed; suddenly, on top of it, a holographic projection of a Megacolony unit appeared, towering over the children gathered close to the podium set in front, who gazed in awe and wonder at the creature. Aichi and Kamui crept closer, joining the small crowd that had gathered. The creature let loose a spine-chilling screech; its head encased in a golden helm and white skin tight across its body. Golden cannons matching the headgear swallowed its arms, with glass sights for locking on. A crimson scarf fluttered around the creature, swaying from the breeze created by its shuddering wings protruding from its back.
"It's that thing from outside," Kamui finished.
"Violent Vespa's skill: I check the top card of my deck and if it's a Megacolony unit, I can call it to the field straight away," Minami explained. He stripped the card from his deck, holding it up with a menacing smirk. "Superior call; Bloody Hercules".
Its card dropped into the empty corner along the back row; a giant beetle standing on its hind legs, black armour plating over the limbs with copper spikes emerging from the kneecaps. The creature's abs tensed between two columns of fur travelling up its naked torso, two belts of bullets crossed over its chest. Gloves matching the boots were fitted onto the creature's forearms, each hand clutching an automatic gun. The head of the creature loomed with its massive mandibles hanging from the top of its skull, piercing yellow eyes set behind the smaller of the two. A curved shell divided into two and moulded to fit the being's back opened up, a single vermillion wing sprouting from the pivot [POW 10000].
"I'll retire Elite Mutant, Giraffa and move Bloody Hercules forward," Minami commanded, removing the former card and sliding the later into the emptied space. "Bloody Hercules attacks Alfred".
The two-legged insect soldier raised its two guns, locking them both onto the horseback king, who showed no outward reaction to his being targeted. Aichi clenched his jaws, clutching the top of Gallatin's card and relocating him to the Guard circle.
"Gallatin intercepts," he protested.
The blindfolded man jumped across, landing in the path between the two Vanguard. Bloody Hercules paid no attention and pulled on the triggers of his weapons. A shower of bullets ejected themselves, colliding with Gallatin's body and ripping through the clothing. With a pained yell, he vanished from the field, reducing Alfred's force to simply a pair of animals.
"Evil Shell Shogun attacks," Minami hollered.
'I can't let his attack hit Alfred,' Aichi thought, glaring uncomfortably at the state of his field. 'He'll have the Twin Drive to bolster Evil Shell Shogun. I can't take any more damage, so long as I can last until the next turn, we'll be able to fight back'.
His hand consisted of merely two cards – enough to guard against the assault, but at a cost. Drops clinging to his paling face, Aichi squeezed his eyes closed briefly. It was the last thing he wanted to do – to toss away his comrades for the sake of continuing a battle that would only damage them further, but there was no alternative. He removed Lake Maiden, Lien from his hand, entering her into the Drop Zone and threw the remaining card onto the front of the console, leaving his hands emptied once again.
"Perfect guard - Flash Shield, Iseult," he issued, sending his determined stare across the murky cloud.
"Twin Drive," Minami responded, reaching for the deck, removing another copy of Evil Shell Shogun, Giraffa, followed by Medical Combatant Lamprey, which began to emit a green light seconds after leaving the stack. "Heal Trigger. The power goes to Violent Vespa".
Aichi flinched; there was no escaping what was to follow – there was nothing in his hand, no units on the field capable of jumping to Alfred's rescue. The king was defenceless and he had failed to make an effective comeback. From the stands, the others watched with sinking hearts, aware that there was nothing more Aichi could do – as a fighter, he had run out of resources and, as a result, he could only stand by, watching from the outside and through Alfred's eyes. Shin swallowed the lump that had built in his throat.
"There's still a chance," he mumbled. "If Aichi-kun can pull a Heal Trigger himself, then he'll make it through".
"You can do it… Onii-san…" Kamui whispered.
"At least you have some fighting spirit, you're man enough not to roll over," Minami commented hollowly, reaching for the two standing cards that remained. "Phantom Black boosts. Violent Vespa attacks King of Knights, Alfred".
"No guard," Aichi responded.
The enormous insect's wings buzzed rapidly, lifting its body off the soil and darting ahead. Thrusting its cannon arm began, the creature smirked wickedly, its sights locked on the defenceless king, who tightened his grip around the mantle of his large sword, bracing himself for the collision. The audience had grown silent with the tension ramped to its peak; no calls of encouragement from those supporting Q4 or premature cheers of victory. Violent Vespa threw its arm forward, barrel of the cannon ablaze and ready to launch. Through Alfred, Aichi's eyes widened, staring in fear as the creature dove towards him, its reflection growing larger within the replicated azure eyes.
When the shot was fired, the colour drained completely from Aichi's face and a cry burst from his throat. The aftermath was drawn out, almost playing in slow motion while the assassin soared over the rear of the untouched Lion Mane Stallion. Alfred toppled backwards, his hands loosening on both the reigns of his horse and the sword he had prepared as a temporary shield, blood exploding from the left side of his face. His helmet collapsed, torn apart by the force of the close-range shot and clattered against the ground, followed almost immediately by the king's body. Aichi's blue hair obscured the horrendous damage, matted from the event that the king had endured. His entire body throbbed, captive to agony and pleading for release. Alfred turned over, searching for his blade and clutched the damaged side of his face with his left hand. His right eye gradually opened, speedily reaching their fullest when he discovered a puddle of blood growing on the soil beneath, leaking from his head. It was only then that it hit Aichi as to what exactly had happened and a horrified scream echoed across the hall.
A sixth card toppled into the Damage Zone, emitting a light, though not of green, but blue. Flogal had fallen in the wake of the king's demise. Alfred's body disintegrated and the United Sanctuary landscape evaporated.
AICHI - MINAMI
6 -DAMAGE- 4
FIGHT END
"Despite the King of Knights himself showing, it just wasn't meant to be for Q4 and Team Unearther take the second match," MC Miya proclaimed. "It comes down to the final match, which will see Nagai Masato and Kai Toshiki compete for their team to advance".
Chattering broke out among the spectators about how close one of the opening fights was going to be, praising it as a thrilling beginning to the tournament. However, none of those supporting Q4 said anything; they merely watched solemnly. Kamui's shoulders sank whilst his eyes were fixed on Aichi's slumped form at the console; he had become deathly pale, eyes still wide open in frozen horror at what he had just witnessed first-hand. Kai's head inched upwards as his sight landed on the boy; he couldn't understand what it was that had shaken him up so badly. But there was something faintly familiar about his terror, the distant look in his eyes as he struggled to come to terms with the loss. He said nothing, however, and rose from the bench.
