Vanguard: Light Speed
Chapter 17
The Day Redemption Lied
And this you have seen in my last entry part of the horrible truth as to why I still have nightmares to this day. Thankfully I don't have them as often as I used, but it's still a very grueling experience when it does happen. For those of you who didn't read my last entry allow me to explain….. in my fight against Isaac I decided to use Dragonic Kaiser Abraxas a card that back then was considered taboo bringing up the feelings of loss from so many people. As expected I became an outlet for their hatred, but what no one saw coming was that Isaac would be using Dragonic Kaiser Vermillion….. the other half of the equation of the disaster 10 years ago. Quoting Sara "It's almost as if fate itself wanted to at least partially recreate the match 10 years ago as if to prove a point."
"Draw….. ride Demonic Dragon Berserker, Garuda [Power: 9000]." Isaac declared.
Riding to the next grade isn't all that big a deal, but I was shocked when Isaac made his declaration because this particular Gardua was the card he just drew from his deck. How do I know this you ask? I know because he kept the card face down up until the last minute as he moved it near the vanguard circle, and what's even stranger is that as I reviewed our fight after the fact no one….. and I mean no one seemed to have noticed this as well.
"What the hell…. Does he have some kind of powers of precognition?" I thought though looking back I couldn't believe the hilarious irony of that statement.
"Call Dusty Plasma Dragon [Power: 9000] to rearguard." Isaac informed as he was already reaching for the next card he was going to play.
"Irony seems to be the theme of the day's events." Dalette mumbled as she found the card Isaac played to be slightly amusing.
"What do you mean?" Sade asked as once again she overheard Dalette mumbling.
"You're too much of a beginner to know about it so I won't spoil things for you, but if Dusty Plasma Dragon is in Isaac's deck…. then there could only be one grade 3 card he intends to play." Dalette explained as she figured out what Isaac's game plan was.
"I call Spark Kid Dragoon [Power: 4000] to the rearguard." Isaac said.
"What the…" I thought out of a mixture of surprise and mile confusion.
To be certain it's not unheard of for certain builds of certain clans to keep more than one copy of their starting vanguard or even copies of a different starting vanguard entirely in their decks, but I found this surprising because a Narukami deck rarely requires such a thing at all.
"Spark Kid's counterblast: I move him into the soul to search the top 5 cards of my deck for a grade 3 unit." Isaac said after sliding the grade 0 under his vanguard.
He already knew….. no he already foresaw what he was going to select, but Isaac still takes a few seconds to reveal his decision. Perhaps something distracted him for a moment? Or maybe he was questioning his almost fanatical belief in destiny. Though the latter of the two was obviously impossible for a person like him…. I still don't know to this day why he paused.
"I add Dragonic Kaiser Vermillion to my hand." Isaac said as he finally revealed the card he foresaw to me.
"I don't believe what I'm seeing Vanguard fans… Isaac Barrett is in possession of yet another legendary card of the game." Dr. O said though this was one of the rare cases where he struggled with a sentence.
"It's almost as if fate itself wanted to at least partially recreate the match 10 years ago as if to prove a point." Sara followed.
If I were using any other deck, the people watching this fight in person would be especially ecstatic at the prospect of seeing a legendary card in action but here it turns the resentment and hatred directed towards me as a result of fear into fear itself.
"Holy shit she's right. I was there, and the opening moves were pretty similar." One vanguard fan said with fear being clearly noticeable in his voice.
"We have to get out of here." an older man said as he started to drag his two young kids by the arm.
"But why daddy? The fight's just starting." one of this older man's two kids asked.
"Because I say so. Now stop talking back to me." the older man said as he pulls even harder on the arms of his two kids.
At this point in my previous entry I mentioned at this point I started to relive what happened to me years ago as I saw Isaac reveal Dragonic Kaiser Vermillion to. I only mentioned a part of what I relived purely to pique your interest, but now I'll tell you everything that happened from my perspective much like how my previous entry did the same beforehand.
"Isn't this fight amazing Kiba?" Virgil asks as he was as giddy as a schoolgirl due to the excitement of the battle that was going on before us.
Fighting on the stadium floor was a younger Laz who was wearing an outfit similar to the one I was wearing in my fight against Isaac. In fact I based my fashion choices off of the outfits he wore in his fights.
"Ride Dragonic Kaiser Abraxas!" Laz yelled.
As a torrent of lighting transformed the younger Laz's vanguard, by looking on the other side you can see his opponent was wielding Dragonic Kaiser Vermillion as his vanguard. The owner of that legendary card….. let's just say he was one of the many who didn't make it.
"Now go beyond the limits! Dragonic Kaiser Abraxas limit break! My vanguard gains +2000 power plus the ability to attack your back left, back right, and your vanguard in a single go." Laz declared as he explained the effects of his card.
Both dragons roared as if to show how their power….. their ability as potential reincarnation of the ancient emperor as their existences resonate with one another.
"Yeah it totally is." I tell my young friend as I just as giddy as him.
"Dragonic Kaiser Abraxas attack Vermillion! Now take his Sky Fire attack!" Laz yelled.
I remember what happened perfectly….. Abraxas and Vermillion engaged in a short duel with their weapons, but with a single sweep of his sword Vermillion was open for a clean strike….. and believe me when I say Abraxas took that opportunity.
"Shoot… if only he got another critical trigger. He could have ended the fight right there." I say with a disappointed tone since my idol failed to win the fight then and there.
"Damage check….. the first check…. the second.. get a draw tri… what the hell?!" Laz's opponent said as he could feel the ground beneath him to begin to shake.
