Vanguard: Light Speed
Chapter 10
Witches Vs Machines, The Alchemic Battle
If you've read the last chapter then you now know that my father had a hand in everything that went on all of those years ago, but sadly at the time I had yet to realize just how far the depths of his depravity went. When I got to school that morning… well let's just say that I had recovered word about how there were several rumors in the works involving Nolan and I. Naturally of course we vehemently denied these rumors, but sadly this only served to reinforce the belief others have in them. Once school ended for the day, we both quickly changed and headed towards the expo for our assigned matches. Needless to say it didn't take very long for either of us to finish our fights, so in order to kill time we both decided to take our little sisters on a sort of shopping spree through the Expo. The four of us eventually met up with one another, and almost immediately an argument began. This time however it was not between Nolan and I, but rather between Sally and Sade over a card they both happened to of have an interest in. It got rather vocal considering the fact that these two were under the age of 10, and they probably would have started hitting each other if Nolan and I didn't break them up.
"Make no mistake…. It's not like I'm sitting next to you because I really want too. It's just that there are no good seats available from Sally's side of the field." Nolan said to me as she takes the seat next to me while her butler Jacob takes the seat directly behind my own.
"Now that both fighters have taken the stage it's time to begin the 3rd to last quarter-final match of the Vanguard Expo Tournament!" MC Sonar said as he yelled into his microphone.
The fight may be about to begin, however the question my friends and I asked ourselves was that would Sade be able to win. The last time I saw Sally fight was over two months ago and even back then she was much stronger than Sade is now. In other words what my adopted little sister needs… is a miracle.
"Once I win you won't be able to hog onii-chan anymore, and he and onee-chan can work on their relationship problems!" Sally declared.
"We're not in a relationship!" Nolan and I yell as we stand up from our seats red with embarrassment.
"Big bro can hang out with whoever he wants. You can't treat him like a possession you bro/sis-con queen!" Sade yelled with anger more than any other emotion really.
"'Bro/sis-con hime'….?" Dalette said as she blatantly looked at me with contempt.
"Don't look at me. I didn't teach her those terms." I tell Dalette as I wave my hands in denial.
"Still you lucky dog….. you have three cute girls vying for your attention Kiba." my old friend Virgil jokingly said.
"Please don't make it sound like I'm some kind of pedophile." I tell Virgil as I purposely squeeze Virgil's right shoulder with a great deal of force.
"Are both fighters ready?" MC Sonar asked.
Once MC Sonar said those words, both the idle conversation I had with my friends and the idle conversation the people around me had with each other came to an end as we all decided to focus on this fight from start to finish.
"Yes." Sade quickly said.
"Yeah seeing as how I'll do anything to make sure onii-chan gets along with onee-chan." Sally declared as if she didn't have a care in the world.
"Oh please let no one here realize that she's talking about me." I thought as I held my hands over my head out of embarrassment.
"So is this onii-chan of yours actually related to you and your famous older sister?" MC Sonar asks.
"No she's a childhood friend of my onee-chan, and in fact he's sitting right next to my sister right over there." Sally said as she points to the stands directly behind Sade.
"Crap." I thought as I can feel the various cameras covering this fight now turning their lenses on me and Nolan.
"Say isn't that the same guy who was arguing with Nolan yesterday?" One vanguard fan said as he asks a friend.
"I think it is…. OMG the internet rumors that started to flare up must be true." The friend of that fan answered.
"No it is not!" Nolan and I yell as we overhear what the friend of that fan said.
"Don't worry about it Mistress Nolan. You'll simply set the record straight for when you beat him tomorrow." Jacob said as Nolan turned away from the cameras as well.
"Ha ha love at first sight…. It's adorable isn't it." MC Sonar laughs.
And thus the rumor that Nolan and I had been secretly dating for months was effectively confirmed within the eyes of the people.
"Ahem…. In any case let the match begin!" MC Sonar yelled as he got back to business.
"Stand up, vanguard!" Sade and Sally yelled.
"Witch of Scents, Parsley [Power: 5000]!" Sally yelled.
"Morgenrot [Power: 5000]!" Sade yelled.
While MF systems back then can't even compare to the ones that we have now as I write these very words… to see them in action was still a sight to behold none the less. All of a sudden both the stands and the fight area itself was sealed away from the outside world with a dome made of vines and thorns. Water started to fill the bottom of this dome and yet somehow the stands, Sade, and Sally were standing on top of it.