Aichi collected his cards, returning them to the scarlet deck box he carried with a dejected expression, head hanging in disappointment at having come close to enduring the fight and countering, only to fall at a critical moment. In the stands, Miwa beamed in the boy's direction and raised his hands, beginning to clap. Those around him eyed the blonde curiously, the four in his company quickly joining to applaud their friend's valiant effort. The sound of growing applause reverberated across the hall, snapping Aichi's head up when it pushed aside his dejection and twisted his neck to the find the group responsible for igniting the widespread sound. A faint smile was all he could respond with, taking his leave from the field and allowing Kai to enter the fray. The pair crossed one another with mere inches separating their bodies, Aichi hesitated, wanting to apologize for costing the team an easy beginning and forcing him to step up to the plate so early. But by the time his head had turned to face Kai, the brunette was already pacing away, pulling on his brick red Fighting Gloves. Swallowing his disappointment, Aichi slinked back towards the benches where Shin and Kamui waited with weak smiles.
"It's alright, Aichi-kun," the manager insisted. "You did a great job, especially for someone who hasn't been playing for very long".
"It was amazing that you hung in there as long as you did," Kamui added. "The odds were against you and then you managed to pull out a card like Alfred; not everyone can do that. Even if you didn't actually win, you definitely proved you've got talent".
Aichi responded with a faint smile and nod, averting his sight to the monitor over the fields that recycled the footage captured from the battle. Aichi's heart pounded furiously as Violent Vespa collided with Alfred, but the images differed drastically from the attack he had experienced; there was no blood, no physical damage to Alfred or his helm splitting apart. Puzzled by the edited scene, Aichi snapped his head around to the pair in front.
"Kamui-kun, you were watching on that monitor during the last attack, right?" he inquired.
"Yeah," Kamui answered with bemusement. "It's the only way to see the fight between the units themselves".
"Then they really showed what happened to Alfred?" Aichi asked. "What he had to go through?"
"Huh?" Kamui sounded, tilting his head. "What are you saying, Onii-san?"
"The battle between Violent Vespa and King of Knights, Alfred played out differently than usual, but that was probably due to the equipment being used," Shin commented. "It wasn't anything out of the ordinary for tournaments here though".
'Then… that means they didn't see the damage?' Aichi wondered, recalling the sizeable splash of blood across the soil. 'I wasn't hallucinating though; that was what Alfred went through, wasn't it?'
His fists trembled by his sides, a feature that Shin registered in the corner of his sight. Although he tried to mask it, Aichi's expression made clear his worries about the conflicting accounts; he had been there, joined with Alfred, and witnessed a far more violent variation of the battle, yet everyone else claimed an ordinary battle took place. They had seen nothing of what took place. Lingering drops of sweat clung to his cheeks, grappling with the mental images engraved into his memory, his brow furrowed with evident confusion. Shin leaned forward, about to pick himself up with Aichi raised his hands defensively, recognizing the manager's movements to lure him closer.
"Sorry, Manager, I'm just going to the restroom a moment," he claimed quietly with a false sheepish smile.
Before either Shin or Kamui could say anything, Aichi took off, jogging towards the wooden doors that would take him back into the lobby. Kamui's shoulders sagged, peering over his shoulder at the half-standing man.
"I'll go make sure he's alright," he insisted.
"Thank you, Kamui-kun," Shin responded with a grateful nod.
The boy charged after his fleeing teammate. Shin sighed; he hadn't expected those in his care to be distracted so easily; Kai was the sole member of the team left, tied by his fight in the process of starting. But Shin had no doubts; Kai would win, he always won. A meek smile of trust grew onto his face whilst watching the brunette standing in the murky veil, the monitor above redesigning him as Lizard Soldier, Conroe opposite Masato's Stealth Beast, Midnight Ferret [POW 6000].
FIGHT START
KAI - MASATO
0 -DAMAGE- 0
FIRST TURN – MASATO
"Ride," the Unearther redhead called, throwing down his first card. "Stealth Dragon, Midare Edge [POW 6000]".
A column erupted from the dark soil of the Dragon Empire canyon, the environment set under a grim sky. Hovering in the Vanguard space was a copper cropped with a long blade set in between its jaws, snarling calmly. Behind it, the furry creature that had been in its place a moment prior reappeared.
"Evil Ferret's skill moves it to the back row," Masato claimed. "That's all for now".
SECOND TURN – KAI
"Draw," Kai uttered, holding up his new card. He didn't place it into his hand, but onto the field immediately. "Ride. Embodiment of Armour, Bahr [POW 8000]".
The white flame-haired warrior materialized on the front lines, sporting his blazing crimson armour and signature sword of yellow and black, his mouth open with jagged fangs eager for battle. Conroe followed the example of the enemy and defiantly returned to the field as a subordinate, though not directly behind the Kagero soldier.
"Bahr attacks Midare Edge," Kai commanded, snapping the card into position.
"I'll let it through," Masato responded, shrugging his shoulders with a grin.
"Check the Drive Trigger," Kai said, flipping over Vortex Dragon.
Bahr lunged forward, crashing into the enemy with his curved sword. Its adversary swung its head, attempting to counterattack with the sword in between its teeth, though failing to reach the demonic soldier and crashed onto the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust. Masato pulled Stealth Beast, White Mage from the deck, depositing it into the Damage Zone.
KAI - MASATO
0 -DAMAGE- 1
"He likes to use 'The', huh?" Haruto commented with an amused smirk.
"Yeah," Minami mumbled, back to slouching against the stands, detached from the competition once more. "He reminds me of the boss for some reason. And he looks familiar, but I can't put my finger on where".
"This team's giving us a bunch of surprises today," Haruto chuckled. "That kid who got the better of me, Blaster Blade and the King of Knights in one deck, now this guy".
"None of them are impressive," Minami scoffed. "The blue-haired runt was no match, I barely got a kick out of messing with him".
"Harsh judge," Haruto chortled. "Guess you really are the best for this job".
"Unfortunately," Minami sighed, tilting his head forward.
THIRD TURN – MASATO
"I ride Stealth Dragon, Cursed Breath," Masato hollered, throwing down the new leader of his force.
A column of wind burst from the field, replacing the leading unit with a second draconic figure; its scales repainted to violet with scarlet markings across its torso and limbs resembling past wounds. A mane of wild black hair spread from the back of the creature's head, falling to its jagged shoulders. From its arms, small wings stretched out, their shape likening them to phantoms clutching the monster's limbs. Blue mist streamed from its menacing jaws, obscuring its facial features outside the crimson eyes which pierced through with ease [POW 8000].
"But that's not all," the Unearther redhead claimed with excitement, snatching three cards from his hand and throwing them down fervently. "Call!"