He wasn't the only one who felt the vibrations. Everyone inside the arena and the surrounding area felt it too. Perhaps we were all struck with a sense of disbelief as several people started looking in random directions thinking they could discern the source of these vibrations.
"Look, the big screen! It's about to fall!" a random person in the stadium yelled.
Everyone who heard him…. no everyone in the stadium turned to the arena's big screen or where it was supposed to be. They saw metal snap, cement crack, live wires ripped apart, and they saw these three things brutally kill hundreds of people unfortunate enough to be near the big screen. Then the big screen itself started to fall right onto the arena floor where Laz and his opponent were fighting. Both were quickly gathering their cards as to a true fighter they value their decks as much as their own lives…. so much so that they'd risk their lives to keep them safe.
"Wha…. Shit move now!"Laz yelled to his opponent as he finally notices the still growing shadow that appeared around him.
"Huh?" Laz's opponent said as he turned around to stare at the instrument of his death.
Laz could see the fear that appeared on his opponent's face as he knew in that moment his life was over. This was my idol's first experience with a cruel death as the last he saw of his opponent was a tear that rolled down his cheek before he was crushed as flat as a pancake.
"Ahhhhhh!" several of the people here yelled.
"Earthquake!" a few of the many people here yelled.
Several people already started hurrying towards the exits the moment the first vibrations, but a few of us stayed where they were watching the death of Laz's opponent myself included. By the time we (As in Virgil and his family) decided to leave all of the nearby exits were packed with people running for their lives.
"Listen kids, we have to get out of here!" Virgil's uncle yelled.
By pure coincidence the five of us were sitting right at the edge of two seating sections with a large staircase sandwiched in between them. As we hurried from our seats the line of people in front of the exit closest to us finally started to move, however one of us wouldn't be fortunate enough to make it that far.
"Ahhhhh!" both Virgil's sister and I screamed.
Now it was almost as if Virgil's sister never existed, but she did and her name was Corrina. Anyways we screamed because by the time we had both of our feet on the stairs the ground underneath us collapsed. I grabbed onto the seat to the left of the stairs, Corrina grabbed onto the seat to the right of the stair case, and the both of us were hanging onto dear life. We could have just slid down to the lower section, but the angle was so steep that we risked great injury.
"I'm coming!" Virgil yelled once he turned around and realized we weren't right behind him.
Virgil stopped right at the edge of what remains of the step closest to where we were hanging, but he paused and just stood at the edge. It was because he wasn't sure what he should do since Corrina and I were losing our grip. It was a classic case of "You can save only one" and that's something a 6 year old kid should never have to deal with.
"I can pull myself up! Save your sister!" I yell as Virgil attempted to inch closer to me.
But that was a lie. I was 6, there was nowhere I could get any footing, and I didn't even have a decent grip on what I was hanging off of so my fate was already defined. Anyways Virgil practically jumps to the other side of the stair case in an attempt to save his sister.
"I got you!" Virgil yelled as he grabs his sister's arm with both hands and attempts to pull her up despite his small size.
"Virgil, above!" Corrina yelled as Virgil barely manages to pull at least her chest past the event horizon.
Virgil and I looked in the direction Corrina described and saw a small block of cement ripped apart from the upper sections falling towards them. Virgil wasn't going to leave his sister so he summoned all of his strength in an attempt to pull her to safety in one go. I'll try to keep it as vague as possible, but suffice to say that cement block forced Virgil to let go and under its weight it forced Corrina down the steep slide this partially collapsed section created, and yes there was a lot of blood. This is one of the few things I still have nightmare's about.
"Noooo!" Virgil screamed as he was in a state beyond shock as a result of his failure to save his sister.
Today I feel as though her death was my fault. If I just let go immediately and took my chances with this steep cement slide to the lower section Virgil wouldn't have wasted any time helping his sister, and she might still be alive.
"Noo…" I thought.
The shock (Physical not mental) of seeing a life cut short in a harsh manner caused me to lose my grip. I remember feeling the wind in my face during the short journey down, and then there was darkness.
"Ahhh!" I yell as I regain consciousness.
As I'm sure you've realized I lost consciousness once I came into contact with the lower floor. You see Vermillion Stadium is a 6 level arena, and I slid from the 5th floor down to the 4th. Anyways I was only unconscious for maybe a couple of minutes, and already I saw more of the stadium being turned to shit and people still trying to get out of the stands.
"Ouch my arm." I mumble as I clutch my right arm with my left hand.
I felt a sharp pain in one focused spot in my arm and it was hard to move….. in other words I broke it in the fall. I also had a few light cuts and scrapes all over my body, but they weren't anything life threatening obviously. Now then you already know what happened after this, but for posterities sake I'll include it again here. After getting into the stadium's hallway I guess you could call it I literally just ran with the crowd for the sake of my own survival.
"Go back the other way! There's a service entrance near the third entrance that leads to a stair case." An arena security guard yelled.
"Mommy!" I yelled as I felt afraid at what's going on around me.
I knew my mother wasn't there, but I was just a child who couldn't even begin to understand the concept of fearing for one's life. I ran with the scared masses as I cried due to the fear of being trampled under the weight of hundreds of people.
"Don't worry. You'll see your mommy again." A young mother said to me as she pulled me along by the hand as if to guide me through this physical manifestation of an ocean of fear.
The words of this young mother made me feel safe even though the world was collapsing around me. I probably wouldn't be alive today if it wasn't for her trying to help, but what's sad was that even back then I couldn't remember even a single detail about what she looked like. The one important thing I do remember about her was that with one arm she was pulling me along to safety and her other arm was tightly wrapped around a small baby girl.
