Vanguard: Light Speed
Chapter 18
Explosion Rebound
The clash going on between Isaac and I certainly has been an exciting one. After the fight I read comments that more or less said "I can't believe some complete unknown was able to hold his own against Isaac." Those were the words of the ordinary everyday fighter, but I in addition to the wiser fighters among those watching realized that Isaac was vastly superior to me as a fighter. Still….,. if he was going to beat me I certainly wasn't going to go down without a fight. Do you remember how there was one last detail concerning my part in what happened 10 years ago? I intend to tell you that detail, but not just yet. First I must repaint the events in modern times that'll lead up to it.
"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.
[Drive Check – Thunderstorm Dragoon – No Trigger]
[Drive 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 / Dragonic Kaiser Abraxas – 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.
Once more my vanguard imitates the way Isaac's enters the field. A powerful gust of wind, a surge of dark colored lighting, and the evolved form of my vanguard appeared on this battlefield wielding a fast and nimble katana instead of his previous bulky sword.
"I… I've never heard of Dragonic Kaiser Abraxas 'The Spirit'….. have you Sara?" Dr. O asks as he was just as surprised as many of the people here when they saw the latest form of my ace.
"I've heard the rumors, but they were so scare that I didn't think they'd be real." Sara explained.
"Hang on….. Isaac was wrong?" Teresa said clearly visibly shocked.
"What's the big deal? No one's perfect." Preston pointed out as he doesn't find the situation that interesting.
"Shut up… with the exception of when he fights against teacher and the one time against Cloud…. Isaac has never been wrong about a final turn declaration." Teresa said showing the tsundere part of her personality by hitting Preston across the face multiple times with a couch cushion.
"Okay okay I get it I'm sorry." Preston said as he for the umpteenth time pushed Teresa's berserk button.
"Good…. still Isaac will win. He's simply too strong not to, and he even has that card to boost his chances." Teresa said as she returned to her normal calm idol demeanor.
"What makes you so sure?" Preston asks as he raises his arms in a defensive posture out of reflex.
"Relax I'm not going to hit you this time, and to answer your question you'll see soon enough …. That is assuming Isaac decided to put it in his deck of course." Teresa explained.
"Impossible….. how can you have a card I didn't foresee?" Isaac asks though he hides his surprise incredibly well.
"Vermillion gained his power by drinking the emperor's blood at the cost of his life, but blood is restricted to traveling through arteries and veins much like how you believe destiny restricts the lives of those who desire something different. My Abraxas is different, but I'll tell you only if you really want to know." I explain.
"If you wish to tell me your blasphemy against destiny then so be it." Isaac said as he steels his resolve much like how I did several times before this fight.
"In response to your vanguard's growing brutality after the war of liberation Abraxas went to the tomb of the ancient dragon emperor himself in order to find greater strength. After surviving the tomb's traps he came to find the sword he's using now, and within that sword was a small fragment of the emperor's spirit. Abraxas absorbed that fragment, and all though it was small the power was intense enough to cause his body to undergo a metemorphosis into what you see now." I explained.
"If the blood within our won bodies represents destiny to Isaac then that means the spirit which transcends the body means the freedom to choose one's own fate to Kiba." Sara announced.
"I agree completely, but we'll see soon enough which of the two has the stronger will. Will it be 'The Spirit' or 'The Blood'? Keep watching vanguard fans and we'll find out together soon enough." Dr. O followed.
This Dr. O junior's words rung true for me more than I realized back then. Why his words resonated with my soul back then so strongly back then that I was forced to experience the last part of what happened to me 10 years ago. Really… I started to relive it here I'm not just saying that for the sake of good story telling. Now then….. I last left you at the part when Sade's mother sacrificed herself to save her child, and I also think restarting with those events is the best way to kick things off so I apologize for seeming a bit repetitive.
"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 death for 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.
As I've said in my previous entry in one fell swoop I became responsible for another human life even though I was just a child, and responsible I would be even though it was something I shouldn't have had to deal with until much later. I started to run as the ground where Sade's mother fell to her death started to collapse even further. I kept running with the crowd I held Sade in my broken arm. The pain from doing so was immense, so some of you may be asking why not switch arms?