A replica of the previous Vanguard materialized, as though it had merely retreated to the Rear Guard after being relieved of its duty as leader. Around it, two further lights burned; the first giving way to a figure clothed in a black jacket, its sleeves sinking underneath burgundy gloves lined with golden outlines. A pouch hanging from the slim belt matched them, clapping against the baggy trousers the short unit sported, a golden watch dangling from the other side. Shaggy black hair hung around the head, a small red cap settled on top of its crown, thick eyebrows loomed over the creature's eyes, placed inches above a wide beak that consumed the bottom half of its face [POW 8000]. In the back row, one further humanoid soldier made his appearance; clothed in a vest with one short sleeve hanging over his left shoulder, purple in colour and marked with brick red circles. A belt hanging loosely around his waist dangled by the edge of his spacious teal trousers, tucked into the diamonded boots. A trail of purple smoke followed the path of the knife clutched in his gloved hand, mistaken for mechanic initially. Lilac hair was brushed over the right side of his face, obscuring much of headband wrapped around his crown [POW 8000].
"Midnight Crow's Counterblast," Masato stated, turning over the lone White Mage in at the edge of his territory. "I can search my deck for another and call it for the turn". An identical card fell onto the single open space remaining, replicating the feathered ninja on the opposite side of the Murakumo Vanguard. Masato reached for the new arrival first, smirking smugly. "Midnight Crow gets a boost from Evil Ferret [POW 14000] and attacks Bahr".
Kai made no notable reaction. The winged humanoid flapped his wings, taking from the ground and throwing himself across the battlefield, slamming into Bahr and pushing the blue-skinned warrior off-balance. In order to stabilize himself, Bahr ploughed the tip of his sword into the ground, staggering to straighten his body once more and avoid revealing weakness, especially after merely one attack. Kai held up his first damage check; a copy of his under fire Vanguard.
"Shijimamaru boosts Cursed Breath," the redhead barked, punching ahead with Bahr in his sights. "Attack!"
Kai, again, showed no alternation in his demeanour and watched the enemy gear themselves stoically. "No guard".
"Drive check," Masato uttered, flipping over Stealth Beast, White Mane. The dragon swung its head around, unleashing a spray of the ominous mist lingering its face, converting it into a blue flaming stream that burned through the air and collided with Bahr. The Kagero unit moaned in anguish, scorched by the concentrated fire. "Cursed Breath's skill. When its attack hits a Vanguard, I look at the top five cards of my deck and pick one Mandala Lord if it shows up to enter my hand".
Kai's hand was resting by his deck, ready to transfer the next card to its assigned position while Masato removed the five cards, fanning them out and smirking. Sliding his cards face-down, he reached with the emptied hand and snatched the fourth card and presenting it his opponent to prove it was genuine. The rest were arranged in the Drop Zone and shunted at the bottom of the stack. The process completed, Kai removed his own card, setting Demonic Dragon Mage, Raksha at the bottom of the growing column.
"Critical Trigger, get," he uttered coolly. "All effects go to Bahr [POW 13000]".
"Sucks, getting a Critical Trigger on your opponent's turn, huh?" Masato chuckled. "Ah well, I can't go easy on you out of pity. Midnight Crow gets a boost from Midare Edge [POW 15000]".
Kai made no movement to defend himself and the twin of the first assaulter crashed into Bahr, forcing him to fight for his balance. The unfazed brunette fighter revealed the next card to enter his Damage Zone – Dragon Dancer, Monica, who began to glow scarlet upon landing.
KAI - MASATO
3 -DAMAGE- 1
"A Draw Trigger as well?" Masato chortled. "Wow, luck's not on your side today, is it?"
"What a turn!" MC Miya yelled. "Q4's Kai Toshiki has gone from nothing to 3 damage in an instant. Is this signalling Q4's exit from the competition at the first hurdle? Unearther's ruthless fighting has pushed the team against the wall".
"What's he doing?" Morikawa complained. "He's going to cost the whole the match at this rate".
"Come on, have a little faith in Kai," Miwa responded as laxly as ever. "He didn't win the Shop Tournament to lose here".
"But he's already taken 3 damage…" Reiji sighed.
"3D…" Eiji followed.
"He's just toying with the guy," Miwa insisted, fitting his jawline back into the palm of his hand. "We all know Kai's better than this, he's plotting something".
Although he, too, was aware of Kai's expertize and how unlikely it was that he would perform poorly, beads of sweat instinctively clung to the edges of Shin's face; Q4 were already down one match, this was the decider. It was natural for his heart to throb excitedly. There was no guarantee that Kai was to win, this was an entirely different level from the players at Card Capital, but it was clear from the off that Kai was gifted in a league of his own. Masato's fiery passion in contrast to Kai's stoicism made it impossible to predict the match's outcome solely based on the players. But even with all the faith he had invested in Kai, there was no denying he had just leapt halfway to defeat in one swoop.
Aichi had managed to stay ahead of Kamui by adopting a speedy walking pace, but the boy continued to tail him, gradually catching up. It frustrated him that he was shrugging off Kamui's attempts at lifting his spirits, no doubt dampening his own, but Aichi simply felt in need of some time alone; a moment to clear his head. Kamui, however, clearly had other plans and insisted on following the whole journey. Once the signs indicating toilets came into view, Aichi all but dove into the door and rushed for the nearest cubicle, ignoring the urinals, sinks, mirrors and all other features completely; they weren't of any use right now. Fortunately, for him, it was unoccupied. It seemed they all were. By the time Kamui had jumped in, the lock clanged and Aichi was sealed inside. Kamui rushed to the door, rapping it with his knuckles.
"Onii-san, come on, open up," he pleaded. "We both know you have come here for the normal reason".
On the other side of the door, Aichi was slumped against the throbbing panel, his expression pained by the realization that he was only harming the youngster by ignoring him, by wanting to crawl under a rock and hide. He'd come to the tournament as part of a team; his single loss would do nothing to harm their progression unless another followed. But all he could argue was that the effort Kamui had put into his fight had been negated, cancelled out by his flailing. And it had pushed Kai into the spotlight far earlier than he would have wanted – he was their secret weapon; someone to fall on once Q4 had reached a stage they struggled with. That stage wasn't supposed to be the opening. His throat tightened, reflecting on the aftermath of the Shop Tournament when most of the other fighters had returned home.
There were few still lingering by the time Shin removed the tournament brackets, but Kai was among them. Kamui had wandered off shortly after Emi departed, claiming he suddenly had something to do. Aichi slinked closer to the brunette, whose usual blonde company was also unusually absent, departed for the evening after the thrilling competition. Misaki remained at the counter, book in hand and eyes skimming over the words half-heartedly; still struggling to focus after her defeat, something that Shin was well aware of. As Miwa was no longer present, it puzzled Aichi that Kai would remain.