"This field seems oddly familiar." Virgil mumbles.
"Yeah no kidding. I've been getting the same feeling too." Raphugio said as he was also getting a sense of déjà vu from this battlefield.
"Genesis? That's a surprise. Last time I saw Sally fight she was still using Bermuda Triangle." I say to myself.
"I can understand your surprise. Last night she asked me to help her build a Genesis deck. I was against it especially since she just started to really master her clan, but…. you know how stubborn she can be." Nolan explained as she overheard what I mumbled.
"Ha ha… no kidding." I laugh as I think back to the times before this moment when Sally's stubbornness caused me a great deal of inconvenience.
"I ride Witch of Cats, Cumin [Power: 7000], and I'll move Parsley to the back." Sally informed.
"It's a standard start, but a necessary one for the Genesis clan. Cumin's skill will allow Sally to add the top card of her deck to the soul for a soulcharge." MC Sonar explained.
[Soulcharge – Lemon Witch, Limonccino – Critical Trigger]
"This was an unexpected challenge for you Sade by having Sally change clans, but let's how you will deal with it." I thought.
"Blau Dunkelheit [Power: 6000] rides and Morgenrot moves to the back." Sade said.
After seeing Morgenrot up close and personal I can say that it's about 2-3 times taller than me, but it Sade's case it would be more like 5-6 her form times taller than her. In any case once Sade changed her vanguard, her form changed to that of a blue robotic version of the hunchback of Notre Dram, with a large physical shield mounted on its left arm, and a series of shield bits floating around its right side.
"I call Polar Stern [Power: 7000] to the front, and I'll have him attack. Since I have a vanguard with 'Blau' in its card name Polar Stern's attack this turn is just a little bit more powerful [Total Power: 10000]!" Sade declared.
"She's speaking with a lot more confidence. I guess this means that she really wants to beat Sally." I thought.
"As much as I hate to admit our younger siblings act a lot like us." Nolan quietly tells me as she nudges my right knee to get my attention.
"No guard." Sally declared in response.
Though only equipped with the most basic of classical robot armaments, Polar Stern inflicts rather severe 3rd degree burns to Cumin simply because she happened to be rather close to where Polar Stern's beam rifle attack hit.
[Damage Check – Witch of Sea Eagles, Fennel – No Trigger]
"Dunkelheit will attack next with the support of Morgenrot[Total Power: 11000]!" Sade declared.
[Drive Check – Schones Wetter – Critical Trigger]
"A critical trigger…. All of the effects go to Dunkelheit [New Total: 16000 2 Crit]!" Sade yelled.
[Damage Check – Lemon Witch, Limonccino – Critical Trigger]
[Damage Check – Regalia of Foredoom, Lot Angel – Draw Trigger]
"I end my turn." Sade said as Sally drew a card due to the draw trigger now placed in her damage zone.
Sally – Sade
6 – Hand – 5
1 – Soul – 0
3 – Damage – 0
0 – Counterblast – 0
Empty / Empty – Empty / Empty
Witch of Scents, Parsley / Witch of Cats, Cumin – Blau Dunkelheit / Morgenrot
Empty / Empty – Polar Stern / Empty
Against Sally, Sade was having a strong start and she was going to need every advantage it gave her especially since she was using Genesis Witches. Personally I thought that if Sally were to use witches at all….. I believed that the Shadow Paladin witches would be a better fir for her.
"Oh my…. with Sade's luck at the drive check, the little card fighter that could has pushed Sally to just within the damage safety net. Since Sally's turn is about to start we'll see if she can counter attack or if she has no choice but to go on the defensive for now." MC Sonar tells the crowd of people watching this fight both here and at home.
"Ride Witch of Ravens, Chamomile [Power: 9000]." Sally said.
Sally's new vanguard still has orange hair like that of her previous one, but instead her new one is wearing a purple outfit with white stripes, she's holding in her left hand a spear with an orange fan on the end, and she a lot of white overtone on her clothing given the white hand and extensions of which is ironic since she's called the Witch of Ravens.
