Cardfight! Vanguard – Override
Sendou Aichi is a timid student whose life 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
-Hitsue City: Sendou Residence-
Mist hissed around Aichi's ankles, billowing from an unknown source and blanketing the ground of the mysterious area he had discovered himself in. The skies, if they could be called that, were equally unusual; blues and purples clustering together, melding into a number of unusual shades of violet and indigo; the ground, presumably the same, except taking a bluer gradient. Even with the strange environment, Aichi – who stood in his usual attire, although only with his red turtleneck hugging his torso – proceeded to move forward cautiously, curious to learn where it was that he had arrived and the purpose behind such an unusual encounter.
There were no landscapes to go by, no indications as to which way he was supposed to be travelling. Instinct alone carried him forward. Casting a curious eye left and right in search of something that may shed light on what was happening; his steps were slow and careful, as were the swinging motions of his arms either side of his hips, brushing against his waist. Where was he? What purpose was this to serve? How was he supposed to get home?
A brief tremor through the ground drew Aichi's eyes downwards to where his knees disappeared behind the raised smog, steadying himself should the shaking grow worse. But the opposite happened and it settled as if nothing had happened – a slight shuddering of the strange world. Azure hues rose slowly, taken back and bringing forth a gasp from his lips upon discovering a large mound had rising from the ground – the way a mountain could from the collision of tectonic plates; was that… what had just happened? But there was nothing so violent in the shifting that had just taken place; where did the ascent appear from, coloured black again the shady backdrop.
"What…?" was Aichi breathless utterance.
At the peak of the ascent, an immense structure had taken place, resembling a throne of sorts. But why would such a grand seat be waiting at the top of a climb he was presumably to take? The towering back cracked, creeks of the strain it suffered snapping through the otherwise soundless air and the structure collapsed, obliterated in a display of blue flames and spitting its fragments across the surrounding area. Aichi raised an arm to shield himself from the fallout, squinting in order to continue watching with minimal risk. Nevertheless, shards crashed around him and once it was safe, the limb descended, allowing him a view of the remnants of the throne, to find another figure standing where it had been whole. The other, with his back to Aichi, possessed a familiar profile and the colour of his uniform caught the boy's eye immediately, coupled with the spiked nature of his brunet hair.
"Kai-kun…" the boy whispered.
At the sound of his name, Kai made no response; Aichi's voice had been so gentle that even he struggled to hear it. But the fascination behind seeing Kai standing there in this strange place where there was nothing ordinary drew Aichi a step forward – that was as far as he made it before other voices invaded, bringing him to a halt in surprise at their arrival.
"Aichi". Misaki?
"Onii-san".
"Aichi-kun".
A voice he didn't recognize?
"Sendou".
"Sendou Aichi".
"Sendou-kun".
"Aichi!"
"Aichi-kun~"
"Aichi-sama".
"Aichi-dono".
"Aichi-san".
"Aichi…"
At the end of a string of tones unfamiliar to him was Kai again, albeit with a much more bitter sound to his voice. What were these voices… all calling for him? So many he had no recollection of, unsure of their origins. But they were all acquainted with him? When? Who? Aside from his new team-mates, he couldn't pinpoint any of them and he found himself reluctant to proceed while pondering the collection.
A faint light whizzed around nearby, circling Aichi a number of times before slowing, ensuring that it stayed well within sight. "Sendou Aichi".
The boy stood in awe of the light; that had been the voice he always envisioned Blaster Blade to possess, and found himself drawn to the warmth radiating from the glimmer; it was a pleasant sensation, one that gave him reassurance even in this bland and suspicious environment.
"The path you'll take is fraught with hardship and danger. To make it to the end, you must be strong and cautious; I do not doubt you as a Vanguard, but the road ahead is a painful one".
"The path…?" Aichi repeated, hues flickering in astonishment at the light's words. What journey was he supposed to be undertaking? Was this something about the National Tournament? Vanguard? Why would such a dream be warning him of something else? But… to think that Vanguard could threaten his future…
His eyes wandered back up to the peak of the ascent before him, where Kai still stood, hands in his pockets and arched back to him. Whatever this journey, Kai was still the ultimate goal; that was all he could infer from the set-up, and that steeled him, lips pursed and fingers curling into loose fists at the base of squared shoulders.
"Then I'll be strong," the boy insisted, moving forward a step.
The light was quick to react, leaping into the deck box attached to Aichi's waist and inserting itself within the cards. As he moved forward, Aichi's teal jacket returned to him, transforming seconds later into a short-sleeved white vest, then altogether into the school uniform he had seen older students wearing as a child, his hair shrinking into a narrower and shorter variation of his usual style; the combination of a purple jacket, pink turtleneck and jeans that transitioned into a white jacket and lilac jumped and transforming altogether into a tight white shirt and a black long coat that hung loosely from his frame; the shoulders marked with a red stripe and yellow tassels hanging from the edges. A string of gradual changes that Aichi himself could feel and acknowledge without taking his attention away completely from his goal; his eyes flickering with the growing resolve to reach the top of the ascent before him and to where Kai was standing in wait.
With his head held high, the boy stretched out his neck, parting his lips to call out as firmly as possible to the waiting other. "Kai-kun!"
Hearing his name bellowed and the assured tone from the boy, Kai was slow to rotate; a gradual turn that allowed Aichi to see his teal eyes, growing somewhat softer from their sharp stare that he was accustomed to, a smile growing onto his face. Feeling his own lips curve into a smile, Aichi moved forward faster, the tails of his coat dragging behind him, brought up by a faint wind that rushed through the area, ruffling the pair's hairstyles. A miasma of burgundy radiated around Kai for a matter of seconds, the same happening to Aichi, though with a mixture of light blue, pink and purple instead of the murky shade. Both dissipated quickly, brushed off by Aichi's focus on reaching the brunet; growing more hopeful that he was within reach while approaching the mound at a quickening rate. With a gentle tone, Kai responded to the call of his name; perhaps it was wishful thinking, but there was a fondness to his voice that Aichi had yet to hear, but that he hoped would one day be there for him to hear.
"Aichi…"
He was sure of it, more than anything ever before. He would meet with Kai, and their paths would…
Ride 11: Another World
[Mou Hitotsu no Sekai]
-Hitsue City: Card Capital-
"Attack!"
The howl of Morikawa while he slumped in defeat rattled through the shop, waking Aichi from his half-asleep state and drawing his eyes around to the sight of his older classmate hanging over the fighting table opposite Kamui. The younger grinned, flashing a victory sign with his fingers. Seated around him, Izaki and Miwa grinned, withdrawing their attention back to the desk where the trio were sitting in wait for the two to return. Aware of his friend's apparent fatigue, Izaki tilted himself forward, the movement catching Miwa's attention.
"Aichi, you alright?" he asked.
"Yeah, I just spent a lot of time working on my deck this morning," Aichi replied sheepishly with a small smile. "I had a dream that got me a little motivated and wanted to check everything over".
"A dream?" Miwa repeated with a curious look on his face. That expression lifted into a much brighter look, beaming excitedly at the younger fighter. "Well, that's got to be a good omen. Just don't exhaust yourself getting ready for Nationals. Or you won't be in any state to fight by the time you make it there".
"Right," Aichi chirped, nodding his head in time with the utterance.
Azure eyes fell to the deck seated on the table in front of him; even if he was masking it better, he was still reeling over the loss he'd suffered in the final round of the Regional Tournament; doubting his ability to master a card as powerful as Soul Saver Dragon. There was no doubt in his mind that the defeat had been down to slipping the card into his deck so soon as it was in his possession and his lack of fighting experience backfiring on him, making it impossible to properly utilize the card to its fullest potential and resulting in his falling short when it counted most. Reading Aichi's thoughtful gaze at his deck, Miwa cupped his cheek, supporting his jaw against the palm at the top of his balancing elbow with a small smile. He was rather fond of the sight; youngsters so passionate about a game that had opened up all kinds of possibilities to them, ascending quickly into a world of fantasy and competition – to have brought someone as withdrawn as Aichi out of his shell and thinking ahead instead of looking backwards, it made him proud to be able to witness such a transformation. And he was pleased about the circumstances that had made such a thing possible in the first place.
The tranquillity of the table was shattered by Morikawa's crashing into Izaki, snaking an arm around the brunet's shoulders and sighing loudly in dismay at his loss to the Elementary school fighter. Kamui was quick behind him, grinning wildly at the new addition to his winning streak and jumped into the seat beside Aichi. His large scarlet eyes rolled around to the boy by his side, smiling brightly rather than a mocking grin and shuffled closer.
"Onii-san, do you want to have a practice fight?" he asked eagerly, having caught sight of the deck set between them.
With a guilty smile, Aichi laid his hand over the stack of cards and relaxed the digits, rather than make any attempt to lift them away. "Sorry, Kamui-kun, I think I need to tune the deck a little more before I try and fight again. It might need some more work".
Sounding his curiosity, Kamui sank back into his seat, slackening his shoulders in quiet disappointment that his team-mate was still reluctant to trust himself with the deck. Miwa, too, seemed disheartened by Aichi's sudden turnaround so shortly after claiming he had been encouraged by his dream. The blond crept away from the table, making his way to the counter where Misaki was stationed as normal. Almost immediately, Kamui turned on the other Hitsue Middle School students, jumping up enthusiastically to declare a challenge to them. That, too, fell flat with Izaki insisted that he needed to leave and encouraged Morikawa to leave before causing more chaos with his rampage should he lose to the youngster once more; only to enrage his spiky-haired peer. Nevertheless, the pair took their leave quickly afterwards, unable to stay any longer and leaving their friends in the relatively emptied shop.
