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-
With a moan, Shin adjusted his seemingly opaque spectacles by grasping the edge of the frames and twitching his fingers. He hadn't expected to change strategy partway through the tournament, but that was what had transpired. Misaki had departed after the match against the Three Blacks in order to get some air, claiming she needed it. Though she had long mastered the ability to mask her true intentions and emotions, there was something that the shopkeeper simply couldn't shake about her unusual behaviour; not that he could confess his hypothesis with the boys. His sight slid across to the bench only a metre or so away where Aichi and Kai were seated beside one another, observing the fight occurring before them. The blue-haired boy had expressed his concerns about taking to the stage, although he had managed surprisingly well for someone of his timid demeanour. He had bounced back from his crushing defeat in the first match to claim victory in a deciding bout.
And yet, he had requested to step back and wait until the team ran into trouble again. He claimed it was on his account that their opening had been so shaky and his following downcast mood had put a damper on their participation in the competition. That meant altering the game plan – instead of keeping Kai and his abnormal skill at the game under wraps as much as possible, he was standing on the front lines, delivering overwhelming losses to anyone standing in his way. His partner in the new campaign was Kamui, who had also done well following his troubling failure in the second round.
There was nothing against using Kai or taking away Aichi; Shin had simply hoped the experience would bring the latter out of his shell without giving too much of the former's playing style away, as well as bore him with what he claimed was a mediocre league. Misaki strolled back towards the benches, placing herself between the duo and her guardian and casting her sight ahead. Shin offered a faint smile, a pang of guilt resonating through him for having thrown the young woman into battle before she was comfortable. But even without her participation, they had reached the semi-final, with a game in hand due to Kai's phenomenal playing. Kamui jumped on the spot behind the raised field, pointing furiously at his opponent.
"Attack, Asura Kaiser!" the boy yelled. "Finish Hold!"
An explosion engulfed the opposite ground, wiping clear any of the remaining units that had withstood the barrage prior. A young woman clothed only in a short skirt and tight top of navy blue lined with yellow let out a disheartened sigh when revealing her Damage check lacked a Trigger, sealing Kamui's victory.
KAMUI - OPPONENT
4 -DAMAGE- 6
FIGHT END
"And the first fight of the semi-final has resulted in victory for Katsuragi Kamui and Team Q4," MC Miya announced.
Cheers surged from the audience, to which Kamui responded with victory gestures and an elated grin. On the screen above, the three fighters' names were listed in order of their intended participation, allowing Misaki to shrink from the spotlight. Misaki and Aichi expressed their delight at the youngest member's success, meeting with him at the centre between the abandoned field and base of the stands.
"Nice fight, Kamui-kun," Aichi chirped in English.
"Nah, it wasn't that hard," Kamui bragged, folding his arms behind his head.
"Alright!" Morikawa yelped, shooting up from his seat. "The finals are next".
"Kamui-san, you're the best!" Eiji yelled.
"TB," Reiji yapped.
"They're right. You're amazing, both of you," Aichi beamed, jumping from Kamui to Kai and back again. "I never imagined we'd make it all the way to the final".
Kai opened a single jade eye which landed on the ecstatic boy, revealing neither shared joy nor irritation over the low level of competition in comparison to himself; merely a hardened stare. Misaki's sight shifted to the active field beside where a veil of smog remained, clouding all but the players standing at the small devices erected in front of them, holding their cards up. At the opposite end, the battling player was tanned and muscular, black hair falling from a burgundy bandana wrapped around his head. His bulging chest was covered solely by a sleeveless orange t-shirt and hanging brown vest with tattered ends, lacking sleeves in order to flaunt his brawny arms. His wrists were bound in dark armbands; cream trousers were held by a wide black belt and sank into brown boots standing tall enough to consume much of his calves. Before she could redirect her sight to the monitors hanging above, the match was over, ending with the bandana-wearing man's victory.
"The winner of the match: Daimonji Gouki," the referee standing at the edge of the marked field declared, snapping his arm towards the victor.
GOUKI - OPPONENT
3 -DAMAGE- 6
FIGHT END
"And the second space in the final has been filled. Daimonji Gouki's Team Handsome has stormed their way through the competition to return to the top," MC Miya relayed excitedly. "Last year's champions are back to fight and defend their title".
"Daimonji… Gouki?" Aichi repeated, reading the names that succeeded their on the wide screens above. His body flinched when the remainder of the announcement reached him. "L- Last year's champions?"
"Yeah, they were here six months ago during the last tournament and won," Kamui stated. "It was quite impressive".
"You came here before and watched, Kamui-kun?" Aichi inquired.
"Yeah. I wasn't even considering playing in a competition like this," Kamui laughed. "If you had said to me that we'd be facing them in half a year, I would have called you crazy".
Aichi let out a shy chuckle. The air buzzed with the vibrations from the speakers once again, MC Miya snatching the microphone from its stand fervently and raising it to his lips.
"Our finalists have been decided," he reported. "Team Q4, who have participated for the first time, will face Team Handsome, our defending champions. Which side will take the glory and advance the National Tournament?"
The distant Gouki towered over his seated teammates, both sporting bandanas of their own and the trio set their sights on the group of five. Gouki's red eyes locked with Kamui's, smirking at the youngster, who mirrored the confident expression.
'I kept you waiting, Gouki,' he thought. 'Not anymore; now I'll show you what I've learned'.
The audience gradually dispersed, returning to the lobby, with the teams – both victorious and defeated – merging into the departing crowds. Overhead, an announcement sounded plainly with the reason.
"The finals of the Regional Tournament will be held in the afternoon after a break. I repeat…"
Q4 lingered in front of the holograph stage where projections of Ultra Rare's latest performance repeated, drawing Morikawa to it immediately and howling over the attractive blonde member whom had stolen his heart. The team, joined by Miwa, discussed their plans regarding Kai and Kamui's order in the final fight.
From the shadow of the stage, a young girl crouched, her eyes set on the miniature gathering. Her blonde hair was tied by a strip of cloth, aiding the small ponytail to stand upright. Wearing a pink shirt with inflated shoulders underneath an open carmine vest and an orange skirt hanging over her thighs, she balanced on white boots with short heels. Her dim yellow eyes shimmered excitedly and she crept away from her hiding place, stealthily advancing towards the finalists. With his back to her, Kamui was obvious to the sly approach and, by the time Aichi and Kai's eyes had lifted from him, the floor was what consumed his vision.
"Kamui-chaaaan!"
With a crash, the pair where on the floor; the girl with her arms wrapped around her target's waist, which he flinched underneath her from the agony of having fallen face-down against the tailed flooring. Aichi, Misaki and Shin observed the scene with enlarged eyes, none sure what to make of the scenario playing before them, while Miwa grinned, resting an elbow on Kai's shoulder. Morikawa and Izaki approached, having heard the commotion.
"Hey, what's going on?" the dark-haired teenager grumbled. His sight landed on the floored duo, pointing to the girl. "Who's she?"
"I'm not she," the blonde girl protested, raising her head from Kamui's spine. "I'm Nagisa".
"Nagisa?" Izaki sounded. "Aren't you a bit young to be here on your own?"
"Not alone," Nagisa chirped. "I'm here with Kamui-chan".
"But, uh… we've been with Kamui-kun the whole day," Aichi murmured with bewilderment.
"Maybe, but Kamui-chan is mine~," Nagisa giggled, pressing her cheek against the flattened boy's back and rubbing it.
The boy's body shuddered, growing more violently with each second that he remained pinned underneath the girl and shot up, pushing her away and onto her rear. With a yell, he jumped to his feet, shooting around to face his assaulter.
"Cut it out!" he yelled. "Quit doing that kind of thing, especially when there're so many people about".
"Aww, you're bashful. Don't worry, Kamui-chan, it just means there are more witnesses to our love," Nagisa giggled, wrapping her arms around his left.
"L- Love?" Aichi, Morikawa and Izaki repeated unanimously.