"Wahhh wahhh wahhh!" the baby girl cried as I believe she in that moment feared death more than anyone.
"Hush... Sade…. don't worry mommy won't let anything happen to her precious little girl. You're new big brother and I will protect you." the young mother gently whispered to her crying child.
No it wasn't some fluke when this young mother called her baby girl Sade. This Sade and my adopted little sister Sade are one in the same. Why isn't her mother around now you ask? You'll see why soon enough, however suffice to say you can add it to the list of the different kinds of nightmares I have. We followed the guards directions and ran down the access stairwell as fast as we could, however the stairs leading to the second floor and beyond were collapsed so we were forced onto the third floor of the arena.
"Don't worry kid you'll be fine." Sade's mother whispers to me in a kind tone.
It's common for aftershocks to occur after a major earthquake, but unfortunately for those of us still inside the arena it was a highly inconvenient occurrence. Namely the occurrence of an aftershock made the already scared and paranoid crowd already running for their lives ever more so. We were running so fast that I actually let go of my grip on the hand of the young mother who risked herself to help me.
"The next staircase is just ahead!" I yell as I repeat the directions given us by one of the arena's security guards.
"Ahhh!" Sade's mother screamed.
I turned around and do you know what it is I found? I saw that a small section of the third level had collapsed, I saw the broken mangled bodies of those who could not grab onto something as they fell, and I saw Sade's mother among several others hanging onto whatever they could. Sade's mom had tightly grabbed her child with one hand and the other one a piece of rebar that was pulled loose as a result of the collapse, and it wasn't a very tight grip at that.
"I'm coming!" I yell as I hurry to the precipice of the collapsed ground.
I wasn't alone in this desire to help others. Some of the stadium employees and stadium goers all ran to the precipice to help those who were literally hanging on for dear life. It was as much my failure to save Corrina as it was Virgil's, so of course even though I was only around 7 at the time I wasn't going to let two lives be lost without a fight.
"Give me your hand!" I yell as I stretch out my unbroken arm as far as I possibly can.
"You're just a kid you couldn't possibly have the strength to pull me up, and besides I can't I'm using my other hand to hold onto my child." Sade's mother yells back.
"Then let go of her!" I yell.
Some of you are probably thinking "You seriously asked a new mother to just let her child die?! What the hell is wrong with you?" If you choose to hate me for the rest of my tale of the truth simply because of this I won't blame you, but remember back then I was a child who was both scared for his life nor had any understanding of the value of life itself so try not to be too harsh with your judgment.
"I know you meant well by that, but I won't. Listen kid I'm slowly losing my grip, so I need you to do something for me." Sade's mother revealed.
"Be a good big brother and protect Sade at least until you two can get out of here!" Sade's mother yelled.
"Wha-" I was trying to say.
Using the loose piece of rebar as a fulcrum, Sade's mother swung her petit frame back and forth using the momentum from one swing in order to help her reach even farther with the next one. Once Sade's mother believed she went up as high as she could she hurled her daughter over the precipice and right into my arms. It was a miracle that Sade wasn't injured at all in the whole affair.'
"Ahhhh!" I heard Sade's mother scream as she fell to her death.
And I knew it was to her death because given the difference in height between levels and the state of the surface she would have landed on what else could it have been? Even if she had survived the impact, Sade's mother would have bled out in minutes if not seconds.
"Hush… Sade don't worry. Your new big brother will protect you." I try to whisper to the crying Sade in order to calm her down, but I couldn't stop the fear I was feeling from coating my voice.
Just like that in one fell swoop I became responsible for another human life, and I was going to be responsible for it. Maybe I'm just blaming myself again, but if she just left me there then there would have been… or maybe I simply believe there would have been a slim chance that Sade would have had a chance to grow up with her real family. I'm sorry….. I know I promised to tell the whole story all at once, but… just writing this seems to have….. brought up all of those old memories. There's still one final note involving the rest of my experience that day, and that was my experience at being buried alive under a bunch of rubble and how I first met her. Thus you all know what happened to me that day in far greater detail that day, and… I promise to explain the rest soon but for now I have a cardfight to finish retelling.
"Wha… what the hell was that?" I thought as I relive the events that occurred 10 years ago in their entirety.
It wasn't just some ordinary stress induced flashback. It felt as though someone stuck my mind back in my 10 year old body and pressed play on the VCR. In any case once I came out of that state I found a few drops of sweat rolling down the exposed parts of my body that my clothes didn't cover save for the hand that was holding my hand(As in the cards that were in it).
"Can you continue? I gain nothing from defeating an opponent unable to fight at their best." Isaac asked, but as he said he was more concerned with the fight than me.
"Unless I'm knocked unconscious, or the surface I'm placing my cards on collapses, and or even unless my deck spontaneously combusts I'm not going to run away from a fight." I tell Isaac as I wipe the sweat off my brow.
"Good. Now then with the support of Castor, Garuda…. attack Red Raid Dragoon [Total Power: 16000]!" Isaac declared as he agreed with my notion of finishing a fight you start no matter what… though he actually didn't show it back then.
"No guard." I respond.
[Drive Check – Old Dragon Mage – Draw Trigger]
"I got another draw trigger. I give the power to Dusty Plasma Dragon and draw." Isaac informed.
After a few seconds of charging, Garuda fired two concentrated beams of lighting at my Red Raid Dragoon. My vanguard attempts to use his lance like a lightning rod to deflect one of the beams and it works surprisingly well, however the other beam scores a direct hit greatly scorching Red Raid's already limited armor as well as inflicting electrical burns on his body.
