Chapter 37: The 8th Grader Syndrome, Kurotama Shinigami
"Last time on Buddyfight X...!" Chibi Panda said after pulling out his sword.
"Draw! Charge and Draw!" He drew a card he noticed it was Dai's Buddy he drew, "Hey, Dai! I hope you don't mind if I use your Buddy." He requested.
"Of course. It's a festival! A Jaeger Festival!" Dai approved.
"I call Overturn Chief, Duel Jaeger to the right!" He paid two gauge as he called out Dai's Buddy.
"Come on now, Buddy! Do me proud!" Dai encouraged his Buddy.
"I put us oversize limit so tap!" Saint Holy Sword Dragon said as he was sent to the Drop Zone due to the size limit.
"Overturn Chief, Duel Jaeger is size 3, 10000 power and 5000 defense, a critical of 2 and the abilities, Penetrate and Soulguard! This Jaeger belongs to the Thunder Empire and has the power of Overturn!" Dai explained his Buddy as Jaeger appears to be the same but only wears the black coat with armor from the Thunder Empire and his anchor is Thunder Empire style, "On top of that, he gains one critical for each and every other monster card he has in his soul!"
"What'd you say?" Slide asked as he got nervous after hearing the effect from Duel Jaeger.
"I'm counting on you! Overturn Chief!" Gao makes the sign for Over, "Duel Jaeger!" He makes the sign of Turn, making into Overturn, "Overturn! Now I'm gonna discard one hand card and place five cards into his soul!" He activated the Overturn.
"Then before they get into the soul, I'll use Dragon Press to destroy Jaeger!" Slide said as he prepared to cast the spell.
"Counterspells won't work on Overturn abilities." Gao explained.
"You can't even use counters?" Slide got shocked that his spell failed.
"And Jaegar has the critical of 7!" Five cards went sent to Duel Jaeger's soul, "Jaeger, attack the center with Penetrate!"
'Even if I could use Dragon Press, his critical would only be reduced to 6!' Slide thinks.
"Martial Arts Deity Thunder Sky Shock!" Gao said the attack move.
"Gao fought his first match at the Awesome Buddy Cup! Against some strange kid name Slide Kidoku, who challenged Gao to a fight! But with Big Boss out, Gao used Duel Jaeger's Overturn for the victory! But on the way back home, Kanata surprises us with the story about Keisetsu! Ready for this?! Keisetsu is still working for Wisdom! That lying sword-fighting jerk! He's gonna get it!"
At the industrial district, Gaito was busy, building up his deck.
"Okay, we'll be ready to head over to Grimoire Park soon." Gaito said as he pulls his deck into the case, "What about you, Mina-" He was about to ask his follower but then he saw Minako, feeling down. And didn't even try to build up her deck. Gaito then stand up and check on her, "Minako?" He touched her shoulder as she snapped out of it.
"Huh?" She looked at Gaito.
"Are you okay?" He asked her.
"Oh. Don't worry, Gaito. I'm okay." She replied with a smile but Gaito believed she wasn't okay at all. Gaito then sighed.
"Minako. I'm getting worried about you now."
"Huh?"
"You can't keep feeling down about this just because of what your sister did to you. It's not your destiny to be depressed like this."
"But what can I do? I've been searching for her for a while now and she doesn't remember me. My sister is gone now..." She kneel down, "What if I'll never see her again?" Then she started to cry. Gaito started to feel sorry for her but he doesn't know what to do for this.
"Gaito." Abygale said as he came by.
"What is it, Abygale?" He asked his Buddy.
"This came for you?" Abygale held out the black envelope.
"For me?"
At the CASTLE Shop, the others came by after Gaito told them the news.
"What?!" Everyone was surprised.
"You received a letter of challenge?" Gao asked.
"It has to be." Gaito believed as he opened the envelope, "Because this letter seems to be a request to challenge me for a Buddyfight. Here. Look at it." He gave it to Gao as he looks at it. But he got confused all of the sudden.
"Uh..."
"What's wrong, Gao?" Chibi Panda asked.
"Can't read the handwriting?" Batzz asked.
"More like can't understand it." Gao replied.
"Huh?" Batzz was confused.
"What do you mean, bro?" Baku asked.
"I mean, look at this. This is one weird reading, 'My destiny has chosen by your desires. You are my eternal flame that will burn my heart to its flames, until it extinguishes to nothingness.' signed by the heart and soul of the devil, Kurotama Shinigami." Everyone but Gaito got awkward after hearing those words.
"What kind of letter of challenge is that? Whoever it was, that was stupid." Batzz said.
"Yeah, that person needs some help for this kind of thing." Chibi Panda said. Then Kuguru thought of something.
"Gao, can I see that letter?" She requested.