With the pair out of the way, Miwa turned at the counter, leaning against it with his elbows propped on the surface and a hopeful smile shining from his face. "Hey, you're anxious about your deck, so why don't we check out that place you said you went to before?"
"Place?" Kamui repeated, averting his curious eyes from Miwa to Aichi. "You mean that place you met Ultra Rare?"
"PSY Shop?" Aichi named with trepidation.
It was true that his fortunes had altered drastically after visiting and receiving Alfred from Suiko. The king had become a formidable force within his deck and the backbone of his strongest line-ups; a comrade that brought together his deck marvellously. She had invited him back any time he would see fit to visit, after all.
"You can always stop by the shop again. I'd be very interested to see you visit sometime soon".
Perhaps it was right to take up the opportunity? The glistening in Kamui's eyes suggested that he was eager to explore the mysterious shop, at the very least. Aichi's vision rotated around the room, back towards Miwa and Misaki, both watching him in wait of a response; pursing his lips, he nodded sharply.
"It sounds like an idea; the last time, Suiko-san and Kourin-san helped me improve a lot," he confessed.
"Those two, huh?" Misaki muttered under her breath.
"Nee-chan, you should come along," Miwa chimed, snapping her attention to him.
"What?" she asked hastily, almost as if offended by the idea of leaving her own shop to travel into another.
Miwa recoiled playfully at the sharp response, hands raised defensively beneath his grinning face. "Why not think of it as scouting out the competition? They're still a rival shop".
"Miwa-kun is right," a voice sounded from behind, luring the pair around to find Shin standing with his arm propped on a cardboard box filled with new stock. His spectacles glimmered contently at the idea, in spite of his niece's reluctance.
Nevertheless, at her uncle's insistence, Misaki's expression softened. "But…"
"It's fine, Misaki, you should get out and see what's going on," Shin encouraged enthusiastically. "It'll be team training before we head off to Nationals".
"But Kai isn't about," Kamui huffed, folding his arms over his chest tightly.
"I'll go on Kai's behalf," Miwa chirped.
"Well then, it's settled then," Shin announced encouragingly. "Team Q4 is heading out on an excursion".
With Miwa and Kamui clearly excited to begin the assigned adventure, Aichi cast a sheepish smile to Misaki; who no longer showed the extent of her discomfort, but had clearly yet to warm to the idea. At the initiation of their assignment made official, the boy let out a small laugh.
-Hitsue City: Shopping District-
Pacing through the mall, the team observed their surroundings with fascination; it was a new experience for each member to be travelling through the district with each other – Aichi's previous visit to the shop had been with Morikawa and Izaki, but to be with his friends more advanced in the game was something entirely new. Like an entirely new world; the growing world that had opened up through Vanguard. It was much more lively – exciting – to be surrounded by lively characters, to whom he had been granted the chance to feel close to – that they would get the chance to undergo a journey together; the winding road ahead of them along which they would grow. It brought Aichi to consider his dream again – the excitement and trepidation was building up inside of him. Even with Kai's selfless gesture years ago and the events that had taken place since his return into Aichi's life; Aichi could never have believed that it could advance and enhance his life to such an extreme degree. Yet it wasn't impossible to consider; already, it had made a remarkable impact on his very personality – and over such a short period of time – an extended journey ahead of them could open all kinds of possibilities.
His stream of thoughts was interrupted by the concerned call of his name from Kamui, bringing him to a halt and eyeing the younger boy with bewilderment.
"I'm sorry, did you say something?" Aichi asked, rounding back azure hues over his shoulder to Kamui and Miwa looming on one side, both eyeing him curiously.
"You looked a bit distracted," Miwa commented, tilting his head with a curious expression upon his face, cocking an eyebrow. "Are you feeling alright?"
"Me? I- I'm fine, I'm sorry for concerning you" Aichi yelped, all but fearful at the assumption he had troubled his friends with such inattentiveness.
"Hey, you can unwind; you've been to this place before, right?" Kamui uttered light-heartedly, beaming optimistically at the blue-haired fighter dictating their route having been the only one to visit the site in question. That said, Emi had pointed out in the shop on occasions in the past that Aichi had a knack for getting himself lost; perhaps that was it and he was fretful of taking an unexpected detour – dragging his friends along with him for an accidental tour of the mall.
Tucking his head between his small shoulders, a tint of pink coloured Aichi's cheeks – that was exactly why he was so nervous. He wasn't one to lead, but to follow; that had been what his life had always been – creeping in the shadows and out of sight, never in the spotlight and caring any expectations of others. It was a surreal experience to say that least; prior to the group's latest endeavours in fighting as part of tournaments, he had never been one to put himself out there and draw attention to himself, now inadvertently, he was facing just that. Twiddling his fingers against his stomach so as not to attract the attention of the eyes fixated on the back of his form, he was quick to berate himself for the physical tics that would give away his growing anxieties about having been put in the position of leading. A hand fell onto his shoulder, sending a chill racing down his spine and every muscle in his body seizing up, back and neck straightened in an instant and rotated his head around once again to find the arm trailing back to Miwa, who stood with a confident smile upon his face.
"Hey, you don't need to push yourself. We'll work as a team if you feel a little overwhelmed, okay?"
A small nod and the faintest utterance of agreement was the best Aichi could manage, the blush of discomposure clinging onto his cheeks. Setting his sights ahead once more, he carefully examined the layout of the setting ahead without resuming his march, leaving the four standing in the centre of the wide corridor, shoppers entering and departing from the store situated immediately either side. The path seemed straight and clear enough, but the shaded road branching away caught Aichi's eye and lured his vision to alter, fixated on the additional route. Advancing a slow step, the sudden restart drew the eyes of the three standing behind, quick to follow and stick together.
"Aichi?" Misaki sounded, her tone leaking inquisitively at the subtle changes in Aichi's saunter – the way his shoulders had squared and each stride wider than they had been; brewing with certainty that he had located the destination.
The boy offered no verbal response, nor anything to suggest he had heard the gentle call of his name; unusual for his usual behaviour – to hear, even when lost in thought, as proven by Kamui's attempt just a moment before. Nevertheless, if he was determined to check the alley, then all she could do would be support and follow, though her eyes wandered to the corners of their sockets, where Miwa smiled optimistically at the transformation in Aichi's posture. The boy halted at the mouth of the secretive corridor; Kamui, Miwa and Misaki all clustering around and joined in gazing into the shadows – no shops, no toilets; nothing to distinguish the route for anything more than a dead-end. Though, barely visible in the thick shade, a metallic sign had been plastered onto the far wall facing the brighter and bustling road. Behind the thick lettering printed on the slate, a trio of squares – blue, yellow, red; simply primary colours, nothing elaborate, and thereby rather fitting for the silent, barren setting that it had been fitted in. Aichi dared to inch forward, stepping into the gloom and marching forward soundlessly and without checking if the others had been taken by the same lure that pulled him inwards. The trio stood hesitantly, none wearing expressions that harboured any confidence about the setting, but apprehensive about allowing Aichi to move ahead alone, lest he wind up in any sort of predicament. Miwa was first to move, Misaki quickly following suit and Kamui trotting after the pair following a quick glance in either of the alternative directions.
The four came to a halt close to the sign, surveying its minimalistic state and rounding their heads in direction of the arrow beneath the lettering. To their left, a pair of opaque glass doors fitted into a frame of greys and blues beneath a large sign bearing the same logo as the one of the plague. Craning his neck back, Aichi pursed his lips, eyes growing sharper at the sight.
"This is the one," he declared.
The eyes of the trio behind fell onto him, saying nothing between them to break the silence before the hissing of the automatic doors sliding apart executed that very job, granting the quarter passage into the mysterious shop. The newcomers watching the scene with trepidation creeping onto their faces hesitated and, oblivious to their shrinking, Aichi advanced forward, never once checking on the state of his friends, focused only on moving ahead.
The interior of the shop was by no mean less surreal than the outside – sapphire cones propped up on their tips by some invisible means acting as tables, mirrored by the very same dangling from the air, with a column of light between each and a hovering card situated in the centre of those radiances. Indigo diamond tiles decorated the floor between the steel blue walls, violent curtains hanging across the partitions to hinder any deeper view. A ring brought the walls to an end, small circular lights set in uniform around the ring beneath the sky replicating a galaxy; moons and planets sprinkled across the enlarged space. It was a marvel to behold, especially to the three visiting for the first time. Miwa and Kamui surveyed with clear admiration on their faces, Misaki managing to mask any wonder with the same collected expression, though her eyes also skated about the unusual environment – it looked nothing like a card shop. For such an establishment to have been labelled a rival seemed a bit of an overestimation – there was no-one else present, sans the man situated close to the opposite end of the room, his back to the arrivals, and all they could make of him was wild matted scarlet locks that flowed down over the top half of a rather elaborate black cloak, curved shoulders visible from either side of the tangled hairs.