[Damage Check – Red Storm Dragoon – No Trigger]
"The skill of my vanguard activates…. The card in my damage zone is flipped back up." Isaac informed.
"What the hell was up with that attack? It felt like he was hitting for more like 50k." I thought as I found the simulated shockwave generated from Isaac's attack more overwhelming than I thought.
"Dusty Plasma Dragon…. Attack [Total Power: 18000]!" Isaac yelled as outstretched his free hand towards me.
[Damage Check – Red Storm Dragoon – No Trigger]
"That shock was as expected… I see so he can only give off that feeling of extra power with his vanguard." I thought.
"My turn is done." Isaac declares.
Kiba – Isaac
7 – Hand – 6
1 – Soul – 2
2 – Damage – 1
0 – Counterblast – 0
Empty / Empty – Dusty Plasma Dragon / Flag of Raijin, Corpuscant
Empty / Red Raid Dragoon – Demonic Dragon Berserker, Garuda / Ceremonial Bonfire Eradicator, Castor
Empty / Empty – Empty / Empty
"Oh my, that might be a little inconvenient for Kiba." Sara pointed out.
"If he doesn't have a copy of Red Storm Dragoon in his hand or if he doesn't draw one of the new remaining copies right now….. it'll weaken the power of the ace of his deck significantly." Dr. O followed.
"Shows what you commentators know about Kiba….. he has the card his hand. I'd have seen that tell of his by now if he didn't." Nolan thought.
I never really paid attention to Nolan that much back then, but at the same time I never realized that she knew about all of my little corks either. Chalk up another one on how I can occasionally be a jerk.
"Stand and draw…. I ride Red Storm Dragoon [Power: 9000]!" I yell.
Now in this moment my vanguard evolves to the second stage of this ride chain changing. In addition to his already considerable natural physical strength my vanguard gains a dragon partner of his own to fight with.
"My vanguard gets a permanent +1000 power bonus for Red Raid being in the soul, and now Red Storm will force Dusty Plasma Dragon to the drop zone!" I yell.
As I explained the effects of my vanguard I motioned my hand as if I were firing a revolver, and the moment I pulled the trigger Red Storm Dragoon infused his lance with the power of lighting and threw it at Dusty Plasma Dragon. His lance pierces right through Dusty Plasma's neck rendering him as nothing more than particles of light.
"Uncle, how could that guy retire one of Isaac's units without attacking? Did he cheat or something?" a young boy asks clearly showing himself not to be familiar with the Abraxas ride chain.
"Unfortunately he didn't cheat. When you ride the grade 2 of that vile chain….. as long as the grade 1 and the grade 0 are in the soul you can retire one of your opponent's front row units." The boy's uncle explained as he showed his clear disdain for my deck.
"I call Red River Dragoon [Power: 8000], Thunderstorm Dragoon [Power: 10000], and a Garuda of my own [Power: 9000]!" I yell.
One by one three units fill three of the open spots on my rearguard circles, of which makes my intentioned to go on the offense against Isaac very clear.
"It's clear he intends to give Isaac that 4th point of damage right now, but that's still a risky play to make so early in the game. What do you think Sara?" Dr. O announces.
"Well Kiba still has 4 cards in his hand. That gives him a little room to rush his opponent, but you're right against Dragonic Kaiser Vermillion that's a particularly risky play to make." Sara followed.
"For those of you who don't understand what we mean, allow me to explain. Dragonic Kaiser Vermillion's limit break allows you to decimate your opponent's front row in a single attack, but that skill can only be used twice if you're lucky in a one on one match." Dr. O explained as he decided to give his colleague a chance to go next.
"By arranging his formation in such a way if he's able to get Isaac to that 4th point of damage… well basically he's trying to bait Isaac into using one of those two chances. If you succeed in this gamble and have the means to keep up the pressure then your chances of winning increase tremendously, but if you can't… well let's just say you'll have a hard time making up for your losses." Sara explained as she emphasized the risks of the play I'm trying to make.
"Now with the support of my Red River Dragoon, Red Storm Dragoon will attack your vanguard [Total Power: 18000]!" I declare.
"I won't be guarding." Isaac says within half a second of my declaration.
"Checking the drive trigger." I say aloud as I place my hand on the top of my deck.
[Drive Check – Brawler, Plasma Kick Dragon – Critical Trigger]
"I got a critical trigger, so that means I'll give the critical to my vanguard and the power to Thunderstorm [New Total: 18000 2 Crit]." I declare as I tap the aforementioned cards with the critical trigger.
As Red Storm Dragoon approached, Garuda fired shot after shot from his two canons as if he were an AA emplacement but each shot misses as Red Storm Dragoon is simply too fast for him. Once Red Storm is close he jumps off his dragon partner, pokes him with his lance, does a back flip, and lands back on his dragon only to be taken to safety shortly thereafter.
[Damage Check – Eradicator Wyvern Guard, Guld – No Trigger]
[Damage Check – Eradicator Wyvern Guard, Guld – No Trigger]
"That's really bad luck for Isaac. The loss of two perfect guards in one go will clearly weaken his defensive strength." Sara points out.
"It is indeed, but we've seen matches where he's been in far worse situations and have managed to pull through." Dr. O points out as well.
"It's your turn next Thunderstorm Dragoon [Total Power: 15000]!" I yell as I turn the card to the rest position.
Unlike my vanguard's assault Thunderstorm's attack is actually incredibly straight forward. First he uses his own lance to gather the lightning sent down from the heavens, and then releases it as a supercharged bolt towards Garuda.