"I call the Witch of Golden Eagles, Jasmine [Power: 9000] to the rearguard, and I'll activate her skill. Since I have a vanguard with 'Witch' in the card name I can counterblast 1 card, soulcharge 3 cards from the top of my deck, and raise her power by an additional +3000 for the turn." Sally explained.
[Soul Charge – Regalia of Frozen Breath, Svalin – No Trigger]
[Soul Charge – Regalia of Foredoom, Lot Angel – Draw Trigger]
[Soul Charge – Far Sight Regalia, Clear Angel – Critical Trigger]
"Losing 4 triggers right off the bat is like that is going to hurt you Sally." I quietly mumble to myself.
"Don't underestimate my little sister, and besides with the Genesis clan's specialization in tactical soulblasting she'll more than be able to make up for the loss of triggers soon enough." Nolan tells me as she overhears what I said, but since she's sitting next to me it would be hard for her not to.
"Chamomile attacks Dunkelheit [Total Power: 14000]!" Sally declared.
"If big bro was playing with this deck instead of me he would take this attack, so that's what I'll do." Sade thought.
For the record I would have actually guarded that attack.
[Drive Check – Regalia of Benevolence, Eir – Heal Trigger]
"I'll strengthen Jasmine and recover 1 point of damage." Sally informed as she tapped Jasmine with the heal trigger.
[Damage Check – Blade Arm Leprechaun – No Trigger]
"Jasmine attacks next [Total Power: 17000]!" Sally declares again.
In a horrible yet somehow still hilarious witch cliché, Jasmine damages Dunkelheit's mechanical body with a bit of broom-hicular manslaughter.
[Damage Check – Shieldraizer – No Trigger]
"I end my turn you ani dorobo." Sally informed as she appeared to be insulting Sade in a foreign tongue.
Sally – Sade
6 – Hand – 5
5 – Soul – 0
2 – Damage – 2
0 – Counterblast – 0
Empty / Witch of Golden Eagles, Jasmine – Empty / Empty
Witch of Scents, Parsley / Witch of Ravens, Chamomile – Blau Dunkelheit / Morgenrot
Empty / Empty – Polar Stern / Empty
"I don't suppose any of you happen to know what ani dorobo means do you?" Virgil asks as he racks his brain for an English translation of what Sally had said.
"She's a bit flustered so she actually isn't using the right work for what she means, but Sally is saying brother thief." Nolan answered.
"How do you know what that means?" Virgil asks again.
"As much as I hate to admit it….. but when it comes to my homework in the Japanese class I'm taking at school….. I ask my sister when I need help with my homework." Nolan explained.
"And with that heal trigger Sally has evened out the fight, but since its Sade's turn let's see if she can regain her lost advantage." MC Sonar announced.
"I ride Jupiter Blaukluger [Power: 10000]." Sade said.
I never actually understood why they made a green Blaukluger unit I mean the name implies that they'd all be mostly blue, but then again with what you're about to see soon enough I never understood why they made a red unit either.
"I move Polar Stern to the back, and I call Mars Blaukluger in front [Power: 9000]." Sade said.
"Do you really think I'm going to let you use Mars Blaukluger's skill?" Sally asks her rival.
And to this day they still consider each other as rival card fighters, however like that of Nolan and I their relationship did improve over time. In fact you could even call them friends while they were in the same room and they wouldn't have a look of disgust on their face.
"I don't care if you let me. With Morgenrot's support, my Jupiter Blaukluger attacks Chamomile [Total Power: 15000]!" Sade declared.
[Drive Check – Jupiter Blaukluger – No Trigger]
[Damage Check – Black Snake Witch, Chicory – No Trigger]
"Since my vanguard's attack hit, I can activate Morgenrot's skill. By paying a counterblast cost of 1 I'll search the top 5 cards of my deck, add Mond Blaukluger from those 5 cards to my hand, and I shuffle the rest back into my deck." Sade explained.
"Hang on…. why isn't she attacking with Mars first so she can use its skill?" Raphugio asks as Nova Grappler's happen to be one of the few clans he has trouble comprehending.
"Probably because she didn't have another grade 3 unit in her hand before Sade used that skill." I answer as I have at least a decent understanding of the way Nova Grapplers are played.
"How would you know that?" Raphugio asks.
"Because I told her that she should prioritize Morgenrot's skill in case she didn't have a grade 3 in her hand while her field had this kind of a set up." I explain.