"Sure." He handed to her as she looked at it. After a minute or two, she turned on her headlights.
"I've figured it out!" She yelled.
"You did?!" Haruka asked.
"What? What is it?" Gao asked.
"This is not a letter of challenge. It's a letter of confession!" She said with stars in her eyes.
"Huh?!" Everyone got surprised about that.
"Seriously?!" Noboru asked, "Do you mean to say that there's a girl out there that is in love with that guy."
"And how did you know that was a confession letter, bro?" Baku asked.
"It's a simple thing when it comes to poetry." Kuguru said.
"You know poetry?" Haruka asked as Kuguru giggled.
"I do. I can teach you one day." She offered as Haruka nodded in excitement.
"Mhm!"
"Well doesn't that sound interesting? What do you think, Gaito?" Abygale asked Gaito as Gaito was giving some thought.
"I'm not sure about that." He said.
"What do you mean, Gaito?" Gao asked.
"It's kinda rare for me to have this kind of letter. I don't even know what am I suppose to do with it."
"Isn't that obvious? You just have to reject it. That's all. Plain and simple." Noboru replied.
"How rude!" Kuguru complained, "Doing so would break her heart!" She said.
"B-But... that's only option that Gaito could make."
"Hold on. What makes you so sure that I would just reject her so easily?" Gaito wondered.
"Come on, Gaito! Get this over your head already! Minako's your girlfriend! Can't you see that?" Noboru stated the obvious fact for Gaito.
"Huh?! And how many times do I have to tell you?! She... Isn't... MY... GIRLFRIEND! Tell them, Minako!" He asked but then he saw that Minako was just watching the sky as she wasn't in the mood for the conversation.
"Hey, wait a minute. Why isn't she responding? She would usually giggled after your denial, Gaito." Noboru wondered why Minako wasn't herself.
"Did something happen to her?" Gao asked.
"Now that you mention it. She does seem to be acting odd after telling her about Keisetsu and Tenko." Kanata said.
"She reacted after that Tenko person." Athora said.
"Do you know anything about this, Gaito?" Kuguru asked as everyone looked at Gaito.
"I think you should tell them." Abygale recommended.
"Do you really think it's okay to do so, Abygale?" Gaito asked.
"They're our friends, and they're also Minako's friends. They can't stand seeing Minako like this. It's better to tell them so they can help her." He explained as Gaito nodded.
"Very well then." Gaito then explained everything about Minako's sister and how she disappeared.
"Tenko was actually Minako's sister?" Noboru asked as he got surprised.
"That's right. She has been searching for her ever since her disappearance." Gaito said.
"And you say that Tenko doesn't even remember her?" Baku asked.
"That's definitely the case."
"She also used the Overkill like the members of the CHAOS Company." Abygale said.
"But why would she join the CHAOS Company and became the member of CHAOS Four?" Gao wondered.
"Whatever the case, we can help her get her sister back." Kanata said.
"We can save her by battling against her in a Buddyfight." Athora said.
"I advised you not to do that." Gaito said.
"Hm? But why?" Kanata asked.
"It's not your destiny to fight against Tenko. Minako wants to save her sister herself. Doing it in her place won't make her feel better."
"He has a point, bro. If she wants to fight her, she'll have to fight with her own strength." Baku said.
"And how exactly are we gonna do that?" Noboru asked.
"I have an idea!" Kuguru said, "There's the time and location on this letter about where to meet! It's exactly here! We can wait a few minutes until she's come around."
"Wait, are you saying you want this girl to be Minako's opponent?" Noboru asked.
"Love strikes all! It'll give her confidence she needs in order to battle against Tenko. What do you think, Gaito?" She asked him.
"If that's the case, I guess I can try." Gaito somewhat agreed.
"Gaito." Abygale said as Gaito looked at Minako.
A few minutes later...
"Okay, so how would we know what she looks like anyway?" Noboru asked as he looks around for girl name Kurotama.
"I think it's obvious about how to find her." Gao said.
"Oh yeah what's that?"
"Her weird poetry." Everyone replied except for Batzz.
"This is a waste of time. Why bother for that girl to show up. It's not like she can appeared out of thin air." Batzz said as the expectations came.
"Hehehe..." Batzz heard the voice behind him as he got freaked out. Everyone turned as they witnessed the person from the letter. Her figure was middle schooler, wearing a black school goth outfit, wearing a black cape and boots. Her hair is silver with a black bat hair pins on both side of her hair. She has fake fangs with star on her right cheek near her eye. And her nails are black and wears a necklace that is a coffin.
"Greetings, my mortals." She greeted, "I seek the man of destiny. Where can I seek the soul of darkness?"
"Huh?" Everyone got confused as they looked at Kuguru for her translations.
