Vanguard: Light Speed
Chapter 13
Perdition Beginning
Skilled players and exciting fights… when it comes to the game of Vanguard, things like this can be found in the most unexpected of places. I'd say this is especially true for people like me who are watching a heated clash between two possessors of Dragonic Overlord. Nikki and Jacob didn't deserve the harsh life that they had to lead, but I also believe it was because of this hard life that they had to lead was why they become so strong. Still…. let's see how this clash ends shall we.
Nikki – Jacob
4 – Hand – 4
2 – Soul – 0
2 – Damage – 4
0 – Counterblast – 0
Eternal Bringer Griffon / Burning Horn Dragon – Perdition Dragon, Menace Laser Dragon / Perdition Battler, Mareiko
Seal Dragon Spirit, Malkibel / Dragonic Overlord – Perdition Dragon Knight, Elham / Perdition Dragon, Tinder Spear Dracokid
Empty / Dragonic Overlord – Empty / Empty
"If you have then it's clear you don't appreciate the new life you've been given, and I'll make sure you understand what it means to insult my pride and the Elchart name right now! Stand and draw." Jacob yelled as his eyes went even more wide-eyed then they were before the moment he saw his next card.
"The anger, the sadness, the subtle tears... it's clear that these two fighters have lived a harsh life... Now, it's also clear that this fight is no longer about a simple rare card but rather a clash between the pride these two fighters hold responsible for making them who they are. With an already bad situation and emotions flaring, how will Jacob of Team Star Ocean start off his next turn?!" MC Sonar announced to the crowd as he felt touched by Jacob's story.
"Winds that turn into infernos and flames that reduce everything to ash, these are the symbols of your rebirth by sleep! I ride Dragonic Overlord [Power: 11000]!" Jacob yelled.
Once again a torrent of flames appears and reaches to the sky, and once again a legendary dragon emerges from a flaming cocoon.
"What?!" Nikki said as she was shocked beyond belief by what she just heard.
"I…. I thought I was speechless before Vanguard fans when Nikki rode Dragonic Overlord, but to see that Jacob Edwards has a copy of the legendary card in his possession… I just…. It's just beyond words." MC Sonar said as he struggles to string a couple of sentences together.
Even though she refuses to use a certain power ever again, Nikki has noticed that there have been times where it activates on its own. Because of these certain, Nikki can see the illusion of a roaring flame behind Jacob illuminating him. The best way to describe it was that it was a manifestation of his will.
"Again? No stop it…. I'll win without relying on that power." Nikki thought as she tightly squeezes her eyes shut, and takes a moment to concentrate.
"Now I'll show you Nicolette Kurosagi the way the Kagero clan is meant to be played!" Jacob declared.
"Ahem…. In any case it's clear that Jacob is starting to get serious, but with a 2 point damage difference how will he make it up?" MC Sonar announced after putting his star-struck feeling aside for the sake of his job.
"I call Whirlwind Dragon [Power: 9000] to the right. Now….. Dragonic Overlord, with the support of Tinder Spear renders Burning Horn Dragon non-existent [Total Power: 18000]!" Jacob yelled as he declared the first attack of the turn.
"Hang on….. why attack the rearguard first? It's not as if Overlord's skill is active?" Virgil asks.
"Nicolette has at least 20k shield to guard with in hand, so if she were to block and he were to get a critical trigger….. she'd be hard pressed to defend herself on Jacob's next turn if she's unable to break ride. This would just be a massive bonus to Jacob if this happened; however, he's attacking to whittle down Nicolette's offense if she is able to break ride." Dalette explained.
"Then that would mean…. If she were to guard….. then the most she can afford is a unit hitting for 2 critical." Sade pointed out.
"Very good Sade… I'm proud of you for noticing that." I happily tell Sade as I gently pet her on the head.
That's enough brotherly love for now.
"I won't be guarding that." Nikki said.
"Check the drive trigger. The first check…." Jacob said as he turned over the top card of his deck.
[Drive Check – Perdition Dragon, Rampart Dragon – No Trigger]
"And the second." Jacob said as he turned over the next card.
[Drive Check – Perdition Dragon, Buster Rain Dragon – Critical Trigger]
"I give the power to Whirlwind Dragon and the critical to Menace Laser." Jacob informed.
Statistically speaking the attacking power of Jacob's Dragonic Overlord was weaker than Nikki's, however it didn't feel that way at all. It was as though Jacob's red hot burning soul strengthened his Overlord's attack beyond what could be measured when he brought down his sword on Burning Horn Dragon.
"Menace Laser will attack your Dragonic Overlord vanguard [Total Power: 16000 2 Crit]!" Jacob declared.
"I guard with Dragon Dancer, Barbra [Total Shield: 10000]." Nikki countered.
"Then Whirlwind Dragon, show the strength of your superior flame against Nikki's rearguard Overlord [Total Power: 14000]!" Jacob declared.