"Now then….. Mars Blaukluger attack Jasmine [Total Power: 16000]!" Sade declared.
"Jasmine won't be going to the drop zone today. I guard with Clear Angel [Total Shield: 10000]." Sally countered.
Thanks to thrusters being installed in practically every crevice of his body, Mars Blaukluger literally has his fists flying towards Jasmine but at the last second she's pushed out of the way and Clear Angel takes the hit instead.
Sally – Sade
5 – Hand – 5
5 – Soul – 1
3 – Damage – 2
0 – Counterblast – 1
Empty / Witch of Golden Eagles, Jasmine – Empty / Empty
Witch of Scents, Parsley / Witch of Ravens, Chamomile – Jupiter Blaukluger / Morgenrot
Empty / Empty – Mars Blaukluger / Polar Stern
Meanwhile, Will having just arrived at the Expo and my ex-girlfriend Abygail…. yes she was my ex-girlfriend a fact that she will use against me in future chapters and has used against me for years. Getting back on topic, she and Will were watching this fight from another part of the Expo.
"Sorry I'm late… It took me a little longer than I thought to find a parking spot." Will said as he was somewhat hunched over and clearly out of breath.
"I was actually expecting you to be a bit longer given the tongue lashing Tsubasa gave you after you lost to that beginner." Abygail retorts.
"Speaking of which, where is she? And where's Nikki for that matter? I thought she was the first one here." Will asks.
"She was the first one here, but right now she's looking through one of the stands for a card that she's been trying to find for a while. As for Tsubasa….. she went to grab a bite to eat." Abygail answered.
"Well then I guess I didn't need to bring money for lunch." Will chuckled.
"What do you think of the fight so far?" Abygail asks.
"You mean between the girl who beat me and Nolan Elchart's little sister right? I was listening to the fight on the radio, and I think she's not that bad for a beginner but I can't really say much more. Has Isaac's battle with Cloud started yet?" Will asks.
"No not yet. It's slated to start a few minutes after Sade's fight ends." Abygail said.
"Well then let's just shut it, watch, and see how things go." Will said as he and Abygail turned their attention towards one of the many monitors that was set up in the convention center.
Now it's time to go back to the fight between my adopted little sister and Sally.
"I ride White Snake Witch, Mint [Power: 11000]!" Sally declared.
I have to admit save for the difference in hair color Mint actually looked like a teenaged version of Sally back then what with her petit frame, and to go along with that irony years later Sally now looks exactly like Mint save for again the difference in hair color.
"I call Chicory [Power: 9000] to the front, Cumin [Power: 7000] goes behind Jasmine, and now Cumin along with Mint's skill to soulcharge." Sally informed.
[Soul Charge – Witch of Sea Eagles, Fennel – No Trigger]
[Soul Charge – Witch of Golden Eagles, Jasmine – No Trigger]
[Soul Charge – Witch of Strawberries, Framboise – No Trigger]
[Soul Charge – Regalia of Frozen Breath, Svalin – No Trigger]
"Chicory will attack Mars Blaukluger [Total Power: 12000]!" Sally declared.
Chicory stretched out her left hand, and a black snake went flying out of her sleeve and bit Mars. I guess magically enchanted venom must be fairly powerful given the fact that Mars rusted away into nothingness.
"Mint, attack Jupiter Blaukluger [Total Power: 16000]!" Sally declared.
"I won't be guarding." Sally said.
[Drive Check – Lemon Witch, Limonccino – Critical Trigger]
"The critical goes to Mint, and the power will go to Jasmine [New Total: 16000 2 Crit]." Sally informed.
[Drive Check - Witch of Sea Eagles, Fennel – No Trigger]
[Damage Check – Grosse Baer – No Trigger]
[Damage Check – Schones Wetter – Critical Trigger]
"I give all effects to my vanguard Jupiter Blaukluger." Sade said.
"Then Jasmine, you'll be attacking Jupiter Blaukluger next [Total Power: 21000]!" Sally declared.
[Damage Check – Regenbogen – Heal Trigger]
"Yes….. I heal one point of damage and I'll give the power to my vanguard." Sade informed.
"Then I end my turn." Sally said.
