Yu-Gi-Oh x Vanguard -- Chapter 11

(A/N): You know those chants fighters make when they're about to ride their best unit? We'll I didn't follow them and made my own, just to not ruin the plot.

Jaden looked at his opponent, Ren Suzugamori; who has been staring at his unit for quite some time now. Jaden tilted his head in confusion. "Is it just because he's waiting for me to make my move?" he then shook his head. "I ride Blaster Javelin (6000)! Fullbau's skill activates! When Javelin is rode, I can add this guy from my hand…" he stated, searching his deck and adding a grade two unit two his hand and naturally revealed it to his opponent.

Ren looked at it in curiosity, "Why does he seem so familiar?" he thought.

"Done dozing? 'Cuz I activate Javelin's skill, when Fullbau's in the soul, he gains (+2000) power (8000). I end my turn."

"My turn then!" shouted Ren as he drew a card from his deck. "I ride Scout of Darkness, Vortimer (7000), his skill allows me to look at the top seven cards of my deck," he continued, drawing seven cards, "And when there happens to be a Black Knight, Vortimer, I can add it to my hand," he smiled, revealing the said card. "I call Blade Feather, Valkyrie (7000). Now battle! Go! My Vanguard attacks, if Black Dragon Whelp, Vortimer is in the soul, Scout of Darkness gains (+1000) power (8000)!"

"No guard."

"Checking for a drive trigger," Ren stated, flipping the top card of his deck, "Looks like it's a draw trigger. Power goes to Valkyrie and I draw a card." A card then glowed. "Valkyrie attacks!"

"No guard," said Jaden as he took (2) damage. "My turn, draw! I ride…" Jaden coughed a little but chuckled at the end, "Your avatar, piercing through the world of darkness, a warrior descends, Blaster Dark!"

Ren felt a small shock, like a sealed part of his brain suddenly opened, "B-Blaster… Blaster Dark?!" cried Ren. "But he's…"

"Gone? Sealed? Trapped, I actually don't know why I knew that but let me congratulate you for remembering faster than Kai Toshiki!" taunted Jaden.

"This guy… he knows Kai as well…?" questioned Tetsu, crossing his arms.

Ren shot a glare at him, "Who are you?"

Jaden paused and said, "I'm a homeless person who just happens to pass by this building as your guard dragged me in. I'm also someone who meets weird people," Jaden smiled. "I had two friends with me but, let's just say that they're currently exploring this world in their own way."

"Exploring this world? What do you mean?" asked Asaka

"Tell me… everything that you know, especially about the paladins," stated Ren.

"If you beat me… I'll tell you, I call Dark Knight, Rugos (10000) and Black Sage, Charon (8000) I use Blaster Dark's counterblast!" shouted Jaden turning two cards in his damage zone face down, "Say 'goodbye' to Valkyrie!" Due to the virtual-reality system, they could actually see what's going on, Blaster Dark strucked his sword to the ground, creating a huge electric wave destroying Valkyrie.

"That doesn't change the fact that you're gonna lose this," stated Ren as his eyes suddenly glowed a reddish-purple. "The cards are telling me that my ace is going to take you down!"

Asaka and Tetsu shivered. Jaden sweat dropped. "So this is Psyqualia… yeah, I somehow saw it in his memories and I'm…" Jaden murmured before feeling a painful sensation in his head as he saw an image: two black dragons clashing as one emerged victor. He placed his hand on the table, holding himself up to avoid losing balance.

"Jaden…?" Asaka called.

Jaden finally stood still, straight. His closed eyes suddenly opened; the same reddish-purple glow his opponent had was seen. "Jaden!" cried Ren, "I never actually thought that you, among all people, had it!" he continued as his eyes glowed brighter.

"This feeling…" thought Jaden, "Is like that time when the other me took over, this feeling of power…" he muttered trying to shake off the sensation he felt. "If… it was the same as before, if it was bound to hurt someone, if fear is what they feel, then…" He closed his eyes. The moment he opened them, the glow was perfectly gone.

"I refuse to use it! Rugos (10000) attacks your Vanguard!"

"You're as soft as Aichi. I'm afraid you're going to lose! No guard!"

