A miracle failed to descend.
The Three Vanguards- Chrono Shindou, Tokoha Anjou, and Shion Kiba- failed to defeat Gyze. Chronojet Dragon, Ahsha, and Altmile all fell before the Zeroth Dragons, led by the Dragon Deity of Destruction.
Harmonics Messiah lamented... It had failed in its sacred duty- to save Planet Cray. Gyze's power only grew, and soon enough Gyze would eclipse it entirely and all hope would be lost.
However, a single ember of hope refused to die.
Gear Chronicle- a Singularity existing in the past, present, and future- enacted their final failsafe. Transferring their power to the Messiah, they bestowed the Messiah with only a single chance to make things right- to turn back the clock.
The Messiah knew that, by doing this, it was the same as abandoning the present world. It knew that if it turned back time, its journey would ripple through history and might even change people, so they didn't exist or were replaced entirely.
But even so, it was better than admitting defeat. It was better than letting Gyze win.
And so, the Messiah unleashed the power of Gear Chronicle- using as much power as it could to turn back the clock as far back as possible.
However, the Messiah also understood that merely turning back the clock wouldn't be enough. What use was repeating a history where Fate was already set in stone?
And so, the Messiah called out to Planet Cray.
It gathered the Design Force, and it stretched its reach across time.
Through Space.
Through Dimensions.
It searched for the one with the strongest connection to Planet Cray, even in a world where Cray didn't exist.
For one who could become the Vanguard against Gyze.
"So," I looked at Harmonics Messiah- greatly reduced in size, being only as big as my palm, "That's why I ended up here?"
"Yes," the Messiah nodded at my words, "I do apologise from dragging you away from your home, however... I have little choice. Your world is one that foresaw a future where Gyze was defeated. A world where, even after three-thousand years- Cray stands, safe from Gyze."
"That was only in the form of an anime, you know," I reminded them. "And I'm not a professional cardfighter or anything, I just play the game from time to time because it's fun. Why do I have the strongest connection to Planet Cray?"
"I do not know. However, I am sure you are the one with the strongest connection to Cray on your planet..."
They bowed, "I know I am asking much of you, but please. I cannot allow history to repeat itself in my world, Gyze must be defeated. You are the only hope I have for a variable that can change fate."
I sighed and ran a hand through my hair, before I smiled tiredly, "Get up. No need to bow to me. I've always wanted to enter the world of Vanguard, after all. If anything, you're doing me a favour. You have my word- I'll do my best to stop Gyze."
The Messiah rose, nodding at me, "Thank you."
"So, how far back did you even wind back time?" I asked. "What point am I going to be arriving at?"
"You will be arriving at the time before Blaster Blade completed his resonance with his Vanguard."
In other words, the beginning of the series.
"I presume I'll have to find my own way once I'm there, given your current state?" I asked.
The Messiah nodded, "Yes... I apologise, but I gave my power to Chronojet, Ahsha, and Altmile. I used what power I had left turning back time with Gear Chronicle's failsafe, and also with bringing you to the world. The most I can do is allow you to integrate into Earth as if you have always existed. After that... There is nothing I can do for you."
"Well, it happens," I nodded without complaint- just going to the world of Vanguard was a win as far as I was concerned. "Anything else I should know?"
"My trip through time has almost certainly changed things," the Messiah informed me gravely. "There is a possibility that many units that once existed on Cray no longer do, and also that perhaps even people you expected in the world will no longer exist. Or perhaps they merely exist in a different form... It is hard to say what changes you can expect upon your arrival."
"So, hope for the best, prepare for the worst," I summed up.
"I apologise," the Messiah repeated, seeming a bit embarrassed by its lack of ability to help beyond just putting me into the world of Vanguard. "Once you return, I will merge with my past self and return to slumber- awaiting my awakening once again... Even once I awaken, my memories will likely only appear to myself and my successor in dreams. Fragments of a lost future."
"I understand," I waved it off. "I'll handle things as best I can, Messiah. You just enjoy your nap."
"Must you call it that?"
"It is what it is," I smirked at them teasingly.
The Messiah chuckled softly and nodded, "Very well... I wish you luck, Mikoto Yoshida."
The world faded into white.
