27A/N: okay, I know it's been a while, but I have some things to tell/explain: prior to April 23 2018, I had several chapters for The New Age already finished (with help from Terminus Zwei, seriously, go check out his work, and leave some good reviews) along with plans for other fanfics, then on the night of April 23, my tablet went into an infinite loop reboot, and wouldn't stop. I have all my data on my external SD card, but I can't get to it without rooting my new tablet, and that's something I'm not comfortable risking. So rather than trying to get the stuff I can't remember for the most part, I decided to start fresh. If you're wondering about my Pokemon fanfic, that one is still early in the story, so I can rewrite some things on it, and possibly give the characters better Pokemon for their teams, possibly.
There were rumors online, a mysterious cardfighter that uses a Kagero deck, he goes from card shop to card shop, challenges the best players, and beating them. Rumors were notorious for not having much merit, but not to Megan Sendou, (a girl with blue hair that reaches her back, the same color eyes, and right now wearing PJs) she's been tracking this person by following their path, the next shop in town was her regular: The Fire Plates. The current time read 8:30 at night, tomorrow was the day she finally meets the third person for her and her cousin, Greg's team.
The next day, Megan woke up at 7:30 in the morning, wearing a comfortable tank top and blue jeans, her cousin Greg Katsuragi has Ruby red eyes, orange hair, and wears a black vest over a white shirt, and black colored slacks.
"Megan, are you sure this guy will show up at the shop?" Greg asked.
"Of course, he only goes to shops, he hasn't entered any official tournaments at all, as far as I know." Megan answered.
Greg chuckled for a second, then sighed, he can't help but be curious of Megan's plan here. But then again, he and his cousin are the two strongest fighters at the shop, and that's all the mysterious fighter goes after. The inside to The Fire Plates was plain to look at, but it had several shelves of packs, and has 2 levels. The first level where everyone hangs out, and can buy cards, the lower level had a staircase leading to it, and has a lone fight table
After the two entered the shop, they took seats at a table, cards and pack spread over the the tabletop.
"Okay, here's my current deck build, what do you think?" Greg asked.
"I can see what you're going for, that specific number of attacks would definitely be devestating to any opponent." Megan answered as she spread her attack combo on the table.
"You still don't have Soul Saver Dragon in the deck? It works great with what your optimal formation looks like" Greg started.
"It's a pretty rare card, getting a hold of it isn't easy." Megan answered.
"Eh, that's true enough." Greg quipped.
The two cousins began laughing for a bit; however, they didn't realize that someone just entered the shop, brown hair, green eyes, and wearing a blue colored school uniform with black shoes. A slight gaze on his face, looking over the cashier, a lone person standing behind it took inventory, he has white colored hair, and wears a smock over a business suit.
The boy walked to the cashier, and gave a simple "excuse me".
The white haired man turned to see the boy, and smiled "hey, my name's kyle, welcome, how can I help you?" Kyle asked.
"I'm looking for the strongest fighters here." The brown haired boy stated.
"Oh, Megan and Greg would definitely fit the bill, they're sitting over there." Kyle said as he pointed to the two.
"Thank you very much." The boy stated.
The boy left Kyle to his work, and walked over to Greg and Megan. The former saw the brown haired boy walking over to them, and hailed him over, Megan turned to see him.
"Welcome to the shop, the name's Greg Katsuragi." Greg introduced.
"Megan, Megan Sendou." Megan also introduced.
"The name's Tom, Tom Toshiki." The brown haired boy stated
With formalities out of the way, Greg invited Tom to sit down with them, which he did graciously.
"So, what brings you here?" Greg asked.
"I'm looking for the strongest fighters I can find." Tom stated.
"Wait. Doesn't that make you?" Megan asked.
"The mysterious fighter, yes, I know the rumors made about me as well." Tom stated
Greg smirked, he knew how much Megan wanted to fight this guy, but he had to take the first fight.
"Megan and I are the strongest fighters here, but she's better than me, if you want to fight her, you'll have to fight me first." Greg declared.
Tom and Megan stared at him for different reasons, and blinked.
