-Turn 3: Explosive Flames-

"Well, let's begin Tyler. I'll go first. Now, take a good long look at this cardshop. You won't be seeing it again after this fight." Wyatt said, drawing a card.

"Stand up, Vanguard!" The two fighters declared before flipping over their facedown vanguards. The two fighters materialized on what looked like a mountainous battlefield. Just like last time, Wyatt's was Stronghold of the Black Chains, Hoel. He stood triumphantly on the rocky battlefield, ready for battle. Hoel: 4000 Power. "Again, Stronghold of the Black Chains, Hoel. You should remember him from the last fight." Wyatt said to Tyler.

On Tyler's side, a small dragon standing on its hind legs appeared. It was wearing armor with a small red cape attached, and carried a shield in one hand and a sword in the other hand. Conroe: 5000 Power. "Lizard Soldier, Conroe." As it turned out, Tyler was a Kagero player.

"A Kagero player, huh? I don't know why you, or anyone, would use Kagero anyway. They haven't seen much support in such a long time, they've fallen behind. Do you really think that you'll be able beat me with that clan?" Wyatt asked, starting his usual taunting technique.

"Just shut your mouth and begin your turn! We won't find out if I can win if you keep running your mouth!" Tyler shouted back. Although he was aware that Wyatt would attempt to taunt him to ruin his focus, he couldn't help himself when it came to retorting.

"Alright then. It's your funeral kid."

Wyatt's Hand: 6, Damage Zone: 0

"I'll ride Knight of Elegant Skills, Gareth. Hoel moves back." Wyatt said as he rode his card. Hoel was surrounded by a bright light, as his form was replaced by Gareth's. Gareth: 8000 Power. At the same time, Hoel appeared in the back row, to the right of Gareth. Hoel: 4000 Power. "I'll end my turn there."

"Took you long enough." Tyler replied, drawing a card from his deck.

Tyler's Hand: 6, Damage Zone: 0

"I'll ride Demonic Dragon Mage, Kimnara. Conroe will move back." Conroe was surrounded by the same light Hoel was, and he was replaced by a lizard wearing shaman clothing. It wore a necklace of skulls, and it carried a staff with it. Of course, the staff it carried was adorned with skulls as well as other occulty things. Kimnara: 6000 Power. At the same time, Conroe appeared behind Kimnara. Conroe: 5000 Power.

"Now Conroe will boost, and Kimnara will attack Gareth." Tyler put both his cards into rest position. Conroe transferred its power over to Kimnara, who prepared an attack. Kimnara: 11000 Power. "Drive check. No trigger." Tyler said, showing his card. It was Blazing Flare Dragon. Even though it wasn't a trigger, he couldn't help but smile. Kimnara launched a shady blast of energy at Gareth, with the attack colliding head on.

"Damage check." Wyatt said as he put the top card of his deck into the damage zone. It was Speeder Hound, and a pale red light came off it. "Looks like I got a draw trigger. I'll give the power to Gareth, and draw a card." Wyatt drew his card, as Gareth stood up from the attack. He gained the trigger effects, causing his power level to go up. Gareth: 13000 Power.

"Makes no difference. My turn is done anyway. You better start bringing it next turn." Tyler said. "Finally, my turn can begin!" Wyatt said, his tone mockingly exasperated. He drew his card.

Wyatt's Hand: 7, Damage Zone: 1

"I'll ride Lop Ear Shooter." Gareth became surrounded in light, and in his place, the bunny eared warrior sprung from the ground, landing on the ground in a crouching position. Lop Ear: 9000 Power. "Next, I'll call Mage of Calamity, Tripp." He placed the card in front of Hoel, and the young mage girl appeared beside Lop Ear Shooter. Tripp: 9000 Power.

"Lop Ear Shooter will attack your vanguard now." Wyatt said. As he did, one of Lop Ear's bunny ears opened up, revealing the laser cannon hidden within.

"No guard. Give me your best shot." Tyler said, ready for what might come.