"I will make certain that I don't! Blaster Dark attacks, when Blaster Javelin is in the soul, he gets an extra (+1000) power (10000), he aims at your Vortimer!"

"Then you're pathetic to think like that! No guard!"

"I'm pretty sure that I made the right decision! Drive Trigger Check!" shouted Jaden as he flipped the top card of his deck. It glowed bright yellow, "Critical Trigger! The power goes to the standing Charon and plus critical to Blaster Dark!"

"Power is everything, I'll make you realize that!" shouted Ren as he checked his second damage trigger.

"My friend, you are GREATLY mistaken, have you ever considered how your teammates felt when you're like this?! Charon attacks (13000)!"

"I know! They're afraid! And they happen to respect me because of power! Sleygal Dagger guards that attack!"

Jaden's eye twitched. This isn't the kind of fight he was expecting. "My turn ends at that," he stated as Ren was at (3) damage.

"Hey Asaka…" whispered Tetsu.

"Yeah…?"

"Remember how Sendou defeated Ren and he returned to normal?"

"How could I forget? It was a clear memory… of the lost of AL4…"

"Ever wondered how he became corrupted like this?"

"Isn't that why we entered the circuit? To know what happened to him?"

"Yeah, but besides that, do you think that this kid's got what it takes to stop him?"

"Perhaps, we need to wait Tetsu, but you actually have a point…"

"My turn, I stand and I draw! I ride Black Dragon Knight, Vortimer (9000)! When Scout of Darkness, Vortimer is in the soul, he gains an extra (+1000) power (10000). I now call Player of the Holy Bow, Viviane (9000) and Flash Edge, Valkyrie (8000). Valkyrie's counterblast!" cried Ren turning one card face down. "Due to his skill, I look at the top card of my deck and if it's a Gold Paladin, I can superior call it!"

"You've got to be kidding me, that deck is full of Paladins!" exclaimed Jaden.

"Right you are; superior call! Blade Feather, Valkyrie (7000)! Next I call Sleygal Dagger (7000). Battle! Flash Edge attacks supported by Blade Feather (15000)!"

"No guard!"

"When Blade Feather supports an attack, I look at the top card of my deck and superior call it!"

"Again…?" cried Jaden.

"I superior call Falcon Knight of the Azure (4000), when this card is superior called from my deck to a rear guard circle, I chose a Gold Paladin and it gets (+2000) power, and I think I'll give it to Sleygal Dagger, Next, Vortimer attacks supported by Azure (14000)!"

"I guard with Apocalypse Bat!"

"Drive trigger check… draw trigger!"

"You've got to be kidding me…" thought Jaden, looking at his hand.

"Power to Vortimer and I draw a card! Lastly, I'll have Dagger support Viviane in her attack (18000)!"

"Tsk, I don't guard…" murmured Jaden as he took (5) damage. "My turn! Stand and Draw!" he stated, smiling at the drawn card, "Mighty dragon of the sanctuary, lend me your power! I ride Phantom Blaster Dragon (10000)! When Blaster Dark is in the soul, he gets (+1000) power!"

"Ah, Phantom Blaster Dragon, but I'm afraid that you have to go down with your fighter," stated Ren as he stretched his arm in an inviting position as his eyes glowed brighter by the second.

"We'll see, I more Charon and call Demon of the Silver Spear, Gusion (10000) and I also call Darkside Pegasus (6000), when this card is placed on rear guard circle, I can add (+2000) power to any Shadow Paladin of my choice, like, Rugos (12000)! Supported by Charon, Gusion attacks (18000)!"

"Guard! Silent Punisher!"

"Phantom Blaster attacks!"

"No guard."

"Damage trigger check… this has to be my lucky day, critical trigger! Power to Rugos (17000) and critical to my dragon!"

"Attacks like that, don't work against me!" cried Ren.

"Finally Rugos attacks supported by Pegasus (23000)!"

"I guard with Elixir Sommenlier and Flash Edge, Valkyrie!" shouted Ren as he had (5) damages. "Too bad you couldn't finish me, you SHOULD have, now you'll witness… FINAL TURN!"

"Tetsu…" murmured Asaka.