"It looks Jacob's set himself up for his next turn, but Nikki doesn't have any other choice then to go right through it." Dalette thought.
[Damage Check – Flame of Promise, Aermo – No Trigger]
"Over to you." Jacob said as Nikki placed Burning Horn Dragon in the drop zone.
Nikki – Jacob
3 – Hand – 5
2 – Soul – 1
3 – Damage – 4
0 – Counterblast – 0
Eternal Bringer Griffon / Empty – Perdition Dragon, Menace Laser Dragon / Perdition Battler, Mareiko
Seal Dragon Spirit, Malkibel / Dragonic Overlord – Dragonic Overlord / Perdition Dragon, Tinder Spear Dracokid
Empty / Empty – Perdition Dragon, Whirlwind Dragon / Empty
"Tch…. he's got the advantage over me again…. Come on let this be something….. yes!" Nikki thought, but unfortunately for her she fails to maintain her poker face after drawing for the turn.
"So it's here then…. very well I'm ready for it." Jacob thought as he had a strong suspicion as to the identity of the card Nikki drew.
"Draw upon the power of your staunch burning soul and stand again, break ride Dragonic Overlord [Total Power: 11000]!" Nikki yelled.
"There it is…. a second Dragonic Overlord people… and that means Nikki could potentially decimate Jacob's defenses with its break ride skill." MC Sonar announced.
"I call Nehalem [Power: 10000] and a second Burning Horn Dragon [Power: 9000] to the rearguard." Nikki informed.
"First she'll target Menace Laser with Dragonic Overlord, then use Dragonic Overlord to attack my vanguard, and finally depending on trigger pulls Nikki will most likely follow up with Nehalem. You're moves are still predictable….. even that ride chant is a rip off." Jacob thought.
"Dragonic Overlord, destroy Menace Laser Dragon [Total Power: 21000]!" Nikki declared.
[Drive Check – Dragon Dancer, Monica – Draw Trigger]
"I give the power to my vanguard and draw [New Total: 26000]!" Nikki said.
[Drive Check – Violence Horn Dragon – No Trigger]
No one can deny the overwhelming power that Overlord possesses… not even Menace Laser he was turned to ash before he could even blink by Dragonic Overlord's crimson red flames.
"I discard the Monica from my hand…. Now stand again Overlord and show Jacob the power of your new and improved Eternal Flame [Total Power: 35000]!" Nikki yelled.
"No guard." Jacob said as he was completely unaffected by the power of the unit before him.
[Drive Check – Dragon Knight, Gimel – No Trigger]
[Drive Check – Eternal Bringer Griffon – No Trigger]
Even though the heat caused by Dragonic Overlord's sheer strength was only partially recreated through the technology within this MF system, it was still intense enough for Jacob started to sweat a little but only as a natural bodily reaction. On the inside, the young butler/bodyguard was as cool as a cucumber.
[Damage Check – Perdition Dancer, Agafia – Heal Trigger]
"The power goes to my vanguard Dragonic Overlord and I recover 1." Jacob informed.
"With that Vanguard fans….. there are now only 2 heal triggers left in the decks of both fighters, but Nikki's turn isn't over yet so let's see what she does with her remaining attacks." MC Sonar announced.
"Nehalem attack [Total Power: 17000]!" Nikki declared.
"Whirlwind Dragon intercepts [Total Shield: 5000]." Jacob calmly counters.
"I end my turn." Nikki said.
Nikki – Jacob
5 – Hand – 5
3 – Soul – 1
3 – Damage – 4
1 – Counterblast – 0
Eternal Bringer Griffon / Dragon Knight, Nehalem – Empty / Perdition Battler, Mareiko
Seal Dragon Spirit, Malkibel / Dragonic Overlord – Dragonic Overlord / Perdition Dragon, Tinder Spear Dracokid
Empty / Burning Horn Dragon – Empty / Empty
"Well how do you like that?" Nikki said confident in the fact that she evened out the battlefield.
"I'm not impressed. As I said earlier, you're moves are predictable." Jacob said unmoved by even the slightest amount by his opponent's efforts.
"Well…. given the events of the last few turns people… it's clear now why Jacob is particularly stingy around Kagero Vanguard fighters, but enough about my opinion people so let's see what he does on this turn." MC Sonar announced.
"Draw upon the power of your staunch burning soul and stand again, break ride Dragonic Overlord [Power: 11000]!" Jacob yelled.
"Wait….. the same ride chant?" I thought.
"Hey…. it's not cool to rip off someone else's ride chant!" Nikki yelled as compared to everything else that was said… this only somewhat irritates her.
"I was about to say the same thing. I don't know where you ever heard of it, but that's always been my ride chant for break riding Dragonic Overlord since I first got copies of the card when I was four years old. Maybe by some fluke we've met before I lost my family and you heard me say it then; however, enough of the past." Jacob retorts.