"Kamui-chan's really shy about it. But we're going to get married and be together forever," Nagisa proclaimed brightly.
Morikawa rotated to Izaki, whose jaw hung open in disbelief and smirked, patting the brunette on his shoulder. "Don't worry, I'm sure you'll find someone" he scoffed smugly.
"What about you?" Izaki asked discreetly. "You don't have a girlfriend either".
"You forget, Izaki," Morikawa bragged, spinning around to the elevated projection. "I have Kourin-chan!"
"Don't worry, Kamui-chan," Nagisa giggled, trying to land her cheek on the boy's dodging shoulder. "When Onii-chan wins the tournament, you can come back and celebrate with us. Then we can make arrangements for everything".
"That's nothing to celebrate," Kamui protested, struggling to pry himself free of the girl's unusually firm lock.
"'Onii-chan'?" Misaki asked. "Then that means…"
"Yeah, Onii-chan is in Team Handsome," Nagisa chirped. "He'll walk all over you guys and we'll take back Kamui-chan".
"Kamui-kun?" Aichi asked, setting sights on the trapped boy.
"Sorry, Onii-san," Kamui sighed, sending a guilty expression in return. "This is Daimonji Nagisa. Gouki's little sister".
Ride 9: Reunion Battle
Saikai no Kettou
-Hitsue City: Stadium-
The majority of those around Kamui and Nagisa were visibly shocked by the revelation that the young girl was the sister of their new rivals. Nothing about her appearance resembled the brawny man they had witnessed pummel his opponent only a short time beforehand. Nevertheless, Kamui had confirmed their relationship; leaving little room for doubt that she was fabricating a connection to the boy she clearly held affection for. Kamui turned his head away from the girl, glowering in no particular direction – simply anywhere away from her.
"Why does everyone keep trying to use this tournament to hook up with someone?" he grumbled.
From the galleries; Eiji and Reiji followed Emi, who clutched the basket she had brought initially, filled with lunches made by the child; Kamui's dream meal. The spiky-haired boy gawked at his approaching crush and shook his arm furiously in the hopes of loosening Nagisa's grasp before they were spotted and the redhead mistook where his affections led. That, however, was not to be the case; Emi appeared beside Misaki with the basket hanging from her small hands and a bright smile on her face.
"Ah, Emi-kun," Shin spoke cheerfully. "Thank you, it slipped my mind to bring lunch for everyone".
"Did you have that little faith in everyone?" Misaki asked blandly.
"It's not like that, Misaki," Shin insisted, waving his hands defensively.
Eager to move along rather than dwell on his repeated forgetfulness, Shin guided the group outside and scouted across the wide lush gardens for a suitable place to eat. Kamui managed to release himself from Nagisa and rushed off, not willing to take the risk of becoming ensnared in her clutches once again. Naturally, the girl took off after him, crying his name lovingly. The scene left the Sendou siblings exchanging equally sheepish expressions.
"Emi, let me take that for you," Aichi offered, reaching for the woven handle.
"Just be careful," Emi instructed. "I know what you're like, Aichi. You better not drop it".
A bead of sweat slipped down the brother's head; the last thing he wanted to endure was embarrassment from Emi's confessions regarding his balance among all the other flaws about him. Shin led the enlarged pack to a wooden gazebo with benches and a picnic table underneath; the ideal spot to settle. Emi opened up the basket, unveiling the small array of delicacies she and her mother had compiled between them, met with awe from Shin, Izaki and Morikawa.
"It looks delicious," the brunette commented.
"Please, everyone, there's plenty," Emi chirped.
Across the gardens, Kamui snuck out from behind a wide tree trunk, analysing his surroundings to ensure it was safe to emerge. Fortunately for the suspicious boy, there was no sign of his self-confessed bride and he scampered out from the darkness. From a distance, he realized the woven basket Emi had been clutching had been placed on the table in the wooden, open and with the others feasting on its offerings. His jaw fell watching as Morikawa dropped a sandwich into his mouth, chewing on the meal put together by the hands of the girl he loved. With a horrified yelled, his speed increased suddenly, kicking up a trail of dust behind him.
"Ah!" he hollered. "Wait a minute!"
Kamui flung himself forward, landing on his knees just short of the benches to avoid crashing completely and fell forward from the force of his sudden halt, landing on the palms of his hands. Aichi and Misaki observed the feat with intrigue; astonished by just how far Kamui was willing to go in the name of love. Kamui hastily jumped up and brushed himself off, a clear blush lighting his cheeks when faced with the redheaded girl.
"E- Emi-san," he quivered.
"Poor Kamui-san," Reiji sighed. "She was watching the whole time".
"TWT," Eiji muttered.
"Kamui-kun," Emi chirped. "I saved some for you; I thought you might get a little hungry after playing with Nagisa-chan".
Streams of tears flooded Kamui's cheeks as he reached forward slowly, receiving the small plate of sandwich and additional treats that the girl had hidden from the remainder of their company. Reiji and Eiji exchanged beaming grins at the first step towards envisioning the pair as a true couple; picturing the duo as an older pair in the same setting enjoying a picnic alone. While the spiky-haired boy feasted on the spared food, Emi distracted herself with talk directed towards Shin and the older players.
"Have you decided what order Kai-san, Kamui-kun and Aichi will go in the final match, Manager?"
"Well, I was considering Kai-kun going first as his unbeaten streak is quite impressive," Shin suggested, setting his hidden eyes on the brunette with his spine pressed against the table, watching over his shoulder. "If we assume he wins, it will give us a strong position giving into the second match. That's where Kamui-kun comes in".
"Leave it to me," the boy bragged, tugging at the end of his sleeve to pull it up whilst clutching onto a sandwich delicately.
From behind, glinting from the bushes nearby, a pair of eyes spied on the group, catching Misaki's sight. The lilac-haired woman said nothing, but waited for what she assumed would be the inevitable. And it followed mere seconds later when Nagisa burst from the bushes, clutching a small crate wrapped in a dark cloth.
"Kamui-chan!" she shrieked, crashing into the back of the boy.
Kamui toppled forward, having been chewing graciously on the sandwich in his hands. The remainder filled his mouth and slid down his throat, locked once he hit the grassy floor. Nagisa clutched her possession carefully, balancing it above her head while enjoying her time atop the boy of her affections. Kamui coughed, twitching underneath the girl, who climbed off, ensuring her package was unharmed. Kamui pulled his face from the dirt, motioning for assistance whilst uttering the faintest of moans. Aichi flinched once it dawned what the boy was calling for and clambered out of his seat, throwing himself behind Kamui and wrapping his arms around his waist, pressing down. Kamui held onto the boy's wrists, forcing his cautious push down harder, Kai sighed discreetly and turned his head away from the scene, unimpressed by his teammates' reckless behaviour. With the scene occurring behind her back, Nagisa was focused more on laying her package onto the table, turning around only to discover the love of her life in the arms of another man. The girl's cheeks inflated and her hands shot up, grabbing a hold of Aichi's nearest arm and pulling on it to separate the pair as fast as possible. The blue-haired boy eyed the girl's intrusion with puzzlement and concern that she may endanger Kamui with another tackle, the girl emitting a squeaky grunt with each pull. Kamui tightened his hands around Aichi's wrists and forced them down as hard as he could, ejecting the culprit behind his plight.
Aichi let out a sigh of relief, his grip around Kamui lax enough for Nagisa to pry away with a couple of additional tugs. Kamui slumped forward, hanging over the remains of the sandwich, wallowing in despair.
"Emi-san's love-packed lunch…" he sobbed.
"It's okay, Kamui-chan," Nagisa chirped. "Your wife, Nagisa, brought you some food".
Kamui peered over his shoulder at the looming girl with a curious look. She leaned forward, pulling him away from Aichi, who stood on the side-lines with a puzzled expression. She set the wrapped package onto the wooden table, folding back its corners and unveiling the meal inside; a sloppily arranged image of white, pink and black with reddened beads under yellow diagonal sticks.