"Don't worry Sade your new big brother will protect you." I whisper.
To be honest I seriously considered that fact, but there were a few reasons why I didn't. Well first of all I didn't want to risk the two of us getting trampled together to death by me stopping for half a second to switch arms. Secondly though I doubt it would have made a difference given my small stature I wanted to keep my other arm free incase of any obstacles I needed to push out of my way. Finally… if I really think about it the constant pain was to remind myself that I was still alive for the sake of the lives I was responsible for and to remind myself of the lives that were lost because of me.
"Down this way! The stairs to the second floor hasn't collapsed!" one of the arena security guards yelled as he directs the scared mob towards an open double door.
To be honest everyone here wished that this particular staircase led all of the way to safety, but like the previous staircase I was in…. the last leg of the journey had already collapsed in on itself forcing all of us who were funneled through here onto the second floor.
"Wahhhh wahhhh wahhh." Sade cried.
"Don't worry Sade….. it won't be much longer until we're out of here." I whisper.
Now I don't know if it was because I tripped over something or if someone in the mob bumped into me, but I fell to the side out of this mob right into the front counter of one of the arena's many food places.
"Okay… good no bruises." I mumble as a breathe a sigh of relief when I notice that Sade didn't appear to have been injured in the whole affair.
"Mommy where are you?!" I hear a crying young girl yell.
Now I already heard similar words from children who were separated from their parents or guardians in the ensuing chaos, but something about this girl's voice drew me in as if I've heard it before. Turns out I have, but that's a story for another day. That voice seems to be coming from inside the food stall whose front counter I bumped into. Thankfully I find a side door that leads into this stall, so thus I carefully walk inside. After all given the earthquake who knows how the inside of this place actually looks.
"Hello is anyone there?" I say as loud as I can given the screaming crowd around me.
It should have been impossible, but I still heard this young girl's sniveling tears over the roar of the scared populace. It was like seeing someone walking a mile away from you and still being able to recognize them as your friend. At any rate I followed the sound of the tears past the stacked cards of bread, meat, and drink until I finally saw her.
"Who's there?" the girl said once she realized the sound of my approach.
That girl had orange hair tied into twin tails that just barely reached her shoulders, bright blue eyes, a brand new pink hair clip attached to her left side, and a sort of casual Victorian style dress.
"Easy there I'm not going to hurt you." I tell the orange haired girl as I raised by free hand in a non-threatening manner.
"Leave me alone…." The orange haired girl said with a sullen look on her face.
"We have to get out of here before the whole place collapses around us. Don't you want to see your mom again?" I point out.
"My mom's gone. When the big screen was falling off a piece of metal flew out and…. right when we were in one of the private boxes." The orange haired girl said as even attempting to mention this causes her to lose control emotionally.
"I'm sorry to make you say that, but…. look we still have to get out of here." I point out as I sit down next to this girl with Sade it tow.
"Forget it….. leave me alone… there's no point if mommy can't be here to protect me." the orange haired girl said effectively stating the fact that she's lost the will to live.
I knew how this girl felt because after I saw Corrina…. I probably would have been in that same pit of depression if Sade's mother didn't risk herself to help me. For that very reason I decided to help this girl in order to start paying back the debt of lives I owe.
"I know I can't replace your mother, but…..then I'll protect you until you can be reunited with the rest of your family." I declare.
"Wha…." The orange haired girl said as I think she was caught off guard by the audacity of my statement.
"Look you see this baby I'm carrying in my arm?" I ask.
"Yeah….. she your sister or something?" the orange haired girl retorts.
"No she isn't. This girl's mom lost her life trying to help me, and before her death she decided to trust me with her child… a kid she's never met before. I'm carrying her in my broken arm in order to have the pain remind me if what I'm now responsible for. If you'll let me…. I'll take your pain." I declare.
I could tell I was starting to reach this girl because her tears stopped, her face warmed up, and I see in her eyes that her sense of confidence had started to return.
"You'll…. protect… me?" the orange haired girl asked as if to make sure I was really being serious.
"Yes I will." I declare as I outstretch my free hand for her to take.
I know I was saying something cool yet cliché like that of a harem anime/manga series protagonist, but I didn't really care this was reality and there were more important things to worry about.