[Damage Check – Thunderstorm Dragoon – No Trigger]
"Garuda attack [Total Power: 9000]!" I declare again.
"Old Dragon Mage guards [Total Shield: 5000]." Isaac counters.
"Then I end my turn." I retort.
Kiba – Isaac
5 – Hand – 5
2 – Soul – 2
2 – Damage – 4
0 – Counterblast – 0
Empty / Thunderstorm Dragoon – Empty / Flag of Raijin, Corpuscant
Red River Dragoon / Red Storm Dragoon – Demonic Dragon Berserker, Garuda / Ceremonial Bonfire Eradicator, Castor
Empty / Demonic Dragon Berserker, Garuda – Empty / Empty
"Hmmmm…. Stand and draw." Isaac informed.
"Here it comes." I thought as I brace myself for the coming turn.
"The calm is over Kiba, so you had better be ready for the storm." Dalette thought.
"We've all seen Isaac add that legendary grade 3 of lighting, but will he use it right now?!" Dr. O announced.
"What the….. gray clouds?" Sakura thought as she looked through the skylight that was conveniently placed above our battlefield.
"I've just received word that despite the morning weather report saying otherwise…. It's started to rain." Dr. O announced again.
"Dr. O, it seems as though the gods of lighting themselves want to see this card in action." Sara followed.
"Gripped by the chains of fate, the power of your destiny becomes my own my embodiment of thunder! I ride Dragonic Kaiser Vermillion [Total Power: 11000]!" Isaac yelled as he slammed his deck's ace on his vanguard circle with a great deal of force.
Lightning shot forth from Isaac's vanguard circle not unlike how it did for me when I rode Shotgun Blow Dragon against Nolan, but to say the lightning was far more intense would be an understatement. It was so intense and so bright that it temporarily blinds us all, and in that moment to those who could see the convention center from a large distance it looked as though a lightning bolt struck it like it was putting icing on the cliché cake this station was. Still cliché as it was once we all regained our sight we could all see that vermillion colored dragon give of a prideful roar as it announced its presence on the battlefield.
"I move Corpuscant into the soul through his skill, and give my vanguard Vermillion an additional +3000 power." Isaac said as he calmly explained the ability of his starting vanguard.
I don't know how Corpuscant did it, but he converted his very physical being into lightning itself only to be absorbed by Vermillion, and the power he gained may have not been significant however it was at least strong enough to manifest itself as a bright red aura which in turn covered Isaac's vanguard.
"I call Red River Dragoon [Power: 8000], Rising Phoenix [Power: 5000], and a second Dusty Plasma Dragon [Power: 9000] to the rearguard." Isaac declared as he threw those cards onto his rearguard circles with an accuracy rivaling a ninja throwing their kunai.
"With Rising Phoenix's skill Isaac can draw 1 card by sending 2 cards from his soul to the drop zone, but I wonder why he's doing that." Sara announced.
"What do you mean?" Dr. asks in response though it's unknown if he was just saying that or if he already knew the point Sara was trying to get at.
"Ah I mean I don't why Isaac didn't call it in the same circle where his Red River Dragoon is. This way if he got something he could go on the offensive with he could call it to the front row, and if not he's still be able to maintain a solid balance between offense or defense." Sara explained.
"My guess is just like how Kiba is attempting to bait Isaac into using his vanguard's limit break early….. he's trying to do the same in case he doesn't manage to beat him this turn." Dr. O explained.
"Ah I see." Sara retorts.
For the record I believe Sara realized that was what Isaac was going for immediately, but only said it that way to give a sort of "Average Joe" feel to her and Dr. O's commentary. Still this is a fight, and it shall go on.
"Now turn everything before you to ash! Dragonic Kaiser Vermillion limit break!" Isaac yelled as he stretched out his hand once more.
Once more a bolt of lightning descended from the heavens in response to this battle between thunder dragons, and once more Vermillion absorbs that power in order to strengthen himself if only temporarily.
"Dragonic Kaiser Vermillion gains +2000 power and the ability to attack your front row in a single attack." Isaac explained.
And as Vermillion absorbed that power sent from the heavens a powerful wind blew through the arena. For the lack of a better choice of words back then….. it was as if Isaac's will was so strong that he could make the power of the cards real.
"Oh no my skirt…. I can't let big brother see that." Sade mumbled as she holds her skirt down in face of this sudden wind.
"Where did this wind come from?" Dalette thought as she too braces herself against the wind though unlike Sade she wasn't wearing a skirt.
"With this gale the gale of the storm has finally arrived. It seems as though the elements themselves want to see this fight." Cloud thought as he and Jacob were one of the few people in this crowd that were not bothered by the wind.
"Dragonic Kaiser Vermillion, unleash your fury upon this battlefield[Total Power: 23000]!" Isaac declared.
"No guard." I respond.
"Twin drive check…." Isaac said as he placed his hand on the top of his deck.
[Drive Check – Red River Dragoon – No Trigger]
"And the second check." Isaac says again.
[Drive Check – Yellow Gem Carbuncle – Critical Trigger]
"I give the critical to Dragonic Kaiser Vermillion and the power to Dusty Plasma Dragon [New Total: 23000 2 Crit]. Become once more in this modern age the lightning that heralds the end, Vermillion Thunderbolt!" Isaac calmly explained before following up with a loud declaration.
Dragonic Kaiser Vermillion began to give of a white glow that's ever becoming brighter as a sign of him gathering power within himself, and after a few minutes once he was ready to release it….. Vermillion extends his weapon forward releasing all of that build up power as a lightning storm. In the face of such power only my vanguard survives.