Nevertheless, the scenery was elaborate enough to catch the eye; it had the boys visibly fascinated. At the same time, so was the sole customer of the shop, who had ignored their arrival, including Kamui's awestruck gasps. Aichi, meanwhile, had his eyes tracing the other party's appearance, as if entranced by his presence – something Misaki picked up on swiftly; it was the same distant demeanour that he had been consumed by whilst detecting the shop's location. Something so unlike him. She positioned herself beside the boy; arms folded over her abdomen and set her hues on the unidentified redheaded male, just as Aichi's.
"Is that someone you know?" she inquired.
"I've never seen him before," Aichi murmured.
So there was no previous acquaintance; still, for him to be fixated on someone – only Kai had received such treatment, so it was unusual to think that a stranger could have captivated Aichi's attention, and without so much as facing the group. Almost immediately after her thoughts on the matter came to an end, Kamui and Miwa had caught onto the focus of attention, returning either side of the pair and reuniting the quarter. Once pulled together, their combined gazes upon the redhead was enough to stir his attention, his pale face appearing from the mass of tangled locks, a scarlet hue matching that very colour aimed towards the group. And in that instance, Aichi felt something within him – as if the look had torn through him and into his very core; like the man was capable of seeing everything there was to him' such a strange sensation, and yet he felt overwhelmed by the stare of those slit pupils that a small beat slipped out from his small lips.
"Excuse me, but can you help us?" Miwa asked, with that very lively tone to settle the unusual air.
The redheaded figure rotated incredibly slowly, as if to build up tension towards the reveal of his identity. But when those scarlet optics rounded enough to land on the quartet, a small breath flew out of Aichi's mouth – for some reason, those eyes felt different than any other he'd seen. As if they'd struck through him and seen every little detail. There was something… odd about them; that reminded him of something. Without warning, his mind rewound time, recollecting the mysterious dream he'd experienced and the high number of unsolved questions it bore.
"Aichi-kun".
That voice sounded awfully familiar to that of the man standing before him, albeit his current tone had adopted a lower, sterner mood. And while Aichi had been racing within his thoughts, the other three had been waiting patiently in silence for a response from the mysterious party.
"I don't work here, I can't help".
Kamui's brows shifted to display his puzzlement at the older male's assumption, but also that he'd strayed down such a route so directly. "Then… You know where Ultra Rare is?"
"I don't. I'm just visiting, so if they're playing hide and seek, I'm playing seeker just like you" the redhead claimed, winding his shoulders whilst rounding to face the four.
Drops of sweat, second-hand embarrassment clung to the brows of the newest arrivals, none sure how to take such a statement and its lack of progress in locating the missing party. Misaki turned her eyes away; surveying the unusual setting – for a card shop, there was nothing to indicate there was anything on sale; other than the cards hovering in the centre of those columns of light. Whilst she was distracted by the silent observations, the tallest of the gathering sounded a beat of surprise and tilted forward, his eyes set on Kamui and Aichi.
"Hey, you guys are… Team Q4, right?"
All eyes shot back to the male, astonishment evident on each face. He straightened under those intense stares, raising his hands in playful defence and smiled chirpily.
"Now, now, what happened? Did I get something on my face?"
"You know us?" Kamui questioned.
Aichi's lips moved to correct the unspoken detail that Miwa had appeared in Kai's stead, but the man dressed in black took the opportunity to speak first.
"Yeah, I watched your Regional Tournament. The final sounded interesting; a first-time team facing the reigning Regional Champions. You put on quite a show".
For someone clad in such a heavy attire of black and secrecy – the coat hanging over his slim frame masking the true dimensions of his body and the attire beneath – he certainly had a light air about him. He'd swung from distant and baffling to almost cheerful; almost as if he'd shown two sides to his character – though such diverse sides made it difficult to believe it was truly the same person before them.
"Who… are you?" Miwa asked, folding his arms.
"Me? Suzugamori Ren".
"Suzu… gamori…" Kamui repeated, slowing as he neared the conclusion of the given name.
"I know that name," Misaki claimed.
"You know him?" the spiky-haired youngster questioned hastily.
All eyes shifted immediately to the shop employee, unfazed by her sudden thrusting into the spotlight. Nevertheless, her eyes strayed from one face directed towards her to another, capturing a glimpse of each of the trio's faces. Ren, too, seemed to wait in anticipation for the young woman's account as to his character and reputation, given there was a clear means as to how she would be familiar with his name. Arms folded beneath her chest, she locked eyes with his; the mutual gaze not unnoticed by the others, who jumped between the two figures.
"Suzugamori Ren is the current National Champion".
It took a moment for the revelation to process, stunning the uninformed trio – particularly the younger – who shot around and faced Ren completely with a look of disbelief upon their faces. Miwa, on the other hand, was more subtle in his surprise at the news, twisting his head so that his line of sight ran along his shoulder-blade and towards the redhead. For some reason, despite just how astonishing it was that they had come face-to-face with the champion, in such a place no less, and his feelings matched those that Aichi and Kamui displayed – he couldn't react in the same way. Even if he usually would, and it perplexed him as to why. But there was something within Ren; something almost familiar, even if the pair had never crossed paths and never encountered one another before the day. A smirk grew onto his face, squaring his shoulders, hands on hips.
"This guy, is he? I never would've guessed he'd be hanging around nearby," he mused jokingly. "Are you from around here?"
"Kind of. I come around every now and again," Ren responded with a loose shrug.
"But why would the National Champion know about our team? And what'd he want with us?" Kamui asked; his tone rough and suspicious.
"Perhaps it's because we made it to the National Tournament. A first-time team winning a Regional Tournament isn't that common, and he'll be there at the National league," Misaki claimed in the same level-headed manner in spite of the unusual occurrences that had even her bewildered, continuing to mask that surprise so as not to lose face in front of her team-mates and the man standing at the pinnacle of their next challenge.
"That's pretty much it," Ren confirmed, tucking his hands into the pockets of his immense black coat, locking eyes with the female once more. "Someone I know was at the Kanto tournament so I made sure to check out what was going on. I've got to say, you guys have potential".
When it dawned on Aichi exactly what the implications behind Misaki's statement that Ren would be at the National Tournament, he could feel himself shrinking on the spot. Naturally, the opposition at the next level would be far stronger than those of the Regional competition, but he'd failed to make much progress there; Q4's victory had been, in large, down to Kamui and Kai. In the corner of her vision, Misaki identified Aichi's growing discomfort, but simultaneously, it appeared that Ren had done so as well. A hand plucked itself from his pocket, reaching out with a lone finger extended in the boy's direction.
"Sendou Aichi-kun, wasn't it?"
"Y- Yes!" Aichi squeaked, his body stiffening with all attention falling onto him, his body arched quickly into a bow, head hanging low so that his panic-stricken expression could hide behind his bangs draped around his flustered face.
The corners of Ren's lips twisted into a smile, though the timing and its appearance had Miwa frowning in the redhead's blind-spot, while his focus had been set firmly on Aichi. Feeling a gentle hand upon his back, the Middle School fighter craned his neck, lifting his vision to find Ren still fixated on him and Misaki the origin of the comforting touch. Aware that his awkwardness was showing through as clear as day, he straightened himself, head still tucked between his shoulders with a tint of embarrassed pink colouring his cheeks.
"The way you played your Royal Paladin deck was impressive. I heard the rumours that you didn't have Soul Saver at the beginning of the tournament, but you used it as part of your final fight," Ren commented, lowering his hand and the almost smug look on his face.
"Th- That's right…" Aichi murmured. The sting of having failed to beat Nagisa, but only manage to force her into a corner, leaving himself open to defeat, was still strong. It continued to eat away at him, nagging that it had been his responsibility that Q4 had come close to falling short; that the fight had come down to the wire.
And recognizing that it was still haunting him, Ren offered a more genuine smile, tilting his head very slightly. "You did incredibly well to set up using that card in the first match you used it in. It's just a shame that you used its skill at the wrong time".
"'Wrong time'?" Aichi echoed, lifting his head so his and Ren's eyes met voluntarily for the first time.
With their mutual focus, Aichi could feel a strange sensation flooding his body, an unusual feeling akin to being whisked away from the shop and everyone around him – detached, floating, ascending to another place. A realm of isolation, where the shades of blues, pinks and purples reminded him of the ceiling above their heads. But the instant he blinked, he was standing in the same place, no-one aware that anything had been wrong – as if the entire episode had been a hallucination or his imagination; no time had passed, so it seemed, so it was plausible that he had conjured the entire scenario himself in a split-second. But to have done so was extremely odd, given the company he was in and the location. Even at home, his fantasies wouldn't have taken on such a peculiar edge.
"You know, you remind me of the way I was a few years ago when I was starting out with Vanguard," Ren mused, tapping his chin with the tip of his forefinger.
"O- Of you?" Aichi choked, lifting his head with a curious, intrigued gaze. Whether it had been meant as a compliment – an indirect insinuation that he could one day climb up to the same ranks that the redhead had achieved – or not was irrelevant; it meant that there was a similarity that might help them build upon, grow to know one another. Aichi could only hope; to get acquainted with someone so accomplished as the National Champion would be an honour for any ordinary player, let alone one that had barely been playing a number of weeks.
"Yeah. And I had a friend in Middle School who played Royal Paladin too; though he had a crucial card missing," Ren claimed, shrugging during the pause in his recollection. "But no matter how many times I told him it might be best to fill that gap, he refused to budge and left the deck as it was. Though it was pretty incomplete without that card".