"Very well, I look forward to this." Tom stated.
The two boys got up, and made their way to the lower level that has a lone fight table. Megan followed to watch from the rail.
"What are you thinking Greg?" Megan thought.
As for Greg, he stared at Tom, smirking. Tom looked at Greg, but the both of them prepared their fields nonetheless.
"Even if I lose, Megan's up next, and she will know how his deck works. Then if she wins, this guy will become the third member for our team!" Greg thought. Sure, he was skeptical at first, but now with the prospect of having a tournament league team, he's excited.
"If you're ready, then let's begin." Tom stated.
"Gladly." Was all Greg said.
"Stand up."
"The"
"Vanguard!"
With that declaration, the battlefield on Cray activated, a ragged terrain where dragons and other powerful reptiles roamed surrounded the two fighters as they took their spirit forms.
"Lizard Runner Undeux (6000)!" Tom revealed.
Tom's spirit took possession of a humanoid lizard with red skin and some form of armor, he carries two beam swords.
"Battleraizer (6000)!" Greg revealed.
Greg's spirit became the pilot to a white and red colored robot that seems to look like a fighter of some sort.
"I'll go first, draw,and ride Raizer Custom (8000)!" Greg declared
Battleraizer morphed into an orange robot with green plating for the pilot's seat.
"Draw one card through Battleraizer's skill, then I send a card from my hand to the soul, and now I attack your vanguard (8000),drive minus one!" Greg informed
"No guard." Tom decided
Raizer Custom landed a sucker punch to Undeux's face which caught the lizard by surprise
[Damage check: Dragon Armored Knight - no trigger]
"That ends my turn." Greg informed.
Greg - Tom
5 - hand - 5
0 - damage - 1
2 - soul - 0
0 - counterblast - 0
Accel Circle: N/A
Empty, empty - empty, empty
Empty, Raizer Custom - Lizard Runner Undeux, empty
Empty, empty - empty, empty
"Draw, and ride Embodiment of Armor Bahr (8000)!" Tom declared.
Undeux's body morphed into a demonic armor keeping a blue colored spirit trapped in it, the body carries a single sword.
"Draw a card through Undeux's skill, then call Flame of Hope Aremo (8000)!" Tom added.
"Greg took an early advantage through Raizer Custom's effect, let's see if he can keep it up." Megan thought.
"With support from Aremo, Bahr attacks, Aremo gets 3000 power when it boosts (19000)!" Tom declared.
"No guard." Greg decided.
[Drive check: Berserk Dragon - no trigger]
Bahr, with Aremo's strength, ignited his sword, then slashed Raizer Custom
[Damage check: Death Army Guy - no trigger]
"That ends my turn." Tom informed.
Greg - Tom
5 - hand - 6
1 - damage - 1
2 - soul - 1
0 - counterblast - 0
Accel Circle: N/A
Empty, empty - empty, empty
Empty, Raizer Custom - Embodiment of Armor Bahr, Flame of Hope Aremo
Empty, empty - empty, empty
"Draw, and ride Burstraizer (9000)!" Greg declared.
Greg's vanguard morphed once again, this time into an enhanced version of Battleraizer with several different types of augmented armor, and slightly taller as well.
"Call Jetrizer (7000) and Iron Killer (9000), Jetrizer powers up (10000)!" Greg declared.
"I see, he's keeping his other Raizer Custom in reserves to keep it safe from Kagero's specialty." Megan thought.
"Burstraizer attacks your vanguard (9000)!" Greg declared.
"No guard." Tom decided
[Drive check: Turboraizer - Front trigger]
"With a front trigger revealed, add 10000 power to every unit in my front row (Burstraizer:19000, Iron Killer:19000)!" Greg informed.
Burstraizer struck Bahr in the gut, the demon coughed up some blood.
[Damage check: Embodiment of Armor Bahr - no trigger]
"With support from Jetraizer, Iron Killer attacks your vanguard (29000)!" Greg declared.
"Gojo and Rakshasa guard (25000)!" Tom countered.
