AN: Hi everyone! Sorry it's been a year since the last post. School plus writers block will really do that to you. I meant for this story to go along with the releases of each booster, but unfortunately, I don't think I'll be able to accomplish that anymore. Plans on what will happen going forward will be in the end notes! Thanks for reading!
"Blue Deathster, "Skyrender" Avantgarda..."
Aster fully read out the card's name. His hand trembled for a moment and the card wavered back and forth, its new owner entranced by its design, a blue mecha reminiscent of his old Blau deck from eight years ago. As he ran his fingers across the card, he felt the smooth border that framed it.
"Alice… can you tell me a little more about this unit?" Aster asked while still dazzled by the mecha, immediately grabbing an extra sleeve to put over it.
Alice saw him enamored with the card and smiled. "That's a brand new boss card that just dropped! And an FFR at that. That's basically an SP! With that design and color scheme, I can see how that unit tugs at your nostalgia, huh? From what I read, he focuses on executing Strategy orders. Let me show you one of them." She explained as she then began to pull up what some of the cards involved in the deck looked like, handing her phone over to Aster.
Aster picked up the phone and began to read one of the cards. The card in question was another set order with a different blue mecha on it. "There's more of them?!" He glowed with a wide smile on his face, then began to read out the card's skill to himself. He looked back at Avantgarda, now in a sleeve in his other hand. "So by putting them in the soul, he executes the Strategy!" He said as he began to piece the effects of the card together. "And then he can restand himself if he hits or if I'm in a Persona Ride state. That's so cool! But which unit is Sora Period?" He turned back to Alice.
"Ah, that unit is…" Alice tapped a few buttons and scrolled a bit on her phone, and after a moment found a Grade 0, this time not a mecha, but a human wearing a blue uniform. "It's the starter of the entire rideline."
Aster took in all of the card's details, the blue uniform with the same insignia as the mecha on the cloak, the mixed style of combat and sneaker style boots that he was wearing, the knives in his hands, and the glint of red in his eyes. "But why is a human the starter of a rideline for a mecha boss?" He questioned as he tried to correlate the two cards together.
"Well, what's a cockpit without a pilot?" She answered the question by answering it with another one.
"Oh my god, that's so cool! He pilots Avantgarda into combat, and then executes the strategies as the vanguard!" He gushed with childlike excitement, then quickly headed over to the counter. "Excuse me, may I please purchase a box of…" He took a moment to read the pack name. "Dragontree Invasion?"
The clerk nodded with a smile, and grabbed a box of the set, and headed back to the front, putting it next to the register. "Will that be everything for you today?" He asked with his hands on the box.
Aster thought for a moment. With the game over, he wanted to look at the rest of the store. "Is it okay if I take a look at everything you have?" He asked the shop worker.
The employee nodded as he showed him over to the selection of packs. "We have most of the products from the new era of Vanguard." He explained. "We're only missing the fourth and seventh set from our selection." His hand gestured to all the sets, with each set having a box sitting vertically to show the set name and cover card.
Aster, finally having found a store that had modern Vanguard packs, was overjoyed to see a multitude of things to choose from.. He took in all the sets, reading out each of the names to himself. He noticed a good chunk of them featured a blue haired boy, different from his era, who came accompanied with a red unit alongside him. "That must be the main character for the current anime. Getting support every set must be a huge luxury for him, huh. But I guess everyone gets support now with the clans condensed into nations. Wait… Majesty Lord Blaster?" His eyes stopped at Set 5. "I wonder how he's handled in this era… Oh hey, that set has the kid with a different unit." His eyes laid upon Blazing Dragon Reborn, and they continued to trail. "Looks like he got a new deck… but it looks like the other guy came back in the following booste-" His eyes once again stopped. But they didn't trail any farther. They were glued to the eighth Booster Set.
"That unit…"
For a moment, he flashed to the dream he had once again. The image of the noble's spear piercing the cockpit of his mecha. The same unit that had dealt him that final blow now once again in front of him, even after nine years of hiatus, having her own set named after her.
"She came back, too."
His eyes wouldn't stop focusing on the cover unit of that set, along with the set's name.
"Minerva Rising…"
Averting his gaze from the booster displays, he then looked at Alice, who was going over some of the supplies in the store, debating on which color of sleeves she should pick up.
His dreams began to cloud his head. His memories of the loss he had back then were overwhelming him. He tensed up, and his hands clenched as he blankly stared at the red and cream colored booster box.
He snapped back to reality when he heard the same person who used that unit call out to him from behind, her voice going from a muffled sound into a louder and more clear voice.
"Aster? Aster?" The same wielder of the unit he was staring at was waving her hand in front of his eyes. "Are you okay? You've been staring at those boxes for a while now. You can ask Mr. Dealer to grab one for you."
"Please don't call me that." The man working the store chimed in with annoyance as he heard the nickname, and began to head over to the boxes. "And please don't encourage others to call me that. But yes, were you looking for anything else?"
Now being fully aware of his current social situation, Aster tried to play off of his lack of focus as he looked back at Alice. "Sorry, I was looking at some of the boxes to see what the game is like now. That blue-haired boy seems to get a lot of support, doesn't he?"
Alice, still unaware of anything that was wrong, simply smiled as she gave an answer to his question. "Yeah, he's the current main character of the anime. However, a lot of decks tend to get consistent support, due to the way the new format handles support."
Feeling successful in his deflection, Aster let out a sigh, and nodded to keep the subject on track. "Yeah, I guess that makes sense. I'll still need to see all of it. Speaking of, do you have any recommendations on what I should pick up?" Aster asked, now deciding to loop her into his own revenge plot against her.
"Hmm…" Alice began to list off suggestions of booster packs along with their explanations. "Well, if you want to get more Avantgardas, I'd suggest you pick up more boxes of Set 9, but since you also don't have any staples, you might want to pick up Set 1 or Set 6. But Set 6 might have a few more staples if you're lucky that you want to pull, like Combine Rusher… and you'll definitely need some effect triggers, but those are spread out across a lot of sets…"
Aster, not knowing what to do as her explanation started to turn into a rambling mess of words that he couldn't totally comprehend, had to interrupt her train of thought. "Hey! Alice…I appreciate you listing off all of those sets… " He said with a smile, but frowned a little bit after getting her attention. "But don't you think it's a tad bit unrealistic for me to pick up a lot of sets all at once? Especially if I have to get multiple copies of everything."