"No where I heard it was….. but if what he's saying is true that must mean….. no… focus on the fight for now Nikki, and you can think about the past later." Nikki quietly mumbled to herself as she clears her mind of all unnecessary thoughts.
"I call a second Dragonic Overlord [Power: 11000] to the rear guard and now my vanguard Overlord attacks Burning Horn Dragon [Total Power: 21000]!" Jacob declared.
[Drive Check – Blue Ray Dracokid – Critical Trigger]
"I give all of the effects to my rearguard Overlord." Jacob said.
[Drive Check – Perdition Battler, Mareiko – No Trigger]
I didn't notice it at the time, but the flames that surrounded both Overlord and Jacob were vastly superior to what Nikki could generate with the card…. actual numbers aside.
"I discard Mareiko and now… Overlord, show Nikki the power of a true Eternal Flame and attack….. Nehalem [Total Power: 26000]!" Jacob declared.
"Ehhh why Nehalem? Wouldn't he put more pressure on his opponent by attacking her vanguard?" Sade asks clearly surprised by Jacob's move.
"Conventional game-play wisdom may dictate that he attack the vanguard first; however, conventional wisdom for the Kagero clan dictate that he whittle down his opponent's defenses as much as possible. He's trying to force Nikki to go for an all-out-attack, and she knows it but she might not have any other choice." Dalette explained.
[Drive Check – Perdition Dragon, Whirlwind Dragon – No Trigger]
[Drive Check – Perdition Dragon, Whirlwind Dragon – No Trigger]
"Rearguard Overlord, decimate your opposing self with the power of your mighty sword [Total Power: 23000 2 Crit]!" Jacob declared.
"No choice if I want to keep my offense." Nikki thought.
"Are you going to guard or not?" Jacob asks.
"I won't be." Nikki answered.
[Damage Check – Dragonic Burnout – No Trigger]
[Damage Check – Dragon Dancer, Barbra – Heal Trigger]
"All effects to vanguard and I heal one." Nikki said somewhat relieved by her stroke of good luck." Nikki informed.
"With that, there's only 1 heal trigger left in Nikki's deck." MC Sonar announced.
"Then it's over to you again." Jacob retorts.
Nikki – Jacob
5 – Hand – 7
3 – Soul – 2
4 – Damage – 4
0 – Counterblast – 1
Eternal Bringer Griffon / Empty – Dragonic Overlord / Perdition Battler, Mareiko
Seal Dragon Spirit, Malkibel / Dragonic Overlord – Dragonic Overlord / Perdition Dragon, Tinder Spear Dracokid
Empty / Empty – Empty / Empty
Never have I been lucky enough to witness such an intense fight… at least not when there was nothing on the line. Still… I wasn't the only one sweating a little from this heated battle… Isaac could feel the heat of what was going on as well.
"Here's another cup of tea as you asked Isaac…. oh and I just got off the phone with Preston. He said that he won't be able to be here today after all, but he did say that he'll be free for the last… Isaac?" Teresa was saying when she suddenly realized that not a single one of her words reached him.
Isaac had the same look of excitement on his face when he fought Cloud not too long ago, but with far greater intensity… simply put he was smiling. It looked as though he wanted to fight so badly right now that he would have accepted the first challenge that came his way.
"Oh so your feelings about this fight has changed?" Teresa asked as she replaced the new cup of tea with the old one.
"Yeah….." Isaac said not even turning towards Teresa as every ounce of his existence was focused on the battle between Nikki and Jacob.
"What do you think now?" Teresa inquired.
"I never thought much of Jacob's ability as a fighter and I'm normally really good at judging such things, but imagine my surprise to finding out he was capable of hiding his ability to such a degree that it fools even me." Isaac answered.
"Then what do you think of Jacob now?" Teresa asks.
"I used to think he was the weakest member of Team Star Ocean, but now… I'd say that he's the strongest member of the team. If I knew this in advance…. I'd have made sure he got into the Expo Tournament through any means necessary just so I could fight him myself." Isaac explained as his hand reached for one of the decks he keeps on his person.
"Isn't that a big assumption for you to make? This is the first time you've seen his true colors." Teresa pointed.
"I know you're asking that because it's in your nature to research your opponents, but I know that you haven't forgotten the feeling that washes over you when you see an opponent with a certain kind of strength that appeals to you. Strength that makes you want to test your own power against it and see what holds out. There could be many fighters with equivalent ability to that one person, but they may as well not exist at all." Isaac explained as he showed his ever growing battle lust with each word spoken.
"Is that what you're feeling now as you watch Jacob then?" Teresa asks again.
"Yes….. and that strength is so great that my chances of winning are slim… no that's a lie they're non-existent if I don't rely on that power to help me even the odds." Isaac explained as he now holds an even tighter grip on the deck case he had before.