I end my turn." Greg decided
Greg - Tom
4 - hand - 4
1 - damage - 2
2 - soul - 1
0 - counterblast - 0
Accel Circle: N/A
Jetrizer, Iron Killer - empty, empty
Empty, Burstraizer - Embodiment of Armor Bahr, Flame of Hope Aremo
Empty, empty - empty, empty
"Stand and draw, and ride Dragon Knight Nehalem (10000)!" Tom declared
Bahr transformed, this time into a blue leather armored knight riding a brown scaled dragon. He carries a spear and shield.
"Call Lizard Soldier Raopia (8000) and Berserk Dragon (10000), counter blast and soul blast: retire Iron Killer, and I draw 1 card. Next: Raopia gets 5000 power (13000), and Aremo sends itself to the soul, and I countercharge 1." Tom informed.
"No way, he refunded his Berserk Dragon's effect." Greg thought.
"Nehalem attacks your vanguard (10000)!" Tom declared.
"I don't guard." Greg decided
[Drive check: Wyvern Guard Barri - draw trigger]
"Power to Berserk Dragon (20000), draw 1 card." Tom informed.
Nehalem readied his dragon, which slashed Burstraizer in the chest
[Damage check: Twin Blader - draw trigger]
"Power to my vanguard (19000), and I draw." Greg informed.
"With support from Raopia, Berserk Dragon attacks the vanguard, add 3000 power with his skill (36000)!" Tom declared
"No guard." Greg decided
[Damage check: Hi-powered Raizer Custom - no trigger]
"I end my turn." Tom informed.
Greg - Tom
5 - hand - 5
3 - damage - 2
2 - soul - 2
0 - counterblast - 0
Accel Circle:N/A
Jetraizer, empty - empty, empty
Empty, Burstraizer - Dragon Knight Nehalem, empty
Empty, empty - Berserk Dragon, Lizard Soldier Raopia
"I stand and draw!" Greg declared.
"If Greg wants to win." Megan began the thought.
"He'll have to finish the game this turn." Tom thought.
"Now descend to the fight, and ride Perfect Raizer (12000)!" Greg declared.
Greg's vanguard morphed, this time the red is deep crimson, and it stands taller than Nehalem does on his dragon.
"Imaginary Gift: Accel, create a new rearguard circle, and call Asura Kaiser to that circle (12000)!" Greg declared.
"A new rearguard circle, so in essence I have to deal with four attacks." Tom thought.
"That's not all, Asura Kaiser gets 10000 power just by being on that circle (22000) call Hi-powered Raizer Custom (9000), call Battleraizer from the soul with the skill, then call Iron Killer (9000) and Death Army Guy (9000)!" Greg added.
"Greg's full power formation in complete now." Megan thought.
"Jetraizer gets 15000 with it's skill (22000)!" Greg informed.
"Six rearguard units, at minimum: 4 attacks to deal with." Tom thought.
"Asura Kaiser attacks Berserk Dragon (22000)!" Greg declared.
"No guard." Tom decided as he sent the card to the drop zone.
"Next: Iron Killer attacks Nehalem, add 3000 power (12000)!" Greg declared.
[Damage check: Dragon Knight Nehalem - no trigger]
"He didn't boost that time, makes sense since Jetraizer can't stand by itself." Tom thought.
"Perfect Raizer attacks with Death Army Guy's boost (21000), then I counterblast and stand both Iron Killer and Asura Kaiser!" Greg declared.
"Barri will guard that (perfect guard)!" Tom countered
[Drive check: Red Lightning - critical trigger]
"All effects to Asura Kaiser (32000, 2 critical)!" Greg revealed
[Drive check: Turboraizer - Front trigger]
"All units in the front row power up (Asura Kaiser:42000, Perfect Raizer:31000, Iron Killer:19000, Hi-powered Raizer Custom:19000)!" Greg informed.
Perfect Raizer launched a mega punch at Nehalem, but a silver armored knight riding a red wyvern blocked the attack.
"Since Greg hasn't attacked with Hi-powered Raizer Custom yet, he can potentially use it's skill for his seventh attack." Megan thought.