"Drive check. No trigger." Wyatt said. He revealed Manawydan and placed it in his hand. The laser beam struck Kimnara, knocking it down for a few seconds.

"Damage check." Tyler picked up the top card of his deck, a pale yellow light coming off it. "Critical trigger. I'll give the effects to Kimnara." He placed the card in his damage zone, as Kimnara gained the power boost. Kimnara: 11000 Power.

"Next, boosted by Hoel, Tripp will attack your vanguard." Hoel transferred his power to Tripp, as she cast a spell at Kimnara. Tripp: 13000 Power. Tyler didn't guard the attack, so he performed his damage check again. It was Iron Tail Dragon, a non trigger.

"I'll end my turn there. Feel free to try and turn this game around with this turn." Wyatt taunted.

Tyler drew a card, making the same smile that he did as he performed his drive check. "Don't worry Wyatt, I won't disappoint." He replied.

Two teens were walking down the streets of Central City, one male and the other female. They appeared to be having a conversation about something. "Did you text him yet?" the female teen asked the male teen. She had blonde hair which went down to her back. It was very neatly combed. She wore a black cardigan over a white shirt, a nice pair of dark blue jeans and a pair of casual shoes.

"Yeah, a while ago. He's probably got himself into a cardfight or something." The male replied. His hair was also blonde. It was neatly combed, but didn't really go past his neck. He wore a thin white hoodie under a black vest. His pants were a dark gray pair of jeans, and he wore a pair of black and white running shoes on his feet. "Izzy, you should just relax. He said he would meet us at Card Central, so he'll meet us there." The boy continued.

"I know, but at the same time, it's Tyler." The girl, apparently named Izzy, replied. "Well Sam, what about Noah? Is he coming?"

"I don't think so. He texted me saying that he's got some work to catch up on." The boy, apparently named Sam, replied. "Even though he said he might catch up later he'll probably be swamped by the work."

"Well, let's hurry to the card shop then. I wanna get some practice in today." Izzy said, as she started walking faster.

"Yeah yeah..." Sam picked up his pace as well, not wanting to get left behind.

Tyler's Hand: 7, Damage Zone: 2

"I'll ride, Blazing Core Dragon!" Tyler declared, placing his new unit on the vanguard circle. Flames rose out from under Kimnara, before a black broadsword cut through the flames. It revealed the form of a large pale red and pale yellow dragon, with outstretched large dark red wings. Blazing Core: 9000 Power. "Next, I'll use Conroe's skill. Counterblast!" He flipped over the Blue-Ray Dracokid in his damage zone, placing Conroe into his drop zone.

"Thanks to Conroe's skill, I can add one grade 1 or lower Kagero to my hand. The unit I'll choose is Gatling Claw Dragon!" Tyler revealed the unit he was adding to his hand. "Next, I'll call it." In a burst of fire, a robotic looking dragon appeared on the battlefield next to Blazing Core. Its right arm was completely covered by a gatling gun, and instead of wings on its back, there were were boosters which created butterfly wings made of fire. Gatling Claw: 4000 Power.

"Next, I'll call Iron Tail Dragon!" In another burst of flame, a red, blue-gray and yellow dragon appeared next to Blazing Core. On its arms were two arm blades, and it had a similar blade on its tail, giving the tail the appearance of a scorpion tail. Iron Tail: 7000 Power.

"And finally, I'll use Blazing Core Dragon's skill! Counterblast!" Tyler declared, flipping over the Iron Tail Dragon in his damage zone. "By moving the Gatling Claw Dragon and Iron Tail Dragon on my field to my soul..." He moved the two cards into the stack that was building under his vanguard. "...I may superior ride Blazing Flare Dragon from my deck!"

The crowd let out a gasp, and Wyatt actually had a look on his face which suggested he might be in trouble. "Didn't think a loser like you would be able to pull off a move like this..." He muttered.

