III: Overwhelming - Cardfight!! Vanguard: Messiah's Gamble

"Tch, talking so high and mighty...!" Nobu scowled. "I'll show you! I ride Wonder Boy!"

The Robot Coach changed into a young man wearing an American Football uniform, holding a spiked ball with a smirk.

Wonder Boy

"Mecha Trainer's Skill! When I ride a Spike Brothers unit on top, I can move him to a Rearguard Circle!" She pulled Mecha Trainer back, causing him to appear behind Wonder Boy.

"Rearguard?" Medaka questioned.

"Alongside the Vanguard are also their allies- Rearguards," I explained calmly. "You can call Rearguards from your hand to the five Rearguard circles around the Vanguard, so long as their Grade is equal or less than your Vanguard."

"That's right!" Nobu smirked. "With a Boost from Mecha Trainer, Wonder Boy attacks!" She declared, turning both cards onto their sides.

"When attacking, you turn a card horrizontal- this indicates it is in the 'rest' position and has performed its 'action'," I told Medaka. "Rearguards on the back row- so long as they are Grade 0 or 1- can support your vanguard and front row rearguards by adding their power to theirs. Since Mecha Trainer has 6000 Power, and Wonder Boy who 8000 Power, this is an attack for 14000 Power."

"Oh no!" Medaka exclaimed.

I just chuckled, "Of course, you don't have to sit by. You can guard attacks using cards from your hand- their grade doesn't matter in this case. On the side is a card's shield value. You add that to your Power value. If the Shield is more than the power, then the attack can't get through. However, taking damage isn't always bad... No guard."

Nobu smirked. "Drive Check!"

"Drive Check?" Medaka looked at me, Nobu clearly getting annoyed by the explanations at this point.

"When the Vanguard attacks, they flip over the top card of their deck and then add it to their hand. This is a 'Drive Check.' When revealing a card with a special Icon in the corner- a Trigger unit- a special effect is activated. But more on that later."

Nobu flipped over the top card of her deck, revealing a Grade 3 Tachikaze card...

So, she already had her ridiculous Grade 3 philosophy.

"The attack hit successfully, so now I check for a Damage Trigger," I told Medaka, flipping over the top card of my Deck, revealing a Grade 2. "No Trigger. This card is then put into my Damage Zone," I moved the card over easily. "When you take 6 damage, you lose the fight. Those are the basic rules, got it?"

"Y- yes," Medaka nodded seriously.

"Good... Then picture it," I told her.

"P- Picture it?"

I glanced back at her. "Right now, Morikawa and I are stood upon the surface of the Planet Cray, locked in fierce battle against one another."

My PSYqualia flashed, and Medaka's own flashed as her eyes widened- her consciousness taken to Cray to see the battle up close and personal.

"My turn, draw. Ride Smooth Research Progress, Eva!"

Smooth Research Progress, Eva

Grade 2 | 10000 Power | 5000 Shield | Cyberoid | Star Gate

"Eva's skill. I search my Deck for another Research Card and add it to my hand," I sifted through my Deck. "I add Result of the Experiment, Henceforth to my Hand. And then I set it onto the field... I call Detonation Monster, Bobalmine and Melt Change Monster, Alseadiran!"

Two monsters- one a godzilla-like creature, the other a sort of alien mermaid- manifested on the field.

Melt Change Monster, Alseadiran

Grade 2 | 10000 Power | 5000 Shield | Alien | Star Gate

Detonation Monster, Bobalmine

Grade 1 | 8000 Power | 5000 Shield | Alien | Star Gate

"Alseadiran's skill. I draw a card, then discard a card," I drew a card and smiled before I discarded it. "Tectican's Skill. Since I discarded it, I check the top five cards of my deck for another Research..."

I checked the top five and put them back. "No Research this time, but that's fine..." I set my Deck down.

"Now then, let's battle. Eva attacks Wonder Boy!"

"No guard!" Nobu declared.

"Drive check," I flipped over my top card, revealing a Grade 3.

"Damage check!" She flipped over her top card. "Tch, no Trigger..."

"Boosted by Bobalmine, Alseadiran attacks!"