"Even if we get out of here alive?" the orange haired girl asks.
"We will get out of here alive, and if you mean you want me to protect you afterwards….. then I will if that's what you want." I tell this orange haired girl with a serious look in my eyes.
"Alright…" the orange haired girl said as she took my hand.
As soon as we got up to leave we were hit with another aftershock, and a really strong one at that. I was still more or less sane and Sade finally stopped crying despite the scary noises, but this orange haired girl wrapped herself around me because she was so freaked out.
"There there it'll be alright. Come on we have to go." I tell this orange haired girl as I gently pat her on the back.
Before we could even leave the ceiling above us collapses leaving us trapped inside this foot stall's storage area, but that's not even the worst part on two fronts. The first worst part was that the two or three if you count Sade could feel the whole room drop without warning like an elevator in an elevator shaft. The second was that we have very little room to move in or light thanks to the collapsed ceiling. We had about an average American car's worth of space, but it wasn't so bad. We couldn't tell how much rubble was on top of us, but there was still a tiny opening where we could see the sky through and not all of the food and water was crushed so we could live off of that.
"Great…. We're going to die for sure now." the orange haired girl said as her confidence started to wane again.
"We will survive, so just keep a grip on my hand and we'll be fine." I tell this girl.
Because of the lack of light I could barely see the girl's face, but I could still feel the smooth silky grip of her hand. She, Sade, and I huddled up together with one another like a family sitting before a fireplace. We just sat there for days just talking about our lives and living off of what scraps we could until we were finally rescued by emergency workers. We even happed to have ended up in the same hospital after the fact, and we even talked there but strangely enough we never learned the other's name. I'm sure you already have a hunch who this is and are thinking "Which sister is it?" Well I'm afraid I'm not going to tell you that until the appropriate time. Anyways I later learned the day after I got checked into the hospital that Virgil and his family got out alive… including Corrina. In turns out she wasn't killed immediately like we thought, but again that's another story for another day. This as I've already said so many times is still a fight, so now it's time that we get back to it.
"Once again stop messing around and fight." Sakura barked.
"Wha… right sorry I just got a blast from the past without warning." I tell Sakura as I apologize for wasting time.
"I'm not going to stand here all day. Even if you've managed to throw of my interpretation of destiny…. you're still fated to lose to me." Isaac declared.
"I call another Shadow Photon Dragon [Power: 9000] to the rearguard." I said.
Now this dark colored dragon of mine proudly roared once he got the chance to fight alongside the soul he believed to be the reincarnation of the ancient emperor in his stronger form. No one could deny that either of them were used to fighting on the front lines of battle given their past, but like me they weren't about to lose to Isaac and his Vermillion without a fight.
"Break their unbreakable pillars of support! Ultimate break!" I yell.
Much like Vermillion, my vanguard the evolved Dragonic Kaiser Abraxas gives out a roar powerful enough to decimate the surrounding area.
"My vanguard gets +5000 power bonus along with a +1 critical. He also retains his ability to attack your vanguard, back left rearguard, and your back right rearguard in go." I tell Isaac as I explain the power of my evolved Abraxas.
"That one unknown card in Isaac's hand…." Dalette mumbled.
"What about it?" Virgil asks.
"If it's a perfect guard or a grade 0 then Kiba is an all likely hood screwed, but if it's anything else then he still has a chance. Basically what I'm saying is that one unknown card is what will decide this fight…. and not Kiba's next drive check." Dalette explained.
"Then all we can do is just cheer for big bro." Sade said as she believed in me and my ability to win more than anyone else here including my friends.
I suppose she has that faith because of me. My father though he does care wasn't exactly around to raise me because of work and that was even more true for Sade who really needed a father figure more than anyone. I guess what I'm trying to say is that I was more like a father to Sade then even my own dad.
"With the support of Red River Dragoon, Dragonic Kaiser Abraxas 'The Spirit' attacks [Total Power: 26000 2 Crit]!" I declare.
"I guard with Carbuncle and Rising Phoenix [Total Shield: 15000]." Isaac countered.
"It has to be a grade 3….. there's your chance Kiba, so take it." Dalette thought.