Tyler picked up his deck and started looking through it. He then took a card out of it, before placing it on his vanguard circle on top of Blazing Core Dragon. On the battlefied, Iron Tail and Gatling Claw turned into a glowing red light, flying into the core on Blazing Core's chest. A pillar of flame erupted from underneath Blazing Core. The pillar then turned into a blazing tornado, as Tyler began his chant.

"Three dragon souls, become the explosive blaze that razes the battlefield! Superior Ride, Blazing Flare Dragon!" The tornado exploded outwards, and a gold and bright red, four winged, four armed dragon emerged. It possessed upgraded parts from the three dragons that came together to superior ride it; a more advanced gatling gun than Gatling Claw's, a pair of arm blades and sword tail from Iron Tail and a golden broadsword from Blazing Core. Blazing Flare: 10000 Power.

"Next, I'll call my second Blazing Core and a Flame Edge Dragon!" An orange version of Blazing Flare Dragon appeared next to the first. Blazing Flare: 10000 Power. Then a new dragon appeared, this one predominantly red and blue-gray. It carried in its right arm a boomerang with a bladed edge. Flame Edge: 9000 Power.

"Flame Edge will attack Tripp." Tyler declared, resting Flame Edge. It tossed its boomerang at Tripp. The boomerang collided with the mage girl, retiring her. Wyatt placed the card in his damage zone, frowning. "Next, Flame Edge's skill. Since its attack hit, I may soulcharge a card from the top of my deck." Tyler said, placing Wyvern Guard Barri in his soul.

"Next, my vanguard will attack Lop Ear Shooter!" Tyler declared. Blazing Flare readied its sword, flying towards Lop Ear Shooter.

"...No guard." Wyatt said, briefly looking at his hand.

"Twin Drive, first check." Tyler turned over the top card of his deck. It was Kimnara. "No trigger. Second check." He flipped over the second card, and a pale red light started shining off it. It was Gatling Claw Dragon. "Draw trigger. I'll give the power to my rearguard Blazing Flare, then draw a card." The orange colored Blazing Flare recieved the power boost from the trigger. Blazing Flare: 15000 Power. Meanwhile, the vanguard Blazing Flare struck down Lop Ear with its sword.

"Damage check. Critical trigger. I'll give the power to Lop Ear." Wyatt said, placing the Flame of Victory into the damage zone. Lop Ear stood up from the attack, looking battered from the attack but a bit more energized from the power boost. Lop Ear: 14000 Power.

"Finally, my rearguard Blazing Flare will attack your vanguard." The second Blazing Flare flew through the air, slashing Lop Ear with its sword. Wyatt placed Manawydan into the damage zone from the top of his deck.

"I'll end my turn here. So how's that? You were acting so high and mighty, but now that I've turned this fight around, you've suddenly become quiet!" Tyler was the one doing the taunting now.

"Maybe you should be quiet and watch. This is how a talented player uses their turn." Wyatt replied, drawing a card from his deck.

Wyatt's Hand: 7, Damage Zone: 3

"Turn your fury into great power! I'll ride, Knight of Fury, Agravain!" Wyatt repeated the chant he made in the last fight, riding Agravain. Lop Ear was surrounded by a light, disappearing and being replaced by Agravain. He bared his sword menacingly, with a devilish smile on his face. Agravain: 10000 Power. "Agravain's skill. As you should know, by soulcharging one card..." Wyatt placed Falcon Knight of the Azure into the soul from the top of his deck. "...Agravain gains a 2000 power boost." Agravain's power rose with the addition to his soul. Agravain: 12000 Power.

"Next, I'll call Holy Mage, Manawydan and Holy Mage, Gale." Wyatt said, placing the two cards down. To Agravain's left, the familiar mage wearing a purple cape appeared, baring his staff. Manawydan: 10000 Power. Behind him, a young boy appeared. The boy was wearing blue and gold coloured clothing, modelled after a bird. He carried with him a staff styled after a bird. Gale: 6000 Power.