"He couldn't get the card he was after?" Aichi murmured.
"Seems so. It's a shame; he's a lucky guy in lots of respects, but apparently, when it comes down to needing one particular card at some point, he can't pull through," was Ren's responses, tilting his head and meeting the sight of Miwa, who lingered beside Misaki, his gaze upon the redhead never once faltering, not since Ren's dialogue had brought attention back unto himself through the comparison with Aichi. Sliding his other hand out from the pocket of the immense coat hanging over his form, Ren held up a deck of cards – purposely showing the artwork of the card on the top of the stack – Soul Saver Dragon. "I can play Royal Paladin too, though. And unlike him, I won't let myself get held back because of one card".
Each member of the quartet found themselves knocked back for witnessing the appearance of the deck – the same Clan, even the same card that Aichi had been betting on during the final match of the tournament. And suddenly, another copy had appeared so easily before them. In the hands of such an esteemed fighter, seeing the same card that he possessed had floored Aichi, whose mouth fell open with a gasp.
"Soul Saver Dragon?"
"What do you say, Sendou Aichi-kun? Why don't we have a practice fight?" Ren suggested, narrowing his attention solely onto the boy once again. "I heard about the Motion Figure System that this shop uses, we can use that".
"W- W- Wait— You want to… to fight me?" Aichi yelped, anchored only by gravity to keep him from leaping backwards.
"Why not? You're a Paladin user too, it'll be fun," Ren commented, presenting a small smile as his persuasion that the offer was a genuine chance to practice without anything on the line.
"You should give it a shot, Onii-san. Let's see what the Champ can do," Kamui chimed, hands on hips and eyes burning with excitement.
"I- I guess you've got a point. We could… see what it takes to get to the top," Aichi murmured, dipping his face between twiddling fingers.
Motioning for the group to follow, Ren navigated through the columns and curtains to the room where the fight with Kourin had taken place upon Aichi's first visit. The scenery was a new sight for Miwa, Misaki and Kamui, but they had nothing to question – not after witnessing the layout of the shop's first chamber; even if it still curiously lacked any displays, stock and staff.
Ren was the first to set his starting Vanguard down, taking the end that the blonde idol had during the previous encounter with the machine that separated the two players. Miwa and Kamui seated themselves laxly on the steps, while Misaki gravitated to the nearest column, standing with a shoulder propped against it and arms folded tightly over her chest. Following suit, Aichi prepared himself for the battle, shuffling three cards back into his deck and redrawing so his hand contained a decent arsenal ready to take on the challenger with. Naturally, his sight was captivated by the appearance of Soul Saver Dragon in his possession, hues flickering with growing resolve with each second that passed by – as if entering into battle had completely removed his concerns regarding the identity of his opponent and his previous, failed attempt at mastering the card. For now, it was this fight that mattered; the last would do nothing but hinder him. To push it aside was what had to be done in order to move forward; that was what the others had always tried to put forward to him, and he was determined to put it into practice, lest the vines growing from seeds of doubt snag him and keep him tethered to that failure.
Registering that Aichi was ready – including the shift in his demeanour – Ren's fingertips brushed against the top of his deck, igniting a small light within his eyes. Not an ordinary glow, but a pink and blue aura that blanketed the scarlet of his hues. And with its appearance, Aichi found himself flooded with the same sensation as previously, his sight blinded by the flashes of some kind of teleportation.
Behind that special veil was… the ocean? Aichi was perplexed, finding himself standing with water all around his ankles, but without feeling it seeping into his shoes or soaking into the fabric of his trousers. Nevertheless, it was the same images he had experienced when putting Kai's technique into practice; yet he hadn't willingly conjured the scenery – not yet, at least. And there was something different about it; it felt… more realistic. Like something other than his imagination had aided to construct the sight before him. From behind, a roar reverberated through the air, drawing Aichi around to the sight of the radiant dragon standing by the edge of a cliff, the golden glow of her naked teal scales brighter than ever.
"Soul… Saver Dragon?" the transparent fighter muttered, gazing in awe at the spectacle.
In spite of his ghostly appearance; all sensations were the same as if he were physically on Cray; the smell of the seawater all around, the breeze that swept through brushing against his skin and ruffling his tresses. There was something almost magical about it. But before he could dwell for much longer, the other world receded and gave way to the Earthly environment that he was truly occupying; the first sight that met his eye was Ren watching him with a thin smirk.
"Well, how about I go first, is that alright with you, Aichi-kun?"
"Eh? Y- Yeah, please go ahead".
Grasping their Vanguard in unison, the pair turned over their initial selections sharply, breaking eye contact in order to announce their units' arrival onto the battlefield. "Stand up, Vanguard!"
"Stand up The Vanguard".
FIGHT START
AICHI - REN
0 -DAMAGE- 0
In Aichi's place, Barcgal took up its position as normal, whereas Ren's Vanguard – Guraimu – took on a more organic appearance; its gleaming body resembling an unarmoured form, of sky blue and indigo patches, ears and tail erect – the latter wagging itself excitedly. Lips of the animal curled into a fervent smile and its eyes sparkling with a playful readiness in spite of the usual nature of a fight [POW 6000].
"Hold up!" Kamui yelled from the side-lines. "'The'?"
"That's what Kai says," Misaki murmured, squaring his shoulders. "But this individual does so as well?"
Miwa's brow furrowed, eyeing the redhead cautiously; in spite of having played Vanguard for years, only Kai had uttered the beginning battle cry in such a way. But he'd never seen nor heard of Suzugamori Ren; so it was perfectly feasible that he, too, had come up with the call by himself. Nevertheless, it was certainly an odd coincidence, even if it was just that.
FIRST TURN – REN
Ignoring the commotion coming from the spectators, Ren removed the top card of his deck as if nothing had happened, without even averting his sight from the field. Exchanging the new card for one already existing in his hand, he dropped the selected card onto the Vanguard circle.
"Ride, Lake Maiden, Lien [POW 7000]".
Taking up her stance on the field, the blue-haired woman cloaked in turquoise hovered where Guraimu had been just seconds before, caressing a harp within her slender hands. Ren plucked another card from his hand, laying it into the emptied Drop Zone.
"Lien's skill, by discarding one, I'm able to draw another card from the deck".
Doing just as the card dictated, his fingers stripped the deck of its top card, smiling at the arrival and placing it in the space behind his new Vanguard.
"Call; Sage of Guidance, Zenon".
In the glowing space, the mage took up his position; slender body draped in azure and silver, shoulder-blades marked with armour possessing simple patterns running vertically along the plating, matching the gauntlets that concealed his forearms. Along his chest, emeralds forged into diamonds were implanted with their tips touching, matching the two set into his headgear, with silver lining and two strips of fabric hanging either side of his head that dangled around his waist [POW 6000]. The piercing look in his eyes shot through Barcgal and straight into Aichi's very being; sensing the formidable power that the sage wielded, even without the knowledge of the power's precise capabilities.
"Zenon's skill—"
"He's using another skill already?" Kamui yelped.
"Even in a game for fun, he's not holding back anything. He's really going to push just how far Aichi can go," Miwa commented, clutching his chin thoughtfully.
Stripping the deck of its next card, Ren held up a copy of Starlight Unicorn, placing it atop Lien in the Vanguard Circle and having it replace her before she could settle within the leading position. The stallion materializing on the field shook its body as if to wake from its premature arrival on the field, letting out a lively neighing to signal its readiness to participate in any battle that may ensure during the next turn [POW 6000].
"He rode twice? Onii-san hasn't even made a move yet!" Kamui cried, leaning forward with eyes set intensely on the match. "Who knew you could do so much with the first turn?"
"The strongest Cardfighters know what to make of their hands from the beginning; they put everything they have into the game and on the line. Using your deck to the best of its potential, it's the best way to grow; so you can find the shortcomings in your build or the skills you need to adapt to using. Vanguard is always evolving; you wouldn't want to get left behind, would you?"
"R- Right," Aichi sounded meekly from his side of the table, casting an eye over the cards in his grasp once more. If Ren was trying to deliver a message that was to serve as guidance during the tournament, he'd have to act upon it, retain the information and use it as best he could. "Then, it's my turn".
SECOND TURN – AICHI
Setting the new draw into his hand, Aichi snatched another card, throwing it onto the field swiftly. "Ride, Marron! Barcgal moves to the Rear-Guard".
Without removing his fingers from the main circle, Aichi transferred the weight of his hold from his new Vanguard to the previous, relocating it to the corner beside the Drop Zone. On the holographic copy of the Cray battlefield, Barcgal simply leapt backwards when the circle of light began to radiate beneath its paws, making way for Marron, who adopted Aichi's azure tresses and soft hues behind those rectangular spectacles.
"Barcgal's skill, I can call Flogal from the deck".
Resting the armoured canine and lifting his deck from its place, Aichi filtered through for the pink Hi-Beast and placed it behind Marron [POW 5000]; a bridge between the two units suddenly set onto the field and returned the shuffled deck to where it belonged.
'You're desperate to reach Soul Saver Dragon so soon, are you, Aichi-kun?' Ren mused silently, letting the faintest of smiles surface.
"He's setting up the same strategy that would bring out Soul Saver Dragon," Miwa reported, drawing Kamui's attention. "If Ren can ride in quick succession, then Aichi's bound to be gunning for the biggest Vanguard he has, and his focus has been on Soul Saver ever since the Regional final match.