Alice chuckled a bit, embarrassed. "You're right… A lot of your deck is spread out throughout a lot of sets right now. Alright, since you're the first person here at this local, I'll cut you a deal! I'll hook you up with everything that you've missed for this format, you handle the rest! How does that sound?" She asked with a smile.
Aster was shocked. Staples from a deck could be at minimum $100, maybe even more. Something like this couldn't be real. "Are you sure? How much would it cost? How much would you want for all of it?" He scrambled to come up with a solid response to her.
She winked as she turned around toward the shop's exit. "I don't mind. They're supposed to be trade fodder, but it's not like there's anyone around to trade it with. So, they're just sitting around. Might as well put them to good use. Besides…" She said with a smirk. "If you ever pull something I want, I can take that in exchange."
"Is she…extorting me? It's not like I have anything lying around for trade right now though, so…"
"That's fine… I guess?" Aster agreed reluctantly. "Are you heading out right now?" He inquired as he realized she was heading for the exit.
"Yeah, unfortunately. I have to get some work done. I had a great time today though." She grinned. She held up her phone covering her mouth. "I'll text you the deets when I have everything ready later tonight." She waved as she headed out the door.
Aster was left dumbfounded, as now that he was by himself, he had time to process everything that happened today. The high tension fight, seeing what had changed with Vanguard, and encountering the person from his past once again.
Still a bit dazed, he headed to the shop employee, and made some small talk as he picked up some product.
"May I get a box of that set she got me earlier?" Aster pointed at the Vanguard section, trying to remember which exact set it was.
Without missing a beat, the employee smiled and grabbed a box without Aster having to point it to him. As he brought it to the front, the employee asked him a question. "So how does it feel to be playing again?" His voice slightly raised as to speak over the sounds of the POS system.
Aster put some thought into the question, and answered wholeheartedly.
"It was really fun. Some of the new mechanics and features are interesting, but I hope I can get used to it." He answered as he grabbed his card to pay for the box.
'If you don't mind me asking, what's with the nickname?" He inquired as he tapped his card on the reader, still thinking about Alice's interaction with the worker.
"Ah… Don't mind her. That's a nickname she calls me because I "deal" cards to customers like I'm someone at a casino. She also ''gifted' me that lovely decorative table we have in the back." He said, pointing to the poker table in the back. "I try not to draw too much attention to it, really. Would you like your receipt?" The employee asked as he finished up the transaction.
"Oh, yes, thank you. Pardon my rudeness, but I wasn't even actually able to get your name."
Aster asked, wanting to acquaint himself with the employee more.
"Well, I guess you wouldn't ever get to hear it around her, huh?" The employee chuckled a little bit, before putting his hand out for Aster in a stern gesture. "I'm Devin. I'm the shop's owner."
"Wow, so this whole shop is thanks to you?" He looked around wonderingly as he shook Devin's hand. "It's a really nice place. The decorations are pretty, and you have a great selection of products. Alice mentioned you opened recently?"
Devin's handshake was firm and he was happy to go in depth on the explanation of his store. "Yeah. It's been in the works for a while, but I took it upon myself to open a store that carried Vanguard since none of the other stores in the area here did. I appreciate you coming to support us!"
Aster shook his head. "No, thank you for being the only store that actually had recent product for me to grab! It must have been a heck of a job to pull off."
"Yeah, I had to save up a while for it, but in the end, I think it'll be worth it, especially to help the community to grow. I hope to see you again soon." Devin said with a smile.
"Of course!" Aster met Devin's smile with his own as he also headed out of the store.
While walking, he began to think more about what he had actually promised to do. "A community, huh..?" He thought to himself as he walked. He flashed back to his younger days, where the Vanguard scene was full of people, all trading with each other, predicting the next units, and how he himself had practiced and interacted with so many other Vanguard players.
He then thought about the single player that was in the shop just now. And how it happened to be the one person that he couldn't forget. He clenched the booster box that he bought in his hand tightly, and before he knew it he arrived home.
Now with his new cards laid out, and a deck profile video loaded up on his laptop, Aster began to open the packs while watching the video. His expressions varied as he got to see new types of cards in every pack. A Spike Brothers looking unit, a magical lady, and some heal triggers that also had effects. The ones that had his attention the most, though, were the Blue Deathsters themselves, and his face glowed whenever he pulled one, even if it was a common.
From his box, he found the entire rideline, which he had lined all up from Grade 0 to 3, placing the one he had pulled originally in place. "It isn't the Blau Series… But I think this will do just fine." He said, satisfied while tearing through more packs, and his face glowed once more when he saw the same Blue Mecha boss unit for a second time in his pack, albeit not as shiny as his first.
As Aster lied down for a bit surrounded by his trash pile of pack wrappers, he turned his head at his phone's buzz. Picking it up, he smiled to see a text from Alice. As he opened it, he was greeted by multiple pictures sent by her. His eyes widened as he zoomed in on the photos to see sentinels and triggers lined up in a square pattern in neat rows accompanied by the text: "See you at locals tomorrow?"
"Definitely." He responded with a thumbs up and smiling emoji.
…
…
…
During the entire duration of his shift, Aster was super excited, completely zoned out of his job. He passed piles of clothes that needed to be fixed, inattentive to where he was going, and constantly checked his phone for the time. Each half hour felt like a counter toward the end; one eight, three eights, and at seven eighths, he was practically ready to get out of there.
Once the clock struck his end time, he grabbed his jacket and was about to head out the door when he was greeted by his co-worker once again, this time as she was heading in for her shift.
"Hey Aster-" She started with a smile.. However, her greeting was cut off by the now blue jacketed Aster bolting past her. For a moment, he turned around to reply to the greeting. "Hi Selena! Sorry, I got somewhere I need to be right now! I'll see you on Tuesday for our shift together!" He called back as he made another 180 and ran toward the direction of the card store.