[Damage Check – Dragonic Kaiser Abraxas – No Trigger]
[Damage Check – Brawler, Plasma Kick Dragon – Critical Trigger]
"Oh thank you this helps a lot." I thought as this particular trigger pull filled me with a great sense of relief.
"Kiba got a critical trigger, and vanguard fans that means our ballsy newcomer has cut down how much he'll have to use to defend against Isaac's next attack." Sara announced.
"That is of course should he choose to defend." Dr. O interjects.
"Dusty Plasma Dragon, attack [Total Power: 25000]!" Isaac declared.
"I guard with Plasma Kick Dragon and Red Raid Dragoon [Total Shield: 15000]!" I quickly counter.
"Turn end." Isaac said.
Kiba – Isaac
3 – Hand – 5
2 – Soul – 2
4 – Damage – 4
0 – Counterblast – 3
Empty / Empty – Dusty Plasma Dragon / Red River Dragoon
Red River Dragoon / Red Storm Dragoon – Dragonic Kaiser Vermillion / Ceremonial Bonfire Eradicator, Castor
Empty / Empty – Empty / Rising Phoenix
"Now it's time for Kiba to play his own Kaiser." Sara announced.
"But will he despite the pleas in the crowd for him not to?" Dr. Followed.
"Stand and draw…." I say as is tradition with this game.
"Of course he'll play it since onii-chan is no coward. Don't you think so nee-san?" Sally said before asking her big sister a question.
"I wouldn't really know…. he doesn't even have the guts to listen to me whe…. I'm not going to finish that sentence." Nolan said as she was paying a great deal of attention to my fight, but felt indifferent about the commentator's comments.
"Sigh onee-chan… if you don't fix your indecisiveness someone else is going to snatch him up." Sally sighs as she shakes her head in disappointment.
"Shut up…" Nolan said as she was embarrassed by her sister's comment.
"Emerge from the shadows of the night and descend to the battlefield my incarnation of lightning! Ride, Dragonic Kaiser Abraxas [Power: 10000]!" I yell.
A powerful surge of lightning emerges from my own vanguard circle, but due to being a former Murakumo that lightning is of a much darker color. My lightning was as loud and intense as Isaac or at least I like to think it was, and though the light it gave off was a darker color. Also like for Vermillion a dark colored lightning bolt seemed to have struck the convention center according to those who could see it from a distance. There once that colored light finally dissipated was my…. avatar for the lack of better words wielding a large 2 handed sword shaped like a lightning bolt.
"I call Shadow Photon Dragon to the rearguard [Power: 9000] and Photon Bomber Wyvern [Power: 6000]!" I yell as I immediately follow up on my previous move.
"There is the strange grade 2 that Kiba drive checked at the start of the fight." Dalette pointed out.
"It looks like we'll get to see what it does soon enough." Virgil retorts.
Those who considered what happened 10 years ago to be nothing more than a coincidence were actually excited by the fact that the fight had finally had hit the realm of grade 3s especially given the skill they all knew to be coming.
"Fine…. you wanted to use Abraxas. Okay you proved your point, but for the love of god if you have any humanity don't use its effect!" one of the people watching this fight from the crowd yelled.
There were those who still feared for their life simply because they believed that Abraxas was responsible for what happened 10 years ago, and out of a more noticeable example of their fear as indicated by the above they even started to plead for their lives as if I actually had control over life and death it's self. It was a ridiculous notion at best; however I decided that if by the off chance the worst would occur I'd take responsibility for my actions and accept the hatred of all those who would wish to bare their fangs towards me.
"Dragonic Kaiser Abraxas, knock down the pillars that support those who seek victory with your lightning! Limit break!" I declare.
Unlike Vermillion who concentrated his power within himself and then released it through his weapon, my vanguard Abraxas focuses his power into directly into his sword up until the point where it starts to spew out its darker colored lightning like a seriously high-end sprinkler.
"My vanguard gains +2000 power like yours but instead he can attack your back left and right rearguard along with your own vanguard in one go." I explain.
"I'm not afraid, so go ahead and do what you will." Isaac retorts clearly un-phased by the coming attack.
"With the support of Red River Dragoon, my Dragonic Kaiser Abraxas will attack your Dragonic Kaiser Vermillion [Total Power: 21000]!" I declare.
[Drive Check – Demonic Dragon Berserker, Garuda – No Trigger]
"Come on…. critical trigger." I thought as I start to turn over the next card.
[Drive Check – Shadow Photon Dragon – No Trigger]
"Okay fine my attack doesn't hit, but my turn isn't over yet. Release the fury of your dark lighting from above! Go, Abraxas Sky Fire!" I yell.
Using his wings my vanguard Abraxas takes to the skies, and then he goes back down full speed towards Vermillion pointing his sword forward as if trying to use his whole body as a dive bomb or a powerful lance. To be certain his attack inflicts a great deal of pain upon Vermillion, but the true prize of this move is when his lighting splits off to strike down Isaac's rearguards in the back row.
[Damage Check – Demonic Dragon Nypmh, Seiobo – Heal Trigger]
"Get a heal trigger….. Power to Dusty Plasma Dragon and I get to recover one damage point." Isaac said.
"Oh bad luck for Kiba… since he and Isaac are at equal damage that may as well have made his attack non-existent." Dr. O announced.
"It's still not over yet. Shadow Photon Dragon attack Dragonic Kaiser Vermillion [Total Power: 18000]!" I yell as I sure as hell wasn't going to throw in the towel just yet.