"Placing all his faith in one strategy," Misaki murmured. "Or for Aichi, it's to prove that he can pull it off. It wasn't enough to secure a win the first time, but he wants to show that he's capable of executing this strategy, even when there's no audience to watch. It's for his own sake that he can see himself moving forward and growing stronger, the way he wants to".
Eyes set on the field with the same burning passion that matched Misaki's hypothesis, something that wouldn't go by unnoticed by the lilac-haired girl, Aichi's fingers immediately reached for the field once more, landing atop Marron and shifting the card into a horizontal stance.
"Flogal boosts Marron, attack!"
"I won't guard," Ren stated, shrugging his shoulders.
In response, Aichi nodded with hesitation; Ren's display was one of the most casual dismissals of an incoming attack that he'd seen, and he'd put it down to confidence. Or that, as a champion, Ren had deemed the first strike of a fight irrelevant. Nevertheless, he was determined to push on with all of his strength if it meant dealing a blow against someone with such an achievement behind him. Removing the first card of his deck and turning it over sharply, a golden brilliance emitted immediately, stunning the younger fighter with its appearance so soon in the game.
"C- Critical Trigger. All effects go to Marron".
With the injection of further power, an additional glow began to resonate around Marron's small form, joining with that leaking from Flogal. The pages of his tome flicked rapidly, opening the book to its halfway point, from which, bolts of lightning erupted, striking at the opposing Vanguard, which let out a grunt and sank backwards onto its knees. Without even declaring the action, Ren reached for his deck, losing both Young Pegasus Knight and Gallatin to the Damage Zone.
AICHI - REN
0 -DAMAGE- 2
"Alright! Nice going, Onii-san!" Kamui cheered, punching the air with both fists so wildly that Miwa found himself tilting away to avoid being accidentally struck, a sheepish grin on his face.
A smile lit up Misaki's face, watching Aichi, whose attention had been diverted by Kamui's hollering. "Pulling a Critical Trigger so soon, dealing two Damage to the National Champion before being struck himself. That's not unlike Aichi". Her vision altered its path, sliding across the field towards Ren, who stood with the same smile on his face, unfazed by suddenly trailing by a wider margin than would be expected as a result of a single strike. "It could be that Suzugamori Ren recognized Aichi's potential and that's why he challenged him to this fight. But to meet with the National Champion right after we'd qualified to get into the tournament. It feels too surreal to be a mere coincidence, but we came here without prior planning. For those two to run across one another, it's almost like it was meant to happen; it simply just wound up that way before the tournament".
Nevertheless, she, like the others, was impressed by the turn of events that had bolstered Aichi's shrunken confidence, bringing a subtle smile onto his face.
"My turn's over," he stated, lowering his head faintly.
THIRD TURN – REN
Drawing from his deck once more, Ren held up the card to reveal the new card's identity as Great Sage, Baron, before placing it onto the Vanguard Circle, assuming Starlight Unicorn's place. The immense being that took to the field towered over Lien's previous form; his skin wrinkled by age and tanned, white hairs sprouting from his upper lip and jawline, braids within his flowing beard, long strands standing upwards from the band atop his skull, creating a small, erect ponytail. In one of his hands, golden rings on each digit, was a cane, a wooden staff, while the other clutched what resembled a wok, perhaps a cauldron of scarlet with streams of energy seeping outwards. A cloak hanging over his shoulders concealed much of the aged flesh across his upper body, another fastened around his waist producing the same effect around his legs [POW 8000].
No sooner had he laid down the new Vanguard that he snapped it into a horizontal state, following quickly with Zenon. "Attack".
A brief assessment of the current standings of both sides and Aichi's shoulders sagged, making no effort to shield his Vanguard from the onslaught, but keeping a firm eye on Ren's movements whilst his hand extended towards the deck. Once more without uttering his action, the redhead drew from his deck, snapping his wrist around to unveil the copy of Elaine that immediately burst into a green light.
"Heal Trigger. Power to Baron. And I Heal once".
Transferring the first card to have landed in his Damage Zone, Young Pegasus Knight, to its new destination, Aichi could feel beads of sweat clinging to his brow. He'd intended to take the attack because it would still leave him with a small lead, but with one small check, Ren had undone that and reduced a two-point lead to nothing. Baron's attack rained down, striking Marron, who was thrown back with a cry. Aichi winced at the damage taken by his force and transferred the top card of his deck to the Damage Zone, his throat constricted at the sight of just what had been lost – Alfred.
AICHI - REN
1 -DAMAGE- 1
"You've lost your king?" Ren asked with an amused scoff buried within his vague tone.
Drops of sweat slipped down the side of Aichi's paling face, gulping down the growing lump in his throat. Alfred had always been there to lead his troops into battle; most of the time, securing the victory he needed. But losing him to the Damage Zone wasn't an event that he'd been prepared for – especially given his current opponent. Naturally, he had other Grade 3s he could rely on – Gancelot was there, and his current building strategy for Soul Saver – but there was something about the king that helped Aichi feel at ease.
It dawned on him then that he was in the same place that he had received the card from – when Suiko handed it over after his fight with Kourin. Azure hues wandered around discreetly; it was peculiar enough that none of the members doubling as the Ultra Rare idol group had made an appearance to begin with, more so that they hadn't been alerted of the five fighters' presence by the sounds of the Cardfight. And it was doubtful they would have left the shop with the doors unlocked.
"Is everything alright, Aichi-kun?" came the inquiry from across the machine, luring the boy's vision back to his adversary. There was something about him that appeared different than before; maybe it was his features being blurred by the light emitted from the setting between them, but it was almost as though Ren was enjoying Aichi's apparent discomfort. "If you don't concentrate and give it your all, I'll mow you down".
A small gasp leapt from Aichi's mouth – such a cold-hearted statement, a threat issued with the implications about just how rough Ren intended to be, regardless of their agreement over a friendly game. As though, having become Champion, playing casually was lost on him; someone whom had battled to the top in a highly competitive environment, having not shed that mind-set even though his opponent was of a far lower league presently and vastly inexperienced at the game in comparison to his personal journey.
Ren's demeanour reverted back to the same state as it had been prior; difficult to read but seemingly harmless, at least, without intending to cause harm. Nevertheless, his words had impacted on Aichi hard and he was standing with his head tucked between his shoulders, contemplating what he was supposed to do; the meaning behind them. Why would someone make such an aggressive statement when there had been nothing beforehand to suggest malice or ill-intent? But to let it shake him terribly would only worsen his concentration; he'd play into a self-fulfilling prophecy. That might have been Ren's tactic, his bait to lure Aichi in and take advantage of his nerve-riddled state. Pursing his lips, he reached for his deck, ignoring any further remark or expression that the redhead might have cast in order to build upon whatever he was plotting.
FOURTH TURN – AICHI
"It's my turn; draw".
A duplicate of Marron entered his hand, but his eyes were set elsewhere. Outstretching his hand above Barcgal, his sights were fixed firmly on the field, ignoring the usual stage of riding a new Vanguard to begin the turn.
"Barcgal's skill; call Llew".
The card shifted into a set position, the aforementioned Critical Trigger shooting out from the deck and landing in the emptied back-row space to complete the line-up of Grade 0s gathered for the benefit of the strategy constructed since his opening play. Reaching for the Damage Zone, Aichi turned over the copy of Alfred laid to rest and his eyes shot firmly to the display separating the two fighters.
"With his skill, Llew, Flogal, Barcgal; move into the Soul". The three units obeyed immediately, their small bodies reverting into orbs of light that raced around and pooled themselves into Marron's physical form, the cards sliding beneath and stacking up neatly. With their entrance into the Soul, Aichi lifted his deck, sharply removing a particular card and setting the rest back into place once more. The look on his friends' faces lit up with the realization of what was about to come, what Ren would get to face. Standing with his back straightened, an arm stretched vertically, Aichi's head tilted, readying himself for his avatar's entrance. "Tachiagare, boku no bunshin! Superioru Raido! Burasuta Bureido!" [1]
Gusts erupted upwards from the ground, picking up grains of sand and rock, which would conceal Marron's form on the canyon floor, cleared only by the legendary white blade that cut through the miniature storm, revealing the replacement for the mage in the form of the fabled white knight, of which those who had fought him would associate Aichi with. On the side-lines, Kamui and Miwa both expressed their delight and excitement that Aichi had gathered all the pieces for Blaster Blade's arrival, playing him with the same confidence as any other match and brushing aside the unnerving dialogue from just a moment before by immersing himself into the game completely.
"Call!" Aichi yelled, launching four cards onto the field around his lone Vanguard. "Gallatin. Gordon. Wingal. Marron".
Either side of the knight, the blindfolded warrior and silver-armoured soldier occupied the front-line, brandishing their weapons sternly [POW 10000/8000]. Meanwhile, Marron reappeared behind Gordon, taking up a stance reflecting his readiness to assist now relieved of his role as the Vanguard, and Wingal beside the boy, in line with Blaster Blade, the hairs across the small canine body all on end, signalling its fierce attitude towards the enemy, despite their joint alliance under the Royal Paladin banner [POW 8000/6000]. The five units clustered together was a sight quick to catch Ren's attention, luring him into the arrival of so many reinforcements at one time – just as he wasn't intending to go easy on Aichi, the boy himself was giving the fight all he had. And it pleased him that it should be the case.