"Ah…" Selena blankly stared as he saw him run off, not knowing how exactly to react to him. However, checking her phone, she let out a sigh as she had to go clock in.
Arriving at the door of the shop, Aster began to slow his pace to mask his excitement. He breathed in so he could compose himself. As the doors of the shop slid open, he smiled and waved as Devin was there to greet him.
"Ah, welcome back, Aster. Were you able to pull anything from your box?" Devin asked hopefully.
"Yeah! I was able to get another Avantgarda from the box I bought. Do you have any more?" He asked excitedly, looking back to the area where the boxes were.
"Yes I do. However, I only have a few left now. There's actually another player here right now who's been buying from the same set." He gestured over to the tables where someone else was furiously shaking packs and tearing into them, mumbling angrily what sounded like various card names to himself.
Aster blankly stared, not knowing how to react to there being another player actually in the store. This would be the second player he would interact with. However, with that player's mannerisms, he decided to distance himself, at least for the moment.
"Well, I'll buy a box for now, hopefully I can pull another Avantgarda." He said as he reached for his wallet.
As Devin came back with the box, he also had another deck box set on top.
"Oh, this is for you, by the way." He handed him the deck box first, which had a sticky note left from a certain Genesis player.
"Hey, I'm sorry I can't make it. Something came up at work :(
Here's all the stuff from the picture I sent you last night."
-Alice
"Oh, I see. When did she drop this off?" He asked as he opened the deck box to examine its contents, confirming it was what he saw last night.
"This morning." Devin's voice was slightly muffled by the beep of the scanner.
"I see. Thank you for getting this to me." Aster put the deck and booster boxes aside as he scanned his card. "I'll probably be back for more." He said as his transaction finished.
Devin nodded as Aster walked to another table to look through the box he bought. Before going through it, he pulled out the cards that Alice had given him, reading out some of the effects to himself. The first was a black and bronze robot with a gatling gun. "Call this unit from drop, huh? How resourceful…" The second was a kaiju with explosives lined upon it. "C… Charge?" Taking a moment to look it up, he was surprised by the keyword. "Interesting… It's cool they gave it a keyword. A lot of those old Nova Grappler cards would just be "When this unit is placed, C Charge." He said to himself with a smile. He next went to a dragon with a shield on it. "A perfect guard, huh? What's so different about it?" His eyes widened while scanning the text. "I see, so if there's only one card left in my hand…" He finally picked up the triggers. "Reminds me of Margal…" He chuckled as he looked at a white police mecha.
After he went through the bundle, he then opened the box, this time pulling different high rarity cards from this one. "Oh, an Aqua Force unit… looks like some cards retained their clans, at least artwise." He set the bordered foil aside. As he kept going, once again he found the blue mecha, and he couldn't help but grin. "One more to go."
Once he finished, he threw out the pack wrappers, and with confidence, he headed to the front to get one more box. As Devin grabbed the box, he made a comment."You're lucky." Devin said with a smile as he was about to scan it. "This is the last one."
"Wait a minute! I was gonna get one of that set too!" An angry voice from behind him made Aster whirl. The other player in the shop from earlier was scowling at him. Devin looked over to him. "I'm sorry sir, but unfortunately I didn't hold this box for anyone, so it goes to this gentleman here."
The other player grunted, and then turned to Aster. "You're a Vanguard player right? Wanna fight for this one?" He said as he held up his deck, glaring at Aster.
Devin cut in with an authoritative tone. "Sir, while I do value your patronage, I will ask you to not harass other customers who are buying product."
Aster looked back at Devin, and smiled as he shook his head. "Don't worry about it." He said as he looked at his cards on the table. "I want to get some games in, so I'll play against you. If I don't get the box, it's whatever." He said with a smirk. "You okay if I have a minute to build something real quick?"
"Whatever. Do what you need. Come to my table when you're ready." The other player grunted as he walked back.
Aster headed back to his table, and gathered the cards he had pulled and was given up until now. Replacing the cards from the Prison starter deck, he placed most of the newer cards that were given to him. Once he'd finished, he straightened out his cards and walked over to the other player. As he sat down, he said, "I'm sorry, I forgot to properly introduce myself. I'm Aster." He offered his hand.
The other player begrudgingly shook it. "Tyler." After doing so, he looked down at the table. "No mat?" He said as he began shuffling. "You new?"
Aster chuckled embarrassedly. "Not to the game…but to the format yeah. I got back into the game yesterday." He said as he also shuffled his deck.
Tyler rolled his eyes and took out his playmat, revealing a Pokemon mat with both Magikarp and Gyarados on it. He unfolded it to reveal it as a two-player mat, and covered Aster's side for it as well. "You can use this for today. I'm assuming you don't have dice either." He said as he got a dice case out. "High roll goes first?"
"Oh, thank you!" Aster said as he was able to get his items onto the two sided playmat. "And that's fine. I"m sorry you have to do all of this for me." He said with an apologetic tone.
Tyler shook his head, albeit reluctantly. "Guess it doesn't matter too much. I didn't expect there to be a community here anyway." He said as he rolled the dice, landing a two. He winced at the number.
"Oh? Are you not from here?" Aster asked. His roll landed a five. "Looks like I'll be taking the first move." He said as he set his starting vanguard down.
Tyler responded while also setting his down. "I just moved recently for school. Was lucky to find this store. I heard from the store owner that there aren't a lot of players around here, but I guess you're here, so there's a few people. But I digress. Whenever you're ready." Aster nodded, and they placed their hands on their face-down cards.
"Stand up, Vanguard!"
Both their spirits stood on Cray in a snowy ruined city in Brandt Gate that bordered the ocean, the waves crashing against the concrete.
Suddenly, Tyler's spirit was enveloped by one of the crashing waves. "Officer Cadet, Charicles!" As the water receded, a white uniformed aquaroid wielding two pistols stood in its wake. A knife was thrown at it, and Charicles immediately blasted it away with his pistols, looking to see where it came from.
