Vanguard: Nightmare Overture Chapter 20: Round 1, A Block 1, a cardfight!! vanguard/cardfight!! ヴァンガード fanfic

Author's Corner:

I'm glad to have you back, Feast, and especially glad to hear you're liking the story. Yeah, with the focus shifting heavily on cardfights, I did realize the need to keep each fight to one chapter, but I'm also seeing the point about the actual plot staggering behind. Rest assured, things will begin moving again soon. As for the names and stuff, I wouldn't worry too much. Especially those that only appear as names, are probably not worth remembering, since if / when they do become important they will receive the appropriate exposition.

Anyways, 20th chapter here, and along with it, a new fake clan of mine is introduced. I spent some effort devising a plan to make its introduction slower and less straining... some forth-and-back will probably still be needed... it doesn't help much that I feel I've dropped the ball with some aspects of this clan. Ah well. Hopefully it won't be too bad. Let me know what you think.

RIDE 20: Round 1, A Block (1)

"Raging Trigger, eh?" Kathy, Ray and Engel had returned to the preparation chamber, this time in Arena C. "Last time, they were in the top eight of the qualifying tournament... they won't be easy."

"We don't need them to be easy." Kathy snapped at Engel. "We just need to be better. I'll take the first match."

"Are you sure?" Ray asked. "You took the preliminary match as well. Maybe you should take a break, and only fight third if needed."

"No, thank you." Kathy said dryly. "I won the preliminary battle, and I will win this one as well. You two just make sure to follow up." Ray seemed willing to offer further objection, but Engel intervened.

"Very well. I'll take the second match. Ray will go third, if the need arises." Following the procedure from before, he registered the team order. "Raging Trigger... they are a team which utilizes powerful beatdown strategies. Be careful."

"I will."

=/=

"Stand up, Vanguard!"

The arena shifted form into a vast empty plain, occasionally dotted by some rock formation, or a few skeletal plants and bushes. The blazing sun burned overhead, and the desert wind swept the hard sand, warping it into small gusts. This was the desert of the Lost East nation, the homeland of the wild, free people who still resisted the tyrannical oppression of the Dragon Empire.

Kathy's opponent was a tall brunette, with sharp amber eyes and long hair that reached down almost to her waist. A crooked smile played on her lips as she eyed the girl standing opposite to her.

"It seems we got a freebie this time." Annie Hogan, the first fighter of Team Raging Trigger, said sarcastically. "Matching us up with a team of nobodies... they must be saving the best for last."

Why do I get all the arrogant jerks? Kathy wondered irritably. On her side of the field, the familiar leather-clad demoness materialized. Opposite to her, a gold-skinned tiger, too small to be an adult, yet armed with deadly white fangs, appeared, purring menacingly.

Trauma Queen (Grade 0 / 4000 Power)

Tigress Cub (Grade 0 / 5000 Power)

"That Unit... Wildmen clan." Kathy frowned. She looked over her renewed hand - thankfully, this time her deck had deigned to provide her with all the units she needed, so she wasn't sweating about skipping a Grade. The announcer had given her the right to go first, so she plucked a card out of her deck.

"I ride Doreen the Thruster." She said. "Trauma Queen moves. Turn end."

Doreen the Thruster (Grade 1 / 6000 Power)

Trauma Queen (Grade 0 / 4000 Power)

"Don't be so tense, honey. You made it this far, which I'm sure is quite a big thing for someone like you. This match will be your last, though, so you may as well sit back and enjoy it."

"Shut up and make your move." Kathy growled. Who would lose here...

Kathy (Hand: 5, Soul: 0, Drop: 0)
• Damage: 0
• Field:
(R) N/A - N/A
(V) Doreen the Thruster (6000) - Trauma Queen (4000)
(R) N/A - N/A

Annie (Hand: 5, Soul: 0, Drop: 0)
• Damage: 0
• Field:
(R) N/A - N/A
(V) Tigress Cub (5000) - N/A
(R) N/A - N/A

"As you wish." Annie's smile only broadened. "Draw. I ride Tigress Saber!" The tiny feline snarled and hissed, its body bathed in golden light as it transformed, growing into its adult form. A lean, gracious beast of prey, with silver eyes staring hungrily at the opponent, and shards of white armor covering parts of its body, she was equipped with even bigger tusk-like fangs. The beast meowed lazily, but it was difficult to miss the bloodlust behind its seemingly relaxed attitude.

Tigress Saber (Grade 1 / 6000 Power)

"Easy, girl." Annie laughed. "First, Cub's skill. When I ride Tigress Saber on it, I can search my deck for Tigress Denmother, and add her to my hand." She plucked out a card from her deck and demonstrated it to her opponent. "Next, Tigress Saber gains plus 2000 Power when Cub is in the Soul. And now I call Centaur Lancer!" Next to the fierce tiger, a strange fusion between man and horse, with the quadrupedal lower body being that of a dark brown stallion, and from the waist up, a bare, muscular man's torso, arms and head. He was a young one, his head shaved bald, while a ferocious smirk emerged through his stubble of a beard. In his left hand, he wielded a javelin, crafted out of sturdy wood and adorned with a crimson feather.