"You're saying that he'd actually be able to defeat you in a fight…." Teresa said out of shock.
"Only…. if I don't use that." Isaac retorts.
But enough from the famous peanut gallery as it's time that we get back to the fight once more, and see just how the last few turns will bring it to a close.
"Stand and draw…. Jacob, before I continue I'd like to say I'm sorry. It's just that at first I was annoyed when you refused the challenge, but when you talked about your past it reminded me of my own painful history. That caused me to get unnecessarily emotional and say things I shouldn't so again I'm sorry." Nikki said after taking a look at the card she drew.
"In that case I should offer my apologies as well for I was also put in an emotional state by the past, and I unfairly took that out on you. I'm also sorry for my emotional outburst before the fight. I've been trained to keep a cool head at all times, so I'm ashamed to admit I failed that training. At any rate I may have a slight advantage in this fight, but the reality is that you're quite good." Jacob said as he felt he should apologize in turn.
"Putting my feelings aside for a moment, I'm actually having a lot of fun with this fight." Nikki said as she started to smile for the first time in this fight.
"As am I and as are the people watching us; so without intending to sound rude, could you please move things along?" Jacob asks.
"Wait people are….. oh dang that's a lot, but I'm not going to let stage fright get to me." Nikki said as she now notices the large crowd of people watching their fight.
"Ahem…. This is why I double as a commentator Vanguard fans… to see two people who were at each other's throats bond through a fight and become friends…. well if that doesn't embody the ideals of Vanguard I don't know what else will." MC Sonar happily announced to the people who were watching.
"Awakened from sleep, use your life force to reach your evolved form once more! I crossbreak ride, Dragonic Overlord the End [Power: 11000]!" Nikki yelled.
"Did you say…. The End?" as he was shocked by what he just heard.
The moment Nikki placed that legendary unit on her vanguard circle; it blew into an even darker shade of crimson-red flames. All of which were drawn to Dragonic Overlord by an inescapable force, and the moment the Crimson Reaper was surrounded by these flames; a powerful roar spread across the battlefield….. a roar that can only be made by the strongest of dragons. As your eyes are drawn to the flames like cows to the slaughter, four wings glowing with the light of the sub spread out from the flame, then two swords, then two guns, and finally on last proud roar to signal that Dragonic Overlord's transformation was complete.
"I see I've finally got to surprise you for once." Nikki said as she was somewhat enjoying Jacob's reaction.
"I'll admit it… to witness someone else with The End in person, that's definitely something I never saw coming." Jacob calmly retorts.
"You talk as if you own copies of The End." Nikki pointed out.
"I used to before I lost everyone I cared about." Jacob explains.
"Vanguard fans… no… there's nothing I could say that describes this. The only thing I'll say is that I'll cover this fight from start to finish even if means staying here and holding the camera myself as the entire building burns around me.
"Then let's see if I can continue to surprise you for just a little bit longer. I call Eternal Bringer Griffon [Power: 7000], Violence Horn Dragon [Power: 7000], and my last Burning Horn Dragon [Power: 9000] to the rearguard." Nikki informed.
"It seems that this Nikki intends to bring about the end of this fight through The End with an all-out attack, so let's see if she can back it up people!" MC Sonar announced.
"Dragonic Overlord the End, unleash your furry upon your weaker form in Jacob's rearguard [Total Power: 23000]!" Nikki declared as she placed the even more legendary grade 3 in the rest position.
[Drive Check – Dragon Dancer, Barbara – Heal Trigger]
"I give all of the effects to my vanguard Overlord and I get to heal a point of damage." Nikki decides.
"Oh my vanguard fans….. this means that save for performing legion, there's no way Nikki can afford to take that 6th point of damage against her vanguard." MC Sonar announced.
[Drive Check – Violence Horn Dragon – No Trigger]
Bullets fly out of the barrel of The End's guns as if they were flaming hot meteors, to which was more than enough to blow Jacob's rearguard Dragonic Overlord down the bottommost depths of hell.
"Stand again Dragonic Overlord the End, and now attack the vanguard [Total Power: 35000]!" Nikki yelled.
"No guard." Jacob retorts.
"Oh that's a bit of a risk." Raphugio mumbled.
"Conventional wisdom would be to use the quintet wall and additional cards to guard if necessary, but Jacob is going to have to take this attack and hope for a heal trigger if…" Dalette was saying.
"If he wants to use the two cards he got from his last drive check in the way he wants right?" I ask as I interrupt Dalette.
"Yes that's correct." Dalette answered.
[Drive Check – Dragon Knight, Nehalem – No Trigger]
[Drive Check – Dragonic Overlord the End – No Trigger]
"Tch that might hurt a little bit." Jacob thought.
[Damage Check – Perdition Dancer, Agafia – Heal Trigger]
"Or not…. Power to my vanguard Dragonic Overlord and 1 card from my damage zone goes the drop zone." Jacob said.