"See, Kamui-chan? It's your face," Nagisa asked merrily, turning to find Kamui having retreated a number of paces.
For the lovesick girl's sake; Shin, Emi and Aichi all masked smiles of approval, though as usual, Kai wouldn't even associate himself with the game and kept the back of his head to the scene. With his escape known, Kamui turned on his heels and sprinted immediately.
"No way!" he yelled.
"Kamui-chan!" Nagisa whined, clutching the box and giving chase.
"No, no, no, no," Kamui pleaded, looking to the eyes as though praying. "Keep it away from me".
In spite of his clear rejection, Nagisa pursued nonetheless, giggling as the game resumed. That gentle laughter came to an abrupt halt when a small stone protruding the grassy field snagged the tip of her boot, tripping her up and catapulting the box from her tiny hands. With a sharp gasp, she crashed onto the ground, the contents of her gift sprinkling into the air. Hearing the sounds of shock from the Sendou siblings, Kamui came to a halt immediately and peered over his shoulder, registering the girl had been toppled easily. Guilt held him from fleeing while the opportunity was ripe. Above his head, meanwhile, the meal rained down, its container crashing over his spiked hair and fitted over his head. Rice spilled out from the empty corners, scattering themselves over his clothes. Underneath his new headwear, the boy shuddered, his shoulders inching higher with rising tension. Nagisa climbed onto her knees, eyeing the assaulted boy in front with naïve giggling of embarrassment. Kamui grasped the box's edges, peeling it from his dirtied hair and threw it onto the floor in front.
"Damn it!" he yelled furiously.
"Kamui-chan?" Nagisa sounded.
"I've had it with this crap," Kamui roared, storming away.
Nagisa was at a loss for words and supported herself solely on her hands and sprawled legs; numb at the vicious departure of the target of her affections. Emi and Aichi closed in around her, the latter reaching forward.
"Nagisa-kun, are you alright?" he inquired.
Once the cautious voice patted against her eardrums, Nagisa was quick to recoil from the gentle grip around her wrist, breaking contact with ease. With a tearful glare, she snapped herself around to face the pair, both with equally baffled gazes set on her trembling body.
"Nagisa… kun?" Aichi repeated faintly.
"Keep away from me," Nagisa barked.
The girl planted her boot into the grass heavily, stomping away without so much as a glance back at the enlarged party she left in her wake. Aichi and Emi cast matching looks to one another, unable to read the situation before them coherently. At the picnic table, Misaki leaned forward; tapping her fingernails against the surface to capture Shin's attention with ease. He rotated back to his niece with raised eyebrows, the sunlight reflecting off his spectacles dancing across the pillar in the path of relocation.
"Shin-san," the lilac-haired female uttered discreetly. "About that girl…"
"Misaki?" Shin whispered curiously.
Kai eyed the pair in the corner of his vision; whatever topic they had decided upon wasn't drawing in the others. There had been no call for himself or Aichi to join them, neglecting Kamui's absence and those joined as cheerleaders were still captivated by the drama that had unfolded before them ignorant of the secret meeting taking place in the shade.
The lights across the curved Stadium ceiling ignited swiftly with the break over and audience back in place, Morikawa leaning over the edge enthusiastically in anticipation for the final match to play out. The two teams had taken their places at either end of the painted courts; Kai pulling on his burgundy gloves to signal his taking the first place, as per Shin's scheme. On the opposing edge, the shortest of the three males left up, pressing down on his biceps and flexing the muscles in some kind of display relating to his power. The pair approached their respective stations and placed their decks in the marked slots, casting contrasting gazes across the distance separating them.
"This is it; the final round of the Third Kanto Regional Tournament. Facing off are last year's champions – Team Handsome. The challengers are first-time participants – Team Q4," the MC's voice echoed throughout the court. "From each side; Komatsubara Kaoru and Kai Toshiki. Both hold impressive records for their part in the competition and now this match will determine which is the stronger of the two".
"Good luck, Kai-kun," Aichi cried from the benches.
"Just make sure to leave some left for me," Kamui commanded playfully.
Kai showed no reaction to their raised voices; his sight set firmly on the face-down card laid out on the field – the first of his armada to strike down the titleholders. The pair locked eyes once more, swiftly removing their starters and throwing them down on the opposite face.
"Stand Up, Vanguard!"
"Stand Up, The Vanguard!"
FIGHT START
KAI - KAORU
0 -DAMAGE- 0
The two projected bodies shifted beyond a veil of brightness; peeling back the humanoid shapes and replacing them with their Cray counterparts; Kai had taken the shape of a wide scaled warrior, clutching a circular shield in one hand and axe in another. Its piercing orange eyes glared across to the being emerging from the illuminated shape as coldly as its predecessor [POW 5000]. Shaggy grey hair left the purple scalp of the posthumous figure; one eye sealed closed by gross deformation and several of its wide teeth absent. Dressed in a tuxedo and raising a lantern in one hand, the opponent made itself clear for all to observe [POW 5000]. First brunette referee positioned at the centre of the transformed field – removing the spacious building in favour of an underwater landscape – raised his left arm, directing it at the wide bandana-wearing man.
"The first move to Team Handsome," he announced.
FIRST TURN – KAORU
"Here we go, ka-boom!" the lively sailor boasted. "I ride Evil Shade".
The new Vanguard's skinned was charred or completely shrouded in shadow no matter what angle it was viewed from; dressed in an open shirt of white and vest of violet, leaving a slit of its torso exposed. A sash of burgundy wrapped around its waist was strengthened by the tight belt. Purple trousers were joined with high-knee boots over the figure's slim legs. Around its head, a scarf of red and white waved through the underwater current, encircling the base of the wide pirate cap, decorated with a skull emblazoned with swords crossed beneath it. Like those weapons, in its hand, the ghost clutched a narrow knife, another sheathed behind its rear. From its dark face, only ominous red eyes could be made out [POW 6000]. The leader before it slinked back with heavy steps through the seabed sand, bowing beneath its new commander.
"Guiding Zombie moves to the Rear-Guard," the bandana-wearing man called. "That's me for now".
SECOND TURN – KAI
Kai silently removed his new card from the deck, sliding it in amongst the rest and changing it for another, which fell onto the central circle; replacing the lone soldier on his field. "Ride; Iron Tail Dragon".
The wide soldier retreated, darting from the light that shimmered from the dusty ground. From that emptied space, Kai's violet dragon rose, bathed in dark red armour and tangerine wings stretching out horizontally. In spite of the seabed location, the creature's jaws hung apart, allowing a grumbling growl to leave [POW 7000].
"Lizard Runner, Conroe also moves to the Rear-Guard," the brunette affirmed. Beside it a second card fell, illuminating the newly claimed space. "Flame of Hope, Aermo".
The second unit behind the leading dragon appeared to welcome the chilled environment; its skin resembling an intense sunburn, although perfectly normal for those of its kind. With a playful smirk, it folded its arms and set its sights on the opposing force [POW 6000]. Kai's fingertips remained with the card, swiftly shifting it to the alternative position.
"With a boost from Aermo, Iron Tail Dragon attacks – the target; Evil Shade," he commanded. "Check the Drive Trigger". His wrist flicked the card around; welcomed with Genjo's green gift. "Heal Trigger; the power is applied to Iron Tail".
Strengthened further by the multiple sources of power, the dragon swooped forward, allowing the current to carry it with ease towards the shifty enemy. The gloomy seabed would neutralize any attempt at unleashing the flames that were its primary strength; instead, it would have to improve. With a powerful swing, its erect tail slicing through the watery atmosphere [POW 18000]. Nonetheless, the force behind the spin was enough to deal a significant blow against the shady Vanguard, a stream of bubbles racing out from its mouth with a grunt. Kaoru cringed, sliding away his deck's top and laid the Dandy Romario discovered at the opposite end of his territory.
KAI - KAORU
0 -DAMAGE- 1
"I end my turn," Kai stated, relaxing his shoulders.