"Kai-kun?" he uttered cautiously.
Kai's eyes opened, shifting to land on the blue-haired boy, who flinched from the subtle, yet sharp movement. The brunette said nothing, but he eyes bore into Aichi, mutely inquiring what it had been he sought. Aichi steeled himself, swallowing the lump in his throat and readied himself for whatever came into his head.
"Uh… I… I'm glad that we'll be on the team together," he stumbled. "I didn't perform well today, but… but I still want to work and become stronger. Strong enough so that we can have a fight once again. I know that as a beginner, it'll take time for me to be anywhere near what you want, but I'll do my best. So please, wait for me, okay?"
Kai removed his eyes from the boy; the gesture came off as dismissively, dragging Aichi's heart down. Perhaps Kai deemed such baseless enthusiasm as naïve and weakness in itself. But, apparently against the odds, his lips parted.
"I won't wait forever," he responded blandly. "Not that I'll need to".
It was indirect and vague, but there was a compliment in the answer somewhere. Aichi's eyes brightened suddenly, mouth widening into a touched smile, overwhelmed by the fact that Kai believed it was possible for him to become strong enough to achieve their rematch. Automatically, he threw his head down and bowed before the brunette.
"Thank you, Kai-kun!" he cried.
But how was he supposed to face Kai again after such a crushing defeat? He had made no progress in spite on that promise; the vow to gain Kai's approval. If anything, he had gone backwards. Either side, his arms shuddered from pent up emotion threatening to boil over, to berate him on the poor performance, though he was snapped out of his thoughts by a tickling sensation by his ankle. His eyes widened and shot down to find a couple of Kamui's hairy spikes invading the cubicle. Shocked by the intrusion, Aichi jumped back towards the toilet, yelping without thinking.
"Onii-san," Kamui whined. "What are you doing in there?"
A blush coloured Aichi's face. "K- Kamui-kun, I can't say that kind of stuff" he sheepishly answered, averting the sight of the wiggling hair poking through the space underneath the door. "I'll be out soon, I promise. You should go and support Kai-kun. And make sure Manager doesn't get himself too worked up".
"Pfft," Kamui sounded, "Why would I want to support that jerk?"
"Kamui-kun… Kai-kun is our teammate," Aichi pointed out. "You shouldn't speak badly of him; he's on our side".
"But I promised Manager that I'd make sure you were alright," Kamui insisted.
"I'm fine. Honestly," Aichi answered, turning his back to the boy.
He stared down pitifully; within the bowl, he caught a portion of his face reflected in the water. He had faced the same sight several times in the past; restrained, helpless and weak. His eyes grew narrow as the bitter memories haunted him. He was supposed to be growing, but he was the same. In the bowl, his left eye swam, reflection watching the original. That brought back the final blow with stomach-churning clarity. Aichi choked, slapping his hand over his mouth to avoid vomiting over the toilet, whimpering at the worry that he wouldn't be able to hold in the need to throw up long enough for Kamui to leave.
"Kamui-kun," he managed with a strained tone from behind the hand. "Please, I can't get on with it while you're here".
There was a moment of silence, Aichi waiting tensely in the hope that Kamui would pick the hint and take his leave. Behind him, the spikes of hair retreated and seconds later, a sigh slipped out from the other side. Behind it, Kamui scratched the back of his head.
"Alright," he conceded. "But if you don't show up by the end of Kai's match, I'm coming back and I'll drag you outta here".
"Don't worry, I don't take that long," Aichi chuckled hollowly.
Footfalls clapped rhythmically, followed by the squeaking of the door opening and then closing. Aichi hesitated, listening out for any sign as to whether the boy had remained or lingered just outside the bathroom. There was nothing to go by and after a moment, when he was sure there would have been enough distance covered, he leaned forward and retched into the bowl.
Within the hall where the fights raged, the chance to battle had made its way around to Kai; his field prepared with plenty of Kagero dragons to strike back against the Murakumo ninjas. He reached forward, fingertips landing upon Tejas.
"Wyvern Strike, Tejas' skill. He's free to attack the Evil Ferret in your back row," he declared.
Under the metallic azure dragon, the silver-armoured knight readied himself, shooting off at an incredible speed, allowing him to bypass the collection of creatures whom had braced themselves. With his lance, he pierced through the furry creature, which squeaked once the spear sank into its skin, obliterating it and leaving the left-most column bare. Kai didn't straighten his back and instead moved onto the next of his forces, twisting the central cards.
"Aermo boosts Blazing Core Dragon. They attack Cursed Breath," he commanded.
"Bring it," Masato challenged with a smirk. "No guard.
"Check the Drive Trigger," Kai spoke, flipping over Dragon Monk, Genjo. The card became consumed in the Trigger's power. "Heal Trigger, get. The power goes to Berserk Dragon".
The card joined those in Kai's hand, the other reaching for the Damage Zone to recover one of the lost cards and moving it to the Drop Zone. The immense crimson dragon on the front lines unleashed a low roar, spreading its wings to carry it far above the reach of its enemies [POW 15000]. The black sword in its grasp blazed with power inherited from Aermo, unleashing a column that modelled itself after a dragon, vague features visible at the front of the trail. The stream crashed into the dark dragon, shrieking from the scorching encounter. Masato reached for the deck, removing a Stealth Beast, White Mane.
"Bahr boosts Berserk Dragon," Kai stated.
The latter was already surrounded by a green aura from Genjo's arrival among the reinforcements, another stream from Bahr merged with the initial light [POW 22000]. The twin-headed dragon craned its necks back, throwing both skulls forward and, with them, jets of flames that intertwined and became one. Once again, Cursed Breath was engulfed in fire, its skin bubbling from the intense temperatures it was forced to endure, peeling away scraps of flesh, which smouldered once the torment finally came to an end. Another copy of Midare Edge appeared, landing in the Damage Zone.
KAI - MASATO
2 -DAMAGE- 3
"Q4 are certainly putting up a fight," MC Miya cried. "Despite the damage they had taken until now, in the third mat, Kai Toshiki has reversed the lead and pushed his opponent halfway to defeat".
"Guess you're not all talk," Masato commented lightly with a smirk. He leaned forward, rearranging his active cards. "Stand and draw".
FIFTH TURN – MASATO
"Ride; Covert Demonic Dragon, Mandala Lord [POW 11000]".