From the ruins of the city, a blue uniformed pilot appeared in Aster's place, holding more throwing knives in his hand
"Blue Deathster, Sora Period, commencing the operation."
"Cheeky." Charicles called out to Sora Period, aiming his pistols at him.
"You haven't seen anything yet." Sora grinned as he moved his two fingers together, and used them as a whistle. Moments later, a blue dagger wielding mecha came in from the ruins, and Sora Period hopped on top of it. "Blue Deathster, "Dark Verdict" Findanis, taking off." Sora said as he entered the mecha.
"Turn end." Aster called out to he rode his Grade 1.
As another wave crashed, another bioroid rode in on the wave, with a gun aimed at the mecha.
"Inroad Shooter!" As it rode in, a bunch of seaweed landed near it.
"I call Burrow Mushrooms, and activate its skill." Tyler called out as he moved the card to his soul. "And call two plant tokens."
Aster was caught off guard by the card. "A Neo Nectar Dryad? With an Aqua Force unit… I knew Stoicheia was a mix of the two, but I didn't expect combinations like that. Not to mention token units…This is all new to me, but…" Aster's thought was cut off by the declaration of the beginning of Tyler's battle phase.
"The two plant tokens attack the vanguard!" Tyler had a column of them lined up.
[10,000 VS 8,000]
The seaweed that had landed near Inroad Shooter was imbued with a glowing light, and had amassed themselves into two bulb-headed beings. Both of them began to send vines onto Findanis to tie it down.
"Combine Rusher!" Aster called out.
[10,000 VS 13,000 - Guard Successful]
As the vines were about to reach the blue mecha, a black and bronze mecha launched from the city ruins and blasted at the vines, then took off. However, the attack was followed up by Inroad Shooter who got up close to the mecha, aiming its gun point blank.
[8,000 VS 8,000]
"No guard."
Tyler then flipped over the top card of his deck, revealing a sentinel.
[Planar Prevent Dragon - No Trigger]
Inroad Shooter slid under the blue mecha, and opened fire.
Aster flipped over his next card without saying anything.
[Blue Deathster, "Skyrender" Avantgarda - No Trigger]
Aster was slightly shocked by the damage, but tried to keep his composure in front of his opponent.
"This is bad. I still haven't pulled my last copy, and I'm already down one…""Heh. One persona down. And for a unit like that, I'm in a good spot." Tyler said with a smirk. "Turn end."
Field Check:
Tyler:
Back Row: None - None - Plant Token
Front Row: None - Inroad Shooter- Plant Token
Damage: 0
Drop: 1
Soul: 2
Hand: 6
Aster:
Front Row: None - Blue Deathster, "Dark Verdict" Findanis - None
Back Row: None - None - None
Damage: 1
Drop: 2
Soul: 1
Hand: 4
"That was a really good turn one… If I'm down half my win con, I have to take control of the match here!" Aster discarded a card from his hand as he rode to the next grade.
Findanis held up a cloak, and as it draped over itself, the mecha became transparent. Suddenly, from the air, beams of light rained down upon Inroad Shooter, who made a move for cover.
"Blue Deathster, "Heavenly Death Ray" Stelvane! And Findanis's skill activates." Aster swiftly grabbed a card from his deck, and turned it to reveal it. "A Grade 1 Strategy order. And I set it! Since I set an order, Combine Rusher's skill activates! And I call it from the drop! I also call Bobalmine!"
In the cockpit of Stelvane, Sora Period waved his hands and created three floating hologram monitors. He set one to the side, and set two which lit up and dissipated. From the city, a giant Kaiju lined with bombs emerged from the city, and from another area of the city, the black and bronze battleroid once again entered the battlefield.
"Bobalmine attacks the vanguard!"
[8,000 VS 8,000]
The kaiju started stomping toward Inroad Shooter, aiming to crush it with its foot.
"Prized Trident!" Tyler smacked the card to the Guardian Circle.
[8,000 VS 13,000 - Guard Successful]
As the Kaiju was about to step on Inroad Shooter, another aquaroid appeared and stabbed its trident into the foot of the monster, causing it to roar and fall back. A moment later, Inroad Shooter looked up to see Stelvane aiming at it.
[10,000 VS 8,000]Tyler looked at his hand, and then to Combine Rusher.
"If I guard with what's in my hand now, I'm hardly going to have anything on my Grade 3 turn…
I don't have a choice."
"No guard!"
Aster placed the top card of his deck into the Trigger Zone, and was relieved at what he saw.
[Ameliorate Connector - Draw Trigger]
"Drawing one, and power to Combine."
Stelvane pointed downward with its beam rifle, and opened fire at the aquaroid.
Tyler in turn proceeded to his damage check.
[Burrow Mushrooms - No Trigger]
Aster continued with his attack by resting his last powered up rearguard. As Stelvane opened fire from the air, Combine from the ground also began to open fire on the aquaroid.
[20,000 VS 8,000]"Another no guard."
Tyler frowned as he placed another card in his damage zone.
[Tear Knight, Aricks - No Trigger]"On to you then." Aster said as he began to analyze his hand for the next turn.
At Tyler's draw, the ocean crashed against the concrete once again. When he discarded, another aquaroid appeared riding on the wave. "Ascendance Assault!" However, instead of disappearing, the other aquaroid was to the side of the new fighter.
Tyler smirked as he slid the Grade 1 from his soul onto the Rearguard Circle. "Inroad calls itself when ridden by Ascendance." He then proceeded to his battle phase as he rested his vanguard first.
[10,000 VS 10,000]
With hardly any guard value in his hand, Aster decided to pass on the attack.
"No guard."
Tyler checked his next card upon hearing the confirmation.
[Serene Maiden, Lena - Draw Trigger]
Tyler held it up as he drew a card from his deck, then tapped on Inroad Shooter, signaling where the power was going.
Ascendance Assault aimed its gun upward at the flying mecha, and fired a retaliating shot at it.
Aster quickly followed up with his damage check.
[Bombing Strategy, Dusting - No Trigger]
"2 more to go." Tyler taunted as he rested the two plant tokens once more.