"Hm? Oh. I believe she wants to talk to Gaito." She translated. Then Gaito walked towards her.
"I am." Gaito replied as he pull the envelop with the letter, "Are you the one who sent this to me?" He asked.
She snickered, "Kukuku. Indeed I did. I am the embodied of the vampire demons! For I am the queen of the vampires! I am... Kurotama Shinigami!" She introduced which made an awkward look on everyone's faces. And then her Buddy appears behind her from the shadows.
"And I am... Jinxed Landfill, Curse Count!" He is a muscled, four-armed Black Dragon with a mix of gold and white prayer beads hanging near the base of his horns, golden ringlets near the tip and wrists of his normal arms two crimson orbs held in the hands of the extra two arms at his back. His lower body adorned with dark purple tunic, along with red rope tied around his waist. Purple ghost skulls are also seen floating around him. Heperformed a pose like the kind of guy who enjoys being on stage.
"Hey, that's kinda normal." Gao said as he believed that her Buddy is not like her.
"Yeah, that is true, bro. He doesn't have that kind of 8th grade syndrome." Baku said.
"What's an 8th grade syndrome?" Kanata asked.
"It's sorta like a habit when you wanted to become a character from a book or a show." Kuguru explained.
"Or something you make it yourself, bro."
"So you're saying that girl there is being someone else?" Athora asked.
"Not someone else. I am myself!" Kurotama said.
"Oh please. I bet that name Kurotama Shinigami isn't your real name." Batzz smirked as he insulted.
"Hoh, are you the infamous Demon Lord Dragon, Batzz?" She asked.
"Infamous?" He asked, "What? Is that some sort of compliment?"
"Well, you are a Demon Lord Dragon after all, Batzz." Gao said.
"Watch your tongue, kid!"
"Be quiet already." Gaito said as he turned to Kurotama, "So tell me, Kurotama. Why is it that you had feelings for me?" He asked her.
"Why you asked? Because... You are my destiny!" She said as it surprised them, "You always have the flames of destiny around you. You always shows your power of darkness. You are the devil for my soul! That is why... we are meant to be together!"
"She's crazy." Gaito said.
"That's why I told you, Gaito." Noboru whispered to him, "Reject her and stick it with Minako."
"You're not helping." Gaito said. Then Minako started to hear noises as she turns and sees the others in a conversation.
"What's going on over there?" She walked to check it out. Meanwhile, Gaito and Noboru were arguing.
"Hey, calm down you guys." Gao said as he tries to stop them.
"You agreed with me, right Gao?" Noboru asked.
"Gao. You know the truth right?" Gaito asked.
"Why are you asking me for? I have nothing to do with this!" Gao complained.
"This is getting out of nowhere, bro." Baku said.
"You're telling me." Kuguru said.
"Hey." Minako said as they saw her came by, "What's going on here?"
"Minako." Gaito said.
"Great! You're just in time!" Noboru said, "Do something about that girl there. She's trying to steal Gaito away from you!"
"What?" Minako asked as she saw Kurotama.
"So. You're the follower of the devil, am I wrong?" Kurotama asked.
"Huh? What is she talking about?" Minako got confused.
"Ah, it's just her 8th grade syndrome. Don't mind it." Noboru said.
"Basically, she wants to be Gaito's girlfriend." Gao said.
"Huh? Is that true?" Minako asked Gaito.
"Must be the case. Since this letter is the confession letter." Gaito said as it surprised Minako a little. Then Kurotama clings to him.
"And that is why, our paths are intertwined. You're not needed to be in his shadow." Kurotama said.
"What are you saying?"
"Hold on." Gaito said as he move out from her arm, "Are you trying to say that I have to let Minako go?" It surprised everyone from hearing that.
"Why not? She's not a good follower, right? She follows your path but stands in the way. She has nothing to gain. Right?"
"Don't say that!" Gao said, "She's a good friend to us! And her Buddy's part of the Thunder Empire!"
"That's right! She's a strong Buddyfighter! She can handle, staying by with Gaito, right?" Noboru said.
"Well then, how about we prove her worth?" Kurotama said as she pulled out her purple core deck with black lining, "Our battle will take place here to prove of whoever can be with Gaito. For my victory, my destiny with Gaito will be intertwined for all eternity. However, should you be defeated, never show your face in existence forever."
"You mean. I will never see Gaito again?" Minako asked as she got scared.
"She won't lose!" Noboru said.
"Noboru's right! Minako will definitely win!" Gao said.
"And we'll help her out." Kanata said as he put his hand on her shoulder.
"Guys... You would do that?" Minako asked as everyone nodded. Then she smiled, "Then let's do it."
At the Fighting Stage from the mall...