"The final twin drive check…" I declare because like with my match against Nolan….. I knew this would be my last drive check of the fight.
[Drive Check – Dragonic Kaiser Abraxas 'The Spirit' – No Trigger]
"And the second check." I declare as I place my hand on the top of my deck.
[Drive Check – Eradicator, Dragon Mage – Draw Trigger]
"I give all of the effects to my vanguard, so that means my attack goes through [New Total: 31000 2 Crit]!" I declare.
"Did I really misinterpret destiny? Is it going to be my fate to lose this fight?" Isaac thought as he actually has to seriously contemplate the possibility of defeat from someone other than my father.
"Go and break destiny's chains with your strongest attack! Abraxas Over-blast!" I yell.
Like with his previous form my vanguard Abraxas takes to the skies, and thanks to his newfound power it takes him less than half a second to concentrate so much of his energy into his new sword that excess power spills out in the form of black lightning. From there he charges at Vermillion engaging him in a sword duel, and thanks to his nimble weapon Abraxas has no trouble overwhelming his opponent with his fast strikes. Then….. in one single motion Abraxas lands a clean downwards slice in what he and I hope to be the finishing blow in this fight. The shockwave generated from that attack was so powerful that it blows the top 2 cards of Isaac's deck off causing them to slowly fall on top of the damage zone in a dramatic fashion.
"No I refuse to lose to someone that contradicts everything I believe in." Isaac thought at the moment the first of those two cards finally land.
[Damage Check – Thunderstorm Dragoon – No Trigger]
"I don't believe what I'm seeing vanguard fans." Sara announced.
"Could we be seeing the end of Isaac Barrett's several years long winning streak?" Dr. O followed.
[Damage Check – Demonic Dragon Nymph, Seiobo – Heal Trigger]
"Apparently it won't be today vanguard fans." Dr. O announces.
"Or at least not yet because Isaac's still in this fight thanks to that game saving heal trigger." Sara followed.
"As I said fate has already decided who will win this fight." Isaac said though he would later admit his tremendous relief at his good fortune in this moment.
"Then Shadow Photon Dragon will go in next [Total Power: 18000]!" I declare.
"I guard with Thunderstorm Dragoon [Total Shield: 5000]." Isaac countered.
"Then I end my turn." I said the moment Shadow Photon Dragon returns to his starting position.
"Shoot….. he was so close." Raphugio said clearly frustrated.
"Don't worry big bro I still believe in you." Sade thought as she prayed for me.
Kiba – Isaac
3 – Hand – 1
4 – Soul – 3
5 – Damage – 5
5 – Counterblast – 3
Photon Bomber Wyvern / Shadow Photon Dragon – Dusty Plasma Dragon / Empty
Red River Dragoon / Dragonic Kaiser Abraxas 'The Spirit' – Dragonic Kaiser Vermillion 'The Blood' / Ceremonial Bonfire Eradicator, Castor
Empty / Empty – Dragonic Kaiser Vermillion / Empty
"Stand and draw." Isaac said.
"It must sting Kiba a little to have a potential come from behind underdog style win be taken away from him." Sara points out.
"Perhaps, but these two are still card fighters….. and I'd say Isaac's ability to imagine the battle has helped him pull through a close situation yet again." Dr. points out as well.
"What the…" I mumble in response to the face Isaac made when he drew for the turn.
"I see…. you helped him push off his fate for this didn't you Vermillion? Very well…. just this once I'll forgive you for your selfishness." Isaac thought as if he were holding an actual conversation with the card within the confines of his own mind.
I was surprised because Isaac smiled as he examined the card he drew in greater detail, and as I believe I mentioned before he's only been seen a few times smiling in public ever.
"I'll say it again and I don't care if I failed the first time… Final turn!" Isaac declared.
"Isaac has declared 'Final turn' once more, but can he back up his words this time?" Dr. O said.
"Anyone else and I'd say they're being arrogant, but Isaac Barrett has proven himself to be a fighter of such grandiose power that only the great fighters in the history books could compete with him. Still….. I'm curious like the rest of you vanguard fans just how he intends to pull a win off now." Sara announced shortly thereafter.