"I won't guard." Isaac retorts.
An interesting thing about Shadow Photon Dragon is that like Dusty Plasma Dragon he too was searching for the one he believed to be the reincarnation of the ancient dragon emperor, and that he believed that to be Abraxas even long before he was granted the title of Kaiser. Sorry if you were expecting some kind of wordy description of an attack animation here.
[Damage Check - Dragon Nypmh, Seiobo – Heal Trigger]
"Shit…. Now he'll be able to use his limit break again." I thought as I mentally curse my bad luck and Isaac's good luck.
"Same as before…. I give the power to Dusty Plasma Dragon and I recover 1 damage point." Isaac informed.
"I end my turn." I declare seeing as how there was nothing else I could do.
Kiba – Isaac
3 – Hand – 5
3 – Soul – 2
4 – Damage – 4
3 – Counterblast – 1
Photon Bomber Wyvern / Shadow Photon Dragon – Dusty Plasma Dragon / Empty
Red River Dragoon / Red Storm Dragoon – Dragonic Kaiser Vermillion / Ceremonial Bonfire Eradicator, Castor
Empty / Empty – Empty / Empty
"Just what the hell is with that trigger luck? Is the power of destiny really that strong?" I thought as I brace myself for the "You know what" to hit the fan.
"Oh my god Vanguard fans it's as if the goddess of luck wanted to make up for having Isaac lose two of his perfect guards." Sara announced.
"That's not the scary part. With only 3 cards in hand, 6 in Isaac's since he didn't have to guard this turn, and the ability to use Vermillion's limit break again on his following turn Kiba here will need a miracle just to stay alive." Dr. O pointed out.
Still if I actually ignore my near reckless desire to beat Isaac back then in our first fight… I have to admit it was one of the most intense matches I ever had in my history as a fighter. Still….. others had their opinions on the course of this match….. Isaac's teammates for example.
"I'll admit it….that Kiba kid isn't doing too bad, but with Isaac's ridiculous luck sacking he's a good as screwed." Preston pointed out.
"Not onlythat…. Isaac is enjoying himself, and…. he doesn't even realize it." Teresa pointed out shortly thereafter.
"Hmmm….. how can you tell?" Preston asks.
"I guess it's because I've known Isaac since we were kids, but take a closer look at his mouth. Instead of being an ordinary emotionless straight line it's actually curved slightly." Teresa explained as she actually got up from the couch, walked up to the TV, and pointed at Isaac's mouth whenever there was a close-up of him.
"Okay I'll buy that….. but how can you tell that he doesn't realize he's enjoying himself?" Preston retorts.
"His eyes… they haven't changed at all since the start of the fight, and if they did believe me I would notice." Teresa points out.
But enough from the peanut gallery… this is still a fight after all.
"Stand and draw…" Isaac said as is tradition.
"Shit…. There's still a chance I can win, so don't lose it Kiba." I thought as a powerful sense of fear passes over me.
"I don't acknowledge your skill Kiba Nakashima, but you have my respect for following the path of your destiny even if it's at the risk of being one of hatred." Isaac unexpectedly says.
"Screw destiny I decide my own fate, but yes if people chose to hate me simply because I use Abraxas then I'll deal with it. Still… thanks for the compliment." I say back.
"Then I won't waste anymore of your time…. Final Turn!" Isaac declared.
If what Isaac said didn't make sense allow me to translate. What Isaac acknowledged was not my strength since I only lasted this long through sheer luck more than anything else, but rather my resolve to see this fight through to the end despite the words of those who were against my way of fighting.
"Tied by destiny's chains, I pull your ultimate form from a time before death to the other end of the path forged by fate! Crossride the vanguard! Dragonic Kaiser Vermillion 'The Blood' [Power: 11000]!" Isaac yelled.
Literally speaking, the evolved form Dragonic Kaiser Vermillion doesn't appear on the battlefield in the same flashy manner as his previous state. Instead a powerful gust of electrically charged wind kicks up the dust around this field completely hiding him from view. The crowd observing the fight feels the full intensity of that wind, but thankfully they don't get electrocuted in the process. Now then once the dust had settled Vermillion picks up his sword and blows away what dust remains with his expanded wings made of pure energy.
"I…. I…. I… I." Dr. O says over and over again due to being completely speechless by what he just saw.
"As my colleague recovers from his shock induced stuttering….. let me just saw that given the number of exciting fights we've seen throughout the past few days… this may go down as the greatest Vanguard Expo in the history of the event." Sara announced as loud as possible.
"Even if you've brought out The Blood, you still can't use its ultimate skill." I thought.
"I call Red River Dragoon [Power: 8000], Dragonic Kaiser Vermillion [Power: 11000], and finally Ginkaku [Power: 6000] to the rearguard." Isaac said.
"Of course he'd call Ginkaku….. of course he'd get the one unit fully capable of screwing me over." I thought.
"Ginkaku's counterblast: By turning a card in my damage zone face down I can add the top card of my deck face up into the damage zone." Isaac explained.
"That means Vanguard fans that Isaac is technically at 5 damage!" Dr. O yelled as he's finally come out of his muttering mentality.
"Glad to see you're back to normal Dr. O" Sara said as she was relieved at the sight of her colleague's wellbeing.
"Thank you for that. Anyways the point I was trying to make vanguard fans was that now that Isaac has 5 cards in his damage zone then that means he can use The Blood's greatest skill." Dr. O calmly announced.
"Purge blasphemers of destiny from this world with the strongest storm! Ultimate Break!" Isaac yelled.