THIRD TURN – KAORU
"Draw, ka-boom!" the excitable combatant hollered, smirking at the latest addition to his arsenal, selecting it swiftly as his next representative. "I ride Captain Nightmist".
A much more pleasant pirate took the place of the former; dressed in the stereotypical fashion of the sea bandits' a loose white shirt beneath an open blue jacket with metallic clips to seal it neglected in favour of the bunched cloth hanging from the collar, fastened by a golden pendant with narrow rings. A slouching belt held up bright red trousers with expanding bottoms of faint brown, from which mocha boots revealed themselves. A sword in its sheath by his side, the man raised his hands, brushing back the lengthy wavy back hair hanging down his back, controlled solely by a burgundy bandana tied around the unkempt locks. In a similar attempt at order, a scarlet circle was wrapped around the forehead, knotted beneath the back of the triangular hat casting a shadow over the man's face, narrow ominous eyes glinting from the hiding place, made more intimidating by the yellow snake-like eye watching from his headwear [POW 8000].
"Two more; Ruin Shades to the Rear-Guard".
Upgraded version of the previous leading unit made their entrance in clouds of seabed sand kicked up by the underwater storm; both with eerily dark skin obscuring any features outside the white spikes standing out from their chests and red eyes containing only yellow irises and piercingly cold pupils. Cream hair bunched into five separate branches floated through the watery atmosphere, each marked with two blue bands and a black brace finally controlling each of the thick arms, their roots joined by another. A royal blue waistcoat and jacket, both lined with gold and the latter with crimson ropes encircling its attire, the shade lining the interior around a smaller cape of white. A chain hung from the right calf of the ghostly duo's blue trousers, tucked into dark boots with a ring of red at the top. In one hand, the pair clutched a circular shield with a skull emblem emblazoned on the curved face and the other grasped a tall growing blade of silver from the cross of arrows and a miniature copy of the dead head [POW 9000 x2].
"And now's the perfect time to use Guiding Zombie's skill," Kaoru proclaimed, sliding the named card underneath the one in front. "By transferring him to the Soul, I get the chance to discard three cards from the top of my deck – straight to the Drop Zone".
"The Drop Zone?" Aichi gasped.
"Why would he want to throw away his cards?" Morikawa questioned loudly.
"It's how the Granblue clan works," Miwa stated.
The trio toppled over, twisting around to identify themselves as Ricky the Ghostie, Knight Spirit and King of Demonic Seas, Basskirk once settling into the space of abandonment. Morikawa howled, clutching the sides of his head in horror that a Grade 3 had been dismissed before even leaving the deck in a conventional manner. The high wail earned him glares from Eiji and Reiji, held off by Izaki's pleading waves of defence.
"The Granblue takes advantage of loading the Drop Zone with cards," Kamui elucidated. "The undead are a large part of them, so they can call on their allies that fall even before battle".
"Ruin Shade up first," Kaoru dictated. "Attack Iron Tail Dragon, ka-boom!"
The first of the sword-wielding twins charged forward, stamping through the sandy flooring, with miniature clouds jumping out behind its trail. Kai made no movement to defend his targeted forces, standing by without any change from his standard demeanour.
"While we're at it, I'm going to activate Ruin Shade's skill," Kaoru added with a lively boom. "Two cards from the top of the deck go to the Drop Zone. Ruin Shade's power increases by 2000 until the end of the battle [POW 11000]".
A mournful yell in memory of the fallen pulsed through the watery field whilst the attacker sprung from the floor, floating higher with his sword held above his head, gleaming as it sliced through the liquid air. With a greater force than normal, the blade fell upon its target, scarring the dragon and knocking the first of Kai's victims into the opposite Damage Zone, presently tying the pair's score. Aichi and Kamui gaped at registering Dragonic Overlord as the lost card – it was Kai's ace; his favourite. And it had been snatched before he could even use it.
"Captain Nightmist up next," Kaoru yelled, reaching for the central soldier. The pirate dove forward, permitted by the lack of movement on the opposition's part. "Drive check".
The card was merely Commodore Blueblood; no boost to offer his remaining forces. But nonetheless, the slim sword in comparison to his allies' crashed down against the injured dragon, inflicting further wounds across its body with the single blow. A second card fell into the Damage Zone, illuminated once touching down.
"Draw Trigger," Kai stated blandly. "The power applies to Iron Tail Dragon and draw".
"No matter; the remaining Ruin Shade attacks anyway" Kaoru yelled, punching forward. "And his skill discards two more from the deck".
The additional sacrifices were laid down where they were fated, the large sword of the lunging phantom crashed down against Iron Tail Dragon's arms, unable to break through the sudden defence it was capable of compiling [POW 12000]. Morikawa scoffed, leaning back and folding his arms in arrogant cluelessness, though Izaki was fare more intrigued by the course of action taken by the enemy.
"But why would he do that?" he asked. "It's not like he was going to be able to land a hit".
"That was all about discarding more," Miwa stated firmly, eyes locked onto the Cray projections streamed by the monitors overhead. "He's got more to work with in the Drop Zone; it's a unique advantage that the Granblue possess and he's going to fill that space up with as many cards as he needs.
KAI - KAORU
2 -DAMAGE- 1
"The strategies are building up rapidly," MC Miya hollered excitedly, leaning forward with intrigue over the battle playing beneath him, observing the various titbits of information flashing on the monitors arranged around him. "Team Handsome have taken the lead, but the end of Participant Komatsubara's turn opens up the chance for Q4 to pull back immediately".
FOURTH TURN – KAI
The brunette revealed to himself the newest addition to his arsenal, depositing it in amongst those already lined up for battle and selected his next Vanguard. He balanced the card in between two fingertips, tossing it onto the occupied central space. Usurping the , place of Iron Tail Dragon, the new unit stood on its hind legs, exposing its brown scales contained in crimson armour across its upper chest, arms and legs, decorated with golden accents. Its helm matched the colour scheme, sprouting several golden horns standing up in various directions. Its large garnet wings stretched up, the ends of the bones glimmering with the same bright curl. Like its superior, the creature clutched a black sword, marked with a yellow pattern climbing along the blade and across the horns growing from the top of the weapon [POW 9000]
"Blazing Core Dragon," Kai defined. "Call; Berserk Dragon and Bahr".
The frequently partners made their appearance to the edge of the limited Kagero territory, unfazed by the drastic change in environment compared to what they were used to [POW 9000/8000].
"Berserk Dragon attacks Captain Nightmist, boosted by Bahr," Kai sounded, snapping his additional soldiers into place.
Streams connected Bahr and his ally, the twin-headed dragon charged forward in a crazed frenzy. At the bottom of the sea, its flames wouldn't even leave its bulky mouths, meaning a physical assault was the only option left available in order to remain a part of the current Kagero corps. The two heads shot forward once upon the pirate clamping down onto his body with the jagged fangs lining the thick gums. Aichi's skin crawled watching the onslaught, his trembling shoulders unnoticed by all sans Misaki, who peered at his unnerved face in the corner of her sight. An agonized yell was all the beast could drag out of its victim, tossing him onto the sandy floor and storming away before the pirate's allies could gather and strike in vengeance.
"Tsk. Damage check," Kaoru grumbled, reaching for the deck. He stripped the card away, transferring it into the Damage Zone when the card began to blaze sharply.
"Ka-boom!" the bandana-wearing man cheered, punching the arm with his fists. "I got a Critical Trigger – and all that power goes to Nightmist [POW 13000]".
"It doesn't matter. Aermo boosts Blazing Core Dragon," Kai scoffed, reaching for the central column. "Check the Drive Trigger". With a sharp rotating wrist, Kai unveiled a golden card of his own, shrouded the demonic image with its glaring light. "Critical Trigger, get. All effects are applied to Blazing Core Dragon".