"Once again, no guard!" She flipped over the top card and clicked her tongue before she put it into the damage zone.

"Turn End," I smirked in amusement.

Mikoto Field

Alseadiran | Eva | Empty

Bobalmine | Empty | Empty

"My turn, draw!" She pulled a card free. "I Ride Treasured, Black Panther!" She placed the card on top of Wonder Boy, transforming into a humanoid black panther in bulky football gear.

Treasured, Black Panther

"Now, Boosted by Mecha Trainer, Black Panther attacks your Vanguard!"

"No Guard," I said simply, not at all concerned.

"Heh... Drive Check..." She flipped over her top card and frowned. "Tch... No Trigger..."

Black Panther slammed into Eva, sending her sprawling.

"Damage check," I flipped over my top card. "There it is, Draw Trigger."

"Draw Trigger?" Medaka questioned.

"There are many types of Trigger effects," I told Medaka. "First, a unit on your field obtains 10000 Power. Then, you apply an additional effect. In this case, I draw another card," I placed the card in my damage zone and drew a card. "Since Morikawa has no attacks, the power is irrelevant, but it'll go to Eva."

"Turn End," Nobu smirked. "Look at you, I've totally got you on the ropes."

"Is that so...?" I drew a card for my turn. "Well then, I guess I'll stop playing around..."

"What?"

I grabbed the card in my Ride Deck, lifting it up and revealing it. "It's time to show you the results of the experiment," I smirked. "Ride! Fountain of Knowledge, Eva!"

On Planet Cray, Eva transformed into her final state. Numerous blue screens floated around her as she held potions in her hand, smirking in amusement at Black Panther.

Fountain of Knowledge, Eva

Grade 3 | 13000 Power | Cyberoid | Star Gate

"Set Order, The World is a Blue Research Lab. Skill activated, I check the top 5 cards of my Deck, and call a unit among them to Rearguard," I checked my cards and smiled. "Call Obliging Monster, Secondel."

A little imp-like creature wielding a scythe and dressed in denim appeared on the field, bouncing around happily.

Obliging Monster, Secondel

Grade 1 | 8000 Power | 5000 Shield | Alien | Star Gate

"Secondel's skill, I take a non-trigger unit from my Drop Zone and put it on the bottom of my Deck," I placed Tectican on the bottom of my Deck. "Then, Eva's Skill," I flipped a card over in my Damage Zone. "Counterblast. I look at cards from the top of my Deck up to the number of Research cards in my Order Zone. I add one to hand and put the rest on the bottom of my Deck. And then, Eva gains 5000 Power."

"Tch... That won't help you!" Nobu said, overconfident.

I merely smirked as I looked at the top 3 cards of my Deck. I put one card into my hand and put the rest onto the bottom of my deck.

"Battle. Eva attacks your Vanguard. Eva's skill. When Eva attacks, I can use a Counterblast and a Soul Blast to search my Deck for an Obscudeid Unit and Call it to Rearguard."

I sift through my deck once more and smirked. "Superior Call! Knight of Blackness, Obscudeid!"

Manifesting on Eva's right side was a knight clad in black armour, cape billowing in the wind as he stared down at the enemy with a cold gleam in his eyes.

Knight of Blackness, Obscudeid

Grade 3 | 13000 Power | Humand | Star Gate/United Sanctuary

"Obscudeid's Glitter activates!"

"Glitter?" Rei questioned. "What is that? What is 'Glitter'?"

"Glitter is a special skill that can only be activated when I control a Vanguard with Glitter, and the correct name. In this case, an Eva Vanguard with Glitter. When Obscudeid is summoned by a card's Skill, if my Order Zone had three or more research cards, it gets an extra Critical!"

Nobu's eyes widened in shock. "What did you say?" She looked down at her hand. "Tch... I guard with Silence Joker!"

A ghost-like football player manifested on the field, roaring at Eva attacked.

Silence Joker

"Twin Drive!"

Medaka blinked. "T- Twin Drive? As in, you're going to be checking twice?"

I nodded, "That's right. Grade 3s have the ability Twin Drive- allowing them to check for two Drive Triggers at once."

"Tch..." Nobu swallowed.