Sally – Sade
5 – Hand – 5
10 – Soul – 1
3 – Damage – 4
0 – Counterblast – 0
Witch of Cats, Cumin / Witch of Golden Eagles, Jasmine – Empty / Empty
Witch of Scents, Parsley / White Snake Witch, Mint – Jupiter Blaukluger / Morgenrot
Empty / Black Snake Witch, Chicory – Empty / Polar Stern
"Ride Mond Blaukluger [Power: 11000]! Now I call two Jupiter Blauklugers [Power: 10000] to the front." Sade declared.
"Now that this fight has entered the realm of Grade 3s we'll see soon enough whether or not the power of Legion will tear through the Blau series or if a Limit Break deck will continue to offer a stalwart resistance." MC Sonar announced.
"Jupiter attacks Jasmine [Total Power: 10000]!" Sade declared.
"I intercept with Chicory [Total Shield: 5000]." Sally countered.
"Then my rearguard Jupiter attacks Jasmine [Total Power: 17000]!" Sade declared.
"Looks like you'll be going to the drop zone this turn Jasmine." Sally thought.
"She could have attacked the vanguard, but Sally would have guarded anyway in order to meet that skill's activation requirement." I thought.
"Now my vanguard attacks [Total Power: 18000]!" Sade declared.
"Lemon Witch, Limonccino guards [Total Shield: 10000]." Sally countered.
[Drive Check – Mars Blaukluger – No Trigger]
[Drive Check – Starker Wind – Stand Trigger]
"Power to my vanguard and I stand Morgenrot [New Total: 23000]!" Sade declared.
[Damage Check – Regalia of Foredoom – Lot Angel – Draw Trigger]
"Power to vanguard and I draw 1 card." Sally said.
"I'll activate Morgenrot's skill and I'll add….. Blau Dunkelheit to my hand." Sade said just before she started to shuffle her deck due to Morgenrot's effect.
Sally – Sade
5 – Hand – 5
10 – Soul – 2
4 – Damage – 4
0 – Counterblast – 1
Witch of Cats, Cumin / Empty – Jupiter Blaukluger / Empty
Witch of Scents, Parsley / White Snake Witch, Mint – Mond Blaukluger / Morgenrot
Empty / Empty – Jupiter Blaukluger / Polar Stern
"Stand and draw." Sally said as she drew for the turn.
"Now that there are four cards in Sally's drop zone will we see Legion being performed right now?" MC Sonar announced.
"Seek mate!" Sally yelled.
"And we do vanguard fans!" MC Sonar followed.
It's always exciting to see 4 cards fly back into the deck only to have the assigned mate of a vanguard come flying out moments later, but seriously….. does no one question how cards are flying back into the deck?
"You who is a snake witch of darkness, line up with she who is the snake witch of light… Legion [Legion Power: 20000]!" Sally yelled.
"Sade, here it comes. You may have a perfect guard in hand, but that alone is not enough to guarantee victory in a fight." I thought.
"I call Fennel [Power: 11000] in front of Cumin, and now I'll move Parsley into the soul to target Fennel with her skill." Sally explained.
"I have to be ready for what's to come." Sade thought.
"I call two Witch of Frogs, Melissa [Power: 7000] to the back row and now I'll have one boost my vanguard for a legion attack!" Sally declared.
"The high numbers isn't what makes Mint scary, but rather it's the potential to hit even higher that makes her do deadly. Mint's skill when in Legion allows Sally to strengthen her vanguard's attacking power by +10000 power and her front row by another +5000." MC Sonar explained to the people watching the fight.
"Before Mint's skill starts to kick in for my front row, I'll activate Chamomile's skill to superior call her from the drop zone and now taste the power of my snake bite stimulation!" Sally yelled as she stated the apparent name of Mint's skill.
"I told you that my sister shouldn't be underestimated Kiba, but the fun of this deck isn't over yet." Nolan said as she was proud of the combo her little sister had set up for herself.
"You shouldn't underestimate Sade either. She will not be defeated that easily because her deck still has a few surprises as well." I retort.
"Since 6 units were sent from my soul the drop zone, Parsley's skill kicks in giving Fennel an additional +6000 power. Getting back on topic… I'll say it again Melissa supports Mint for a Legion attack [Total Power: 37000]!" Sally declared.
"Dunkelheit nullifies that attack [Perfect Defense]." Sade countered.
"That won't be a problem for me." Sally retorts.