In the central space of the field, a six-armed tower of muscle arose, wearing an armoured jacket that covered the multitude of limbs, the hands at the end of each ablaze with purple flames. From the helm of the monster, spikes stood and curled golden mandibles adorning the headgear. Jagged fangs filled the grinning mouth, confident in the face of the vast Kagero force opposite, none of which could challenge it alone in height or raw power. By its side, a figure draped in a dark cloak emerged, in its grasp, a golden staff with numerous rings hanging from the circular pinnacle, rattling from the breeze sweeping across the battlefield [POW 9000].
"Just like your Kageros, my Murakumos have become a tight force with great strength between them," Masato proclaimed. "So now we get to the fun part; Shijimamaru boosts Mandala Lord, who attacks Blazing Core Dragon".
"No guard," Kai answered.
"Twin Drive," Masato called. He reached forward, turning over the first card – Stealth Beast, Moon Edge. Its golden glow widened the smile already on the redhead's face. "Alright, a Critical Trigger! The power can go to White Mane, but Mandala Lord's getting the Critical".
Kai showed nothing in response to the potentially deadly draw. The others, however, all expressed panic at the idea that Q4 could face defeat if Masato was able to draw another Critical Trigger; his forces were powerful enough to deal significant damage, it came down to what kind of defences Kai could erect. Masato smirked, reaching for the deck and stripped it of the card; a light projected from the artwork. But once Masato rotated his wrist to reveal it, the light was scarlet; Cat Rogue.
"Well, I was hoping for something else, but this works too," he joked. "The power goes to White Mane again and I'll draw a card".
In each of its palms, the purple flames exploded into larger variations, Mandala Lord juggled the collection, gradually gathering them into one enlarged blaze [POW 19000]. Held into place by its numerous hands, the monster unleashed the great flame, which streamed across the wasteland and crashed into Blazing Core Dragon, inflicting the same it had punished its predecessor with. Kai remained stone-faced while moving to his deck, Vortex Dragon and Flame of Hope, Aermo landing in the Damage Zone.
"Your turn, White Mane. Boosted by Midare Edge [POW 25000]".
The robed shape lifted its golden sceptre, crashing its base against the ground, splitting it open and casting flames from beneath to the surface. The fissure raced across the field, unleashing its scorching heat against the opposing Vanguard, which hissed and roared once consumed again by the fury of its own Nation's underworld. Wyvern Guard, Barri fell into the Damage Zone. Masato's hand slipped into his own, turning over one of the face-down cards.
KAI - MASATO
5 -DAMAGE- 3
"Just as quickly as Q4 pulled ahead, they've fallen behind with their last fighter sitting on the brink of defeat!" MC Miya hollered ecstatically. "Is this a sign that Unearther will be moving onto the next round?"
"What the hell?" Morikawa howled. "How did this guy win the Shop Tournament? He's throwing the match!"
"But that's not like Kai," Izaki claimed. "He doesn't look fazed and he's still got plenty of cards in his hand; they can't all be useless. He's got to have a plan".
"You should have some faith," Miwa quipped with a smirk. "Not everyone has the same problem you do. Put down your horoscope and play optimism for a bit".
On the wooden flooring, Kamui marched across the edge of the other occupied field, also in the midst of its final match. His eyes travelled to the monitor displaying the statistics of the two players with intrigue; neither had much of an advantage over the other. His sight wandered to Kai and Masato once departing from the edge of the nearby mist, jogging to Shin's side.
"How's it going?" he asked.
Shin's head fell forward, hanging with the stress of the match weighing heavily on him. Sweat slipped down his flustered cheeks, only picking himself up a moment after.
"It's not looking good," he confessed. "Kai-kun's at 5 damage and his opponent only at 3. And he's just gotten his Grade 3s on the field".
"What?!" Kamui blurted. "But Onii-san's going to be coming back soon, he can't walk in to find out that Kai threw away the match!"
"Well, it's coming to our turn, so I'm praying he'll pull off one of his Final Turns," Shin continued. "It's what we need to keep hope alive. I trust him, but in this scenario, one would imagine even he's going to struggle".
Kamui rotated, eyeing the field anxiously, his eyebrows quivering from the terror that Aichi could wander in only to face Unearther progressing and blame the fiasco on himself. His fiery eyes landed on Kai's back, as though he hoped the stare would burn through him and awaken him to the stakes. But there was nothing from the brunette, who rotated his cards.
SIXTH TURN – KAI
"Stand and draw," he called, adding the new card to his hand. His emerald eyes shifted immediately, landing on the first in his small collection, plucking it from the fan and clutching it in front of the right half of his face.
"Kono yo no mono o yakitsukusu hoshiroku no honoo! Raido za Bangaado! Doragonikku Oobarodo!" [3]
Flames erupted from the scars left in the ground, consuming the current Vanguard. Rising from the fiery storm, Kai's signature dragon unleashed its earth-shaking roar, sharp yellow eyes and large white fangs sending a chill racing down the spines of the Murakumo squad. Dragonic Overlord's burgundy-armoured body flexed its muscles, dispersing the flames that accompanied the Kagero leader. Stripped of the storm, the horns tearing through the plating of its armour were in plain sight for the enemy, its wings stretching out from the back. In its right hand was its sole weapon; a long silver blade [POW 11000].
"And Q4 responds to Unearther's brutal onslaught with Dragonic Overlord," MC Miya exclaimed. "The leaders of the Kagero and Murakumo clans are about to clash with explosive results".
Implanted in the fearsome dragon, the spikes of Kai's hair waved while the winds that jointed his Vanguard's arrival slowly died down. Just like his dragon, his gaze was sharp and stern; nothing would divert his attention from victory. He hadn't come to the Regionals only to crash out at the first hurdle.
The bathroom had stayed silent and inactive; no-one intruded, allowing Aichi to slip out of the cubicle and cross the room to the mirrors. His hands were pressed against the marble surface with a trio of sinks fitted. Aichi leaned over the furthest from the door, checking his reflection anxiously. His left hand rose, fingers shivering as they closed in on his eye; he hadn't been the one to suffer the horrifying attack, but he had seen the entire event from Alfred's perspective, it was close enough to having lived through it himself. But why had the event been so realistic and gruesome? There was no way that the gaming companies would include those kinds of effects into a game intended for children, yet he couldn't deny what had happened. His fingertips hovered level with his eye, sliding closer.
He flinched suddenly, squeezing them closed well before he would have ordinarily felt uncomfortable. A sigh and his hand fell onto the marble, head hanging in between his shoulders; it was no good. His hand fell, sinking into the pocket of his trousers, from which he removed a few packets of cards. He held the set in front, eyeing them guiltily.