"And now Jacob's deck only has a single heal trigger left in his deck. This fight truly is coming down to the wire people." MC Sonar announced.
"With the power of your persona blast stand again for the 3rd time Dragonic Overlord the End, and attack the vanguard…. Taste the power of this legendary unit's Eternal Apocalypse [Total Power: 28000]!" Nikki declared.
"I discard Buster Rain Dragon to activate Rampart Dragon's skill and nullify your attack [Perfect Defense]!" Jacob declared.
"Tch…. I'll still find a way to punch through your defenses!" Nikki declared.
[Drive Check – Flame of Promise, Aermo – No Trigger]
[Drive Check – Blue Ray Dracokid – Critical Trigger]
"I give all of the effects to Burning Horn Dragon!" Nikki declared.
This time around Dragonic Overlord the End brought down both of his mighty swords upon Jacob's vanguard, but at the last second both of these mighty blades were blocked by the spiral shaped wall of fire that Rampart Dragon generated from the palm of his hands.
"It's not over yet… Burning Horn Dragon attack Dragonic Overlord [Total Power: 24000 2 Crit]!" Nikki declared.
"Dracokid guards [Total Shield: 10000]!" Jacob countered.
"Violence Horn Dragon attack [Total Power: 17000]!" Nikki declared.
[Damage Check – Perdition Dragon, Vortex Dragonewt – No Trigger]
"I end my turn." Nikki said not caring at all how her turn went as she was simply enjoying this fight that much.
"Despite the furious power generated from 3 attacks made by Dragonic Overlord the End, Jacob is still somehow in this fight… but given the 2 point difference in damage and the 6 cards in hand he'll be hard pressed to regain the advantage let alone win." MC Sonar announced.
Nikki – Jacob
6 – Hand – 4
4 – Soul – 2
3 – Damage – 5
2 – Counterblast – 0
Eternal Bringer Griffon / Burning Horn Dragon – Empty / Perdition Battler, Mareiko
Seal Dragon Spirit, Malkibel / Dragonic Overlord the End – Dragonic Overlord / Perdition Dragon, Tinder Spear Dracokid
Eternal Bringer Griffon / Violence Horn Dragon – Empty / Empty
"Draw upon the soul of the crimson reaper and purge my enemies with the flames of purgatory! Break ride! Perdition Dragon, Vortex Dragonewt [Power: 11000]!" Jacob yelled.
Like when Nikki rode Dragonic Overlord the End; crimson red flames though of a much darker shade spewed from Jacob's vanguard circle, to which quickly surrounded overlord in a torrent or a with no pun intended a vortex of flames. Soon enough a roar from another strong and proud dragon spread across this battlefield, then two sets of wings colored like burning red flames pushed themselves out of the crimson red flame, and finally large silver blue claws revealed themselves before one last roar forcibly stopped the torrent.
"Vortex Dragonewt gains +10000 power… now seek mate!" Jacob yelled.
And with that 4 cards flew from Jacob's drop zone and back into his deck through a physics defying method that remains a mystery even today. In any case soon enough a single unit comes flying back out as if craving battle so Jacob could enact the next part of his plan for victory.
"Their crimson red flames that burn all that stands in my way, so together the path to victory is revealed! Stand together, purgatory dragons….. Legion [Legion Power: 20000]!" Jacob yelled as he slammed Whirlwind Dragon on the table right next to Dragonewt.
To the left Nikki saw the evolved form of Vortex Dragon standing on two legs, and to the right his four-legged partner in this battle. On their own they may not be much of a threat, but together they're a fearsome force on the battlefield.
"Now show the Wind of the Apocalypse the fury that comes with the power of your linked flames! Trinity Crimson Flame!" Jacob yelled.
The two dragons made a roar to the sky together before brightly colored crimson red flames rose out of the ground and surrounded the two of them, and yet it was as if these flames were strengthening them instead of harming them. To everyone else watching these flames including myself they were nothing more than an eye catching treat, but for reasons I'll explain later….. to Isaac and Nikki it looked as if these flames spread out from this small scale MF system and were surrounding Jacob like a cloak as the light of those flames reflected off of his skin.
"One!" Jacob yelled.
Not unlike when the legendary units Blaster Blade and Blaster Dark are using their skills, a small amount of flames shoots out from the larger concentration of flames while blazing a trail across the ground. Soon enough this bullet of crimson red flames hits Violence Horn Dragon, consumes him with overwhelming power, and quickly turns him into nothing more than particles of light generated by the MF system.
"Two!" Jacob yelled.
Again a bullet of flames shoots out from the larger group, and soon enough it also turns the Eternal Bringer Griffon that was once behind Violence Horn Dragon to ash as well.
"And now… the third flame! Crimson Flame!" Jacob yelled again.
