Chapter 2.
Ride the Thunder - The truth about Matsui
"Stand up Vanguard!"
The game began with the two players assuming the form of their starting vanguards in the imaginary world of Cray.
"Wingal Brave (G0, 5000/10000)"
"Spark kid Dragoon (G0, 4000/10000)"
Matsui's eyes widened for a second.
"Royal paladin, that's right!"
Setsuna was like she read his mind.
"Are you sure this is your first time playing?"
"Absolutely!"
"Fine! Have it your way! I'll go first then!"
Setsuna: 6 cards, Vanguard: Wingal Brave, Rearguards: 0, Damage 0
"So, to get things started, I'll show you the basics this turn. Every turn you draw a card! You can keep as many cards in your hand as you like."
"Okay, okay just get the game on already!"
"Fine, if that's how you like it! First is the Ride: You ride by placing a new card on the Vanguard circle, that is one level higher or equal in level than your current one."
Matsui Nodded and Setsuna carried on smiling.
"Right! I Ride Little Sage Marron! (G1, 8000/5000). Now for a call right? You are allowed to call units from your hand, deck or even your drop zone that have equal or less level as your Vanguard. But first is Wingal Brave's skill: When I ride another Royal Paladin over him, I can move it to the Rear Guard."
And so she did, and moved it to the back row to the left.
"Now for the real call: I call Lake Maiden Lien (G1, 7000/5000)"
"Anything else?"
"Not this time! Since I started the game I can not attack yet! It's over to you!"
Matsui nodded and with some fake hesitation he drew his card.
Matsui: 6 cards, Vanguard: Spark Kid Dragoon, Rearguards: 0, Damage 0
"Alright! I ride Lizard Soldier Riki! (G2, 7000/5000) I then move Spark kid to the rearguard! I'll also Call Red River Dragoon! (G1, 8000/5000)"
"You're off to a good start! Now you may attack if there's nothing else!"
"Alright! So... How do I attack?"
"Simple enough! Just turn your attacking unit sideways and announce the unit you attack. Only Front row units are allowed to attack, but the back row can assist them by giving them their power when attacking. Just turn them aswell, or rest them if we go by the official terms."
Matsui nodded.
"Alright, I attack your Vanguard with Red River!"
"I don't guard! Now since your attack hit, I'll need to check my Damage Trigger. That is done by flipping over the top card of my deck and placing it into the Damage zone. If you take 6 damage, you lose. So then Damage check: Nothing! Your attack is a complete success with that!"
"Right then: Supported by Spark kid, Riki attacks!"
"The other thing is, that I don't need to take all the damage you deal to me! I can guard, by placing cards on the Guardian circle, that have Shield power."
"And how do you know the Shield power?"
"The shield power is the number written Vertically on the card's side. The higher the shield value, the more power you can guard with! I guard with Flogal, who has 10000 shield!"
Matsui nodded again.
"So, is my turn over?"
"Not yet! You have to do a Drive Trigger check, by flipping over the top card of your deck and showing it to me, then adding it to your hand!"
"Right: Drive Check: "
The card was glowing red when Matsui lifted it up. He had some faked surprise on his face.
"And this is?"
"A Draw Trigger! Trigger cards are useful: You not only gain 5000 power, but you also get one of the four special skills. There are 4 different trigger cards, in four different colors: Yellow is for Critical, which allows you to deal an extra damage, Green is for Heal, which, if you have equal to or more damage than your opponent, allows you to pick out one card in your damage zone, and send to the drop zone! Red is for Draw, allowing you to draw a card for free, and then there's the stand, in the color blue, allowing you to turn one of your rest units back to standing position! I hope that's clear enough!"
"It is! I'll draw a card then and my turn's done!"
Setsuna: 4 cards, Vanguard: Little Sage Marron, Rearguards: 2, Damage 1
"Nice! Now Appear in light holy Knight! Ride: Blaster Blade! (G2, 9000/5000)"
"No way! Blaster Blade?"
Clad in Blue and White armor, the mighty Blaster Blade stepped in front of Lizard Soldier Riki, Embodiment of Matsui's on Cray. He just let his huge sword down and rested his hands on its handle.
"Surprise-surprise! And now I call Silent Knight Gelatin! (G2, 10000/5000) And he attack right away!"
"I don't guard!"
"Good! Boosted by Lien, Blaster Blade attacks!"
Matsui looked at his cards and shook his head.
"No Guard!"
The Drive Check was a stand trigger.
"Gelatin stands and attacks!"
"No guard!"
"Over to you!"
Matsui: 6 cards, Vanguard: Lizard Soldier Riki, Rearguards: 2, Damage 3
"Thunderstorm Dragoon Rides (G2, 10000/5000). I also use Spark kid's skill, Using one Counterblast and moving him to the soul! I check the top 5 cards of my deck and add one Grade 3 unit to my hand if possible."
Matsui did it without asking anything about any of the above, and Setsuna knew exactly now that she was right. Matsui already picked his card and added it to his hand, no other than Dragonic Kaiser Vermillion.
"I add this here! After that, Red River moves Back and I call Demonic Dragon Berserker Garuda (G2, 8000/5000) and Dragonic Deathscythe (G2, 9000/5000)! Using Death Scythe's skill, I counterblast 2 and retire Gelatin! Then Deathscythe attacks!"
"No Guard!"
"Thunderstorm Attacks!"
"I guard with Flogal!"
"Drive check: Heal Trigger! I add the power to Garuda and heal one! Garuda attacks with a boost from Red River!"
"No Guard!"
"Due to Garuda's skill, since his attack hit, I flip over one damage, and I'm done!"