The claws of the beast gleamed despite the lack of light extending to the seabed, flickers of flames attempting and failing to survive [POW 20000]. Even with the elemental disadvantage, there was nothing to hold it back from striking with the incredible force gathered within it. The beast stamped forward, rocking the underwater field and carving through the clogged air, leaving temporary trails to mark the path of its hindered movements. The claws crashed into the pirate, launching him into his ring of withdrawn allies, a cloud of dust scattering itself across the defenders' lines, obscuring the demoralized forces briefly.
"D- Damage check…" Kaoru grunted, shakily reaching for his deck and finding Skeleton Lookout; a card shimmering quickly after presenting itself to its holder. "A Stand Trigger; that's one. And two". Commodore Blueblood.
A Trigger had come, but far too late to prevent the severe damage inflicted. The two toppled into the Damage Zone, quickly filling the space that had been until that moment safely empty.
KAI - KAORU
2 -DAMAGE- 4
"Wow; he pulled ahead so easily," Izaki marvelled.
"Nice job, Kai," Miwa cheered with a grin.
"Participant Kai has executed a fierce counterattack against Kaoru; the damage keeps piling up!" MC Miya hollered. "It's a strong start for Q4!"
"Amazing… To have dealt so much damage in one turn, and before even reaching Grade 3…" Aichi whispered, captivated by the scenes playing out before him. "This is how strong Kai-kun is…"
Misaki averted her sight from the awestruck boy and back to the fight, expressing none of her delight, but relieved that the team had been able to do well so far. But even with Kai standing up first, she was still concerned over Handsome's place as current titleholders.
FIFTH TURN – KAORU
A grimace covered Kaoru's face, grasping the end card from his hand and dropping it onto the field. The move surprised the audience solely due to the placement of the new unit – not in the Vanguard Circle, but a Rear-Guard.
"Call; Samurai Spirit".
A bulky warrior wrapped in burgundy plating and a black jacket made his appearance, wielding a katana and sporting a violet cape that sagged behind him, much like the enlarged clothed tucked into the reinforced defences over his limbs. Oddly, despite the environment, the head of the figure had been engulfed in flames that burned vividly against ordinary physics and the misfortune that had befallen the Kagero infiltrators [POW 7000].
"He's not riding up?" Morikawa lamented. "How can you not have a Grade 3?"
"Because not everyone overloads their decks with them like Lose-Umi…" Reiji mumbled.
"OD," Eiji huffed.
"Ruin Shade attacks Blazing Core Dragon, Ka-boom!" Kaoru snapped, thrusting a thick finger ahead. He reached immediately for his deck, throwing Skeleton Lookout and Dandy Romario into the building stack positioned underneath his deck. The ghosts of the discarded surged from the outside territory, flooding into Ruin Shade's charred form [POW 11000]. The thick sword clanged once it connected with the leading dragon's chest, pushing it back fiercely and destabilizing the beast, which toppled backwards. Kai retrieved his lost card, moving a copy of Tejas to the other end of the field.
"Captain Nightmist attacks. And he gets a boost from Samurai Spirit," Kaoru announced fiercely. "Hit Blazing Core while it's down, Ka-boom!"
"Guard with Demonic Dragon Mage Rakshasa," Kai uttered, whipping the card from those in his grasp and presenting it to his adversary before placing it on the space hanging from the top of the console. A projection of the serpentine being manifested in the ocean landscape, coiled defensively under the pressure of the foreign environment [SLD 10000].
"Drive check," Kaoru grunted, turning over his draw to discover a golden radiance burning from the artwork. "Ka-boom! A Critical Trigger! All the effects go to Captain Nightmist".
Gasps of disbelief resonated from the audience overhead; ordinarily, when Kai set a defence, nothing the opponent could do would penetrate it. This time, however, things were different. The hovering pirate dove forward, swimming strongly with his targets firmly in sight. With all the force he could muster in his legs, powered by the additional sources [POW 19000]. Unsheathing his sword, the man pushed himself towards the seabed, swinging the weapon madly. Various wounds were torn into the scaly skin of the defender sent to protect the leading dragon in its shadow. The creature let out a high-pitched squeal, submitting under the brutal onslaught dealt and vanishing from the field, dissolving into the current, leaving the path open for the aggressor to continue [POW 10000]. The attack persisted, Nightmist striking down on Blazing Core with the curved weapon. Kai's frown was minimal; if the turn of events had fazed him, he wasn't showing it. He reached for his deck, peeling away two cards and laying at the opposite end of the field – Dragon Knight, Berger and Wyvern Guard, Barri. A Trigger would have reinforced his Vanguard ahead of the third attack yet to be executed, but there was nothing of help.
Aichi picked himself up from the bench behind, his admiration swept aside for concern – although Kai had proven on many occasion to be plenty capable of holding his own no matter who the opponent, there was something about standing opposite the current champions that unnerved him tremendously. Even Kai couldn't have had any – or at least, much – experience against titleholders. Kamui and Misaki both caught sight of the rising boy, curious by his insistence in outwardly expressing any worries he held for the brunette, who showed no appreciation for them.
"Onii-san…" Kamui muttered.
"Ruin Shade attacks," Kaoru barked, tossing two further cards into the Drop Zone. "Ka-boom!"
Enhanced by its skill, the murky figure stormed forward, ready to complete a triple attack with its sword positioned diagonally before its exposed chest [POW 11000]. Kai's eyes flickered to the field before him, pinning down his front-row ally and dragging it across.
"Berserk Dragon intercepts".
The twin-headed dragon stomped into position, setting itself up as a sacrifice. The phantom-like figure thrust its weapon forward, sinking it into the chest of the beast. The slain dragon dissipated into the sea through a shower of glimmers that blinked out of view, leaving the original target unharmed and capable of fending for itself.
KAI - KAORU
5 -DAMAGE- 4
"In just one turn, that guy was able to push Kai from 2 damage to 5…" Izaki cried.
"You guys panic too easily," Miwa commented lightly. "Kai's not about to lose; he's just playing with the guy".
"He's right, Onii-san," Kamui stated. "Why are you so worked up?"
'Kai-kun's in a position to ride to Grade 3, but he's lost Dragonic Overlord,' Aichi thought, ignorant to the suggestion of his team-mate. 'Kai-kun… you've got other copies of Dragonic Overlord, but these guys… they're tough'.
SIXTH TURN – KAI
"Ride the Vanguard," Kai yelled, holding his replacement above his head and throwing it down roughly. "Sealed Dragon Blockade".
An eruption from the seabed sent torrents rushing in all direction, fleeing the disastrous summoning. A low ominous growling came from the centre of the twister, a growing shadow large enough to loom over Nightmist and his forces emerging from the tower of spiralling waters high enough to penetrate the ocean's surface. Kaoru grimaced, dreading what could have possibly arrived to have radiated such power; what terrifying creature had been selected in Dragonic Overlord's place? The tornado dissipated violently, a tremor rumbling through the ground and the cause was finally identifiable – a looming black dragon with searing red and orange glowing ferociously from the slits across its armoured skin. Papery seals of all kinds hung loosely around the demonic dragon's body, ripped apart by the offering to surface granted by Kai, whose hair waved from the imaginary winds that surged from Cray. The creature's head snapped up, unleashing a terrifying roar that sent another thick ripple of the drenched air racing away [POW 10000].
"Call," the brunette added sharply, slamming another card beside his new Vanguard. "Vortex Dragon [POW 10000]. Aermo boosts Sealed Dragon Blockade".
"He's starting off with the Vanguard?" Kaoru choked, hastily ripping away two cards from his hand. "Ka-boom! Perfect guard".
An elegant men materialized before the targeted pirate, a rapier hanging from a sash hanging over his chest and white rags floating from the held that held his mocha trousers to his slender form. Loose white sleeves extended from the blue vest hanging open and revealing his chest, a thick red band encircled his crown, from which fandango spiked hair, plaits draped over each shoulders [SLD 0].
"Check the Drive Trigger," Kai sounded, stripping away the first – Embodiment of Armour, Bahr. "Second check". Iron Tail Dragon.