For the final part of this skill, Whirlwind Dragon and Vortex Dragonewt shot the entirety of their collective of crimson red flames at Dragonic Overlord the End and that collective is able to inflict so much pain that it inflicts some serious damage.
[Damage Check – Dragon Knight, Gimel – No Trigger]
"Since I retired two of your units, Vortex Dragonewt gets +6000 power for the turn though the fun has yet to end. I call Whirlwind Dragon [Power: 9000], Mareiko [Power: 7000], and finally Menace Laser [Power: 9000] to the rearguard." Jacob informed.
"Here it comes….. another big attack." Nikki thought.
"I activate Menace Laser's skill to retire your other Eternal Bringer Griffon, and then I follow up with Mareiko's skill to turn a card face up, but don't forget that my vanguard gains an additional +3000 power." Jacob explained as he turned a random card in his damage zone face up.
"With those 2 skills and by Jacob emptying his hand it's clear that he intends to go for an all out attack this turn, but the question you must ask now vanguard fans is that can he cut down The End with just power alone?" MC Sonar announced.
"Taste the power of my Dual Burning Purgatory as Dragonewt and Whirlwind legion attack Burning Horn Dragon [Total Power: 39000]!" Jacob declared.
[Drive Check – Perdition Dragon, Vortex Dragonewt – No Trigger]
[Drive Check – Perdition Dragon, Buster Rain Dragon – Critical Trigger]
"I'll give all of the effects to my rearguard Whirlwind Dragon." Jacob informed.
I won't lie….. it'll be hard for me to describe the fury of Vortex Dragonewt's legion attack through simple text, but for those of you who haven't seen it yourself… imagine yourself staring at the sky only to see a literal ball of fire speeding towards you. That my friends was the last thing that Burning Horn Dragon saw before he was burned to the point where not even ashes remain.
"Draw upon the power of the Eternal Flame from the Dragonic Overlord in your soul, and stand again Vortex Dragonewt!" Jacob yelled as he tossed Vortex Dragonewt in the drop zone.
"Here it comes….. this is going to be really close." Nikki thought.
"Now once again Vortex Dragon and Whirlwind Dragon….. Legion attack [Total Power: 49000 2 Crit]!" Jacob declared.
"Dragon Knight, Gimel guards and now… Quintet Wall!" Nikki countered.
[Top Card – Dragon Dancer, Monica – Draw Trigger]
[Top Card – Lizard Soldier, Gorha – Critical Trigger]
[Top Card – Lizard Soldier, Gorha – Critical Trigger]
[Top Card – Violence Horn Dragon – No Trigger]
[Top Card – Dragonic Overlord – No Trigger]
"I'll add to that number with Dracokid [Total Shield: 40000]!" Nikki counters.
"That means all Jacob needs to clinch this match is just one trigger!" MC Sonar announced.
"Why not guard for more?" Sade asks.
"I'm sure Nikki would if she could, but since she didn't that tells me that it's very likely at least one of the two unknown cards in her hand is a grade 3 unit… Or she's just taking a risk and is trying to save her hand for her offense next turn." I explain to Sade in a calm and easy to understand manner.
"Twin drive check." Jacob said as he takes a deep breath before moving his hand towards his deck.
[Drive Check – Perdition Dragon, Menace Laser Dragon – No Trigger]
"And the second check." Jacob said as he starts to turn over the next card on the top of his deck.
[Drive Check – Perdition Dragon, Buster Rain Dragon – Critical Trigger]
"I got a critical trigger, so therefore all of the power is going to my vanguard [New Total: 54000 3 Crit]!" Jacob declared.
Burning Horn Dragon may have seen an actual fireball the size of a house speeding towards him, but now Nikki and her vanguard Dragonic Overlord the End are witnessing a fireball with the approximate diameter of a 5 story building speeding towards them. From this point on I don't think what happens next really needs to be described.
[Damage Check – Flame of Promise, Aermo – No Trigger]
[Damage Check – Dragon Dancer, Monica – Draw Trigger]
Final Results
Nikki – Jacob
4 – Hand – 3
4 – Soul – 2
6 – Damage – 5
2 – Counterblast – 3
Empty / Empty – Perdition Dragon, Menace Laser Dragon / Perdition Battler, Mareiko
Seal Dragon Spirit, Malkibel / Dragonic Overlord the End – Perdition Dragon, Vortex Dragonewt/Perdition Dragon, Whirlwind Dragon / Perdition Dragon, Tinder Spear Dracokid
Empty / Empty – Perdition Dragon, Whirlwind Dragon / Perdition Battler, Mareiko
"The battle between two possessors of the legendary card Dragonic Overlord has at last come to a close….. the winner is Jacob Edwards of Team Star Ocean, and as all of the fans start to congratulate him Vanguard fans I have to say I wish this fight was part of the Expo Tournament official matches so several more people could see how exciting it was." MC Sonar announced.