In that moment Vermillion let out such a powerful roar that the sound waves alone were capable of damaging the area immediately around him, however that's nothing compared to the fact that his body is temporarily surrounded by an aura even brighter than the one he had in his previous form.
"The Blood gains +5000 power and +1 critical along with the ability to attack your front row units." Isaac explained.
"Here we go." I thought as I brace myself once more.
"Dragonic Kaiser Vermillion 'The Blood' attack [Total Power: 25000 2 Crit]!" Isaac declared.
"I'm afraid not… Seiobo and Garuda guards [Total Shield: 15000]!" I counter.
[Damage Check – Thunderstorm Dragoon – No Trigger]
[Damage Check – Rising Phoenix – No Trigger]
"You're fate was decided the moment you were born! Judgment of destiny, Vermillion Catastrophe!" Isaac yelled as he stretches his hand towards me once more.
There was no fanciful animation sequence for the preparation of Vermillion's attack. All he did was point his sword and fired off his power as if it were no different than the trigger of a gun, and out of that gun came 2 bursts of lighting. One incinerated my Shadow Plasma Dragon to ash, but the other is intercepted by my two comrades the cost of their lives.
"Dusty Plasma Dragon….. attack [Total Power: 18000]!" Isaac yells again.
[Damage Check – Eradicator Wyvern Guard, Guld – No Trigger]
"Now my rearguard Vermillion…. land the final blow [Total Power: 19000]!" Isaac declared for what he believed to be the last time.
If I was going to be finished off right then and there I certainly refused to lose to Isaac's vanguard the emissary of everything who he is as a fighter. Still as the attack of Isaac's rearguard Vermillion struck true…. I knew from her on it was up to the cards.
"Could it be that Isaac has just secured another in a long line of victories?" Sara announced.
"It's over." Isaac thought as he was so confident in the end result that he already started moving his free hand slowly towards his deck in order to put it away.
For the record I didn't say slow for the sake of dramatic effect. All those years ago he really was just moving his arm that slowly.
"The fight isn't over until the last card is played…. Damage check…" I say aloud as I place my hand on the top of my deck.
"Come on Kiba… don't lose" were the more or less collective thoughts of my friends, Cloud, and Jacob though I don't know what in that moment.
My friends had faith in my, and their faith would be rewarded for as I turned over the next card this battlefield would be filled with that familiar bright faded green glow.
[Damage Check – Worm Toxin Eradicator, Seiobo – Heal Trigger]
"What…. my interpretation of destiny was wrong?" Isaac thought shocked by what he saw, but he hid it very well to the point that I didn't notice until he told me years later.
"Get a heal trigger. I get to recover 1 point of damage, and that means I'm still in this fight." I inform happy at my good fortune…. no happy with the result of the believe in my deck.
"How long has it been since Isaac failed a final turn proclamation?" Sally asks her sister and her teammates.
"Once during the first time I fought Isaac, but I he still won on his next turn so I wouldn't put too much worth into this turn of fortune." Cloud answered.
"Turn end." Isaac said seeing as how he had no other choice.
Kiba – Isaac
1 – Hand – 4
3 – Soul – 3
5 – Damage – 4
2 – Counterblast – 4
Photon Bomber Wyvern / Empty – Dusty Plasma Dragon / Dragon Monk, Ginkaku
Red River Dragoon / Red Storm Dragoon – Dragonic Kaiser Vermillion / Ceremonial Bonfire Eradicator, Castor
Empty / Empty – Dragonic Kaiser Vermillion / Red River Dragoon
As expected I was immediately heckled by a bunch of hardcore Isaac fans especially since one of them later posted online that I "Denied Isaac the glorious victory he wanted". It's truly ridiculous, but then I also received a few cheers from the crown as well, and those few are those who I managed to change their mind about Abraxas. It's a start if nothing else.
"What will I do? There's no way I can win with just this one card." I thought as I start to lose faith in myself.
"Stop screwing around you idiot! You beat me so you should be able to kick Isaac's ass too!" Nolan yelled at the top of her lungs.
"Haha she's right….. and she's also the last person I want to be disciplined by. Alright as long as I can still draw the next card then there's still hope." I thought.
"This is still an official fight, so please don't keep all of us waiting." Sakura said to me as I was apparently taking more time with my decision than I thought.
"Sorry about that… I'm fine now….. Stand and draw…. This is…" I say as I wasn't expecting the card I drew even though I put 4 copies in my deck.
I'm sure you can all figure out what it was, but regardless this next turn of mind would signal the end and the beginning. It would signal the end of my old life, and the start of a new one as I took my first step towards fighting at an even higher level of skill.
"Break free from the chains of destiny and blaze your own trail across the stars my ultimate incarnation of lighting! I crossride Dragonic Kaiser Abraxas 'The Spirit' [Power: 11000]!" I yell.
"Impossible… my interpretation of destiny didn't show me this." Isaac thought.
"Get ready Isaac because my real counterattack starts right now." I say.
To Be Continued
Kiba: I can't believe the impossible occurred.
Quinn: Don't worry I already planned for such an occurrence.
Kiba: Next time on Vanguard: Lights Speed "Explosion Rebound"
Isaac: Behold the alternate evolution that destiny brought forth for Vermillion!
Narukami
Grade 3
Dragonic Kaiser Abraxas "The Spirit"
Power: 11000
[Act](VC): Secret
[Cont](VC): If you have a card named "Dragonic Kaiser Abraxas" in your soul, this unit gets [Power]+2000.
[Cont](VC): Lord (If you have a unit without a same clan as this unit, this unit cannot attack)