"Welcome to another exciting match for our two fighters!" Paruko announced, "We have Minako Tamamo, a Danger World Buddyfighter who was the representative for Danger World! Her Buddy has became part of the Thunder Empires! Her opponent is a 8th grader named Kurotama Shinigami! And with her Buddy, Jinxed Landfill, Curse Count! It's kinda weird though. Is Kurotama even your real name?" She asked her.
"Kukuku. Indeed it's my name that bears my soul, my heart, and my life. I am who the devil bears into me!" She said as it got Paruko awkward.
"O...kay. " Paruko sweatdropped after hearing that, "Why don't the players start luminizing now?" She announced.
Minako look at her deck case, "This has to work. My deck has been upgraded since my Buddy evolved."
"You don't have to worry!" Aria said, "As part of the Thunder Empires, it's now my duty to fight by your side!"
Minako nodded, "Yeah, let's do it! Beasts and Machines formed as one! Sworn to defend and serve the land of Mechanics! Luminize! Mechanical Beast!"
"Darkness rises in my soul. Let my destiny arises from the depths of the underworld. Luminize! Ghostly Demons." Her core gadget is a grimoire that is dark and has the core in the center.
"Let's get this started everyone! Buddyfight!"
"Let's Raise the Flag!"
"I'm with Danger World!"
"My domain is Darkness Dragon World."
(M: 10/ Item: None/ G: 2: None/None/None)
(K: 10/ Item: None/ G: 2: None/None/None)
"The first move goes to Minako!" Paruko announced.
"Okay, Charge and Draw! First, I will cast my Set Spell! Steampunk Zone City!" She cast a spell that shows a large city made out of steampunk technology with the buildings having a few gears of the m and the mechanic monsters live and prosper.
"That spell can reduce the size of the Mechanic monsters from the field by 1! Looks like she'll have her chance to have multiple attacks!" Paruko announced.
"That spell can also gain her life by 1 when her monster activates a damage effect." Baku explained.
"So that means she'll have to call out a monster that can deal damage to the opponent." Noboru said.
"I wonder what does she have in her hand cards?" Chibi Panda wondered.
"Whatever the case, let's hope that girl can shut that vampire freak's mouth." Batzz said.
"Gaito. You've been practicing with Minako with that deck right? Do you think she'll win?" Abygale asked.
"Not sure yet. But if she can do so. Then she'll have to. After all..." He looked at Minako, "There's no one else that understands me, other than her."
"Gaito..."
"Next, I will call out my Mechanic Tiger, Tigres to the right!" She calls out a half mechanical, half organic tigress with orange fur with white stripes, golden eyes, metal front and hind legs, a small gear wheel on her forehead, a long chain as it's tail, and sharp drills attached to it's shoulders.
"Look at that folks! Minako has brought out a new monster! A beast that has been fused with machines! Now I've seen everything now!" Paruko announced.
"Looks like Minako's deck has really been upgraded." Noboru admits.
"Because her Buddy evolved. Her deck has grown stronger as well." Kuguru said.
"Man, now I really wanna battle against her!" Gao said with excitement.
"You said that to everyone, Gao." Haruka said.
"Size 1. 5000 power. 2000 defense. And a critical of 3! Activating Tigres' skill! I discard one hand card to add one Mechanic item from the deck or Drop Zone to my hand!" She discard one card as she added one card from her deck, "I choose my Mechanical item, Mechanized Sword, Gearbreaker!"
"That item..." Gaito recognized that card.
"Did you say something, Gaito?" Gao asked.
"Hm? No, it's nothing."
"I equip!" She paid her 1 gauge and life to equip her item, "Mechanized Sword, Gearbreaker!"
"Minako has equipped her item! Which card should she place it in its soul to activate the effect!" Paruko announced.
"I will send a card to its soul and I will choose Mechanic Beast King of Flames, Drag-tector!" She placed the card into her item as the gears start spinning, "My item has now got 3 critical! I'll make my attack now!" She then attacks with her sword as the gears inside it start spinning and then, she starts to dash across the field and chops down her opponent, inflicting 3 damage.
"Amazing! On her first turn, she managed to deal 3 damages on her opponent! And because of her item's effect, she gains a gauge and then draws a card!" Paruko announced as Minako gained a gauge and drew a card.
"I'll end my turn." Minako declared.
(M: 9/ Item: Gearbreaker/ G: 3: None/None/Tigres)
(K: 7/ Item: None/ G: 2: None/None/None)
"Oh, my soul has been tainted by her bladed sword. Oh, how would I protect my dignity?" She said as it confuses everyone.
"Boy, I never thought her 8th grade syndrome could be dramatic." Paruko announced.
"You know, I don't know if that girl really is a Buddyfighter." Noboru wondered.