Centaur Lancer (Grade 1 / 8000 Power)

"Saber attacks!" Annie commanded. With a fierce howl, the tiger charged forward, ready to pounce on the unfortunate elf girl.

"No guard!" Kathy called, predictably.

"Check, drive trigger!" Annie said, as if commanding a trigger to appear. She picked out a card and looked at it, her smile widening. "Trigger get!" With excruciating slowness, she turned the card around. "...but, a Stand trigger. Ah well. Power plus 5000 to Lancer!"

[Drive Check: Songstress Lyra (Stand trigger)]

"Damage check." Kathy muttered, after the blow connected. "...no trigger." She placed Alluring Succubus on her, formerly empty, damage zone. Why was she letting her opponent rattle her like this?

[Damage Check: Alluring Succubus]

"Beginning to feel the pressure? Lancer, attack!" The centaur let his javelin fly, and a second blow struck Doreen, who cried out in pain. Wordlessly, Kathy placed a second card on her damage zone.

[Damage Check: Blue Dust]

"I think I'll let you off the hook with just that, for now. Turn end."

Kathy (Hand: 5, Soul: 0, Drop: 0)
• Damage: 2 (U/U)
• Field:
(R) N/A - N/A
(V) Doreen the Thruster (6000) - Trauma Queen (4000)
(R) N/A - N/A

Annie (Hand: 6, Soul: 1, Drop: 0)
• Damage: 0
• Field:
(R) N/A - N/A
(V) Tigress Saber (6000) - N/A
(R) Centaur Lancer (8000) - N/A

It's just two damage... Yet, Kathy felt her hands trembling slightly, cold sweat running through her. It had not registered with her before, caught up as she was in the heat of the first fight. But two damage was already a third of the way to defeat. To her loss, and potentially, to her team's loss. The stakes... had she really gotten here, without seriously considering them? Did she not realize how much could hang on a single error in judgment, one small misstep...

"Poor thing. The pressure's getting to you." Annie was looking at her with that condescending look. She was not looking at her the way one would look at an opponent. No, to her, she was merely a nuisance, a child to be humored. It was the same as Janette. To these girls, Kathy was not someone who belonged in the same league as them. In the same way that a human differs from an animal, there was an unbridgeable gap between them. She found herself gritting her teeth. Why, when everyone was supposed to be given an equal opportunity...!

Miss? The abrupt, loud voice shook her to reality. Miss, are you going to continue the fight?

She glanced around wildly. Annie was now visibly trying to suppress an outburst of laughter. She looked at the digital clock embedded on the console - had she really spaced out for almost thirty seconds?

"I'm fine." She growled, red painting her cheeks. "Draw. I ride Decadent Succubus!" Her Vanguard morphed into the voluptuous form of the horned seductress, whose feigned innocent expression was meant to entice and deceive - her unfortunate victims would be lured, bound into the Soul.

Decadent Succubus (Grade 2 / 9000 Power)

"Edel Rose activates her skill, returning to the deck. I can then take a Werewolf Zieger from my deck into my hand." She demonstrated the card to her opponent, placed it on top of the stack of cards to her right, which was then unlocked for her. She scanned them quickly, picked out a copy of Werewolf Zieger, and placed it in her hand. "And now call! Werewolf Zieger! Prisoner Beast! Hysteric Shirley!" Coated in pitch-black armor, the ferocious werewolf howled its challenge. On the other side, the chained guerrilla materialized, its eyes igniting crimson, and behind Zieger, a girl with wild silver hair clad in a matching, skin-tight metallic outfit, clutching her head as she floated a few feet above ground, with lightning cackling around her. "Decadent's skill - for each Dark Irregulars called, Soul Charge!"

Werewolf Zieger (Grade 2 / 10000 Power)

[Soul Charge: White Dust (Critical trigger)]

Prisoner Beast (Grade 1 / 8000 Power)

[Soul Charge: Prisoner Beast]

Hysteric Shirley (Grade 0 / 4000 Power)

[Soul Charge: Decadent Succubus]

Kathy frowned slightly at the trigger she had just charged. Regardless, this was an acceptable risk, in order to increase her Soul. "Battle! Prisoner Beast attacks Tigress Saber!"

"No guard." Annie was unfazed. The corrupted beast slammed into the opposing tiger, forcing her to back down. "Damage check... no trigger." She gently placed her first card yet on the damage zone.

[Damage Check: Centaur Archer]

"Next, boosted by Trauma Queen, Decadent attacks!" The succubus brought forth her hands, unleashing a curse of dark magic, in the form of a dark purple stream of energy.

"No guard." Annie didn't seem intent to reduce the hand advantage she had managed to attain early on, so Kathy picked up the top card of her deck. Frustratingly, that one turned up a blank as well.

[Drive Check: Demon Eater]

[Damage Check: Gold-Wing Dragonhawk]

"Once more... boosted by Shirley, Zieger attacks!" The wolf-man roared, drawing back its claws as it jumped straight across the field.

"This is as far as you go! Lyra guards!" The previously checked Stand trigger materialized in the form of a charming elf maiden, sporting a light brown shift that seemed to mingle with the desert around them, and rich auburn hair. A harmonica was in her hands, which she brought to her mouth, playing a soothing tune that seemed to calm down the rampaging attacker, causing it to return to its original position with a low growl.