[Drive Check – Far Sight Regalia, Clear Angel – Critical Trigger]
"All effects go to Fennel." Sally informed.
[Drive Check – Regalia of Benevolence, Eir – Heal Trigger]
"Once again all effects go to Fennel, and I heal 1 damage point." Sally said.
"It's a good thing that Sade was able to add a perfect guard to her hand because otherwise she would have been hard pressed to defend against all of that power." MC Sonar explained.
"It'll be alright for as long as Sally draws that card on her next turn she can still win. No…. she has to draw that card in order to have a chance at winning." I thought as I can't help but be worried for Sade's sake.
"With of Sea Eagles, Fennel end this fight right now [Total Power: 39000 2 Crit]!" Sally yelled.
"I'll nullify that with another Dunkelheit [Perfect Defense]!" Sade countered.
"I don't believe it….. I didn't think that you'd have another perfect guard in your hand." Sally said as she was surprised that her high numbered attack didn't go through.
"Well I do, so what are you going to do now?" Sade asks.
"Chamomile attacks Mond Blaukluger [Total Power: 21000]!" Sally declared.
[Damage Check – Galaxy Blaukluger – No Trigger]
"Oh that's going to hurt Sade a little." I say aloud.
"How so?" Virgil asks.
"I finally managed to convince Sade to let me take a look at her deck, and well…. she only has 2 copies of Galaxy Blaukluger in her deck. According to her, my dad is still tracking down a 3rd copy. This might still work out though given the backup that's in there." I explain.
"Tch…. I end my turn." Sally informed as she was clearly disappointed with herself for failing to finish off Sade.
Sally – Sade
5 – Hand – 1
5 – Soul – 2
3 – Damage – 5
0 – Counterblast – 1
Witch of Cats, Cumin / Witch of Sea Eagles, Fennel – Jupiter Blaukluger / Empty
Witch of Frogs, Melissa / White Snake Witch, Mint/Black Snake Witch, Chicory– Mond Blaukluger / Morgenrot
Witch of Frogs, Melissa / Witch of Ravens, Chamomile – Jupiter Blaukluger / Polar Stern
"Go ahead and ride Galaxy Blaukluger….. there's no way I'm going to let a single attack of yours hit if that's the case." Sally thought as she took a defensive posture.
"Break ride the Immortal, Asura Kaiser [Power: 11000]!" Sade declared.
"What…. Asura Kaiser and not Galaxy Blaukluger?" Sally said as she like many of the people watching this fight were shocked to see this card in a Blau deck.
"Kiba, do you know what's going on? Raphugio asks.
"Granted it is only a filler card, but the evolved form of Asura Kaiser can be a great back up if Sade can't ride to Galaxy or another Mond Blaukluger and as you can see the surprise factor of having it in a Blau deck is a nice bonus as well." I explain.
"The lone Jupiter Blaukluger will attack your Chamomile first [Total Power: 10000]!" Sade declared.
"No guard." Sally said.
"So it begins vanguard fans. If Sade gets what she wants this turn, she could very well end this fight right here right now." MC Sonar announced to which the crowd ate up with much anticipation.
"The second Jupiter attacks your vanguard [Total Power: 17000]!" Sade declared.
[Damage Check – Witch of Scents, Parsley – No Trigger]
"Asura Kaiser attack the White Snake Witch [Total Power: 26000]!" Sade declared.
"Framboise nullifies that attack [Perfect Defense]!" Sally countered.
"Wait shouldn't she save that in case Asura Kaiser stands itself back up?" Virgil pointed out.
"If the deck was built like how a true Asura Kaiser used would build in then Sally probably would have, but this is still a Blau deck and Sally knows that in order to keep it balanced Sade couldn't have possibly put grade multiple grade 3 units. Basically Sally would rather guard against the triggers rather than the effect of Immortal." Dalette said as she revealed a part of her deep understanding of the game.
"Sally is no weakling Virgil. If I had to guess…. I'd say that she has almost if not just as much talent as her sister as a Vanguard fighter. All she needs now basically is the experience." I said as I follow up with Dalette's explanation.
"Mond Blaukluger's secondary break ride skill: I counterblast 1 and all of my rearguards stand back up." Sally explained.
[Drive Check – Starker Wind – Stand Trigger]
"I give the power to my lone Jupiter Blaukluger." Sally said as she tapped the green robot with the stand trigger.