"But she does have a Buddy though." Kuguru said.
"We'll have to wait to see how she does, bro." Baku said.
"My destiny has arrived. Draw. Charge and Draw. Ah. I know, arise from the darkness, I call forth to the left, Masquerade Dragon, Nevermore!" She called out a black dragon wearing a tuxedo, with dark wings and have a mask that is black in the center and white on both sides.
"I have awaken from my slumber. Let us begin, Madam." Nevermore said.
"Black Dragon attribute. Size 1. 4000 power. 3000 defense. And a critical of 1. With his power, I can bring forth a weapon of my desire to my hand cards. I choose the Bloody Rose Whip." She added the item card to her item, "Second, he can bring out a shadow of himself to the right when I added my weapon to my hand cards."
"Arise!" He threw the rose to the right as another Nevermore appeared.
"I shall stand for my entrance."
"Two monsters on the field already. Is she preparing to bring out her item?" Paruko announced.
"I shall cast my dark magic, Crisis Field." She cast as her monsters gain a boost, "My minions with 'Spectral Strike' on the field gets power+2000!"
"Spectral Strike?" Minako asked.
"What's Spectral Strike?" Kanata asked.
"It's an ability that can deal damage to the opponent whenever a monster gets destroyed." Gaito explained.
"Looks like she plans on destroying her monster in order to deal damage on her." Abygale said.
"Nevermore on the left! I command you to eradicate her Tigres!" Kurotama commanded.
"As you wish!" Nevermore flies towards the monster as he used his rapier, using multiple he destroyed and then turns into a energy sphere.
"Spectral Strike!" She said as Nevermore grabs it and throws it at Minako, inflicting one damage, "Now, the second copy, show her the power of darkness."
"As you command." The second Nevermore makes his attack. Then he slashed at her, inflicting one damage.
"That is the end for now." She declared.
(M: 7/ Item: Gearbreaker/ G: 3: None/None/None)
(K: 7/ Item: None/ G: 3: Nevermore/None/Nevermore)
"Looks like both of them got 7 life left." Baku said.
"And Minako doesn't have any monsters on her field now." Kuguru said.
"Come on, can't you cheer for her or something?" Noboru asked Gaito. Gaito tries to think.
"My turn. Draw. Charge and Draw. I call to the left, Mechanic Eagle, Aquill!" She calls a steampunk styled, cyborg eagle with dark brown feathers, gray mechanical wings with small gears on the sides, and edges of the wings and jet rocket underneath the wings, sharp metal talons and it's left eye is red and mechanical.
"Another mechanical beast has entered the field! What else can she do next?" Paruko announced.
"Size 0. 3000 power and defense. With the critical of 1."
"Oh? A size 0? What are you planning? Letting me overcome your fear of darkness?" Kurotama said.
"Look, I don't understand what you're saying at all. But I won't let you win and take Gaito away from me! Not after I lose someone else important to me!" She yelled. Gaito then remembered his memory about the time when he felt he lose something important.
"That's right. That's the reason why I understood her..." Gaito said quietly.
"I will call to the left, Mechanic Shark, Megalos!" She calls out a half mechanical, megalodon shark with a dark blue rough skin, black eyes, sharp metallic teeth, dark blue mechincal fins and tail fin with rockets attached to them, and a special water tank that helps him breathe on land.
"Another mechanical beast has shown up! How many mechanical animals does she have in there?!" Paruko announced.
"Her deck must've filled with them." Kuguru assumed.
"And they must've got great effects, bro." Baku said.
"But can it help her?" Haruka asked.
"We just have to wait and see." Gao said.
"Size 2! 4000 power, 5000 defense, and a critical of 2! Let's go! Megalos, attack Nevermore on the left!" Megalos attacks as he shoots forward with his fins and a teeth sharpened as he uses them to chomp down, or slice Nevermore, "Aquill! Join with me and attack the fighter!" She jumps on Aquill as it attacks with its sharp blades pop out from the edge of his wings as he shoots forward and slices Kurotama and then Minako attacks together as it dealt 4 damage at her, "My turn is now over." She declared.
(M: 7/ Item: Gearbreaker/ G: 4: Megalos/None/Aquill)
(K: 3/ Item: None/ G: 3: None/None/Nevermore)
"Amazing attack! She dealt 4 damage at Kurotama and has now only 3 remaining! Will this be it? Can Minako actually achieved her victory?!" Paruko announced.
"Alright! She just need one more turn to win." Noboru said.
"Don't get excited just yet, bro." Baku said.
"Huh?"
"Remember, Kurotama's monsters have Spectral Strike ability. If she can bring out another one, it'll deal her a lot of damage and believe me. She won't be able to protect herself any longer."