"Turn end." She admitted.

Kathy (Hand: 3, Soul: 4, Drop: 0)
• Damage: 2 (U/U)
• Field:
(R) Werewolf Zieger (10000) - Hysteric Shirley (4000)
(V) Decadent Succubus (9000) - Trauma Queen (4000)
(R) Prisoner Beast (8000) - N/A

Annie (Hand: 5, Soul: 1, Drop: 1)
• Damage: 2 (U/U)
• Field:
(R) N/A - N/A
(V) Tigress Saber (6000) - N/A
(R) Centaur Lancer (8000) - N/A

"So you do have some fight in you!" Annie said. "But I haven't gotten serious yet! Stand and draw! Ride, Tigress Denmother!" Once more, her Vanguard evolved, morphing into a larger, bulkier adult tiger, with larger pieces of armor protecting her torso and shoulders. Spikes emerged from that armor, shaped like large, silver blades, pointing to every direction - discouraging any potential attackers.

Tigress Denmother (Grade 2 / 9000 Power)

"Denmother's skills... first, when Tigress Saber is in the Soul, she gains plus 1000 Power. Second, upon Riding her, I can Superior Call a Wildmen Unit from my hand!" She picked out one of the other cards she held.

"From the hand?" Kathy asked, puzzled. "What use is that? You could just call that Unit out normally!"

"The first advantage is this." She turned the card around, and tapped the upper left corner. "Normally, you cannot call Units of higher Grade than your Vanguard. But with Denmother's skill, a Grade 3 Unit can appear on the field! Come, Viper Fang Lydia!" Kathy grimaced as the high-Grade Unit materialized on the field - a fierce woman with rich, wavy brown hair, clad in leather straps that covered little more than absolutely needed. Bearing a javelin in one hand and a long, curved serrated dagger in the other, she roared, waving her weapons.

Viper Fang Lydia (Grade 3 / 9000 Power)

"A Grade 3 already..." Kathy grimaced. But, its Power wasn't that impressive, and it could not activate any of its Vanguard effects.

"Centaur Lancer and Lydia trade places." Annie moved the two Units, so that Lydia would be able to attack with Lancer's support. "How much do you know about the characteristics of the Wildmen deck?" She asked suddenly.

"They concentrate on combination skills, and attacking the enemy in unison." Kathy said irritably.

"Attagirl." Annie smirked. "You've studied well. This is correct - to survive in the wild steppes, their only chance was to unite their strengths! Behold! I summon forth, Ebony and Ivory!" In an instant, two pillars of black and white light surged forth, and two magnificent beasts, a metallic black panther, and a silver fierce wolf, materialized from within.

Ebony (Grade 1 / 7000 Power)

Ivory (Grade 1 / 7000 Power)

"The two guardian spirits of the highlands - the fierce black panther that will hunt down its enemies until it has devoured every last bit of them, and the noble white wolf, who will stand firm and protect its allies, putting its life on the line to protect its pride. Though they will not cooperate with each other easily, there is no force that cannot be overcome, when the powers of the two guardians are brought together!"

Kathy looked at the field. Ebony was at the frontline, on the opposite side as Lydia. With its Power of 7000, it couldn't hit any Units on her field, so she assumed that it had some form of power-up skill. Ivory was supporting the Vanguard.

"First of all, I'll attack with Ebony." Annie turned the card sideways. "When this beast attacks while Ivory is on the field, Power plus 3000! For 10000 Power, I attack Zieger!" Kathy silently allowed the sacred beast to plow through her demon, obliterating him completely.

"Next! Boosted by Ivory, Denmother attacks the Vanguard!" Kathy considered only for one moment - at this point, there was no use trying to guard this hit. She gritted her teeth. She had allowed herself to be spooked before. Taking damage was an essential part of the game. She wasn't going to win if she played defensively.

"No guard!" She called out in what she thought was a brave voice, even if it sounded a tad strangled. The Denmother snarled, and charged.

"Drive check." Annie picked up the card and turned it around. Kathy felt the ground collapse underneath her feet, her resolve melting before her opponent's malicious stare. "...get. Critical trigger! Lydia, Power plus 5000! Vanguard, critical plus 1!"

[Drive Check: Bloodfang Cobra (Critical trigger)]

Empowered further by a golden aura, Annie's Vanguard slammed and tore into the Succubus' flesh with her tusks. She screamed out in pain, and Kathy found herself empathizing with her agony. Two damage, just like that...!

"Damage trigger... check." She breathed. But only Bloody Calf fell on her damage zone. Where were all her triggers?

[Damage Check: Bloody Calf]

"Second... check." She lifted another card, and almost cried out in relief. "Heal trigger!" She announced. "Power plus 5000 to Succubus! And I recover one damage!" At the very least, she had managed to negate the critical's effects - but Annie didn't seem fazed at all.

[Damage Check: Cursed Doctor (Heal trigger)]

"Don't get too comfortable. I'm far from done. Ivory's skill activates. When the Wildmen boosted by Ivory hits, as long as Ebony is also on the field, I can target one of your Rear Guards! That Unit, until my next Stand Phase, loses 2000 Power!" The white wolf howled, a triumphant, terrifying roar. "The Unit I target is Hysteric Shirley!" Despite her attempt at a brave facade, the psychic girl shivered with trepidation, as the wolf's cry echoed across the arena.