'Kamui-kun advised against putting cards in at the last minute. But my deck isn't up for this level of competition,' he thought, clenching his teeth as though the packs were some object of temptation he was supposed to be fighting against. They were, after all, a last resort. 'I can't keep letting down everyone else. If the quickest way to becoming strong enough to fight equally with them is to alter my deck, then that's the step I'll take'.
There was no other way he could picture the scenario; his deck was incomplete, he was still adapting. If one could be fixed, the other would follow. He gripped the corner of the packet, tearing away the foil and eyeing what he had bought from Shin in secret.
"Mandala Lord, attack Dragonic Overlord," Masato yelled, throwing his hand forward, aiming a finger at the immense creature.
Streams of power connected the leading unit to Shijimamaru, still stationed behind it [POW 19000]. Kai snatched two cards from his hand, dropping one onto the growing stack beneath his deck and the other onto the circle set in the centre of the field.
"Perfect guard – Wyvern Guard, Barri," he reported.
Masato's grin twitched with disappointment; he'd been waiting eagerly for his turn to come around with the hopes of finishing the match. Kai had failed to deal any damage during his turn; he had been pinning his hopes that his guards' adequacy would foreshadow how the match was to conclude. The robotic dragon materialized in front of Dragonic Overlord, permitting the redhead to proceed with his Twin Drive.
"First check," he called, revealing the card; another Cat Rogue, which emitted a scarlet light. "Alright, a Trigger. But seeing as you've got yourself a nice Perfect guard, I'll give everything to White Mane. Second check". Once the new card was slipped into his grasp, he reached forward, recovering the second card, which also burst to life with radiance. "Yukihime; a Heal Trigger". Masato grinned proudly at the achievement of pulling two Triggers, bolstering White Mane with a total of 10000 points from the checks alone. "It's just a shame I can't heal. Oh well, this is going to be fun either way".
Mandala Lord backed down, acknowledging that his attacks would only fail against the impenetrable shield in the form of Barri. With its purpose fulfilled, the machine vanished from the field, Masato leaned forward, pressing down on his remaining upright cards and snapped them into their new positions.
"Midare Edge boosts White Mane," he shouted excitedly. "Nice knowing you".
Powered by the various sources, the robed figure readied itself, raising the golden sceptre in preparation for splitting the earth once more [POW 25000]. Kai's demeanour maintained its hold; he reached for one card from his hand, throwing onto the front line as a sacrifice, sliding Tejas alongside immediately afterwards. The cyan-scaled dragon suddenly transferred from Dragonic Overlord's shadow to the space in front, its humanoid partner readying his lance. On the opposite side of the miniature dragon, the second human defender made his appearance; a man dressed in white, yellow and orange robes, a golden crown atop his head and standing on the uppermost coil of a slim wine red dragon. The two units readied for the incoming attack, having witnessed the natural wrath that White Mage's attack invoked [SLD 26000]. The golden weapon drove itself into the ground, unleashing another wide crack that split apart the ground, unleashing a spray of lava that latched onto the two guardians, searing through their skins, driving agonized screams from the duo. Their torment was short-lived and their manifestations were dismissed swiftly, the cards entering the Drop Zone.
"How disappointing," Masato commented, shrugging his shoulders. "Here I was hoping we'd be done by now. Ah well, turn end".
"It seems the final members of Teams Q4 and Unearther are locked in a stalemate; neither side has dealt any damage in the last two turns," MC Miya reported. "We're moving with Q4 straggling, but certainly not out for the count just yet".
EIGHTH TURN – KAI
"Stand and draw," the brunette fighter stated, setting his cards vertically and picking the next card his deck had to offer. He grasped one, throwing it in the unoccupied space beside Dragonic Overlord. "Call, Vortex Dragon [POW 10000]. Bahr boosts Berserk Dragon".
The purple-scaled dragon arrived just as the aura of exchange shone from the opposite edge of the field, Bahr craning his neck back whilst offering his strength to the twin-headed dragon [POW 17000]. Masato slammed down his response in the Guard circle with a confident smirk.
"Yukihime," he barked.
A young woman emerged in front of the targeted Murakumo superior; her small body clothed in a tight fuchsia dress, split along her thighs and secured by black ribbons. Fishnets climbed up her legs once they grew out of her lilac boots, similar to those wrapped around her waist. A white robe decorated with sapphire edges and pinned over her chest waved wildly; the loose-fitting garment hanging around her knees with sleeves that fell over her hands. Dark blue hair fluttered underneath the hood, her eyes opening to blaze a striking shade of pink [SLD 10000].
"Aermo boosts Dragonic Overlord," Kai insisted, switching the next two cards horizontally.
"Guard with Yukihime and Cat Rogue," Masato hollered, throwing his defence onto the edge of the console. A replica of the girl that had just lurched onto the field and a feline dressed in baggy clothing, its ears tucked underneath a cloth wrapped around its head, allowing only its face to emerge [SLD 26000]. "That'll be more than enough. That is… unless you want to pull two Triggers yourself".
Kai brushed off the cocky challenge from his adversary and dropped his sight to the layout of his field, moving immediately to the deck. He picked the first card, turning it over – there was no light, nothing special about the draw; another Tejas. The second, however, did emit a glow, a red light that bounced onto the console.
"Draw Trigger, get," he reported. "Power to Vortex Dragon". He placed the card in his hand, another swiftly following, though his sight remained fixed on the back-up Grade 3, grasping it and changing its stance. "Vortex Dragon attacks Mandala Lord [POW 15000]".
"Nope, not happening," Masato protested, holding another Cat Rogue.
The second feline dropped down onto the field, diverting the flames that spilled from Vortex Dragon's jaws [POW 15000]. The feline shrieked and vanished behind the veil of flames, leaving Mandala Lord unscathed.
"Got lucky, didn't I?" Masato asked smugly. "Well, I can't say the same's gonna happen to you. You've got to be running out of shields".
"Unlike you, I won't get through by luck," Kai boasted plainly. "I'll take on whatever you throw and burn it to ashes. Turn end".
"'Burn to ashes', huh?" Masato echoed. "Cute, you're borrowing from that chant of yours when you summoned Dragonic Overlord. I like you, kid".
"The third turn without any damage has gone by. How long will this chain go on for?" MC Miya questioned fervently.
Kamui fidgeted beside the team bench, arms folded to avoid swinging them about in aggravation; the match was far too drawn out for his patience to last, but there wasn't anything more he could do. The boy cast his sight in the direction of the oaken doors; there was still no sign of the team's third member, leading him to assume he'd have to carry out his threat to return to the restroom and drag him out. For now, however, his heart was beating rapidly and he sweltered under the pressure; neither party was managing to break through the other's defence, but that didn't hint any indication as to how the match was going to turn out. It offered no consolation to Kamui and Shin, who felt helpless as they watched from behind without any means by which to aid their comrade.