"He's right. This is going to be difficult challenge for Minako." Kuguru said. Gaito then looked at her as he got concerned.
"Are you worried about her?" Abygale asked.
"Maybe..." He said.
"My, my heart's been torn by the fires of his accomplice. I must say. I never expected this kind of tragedy. But my passion for destiny will not be fallen." Kurotama said as Minako got annoyed.
"Speak english will you?! You're confusing us, you know?!" Minako complained.
"Oh, my language has always been my life's work. It will never falter or alter, nor amended. Now, let's begin with my destiny draw." She draws, "Charge and then Draw. Arise again from the shadows, in exchange for the price of one blood. Appear my Buddy to the center! Jinxed Landfill, Curse Count!" She paid one gauge as she Buddycalled and regained one life.
"I have arrived from my endless journey from the depths of darkness. I shall grant my master the wish she desires." Curse said, "How is that?" He asked.
"Not bad. Not bad at all." She complimented.
"There's her Buddy." Noboru said.
"Does he have Spectral Strike too?" Kanata wondered.
"Yeah, bro. But his is more powerful than you think." Baku said.
"Size 1. 5000 power. 1000 defense. With the critical of 1. And now, let my soul be emerged from the blood of the grail! From the couple of bloods of life and the source of light! Equip! Dracul's Unholy Grail!" She paid 2 gauge and 1 life as she equipped her black chalice with an intricate gold-pattern design brimming with dark energy, and a drop of blood shining at the rim of the cup.
"She finally brought her Buddy! Her Buddy has the Spectral Strike ability. Let's hope that Minako can prevent her monsters from being destroyed." Paruko announced.
"First, I will cast my dark magic! Banquet of Accursed Starvation!" She paid 3 gauge to cast, "It will only activate once my life has been reached below 6. For this turn, the damage dealt to you by "Spectral Strike" will be increased by 1! Then if I have ten or more different -Black Dragon- in the drop zone, all monsters with "Spectral Strike" get [Double Attack] until end of turn."
"But you have less than 10. You think that will help you?" Minako said.
"It will. Because I will cast another dark magic! Offerings to the Demon Lord! I send the ten cards from my deck from any choice I make and send it to the Drop Zone. I send ten of my Black Dragon monsters to the Drop Zone." She cast as the spirit of the Demon takes the ten cards she chose as it was sent to the Drop Zone.
"But that would mean she would use the ability!" Baku said.
"This isn't good." Noboru said.
"Let's start with a intertwining attack for me and my servant." She said.
"Wait, you're attacking even when there's a monster in the center?" Minako asked.
"Why, of course. My Unholy Grail can attack even my servant is in front of me and it will also give all monsters with "Spectral Strike" +2000 power and defense +2000! Shall we, Curse?" She asked.
"Indeed we do." He said as he makes his attack at Minako.
"I activate Megalos's ability! If I have a "Mechanic" item equipped, this card gets [Move]! I will move him to the center area!" She moves her monster to the center.
"Foolish move! Curse Count will destroy your monster instead!" Curse attacks the monster as he destroys which then turns into a sphere, "Spectral Strike and with my Buddy's hidden potential, if there are a total of four or more different 《Black Dragon》 monsters in the drop zone, you will take 4 damage instead!"
"What?!" Minako got surprised as Curse Count threw the Spectral Strike at Minako, inflicting her 4 damage.
"Minako!" Gaito yelled.
"This isn't good, bro." Baku said.
"That Spectral Strike really is powerful." Kuguru said.
"But her monster have a Double Attack now." Gao said.
"Well yeah. Cause if she were to get hit again, it's all over." Noboru said.
"Geez, just calm down, Kitten Shirt. It's not the end of the world." Batzz said.
"I said it's a tiger!" He yelled.
"When I deal damage on you from "Spectral Strike", I will gain a gauge and 1 life!" She gains a gauge and life, "I might as well attack your beast!" Kurotama said as the dark energy from the chalice blasted at Aquill as it got destroyed.
"I activate Aquill's ability! When this card is destroyed, I'll send one card to the drop zone. And then, I will [Rest] one card on your field!" Minako sends the card to the Drop Zone as Aquill appears out from the Drop Zone and binds down Nevermore.
"Clever move. You have imprisoned my minion down to the ground. No matter, because they will stand for your end! Curse Count! Punished her!" Curse Count attacks her, inflicting one damage, "Nevermore! Release your restraint and begin giving her punishment!" Nevermore pushed Aquill off of him as he makes his attack at Minako.
"I cast! Gearwork Barrier!" She cast as she nullified the attack.
"That measly shield won't save you for this! Begin the Final Phase!" She declared.
"Hear that, folks? Kurotama has now beginning to unleash her Final Phase! Can Minako protect herself from this tragedy?" Paruko announced.