"By putting their lives at stake, the Wildmen will dominate the opponent, scare them away until every last bit of their fighting spirit has been obliterated, every ounce of pride devoured!" Annie proclaimed. "Boosted by Centaur Lancer, Lydia attacks the Vanguard!"

Kathy grimaced. In her hand was only Bloody Calf, and two copies of Demon Eater. She didn't have enough shield to block the powered-up Lydia. "No guard." She announced bitterly. The amazon dashed across the field, launching her javelin at the defenseless succubus. The spear was impaled into the female demon's flesh, as Lydia followed up with a slice from her dagger. "Damage check..." No luck, once more.

[Damage Check: Doreen the Thruster]

"We're not done - far from it." Annie said savagely. "No matter who my opponent is, even if they cannot rise to the challenge - I will beat them down without mercy until they cannot stand up any more, simply for having the gall to think themselves capable of matching blows with me! This is the way of me and my deck, and you, little girl, you will regret even trying! Lydia's Counter Blast! By flipping over one damage, she can place a trap on the location she attacked - meaning any new Unit that appears on that circle during your next turn, will suffer a 3000-Power loss for that turn!" When the dust from the attack settled down, Kathy saw that caltrops had been thrown all underneath the floating demon - though Succubus was safe from them, during the next turn, when she Rode Demon Eater... the intent was clear. Weakened like that, her attack would be much easier to block.

"It's my end phase, now. The Unit that was Superior Called by the effect of Denmother returns to my hand. Also, if I happen to have both Ebony and Ivory on the field at the same time, their limitation kicks in - I must select one of them, and move it to the Soul. I choose Ebony." The two Units that had consisted her frontline, along with Denmother, disappeared, disallowing Kathy from targeting them even had she desired to. "Strike fast and hard, and dash out of range before retaliation can hit." Annie further gloated about the power of her Wildmen deck. Kathy found it painful to admit, but she was right. Was her fate to be dominated here, trying to strike back with powerless Units, smashing head-first against an impregnable enemy?

"Turn end. Make your move, if you still feel up for it, or surrender. It is the same to me."

Kathy (Hand: 3, Soul: 4, Drop: 2)
• Damage: 4 (U/U/U/U)
• Field:
(R) N/A - Hysteric Shirley (4000)
(V) Decadent Succubus (9000) - Trauma Queen (4000)
(R) Prisoner Beast (8000) - N/A

Annie (Hand: 4, Soul: 3, Drop: 1)
• Damage: 2 (F/U)
• Field:
(R) N/A - N/A
(V) Tigress Denmother (9000) - Ivory (7000)
(R) N/A - Centaur Lancer (8000)

=/=

"This is bad." Ray muttered. Engel turned to him. "For Kathy, it is important to be acknowledged and recognized as an equal. When she is underestimated like this... normally, it would make her even more psyched and determined to win. But..."

"...in this case, when she's been pushed against the wall so easily, and coupled with the pressure, her resolve is only slipping away." Engel finished for him. "And with it, her chances of winning."

"She should've let us take the first matches." Ray sighed. "She may not look like it at times, but the pressure can get to her easily..."

"Then there's just one thing for us to do as her teammates." Engel approached the small panel attached near the door to the chamber, taking a deep breath.

"What are you doing?" Ray demanded. "What do you plan to do with - "

"Kathy-chan, do your beeest~!"

"A - are you crazy?" Ray choked. Each arena was normally isolated, sound-wise, from the rest of the stadium, so that the fighters wouldn't get distracted. That didn't, of course, stop sound from reaching out, and Engel's voice, transmitted through the intercom, would be broadcasted not only to Kathy's ears, but to almost everyone who was paying attention. However, he didn't seem bothered at all.

"Come on, Ray-chan!" He said excitedly. "What good are we if we can't at least cheer for her? With our support, she can do this! I'm sure she'll be thanking us later!" Ray thought Kathy would do no such thing, but, admittedly, Engel had a point. Trying to fight down embarrassment, he walked to the intercom.

"Y - you can do this!" He choked. "Don't give up!"

=/=

Kathy felt heat reach all the way up to her ears. "Th - those idiots!" She mumbled. "Shouting embarrassing things like that...! When I get out there, I'll..."

But, honestly... she did not entirely dislike this. She turned to her opponent, expecting to find her laughing, but instead, Annie's face showed only anger.

"Hmpfh. If those clowns you have for teammates think they can help you win like this..." She left the sentence unfinished. However, to the puzzled Kathy, it sounded less like a derogatory comment, and more of a spiteful one.

And then, understanding dawned on her.

"You... your teammates would never cheer you on like this, would they?"

"O - of course not!" Annie snapped. "As if we would ever do something this embarrassing! Who do you take us for? Either way, just get on with your turn, so I can wrap up this joke!"

Kathy silently drew another card. She was behind, she knew, both in cards and in damage. But... somehow, even if it was a little silly... she felt like there was a chance now.

"Ride, Demon Eater!" She called out. Her Vanguard transfigured into a young woman, clad in a thin white, two-piece shift. Her most distinguishing feature was her extremely long, dark green hair, that floated behind her as if they had a will of her own. However, no sooner had she settled on the field, that she stepped on the numerous caltrops left behind by Lydia, and cried out in pain as her Power dropped to 7000.

