//------------------------------// // Obligatory Training Chapter | Original Idea Do not Steal // Story: Cards with power // by Corsair49 //------------------------------// After the Knockout fight Stargazer showed up in front of the hoard of challengers and Team burning Heart Before the next declaration was made. "WAIT!!" She screamed getting everyone's attention. "I need to say one thing Before y'all go ham fighting my brothers team." She said cautiously making sure everyone's attention was on her. "SMOKE BOMB!" she yelled as she threw down one triggering the schools smoke alarms and sprinkler system creating enough confusion to allow team Burning Heart to escape with ease. ***** 4 hours later ***** "Ok I think we are Clear." Mercurial said as they watched the campus grounds. "OK spill it runt, where did you get that new card from?" Arid accused Spike grabbing him by the collar. "I don't know! Honest! I was just getting sick and tired of losing all the time and being made a Joke out of. I got so angry and i just... I Don't know! The last couple rounds of that fight are a blur to me." Spike said in panic At this arid dropped him making Spike fall on his butt. "So you made a new card in your deck from despair..." Stargazer said in awe. "My brother was right, you are an interesting one. Well that only means one thing." "Whats that?" Spike questioned worried. "Training time." Mercurial said gleefully. "We need to make sure you can use that card properly. Its strong, but will not be the answer to every situation. And you need some emergency defense cards for the 'Just in case situation.'" Arid said as he held spikes deck case throwing it towards Mercurial. "Curry Get to work you know how to build almost every deck." "HEY THAT'S MINE!" Spike yelled trying to get the deck only to be stopped by Star Gazer. "Yes it is, but its unbalanced. Curry has made tons of decks let him work his magic and if you still don't like it then you can edit it yourself. But for now try it out? Please?" Star looked at him pleadingly. "Fine... But I hold the right to be angry about it." He said scowling. "That's fair." Mercurial said as he gave the deck back to Spike. "I'm done for now anyways, I had to only tweak it a bit. Your deck will consist of Size 3 and 0 monsters from this point forward. and I've added 2 types shield cards 4 of a fire dragon shield, and 2 green dragon shield. The fire dragon will help you go through your deck more and can save you against impacts, the green dragon shield is if your front line gets taken down. Now you need to practice, sis would you mind assisting?" "of course I am your a-Sis-stant after all." She said jokingly. The two proceeded to fight. *after the first round* "No you need to watch out for penetrate cards and use the shield then. Do it again." Arid said forcefully. *second round* "Close but you need you to make sure to look at your opponnents hand when you go for the killing attack. sometimes its better to get rid of monsters than to attack the fighter. Go again." Mercury explained. *third Round* "No no that situation called for Inexhaustible not Anatta, you saved yourself for a turn using the impact but it also ruined the strategy you had. Lets go again." Star chided. *fourth round* "ARGH WHATS THE POINT OF LEARNING HOW TO MASTER A SINGLE CARD!" Spike growled in frustration. "Its not like I'll need to rely on it!"Spike ranted Arid and Mercury looked at each other before nodding. "Spike take a break, the purpose of this was to show you that you need to learn your deck and your opponents deck as you fight." Arid said. "How about as an example Both Arid and myself will fight and you watch how we do things. I'll even use a different deck from my disaster to help demonstrate." Mercury said. "I guess that'll help?" spike said confused. "We also won't be holding back like normally, I'll be using cards I'm not fully used to yet for my executioners." Arid explained. "Right and I'll be using a curse dragon deck. So lets begin." Mercurial said. "Spike play close attention, the both of them will not be holding back during this fight." Star gazer said as she sat down to watch. "Wait they've been holding back?" he asked incredulously "Greatly. You see Big Bro doesn't put a limiter on himself his limiter is his connection with the deck. Certain decks he attunes to stronger than others. Kyoya and Myself both believe that his buddy monster will be a Darkness Dragon World Monster But Darkness Dragon World is vast and life there is hard to find thats willing to talk. "Arid on the other hoof isn't using several of his strongest cards because he doesn't trust himself to utilize it properly. One of which is an insanely