Blockade's head swung back and then ahead, unleashing its flaming storm regardless of resistance. A torrent of flames smashed through an obstacle, surviving against all odds, but their raging charge were met by the horizontal twister departing from the impenetrable guardian's mouth, formulated with aid of the hands cupped around his thin lips. The two forces collided with explosive force; negating one another projecting sweeping currents away from the epicentre.
"With a boost from Bahr, Vortex Dragon attacks [POW 18000]" Kai continued.
A grimace hinted trouble on Kaoru's part and the short man tore two cards from his hand, tossing them ahead, the pair landing on the extended circle marked at the end of his land.
"Guard with two Knight Spirits," he snapped.
Duplicates of the Critical Trigger unit manifested on the field, blocking the path [SLD 28000]. The use of such drastic measures left the audience astonished. Vortex Dragon unleashed its stream, the torrent crashing into identical duo and dismissing them immediately, sapping it strength to completely; the shield alone had been far greater than its newfound heights.
"Turn end," Kai uttered.
SEVENTH TURN – KAORU
"Stand and draw," the pirate-themed fighter grunted, dragging the top card of his deck up. He eyed it cautiously in potential dread of another turn without the ability to unleash his full potential. "Ka-boom! I ride Spirit Exceed!"
"He's got it," Izaki gasped.
"A Grade 3!" Morikawa yelped with glee.
The new headless being stood tall with silver armour coating the left side of his body, violet and magenta over the remained; the clash was divided solely by golden lining around each plate, a design across its breastplate reaching out like the branches of a tree. Underneath the curved shield, the empty innards could be distinguished; hollow a single yellow orb hovering in its belly. The new ghostly phenomenon wielded two blades, glinting repeatedly under the glare of the pink and blue flames that raged from the spacious collar [POW 10000]. The student supporters recoiled from the sight of the figment, cringing at its lack of a head, Morikawa almost falling over the seat he had taken in shock.
"Are you glad now?" Reiji barked at the stumbling teen.
"GN?" Eiji yapped.
"Ruin Shade attacks the Sealed Dragon," Kaoru hollered, dumping two cards into his accumulating Drop Zone.
Kai responded with a sharp snapping movement; his fingers clamping down on the edge card which left the remainder, stuck to the tips of his slender fingers. "Guard with Iron Tail Dragon," he protested.
The enhanced ghostly attacker swung its sword swiftly [POW 11000] bringing it down with the intent of slicing apart further seals across the tremendous dragon's form, only to be interrupted by the sudden appearance of its companion, diving into the path of the slash and dooming itself [SLD 5000]. Its sacrifice depleted the attacker's strength; although the reality that it had forced action from the opposing force was enough for Kaoru, who moved onto his next phase of the plan.
"Spirit Exceed attacks with a boost from Samurai Spirit," he yelled, looming over his forces.
"Guard with Embodiment of Spear and Embodiment of Armour [SLD 25000]" Kai commanded, revealing the pair pinned between his right-hand fingers and thumb.
"He's taking no chances now," Miwa murmured.
"Maybe that Critical Trigger's got him playing extra careful," Izaki sighed.
"It's the ferocious power of the Grade 3s, even Kai's running scared," Morikawa scoffed.
"He's got a Grade 3 of his own," Eiji reminded.
"HO," Reiji added heavily.
"Kai's not the kind of guy who runs scared whenever he's faced with something big that throws down a challenge," Miwa claimed, folding his arms loosely over his chest and leaning back casually. "He probably doesn't even know the meaning of the word 'retreat'".
"Twin Drive, Ka-boom!" Kaoru yelped, his hand falling onto his deck and stripping it of duplicates of the pair engaged in battle.
Although without an additional source of power to aid it in climbing the formidable defence set up ahead, the flaming-headed spectre charged forward, tightening the steel fingers wrapped around the handles of its blades and readying the empty arms for battle [POW 17000]. Upon the enemy's clustered bodies, the ghost thrust both limbs forward, piercing the armour of Bahr and exposed chest of Tahr, sinking deeper until the tips of the blades erupted from their spines, eradicating both simultaneously. The two Vanguards were mere feet apart with nothing to prevent a following battle outside the spectre's drained levels, forcing its floating body to push back in retreat. In exchange for one returning unit, Kaoru pushed on with launching another ahead.
"Ruin Shade attacks," he yelled, throwing an additional pair of cards into the Drop Zone.
Kai whipped out another card from his hand, leaving one alone in his grasp and tossed it onto the console. "Guard with Dragon Monk Genjo".
"He's guarding with a Trigger?" Morikawa scoffed.
"The fight's reaching its peak; they're both running out of cards to help them out," Miwa observed. "They're locked at the moment, neither can break through to inflict any damage on the other".
The robed guardian manifested in the line of fire [SLD 10000], struck down by the sword of the nearing ghost and removed from the field swiftly, confirming the deadlock between the players. Kaoru grunted, stealing a glance at his piling Drop Zone rising to challenge his deck; if he couldn't break through before long, the stack would become dangerously low and threaten to expire, resulting in a deck-out in Kai's favour. Hope lied in Kai's depleted hand; a single care remained – unless he was able to pull with tremendous luck, he would be in a troubling state by the time the Handsome player's turn rolled around once again. The brunette, however, showed no sign for concern and opened his sharp jade eyes with the bandana-wearing opponent as his target.
"Final Turn!"
EIGHTH TURN – KAI
"F- Final Turn?" Kaoru choked.
"Participant Kai Toshiki has called Final Turn; something he has yet to fail and deliver," MC Miya yelled into his microphone, shooting up from his seat. "If this time plays out like those before, then it could spell trouble for Team Handsome".
Kai drew from his deck, eyeing the card briefly before dropping it into the emptied space on his front line. Nehalem emerged from the light shimmering from the cracks in the sandy flooring, carried much higher by the body of the growing dragon beneath, which unleashed a fierce roar [POW 10000]. From Spirit Exceed's perspective, Kaoru gaped at the sheer size of the knight's subordinate alone, moving a step back in premature fear. On the benches, the teams displayed polarized demeanours; Q4's members beaming with joy that with Kai's declaration, victory was all but assured, while Nagisa crept closer to her brother, grabbing at his tattered jacket, casting doubtful eyes at the elder Daimonji. Although he wished to reassure her with his standard smirk, there was nothing comforting on Gouki's face to ease his sister's concerns and the pair set their sights on the battle; Kai had already shown himself off as a formidable force, there was nothing to deny that his victory was about to unfold just as he predicted.
"Aermo boosts Sealed Dragon," Kai stated.
"S- Starting with the Vanguard again?" Kaoru yelped.
His cast his sights over his field; as did Misaki – he held only two cards; those from his Twin Drive – one of which was useless in defending. Combined with the Ruin Shades actively standing either side of his Vanguard and the Samurai Spirit waiting in hand, he could defend against the assault, but that would leave him open against the following two attacks. He was risking defeat by gambling on a Heal Trigger to rescue him. Worse, if it were to appear first, its power couldn't be applied with Kai's own column stretched to the brink of defeat.
With clenched jaws and sweat seeping across his brow, the man inched his head higher and dragged his shoulders down. "No guard".
Those positioned behind the Q4 fighter were taken aback by his decision outside Misaki, whose incredible memory has encoded all the data from the fight and allowed her exclusive access to the man's poor hand.
"Twin Drive," Kai called, raising the hand hanging by his side, peeling away the card – Dragonic Overlord. "Second check". The burgundy gloved palm fell upon the Vanguard logo imprinted on the card, lingering for a matter of seconds before stripping it away from the stack. A flicker in his eyes raced across, sending a chill racing down Kaoru's spine out of fear that his worst nightmares could be able to play themselves out before him and the fingers rose, clamped around the edges of the card emitting a light. Shadows were cast across Kai's brow from the hangs hanging in front and the positioning of the golden card, gleaming with brilliance. "Critical Trigger, get".