[10,000 vs 8,000]
The two plant beings once again entered the formation they were in earlier, and attacked, this time sending the vines even higher.
"Combine intercepts!" Aster called back as he moved the Grade 2 from his Rearguard to the Guardian Circle. Just like before, the black and bronze robot moved to stop the attack of the plants.
"Inroad." Tyler continued without a stop.
[20,000 VS 8,000]
The aquaroid aimed to the sky with its own rifle.
Aster checked his hand one last time before setting it down.
"No guard."
The aquaroid pulled the trigger once and impacted onto the blue and white mecha.
Aster placed the third card in his damage zone.
[Damage Check - Blue Deathster, Ruri Turing]
Field Check:
Tyler:
Back Row: None - None - Plant Token
Front Row: Inroad Shooter - Ascendance Assault - Plant Token
Damage: 2
Drop: 3
Soul: 2
Hand: 7
Aster:
Front Row: Detonation Monster, Bobalmine - BD, "Heavenly Deathray" Stelvane - None
Back Row: None - None - None
Damage: 3
Drop: 3
Soul: 2
Hand: 5
"These attacks are relentless…" Aster thought to himself as he took his hand off the third damage.
Maybe I shouldn't have taken up his offer… but… if I want to beat her…
"I'm definitely gonna take flight with these cobalt wings!"
Aster shook his head determinedly as he discarded another card from his hand.
Stelvane took off from the battlefield, and from an unknown location, a pair of thrusters ignited into a blue conflagration.
"Sora Period. Avantgarda. Taking off."
{Track Insert - Risking Everything on this Strike (VC3)}
Right when the pilot uttered those words, a large blue mecha streaked towards the battlefield from the clouds. And as it arrived, its six wing-like engines eclipsed the skies. Its left hand crossed to its right thigh, and drew a sheathed blade.
"Riding Blue Deathster, "Skyrender" Avantgarda! Activating Stelvane's skill. I add Bombing Strategy, Dusting to my hand! Bobalmine moves back, and I call another Bobalmine to the back center. Then, I'll immediately set the order!"
Aster flicked cards confidently onto the playmat, sliding his Grade one back, and then placing his just added card to the Order zone.
"Next, Combine!" He said as he once again called out the black and bronze robot.
"And finally, I activate Avantgarda's skill! I put one Set order into the soul. Executing Killshroud. I retire Inroad, and draw one."
Sora Period, now in the cockpit of Avantgarda, created more holograms, and this time, chose one and sent it forward. At the same time, another detonation monster appeared behind the new mecha.
"Killshroud, commencing."
In an instant, Findanis appeared behind Inroad Shooter, having been unseen with its cloak. It slashed at the bioroid, and then once again cloaked itself.
"Now! Avantgarda!" Aster rested his center line column.
The blue mecha darted off from its position and swiftly appeared in front of Ascendance Assault.
[31,000 VS 10,000]
Tyler looked at the cards in his hand. A draw, a crit, a heal, A Flagburg, his PG, Aricks, and Inlet Pulse.
"He committed a booster… if I guard with two cards, it'll only be a one to pass at best… I could use three, but my offense would be lacking next turn… not to mention, I've only seen three triggers… then…"
"No guard."
"Drive check." Aster declared as he performed his first twin drive with his new card.
[Cardinal Prima, Nabilem - Heal Trigger]
"Heal Trigger! All effects are going to Combine Rusher."
[Patrol Robo, Dekarcop - Critical Trigger]
"All effects are staying on Avantgarda!"
And as fast as he had appeared in front of the aquaroid, Avantgarda made two quick slashes at the unit, causing the aquaroid to recoil, then jet backwards to readjust itself.
Tyler grunted at the double trigger, but didn't hesitate in his damage checks.
[Flagship Dragon, Flagburg Dragon - No Trigger]
[Serene Maiden, Lena - Draw Trigger]
"Thought so." He smirked.
"Giving all effects to Ascendance Assault." Tyler continued as he drew a card.
"Since Avantgarda hit, I pay the cost to stand him!"
Sora Period concentrated on the controls of his mecha, and adjusted itself to prepare for another attack. "Initiating Second Attack Sequence."
"Once again, Avantgarda attacks the vanguard.
[33,000/ 2 Critical VS 20,000]
"Zypsophilia Fairy, Asher! Since the attacking unit restood this turn, it gets 15,000 toward the shield!"
[33,000 VS 45,000]
"OT to pass." Tyler said with a smirk.
Aster checked the next card hopefully.
It would be really cool to get it, but…
[Planet Wall Dragon - No Trigger]
Didn't think so. That's not bad to have though.
A green haired fairy appeared in front of Ascendance, and with it, a blizzard of green petals. The sight blocked Avantgarda's visuals, and by the time he blew it away, the aquaroid had disappeared.
"At the end of the battle, Bobalmine's skill. It moves to the soul, and I countercharge one."
He said as he flipped one card in his damage zone face up,
"Combine!"
[28,000 VS 20,000]
Bobalmine roared as it had located the aquaroid, and the mecha accompanied the large monster to its location.
"Lena guards! Since your vanguard is at Grade 3, it gets another 5,000 shield!"
[28,000 VS 30,000]
Another flower unit appeared, and this time, accompanied with a red petal blizzard, obstructed the view of the Aqauroid.
"I'll use Bobalmine again." Aster said as he flipped up another counterblast.
{Track End}
"My turn then. Stand and draw.
I'll show you the Admiral's Pride!"
Ascendance Assault stared out into the ocean, and saluted as something came into view on the horizons.A massive Tear Dragon with armaments loaded at every visible limb. Cutting through the rippling waves, it began opening fire at the blue mecha.
"Flagship Dragon, Flagburg Dragon!" Tyler placed the last card of his rideline down. "By revealing a copy of my vanguard, I don't have to pay the cost for Ascendance's skill." He then revealed a persona. "Superior call." He slid the Grade 2 from his soul.
"I call Tear Knight, Aricks on top of the plant token in the front. I also call Prized Trident behind Ascendance."