"Gallatin attacks Baron!" Aichi yelled, breaking the redhead from his trance and interrupting his excited fixation on the leading warrior.
"Guard," he retorted, slamming down a second copy of Zenon as a barrier before the blinded warrior, whose narrow blade slashed through the replica called into the line of fire and dismissing it completely.
"Wingal boosts Blaster Blade, and with its skill, an additional 4000 Power gets added to their combined strength," Aichi barked, shifting both cards into position in quick succession. "Drive Trigger Check".
Revealing the top card as Gigantic Charger, Aichi had nothing more to add to his arsenal's current power level. Wielding his weapon firmly with his hands, the knight replicated the azure tresses, launching himself up with a yell, benefitting from Wingal's enhanced boost [POW 19000]. Lunging at the immense sage, the warrior spun his body, rotating into a spiral and delivering a high number of impacts against the wrinkled flesh of the large adversary, producing a multitude of wounds across his rounded body. A card slipped away from the top of Ren's deck – Flame Swordsman Palamedes, transferring into the Damage Zone.
"He's got a lead again," Miwa affirmed.
"Show him what you can do, Onii-san. No-one's throwing down!" Kamui cheered, a clenched fist swing itself across his chest.
"He said 'mow' down," Misaki corrected, without so much as glancing at the youngster.
"With a boost from Marron, Gordon attacks," Aichi continued, keeping a tight focus on the matter at hand.
Charging forward with his rapier in position, Gordon readied himself to follow in his leader's footsteps and build upon the barrage of attacks against the sage positioned ahead of them. Offered Marron's strength through the spell the boy uttered, the knight let out a holler, slashing at the already wounded body, inflicting further wounds, or deepening those already left by Blaster Blade's assault. The sage tilted back, emitting a low moaning as a result of the repeated jabs and slashes, falling back so that his folded legs met the rocky ground, the collision dishevelling sand and dust from the flooring. Closing his eyes, Ren transferred another card from his deck to the Damage Zone, depositing Knight of Blue Flames, Dinas, so that his column was halfway filled.
AICHI - REN
1 -DAMAGE- 3
"He's pushing ahead," Miwa chimed optimistically. "He's doing pretty well given Ren was the first to move".
"That's Onii-san for you. He won't let that guy push him around," Kamui stated, the burning passion growing within lacing his tone and glimmering within his hues.
"My turn is over," Aichi declared, slackening his shoulders.
FIFTH TURN – REN
"Well then, allow me to pick up where I left off," the redhead uttered. His hand immediately rested atop the stack situated at the edge of his territory, sliding away the top card and turning it around to find the same copy of Soul Saver that had been on display when initially presenting the deck. For now, it would be best to leave it within his hand, replacing another Grade 3 with the new arrival and stretching his arm forward whilst clutching the exchanged card in between his slender digits.
"Ride; Swordsman of the Explosive Flames, Palamedes".
Throwing the card down into place, a fissure split the ground beneath Baron, streams of light surging upwards and consuming his form, reverting it into a smaller appearance; slimmer and sprouting wings. When the light receded, the true face of Ren's new Vanguard was unveiled – still possessing tanned skin, though only the flesh of his neck and head was visible. The vast majority of his body was concealed by white armour possessing golden lining, aquamarine gems implanted into the shoulders, torso, groin, thighs and knees of the attire, one also fitted into each of his violet blades, with one final diamond piece embedded in his forehead. Around the jewel, blond locks sprouted, standing upwards, horns of a sienna shade curled out from either side of his skull, from behind pointed ears. Along the centre of his abdomen, a grey stripe connected the golden lining of his breastplate to the scarlet encompassing his waist. The skin of his hands much darker than the remainder of his body, bare in clutching the great blades that sprouted from the crimson hilt, each with five pointed cross-guards jutting out, one matching the purple shade of the weapons emerging from the other side. A silver lining shimmered along the edge of the jagged blades, each with an indent guarded by a razor tip to tear into the flesh of any unfortunate individual that might cross its path. From the golden braces around his knees, orange wings unfolded, miniature variations of those that sprouted from the locks hanging down the back of his neck, growing into majestic feathery wings that fluttered in the breeze [POW 10000]. The first Grade 3 to make an appearance on the battlefield, he asserted his presence with a stomp onto the ground, worsening the cracks that tore through his allies' territory and emitting a low roar.
"Call; High Dog Breeder Akane".
Another card slammed against the table top; the circle beneath it glowing to acknowledge the call for reinforcements. Springing out from beneath a nearby boulder, the slender woman landed gracefully on her feet; the steel-blue boots matching the sleeveless shirt that covered the majority of her torso, accompanied by a blue tie fastened loosely around her neck. Black shorts fitted into midnight blue leggings concealed her lower half, the latter with a ring of azure around each limb. Wrapped around her forearms, gloves that matched the shirt and boots in shade, clutching the hilt of a whip that glowed as a result of the energy passed into the weapon. A black cap sat messily atop her head, leaning towards the right and nestled against the long ponytail that draped down her left side, dangling level with her knees and keeping her scarlet hair compiled in one thick bunch through use of a simple style.
"Counterblast," Ren declared, turning over two of the card nestled in his Damage Zone. "Akane's skill allows me to call Pongal form the deck. And, call. Knight of Blue Flames, Dinas".
With her skill activated, the red-haired tamer stretched her arm skywards, resulting in the whip lashing against the air and slapping the ground viciously. The harsh sound resonated through the area, summoning the robotic canine from the canyon's scenery behind the gathered forces under Ren's command. The blue and grey animal took up its stance behind the unit responsible for its arrival on the field, grunting proudly that it had been selected of the possible choices by the woman [POW 6000]. On the other side of the field, a column of light brought to the battlefield another woman – though her body was concealed by a heavy suit of silver armour that presented itself as much wider than her true body could be viewed as being. A suit made entirely of curved plates welded against one another, resembling feathers or fangs as they sprouted from her shoulders and arms, claw-like fingers clutching the handle of the thick sword within her grasp. Attached to each forearm, an aquamarine fin resembling a dolphin in shape glistened under the sun, while golden circles painted onto the upper arm encased sea green gems. Red locks poked out from the heavy helm, strands flowing from the back and hung between the immense shoulders. Every element of her appearance contributed to the look of a formidable and dangerous enemy to run across, so it was unfortunate that she was behind enemy lines, following the rule of Ren's hand [POW 10000].
"Now to attack; Dinas moves first – strike down Blaster Blade," Ren commanded, looming over his field as his hand pinned down the most recent addition to his forces.
The heavily-armoured soldier lunged forward, the blade in her hand igniting with a brilliant blue ember that blazed quickly into a strong fire. Taken back by the sight, Aichi hesitated; there was a slim difference in power between the two knights, but to use a guardian on such a narrow margin might have been wasteful, especially when there were still two other attacks he'd yet to face. Pursing his lips, his shoulders squared, allowing the strike to deliver itself; the blue flames lashing against Blaster Blade's torso once the sword cut through the air and struck his breastplate, knocking him back a step with a pained cry. With the strike successful, a copy of Wingal floated into the Damage Zone, and no sooner had it landed that Aichi's sight was drawn back to Ren, who was mercilessly preparing for the next assault.
"Pongal boosts Akane. Attack".
Surrounded by the energy donated by her canine companion, Akane lunged forward, wrapping her arm around briefly in order to build the momentum necessary for lashing out with the whip in her possession [POW 15000]. The hiss of the object filled the air with its charging towards Blaster Blade, who readied his sword defensively, meanwhile, Aichi snatched a card from his hand, launching it into the Guard Circle. Epona appeared, mounted upon the golden beetle that transported the small being's body [SLD 10000]; the unusual transportation taking the hit that had been intended for the knight behind it, dismissing it from the field as quickly as it arrived.
With only his central column standing, Ren's hand moved immediately to his Vanguard, brushing his fingertips against the vertical edges of the card before snapping it into position. "Boosted by Zenon, Palamedes attacks Blaster Blade. In addition, his skill grants him an extra 3000 Power as I have two Grade 3 Royal Paladins on the field".
Engulfed by the multiple sources of power, the fiery appearance of the salamander's wings grew more so to resemble flames. Coiling his fingers around the hilt of the long blades, the unit moaned through the process of inheriting the strength from both Zenon and his own ability [POW 19000]. At the rapidly increasing value, Aichi gaped in disbelief, checking his hand briefly at the same time that the Grade 3 unit lurched forward.
His brow furrowed, coming to a quick realization that given the wide margin of power between the two Vanguards, there was an obvious decision to make regarding how to deal with the attack. "No guard…" he begrudgingly uttered.
"Twin Drive," Ren declared, turning over his cards in quick succession – Flash Shield, Iseult and Alabaster Owl. "Critical Trigger; all effects to Palamedes".
Aichi grimaced at the development – to have prevented an attack now would have required a substantial defence, which he couldn't afford to send out so soon. But guiltily, he'd left his trusted Blaster Blade vulnerable to the assault. The two violent swords crashed down upon the knight, leaving immense scratches across his breastplate. The twined weapons collided into the ground, sending a torrent of smoke upwards to conceal the attacker's retreat into his own territory, whilst Blaster Blade, downed onto one knee, observed with a stern glare. Two cards floated into Aichi's Damage Zone- Iseult and Gancelot – doubling the number that had been there just seconds before.