"First Check..." No Trigger.

"Second Check..." No Trigger.

Nobu heaved a sigh of relief, glad that I hadn't pulled any Triggers.

"It's too early to relax," I told her. "Boosted by Bobalmine, Alseadiran attacks."

"I guard with Cheer Girl Tiara!" She declared, this time using a Heal Trigger in order to block my attack.

Cheer Girl Tiara

"Obscudeid attacks! Obscudeid's skill! If I have a Set Order in the Order Zone when it attacks, it gains 5000 Power! But if I have three or more, he gains 10000 instead!"

Obscudeid let out a roar as his power surged from 13000 to 23000, his sword enveloped in black flames as he swung at Black Panther.

"N- No Guard!" Nobu declared, the sword slicing through her body. "Tch... Damage Check... First... Second... Damn it, no triggers on either??"

"Turn End," I smiled calmly. "Well then, Morikawa... You've got one chance left."

Mikoto's Field

Alseadiran | Eva | Obscudeid

Bobalmine | Empty | Secondel

"Tch... You've had your fun, but this is where my power will be shown in full!" She tugged a card free. "Draw!! I ride Juggernaut Maximum!!"

Black Panther roared, transforming into an overly muscular Football player with purple skin and spikes all along his uniform, chains dangling from his wrists.

Juggernaut Maximum

Grade 3 | 13000 Power | Giant | Spike Brothers | Dark Zone

"Get this trashy Grade 0 out of here," she grinned and moved Mecha Trainer to the Drop Zone. "I call Five Grade 3s to my Rearguard!!"

I just stared with an exasperated expression as Nobu's field became full of nothing but Grade 3s- even getting rid of a booster just for them.

"U- Um..." Medaka was confused and looked at me, as if to try and ask if anything special was going to happen.

I just shook my head.

Rei also face palmed, sighing heavily, "Why is Nobu so obsessed with Grade 3s...?" She muttered.

"Be quiet!" Nobu huffed. "Grade 3s are the greatest power! The almighty and strongest power!" She grinned. "I use my Rearguard to attack Eva!"

"I intercept with Alseadiran," I told her, slipping the card into the guardian circle.

"Ah, you can guard using Front-row cards too?" Medaka asked.

"Only if they are Grade 2, they have the intercept icon to show they can do that," I told Medaka. "Once a unit intercepts, it retires just like if you guarded."

"Tch... Then Juggernaut Maximum attacks Eva!"

"No guard," I shrugged.

She grinned widely. "Twin Drive... Hahaha! Stand Trigger! I stand my Rearguard, and it gets 10000 Power! Second Check... No Trigger. But another Grade 3! Hehehe~"

Juggernaut Maximum shoulder slammed Eva, sending her crashing to the ground.

"Damage check... No Trigger."

"My buffed up rearguard attacks Eva!"

"No guard... No Trigger."

Nobu grinned, "And then I attack with my other Rearguard."

I just smiled, "Obscudeid's Glitter. While I control an Eva Vanguard, it gains Intercept and 10000 Shield. Obscudeid intercepts."

Obscudeid stepped in front of the final attack, a stern expression on his face before he vanished.

"Tch..." Nobu clicked her tongue. "Turn End."

I just sighed and looked at Nobu. "Well... If that's all you've got, I'm about done here. Final Turn."

Nobu tensed up and swallowed, while Rei didn't look at all surprised. After all, Nobu only had one blocking card in her hand- and she was already at three damage.

"Draw..." I looked at my hand. "Persona Ride- Eva!"

"Persona Ride!?" Nobu exclaimed. "What is that!?"

"A special skill of some Grade 3s," I told Nobu. "By riding a unit with the same name, I can activate Persona Ride. My Front Row obtains 10000 Power until the end of my turn, and I draw one card."

Nobu swallowed, looking distinctly nervous now... She finally seemed to realise her situation was really bad.

"Set Order, the World is a Blue Research Lab. I check the top five..." I smiled. "Call, Obscudeid. Obscudeid's Glitter, plus one Critical."