powerful monster that is equivalent to an impact card." Star explained as the field changed before them. A black dragon in white armor appeared before them on Mercurial's side. While the normal scythe that was wielded by Arid was engulfed in black flames along with arid releasing a strong aura of oppression. "This feeling... Its suffocating..." Spike said trying to breathe in deeply. "This is Arid's natural feeling when he really gets into a fight." Star explained before suddenly all of it was washed away. Replaced by a feeling of nothingness and emptiness. "This is Big Bro's Aura when he begins to really connect with a deck. The emptier it feels the stronger the deck. Close your eyes and feel for what grounds you." She said seeing Spike being on the verge of passing out. Opening her saddle bag she takes out a few leaves and puts some in her mouth and in spikes mouth the two begin chewing as spike realizes its Mint leaves to help him breath. "Arid Drake vs Mercurial fall Match begin. Arid Drake has the first move." "Draw and Charge and Draw. Next I set Gate of ruins Greed and Gate of Verdict Judgement!." The two Gates appearing on either side of Arid behind him. "Next I activate Judgement to mill 2 and gauge one." 2 chains lashed out and a new gauge spawned from the gate. Next I call to the right Vampire Shura." "Kekeke... In accordance to our blood pact, your soul now belongs to me!." Shura said as bats erupted and struck both decks destroying the top 3 cards. Arid gaining a guage. "Next I pay 2 gauge to call my buddy to the center! SOULVAAG SHOW HIM WE MEAN BUSINESS THIS TIME!" Arid roared as the earth trembled. "I am the epitome of desolation!" a black wave of flames raced across the field destroying 2 cards from both decks and damaging Mercurial dropping him to 9. "Next I activate the effect of greed in my drop casting it by paying a gauge." The gate of greed seemed to grow in strength as it began to glow ominously. "Next I pay 3 gauge to activate the second of Judgement and I add my Shield to my hand. NOW SOULVAAG Drop Him down!" Immediately the chains of the Gate of greed shot foward wrapping around Soulvaag as the flames engulfed Mercurial dealing a total of 4 damage, putting him down to 5. "End of Turn, Mercurial Falls turn begins. " "Draw and charge and draw. I set Sentence of Curse." Strange white and gold armor was donned upon Mercurial As Arids deck and flag began to glow an ominous white. "I cast Shadow Crusader reducing the first set of damage I take this turn by three." 3 more chains struck Arids deck destroying 3 more cards. "I equip Black Dragon sword GeilBlade." A strange sword looking like the one his buddy held appeared before Mercurial fall who grabbed it staking it into the ground and using it like minotaur would use a cane both hooves on it. "Next I call to the center Black Dragon Knight, Lzam." "Which do you wish an Ally or Spell?" the Black dragon with a shield and lance asked its lord. "Give me an ally." Mercurial Responded Discarding a card. a new card was forged from the destroyed one and added to his hand. "Now I call to the left Assault of silver moon, Geil Luna." A Black dragon in Golden trimmed white armor appeared. "For you my leige!" It declared throwing a card into his hand. "Next I set Curse Field! Then By paying one gauge I activate the effect of my sword. I force the top card of your deck under your flag." He said as both the field and his sword glowed an ominous red. Suddenly a card flew from Arid's Deck into the center of his flag turning a portion of it to stone. At the same time A new card rose from the field into Mercurial's hand as well as his gauge. "Next I enter the battle phase and the effect of my curse field goes off I pay one gauge and call from the drop My buddy, Black Dragon Knight Geil." "You who has been afflicted by my curse Shall Fall this day!" The white armored Black Dragon Appeared as he rose from the earth before a lighting shock wave surged forth to destroy the gate of Judgement while Mercurial gained a point of life. "Now To begin my assault Geil Luna Attack Shura!" The golden Dragon flew fast to destroy the vampire piercing its heart with the black blade. "Now Geil Attack Soulvaag." "I cast Executioner Shield." The black dragon flew forward to strike as the shield stopped the attack and Arid gained 2 new gauge as well as fragment broke dropping him back to 5 health. "Next I cast Curse grip by destroy Geil!" A white energy flowed from Geil as he moved forward to strike down Arid's buddy. "Then I use Geil's Ability by paying 1 life to put another card into your flag." Geil's destruction stopped as it flowed into a card back into Mercurial's hoof. As