Demon Eater (Grade 3 / 10000 Power)

"Demon Eater's skill, Soul Charge." Kathy stated, placing a sixth card underneath the Vanguard circle. Edel Rose... "Demon Eater gains plus 2000 Power."

[Soul Charge: Edel Rose]

"And now I call a second Demon Eater, and then Blue Dust." Another copy of her Vanguard, dress in light green rather than white, materialized in the empty column, and Blue Dust appeared before Hysteric Shirley.

Demon Eater (Grade 3 / 10000 Power)

Blue Dust (Grade 2 / 9000 Power)

"With Shirley's boost, Blue Dust attacks!" Kathy ordered, and the white-haired mage prepared an ice spell, launching forth a frozen sphere. Even though Shirley had been weakened, their combined Power still reached 11000, enough to break through Denmother's own.

"I will take this attack. Check." Annie allowed the strike to whirl through her tiger, who writhed in the sudden cold. Even as she placed a third card on her damage zone, though, she seemed pleased. "Looks like luck favors me today. Critical trigger! Power and critical to Denmother!"

[Damage Check: Bloodfang Cobra (Critical trigger)]

Kathy groaned in frustration. Nothing she did worked! Trigger after trigger, her opponent steadily paved the way to victory, but she... well, at least she could still bet on Eater's Twin Drive. "Blue Dust's skill, Soul Charge." Another card was placed in the Soul. "And now I attack the Vanguard with Demon Eater, using Trauma Queen's boost!"

[Soul Charge: Doreen the Thruster]

Annie frowned slightly. "Well, there is no sense in allowing you to get a critical trigger hit in, at this point." She said. "I guard with Centaur Lancer." The spear-wielding half-man half-horse appeared between the Denmother, whose attack was already higher than the combined force of Kathy's Units, roaring haughtily.

"Twin drive!" If she got something good here... Damnit. "No trigger." All that was left... "Second check!" But before her disbelieving eyes, only Gwynn the Ripper appeared. How... how could this be happening?

[Drive Check: March Rabbit of Nightmareland]

[Drive Check: Gwynn the Ripper]

"It seems your luck has entirely abandoned you." Annie said. "Not that it would matter. This is over, anyway."

"Turn end." Kathy called bitterly. She was not even being allowed a chance...

Kathy (Hand: 3, Soul: 7, Drop: 2)
• Damage: 4 (U/U/U/U)
• Field:
(R) Blue Dust (9000) - Hysteric Shirley (4000)
(V) Demon Eater (10000) - Trauma Queen (4000)
(R) Demon Eater (10000) - N/A

Annie (Hand: 3, Soul: 3, Drop: 2)
• Damage: 3 (F/U/U)
• Field:
(R) N/A - N/A
(V) Tigress Denmother (9000) - Ivory (7000)
(R) N/A - Centaur Lancer (8000)

"Stand and draw." Annie's confidence was unwavering. She knew she was ahead, she knew she was winning. To her, it had been a predetermined conclusion from the start. "Appear now, the wild spirit of the desert gales! Ride, Viper Fang Lydia!" The Unit Kathy had already familiarized herself with from before materialized in place of the tiger.

Viper Fang Lydia (Grade 3 / 9000 Power)

"Next, I call Centaur Warlord and Sacred Grove Protector!" A massive red-armored centaur, armed with twin scimitars and a dragon-like steel helmet, appeared before his smaller counterpart. On the other side, a hunched, aged elf wizard, dressed in green and white, and carrying an oaken stave, formed from within a cloud of dead leaves.

Centaur Warlord (Grade 2 / 10000 Power)

Sacred Grove Protector (Grade 2 / 3000 Power)

Grade 2 and only 3000 Power? Kathy frowned. And, it has been placed in the back row...

"Sacred Grove Protector's skill, Counter Blast." Annie placed a finger underneath the Vanguard. "This magician call call forth the guardians of the clan to his aid from the Soul! Return to me, Ebony!" The pitch-black panther appeared again in front of the summoner, completing the six-unit array of her field.

"First, to deal with that Intercept. Ebony attacks Blue Dust! With Ivory's presence, Power plus 3000!" The wild spirit beast lunged forward, striking the opposing demon mage and causing him to dissipate into motes of blue light.

"Next, the main show. I boost with Ivory and attack your Vanguard Demon Eater with Lydia! At this moment, Lydia's Vanguard effect triggers! When she attacks, she gains 1000 Power for every Wildmen Rear Guard on my field!" Empowered by her allies, the amazon warrior smirked, readying her weapons. "For a total of 21000 Power, finish her!"

=/=

"This is the critical point..." Engel muttered. "Depending on her move now..."

"She has March Rabbit in her hand." Ray observed. "She can fully block this hit safely."

However...

=/=

Kathy's fingers trembled on the edge of her perfect guard. She had to play it, she knew she had to. That would be the logical choice... defending herself against the Vanguard at four damage was common sense. A single critical trigger could throw you out of the game.

But...