NINETH TURN – MASATO
With his draw in hand and nothing new to add to his arsenal, Masato was straight into battle, his palm falling onto his well-used Rear Guard.
"Midare Edge boosts White Mane. Attack Dragonic Overlord," he hollered, a clenched fist shooting up from the console.
Kai removed a single card from his hand, pressing it against the Guard circle. "Guard with Dragon Dancer, Monica [SLD 5000]".
For a third time, the tip of the sceptre slammed into the ground, spitting up lava onto the woman who materialized seconds before in order to guard her clan's leader. The female screamed, writhing in anguish while her form disintegrated into a cluster of glimmers, allowing the looming dragon behind to escape unscathed once more. Drops of sweat clung to Masato's brow; it wasn't merely Kai giving him grief, but Dragonic Overlord itself lingered regardless of what was thrown at it, taunting him over his inability to break through Kai's defences, just as Mandala Lord fulfilled the very same role. Nonetheless, the crowds either side of the field were thrilled by the tense conflict, outbreaks of chattering and cheers followed almost automatically.
The excitable sounds could be made out in the lobby. Aichi paced closer to the oaken doors, curious about whether the cheering was in support for Q4 or one of the other teams currently playing. His hands tightened around the deck box he clutched, peering down at it nervously. What if he was to walk in only to discover that even Kai had struggled and his initial loss had put Q4 in a bad place, resulting in their early exit? Aichi's eyes were pulled away by the holographic images of Ultra Rare performing on the stage where they had earlier appeared, dancing to their single which played subtly behind the commentary projected from the hall inside. His sight centred in on Suiko; she had given him Alfred with the intent of aiding his growth as a fighter, and it had worked. But not enough alone. His eyes hardened while watching the blue-haired woman's graceful dance movements.
'When she gave me Alfred, Suiko-san was testing me. She wanted me to become better and handle the Royal Paladins properly,' he recited inwardly. 'I'm getting better at doing so, but I've got a long way to go. Even though I didn't win against that man, I can't give up on Suiko-san and Kai-kun yet. They're waiting; we made a promise, even if it wasn't in exact words'.
His fingers curled tighter around the corners of the case, pressing the deck against his chest with a determined expression not to disappoint. He paced towards the doors, pushing against them with one hand and entering into the wide hall plunged into partial darkness. Both fields were still blanketed with fog, easing his concerns that fate had outright turned against Q4 and snuck behind the match in front. By the time he rounded the mist, he could identify Kamui standing in an awkward stance in front of Shin, both appearing on the edge. Aichi approached cautiously, taking it easy not to startle the tense boy ahead.
"Kamui-kun?" he inquired gently.
The boy's head snapped around, registering the blue-haired boy and responded with a wide smile. "Onii-san!" he cried, rushing to his friend. "You're back, you're alright".
"O- Of course," Aichi answered faintly. "I told you nothing was wrong. I'm sorry to have worried you".
"Okay then, we just wanted to make sure you were alright," Kamui claimed solemnly. "We thought you were taking your loss heavily".
Aichi smiled back, a meaningful assuring smile. The reunion was interrupted by a sharp voice from above, causing the pair to jump from its sudden intrusion.
"Oi, Aichi!" Morikawa yelled. "Where'd you run off to?"
"Morikawa-kun…" Aichi uttered with a sheepish smile.
Kamui eyed the boy in the corner of his vision; he appeared outwardly to be fine, but when his red eyes locked with Shin's, he couldn't be sure if the manager was assuring him to trust Aichi's words or also torn. Aichi returned from the stands, casting his vision back to the pair on his level.
"How's Kai-kun doing?" he inquired.
"We're not sure, to be honest," Kamui grumbled.
"It's 5-3 in favour of Team Unearther," Shin confessed. "Neither side has been able to deal damage for the past few turns and we're trying to figure out if taking so much has been part of Kai-kun's plan. But we'll just have to wait and see".
"Kai-kun's been pushed to that kind of state?" Aichi sighed, whipping around to find the brunette with his back to the rest, seemingly ignorant to Aichi's return.
"Shijimamaru boosts Mandala Lord," Masato commanded, pointing ahead to the invincible Vanguard housing Kai's projection.
Aichi bit his bottom lip; as instinct would push him to call out to the brunette; he was determined not to distract him. The last time he had let out a panicked cry on behalf of the high schooler, it only seemed to aggravate him.
"Kai-kun!"
"You called out to me" he mumbled. "Did you doubt me?"
"Ah!" Aichi sounded timidly. "N- No, that's not it at all…"
This time, however, Aichi clenched his fists, keeping his lips pressed against one another, his eyes shimmering from the Kai picked two cards, placing them firmly in the circle ahead of his lead, creating images of the same duo that had saved his forces from the final attack of the previous round; Dragon Monk, Genjo and Wyvern Guard, Tejas [POW 26000].
"The same combo, huh?" Masato asked smugly. "Damn, you really won't go down without a fight. Twin Drive".
He removed the two cards, both White Mages, neither Triggers. Elated cheers from the Q4 supporters roared out over the team's heads, relieved that the opponent's luck with Triggers had failed on this occasion. The guardians were dismissed, meeting with the numerous purple flames launched by the bulky dragon opposite without much effort, though leaving him too weak to pursue his rival. Masato frowned briefly; the battle always fired him up, but passion simply wasn't enough in this battle. The cool strategic plays of his opponent countered everything he could muster.
TENTH TURN – KAI
Kai had been unfazed throughout the battle, snapping his head up inches after standing his entire field with a flash racing across his jade eyes.
"Final Turn!" he declared firmly.
A wave of gasps and shock raced throughout the hall. Minami eyebrows shot up, his hazel eyes wide after hearing the phrase, while Haruto's mouth hung open as he leaned forward.
"He just called it?" he blurted.
"What the-" Minami mumbled. "Who is this guy?"
"Oh, a surprising development," MC Miya howled. "Q4's Kai Toshiki has claimed he'll finish the fight this turn. Is he really going to be able to pull it off? He hasn't even drawn his next card".
Kai completed the action mere seconds after it had been pointed out by the commentator, glancing at it before adding it to his hand. They were ignored and the brunette leaned forward, his fingertips landing on his first Rear Guard.
"Bahr boosts Berserk Dragon," he stated.