Kaoru whimpered from the brunette's incredible luck and terror that he should face Nagisa's wrath once returning to his team in shame. Sealed Dragon Blockade became engulfed in a fiery aura that blazed regardless of the sea bottom setting [POW 21000]. The papery chains around it simmered, disintegrating from the overwhelming force growing within its body – a decisive display. All the energies collected in the searing body broke loose as one destructive force, boiling the seawater around, ignorant of nature's laws. Kaoru's enlarged eyes quivered; a variety of terrors washed through him, empowered by the diving twister of fire and the hellish face visible amongst the shadows splayed across the dragon responsible. The flames collided with headless spectre, extinguishing its flames with ease; the barrage resulting in a violent explosion.
"D- Damage check…." Kaoru grunted, peeling Rough Seas Banshee from his deck. "S- Second check".
His thick fingers fell upon the back of the card; Kai had been able to achieve a miracle Trigger, was it impossible for his opponent? Sweat leaking down his face, the man squeezed his eyes shut and tore the additional card from his deck, keeping its identity secret from all, including himself, with it hanging from his fingers. Gouki examined the card, just about able to make it out from the distance, though his expression remained plain; unreadable. Kaoru's eyes crept open, checking the final effort of his fight. The two cards floated into the Damage Zone – Basskirk joining the banshee.
KAI - KAORU
5 -DAMAGE- 6
FIGHT END
"Winner of the first fight – Kai Toshiki!"
Kaoru slumped forward, head hanging heavily. Defeat jeopardized his team's chances of making the National Tournament once more and establishing themselves as competitors of a higher level. There were many teams they had sworn to fight again; but his failure had put those dreams on-hold, meant for his team-mates to rescue. Nagisa's cheeks inflated, sending a cold glare towards the man, who limped back to his party.
"Captain, I…" he exhaled, reaching to remove his cap.
Gouki's fingers handed on his knuckles, halting the process before it began, earning an astonished gaze from the dejected party.
"Don't even think of it".
"But Captain…"
"If you're struggling in the sweeping tides, we'll throw a life ring out, not leave you behind to drown," Gouki stated firmly, lowering his thick arms. "A captain doesn't desert his men".
Kaoru's eyes wobbled with tears lining the bottom lids, streaming down his face in thick rivers. "Th- Thank you, Captain!" he cried, head slumped between his shoulders in overcome gratitude. By her brother's side, Nagisa huffed, folding her arms heavily over her chest with irritation over the fact that her brother had forgiven their team-mate so easily for his failure. Kai shirked the scene, having collected his cards into one neat stack and paced towards his ecstatic team-mates.
"Amazing, Kai-kun!" Aichi cried. "That was a great fight".
"It's nothing major," Kai commented blandly.
"Come on, Kai, lighten up," Miwa chimed from overhead. "Even if he lost, he gave you a run for your money".
"Just keep quiet," Kai ordered of the blonde coldly.
"Kai-kun?" Aichi uttered with confusion.
"Alright, it's my turn next," Kamui stated confidently, tugging on the orange gloves wrapped around his hands.
Misaki diverted her sight to Shin, who returned the look. Kamui pressed his hands on his hips, grinning widely with eagerness. He stepped forward, pausing once he registered that Gouki was seated between his male companions and it was Nagisa standing in front of them with a bright smile. Sounding his puzzlement, the boy watched in disbelief as the girl trod forward, revealing small pink Fighting Gloves enveloping her hands.
"Kamui-chan!" she shrieked across the field. "Come on, it's our turn. Time for our battle of love!"
"E- Eh?!" Kamui sounded in disgust, leaping backwards in a hasty retreat. "Gouki, you-"
"Sorry, Kamui," Gouki yelled across the hall. "A man must support true love, no matter what may stand in the way".
"He betrayed me…" Kamui whimpered, tears streaming down his cheeks.
"The second match of the final is about to take place," MC Miya's voice boomed across the hall. "A surprising twist for both teams – from Team Handsome, a fighter who hasn't played throughout the tournament: Daimonji Nagisa. And Q4 has for their second fighter Sendou Aichi".
Seconds ticked by before the news sank in, the eyes of the team and their supporters falling onto the blue-haired boy, who had yet to realize what had just been announced. Once it sank in, his body flinched, hairs springing out of place and a blush seizing his face.
"M- M- Me?!" he cried, then whipped around to the man responsible. "B- But Manager- !"
"I'm sorry, Aichi-kun; it was Misaki's plan," Shin confessed.
"Misaki-san?" Aichi pleaded, rotating to the lilac-haired woman.
She remained seated in a relaxed pose, arms folded loosely over her chest, unfazed by the deliverance. "It's strategy," she stated. "After seeing the way she was acting with Kamui and overhearing we were placing him second, we figured she would try something like this. Her flirting would only put more pressure on our side and it could have come down to you and Gouki-san. With your lack of confidence, we didn't want to risk that and you blaming yourself if things didn't go according to plan".
"But I-" Aichi whimpered.
"I'm sorry, Aichi; I would fight in your place, but I'm not in the right place," Misaki sighed, turning her head away and sealing her eyes closed. "Right now, I would only lose without a doubt. We need our best out there".
Aichi sighed, sounding his discomfort with the arrangements unveiled at the last moment. The team had been carried by Kai and Kamui's strength; the final was supposed to be their fight, not his. But there was no longer any choice; without being consulted, he had been dragged into the battlefield and toss ahead, ordered to survive. It had been his first public fight when those words came back to him; encouraging him to pick up his sword and stand strong.
"How would you survive, Sendou Aichi?"
'I have to survive,' he argued inwardly, sealing his eyes to the outside world, eliminating all distractions. 'If I can survive, then Q4 can get further; we can become stronger and I can move that bit closer to Kai-kun. I can't want to run away anymore; it's like Miwa-kun said – Kai-kun would never run away from a fight. If I cower behind him, he'll never acknowledge me'.
His eyes flickered with resolve whilst opening, gathering the scraps of courage within him and drawing them all together; the sparks of fighting spirit collected into a small flame. He turned once more, completing a circle in order to face Kai and Kamui, both eyeing his progression through stages swinging between doubt and belief.
"Okay then, I'll do my best," he declared.
"Onii-san…" Kamui mumbled.
"It's alright, Kamui-kun," Aichi insisted with a smile. "I'm not as strong as you or Kai-kun, but I can still do my part to help the team move forward".
The youngster conceded and fell back, joining the others while Aichi marched forward, tightening the blue gloves clinging to his palms. Nagisa huffed, inflating her cheeks once again with frustration; not only had Kamui been snatched from her, but the one responsible was the very same whom had tried to stand between them before. She stomped forward, slamming her deck onto the console, the bottom card meeting the machine in unison with Aichi's. Sweat clung to the edges of his face; although the girl seemed harmless, the stakes in the fight were high nonetheless and there had to be another reason for Gouki to consent to the girl's plans. He couldn't have gone along with her proposal if it meant risking their entire campaign to return to the National league all for the sake of a childish crush.
"Uh… Good luck, Nagisa-chan," the boy uttered discreetly.
"Hm," Nagisa sounded violently. "I don't need luck, I just need Kamui-chan's love".
"You're not getting any!" Kamui yelled from behind.
The referee between the conflicting sides raised his arm vertically, cutting off any further debate without uttering a word. The limb descended and hung by his side once again. "Second match, begin".
"Stand Up, Vanguard!"
FIGHT START
AICHI - NAGISA
0 -DAMAGE- 0
Barcgal took its place among the United Sanctuary canyon, the sword pinned between its jaws gleaming beneath the burning sun [POW 4000]. Where the audience had expected a Granblue unit, Battleraizer appeared [POW 3000]. Kamui's jaw dropped, astonished that the girl had gone as far as replicating his deck in a twisted declaration of love, intending to pit their mirrored units against one another, finding themselves in the other. The boy stamped on the wooden flooring, a furious fist clenched at the end of his jagged arm, leaning forward with intense disgust at her scheme.