If Annie got a Critical trigger, the effects would all go to Warlord. With a single card in her hand, there would be no way to block that, and she would lose anyway. If she did not... if she directed her last attack at Kathy's Rear Guard instead, Kathy would be left with only four damage - but one less Unit. Also, her last-ditch gamble, Demon Eater's skill, would be invalidated. And, all things considered, Annie had already removed two Critical triggers from her deck. She did not know what her exact trigger lineup was, but it was likely she didn't have that many left. Then, indeed, the only chance was...

"No guard."

Annie's smirk faltered, and she frowned. "Fine, then. Twin drive, first check." She pulled out a card and examined it briefly, while Kathy's breath caught in her throat. Then, she closed her eyes and turned it around. "No trigger."

[Drive Check: Scout Eagle]

"You're not out of the woods yet... second check." She muttered. "Tsk." Wordlessly, she turned around a second copy of the same card. Kathy felt a huge weight lift from her shoulders. She had done it. She had made the correct choice...

[Drive Check: Scout Eagle]

"Damage check.. no trigger." She said. Her fifth card positioned itself next to the others. She was a slip away from defeat... but for now, she had survived.

[Damage Check: Decadent Succubus]

"Don't forget Ivory's effect!" Annie declared. "When she boosts and the attack hits, I can weaken one of your rear guards... I target your rear guard Demon Eater!" This, and the placement of the weak Grove Protector in the backrow... clearly, she was trying to play around getting hit by one of the two Demon Eaters.

"Boosted by Lancer, Warlord attacks the Vanguard!" Annie barked.

"March Rabbit!" Kathy declared. "By dropping Gwynn, I negate this attack!"

"...if Sacred Grove Protector is on the field, Ebony and Ivory can both remain. Turn... end." Outwardly, she maintained her composure. But... the slight twitching of her fingers, the rough edge in her voice... clearly, she was feeling the control that she had held at the beginning of the turn slip away.

Kathy (Hand: 1, Soul: 7, Drop: 5)
• Damage: 5 (U/U/U/U/U)
• Field:
(R) N/A - Hysteric Shirley (4000)
(V) Demon Eater (10000) - Trauma Queen (4000)
(R) Demon Eater (10000) - N/A

Annie (Hand: 3, Soul: 3, Drop: 2)
• Damage: 3 (F/F/U)
• Field:
(R) Ebony (7000) - Sacred Grove Protector (3000)
(V) Viper Fang Lydia (9000) - Ivory (7000)
(R) Centaur Warlord (10000) - Centaur Lancer (8000)

"Stand... and draw." With this...

"D - don't get too confident!" Annie, catching her gaze, snapped. "I'm still at three damage! If you think you can finish me off this turn, you're sadly mistaken!"

"Demon Eater's Soul Charge." Kathy added the critical eight card to her Soul. Now... both requirements for Demon Eater's second skill had been unlocked. "Power plus 2000." All that was left, was landing a hit.

[Soul Charge: March Rabbit of Nightmareland]

"I call Werewolf Zieger in front of Shirley, and Bloody Calf behind Demon Eater." Another black armored werewolf appeared on the right side, and then a blonde girl with flashy purple armor, and huge curved blades attached to her boots jumped behind the weakened Demon Eater. "I do not use Bloody Calf's effect."

Werewolf Zieger (Grade 2 / 10000 Power)

Bloody Calf (Grade 1 / 7000 Power)

"Boosted by Bloody Calf, my rear guard Demon Eater attacks Centaur Warlord." She didn't need to land a hit on the opposing Vanguard... just any hit would do! But, predictably, Annie slammed a card between the two units.

"I guard with Bloodfang Cobra!" The venomous serpent hissed, getting in the way of the demonic maiden who, apparently afraid of snakes, retreated with a terrified yelp.

"Then I attack again, Centaur Warlord, with the Vanguard!" Driven to desperation, Kathy only had this last maneuver to make. "With Trauma Queen's boost, Power is 16000!" The two units Annie had previously checked were both Grade 1, with 5000 Shield. If she got a trigger...

"Guard, two Scout Eagles." Once more, Annie's play was fully expected. Even if she had to risk the appearance of a trigger... "Scout Eagle's effect." She said abruptly. "Counter Blast one - Shield plus 5000." Her third and final unflipped damage turned over, and with this quiet comment, she shot down Kathy's last hope.

"N - no..." She whispered. Annie looked at her.

"What are you getting so depressed about?" She demanded. "One Stand trigger, and you can - " She paused suddenly, as she caught the answer on Kathy's face. A cruel smirk returned to her lips. "You... it's not possible that you changed your deck, to remove your Stand triggers, is it?"

Kathy felt like wailing. After the preliminary match, she had, indeed, opted to make her deck more brute power, especially with how useful White Dust had proven to her. So, after Engel and Basil had brought forth some cards to trade during the break, she had dropped the two Stand triggers she had been using, exchanging them for two more copies of White Dust. And now, because she had neglected to check the effect of a card she didn't know about...

"What's wrong?" Annie shouted at her. "What happened to that confident expression you had before?"

"D - drive trigger..." She whispered. There was no heart in her. The will to fight had disappeared. The match was over. She picked up a card between trembling fingers... a bright crimson icon shone in the edge.

[Drive Check: Hysteric Shirley (Draw trigger)]

"Draw trigger..." She muttered. She was just about to assign Power to Werewolf, when...