Fans of Jacob as well as other members of the press who happened to be covering this fight in the background rushed him the moment that 6th card hit the damage zone, but sadly they completely ignored Nikki despite the impressive performance she gave. It hurt a little, but Nikki's a big girl so she can take it….. don't tell her I said those exact words. Oh wait… he he oops.
"Sigh…. I'm not doing this for fame, but it still hurts a little to not get any attention. Maybe…. I've been relying on The End's strength for far too long." Nikki thought after quickly collecting her deck.
Nikki was ready to silently disappear within the crowd, but as she turned away from this particular stand to do just that she found three certain musketeers waiting for her.
"Abby, Tsu, and Will….. what are the three of you doing here?" Nikki asked due to her completely forgetting that they were even at the expo because she was so into the fight.
"We all came racing over the moment the three of us saw you fighting on the monitor." Will explained.
"Yeah ha ha I'm sorry for showing my hand. I know that we agreed to save our true strength for the regionals, but I just couldn't help myself." Nikki said in an apologetic fashion.
"Don't worry about it as that fight was too awesome for me to be mad. We actually wanted to be here sooner, but there was a little incident at a stall we passed on our way here." Tsubasa explained as she begrudgingly looked at Abygail for a moment.
"I know right…. I still can't believe that canopy fell apart just seconds after I accidently kicked it." Abygail said clearly unaware of the fact that she caused this incident.
Yeah… don't underestimate Abygail simply because of how she looks due to the fact that she's actually highly intelligent, but she's also very much like her father in that she got her ability to be massively oblivious to certain things because of him. Still he's a much better person to deal with than her mother who indirectly accused me of cheating on Abygail, but….. no I'm getting off topic again.
"At any rate just what did you do to make him so mad?" Abygail asked.
"I may have…. said some things I shouldn't have….. to anger him." Nikki reluctantly admits despite the small amount of embarrassment she's feeling.
"You know what you should do right?" Abygail asks in a very gentle if not motherly tone of voice.
"Sigh… fine mom I'll go apologize." Nikki answered before turning back towards the stall from whence she came.
The crowd of people bombarding Jacob with questions already started to clear when he asked them to leave him alone, but there still several people who wanted to get their word in of which doesn't make the act of Nikki attempting to get through them any easier.
"Get out of my way!" Nikki yelled though she knew that chances of a singular voice cutting through many were incredibly slim.
It was actually a rather tight awkward unevenly spaced squeeze as Nikki tried to force her way through all of these people, so it was only a matter of time before she accidently tripped over the body part of one of them.
"Oh no….oomph" Nikki thought.
The momentum of Nikki falling was more than enough for her to force her way through the crowd of bodies in her way, and thankfully her fall was stopped by another body. Suffice to say she ended up planting her face against Jacob's chest as she had one arm wrapped around him just so that she could keep her balance.
"Wow even through all of this clothing, Jacob's chest feels pretty muscu….. what the hell am I thinking? This is soooo not the time to be thinking about boys." Nikki thought as she turned a little red.
"What are you doing?" Jacob asked as he just stood there wondering why Nikki was awkwardly wrapped around him like that.
"Right ahem…. I just wanted to say that I was sorry for how I acted again….. it was you know not cool." Nikki said as she immediately stands back upright
"I'd also like to apologize as well for my behavior, and if you're willing to accept I have a small peace offering." Jacob retorts.
"Oh what would that be?" Nikki asks as she couldn't help the sudden feeling of curiosity passing over her.
To answer Nikki's question, Jacob pulled out from behind his back a small paper bowl of vanilla flavored ice cream drizzled with just a bit of chocolate syrup.
"I don't know if vanilla is a flavor you like or whether or not you're allergic to chocolate syrup, but I felt as though that I should do something." Jacob explained.
"Oh thank you." Nikki said as she took Jacob's literally sweet sentiment out of his hands.
"Don't just stand there you idiot! Try some!" Tsubasa whispered to Nikki as only her uniquely sounding voice was capable of piercing through a crowd of people.
Nikki instinctively tried a spoonful of the creamy treat upon Tsubasa's boast and she found it to be rather delicious. Quite frankly according to Nikki… it was apparently too delicious for it to be store bought. The owner of this particular stall would later explain that he actually makes his own stuff, but that's not important right now.
"Oh wow this stuff is good." Nikki said out of amazement of the quality of this cold treat's taste.
"You have a little umm…. I'll get it for you." Jacob said referring to the bit of chocolate syrup just on the edge of Nikki's lip as he searches through his pockets for something to wipe it with.
There are only two things I'd like to say about this part of this event. The first is that once Nikki became aware of what Jacob was doing….. she turned rather red like a cherry.
"Wha-wha what are you doing?" Nikki said as she turned red with embarrassment after finally consciously realizing what Jacob was doing.