Two aquaroids appeared on the deck of Flagship Dragon, and took to the sea to engage in the battle.
"Ascendance leads the charge on Combine Rusher."
[10,000 VS 10,000]
"No guard."
The aquaroid shot a blast from afar that hit the bronze mecha directly, causing it to explode.
"Aricks attacks with a boost. Since another unit is attacking, I can stand Ascendance with a counterblast."
[15,000 VS 13,000]
Aster looked to the cards in his hand.
"Relentless pokes… this is the Aqua Force I'm more used to. Is there an attack number he's trying to reach? I can probably get away with one right now…"
"No guard!"
The Tear Knight launched from the waves, and with the plant catching Avantgarda with its vines, slashed at the mecha.
[Planet Wall Dragon - No Trigger]
Aster frowned slightly, but prepared himself for the rest of the attacks.
"At the end of the battle Aricks attacked, if it's the second battle of the turn, she stands. She also gains 5,000 power. Again."
[15,000 VS 13,000]
"I don't want to overguard, but I don't have many options!"
"Ameliorate guards!"
[15,000 VS 23,000 - Guard Successful]
While still mid-air, the Tear Knight attempted to get another slash in, only to be stopped by a maintenance robot, holding the blade back.
"Ascendance!"
[18,000 VS 13,000]
"Nabilem!"
[18,000 VS 28,000]As the aquaroid fired another beam toward the mecha, a Cyberoid appeared from a black void, and created a circle of void, ceasing the beam's existence.
"Next is Flagburg. Depending on the number of attacks I had this turn, I can activate a certain number of effects. Since it was five, I can activate all of them. If your board hadn't already fled from Flagburg's presence, Flagburg's first ability would've retired two of your rearguards. The second is drawing, and the third…"
The cannons on Flagburg began to charge, and his missile array opened up to lock in on it.
"You'll need three cards to guard from hand in one instance to guard this attack, otherwise you'll be unable to guard!"
[23,000 VS 13,000 - 3 to Guard]
"Three in one go?! I only have four… That's more than half…"
"I'll take it."
"Drive check. The first."
[Tear Knight, Aricks - No Trigger]
"The second."
[Source Dragon Deity of Blessings, Blessfavor - OverTrigger]
Tyler grinned as he saw the card. "Shame I don't have that one on the board… Oh well. Activating Blessfavor's effects. Giving 100 million to Flagburg. Then, since it was revealed, I activate the effects of a Draw, Critical, and Heal trigger without their power gains, and a front trigger's effect gives the front row 10,000. Critical goes to Flagburg."
"Every trigger effect from that one trigger. From what it looks like though, it's his last attack. Still, healing and drawing two here…" Aster thought to himself, slightly concerned.
Tyler drew two additional cards to go with his overtrigger effect, and healed a damage.
Both the cannons and missile array locked onto Avantgarda, and suddenly, rising from the waters was a rainbow winged dragon. WIth a roar, a rainbow light shined upon the Flagship.
After the light shined, the cannons fired with a deafening cannon shot and the missiles took off with a screeching hum toward the Blue Mecha.
Trying to dodge the cannon fire, the missiles buffeted it, knocking it down into the large beam, crashing into the ground.
[Blue Deathster, Ruri Turing - No Trigger]
[Cardinal Draco, Barbizonde - Critical Trigger]
"All effects to Avantgarda…" Aster said as he put the fifth card in his damage zone.
"Right then, on to you." Tyler said with his current advantage.
Field Check:
Tyler:
Back Row: Prized Trident - None - Plant Token
Front Row: Ascendance Assault - Flagship Dragon, Flagburg Dragon - Tear Knight Aricks
Damage: 3
Drop: 8
Soul: 1
Hand: 7
Aster:
Front Row: None - Blue Deathster, "Skyrender" Avantgarda - None
Back Row: None - None - None
Damage: 5
Drop: 7
Soul: 4
Hand: 4
"Stand and draw." Aster tried to keep a poker face.
"This is bad…My other persona ride is still in deck, and I'm not sure if I can make it through another turn of Flagburg's attacks, let alone Flagburg himself. Still…"
{Track Insert: Will+Dress: Deluxe Fight}
"I call Operate Master Freiheit! Discarding Eahalten Vogel, and with his skill, I add Avantgarda to my hand!"
"No Persona, huh?" Tyler said with a smirk.
From an operating room, Freiheit relayed transmissions to the battlefield.
"Then, I set Shock Strategy, Death Winds!"
As the order was set, a blustering wind blew throughout the battlefield. "Combine returns with his skill. Then, I execute Death Winds. Drawing a card, and Avantgarda gains 5,000 power plus a skill!"
Sora Period once again executed orders from the cockpit of Avantgarda, this time, taking advantage of the blowing wind. The bronze mecha once again appeared on the battlefield, aiming its gun toward the large Tear Dragon.
"Avantgarda attacks Flagburg, and with his skill, all of the units in my front row get 5,000 power!"
[23,000 VS 13,000]
Avantgarda took off toward the Tear Dragon across the waters with its blade pointed directly at the Flagship.
"Planar Prevent!" Tyler placed the Sentinel down onto the Guardian Circle. "Forgot I had this one, huh?"
[23,000 VS Sentinel]
During Avantgarda's advance, a crashing wave stopped him as a blue dragon appeared with a barrier of sea reefs to stop his assault.
"It was gonna come at some point. My drive check."
[Star Dragon of Infinitude, Eldobreath - OverTrigger]
"Over Trigger!" Aster smiled as Tyler was taken aback, but composed himself after checking his hand.
"Freiheit gets 100 million. All of the power and critical of the units in my front row are doubled."
Avantgarda [23,00046,000/2]
Combine Rusher [15,000 30,000/2]
Freheit [100,000,015,000 200,000,030,000/2]
As the sea reefs held Avantgarda back, a bright light descended from space onto the battlefield.
"Eldobreath removes itself from the game, and I draw."
[Lady Healer of the Creaking World - Heal Trigger]
"Healing one. Power goes to Combine Rusher!" Aster let out a sigh of relief as he was able to get a damage off his board.