Isaac separated the card he drew from the card he already had in his hand, and in that moment the atmosphere of this fight changed once more. The intensity grew so much that you'd need a power-tool of some kind to get through it, and I knew… the source of this increased intensity was the card Isaac smiled at… a card that even I could sense possessed a power far greater then 'The Blood'. There was only one logical conclusion that could be made from this point….. Isaac intended to ride that card.
"With the chains of destiny as your guide, emerge from the world of your altered fate and descend my embodiment of thunder! I ride Dragonic Kaiser Vermillion 'The Rebound' [Power: 11000]!" Isaac yelled.
First it was a flash of a bright light then the gust of a powerful wind, but this time this latest form of Vermillion uses both to announce his presence on the battlefield. First is a flash of light that blinds us, then we feel a powerful gust of wind that should tear us to shreds, and finally as we regain our sight we're forced to witness the devastation to this battlefield. In terms of appearance 'The Rebound' is closer in appearance to the original Vermillion in that it's not very flashy, he's donned heavier armor with the same red/yellow color scheme, gained an extra set of wings in contrast to how 'The Blood' has an expanded set, and finally his choice of weapon is a double bladed sword.
"Behold this is the form of the Vermillion of the alternate timeline." Isaac shockingly revealed.
"I've never heard of this 'The Rebound', but Dr. O you're more knowledgeable about the cards of this game than I am. Have you heard of the card Isaac's just played?"
"No….. I've never heard of this card, but it's clear that this is an official Vanguard card….. otherwise the MF system wouldn't have acknowledged it… and in turn displayed it for us to be having this conversation." Dr. O explained, but even he couldn't deny the shock we're all experiencing.
"Seek the mate!" Isaac yelled.
"It's a legion?" I thought as I was shocked even further.
In that ever cliché and mysterious physics defying motion four cards from Isaac's drop zone fly back into his deck (Seriously does no one question how that happens anymore even when no one is using an MF system?), then his deck shuffles itself, and finally Isaac's chosen mate comes flying out of his deck and into his hand.
"Link your fate from the alternate reality with the dragon that lost his through death! Dragonic Kaiser Vermillion 'The Blood'! Legion [Legion Power: 22000]!" Isaac declared.
There was no error in translation or recording of what Isaac said. The ultimate from of the Vermillion from the original timeline is standing next to the ultimate form of Vermillion from the ultimate timeline.
"I don't believe what I'm seeing vanguard fans, but the mate of this Dragonic Kaiser Vermillion 'The Rebound' is none other than Dragonic Kaiser Vermillion 'The Blood'." Sara announced.
"When a unit on my vanguard circle uses an [Act] skill, The Rebound gains +1 critical and that's not even his legion skill. Don't forget the original Vermillion is still in my soul, so The Blood still gets his +2000 power bonus." Isaac said as he explained the effect of this new unit.
"What?! That means he'll be hitting for at least 31000 power." I thought as I realize… well you'll see soon enough what I mean.
"Now go… The Rebound and The Blood… legion attack [Total Power: 31000 2 Crit]!" Isaac declared.
"No guard!" I declare.
I mean what else could I do? I don't have enough cards in my hand to block an attack of such power.
[Drive Check – Eradicator Wyvern Guard, Guld – No Trigger]
[Drive Check – Yellow Gem Carbuncle – Critical Trigger]
"Get the critical trigger…. all effects go to Dragonic Kaiser Vermillion 'The Rebound' [New Total: 36000 3 Crit]!" Isaac informed.
If it was simply a one on one fight then my vanguard could easily have held his ground, but against two dragons with the title of Kaiser even if they're alternate versions of the same person… it was simply impossible. Their combined strength was just too much for us.
[Damage Check – Eradicator, Yellow Gem Carbuncle – Critical Trigger]
Final Result
Kiba – Isaac
3 – Hand – 3
4 – Soul – 3
6 – Damage – 5
5 – Counterblast – 3
Photon Bomber Wyvern / Shadow Photon Dragon – Dusty Plasma Dragon / Empty
Red River Dragoon / Dragonic Kaiser Abraxas 'The Spirit' – Dragonic Kaiser Vermillion 'The Rebound'/Dragonic Kaiser Vermillion 'The Blood' / Ceremonial Bonfire Eradicator, Castor
Empty / Empty – Dragonic Kaiser Vermillion / Empty
"The match is over. The winner is Isaac Barrett!" Sakura announced seeing as how she was playing the role of judge for this fight.