…
I yawned as my eyes opened, finding myself in an unfamiliar bedroom but with a familiar school uniform hanging on the wall- the same school uniform that Aichi Sendo wore in the initial arc of the anime.
"Guess it wasn't just a dream then," I chuckled softly as I slowly climbed out of bed and stretched, and then I began to plan.
In order to prepare for Gyze's revival, I needed allies capable of fighting against those who had undergone Diffride by Cray's inhabitants. For that, ultimately, I needed to prepare for the Circuit- the Limit Break Era.
For that, I had two options.
The first was to win the Under20 National Tournament. Winning such a tournament and then forming a team would certainly be enough to attract Takuto's attention and allow me to participate in the Circuit.
The second was to join an existing team.
Q4 was an obvious choice there, I was confident in being able to defeat Kamui in the tournament and take his place- though that was also assuming I faced Kamui and not Aichi.
AL4 was also a completely viable option, taking Kyou's place in the Team and fighting alongside Ren, Asaka, and Tetsu. That was a stacked powerhouse team, and it only became stronger in the Circuit when Kai joined them.
Before joining a team though, I needed to consider what Deck I should use?
Obviously, the most powerful Deck that dominated both the original and Limit Break Era was Dragonic Overlord "The End". However, it was made very clear that certain cards had to choose their fighters- and Kai was the chosen Vanguard of the Kagero Clan. Dragonic Overlord "The End" wouldn't be able to fall into my hands so easily.
My next choices- Spectral Duke and Vermillion- were both in the Limit Break Era, along with Fantasy Petal Storm, Shirayuki from Murakumo...
"Calm down," I murmured to myself. "First, let's check for some changes like the Messiah said..." I opened up my laptop, looking up Vanguard to look at the rules.
To my surprise, it seemed the world had been updated. While many cards had their effects from the original series, their power itself had been upgraded to the D-Series.
All Grade 3s- with few exceptions- had 13000 Power. Grade 2s had 10000. Grade 1s had 8000 (with the exception of Perfect Guards, which were 6000), and Grade 0s were 6000, with Triggers being 4 to 5000. Shield values were also updated appropriately.
The trigger effects were also updated as well to be 10000 power like in the D-Series, as opposed to the 5000 in the original series. Stand Triggers were still present, but Front Triggers also existed.
There was no sign of the OverTrigger, however I expected that it could also exist in this world somewhere- though likely after Gyze's defeat. The 5 OverTrigger Dragons very much appeared as though they were repurposed from the remains of the Zeroth Dragons.
With all that in mind, my thought process was on using a Granblue Deck. A Deck that liked to use cards from the Drop Zone as resources- like a second hand- was very much a style I liked. No unit was ever truly wasted, all of them had a purpose in the Drop Zone.
Then, once I hit the Limit Break Era, I could upgrade to Spectral Duke or Shirayuki. Vermillion was Kai's- again, since apparently Narukami worshipped the ground he walked on- so the other two were my best hope.
Shadow Paladin and Royal Paladin? I didn't consider them even for a moment. Majesty Lord Blaster was Aichi's only, and both clans along with Kagero would vanish in the Limit Break Era.
It was better to focus on Cards that continually received support, and then perhaps see what those clans could offer me once Break Ride came about.
With the deck now decided, there was the choice for which of the other options to take- go solo in Under20, or go to Card Capital and join Team Q4?
As I mulled over the decision, I suddenly heard a noise.
[Ding!]
[Compatible Host detected.]
[PSYqualia System has been uploaded. Ready to serve, Host!]
[You have a beginner gift box ready! Would you like to open it?]
My eyes widened in shock as words appeared before my eyes, my heart thumping in my chest and my mouth becoming dry as I stared at the screen in front of me.
A System? I thought I was coming to this world with nothing but future knowledge, but a System had appeared.
Was it some last gift from the Messiah?
Or, perhaps, was it possible that this System had existed in the world of Vanguard all this time, but it simply lacked a compatible host...
Perhaps the System could only bind to someone who's soul was from another world, which was why it had bound itself to me so soon after my arrival.
"Before I open the package, please give a better introduction, System," I told it.