AICHI - REN
4 -DAMAGE- 3
The appearance of a second Grade 3 within the column stunned Aichi, hues flickering with apprehension; although he was already in possession of one ready to play, losing so many of his strongest cards to the Damage Zone of all places had him feeling incredibly unnerved, more so given the achievements of his opponent.
That unease wasn't to go unnoticed by the others watching from the steps, Miwa and Kamui exchanging concerned expressions. Misaki, meanwhile, kept her eye on the fight – as if lured in by the ferocity playing out before her. Nevertheless, Miwa's grey eyes transferred from the boy behind him to her fixated stance, aware that she hadn't been as intensely monitoring a fight before, though her witnessing the final match of the Shop Tournament might have been an exception.
SIXTH TURN – AICHI
"Stand and draw". Before even removing the next card from his deck, Aichi was already fixated on the Soul Saver in his hand; ready to do whatever he had to in order to execute a turn that would show Ren how serious he was about the fight. As soon as his fingers were relieved of the new addition to his hand, they were instantly drawn to the card that had been lying in wait since the opening stages of the fight, sliding it out from his hold and stretching his arm vertically so the card sparkled under the light of emitted from the Motion Figure System. "Kishi tachi no kami yo, idete shinbi no chikara o furue! Raido! Souru Seibā Doragon!" [2]
Bringing his limb downwards, Aichi rode the card with a crash against the table, the circle beneath glowing fiercely at the registering of which card exactly had been played. Light erupted from the ground, encircling Blaster Blade, who bowed his head in acknowledgement that his time leading the force had naturally come to an end and prepared to hand over the position to the next Vanguard. Assuming his place from within the towering light, golden wings radiating with the same brilliance akin to the sun unfolded, the dragon's eyes blazing scarlet and lifting her head proudly, stretching both wings and limbs, hovering above the fractured earth, casting a great shadow over Ren's forces [POW 10000]. The arrival of the divine dragon had lifted the spirits of the two boys seated on the steps, their faith restored completely as a result of Aichi's apparent return to a fully charged fighting spirit, backed by the resolute gaze he cast.
"Soul Saver's skill – Soul Blast!" The five cards stacked beneath Soul Saver shot out rapidly, piling themselves into the Drop Zone. Eyeing each as they landed in the retiring space, Aichi issued an unspoken apology, his faint smile souring briefly as his avatar landed atop the growing pile. Closing his eyes, he added the sacrifice of his allies as a motive to push forward with his fight and snapped his arm forward, fingers outstretched. "Gordon, Gallatin and Wingal all gain 5000 Power. Holy Charging Roar!"
With a mighty flap of her wings, Soul Saver levitated herself higher, ejecting three streams of energy that connected with each of the named units and pooling her strength into them. Frozen in accepting the enhanced strength, the trio flinched and tensed their forms until the end of the delivery, allowing them to resume their places with the power pumping through their bodies [POW 13000/15000/11000].
"Call, Starlight Unicorn," Aichi hollered, slamming the card into the remaining unoccupied space. The white steed galloped onto the field, emitting its own aura that gravitated towards the towering dragon. "Starlight Unicorn's skill will give Soul Saver an extra 2000 Power [POW 12000]".
"He's managed to turn things around pretty well," Miwa mused with a smile.
"Yeah, that Ren guy dealt 3 Damage last turn, but now Onii-san's got a full field and they're boosted by Soul Saver's power. He's not getting off lightly".
'Still, it's far too soon to assume that Aichi can win. This is the National Champion, after all. We don't know anything about the way he plays,' Miwa thought, casting a thoughtful eye towards the redhead. 'There's something about him as well… Not just that he's such a high-ranking player, but he seems so distinct from any other player'.
"Marron boosts Gordon, attack Palamedes!"
Ren sagged his shoulders, showing no sign of resisting the attack when Gordon charged forward, rapier poised to strike [POW 21000]. The two units collided, Gordon's weapon slipped through the gap within the swords, striking the breastplate of the towering adversary and, with Marron's magical power, delivered a shockwave through the tip, dealing the damage necessary to the opposition's leader that would earn a satisfactory response. A copy of Pongal drifted into the Damage Zone, placing Ren at the same amount taken as Aichi; a confidence booster for the younger, who smiled briefly – though cautious not to let the moment sweep away his better judgement.
"With a boost from Wingal, Soul Saver attacks Palamedes," he declared sharply, moving briskly onto the central column. "Soul Saver's skill also grants an extra 3000 Power [POW 26000]".
"Flash Shield, Iseult," Ren barked, placing down the sole card onto his Guard Circle, depositing Alabaster Owl within the Drop Zone. "Perfect Guard".
A frown marked Aichi's disappointment that the card had been put into play – but it had only made its way into his hand last turn; it was almost to be expected, given how hard the younger was pushing towards any road to victory. Nevertheless, there was still an attack left that he could utilize, and it was one less problem to deal with further down the line. Clenching his jaws, Aichi reached for his deck, removing the first card.
"Twin Drive," he called, snapping his wrist around to reveal the card – Flogal, which began to blaze blue instantaneously. "Stand Trigger; all effects to Gordon". Keeping hold of the Trigger, Aichi manoeuvred his fingers in order to set Gordon back into position, ready for a second strike; the knight straightening his back to stand at full height, encircled by the aura from the distant unit. "Second Check".
Another fierce light radiated from the card, of a golden shade, that alerted the nature of the Trigger in contrast to the last, but nevertheless, he'd managed to pull two Triggers at once. Ordinarily, it would have been an occurrence that would greatly sway the course of the battle, but with the Perfect Guard blocking his route to Ren's Vanguard, he'd have to pin his hopes on another attack breaking through. Surveying his two options, he came quickly to a decision; one he'd have to trust.
"Critical Trigger: all effects to Gordon".
The sphere of light conjured between the Dragonic Vanguard's hands raced across the field, crashing into Iseult's shield and failing to break through. With the slight dejection that came with a unsuccessful attempt, the dragon's wings receded marginally, allowing any space her companions required. Gallatin clasped his sword tighter in time with Aichi moving his fingers to the third column, the physical command exacted.
"Starlight Unicorn boosts Gallatin".
As with his previous allowing of an attack, Ren offered neither a physical nor verbal response; the sword crashing into the plating of his Vanguard and another copy of Iseult appearing from the deck, making its way into the Damage Zone. At the realization of how much had been placed within the column, Miwa and Kamui's heads shot up, the latter emitting an astonished gasp.
"He's… on 5 Damage!" the youngster reported in disbelief. "And Onii-san's still got an attack to go through!"
"Yeah, but we can't get careless. Gordon's got a Critical higher than normal. Ren wouldn't let that go unchecked; he must be prepared for it," Miwa stated, somewhat grim in his delivery.
"Attack Palamedes, Gordon!"
Without any hesitation, the knight charged forward – having delivered one successful attack, he was ready to deliver another. But any premature hopes of building upon that strike were quashed when Ren's fingers slid between the cards in his hand, removing two cards and laying them ahead of his front-line.
"Guard".
Elaine and Giro took to the field, blocking the second attempt of the soldier. With a scowl, Gordon retreated swiftly, acknowledging that he wasn't to get as lucky as his last attack. The graceful elf's form dissolved with her departure from the field, but the spherical High-Beast with its likeness to a bird simply hovered backwards. Its small wings flapped, burgundy eyes never leaving the armoured unit setting distance between them until its floating body was inches in front of Palamedes, at which point, it began to fade. Transforming from a physical form into a spiritual one, the bird implanted itself within the Vanguard's torso, disappearing without a trace as if it had left as simply as Elaine.
"Giro's skill transfers it to the Soul if it moves from the Guard Circle to the Drop Zone," Ren stated to clear up any doubts.
AICHI - REN
4 -DAMAGE- 5
SEVENTH TURN – REN
With the bitter reality that he'd come close, but never achieving what had felt impossible to begin with, Aichi frowned at the state of each side's Damage Zones. Once again, Soul Saver's power hadn't been enough to finish off his opponent. It was supposed to be an incredible power that would change the tide, yet he was struggling to make any headway at all with it. Was it inexperience still? Or did the cards react to his self-doubt?
"I'm impressed, Aichi-kun," Ren stated, drawing the younger's azure eyes. "You've got potential, but you're too hasty with your moves. You're always charging into battle like there's some kind of deadline. It's pretty reckless, wouldn't you say?"
"What?" Aichi breathed. Moving without thinking, acting too soon; that was his problem?
"Someone I know likes to treat fights like a show, and you wouldn't want to bring it to an end too soon, would you? That wouldn't be any fun at all". With the second claim, the redhead's eyes narrowed, as if to tighten his focus on Aichi and brush aside everything else as irrelevant – as far as he was concerned, the two of them were alone, wrapped up in the heat of battle and ready show his answer to Aichi's resolve, lacking the timing in order to seize victory, though it was admirable how close he'd come. "I told you, Aichi-kun, if you weren't focused, I'd come and mow you down. Final Turn!"
Hearing that phrase sent a shockwave through the room; Aichi, Misaki, Miwa and Kamui all aghast that Ren had spoken something they'd all heard time and time again from one person. And only one.
"'F- Final Turn'?" Aichi repeated.
"That's always what Kai says," Misaki muttered, her arms loosened in the disbelief that had captivated her. It was the second time, though the more recent occasion threw her off more than the first.