I honestly was expecting to be booed off the stage as I collected my deck, but what I got instead was something entirely different.
"Wow that was such an amazing fight!" said one pleased member of the crowd.
"I know to think the both of them had to rely on a heal trigger to survive." A friend of that pleased fan pointed out.
I'm a man so I accepted my loss against Isaac gratefully, but who could blame me for being shocked when the crowd was applauding the fight in its entirety. That's right not just Isaac… but I got some credit too.
"You know my cousin always said an MF system couldn't possibly make a match so realistic that it would cause an earthquake." A member of the crowd said to one of his friends.
"The truth is I own a play set of the Abraxas ride chain too, and I think I'll start using him again. This fight proves that what happened 10 years ago was just a horribly timed coincidence." The friend of that one crowd member said.
"What the hell are you idiots talking about? We were lucky that nothing happened. You all should be mad at that kid who risked all of our lives for his own selfish purposes." An angered member of the crowd said.
"Dude relax I'd say this is enough to prove what happed a decade ago was a coincidence." A friend of that angry fan pointed out.
"Yeah man don't be like that it was an exciting fight after all." A second friend of that angry fan said.
"You know what screw you guys…. I'm not going to stick around while you worship a card clearly responsible for so many deaths like it's a hero." The angry fan said as well walked off in a puff of rage.
I knew that there would be those whose opinions about Abraxas that I wouldn't be able to change with that one fight… or at all for that matter, but it warmed my heart to see that there were far more open-minded people in this crowd than I thought.
"Congratulations Isaac Barrett, you've just won the Vanguard Expo's yearly random selection tournament. How do you feel?" Sakura asks as she passes Isaac a small victory plaque whilst speaking into a microphone.
"I don't feel any different." Isaac honestly answered.
"That's not quite what I meant, but okay…..You'll be facing me here tomorrow evening in an exhibition match, of which I'm actually looking forward to since this will be the first time we've ever fought before." Sakura said.
"I'm looking forward to it as well." Isaac said and he actually meant what he said too.
"If you manage to defeat me the Expo sponsors will grant you any wish that's both within reason and within their power. Tell me, have you decided what you want to wish for? Or are you still thinking about it?" Sakura asks.
"I know what I want to wish for when I beat you." Isaac declared.
"Oh… and what's that?" Sakura retorts… though she can't help but respect Isaac's confidence.
"What I want is you Sakura Verde." Isaac announced.
"Well um…. I appreciate the sentiment, but umm…. I already have someone I like." Sakura said as her normally calm and collected ice queen style personality was blown away by the sheer unexpectedness of Isaac's statement.
"Whaaaaaaaaat?!" was more or less the reaction of all of the people watching this unfold…. myself included.
To Be Continued
Dalette: That was surprising.
Teresa: If you'll excuse me I think I'll go have a chat with Sakura.
Preston: Teresa… no put the knife down!
Virgil: Still this next fight is going to be exciting…. A match between two titans in the world of Vanguard.
Kiba: Next time on Vanguard: Light Speed "Blue Flame Rebound."
Raphugio: A fight between two undefeated fighters….. just who will win?
Narukami
Grade 3
Dragonic Kaiser Abraxas "The Spirit"
Power: 11000
[Act](VC): Limit Break 5 (This ability is active if you have 5 or more damage):[Counterblast 3] Until end of turn, this unit gets [Power]+5000/[Critical]+1 and "This unit battles every unit in your opponent's back left (RC), back right (RC), and (VC) in one attack"
[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)
Dragonic Kaiser Vermillion "The Rebound"
Power: 11000
[ACT](VC): Legion 22000 "Dragonic Kaiser Vermillion 'The Blood'" (If your opponent's vanguard is grade 3 or greater, this unit may return four cards from your drop zone into your deck once, search your deck for the specified card, and Legion)
[AUTO](VC): Secret
[AUTO](VC): When a unit on your vanguard circle uses an "[ACT]" skill, this unit gets [Critical]+1 until end of turn.