"Combine attacks next!"
[40,000/2 VS 13,000]
WIth the light still shining from space, Combine fired off rounds toward the flagship.
"I intercept with Ascendance and Aricks. Then Dual Pressure and Prized Trident guard!"
[40,000 VS 43,000]
Arising from the waves, a dragon appeared and clashed fire with the projectiles from Combine.
With the support of three other aquaroids, the bullets blew away.
"Freiheit attacks the vanguard!"
[200,000,030,000 / 2 VS 13,000]
"No guard."
From his operating room, Freiheit ordered an attack from Brandt Gate space onto the Flagship. With a light glinting from the sky, a large beam blasted the Flagship, and the light faded away after the blast.
[Empyrean Blue Dragon, Shelling Cannon Dragon - No Trigger]
[Blue Artillery Dragon, Inlet Pulse Dragon - No Trigger]
"Turn end." Aster checked his field; seven cards in hand and nine in drop.
"Stand and draw." Tyler said with a firm intent. "I Persona Ride Flagburg Dragon."
The diamond emblem once again manifested in front of Flagburg, imbuing itself onto the dragon as it roared.
"I call Tear Knight, Erianthe, and with her skill, Aricks from the drop zone is revived. I also call Inlet Pulse Dragon!"
From the waters, a Tear Knight wielding a spear emerged. Raising its trident, the sword-wielding Aquaroid appeared once again. And to the right of Flagburg, a dual cannon-armed dragon appeared.
"Alright newbie, let's see how you handle this. Inlet Pulse attacks!"
Aster thought to himself and checked his hand. "What are your column numbers gonna be?"
Tyler nodded, and explained his public knowledge numbers.
"Inlet's first attack unboosted will be 23,000.
Aricks, the second attack will be 25,000.
Both can restand.
Inlet will be 31,000, boosted.
Aricks's restand will be 38,000, boosted.
Flagburg's attack will be 33,000, and you'll need three cards from your hand to guard."
"Thank you." Aster began to count the cards in his hand.
"If that's the case…the only attack I can let through is Aricks's restand…"
Aster smiled warmly after looking at some of the cards in his hand.
"I came to beat you… but instead you gave me these cards…"
"Combine and Freheit intercept! Ruri Turing guards!"
[23,000 VS 28,000]
The dragon to the right opened fire with two beams that headed straight toward Avantgarda.
From Freiheit's operation center, he ordered Combine and Ruri Turing to guide Avantgarda out of harm's way. After they were able to safely escort him out, Freiheit signed off.
"At the end of the Inlet's attack, by soulblasting, he restands.
Then, Aricks swings!"
[25,000 VS 13,000]
"Dekarcop guards!"
The sword-wielding Tear Knight once again launched toward Avantgarda, only to be stopped by bullet fire from a police mecha.
"Aricks also restands, and when she does so she gains 5,000 power."
Inlet launches another attack!"
[31,000 VS 13,000]
Aster smiled as he grabbed the heal trigger from his last drive check.
"Lady Healer of the Creaking World guards. With its skill, since the unit I'm guarding has attacked more than once, she gets 15,000 shield!"
[31,000 VS 38,000]
As the Artillery Dragon fired off another round, a crack in reality appeared, and from it emerged a Cyberoid who held up an orb that absorbed the beams.
"Aricks attacks again!"
[38,000 VS 13,000]
"No guard!"
Dashing around the police mecha, Aricks made another attempt for Avantgarda, this time connecting. As the damage connected, the cockpit of Avantgarda began to flash red.
Aster gripped the controls of the mecha, fighting for his life.
[Shock Strategy, Death Winds - No Trigger]
{Track End}
"Flagburg signals the final attack! Since my units have attacked five times, all of his effects are active. Drawing, gaining 10,000, and requiring my opponent to guard with three cards from the hand."
[33,000 VS 13,000 - 3 to Guard]Flagburg set its sights on the robot, as its cannons began to hum in tandem.
The flashing red lights gave Aster flashbacks from his match against Alice years ago, and as the cannons locked onto Avantgarda, Aster looked up intensely.
"I can't lose yet!"
"Barbizonde, Freiheit, and Planet Wall Dragon! Because I have less than two cards in my hand. I don't have to discard for Planet Wall!"
[33,000 VS Sentinel]
Tyler flipped over the next card of his deck without saying anything.
[Serene Maiden, Lena - Draw Trigger]
"Drawing one. Power to Flagburg."
[Elegy Pixy - Heal Trigger]"Healing one. Power to Flagburg."
Flagburg opened fire with a beam that cut through the ocean, and as it was seconds away from connecting with Avantgarda, three hexagons appeared in front of the Skyrender, the beam's energy dissipating upon contact.
"At the end of my turn, since I had four or more attacks, I send Inlet to the soul and I draw a card!"
Field Check:
Tyler:
Back Row: Prized Trident - None - Tear Knight, Erianthe
Front Row: None - Flagship Dragon, Flagburg Dragon - Tear Knight Aricks
Damage: 4
Drop:13
Soul: 1
Hand: 7
Aster:
Front Row: None - Blue Deathster, "Skyrender" Avantgarda - None
Back Row: None - None - None
Damage: 5
Drop: 15
Soul: 5
Hand: 1
"I barely held on there… If I didn't have those cards that you gave me, I wouldn't have lived that on regular triggers and PG's alone… Aster thought to himself warmly. As Avantgarda's cockpit continued to flash red, he grit his teeth. I'm gonna surpass you…So I won't let it end here!"
Aster drew for turn, and smirked.
[Track Insert - Into My Soul (spi)]
"Persona Riding on Avantgarda!"
Aster placed the last copy he owned onto the Vanguard Circle.
"I draw one, and I call Eahalten Vogel! With his skill, I add Shock Strategy, Death Winds to my hand! I set it, and with Combine's skill, I call him from the drop. Eahalton also gains 5,000 power! Then I call Cardinal Prima, Nabilem behind the vanguard, and Ruri Turing behind Combine!"
As the diamond once again manifested and imbued itself onto Avantgarda, this time he was accompanied by two more robots, as well as a fellow Blue Deathster and a Cardinal unit.