another card flew turning another portion of the flag into stone. "Wait why didn't geil luna get destroyed by soulvaag's ability?" Questioned spike. "That's cause of curry's sword it protects his cards from destruction the moment he equipped it nothing on his field was allowed to be destroyed or returned to hand.." Star gazer answered. Spike turned and saw a wave of black Flames flowed forth but was met with a white Aura of a shield. "With that I end my turn. " mercurial fall says. "I start my turn." Arid Responds "I activate two abilities I gain 3 health due to Geil Luna. and the curse effect activates." Another card flies into the flag another portion turned to stone. The field began to glow again and Mercurial gains a gauge and draws a card. "I draw and charge and draw and cast Demon way, Blood Sucking Bird." Suddenly a ghostly monster appears and drains a health away and a gauge way from mercury and gives it to Arid. "Unfortunately I have to end my turn there." "Wait he doesn't have any monsters to call?" Spike asked confused. "its more than likely he doesn't have the requirements to call it yet." "Draw and Charge and draw. I call back to the center my buddy." "You who has been afflicted with my curse. FALL BEFORE Me!" Geil Said as shot a wave of black lightning at one of the gates of greed destroying it. "Next I pay one gauge and Use Geil blades effect and since you have at least 2 cards in your flags soul I draw a card!" Suddenly another portion of the flag turned to stone as 2 cards entered Mercury's hand and one card went to his gauge. "Next I cast Underration and since you have 4 cards in your flag i gain 2 life 2 gauge and add a curse dragon from my drop to hand." he was covered in a white aura as his health increased to 7 and from the ground 2 gauge and one more card was added. "Next I call another of my buddy to the right." "Once more fall before my curse!" The black dragon declared as it released another wave of lighting at the gate destroying it. "Your starting to piss me off with your curse Mercury. I'll Break you!" Arid Challenged "Just wait the game is over in 11 more cards I cast Curse, Destruction!" suddenly the Geil on his right went forward and destroyed 2 cards from Mercury's deck. "Damn it no luck... Oh well I pay one life and activate Geil's Ability." "Wait what happens in 10 more cards?" Spike asked as a card flew into Arids flag again. "The curse takes hold and Mercury wins." "Wait what?! Without landing a single attack Mercury intends to Win?!" Spike asked Incredulously as he saw how how the flag was. "Yeah its because of that white armor... The set spell Sentence of curse forces a win when there is at least 15 cards underneath the opponents flag and there is no real way to get rid of those soul cards." Star Gazer Explained. "It's funny even when a white Knight Mercury finds a way to be dark. "WIth That I end my turn and the ability of my curse takes place as well as Luna And my field." Mercury said calmly as his health went to 9 and he gained a gauge and drew a card while another card turned another portion of the flag to stone. "Fine Draw and charge and draw Next I activate the Landslide ability of my monster in the drop! I Call treasure Treasure jailer Sonderach by paying 1 gauge. And I pay another gauge to set my gate of greed from the drop." The mighty gates rose from the earth once again. As a massive Dragon clawed its way out from the ground. "Next I pay 3 gauge and offer Sonderach to the warden. I call to the center Hellfire Executioners Dragon Gagalgarios!" A wave of Hellish blue fire was released upon Sonderach as its scales changed and grew into the golden and blue Dragon. "Now i enter the Attack Phase. Go GAGAL- "I cast Scar Bind To rest your monster." Mercury interrupted. "Damn IT FINE YOUR MOVE!" Arid roared in anger. "Draw and charge and draw. Next I call to the right Another Geil Luna." Mercury said Another Golden Trimmed white armored black dragon appeared when spike noticed that all 4 of them had the same Sword. "For you, my lord." He said as a card flew into Mercury's hoof. "Thank you Geil Luna. Next I Pay one gauge and activate the ability of my item." another card flowing into Arid's Flag for a total of 7 cards as Mercury gained a gauge and 2 more cards from the item and field. "Next I destroy my buddy to cast Curse Grip to destroy your Gates of ruins greed and sent it into the flag." Suddenly the Gates turned black and white as it crumbled and flowed into the flag. "We are approaching the end game Arid 2 more turns is all it will take! Next I pay one gauge and call my buddy again." Once more black lighting flowed from the white armored black dragon this time strike