"Next, I call Secondel. Secondel's skill, I take the Obscudeid in my Drop Zone and put it on the bottom of my Deck. The World is a Blue Research Lab's Skill. I soulblast and rest 3 Research Orders- Eva gets 5000 Power. Then Eva's Skill, I counterblast and check the top 4 cards..." I looked. "I add one to my hand, and the rest go to the bottom. Eva gets 5000 Power."

"Th- this is..." Rei swallowed. "His entire Front row... The weakest one is 26000 Power with its boost, his Vanguard is swinging for 33000, and his Obscudeid is swinging for 41000 with its skills involved... And, on top of that, it's double critical!"

"Let's end this. Secondel attacks your Vanguard with a boost from Bobalmine."

Nobu grit her teeth. "I... I guard with Kungfu Kicker!!"

Kungfu Kicker

"Eva attacks," I smiled. "Eva's skill. I Superior Call Obscudeid from my Deck. Obscudeid's Glitter, it gains an extra Critical!"

She looked at her hand... Only a single card, a Grade 3. She swallowed, "N... No Guard..."

"Twin Drive..." I flipped over the top card. "No Trigger. Second Check..." I flipped the next card. "Critical Trigger! The Critical goes to Eva, and the power goes to my Obscudeid that I just called."

Nobu grit her teeth and flipped two cards... No triggers to be seen.

"Final attack. Boosted by Secondel, Obscudeid attacks. Obscudeid gains 10000 Power thanks to its skill!"

Obscudeid's sword was enveloped in black fire, staring down at Juggernaut Maximum who roared back defiantly.

Nobu had no choice... The black sword cleaved her body in two as she flipped the final card of her deck... Juggernaut Maximum.

"Six Damage..." She slammed her hand on the table. "I... I lost..."

"As per our agreement, you'll stop bullying Sendo-chan," I told Nobu seriously, my gaze softening. "I know you aren't a bad person deep down, Nobunaga. You just love Vanguard... So, please, don't do things like this in the future. After all, Sendo-chan loves Vanguard too. Shouldn't that be enough for us all to get along."

Nobu remained silent as she gathered her cards, clicking her tongue. "Tch... Rei, we're leaving!" She stormed away, her black hair flailing around wildly.

Rei had the decency to look apologetic and bowed. "I apologise for mine and my sister's actions," she said seriously. It was obvious that Rei was just being dragged along by her sister's antics and didn't mean any harm. She turned and hurried after her. "Nobu, wait for me!"

I sighed as I gathered my cards and put them back into their little deck box. 'Did you have fun, Eva?'

"Mm~ It was nice to stretch my legs in a fight~" She grinned. "I look forward to next time~"

I turned to look at Medaka. "There we go, Sendo-chan. You should be fine from now on."

"Th... That was incredible," Medaka said, her eyes lighting up. "I pictured it, just like you said... Eva was so pretty, and Obscudeid was so domineering- I could hardly believe it..."

"Do you like Vanguard, Sendo-chan?" I asked her.

She blushed and fidgeted before she nodded. "Yes... I've always wanted to play, and I even made a Deck but..." She gave a self-depricating smile. "I'm afraid that I'm a bit too much of a coward... I've never had the courage to play with others or even challenge them, like you do Yoshida-kun."

"Just call me Mikoto," I ruffled her head, making her blush a little more. "Come on, follow me."

I began to walk away, and she made a confused noise before she quickly ran to catch up, walking alongside me.

"Where are we going?"

I glanced at her, "You're a Vanguard fighter. So, we're going to a Card Shop. I'll teach you how to fight step by step and help build up your courage so that you can fight against others."

"R- really?" She seemed surprised before she gave a beautiful smile, "Th- then... I'll be in your care, Yoshi-"

I gave her a look.

She turned red, "M- Mikoto-kun..."

I just smirked in amusement as the two of us walked together.

Our destination?

Card Capital.

[Ding!]

[Detected that you have shifted Fate and changed a destined meeting. You have obtained 60 Blank Cards.]

[Detected that you have shifted Fate and become the light of Medaka Sendo. You have obtained 60 Blank Cards.]

The smile on my face grew just a bit wider... Everything was going perfectly well~

Chapter 3 - III: Overwhelming