Hold on. Werewolf can hit anyway - and regardless, Werewolf's hit won't decide the game. But, even with this... there are a lot of triggers in my deck. If, by any chance, by some remote chance...

"Quit stalling!" Annie snapped. "You know you've lost, so just give up and admit defeat!"

"I..." Kathy steadied herself. You can do it. It was not just her own self who believed in her. For her team, as well - ! "I draw, and apply Power to the Vanguard!" Shining with scarlet energy, Demon Eater powered up to 21000. But, the impregnable wall of 25000 defense still stood firm.

"You... do you know what you're doing?" Annie snapped. "If you don't draw a second trigger now, this will have been for nothing!"

"I know!" Kathy placed her hand on the deck. "I know..." Even if the chance barely existed, this was the only method. And the courage she had received from her teammates was now helping her acknowledge that one method, and bravely tread into the uncertain, dark path to victory. "Even so..." Despite the pressure, despite her need to be in control...

"I can take this risk! Drive trigger..."

"CHECK!"

[Drive Check: White Dust (Critical trigger)]

"...n - no..." Annie staggered backwards, as if unable to believe this result. Kathy hardly believed it herself - yet here it was. A second trigger.

"Critical trigger, activate!" Kathy shouted. "Power to the Vanguard! Critical to Zieger!" Further empowered by a massive golden glow, Demon Eater's eyes widened, as the insane magical power coursing through her, transmitted from her body to the wild strands of her hair, reached breaking point. She caught the two eagles with these locks, strangling them until they dispersed with pained groans. Then, forming spear-like points, they proceeded to impale the centaur, who was purged from the field almost instantly.

"Demon Eater's attack hits." Kathy declared. "And this means..." She placed her hand underneath the first card of her damage zone, and proceeded to turn them over all at once. "Counter Blast five..." She dragged out every card that had assembled in the Soul, and dropped them on the discard pile. "Soul Blast eight..."

Demon Eater surged with renewed power, bolts of emerald lightning coursing through her hair, which sprang to life, growing to twice their original length, and spreading in all directions, forming demonic visages.

"Megablast! Every one of your Rear Guards is Retired! Midnight Massacre!"

It happened in an instant. Faster than the speed of sound, the murderous mass of hair split into four branches, each lunging towards a different direction. One grabbed the young centaur and tore him in half, splitting his human and horse halves. The second snuck behind Lydia, and lifted the white wolf high into the air, before dragging him down to the earth with such force that the beast's body was broken. The last two snatched the elf summoner and the black panther, and speared through them, obliterating both in an instant.

"..." No cards on the field or her hand, except for her Vanguard. Annie knew that, in those few seconds, her formerly almost assured victory had completely disappeared.

"I attack with Werewolf and Shirley!" With nothing to defend herself even against this relatively weak attack, Annie shrugged helplessly. She didn't even speak as she checked two cards, even when a Heal trigger was pointlessly activated - even though this was her fifth damage, her opponent still stood at higher damage at the time of the check.

[Damage Check: Tigress Saber]

[Damage Check: Sublime Spiria (Heal trigger)]

"Turn end." Kathy sighed.

Kathy (Hand: 3, Soul: 0, Drop: 13)
• Damage: 5 (F/F/F/F/F)
• Field:
(R) Werewolf Zieger (10000) - Hysteric Shirley (4000)
(V) Demon Eater (10000) - Trauma Queen (4000)
(R) Demon Eater (10000) - Bloody Calf (7000)

Annie (Hand: 0, Soul: 3, Drop: 10)
• Damage: 5 (F/F/F/U/U)
• Field:
(R) N/A - N/A
(V) Viper Fang Lydia (9000) - N/A
(R) N/A - N/A

"...draw." Understandably, Annie seemed hardly willing to continue. "I call Sublime Spiria." A second Heal trigger... a white-clad angelic figure with rich bronze hair, holding a lean, almost translucent sabre, appeared behind Lydia.

Sublime Spiria (Grade 0 / 5000 Power)

"With Spiria's boost and Lydia's skill, Power 15000. I attack the Vanguard." Kathy considered only for a second.

"Guard! White Dust, Hysteric Shirley, Prisoner Beast!" She was not about to be done in by the same luck that had enabled her to pull off the Megablast last turn favoring her opponent, not when she didn't need these cards to win. With a small choking sound, Annie pulled out her checks. No triggers appeared.

[Drive Check: Tigress Dragon]

[Drive Check: Gold-Wing Dragonhawk]

"Just finish it." She said bitterly.

Kathy (Hand: 0, Soul: 0, Drop: 16)
• Damage: 5 (F/F/F/F/F)
• Field:
(R) Werewolf Zieger (10000) - Hysteric Shirley (4000)
(V) Demon Eater (10000) - Trauma Queen (4000)
(R) Demon Eater (10000) - Bloody Calf (7000)

Annie (Hand: 2, Soul: 3, Drop: 10)
• Damage: 5 (F/F/F/U/U)
• Field:
(R) N/A - N/A
(V) Viper Fang Lydia (9000) - Sublime Spiria (5000)
(R) N/A - N/A

Kathy nodded. "Draw, and Soul Charge. Power plus 2000."