gagalarios. With soulguard however it stayed on the field. "Now I enter attack phase Geil Luna Destroy his center monster." The one on the left made the move dashing forward and sidestepping claw attack before striking true. Gagalgarios was destroyed. "Final phase. I pay 2 gauge to set Curse Count, Then I do it Again. Now At the end of my turn you put 4 cards into your flags soul And as long as I have a Curse Dragon monster on my field I take one less damage times the amount of Curse Counts I have on my field! I end my turn." Five cards flew into the soul of the flag leaving only one small portion left not turned to stone as Mercurial gained 3 health and 1 cards from each of the Geil Luna's as well as another hand card and gauge from the Curse field set. "Draw and charge and Draw. I Set Gate of ruins Greed then I pay one gauge for another Landslide." A gate appeared along with the dragon from before erupting from the ground with gold and jewels coming with it. "I pay my last gauge and set another gate of greed from the Drop And enter attack phase." The gate glowed as it gain power and supplied Sonderach with more power. "I cast Scar Bind And rest all your cards." "Damn it... Thats game..." Arid said growling at himself angrily. Some flames escaping the sides of his grimacing mouth. "Draw and charge and draw. I end my turn." The last cards flew into Arid's flag petrifying it completely and Arid's side of the field begins to crumble apart so does his flag. "Game Over, Winner Mercurial Fall." Sometime during the fight people had seen the two fighting and a large crowd was drawn. Once the fight was over everything was silent until Clapping could be heard. Kyoya began to walk forward. "Magnificent as always my friend." He began. "Tell Me Black Dragon Knight, Geil... How do you view your compatibility with him?" Questioned Kyoya. "I will not deny the strength Mercurial Fall has." The white armored dragon began. "But unfortunately I would feel As if I am holding him back." He said turning turning his head away in shame. "And you My friend?" "Its a strong deck... and Geil is very capable but... you know my views on 'White Knights.'" Mercury said with extra venom. Geil seemed to flinch at that statement. "Of course I apologize if it caused insult but I felt it prudent to attempt this one as it followed your train of thought. I often forget you believe in the notion 'The king cannot expect his people to follow if he does not Lead.' Thank you for time Geil." Kyoya said sincerely his eyes glinting with a strange look. "If you evolve your capabilities further please feel free to approach us." "Of course, I shall inform other applicants about the vacancy and teh information i have attained. As for you Mercurial Fall. I wish you luck in finding your proper buddy and deck. I hope I can one day join you in your endeavors." Geil said before a dark gateaway appeared and the black Dragon of white armor took the deck from the offered hoof. "Thank you for the opportunity." he said before he departed. "So Spike?" Mercury began "Did you learn why its important to understand even a single cards full potential in your deck?" Spike who stared in awe at what just happened couldn't help but find himself at a loss for words. "Seems like he did... I'm still not strong enough to use my greed and He didn't even deem necessary to show himself to me..." Arid grinded his fangs as he turned towards the spectators. "So then Who want's a piece of us next!" Arid challenged them a bunch of them began glancing back and forth among each other. Spike stood up and joined the rest of his team. "If any of you want a shot at getting into the finals You have to be willing to take on all of US. And fighting with everything you got TO TAKE US DOWN!" Spike challenged as a flame was lit in his heart. Mercury could only smile at the Spunk Spike was showing off. "So Come at us Whenever you want!" A strong sense of pride an soft Aura of Determination was flaring from Spike as he drew his sword deck case. Multiple students began to equip their core decks showing their true forms. Shadow Appeared infront of Spike. "We will gladly fight each and everyone of you, But just be warned we won't be holding back against anyone who gets in our way." Mercury Proclaimed As his Pauldron appeared Kyoya Standing by his side. "And make no mistake if we find an opening." Arid started Pointing the curved blade of his scythe out to the crowd. "We will Tear into you for every ounce its worth." Soulvaag appearing just behind and left of Arid. "We Are Team Burning Heart! Now See if you can Overcome our Flames Of Passion!" They Said in unison before they started fighting back to back Challenges.