"Yeah, I know, I just hope Jaden makes it this turn…"

"Dragon of power descending to the world; show them what true despair is, ride the vanguard! Spectral Duke Dragon (10000)!" Stated Ren as a large dragon appeared; it had metal wings and was holding an unusual weapon. Dark Lightning strucked everywhere in Cray, "When Black Dragon Knight, Vortimer is in the soul, he gains (+1000) power (11000), Viviane attacks supported by Dagger (16000)!"

"I guard with Abyss Freezer and Rugos intercepts!"

"Next, supported by Blade Feather, Holy Bow attacks (15000)!"

"I guard with Grim Reaper!"

"Spectral Duke Dragon attacks supported by Azure (15000)!"

"Perfect guard! Dark Shield, Mar Lir! I drop a card from my hand and the attack is negated! I guess you failed Ren Suzugamori!" shouted Jaden as Ren checked triggers as there was none.

"Wrong… Spectral Duke Dragon, LIMIT BREAK!" cried Ren, turning two cards face down.

"Here is comes, watch closely Asaka for it might be the end," Said Tetsu.

"I retire: Azure, Dagger and Blade Feather! Now, my dragon stands! And attacks, although it loses its twin drive ability, it's more than enough to finish you off!"

Jaden looked at the remaining card in his hand; a grade three unit. He had no choice. He can't guard. "Is this the end?" he thought. "No… guard…"

"Drive Check… oh look, a heal trigger! I heal one damage and power to Spectral!" Stated Ren as the glow on his eyes never disappeared.

Jaden placed his hand on his deck. "Is this the image of two dragons clashing, was my dragon the one losing?" He sudden felt a weird sensation and stared at his deck. "Damage trigger check!" he cried as the card he was holding glowed.

"I can't believe it," stated Asaka.

"Now that's what I would call the luckiest person ever, drew two criticals and the trigger that's saving his life."

"Wow, my luck is truly exceptional, but, was it really just dumb luck? I already rejected it but…" he thought and finally stated the words, "Heal Trigger!"

"I don't believe this…" murmured Ren as he was at damage (4) and Jaden still at (5). "B-but, my image was perfect!"

"Maybe not as exact as you anticipated it, stand and draw," Jaden peered at the drawn card and was more than happy to see it, "Here it is! Come forth and show them what true power is, despair is what awaits the one clouded in their own shadow! Cross-ride, Phantom Blaster Overlord!" another large dragon appeared in a black and yellow metal armor. Thunder clapped as he landed to the ground, he was holding a long spear which he swung and caused a huge sound wave that hit Spectral. Loud and powerful roars echoed throughout Cray.

"Phantom… Blaster… Overlord…?"

"If Phantom Blaster Dragon is in the soul, he gets (+2000) power (13000)!" Jaden flipped three cards face down, "Persona blast!" he stated putting his other Phantom Blaster Overlord from his hand to the drop zone. "He gains (+10000) power and (+1) critical! Battle! Gusion attacks supported by Charon (18000)!"

"Sleygal Dagger and Flash Edge, Valkyrie, guards!"

Jaden smiled, "Phantom Blaster Overlord attacks! (23000)"

"I guard with, player of the Holy Bow Viviane, Black Dragon Knight, Vortimer and Sleygal Dagger!" stated Ren throwing the last three cards in his hand. "Unless he draws a trigger this game is mine…"

"Next, I check for a drive trigger… first check…" but there was none.

"Second check…" Jaden smiled, "Third time's the charm, a critical trigger!"

Phantom Blaster Overlord stabbed all the defending units in a single swing of lightning. He came face to face with Spectral Duke Dragon as he stabbed him and flew back, leaving the spear on him, causing his to shatter into yellow particles.

The glow on Ren's eyes slowly disappeared and gave Jaden a friendly smile as the sixth damage flew onto the damage zone. Jaden smiled back at him, "You can win... anybody can, even without Psy…" stated Jaden as he collapsed on the carpeted floor. Tetsu and Asaka came to his aid, Ren kneel beside him.

"I didn't actually think that he could pull that off," commented Tetsu.

"You don't fine rare players like him nowadays…" continued Asaka.

"Jaden Yuki, well done; one of the fighters that taught me that my way of fighting was wrong. I was right about challenging you... Welcome to Foo Fighter New AL4!" said Ren as he smiled at the skilled fighter.