"Now Minako's in real trouble." Noboru said.
"If that Impact hits, it's game over!" Baku said. Gaito grunted in frustration.
"In exchange for 3 souls. If I have two or more -Black Dragon- with "Spectral Strike" on the field. You'll be punished with 2 damage on your life if your more than 10 cards in the Drop Zone! And if your flames of life extinguishes by this card. You won't be revived by the heavens!" Kurotama explained.
"You mean I can't regained my life when it reaches 0?" Minako asked.
"She has to block it!" Baku said.
"But what can she use?" Kuguru said.
"Come on, Minako." Gao said as Minako struggles.
'Is this it? Am I really going to lose?' Minako thinks as she started to lose hope, 'I lost my sister. I don't want to lose Gaito. But... Can I really beat her?'
"Don't let her beat you, Minako!" Gaito said as it snapped her out of it.
"Gaito."
"You can't let her win! It's not your destiny to lose! It's your destiny to follow me til the end! That is why, it's my destiny for you to stay by my side forever!" Gaito yelled as it surprised everyone including Minako. Then Minako smiled as she starts to laugh. She stood as she wiped her tears with her finger.
"Thank you. Looks like I have hope after all." Minako said as Kurotama grunted.
"You may have restore your hope. But I will tremble you down to despair! Impact! Dance, the Fated Soul Requiem!" She cast as she watching on with slightly manic glee as souls begin to bust upwards into the sky, "Now, perish!" The souls then descends towards Minako to attack.
"Luckily, that Impact can be nullified. I cast! Steampunk Iron Wall!" She cast as the Iron Wall rises from the ground as it blocked the Impact.
"Look at that! Minako has managed to block off the Impact with Counterspell! She's really giving it all for her battle!" Paruko announced.
"Alright, Minako survived the Impact!" Noboru said as he was relieved.
"That spell has not only the ability an Impact that gives more than 5 damage..." Kuguru explained.
"It can also gain her 3 gauges." Baku said as Minako gains 3 gauges.
"Impossible! Nothing can block the souls from perishing you!" Kurotama said.
"Well, you shouldn't underestimated me. I've grown stronger now. Thanks to my friends, I will keep moving forward and never give up! Draw! Charge and Draw!" She looked at the card she drew, "You ready, Aria?" She asked her Buddy.
"I thought you never asked." Aria said.
"I pay one gauge to Buddycall my trusted monster to the right! Overturn Mechanic Researcher, Aria!" She paid one gauge to Buddycall as she regained one life.
"Leave it me! Now that I finally perfected my skills as a mechanic, I can help make weapons and fortress to help the Thunder Empire!" Aria said.
"Minako brought her Buddy with an Overturn! What can she do to help in this situation?" Paruko announced
"With her skill, I'll discard one card to add one item card to my hand." She discard one card to add another, "And now, it's time to unleash her full power! Go! Overturn Mechanic Researcher!" She makes the kanji for Over, "Aria! Go!" She makes another for turn, "Overturn!" She makes Overturn, "I activate Overturn by paying one gauge and send the top card from my deck to the Drop Zone." She paid gauge and send the card from the deck to the Drop Zone.
"Did you hear that?! Minako has unleashed her first Overturn! Can this day get any better?!" Paruko announced.
"For this turn, I will choose an "Mechanical" item and give that card power +6000 or critical +2! I will my Gearbreaker and increased the power to 6000!" Her item got boosted.
"Impossible!" Kurotama said as she got surprised.
"Not as possible as this! Aria! Let's attack together!" She said.
"You got it!" Aria said as they joined hands and then they dashes through the stage. They attacked Count together as they destroyed him, "Gear Volt Hammer!"
"Gearbreaker!"
"Agh, I have... been perished..." Count said as he got destroyed.
"No! My servant!" She yelled.
"Sorry, but your servant can no longer protect you this time. Let's have the Final Phase!" She declared.
"Minako is activating her Final Phase!" Kuguru said.
"Does that mean that she has an Impact card?" Noboru asked.
"She does. She got it when her Buddy evolved." Gaito said.
"And now we will get to see it." Abygale said.
I can only cast this card if I have a size 2 or smaller monster on the right and if I have a "Mechanic" or "Battle Aura" item equipped, and if you have no monster in the center!" Minako explained.
"That means she'll be able to activate it!" Gao said.
"Hmph, I must admit. Gaito's girlfriend is really something huh?" Batzz said.
"Yeah. She's really good!" Chibi Panda complimented.
"I pay 3 gauge and return 5 of my monsters from the Drop Zone to the bottom of the deck. Then you'll take damage equal to the number of cards returned and it cannot be reduced!" She said as Minako activates her impact, she throws her item into the air, then Aria on her right uses their power to gather many machine parts and combine with the item to create a steampunk style cannon with a silver cannon cylinder, a revolver-like chamber, and a pistol grip, and the Minako gains visor glasses to help lock on to a target, then while she locks-on to the opponent.