"Wiping off some syrup before it dries, so hold still if you don't want it to drip onto your sweater." Jacob said as he resumed what he was doing before.
"Even his hands look well defined, and yet they feel gentle caressing my skin. It actually feels pretty nic….. What the hell am I thinking?" Nikki thought as her cheeks become so heated that they practically turn the nearby air to steam.
This isn't the second thing that I wanted to point out, but I thought that I should also mention that due to her familiarity with three certain voices it was child's play for Nikki to pick what they're about to say next out of the crowd.
"Jacob and Nikki sitting in a tree….. K-I-S-S-I-N-G…" Will, Tsu, and Abygail were saying like a trio of idiots.
"You guys suck." Nikki thought in response of what her friends were saying.
Nikki quickly dismissed herself from Jacob's attention and returned to the side of her three friends, of which at last leads me to the second point that I wanted to make and that point is that there were several cameras recording their whole conversation. Mwahahahaha soon enough I shall not have to suffer the strenuous rumors caused by fan shipping alone. Believe me I enjoyed or will enjoy depending on how you prefer it the suffering that these rumors will cause Jacob oh so very much.
"Oh what's this Jacob…. Have you found someone worth leaving my service for?" Nolan asks clearly wanting to tease her butler for a bit.
"I have no intention backing out on my oath simply because of a ridiculous romantic dalliance Lady Nolan…. Not that this was even that." Jacob said as he was back to business as usual.
"That's good… I actually know the perfect girl for you." Sally said.
"Who would that be?" Jacob asks as he had several times in the past played along with Sally's notions just so she could amuse himself.
"You were so cool in that fight Jacob that when I grow up I want to be your bride. I mean how awesome would it be to be married to someone so cool and to be related by marriage." Sally boasts as she fails to realize the implications of what she's saying.
"Don't be ridiculous Sally….. It's not like I would ever enjoy such a thing happening." Nolan said as contrary to the expression on her face she was actually enjoying the prospect very much.
"That ill-mannered fool/snobby jerk as an in-law?" Jacob and I respectfully thought as we internally entertain the prospect of being related by marriage.
And after we entertain the prospect for a few more moments… something snaps in the both of us.
"Oh hell now I refuse to be related to him!" Jacob and I both yell at each other.
"I refuse to be related to an arrogant jerk that thinks he's better than everyone!" I yell as I point to Jacob whilst refusing to look directly at him.
"As I refuse to consider such an uncivilized brute as family. In fact I would shut this lowly fool down the moment I sensed any romantic inclinations towards Lady Nolan!" Jacob yelled.
I'm going to say this now so that all of you readers of my tale of truth don't get the wrong idea, but I in no way meant any romantic implication towards Nolan. I just had to say what I said because I was very annoyed by the implication that Jacob had the power to decide what I could or could not do.
"Someone like you sooo doesn't have the power to stop me from pursuing Nolan." I declare as I became even more annoyed by Jacob's attitude.
Yeah….. remember the internet shipping rumors I talked about….. that statement I just made accidently added even more fuel to the wildfire.
"You want to bet that I can't?" Jacob said after taking out his deck as he too was very annoyed by my indifference.
"Oh bring it on." I declare as I took out my deck as well.
Yeah…. I've also constantly argued with Jacob just as often as I've argued with Nolan, and that too will make the rumors sooo much worse, but before Jacob and I could start our rage induced fight… everyone who was watching the news coverage of the expo as well as all of us fighters inside the convention center had our attention drawn to various TV screens.
"Don't draw that next card just yet Vanguard fans….. we have a special announcement for you all." Dr. O announced.
"It's time to announce the pairings for the semi-final matches of the yearly Expo Tournament, but first a few words for all of you here." Sara followed.
"We've been lucky to have so many famous fighters take part in this year's expo tournament, but I'm sure the citizens of Tarrant City are happy to have two of their native children make it to the semi-finals as well." Dr. O announced.
"So let's see how they'll do now because here are the pairings for the next round: Fighting in the first semi-final match tomorrow evening is the cold petit beauty and captain of Team Star Ocean… Nolan Elchart! Her opponent is one of the two Tarrant City locals and user of the clan of Thunder Dragons… Kiba Nakashima!" Sara announced.
"And shortly thereafter the next match will be between the little newbie that could Sade and the nearly omnipotent captain of Team Strike Shadow… Isaac Barrett!" Dr. O announced.
"It's not the finals like how I'd prefer, but I'll still beat you all the same." Nolan declared as she turned her attention towards me.
"Oh…. I could say the same." I retort.
To Be Continued
Kiba: Do you remember that day all those years ago when you managed to beat me for the first time?
Nolan: I do, but this is no time for a flashback sequence.
Kiba: I know it's time for an epic fight to the end.
Nolan: Next time on Vanguard: Light Speed "Weiss Rush"
Kiba: Go, Twin Thunder Lariat!