"I execute Death Winds!"
A new tailwind began to blow through the battlefield, this time ferociously crashing against the sea itself. The remaining aquaroids braced themselves against the gust, while the flagship roared against the wind.
"Avantgarda attacks the vanguard! Death Wind's effect activates!"
The tailwind blew to both sides of Avantgarda, and both of the other colored robots had their thrusters ignite. Avantgarda's thrusters also ignited in a blazing blue, dancing in the tailwind, and it launched across the seaboard as it drew its blade.
[33,000 VS 13,000]
"Planar Prevent Dragon!" Tyler once again called to the Sentinel.
And as before, rising from the sea was the same teal dragon before, the thrusters on Avantgarda coming to a screeching halt to avoid crashing into a newly formed barrier.
"Twin Drive!"
[Blue Deathster, Ruri Turing - No Trigger]
Despite the lack of trigger on the first check, Aster collectedly proceeded into his next check.
[Patrol Robo, Dekarcop - Critical Trigger]"All effects are going to Avantgarda!"
[33,000 43,000/2 Critical]"And now, Avantgarda's skill activates! Avantgarda stands back up!"
Avantgarda's red eyes glimmered as it slashed the sea barrier created from Planar Prevent Dragon in half. Its thrusters once again blazed to life, bursting through what was left of the barrier.
"Nabilem boosts! Avantgarda once again attacks the vanguard! Death Winds activates once more!"
Avantgarda prepared itself for another attack, positioning itself in a sword stance. Nabilem playfully saluted on the shoulder of Avantgarda as it took off.
"Best wishes, my vanguard!" The Prima called out.
[53,000/ 2 Critical VS 13,000]
"Tch… He still has Vogel and Combine both at 38,000… I still need to guard one… then the best I can do is…!"
Tyler gripped two cards from his hand and threw them onto the Guard Circle in a panic.
"Dual Pressure! Asher! Aricks intercepts!"
[53,000 VS 58,000]
As Avantgarda soared toward Flagburg, once again holding its blade with two hands, three units appeared on Flagburg's deck as the waves crashed. With their combined efforts, a strong wind crashed against Avantgarda, and the mecha began to take fire from both Dual Pressure and Flagburg, taking evasive maneuvers to avoid getting shot down.
Aster took a deep breath before performing his last drive check.
"I will…!"
"Drive check." He flipped over the deciding card.
[Ameliorate Connector - Draw Trigger]"It's a draw trigger! All effects go to Avantgarda!"
[53,000 63,000 VS 58,000 - GUARD BREAK]
Ameliorate flew in from the shoreline, and crashed into Dual Pressure to put an end to its support fire.
With his thrusters ripping through the clashing wind, Avantgarda once again eclipsed the sun with his wings.
"Certain Kill Function! Tempest Blade!" The gale blew to the mecha's blade, and it took off one final time toward the flagship. And in an instant, his blade rent the Tear Dragon asunder.
As it hovered over the water for a moment, its eyes glinted as an explosion erupted from Flagburg, cratering the ocean of Cray.
[Empyrean Blue Dragon, Shelling Cannon Dragon - No Trigger]
[Flagship Dragon, Flagburg Dragon - No Trigger]
Winner: Aster Ciel
Aster let out a sigh of relief as the fight ended, and was surprised when he saw a hand stuck out in front of him. He looked up.
"Well? Are you going to leave me hanging?" Tyler said begrudgingly.
Aster put on a smile and met his opponent's handshake.
"That was really close. Thank you for the match."
"Alright, you should go up and grab that box." Tyler let out a sigh as he conceded to the Brandt Gate player.
"Actually, I was gonna ask if you had any trades. We're both pulling from the same set, right? Is it cool if I go through your pulls?" Aster asked hopefully as he grabbed some of the cards he had pulled the night before.
Tyler was taken aback, but agreed."Yeah, for sure! Did you pull any of these by the way?" Tyler began to pull out pictures of cards on his phone, some of the units matching the ones that Aster pulled.
After some time of the two trading, their hands made a resounding clap together as they dapped each other up as a symbol of good faith and the exchange of the cards they needed from each other.
"Hey, I appreciate the slide. Sorry about earlier, by the way. I was having some really bad pulls with this set." Tyler said with a remorseful chuckle.
"No worries." Aster said with a cheerful look on his face, content with his trades, and happy to meet a new friend.
"Do you know if there's anyone else out here?" Tyler asked as he began to pack his things up.
"It's just me and one other person right now." Aster explained. "We're trying to get a scene going though, so if you ever wanna make the time, we'd appreciate it."
"For sure!" Tyler started to exchange contact information. "Here's my socials, discords, the works. Shoot me a message if you guys get it going. I gotta head out for today though, so I'll catch you later." He held his hand out in a fist bump.
Aster met it, and waved as he headed out. As he began to pack up his own things, Devin came up to him with a deck box in his hand.
"That was a nice fight you two had. I'm glad you were able to have a smooth resolution in the end, too. While I didn't appreciate his attitude, for a small customer base like Vanguard, I'll take what I can get." Devin crossed his arms.
"He wasn't too bad at the end." Aster said with a smile. "Looks like I was able to get him to come around, literally." Aster was about to put his deck into its box as Devin placed his own deck box in front of him.
"Were you able to get that last copy of Avantgarda?" The shop owner shifted into an interrogative tone.
The shift caught Aster off guard, as he set his deck down, trying not to drop it. "Yeah, I got it from Tyler. Why do you ask?"
Devin smirked as he flipped the top of his deckbox open, revealing a horned dragon in a purple suit, topped with a fedora and bone in his mouth, mimicking that of a cigar.
"Mind going a round with me?"
AN End notes: Hope you enjoyed this one! I really think Flagburg deserves an onscreen anime fight, so I hope I did justice to everyone who plays him. Going forward, I'll attempt to keep this story with the chronological release dates of every set in the D format, up until a certain point. So I won't be using Richter (bro wasn't even out when I first started this) until later on. I hope you all look forward to what's to come!