Setsuna: 3 cards, Vanguard: Blaster Blade, Rearguards: 2, Damage 3
"Great! See the king in his younger days… as he blazes a trail with his knights! Ride! Alfred Early! (G3, 10000/0) I use his skill, and since Blaster Blade is in the Soul, I'll now Superior call him! I now use his Counterblast to get rid of Deathscythe! Now I call Gelatin and I attack!"
"I intercept with Garuda!"
"And again no explanations needed! I Attack with Alfred Early boosted by Lien!"
"I perfect Guard with Wyvern Guard Guld! (G1, 6000/0)"
"You're doing a horible job hiding your skills Matsui! Twin Drive: First: Critical Trigger! I add both effects to Blaster Blade! Second Check: And another Critical! same as before! I attack with Blaster Blade boosted by Wingal Brave!"
"No Guard!"
By then a larger group of people crowded up around them and everyone thought Matsui was done for with that +2 Critical.
"Damage Check: First: Draw Trigger! I add the Power to my Vanguard and draw! Second: Another Draw Trigger. Same as before, and Third: ..."
Everyone was watching with their fingers crossed, and as Matsui lifted the card up, it was glowing in green.
"Heal Trigger! I add the power to my Vanguard and heal one!"
It was amazing how cool headed Matsui remained even in the last second.
"Over to you then!"
"Thanks! Just don't regret it!"
Everyone was speculating what Matsui's next move would be, as he raised his hand to silence them. His stare was intense and had an unexplainable fire burning in his eyes.
"Final Turn!"
Everyone's awe and shock was clear, and only Setsuna was smiling away.
"I knew I can bring it out of you!"
Matsui grabbed one of his cards and with the same move as what he showed off in school with the chalk, he went into the Ride Chant and slammed the card to its place:
"Destroy your sealed cage and descend onto the Battlefield Embodiment of Thunder! Ride! Dragonic Kaiser Vermillion! (G3, 11000/0)"
At his command the majestic dragon, ruler of the skies and the Narukam Clan descended onto the field. His entire body and wings overrun by static electricity, holding a spear and a double edged dagger in his hands, he let out a Blood Chilling roar.
"There we go! Now it when it turns out if he really is as good as I think he is!"
"I use Vermillion's most bone chilling Skill: Limit Break! I counterblast three, and he gains 2000 power and attacks all front row units at once this turn! I also call Bright Jet Dragon (G2, 9000/5000) and another Red river, Riki and Garuda. Boosted by Red River, Garuda Attacks!"
"I guard with Bringer of Good Luck Epona! (G0, 5000/10000)"
"Boosted by Red River, Vermillion Kicks in! Get him! Vicious Vermillion Thunderbolt!"
"I perfect Guard with Flash Shield Iseult! (G1, 6000/0)"
With that, Setsuna emptied her hand.
"Twin Drive, First: Critical Trigger! I add both effects to Bright Jet! Second: Another Critical Trigger! I guess it's the same thing vice versa with you, huh? Both effects to Bright Jet, who attacks with a boost from Riki!"
Setsuna's damage check was nowhere nearly as lucky as Matsui's and the game was over. Everyone's acknowledgement was clear, seeing that Matsui beat the strongest player in the shop by far. By the time Setsuna realised the fact that it was over, Matsui had already gathered the cards together and put it down right in front of her.
"I knew it! You couldn't hide it! It is you!"
"I have no idea what you're talking about!"
Matsui wanted to walk out, but Setsuna grabbed his arm.
"I know who you are Kimoshita Matsui! The former Junior National Champion and by far the strongest young Cardfighting Prodigy!"
"So what does that bother you?"
Setsuna wanted to say something, but Matsui just tore his arm out of her hand and walked out without any further words.
"Hey, I think he forgot something!"
Chiaki picked up a deck box from the table, which definetly belonged to Matsui, as Setsuna already put her decks away. They opened it up and by the looks of it, it was a fairly old Royal paladin deck, and quite outdated too.
"Why would he leave this... ?"
Suddenly a very unfortunate card ended up in Setsuna's hand: A Blaster Blade card, and it was torn ahalf.
"Who'd do this to a card?"
"Someone, who obviously doesn't want it's owner to play it anymore."
This was said by Chris, the shop owner and manager, who stepped into the conversation and grabbed the card up, which was now held together by some duct tape.
"A RRR rarity and from the first generation... I'd say that the one who did this was the one who gave this deck to your friend!"
"You don't mean... ?"
"Yep, if this kid is who you say he is, then it was his brother, Kimoshita Tenma!"
That was shocking for real though. Not half an hour later Setsuna and Chiaki were walking home from the shop and the girl was still pondering about the card.
"Okay, what's your deal sis?"
"Isn't it obvious? I'm pondering, why Matsui would throw his deck, or even more, his favourite game away?"
"I guess he does have a good reason right? I mean that card must be something that he had an emotional bond with."
Setsuna nodded, but suddenly stopped. They were on the river bank and she kept staring at the setting sun.
"What's wrong?"
She was blushing and suddenly took a deep breath and started yelling at the sun itself.
"I'll bring you back Matsui! You just watch!"
At first Chiaki didn't understand and he just stared at his sister screaming in anger or more like a crazy lion but soon joined her. He swore to himself, that no matter how hard it will be, or whatever she was up to, he'd help her no matter what. They went on for a bit like that, but suddenly someone yelled at them.
"Shut it up you morons or I'll call the police!"
With that, Setsuna and Chiaki just pulled themselves together and quietly ran home after that, but Setsuna's desire was clear now.