[The PSYqualia System is a System born from Earth and Cray's 'Idea,' the Primordial Energy from which all things are born. The System has only a single purpose- the creation of units on Cray by utilising the Host's Own 'Idea' to influence both Earth and Cray's 'Idea' to give it a solid direction for evolution.]
[By utilising PSYqualia, the Host is able to hear the 'Voices' of Units that desire to be created, allowing them to create cards. The more advanced the Host's PSYqualia, the more units they are capable of creating.]
In other words, this was a card printing system- allowing me to use PSYqualia to influence both Earth and Cray's power to create units.
This was huge... Instead of needing to deal with the cards in the current era, I could directly propulse the world into the D-Series- the era after Gyze's defeat.
"Open the Beginner's Gift Box."
[Beginner's Gift Box Opened.]
[You have obtained PSYqualia (Green).]
[You have obtained 50 Blank Cards.]
[You have obtained Depend Card.]
I gasped and I held my head for a moment as the power of PSYqualia manifested in my body.
Moving over to the mirror, I saw my golden eyes now glowed with faint rainbow light. I ran a hand through my purple hair, a grin crawling onto my face as I could faintly 'hear' something. It was distant, but I could still hear it- likely the voices of cards that were currently out of reach.
I took a deep breath and closed my eyes, suppressing the power as the voices faded away.
"System, could you explain about why PSYqualia had 'Green' written next to it?"
[PSYqualia is an ability capable of growing stronger as the Host wields it and understands its power. It has a progression attached to it based on colours.]
[Green - Blue - Purple - Red - Gold - Rainbow.]
[The higher levelled the PSYqualia, the more 'certain' the future one sees when using it.]
[At the highest level, one is even capable of using Earth and Cray's Idea to shape fate as they will it.]
I tapped my chin... So, this was how Aichi's PSYqualia was capable of overwhelming Chris's and Leon's. Aichi advanced further in using his PSYqualia than both of them.
"How advanced is Aichi's PSYqualia by the end of the series?" I asked the System.
[Aichi Sendo's PSYqualia- by the end of his journey- reached the Gold Level. He was unable to advance to the Rainbow Level due to giving the Messiah- an embodiment of Cray's Idea- to Ibuki.]
"Will I need the Messiah's power to reach the rainbow level?"
[Negative. The System contains the power of both Cray and Earth's idea- the path to Rainbow will merely take time and effort from the Host.]
I smiled... With both Cray and Earth's idea on my side, did Gyze even stand a chance?
"How does the Depend Card work?" I asked the System.
[The Depend Card will reach into Cray's Idea, creating a unit that is capable of travelling using the Depend Card as a catalyst to arrive on Earth. This Unit will also be capable of communicating with the Host at will, similar to a Yu-Gi-Oh Duel Spirit. The created unit will depend on the Host. It is capable of creating Unit's beyond the limits of the Host's PSYqualia.]
I pulled the Depend Card out of the System's inventory. "Can I choose what Unit will be born from the Depend Card?"
[The Host can shape it, but it is only a Unit that desires to be born and resonates with the host that can be born from the Depend Card.]
"Can I obtain more in the future?"
[The System is sure that the host will receive many Depend Cards in the future.]
I gave a nod... And activated my PSYqualia, focusing it on the Depend Card.
The card began to glow, and I groaned as I suddenly heard hundreds- thousands- of voices. Voices from the past, present, and future that resided within Cray's Idea. All of them desiring to surge forth, all of them desiring to be born.
And yet one voice, a female voice, rose above the rest, "Stand aside! This one is for me."
The card glowed brilliantly within my hands... And as the light faded, it displayed an image, and a name.
Fountain of Knowledge, Eva
I looked behind myself sharply, finding a woman was floating in the air, a smirk on her face as her golden eyes stared into mine. She wore a doctor's coat and a skimpy outfit- a black bikini top, a tiny miniskirt, and white thigh highs with red and white boots. A hood similar to cat ears was over her head, with holes that allowed her white twintails to flow down past it. Crimson and black rings- just like that of Link-Joker- floated beside her head.
She smirked at me, a hand on her hips, "Nice to meet you, Cutie. My name is Eva... I hope you'll forgive me for jumping the line, but how could I ever avoid such a fascinating research opportunity?~"
I merely smiled at her... It seemed the first unit I'd obtained was definitely one worth using.