"Asura Kaiser attacks your vanguard (42000, 2 critical)!" Greg declared.
"No guard." Tom decided
[Wyvern Guard Barri - draw trigger]
"Power to my vanguard (20000), and draw." Tom revealed
[Damage check: Dragon Monk Genjo - heal trigger]
"Power to my vanguard (30000), and recover 1 damage." Tom revealed.
"He has four damage, but Hi-powered Raizer Custom isn't strong enough to deal damage, and if it can't, I can't stand Asura Kaiser for the seventh attack." Greg thought.
"I wasn't expecting a heal trigger, but with Nehalem at 30000 power, Hi-powered Raizer Custom's skill won't need to be guarded, and Iron Killer's power can be easily guarded." Tom thought.
"With support from Jetraizer, Iron Killer attack the vanguard, add 3000, with it's skill (44000)!" Greg declared.
"Rakshasa will guard (15000)!" Tom countered.
"I end my turn." Greg informed.
Greg - Tom
3 - hand - 3
3 - damage - 4
2 - soul - 2
2 - counterblast - 0
Accel Circle: Asura Kaiser
Jetraizer, Iron Killer - empty, empty
Death Army Guy, Perfect Raizer - Dragon Knight Nehalem, empty
Battleraizer, Hi-powered Raizer Custom - empty, Lizard Soldier Raopia
"I stand and draw!" Tom declared.
"With the luck of a second trigger, Greg couldn't unleash his Seventh attack, oh well, too bad." Megan thought.
"Now burn everything to ash with the flames of apocalypse, ride Dragonic Overlord (13000)!" Tom declared.
Tom's vanguard transformed into a huge bipedal red dragon that carries a single sword, it's wings look like they're made of flames.
"Imaginary Gift: Force, apply to the vanguard (23000), soul blast, add 10000 power (33000)!" Tom declared.
"Oh crap!" Greg thought.
"Call: Berserk Dragon (10000), counter blast and soul blast: retire Iron Killer, draw 1 card, and Raopia gets 5000 power (13000), call Bahr (8000), counter blast and soul blast, retire Death Army Guy, add 5000 to Raopia (18000) and call Nehalem, counterblast: retire Battleraizer, add 5000, power to both Nehalem (15000) and Raopia (23000)!" Tom informed as he preformed all the actions
"I'm done for!" Greg thought.
"Dragonic Overlord attacks Hi-powered Raizer Custom (33000)!" Tom declared.
"No guard." Greg decided
[Drive check: Embodiment of Spear Tahr - critical trigger]
"All effects to Overlord (43000, 2 critical)!" Tom revealed
[Drive check: Crested Dragon - no trigger]
"At least he struck down a rearguard." Megan thought.
"With Overlord's skill, counterblast and discard 2 cards from my hand, stand the vanguard, drive minus one, and add 5000 to Raopia (28000)." Tom informed.
"Overlord's specialty, with a second vanguard attack, if he can get another critical trigger, provided Greg doesn't get a heal trigger, then it's over." Megan thought.
"With support from Bahr, Overlord attacks your vanguard (51000)!" Tom declared.
"I don't guard!" Greg decided.
"With Perfect Raizer at 12000, that's the best play he has right now. 45000 in shield value, if he guarded Overlord's attack here, he'd be vulnerable to Berserk Dragon and Raopia." Megan thought.
[Drive check: Demon Dragon Mage Rakshasa - critical trigger]
"Power to Berserk Dragon (20000), critical to Overlord (3 critical)!" Tom declared.
Overlord flew close, then stabbed Perfect Raizer with it's sword three different times. The now broken machine got on it's knees as it can't support itself any more
[Damage check: Perfect Raizer - no trigger]
[Damage check: Burstraizer - no trigger]
[Damage check: Wall Boy - heal trigger]
"I got a heal trigger, power to my vanguard (22000) and recover 1 damage!" Greg informed.
"Nehalem attacks Asura Kaiser (15000)!" Tom declared.