Masato's shoulders sagged, signalling he was making no move to protect himself against the first attack. Free to proceed, the twin-headed dragon unleashed its two streams of fire, merging into one before crashing into Mandala Lord's chest, searing its chest with the intense concentrated heat. When the flames died down, the damage to the exposed breast, scraps of skin hanging from the afflicted area. Masato picked up the next card of his deck, finding another Mandala Lord and laying it at the bottom of his Damage Zone, ending the drought of interrupted battles. Kai transferred the cards he held from one glove to another, pulling over the three face-up cards that remained in his Damage Zone. Embers burst to life around the Kagero forces, soaring through the air as though remnants from the pockets of lava spilling through Cray's crust.
"Dragonic Overlord's Counterblast; Eternal Flame! It gains 5000 power," he revealed. "With a boost from Aermo, Dragonic Overlord attacks White Mane [POW 22000]".
"What? You do that and don't attack Mandala Lord?" Masato queried, drops of sweat developing across his brow. "No guard".
Kai turned over the top card of his deck; Embodiment of Spear, Tahr, which burst into a golden light. "Critical Trigger, get" the brunette announced. "All effects go to Dragonic Overlord.
Red-hot flames plunged from the immense dragon's jaws, replicating a twister travelling on its side [POW 27000]. The flames crashed into White Mane, searing its cloth until the creature's true form was exposed briefly, erasing it from the field. Masato clenched his jaws whilst depositing the card into the Drop Zone, sending a puzzled stare in Kai's direction.
"As part of Eternal Flame's power, Dragonic Overlord stands after destroying a Rear Guard," the brunette explained. "Why do you think I would have taken so much?"
"What was that?" Masato repeated, eyeing Kai's Damage Zone. "5 damage. 3 were face-up. N- No way. You mean you've been building up to this through the whole match?"
"Dragonic Overlord stands and attacks the Vanguard," Kai declared.
"Crap…" Masato grumbled. "All those boosts make it too strong for me to defend against. And White Mage being gone means there's nothing to support Mandala Lord. I've been outwitted in battle, isn't that just great?"
Kai turned over his next card; Rahska, also exploding into gold. "Critical Trigger, get. All effects to Dragonic Overlord [POW 26000]".
"Are you shitting me?" Masato mumbled under his breath. "Critical of 3?"
The dragon unleashed its relentless flaming power; the force colliding with tremendous force with the enemy Vanguard. The arms curled in front shuddered, battling to handle the power slamming against them. Masato's eyes narrowed against the intensity of the flames, he reached for his deck, removing one card after another in the fading hopes of discovering a Heal Trigger. But having used two already to defend himself against previous attacks, the outcome looked bleaker by the second. The first emerged, Cursed Breath; the second, Leaf Raccoon, and the third a second copy of the latter. The trio settled at the bottom of the Damage Zone, more than filling the column marks out. Masato clenched his jaws and closed his eyes while the environment reverted to the hall.
KAI - MASATO
5 -DAMAGE- 7
FIGHT END
"There's the first result. Team Q4 have two wins and move onto the next round of the competition," MC Miya announced excitedly springing up from his seat.
The collection of young Q4 supporters celebrated with zeal; Morikawa howling whilst punching the air, while Eiji and Reiji cheered over how the team had recovered. Miwa smirked as he watched Kai depart from the battleground, pacing towards his teammates without much sign of pleasure. Aichi smiled meekly at the brunette who drew nearer, halting a short distance away.
"Kai-kun, nice fight," he chimed jovially. "I'm sorry that you had to fight much earlier than you wanted to".
"We'll just call it a warm up," Kai answered.
Aichi's face brightened at the light-hearted manner of Kai's response – he may not have proven himself just yet, but it seemed Kai hadn't given up just yet. His heart skipped at the prospect of how he hadn't been cast aside immediately and concentrated on the chance ahead able to try once more, to prove himself to Kai and to everyone. To Suiko and to himself.
From the curtains behind the stage, the three members of Ultra Rare peered through the thick veil. Kourin pointed towards Aichi, whose elation was evident, even from such a distance.
"Isn't he that the kid that stopped by recently?" she inquired.
"Oh yeah, so it is," Rekka giggled. "Did he catch your eye, Kourin?"
"Pipe down," the blonde scowled. She leaned back, allowing the eldest of the trio to peer through. Suiko smiled gently upon her sight landing on the trio. "What's so special about him anyway?"
"Him; nothing, it would seem," Suiko commented. "He's yet to master the Royal Paladins and the King of Knights. But his teammate is someone whom I've been curious about for some time".
"And why would that be?" Kourin asked coldly. "You sent me to keep an eye on that guy but you've said nothing. Is he someone we've been looking for or not?"
"It's difficult to tell. However, time will tell," Suiko answered, tilting her head in order to watch the entire team, bringing Kamui and Shin into view, maintaining her subtle smile. "Q4, was it? I've got a feeling they're going to throw us a few surprises. I hope they do well".
PREVIEW
Kamui: Onii-san, we did it!
Aichi: Yeah. You and Kai-kun were great; you got us to the next round.
Kamui: You aren't being hard on yourself, are you?
Misaki: What did I miss?
Aichi: Misaki-san.
Misaki: I'll take the initiative; it's my way of apologizing for not being here before. Everyone has worked hard until now, so I'll pull my weight.
Aichi: Misaki-san seems kind of different since the Shop Tournament. She must be excited to play at a much larger tournament. Next time: "Cardfight! Vanguard Override, Chapter 8 – Illuminating the Darkest Shadows". Misaki-san, we're all with you.
[1] "Stand up, my avatar! Ride! Blaster Blade!"
[2] "Enter the fray! I ride the ruler of all knights! The King of Knights, Alfred!"
[3] "Burn everything in this world to dust with your apocalyptic fire! Ride the Vanguard! Dragonic Overlord!"
It's far too early for cards from Twin Swords Awakening and I'm aware of that. But there's just no space for Murakumos to show up later on and I had been hoping to do something with every clan in the Vanguard game. I'd like to make up some reason like 'Oh, they got cards that just came out recently', but it doesn't really hold here. In addition to that, the image used as the cover belongs to an arist who goes by the handle of ぐぅたら on Pixiv, who has created a series of Vanguard doujinshi, the particular image from is the cover of "borderline", so the credit goes to that individual. It'll be temporary until I throw together something for this that fits in the dimensions. I'd also like to thank Brilliant Comet for pointing out an error in Kamui's fight, I'll get on and fix that, so I appreciate being told. I also apologize if the chapter runs stale by the end, it's difficult trying to keep it fresh after 16,000 words, but hopefully, that isn't the case. As the end of the year draws near, I'd like to wish everyone the best for their final day of 2012 and the best for 2013.
- CuteYami, 31st December 2012