"Come on… don't get that grade 3." Sally thought as she starts praying within the confines of her own mind.
[Drive Check – Galaxy Blaukluger – No Trigger]
"Immortal, Asura Kaiser's Limit Break! Since my drive check revealed a grade 3 Nova Grappler unit, by discarding 2 cards and paying a counterblast cost of 2… Asura Kaiser comes back better than ever with a +10000 power bonus." Sade explained with a level of confidence that made me very proud of her.
"Oh no….." Sally mumbled as she realized that the chances of her losing this fight right now was rather high.
"The lone Blaukluger will now attack Fennel [Total Power: 15000]!" Sally decared.
"I have no choice but to take that if I want to have even the slightest chance of surviving to my next turn." Sally thought as she placed Fennel in the drop zone.
"Now my other Jupiter attacks your vanguard [Total Power: 17000]!" Sally declared.
"I guard with Eir [Total Shield: 10000]!" Sally countered.
"Asura Kaiser attacks [Total Power: 36000], and once more all of my rearguard units will stand back up!" Sade declared like a professional fighter.
"I can't block it…. oh it's no fair I don't want to lose to this onii-chan hog." Sally thought as she was infuriated with herself for being unable to guard.
[Drive check – Schones Wetter – Critical Trigger]
"The critical will go to Asura Kaiser and the power will go to Jupiter Blaukluger [New Total: 36000 2 Crit]!" Sade yelled
[Drive check – Shining Lady – Critical Trigger]
"I'll apply the trigger's power to the same units as before [New Total: 36000 3 Crit]." Sade said as she quickly regained her composure after her earlier bout of excitement.
Forgive me for how this will sound, but when a couple of young girls see a giant manly robot approach them several large toys… it can be rather unnerving or downright scary. I couldn't even begin to imagine the intensity of the pain felt by Sally's witches when the evolved Asura Kaiser brought down its many weapons upon them.
[Damage Check – White Snake Witch, Mint – No Trigger]
[Damage Check – Black Snake Witch, Chicory – No Trigger]
Final Results
Sally – Sade
2 – Hand – 3
5 – Soul – 2
6 – Damage – 5
0 – Counterblast – 5
Witch of Cats, Cumin / Empty – Jupiter Blaukluger / Empty
Witch of Frogs, Melissa / White Snake Witch, Mint/Black Snake Witch, Chicory– Immortal, Asura Kaiser / Morgenrot
Witch of Frogs, Melissa / Empty – Jupiter Blaukluger / Polar Stern
Being unable to hide our concern for our respective siblings, both Nolan and I ran to their sides. Nolan intends to console her sister while I intend to congratulate mine for a fight well done. I must confess I was so happy for her that I did something rather embarrassing.
"I can't believe it Sade! You made it into the finals….. bloody well done!" I tell Sade for some strange reason with a somewhat heavy Japanese accent, of which is something I haven't done in years.
Right… allow me to explain. I may be an American citizen and look as white as a man on the brink of death, but I was actually born in my father's homeland of Japan and lived there for the first two years of my life and as a result developed a bit of an accent. I grew out of it after my father moved my mother and I back to the USA for his work and my mother's request, but on occasion especially when I get particularly emotional the accent comes back with a vengeance.
"Why are you talking like that big bro? It's really weird." Sade said due the fact that this is the first time she's heard me speak with an accent.
"Sorry…. old hab….. old habits die hard." I tell Sade as I try to force myself to stop speaking with an accent.
"And it is over Vanguard fans, the winner is Sade the little newbie that could. She is the third fighter to move onto the semi-finals of the expo tournament. Hmmm, speaking of which I've just received word that the fight between Cloud and Isaac Barrett is about to begin." MC Sonar asked as he placed his hand near his ear as if there was something in it.
Though rarely occurring normally, Cloud and Isaac have actually fought each other before both officially and unofficially. At this point in my tale of the truth, Cloud is at this point in time of my tale of the truth the only fighter to have ever come close to beating Isaac. As a result any time they do fight, people flock to watch like vultures to a freshly made corpse.
"For those of you here at the Expo please turn your attention to the closest monitor, and for those of you watching at home please be patient as the cameras will switch over momentarily." MC Sonar said.