[Soul Charge: Cursed Doctor (Heal trigger)]

"With Shirley's boost, Zieger attacks!" Annie just shook her head. The hit landed, and, unceremoniously, the final damage was dealt.

[Damage Check: Mist Condor]

"So, there you have it." She said. "One win for you guys. But don't be conceited. You pulled some luck with your last ditch effort - miracles won't always bail you out. That's what teammates are for. You may have beaten me, but your team will never beat ours."

No. Kathy thought, as she quietly receded back to the team's preparation room.

That's not all teammates are for.

Custom Cards:

Grade 0:

Sublime Spiria
Grade 0 | Boost | Heal Trigger
Lost East | Wildmen | Elf
5000 | 10000 | 1

=/=

Grade 1:

Tigress Saber
Grade 1 | Boost
Lost East | Wildmen | War Beast
6000 | 5000 | 1
• [Passive] (V): If you have "Tigress Cub" in your Soul, this Unit has +2000 Power.
• [Auto] (R) (Discard 1 Grade 3 Wildmen from your hand): When this Unit appears as a Rear Guard, you may pay the cost. If so, search your deck for 1 "Tigress Dragon" and add it to your hand, then shuffle your deck.

Ebony
Grade 1 | Boost
Lost East | Wildmen | Spirit Beast
7000 | 5000 | 1
• [Auto] (R): When this Unit attacks, and you have an "Ivory" Rear Guard, this Unit gains +3000 Power for that battle.
• [Auto] (R): During your End Phase, if you have an "Ivory" Rear Guard, you must move "Ebony" and "Ivory" Rear Guards to your Soul until you do not have an "Ebony" and an "Ivory" Rear Guard.

Ivory
Grade 1 | Boost
Lost East | Wildmen | Spirit Beast
7000 | 5000 | 1
• [Auto] (R): When the attack of the Wildmen boosted by this Unit hits, and you have an "Ebony" Rear Guard, select 1 of your opponent's Rear Guards. That Unit loses -2000 Power until your next Stand Phase.
• [Auto] (R): During your End Phase, if you have an "Ebony" Rear Guard, you must move "Ebony" and "Ivory" Rear Guards to your Soul until you do not have an "Ebony" and an "Ivory" Rear Guard.

=/=

Grade 2:

Tigress Denmother
Grade 2 | Intercept
Lost East | Wildmen | War Beast
9000 | 5000 | 1
• [Passive] (V): If you have "Tigress Cub" in your Soul, this Unit has +1000 Power.
• [Auto] (V): When this Unit appears as a Vanguard, select 1 Wildmen in your hand and call it to a Rear Guard circle. During your End Phase, return that Unit to your hand.

Sacred Grove Protector
Grade 2 | Intercept
Lost East | Wildmen | Elf
3000 | 5000 | 1
• [Auto] (V/R): When the effect of "Ebony" or "Ivory" activates during your End Phase, you can negate it until your next Stand Phase.
• [Auto] (R) (CB1): When this Unit appears as a Rear Guard, and you have a Wildmen Vanguard, you may pay the cost. If so, select 1 "Ebony" or 1 "Ivory" from your Soul and call it as a Rear Guard.

=/=

Grade 3:

Viper Fang Lydia
Grade 3 | Twin Drive!
Lost East | Wildmen | Human
9000 | N/A | 1
• [Auto] (V): When this Unit attacks, this Unit gains +1000 Power for each of your Wildmen Rear Guards.
• [Auto] (V/R) (CB1): When this Unit's attack hits, you may pay the cost. If so, during your opponent's next turn, when a Unit appears in the Vanguard or Rear Guard circle that the attacked Unit was on, that Unit loses -3000 Power until that turn's End Phase.

Nation Profile: Lost East

A vast, largely desolate region to the far east of the civilized lands, beyond the boundaries of the Dragon Empire. It can hardly be called a nation, for its inhabitants are mostly known for their unwillingness to bend knee to any form of recognized political leadership. Whether they sought refuge from the imperialistic tendencies of the Kagero armies, or simply the solitude of the wilds, they have formed a strong front in these lands, and though they will never unite in an invasion, if the war comes to them, they will fight tooth and claw for their lives and their freedom. The groups currently housed in the region that is collectively known as the Lost East are the Wildmen, the Bronze Crusade, and the Earthwall.

(( Lost East is the one of the two fake nations I have created. All Lost Nation clans, one way or another, have a defensive focus. ))

Clan Profile: Wildmen (Lost East)

It is unknown when the Wildmen first loosely united, or who was responsible for that union. However, over the years, they have claimed their rightful place in the desert with their formidable strength. They are a group of feral beings who are completely in tune with their natural environment. They reside mostly in tall hills and mountains, respecting the secrets hidden in the sand. They have tamed the beasts of the desert and the surrounding highlands and made them part of their own kin, and they now fight alongside them. They answer only to their pride and honor, and wield the ability to raise the very land they live on against their enemies.

The focus of the Wildmen clan resides in using units with skills that synergize with each other, such as Ivory and Ebony. They also have limited capability to swarm and retrieve their Units after attack in order to defend them. Their distinguishing feature, though, is their ability to cripple the opponent's offensive efforts by weakening the Power of their units for the duration of their turn.