"Gale's skill. When he's called to a rearguard circle, I get to choose one of my grade 3 Gold Paladins, and it gains 3000 power." Wyatt declared. Gale waved its staff in the air, and Manawydan was empowered by a gust of wind. Manawydan: 13000 Power.

"Next, I'll call Blackmane Witch." The horse themed witch appeared on the battlefield, behind Agravain. Blackmane Witch: 6000 Power. "Blackmane Witch's skill activates. By retiring one of my Gold Paladin rearguards, I can superior call one from the top of my deck." Wyatt placed Hoel in the drop zone, checking the top card of his deck. "I'll superior War Horse, Raging Storm." He placed the unit that he checked for on the battlefield, in the front row. War Horse: 6000 Power.

"Next, I'll call Flame of Victory." A salamander child appeared on the battlefield in a burst of flame, wielding a blazing sword. Flame of Victory: 4000 Power. "Next, I'll use Flame of Victory's skill to move it to the soul, giving War Horse a 3000 Power boost!" Flame of Victory disappeared as soon as it appeared, giving War Horse an increase in its power. War Horse: 9000 Power.

"Now, War Horse will attack Flame Edge Dragon!" War Horse galloped towards Flame Edge Dragon at full speed.

"Gatling Claw will guard." Tyler placed the card in his guardian circle. The robotic dragon appeared, blocking the attack from War Horse before disappearing.

"Next, Blackmane Witch will boost, and Agravain will attack your vanguard." Blackmane Witch gave her support as Agravain began charging forward. Agravain: 18000 Power.

"No guard." Tyler replied. "I'll need to conserve my hand for later, knowing what Agravain can do."

"Twin Drive, first check." Wyatt checked the top card. It was another Agravain. "No trigger. Second check." He checked the second card, and a pale yellow light came off it. He checked Flame of Victory. "Critical trigger. I'll give the critical to Agravain, and the power will go to Manawydan." He declared.

Manawydan recieved the trigger effects. Manawydan: 18000 Power. Agravain jumped in the air, slashing Blazing Flare downwards. Blazing Flare let our a pained roar.

"Damage check. First check." Tyler placed the first card into the damage zone, a pale red light coming off it. "Draw trigger. I'll give the power to my vanguard, and draw a card." He said, drawing a card. As he did, Blazing Flare recovered from the attack and recieved the power boost. Blazing Flare: 15000 Power.

"Second check. No trigger." He placed the Blazing Core Dragon into the damage zone.

"Finally, Manawydan will attack your Flame Edge Dragon with a boost from Gale. And then Manawydan's skill activates. Since he's being boosted by a Gold Paladin, he gains an additional 2000 power!" Manawydan charged an energy bolt in its staff. Manawydan: 26000 Power. The bolt hit Flame Edge, retiring it from the battlefield.

"You see, this is the combo play of my Gold Paladin deck. Your clearly inferior deck is no match for it." Wyatt taunted. "I'll end my turn here."

"Keep taunting. We'll see who's laughing when the match ends." Tyler said. He then drew a card from his deck, starting his turn.

-To be Continued-

Nova's Card of the Day: Blazing Flare Dragon

Grade 3, 10000 Power

[AUTO](VC/RC):During your main phase, when your opponent's rear-guard is put into the drop zone, this unit gets [Power]+3000 until end of turn.
[ACT](VC):[Soul Blast (5)] Choose one of your opponent's rear-guards, and retire it.

Author's Note

Confession time. Kagero is one of my favorite clans. It holds a very special place in my heart, so I had to include Kagero in this fic being used by one of the main characters. So after this fight, I can actually start developing the characters without using cardfights as a vehicle to do so! Oh yeah also there's going to be a shop tournament coming up in a few chapters or so. So that's something to look forward to! Even I don't know who's going to win it!

So as you can see, I changed some things up concerning the layout. For the next little while, I may be changing small bits of the layout to get a style that really works. It'll be worth it in the end, I swear.