I myself have only seen Cloud and Isaac fight on television and I would have liked to have seen them fight in person in this case, but if my friends and I tried to head towards the part of the expo where they'd be fighting….. we'd only end up missing all the good parts. Ultimately we just returned to our seats in these mini-bleachers and decided to watch the fight from the closest monitor like how MC Sonar suggested.
"With three of the four matches having just concluded, it's time for the most anticipated match of the day to begin!" Sara announced the moment she and Dr. O's face appeared on the monitor.
"Oh yes and I don't mean to be rude to the other competitors especially Cloud's team captain Nolan, but I have no doubt that this will be a fight that should have been the finals." Dr. O followed.
"Their previous fights have always been worthy of the history books, but Cloud has yet to beat Isaac. Will history repeat itself in this fight? Or will we have a major upset in the history of vanguard?" Sara pointed out.
"Vanguard fighters all over, pay close attention as the last quarter-final match of the Vanguard Expo tournament is about to begin." Dr. O informed.
The camera almost immediately switched over to Cloud and Isaac standing across from each other. These two fighters of clearly different personalities aren't even bothered in the slightest by the pressure of having millions of people watching them fight. That kind of pressure would be enough to unnerve even the strongest of fighters, so it's clear that this alone proves these two are a step above that.
"And so here we are again, but like how Dr. O said I would have preferred that we fight in the finals of the Expo. It makes a better stage for when I win after all." Cloud said with a smile that's overshadowed by the aura he and Isaac are putting off.
"You won't be getting that chance as your advancement in this tournament ends here." Isaac bluntly said.
"What exactly makes you so sure of that fact?" Cloud asks.
"Facts generated from previous experience, but there is one thing facing you allows me to do today." Isaac said as he placed down his starting vanguard.
"Oh? What would that be?" Cloud retorts in a very sly manner as he does the same.
"I need a strong opponent to test the power of my new deck….. no more no less." Isaac said as examines his opening hand.
"I don't know if I should feel flattered that you rate me so highly or insulted that you don't think much of my captain." Cloud said as he performed his pre-fight mulligan.
"Strong is strong and weak is weak. All fighters define this truth in their own way." Isaac retorts.
"I guess that's true." Cloud said as he placed his hand on the top of his starting vanguard.
To those who read this and have not seen the fight that is to come, it may seem like that these two are having a somewhat polite conversation one another. The truth however was something completely different. Even though my friends and I were nowhere near where Isaac and Cloud were fighting… the atmosphere became so thick that it was hard to breath. This kind of atmosphere can only be created when two fighters who want nothing more than to defeat each other clash in open battle. Though it was impossible for it to be the case… the atmosphere was so strong that it was as if these two were already fighting for their very lives.
"Are you two ready?" the judge for their fight asked.
"Yes." both Isaac and Cloud answer.
"Then let the last quarter-final match begin!" the judge declared.
"Stand up my vanguard!" Cloud yelled.
"Stand up the vanguard!" Isaac yelled.
"Blue Storm Cadet, Marios [Power: 5000]!" Cloud revealed.
"Composed Seeker, Lucius [Power: 5000]!" Isaac revealed.
"Compo… Royal Paladins? He's never been seen using this clan before." Cloud thought as he was among the many who were shocked to hear the identity of Isaac's starting vanguard.
"Oh this is unexpected. The famed cardfighter Isaac Barrett is using something other than a Narukami deck.
"Just what will it mean for this fight?" Sara followed.
To Be Continued
Isaac: Guided by the light you blaze a trail to your destiny as one. Stand together you dragons that bare the title of "Saver"! Legion!
Cloud: What strength….. I didn't think it was possible to see such power go down the center line.
Kiba: Next time on Vanguard: Light Speed "Blaze Burst".
Genesis
Witch Sub-clan
Grade 0
With of Scents, Parley
Power: 5000
Shield: 10000
AUTO]: Forerunner (When a unit of the same clan rides this unit, you may call this unit to (RC))
[ACT](RC):[Put this unit into your soul] If your vanguard is in Legion, choose one of your (RC) units with "Witch" in its card name, and until end of turn, that unit gets "[Auto](RC): Durring your turn, when a card is placed into the drop zone from your soul, if you have a "Genesis" vanguard, this unit gets [Power]+1000 until end of turn."