"No no no! This isn't how my destiny suppose to be!" She yelled.
"Sorry but destinies can be changed! I cast!" The chamber spins rapidly while collecting energy, "Impact! Full Steam Rail-Cannon!" She fired an electrical laser at Kurotama, blowing her away, dealing her 5 damage.
(M: 2/ Item: Gearbreaker/ G: 4: None/None/Aria)
(K: 0/ Item: Grail/ G: 1: None/None/Nevermore)
"Game End! Winner: Minako Tamamo! She did it! Minako has won!" Paruko announced.
"Yeah! I did it!" Minako cheered as she jumped for joy. Then Aria hugged and laughed.
"The Impact worked! I didn't think my Overturn could actually worked well!"
"Well, I gotta admit, you are getting better now. So I'm proud that you're my Buddy." She smiled and Aria became happy.
"Congrats, Minako! You beat her!" Gao said as they came to her.
"You've really improved, bro." Baku said.
"We're really proud of you." Kuguru said as Minako chuckled.
"Thanks guy." She thanked as she looked at Gaito, "Gaito..."
"Minako... I..." He was about to say as he was got interrupted.
"Hold it!" Kurotama said as she appeared behind him, "Do you honestly think that match would get me to forget my destiny with Gaito?"
"Come on, you lost already. Give it a break now." Noboru said.
"Like I would accept that..." Kurotama said but Count stopped her.
"Come on. We lost already. Let's just called it a day, Rika." Count said her name as it got them curious.
"Rika?" Everyone asked as it got her surprised.
"Y-you! You're not supposed to say that name!" Kurotama complained.
"Hey, Count." Noboru stepped in, "What's her real name exactly?"
"Oh, it's Rika Yasogami."
"Hey! I told you not to say that!" She yelled.
"Rika, huh? Heh." Batzz smiled, "I knew that Kurotama is not even her real name."
"Hold on, how come her real name is Rika, not Kurotama?" Gao wondered.
"Do you really not notice that, Gao?" Baku asked as he sweatdropped.
"Apparently for someone who has an 8th grade syndrome, they changed their name so they become more like the character from a show." Kuguru explained.
"That would explain why she was saying those words." Kanata said.
"It would seem she was influenced by Gaito, thinking that Gaito was like her." Athora said.
"I'm not like that!" Gaito yelled, "Anyways, a deal's a deal, Rika. You failed your destiny." He pulled out the letter and give it back to her. She takes it and looks at it. She then smiled as she laughed.
"What's so funny?" Minako asked.
"My name is Kurotama Shinigami! My destiny will never be extinguished so easily. Let this be a lesson to you all. The darkness will never fall! So long!" She laughed as she dashes away. It made everyone awkward even her own Buddy.
Count sighed, "I apologize for this, I hope we'll meet again." He bowed and he ran off after her, "Wait, Rika! Don't leave me behind!"
"That was one awkward girl there." Gao said.
"Not sure if we ever see her again though." Noboru said.
"But on the bright side. We get to witness Aria's Overturn." Kuguru said.
"And her Impact. It's a strong one, bro." Baku said.
"I appreciated that guys. It's thanks to you, I got my confidence back." Minako said.
"And you know what else." Noboru said as he smirked.
"Huh?" Minako was confused as Noboru pushed Gaito towards her.
"You two are officially going out together. Isn't that right, Gaito?" He asked as Gaito blushed.
"W-what?!"
"It's true. You confessed at her." Kuguru said.
"All of us heard you, bro." Baku said as Haruka nodded in agreement.
"Can't deny it." Kanata said.
"We're happy for you." Gao said as he gave a thumb up.
"B-but..." Gaito tries to explain.
"Gaito." Minako said as she takes his hand, "I'm glad that you like me. I'm really happy." She smiled as Gaito turned. And then he smiled.
"That's because..." He turned to her, "It is your destiny to stay by my side."
Spotlight shown as Daisuke and Ryuusei appeared on stage.
"Welcome back to more Corner Time!" Daisuke said.
"Isn't it great that this is such a melodramatic with love chapter?" Ryuusei asked.
"But you know, that girl, Rika or Kurotama as she calls herself is really weird. Don't know how she got influenced. But anyways, the next chapter will have another match and this time, it will be my sister."
"She hasn't tested her deck right? Who will her opponent be?" Ryuusei asked.
"Wait and find out. Give us a review of what you think and provide us with more card ideas. And wish my sister luck! Until then bye for now!" They waved goodbye as the screen turned back.