"You- You're not even taking this seriously!" he yelled. "Quit using Vanguard for your sick love games".
Nagisa pouted; no matter what she had done, Kamui yelled, yet he was much gentler with the boy standing in between the youngsters' desire for one another. At least, that was how Nagisa viewed it. Even if the line-up had been rearranged; she could easily exact revenge against the boy for intruding on her romance with Kamui. Her loving gaze at the younger boy hardened and landed on her rival.
"The first move to Team Q4," the referee stationed in between the pair shouted.
FIRST TURN – AICHI
Although puzzled by Nagisa's suddenly aggressive demeanour, Aichi shook his head, intending to push on regardless of his opponent and exchanged his new card for another already in his grasp. "Ride, Wingal [POW 6000]".
The canine Royal Paladin manifested in the space where Barcgal had been, its extended pink hair dyed blue. the encased hound leaping to the back row.
"Barcgal's skill moves it to the Rear-Guard," Aichi sounded, continuing to pin its edges with his fingertips. "Then I rest Barcgal in order to call Flogal from the order".
A third Hi-Beast arrived on the rocky plane; its curved body painted entirely of pink with a variety of shades [POW 5000], completing the trio of frequently active canine units. Aichi's eyes withdrew immediately to his hand Morgana, Bringer of Good Luck – Epona, Yggdrasil Maiden, Elaine, and a Grade 3 shrouded between the Triggers were all he had to work with – no Grade 2s. But with his current set-up, there was a glimmer of hope. A drop of sweat clung to the edge of his face, slipping down his cheek while his eyes were locked on the pale Grade 3 that had yet to make its debut. His concentration appeared to have gotten the better of him as the echo of a faint screech resonated within the confides of his mind, causing the boy to flinch and return him to the Stadium. His sight rose, landing upon the fuming girl whose hand slammed against her deck.
SECOND TURN – NAGISA
"Now it's my turn," the girl barked, tearing away her first card. "I ride Tough Boy [POW 8000]".
The steel machine witnessed as the first to inherit the Vanguard space in several of Kamui's matches replaced the wide mechanized starter, also taking a new submissive role in the squadron being built [POW 3000].
"She's even playing the same style as Kamui-san," Reiji gaped.
"SS," Eiji spluttered.
"And now I call Screamin' and Dancing Announcer, Shout," the girl added, slamming down the additional card in one of the available front-row spaces. The unit in question manifested beside her leader, its flaccid arms wiggling to an inaudible rhythm [POW 7000]. The young girl positioned herself on her toes, balancing hands clasping one another, cards laid face-down on the edge of the console and eyes set on the object of her affection. "How did I do darling?"
"I ain't your darling!" the boy roared in retaliation.
"You'll understand before long where your true feelings lie," the girl muttered with a sickly sweet tone in an attempt to convey herself as seductive.
Kamui groaned, falling back onto the bench beside Shin, whose opaque lens concealed a drop of sweat following the embarrassing display. Nagisa brushed off the loud rejection, pinning down the most recent of her cards and shifting it into a horizontal stance.
"This is for the future with Kamui-chan," he barked. "Shout attacks Wingal".
The furry Vanguard braced himself, tightening with muscle across his body ahead of the assault with a piercing glare directed at the incoming creature. Its limp arms wrapped themselves around the animal's body, one encircling his neck and tightened themselves. Wingal spluttered, struggling against the fleshy ropes constricting his movements, his and Aichi's eyes scanning for any opening by which to escape Nagisa's projected wrath. One of the flickering tips wagged nearby, just in reach for Wingal to stretch his neck and clamp down on it with his tiny fangs. The creature squealed at an incredible pitch and launched the canine creature away, the released body crashing into a cloud of dust once contact with the ground was made. Gallatin fell into the Damage Zone, initiating the countdown to defeat.
"Tough Boy attacks," Nagisa barked, reaching for her deck immediately. "Drive check".
She turned over a copy of Magician Girl, Kirara, meaning the gap between the two would be narrow. The charging Battleroid crashed into Wingal, throwing its battered body further back, landing with a grunt between Barcgal and Flogal. A second card floated into the Damage Zone; Flogal, but its power had come too late. With a grimace, Aichi accepted the damage dealt and leaned forward, standing Barcgal once more.
AICHI - NAGISA
2 -DAMAGE- 0
THIRD TURN – AICHI
"Draw," Aichi sounded, removing his next card and eyeing it carefully. It wasn't a Grade 2, but Marron. Aichi's eyebrows dipped; his contingency plan was the only option available if he were to move forward. His fingers reached forward once again, landing upon Barcgal and shifting her into a horizontal stance in a repeat of the previous turn. "Barcgal's skill – I call Future Knight, Llew from the deck".
A fourth canine figure appeared on the field behind Wingal; although the mechanical animal was a mere sidekick to the young blonde boy standing in makeshift armour, consisting of a loose sky blue breastplate over a shirt of gold and azure, white sleeves draped over his arms and into thick gloves. The bottom half of the boy's oversized was white, lined with more gold and hanging from the silver belt equipped with various devices, dropping over the white leggings reaching into his blue boots [POW 4000].
"Llew?" Kamui gasped. "Then that means-"
"Llew's Counterblast," Aichi declared, turning over Gallatin's lost card. The action was followed by swift movements of sliding the Rear-Guard allies underneath Wingal. "By sending Llew, Flogal and Barcgal to the Soul, I can call upon another to take the place of Vanguard".
"So he's going for that…" Gouki grunted.
Aichi fanned his deck, selecting the desired card and placed it face-down on the console beside his hand, shuffling the remaining cards and setting them down. Retrieving his chosen Vanguard, he clutched it firmly between his fingers, his bent arm straightening once throw up, the card glimmering under the building's lights.
"Tachiagare, boku no bunshin! Superioru Raido! Burasuta Bureido!" [1]
The card crashed atop of the enlarged Soul. Simultaneously, a bolt crackled through the air, colliding with Wingal with the result was shrouded in a thick cloud of dust rising from the rocky landscape. What emerged was far different from the scene beforehand; the small knight and his four canine allies had vanished – replaced by the white knight famed for his skills both across Cray and Earth. Raising the tip of his weapon from the ground, the warrior arched his back, sliding the palm of his hand along the razor edge of the sword from which his only known title derived, thick blue hairs hanging from the right side of his helmet obscuring a large portion of his vision [POW 9000].
"So, he's here…" Gouki murmured thoughtfully.
"Blaster Blade… Onii-san's avatar!" Kamui cheered.
Raising his head, the shadows cast by his helmet peeled away from the warrior's face, exposing his azure eyes to the Sanctuary lighting. A stern glare raced across the field, striking the enemy, from within Nagisa returned the intense stare, her variation backed by jealousy and frustration. Aichi said nothing to celebrate the arrival of his treasured card, instead, he continued to look ahead without hesitation.
'This my answer; this is how I will survive,' he thought, the light in his eyes flickering as a result of the growing determination within. 'Blaster Blade and I will fight to accelerate Q4 into the National Tournament; we'll prove our strength here and win this fight'.
PREVIEW
Kamui: Onii-san, you can do it!
Aichi: I must. I have to win so that Q4 can head to the National Tournament.
Nagisa: You're not going to beat what Kamui-chan and I have!
Aichi: These Nova Grapplers… they're just like Kamui-kun's. Why would Nagisa-chan choose them?
Kamui: Onii-san, please hurry and win! She's not getting the message.
Aichi: I understand. Eh? What's this noise? This feeling… Next time: "Cardfight! Vanguard Override, Chapter 10 – Descent of the Holy Dragon". It's like I can sense something from this card…
[1] "Stand up, my avatar! Ride! Blaster Blade!"
I'd like to thank everyone for their comments so far. Regarding mistakes, would I be able to get away with the excuse this is still set early-Season 1 and characters were pulling those kinds of moves? .w. Thanks for reading, and more so if you've got the time to leave a review.
- CuteYami, 24th January 2013