'First he says 'The Vanguard' like Kai, and now Final Turn? There's no coincidence, it can't be,' Miwa thought, clutching his chin, feeling a drop of sweat clinging to his brow. 'There's something about him that's familiar, something like Kai, but not the same. But Kai's never been to the National Tournament; it was never something he cared about before. Not before coming back, at least'.
Miwa wasn't the only one who had been reminded of the brunet for more than just his use of the phrase. In his borderline-panic, Aichi found himself hallucinating; his vision of Ren beginning to distort, and in his place, remnants of Kai stood. It made no sense, why he should feel so uncomfortable with the likeness; Kai was his goal, after all – someone he was desperately trying to impress, to prove himself to. It was an opportunity to prove just how far he had come since that first fight with him, but unlike Kai, the coldness that radiated from Ren ran far deeper – a sensation that he simply couldn't put into words, but it unnerved him that there was such a chilling depth within someone who brought himself across as wanting to play mentor. Instead, there was a sense of something dark, almost sinister, lurking behind that simple exterior.
Taking little notice of the fallout from his declaration, Ren lifted a card from his hand, eyes closed until it was poised at the highest he could lift the card, throwing it down onto the table.
"Ride; Soul Saver Dragon!"
A gasp leapt from Aichi at the replication of his Vanguard; the blue scaled taking on a teal shade instead and it was then that he realized something from the vision that had taken place prior to the fight. The image of Soul Saver he'd experienced bore the same shade; he'd believed it to be the lighting of her wings that distorted his perception, but seeing the very same display across Ren's variation made him certain that it was no mistakes.
"Soul Blast".
Just as when Aichi had activated the skill, the Soul beneath the Vanguard reduced dramatically, followed by a bright miasma around Akane, Zenon and Dinas, increasing their strength all the same [POW 13000/11000/15000]. But there was more to come, as Ren demonstrated by turning over two cards in the Damage Zone.
"Dinas' Counterblast boosts her by an additional 4000. And call; Margal, who moves to the Soul, further increasing Dinas by 300. Behind her, I call Marron".
One move after another for the benefit of his units; one in particular, focusing heavily on the heavily-armoured woman, who now had the support of the small blond mage that had been summoned to the position behind her [POW 8000].
"Pongal boosts Akane. Attack Gordon [POW 20000]".
A grimace at the movement; by cutting down the rapier-wielding soldier, Aichi's defensive strength would take a significant blow. He reluctantly peeled the card from its place while the tag-team of the tamer and High-Beast knocked down their target, transferring the card into the growing stack situated beneath his deck.
"Dinas attacks, boosted by Marron," Ren commanded mercilessly, swift with his orders as Aichi had yet to even look back to the field from the loss of his Rear-Guard.
"N- No guard…" he murmured, sweat building across his brow. A sharp draw from his deck and he found himself facing another light – Flogal. "Gallatin stands, and the power boost goes to Soul Saver Dragon".
The armoured knight crashed into the deity, the weight behind the charge enough to force her back, almost to drag the dragon back down to the canyon flooring, but with the enhanced power granted by the Trigger, she managed to withstand the attempt and, wings stretched, hovered at the same level as initially [POW 15000].
"Boost or not, it won't be enough. This turn is the end of it all. Zenon boosts Soul Saver [POW 24000]. Attack!"
"I won't let it end so soon. I'm not going to be held back by not progressing. Guard!" Aichi yelled, launching the copy of Flogal he'd earned from the Twin Drive onto the Guard Circle, sliding Gallatin into place beside it. "Intercept".
The blinded warrior sprung into place, joined by the pink canine hovering with the sudden call to the battlefield [SLD 30000]. Ren beamed, his head lowered to show a sinister side to the look once again and initiated his Twin Drive.
"First Check". Another Soul Saver. "Second Check". A blue aura burst from the card – Little Fae Marching Band – to Aichi's horror; a Stand Trigger would grant not only another attack, but the opportunity for his strongest unit to launch a strike when it had already been too much to block. He'd just managed to hold out against the duplicate Vanguard's attack, and with nothing on his front line to support his own, it was evident the immense strain the turn had taken on his deck. "All effects to Dinas".
Dread filled Aichi's entire being whilst watching the attack that was launched eradicate both units put up as a defence. No matter how hard he fought, it had been fruitless in the end, as Ren had toppled everything put in the way and with an attack spare. Clenching his teeth and twisting his lips into a disheartened frown, it was almost too much to bear for Aichi to keep watching, the pain obvious in his eyes, but Ren showed no sign of registering the look, if he'd even acknowledged it.
"Dinas, finish it off".
With a grunt, Dinas launched forward [POW 27000] intent on finishing what she'd begun earlier in the Battle Phase. And without sufficient defences to fortify his Vanguard from the fourth assault, Aichi lowered his head, shade spreading over the upper part of his face. Dinas effortlessly, slashed at the dragon, enough to knock her back and crash onto the Cray soil. A sixth card hovered across the field, sliding into the Damage Zone and confirming the fight's result.
AICHI - REN
6 -DAMAGE- 5
FIGHT END
The radiance from the machine situated in the centre of the fight dimmed, removing the displays and deactivating with a hum. Ren gathered up his cards slowly, eyeing the sight of Aichi slumped over his field, hands resting against the emptied spaces on his front line and staring down with enlarged eyes at the survivors, shaken by such a violent turnaround. The trio of friends moved closer, Misaki lagging behind the others with a certain degree of attention still fixated on Ren whilst taking slower and longer strides towards the defeated party. Crowded by the others, Aichi let out a pained grunt, clutching the side of his head and whimpered under the pain that wracked his skull. Something that the redhead picked up on.
"Aichi, you alright?" Miwa asked hastily.
"I- I'm fine…" Aichi responded with a shallow breath. "It's just a headache. It'll calm soon enough".
"Onii-san, you're not looking so well. Maybe we should find out where Ultra Rare are so you can lie down for a while," Kamui suggested, inching his head closer.
"If that's the case, then I should take my leave," Ren called, rolling his shoulders and turning away. Though he paused before taking a step, opening his eyes so that the four clustered at the other end of the field were situated in the corner of his vision. "I'm looking forward to Nationals; you guys will put on a good show, I'm sure. I can't wait to see what you're all capable of".
There was no response; he sounded what resembled a soft scoff and proceeded towards the curtains that veiled the front room. Misaki rested a hand on Aichi's shoulder, recognizing how shaken he'd been by the fight and by the implication that other fighters within Ren's league were going to be at the competition, perhaps even their opponents. His confidence had been demolished, more so than his loss to Nagisa, but there was no sympathy from the departing champion, who Miwa kept a sharp eye on.
'That guy… He and Kai… They've got a connection,' the blond though, towering over the shrunken fighter beside him, drowning out Kamui's attentive questioning with a stern gaze latched onto Ren's back. 'He's not one to talk, but I've got to get him to somehow. He never mentioned anyone like Ren, but they feel alike'.
Once through the curtained division, Ren paused, staring at the azure eyes that had been watching his approaching form through the veil. He removed the Royal Paladin deck from his pocket, laying it into Suiko's joined palms and paced onwards, brushing past as if her appearance was a bother.
"It looks like you found yourself an interesting team to watch," the redhead stated, eyes closed and head straight, aiming only for the doorway rather than looking back. "I wouldn't call them 'special', but they seem like they might have a use for you".
Suiko's features softened into a smile, keeping mute until Ren departed. Rather than tend to the quartet on the other side of the fabric barrier, she turned away, deciding it was best they remain ignorant of her presence and moved down a short corridor through the threshold situated opposite the entrance to the shop. Passing into a door, she entered into a blank chamber, plunged completely into darkness when it slid shut. A white monitor manifested in the air, presenting only the silhouette of another figure.
"Suiko, there's something you wanted to report?"
"Yes. I can't be certain for sure, but I believe we've found some potential candidates to monitor," the sky blue-haired woman replied with a confident smile. "Given time, we'll be able to ensure the authenticity of their place and any power, though I'm assured that at least one of them possesses it. This team and that fighter, I believe, is the key we've been looking for".
PREVIEW
Kamui: Something doesn't feel right with that guy.
Aichi: I think we were all just a little riled up. Eh? Misaki-san, is everything alright?
Misaki: Hm? Y- Yeah. I'm fine.
Kamui: Misaki-san's been acting weird lately, wouldn't you say? And missing the Regionals… I thought she said she was fine with fighting as part of a team!
Aichi: Misaki-san has her reasons, we just have to trust her. Next time: "Cardfight! Vanguard Override, Chapter 12 – A Girls' Tears".
Misaki: Let's just stay focused on what matters. I don't want to talk about it…
[1] "Stand up, my avatar. Superior Ride. Blaster Blade!"
[2] "God of the Knights, appear and muster your mystical power! Ride! Soul Saver Dragon!"
It's been an insanely long time since giving any of the fics here the attention they've been waiting for, but with university now behind and dealing with the other things that had been getting in the way, hoping to turn that around. Priority will be this and the Neo-Domino Purges. As for Override's state; the planning stage keeps up with the anime and Link Joker-hen's layout just needs some tweaking, even though getting to that stage is still a long way off. Hopefully, having managed to finally get something done, getting to work on these big projects will come along more smoothly now. Thank you for your patience and for reading.
- CuteYami, 25th July 2014