"What!? Why?" Greg asked as he sent the card to the drop zone.
"He's not strong enough to attack Perfect Raizer at this point, and it will add power to Raopia (33000)" Tom answered.
"Even if I drew a card, it wouldn't give me the units I need to turn this fight around." Greg thought as he stared at the cards in his hand.
"With support from Raopia, Berserk Dragon attack your vanguard, add 3000 power with the skill (56000)!" Tom declared.
"Two Turboraizers and Red Lightning guard (45000)!" Greg countered.
"I end my turn." Tom informed.
Greg - Tom
0 - hand - 2
5 - damage - 4
2 - soul - 0
1 - counterblast - 4
Accel Circle: Empty
Jetraizer, empty - Dragon Knight Nehalem, empty
Empty, Perfect Raizer - Dragonic Overlord, Embodiment of Armor Bahr
Empty, empty - Berserk Dragon, Lizard Soldier Raopia
"Stand and draw." Greg declared.
"I'm curious to see what Greg does." Tom thought.
"I call Burstraizer (9000), add 3000 to Jetraizer (10000), and with support from Jetraizer, Burstraizer attacks Overlord (19000)!" Greg declared.
[Damage check: Berserk Dragon - no trigger]
"Perfect Raizer attacks (12000) and with Burstraizer's skill, it stands, add 3000 power (12000), and Perfect Raizer stands Turboraizer with his skill as well!" Greg declared.
"Tahr will guard (15000)!" Tom countered.
[Drive check: Perfect Raizer - no trigger]
[Drive check: Jetraizer - no trigger]
Perfect Raizer made a move to sucker punch Overlord, but a demon spear possessing a farmer of some kind blocked the attack.
"With support from Jetraizer, Burstraizer attacks the vanguard (22000)!" Greg declared.
"Berserk Dragon and Nehalem intercept (10000)!" Tom countered.
"I end my turn." Greg decided.
Greg - Tom
2 - hand - 2
5 - damage - 5
1 - soul - 0
4 - counterblast - 4
Accel Circle: empty
Jetraizer, Burstraizer - empty, empty
Empty, Perfect Raizer - Dragonic Overlord, Embodiment of Armor Bahr
Empty, empty - empty, Lizard Soldier Raopia
"Stand and draw." Tom called out.
"The Force Gift is reaplied to Overlord's power, so now it's at 23000." Megan thought.
"Ride once more, the dragon that brings down the flames of Apocalypse, Dragonic Overlord (13000)!" Tom declared.
"The same unit, again?" Greg thought.
"Imaginary Gift: Force, apply to the vanguard (33000), and soul blast for another power boost (43000), I move Raopia up, and Overlord attacks Burstraizer (43000)!" Tom declared.
"No guard." Greg informed
[Drive check: Dragon Monk Genjo - heal trigger]
"Power to Raopia (18000) and recover 1 damage." Tom revealed.
[Drive check: Demonic Dragon Mage Rakshasa - critical trigger]
"Power to Raopia (28000), critical to my vanguard (2 critical)." Tom revealed
"With Burstraizer being attacked and sent to the drop zone, Raopia gets a power boost." Megan thought.
"I add 5000 to Raopia (33000), then Overlord attacks your vanguard (43000, 2 critical)!" Tom declared.
"I don't guard." Greg informed.
[Drive check: Wyvern Guard Barri - draw trigger]
"Power to Raopia (43000), and I draw a card." Tom informed.
Overlord struck Perfect Raizer once, then came back with a return slash to the side
[Damage check: Asura Kaiser - no trigger]
"That's six damage, the game's over." Tom stated
After cleaning their cards up, Tom reset his field as Greg moved back upstairs, Megan went down the same staircase to approach the battlefield. After doing just that, she set her field up accordingly, then performed redraw.
"Now that I know his deck, this should be an easy fight." Megan thought.
Greg: now this is an interesting turn of events.
Kyle: yep, I have to agree, I'm looking forward to this fight.
Next time: Clash of Knights and Dragons
Greg: why can't I shake the feeling that something's off here?