"The entire fight up to now was quite bland... But now that we finally reached this stage... My excitment is burning in such a manner that it brings tears to my eyes." Gakuganji said, wiping away some small tears with his fingers. "Please, move along with your attack, Serebryakov-kun."

"Old people these days... Ron Geenlin attacks! (33000)"

"I shall guard that, yes."

Gakuganji raised his right hand and snapped his fingers.

A card in Gakuganji's hand flipped around on its own, revealing itself to be Mumyocongo to the three players, and placed itself into the drop zone.

"Third special rule, commence."

"What?!" Izuru asked.

Suddenly, the size of Gakuganji's board expanded, and a new zone formed above his damage zone, holding sixteen face down cards.

"Voyage through the sands of time, and be invoked as my regal shield! Generation Guard! Rikudo Stealth Rogue, Moreilord!"

"W-what?! But that's a G Guard!" Junpei exclaimed, gritting his teeth. "Oi, what do you think you're doing, old man?!"

"Hm? My G Zone simply became accessible now that all players' vanguards are grade 3. That is how the rulings for both G Guardians and G Units works, no?" Gakuganji asked.

"Third special rule... What the hell are you talking about?!" Tate asked, clenching his fist. "You said there was only two of them!"

"I'm afraid I do not recall ever stating how many of them there were, I simply revealed the first two before we began. The third special rule adds my G Zone to my deck, aswell as changing eight cards in my deck. V Buckle, if you please telling them."

"Card change protocol, iniating. Stealth Dragon, Kurogane exchanged with Stealth Dragon, Eizan. Stealth Dragon, Ganbaku exchanged with Stealth Dragon, Yamisaki. Card change protocol, complete."

"I knew it...!" Izuru muttered between grit teeth. "You've planned for this all along! Making up bullshit rules, and then omitting them to save your ass from being called a cheater! You're not trying to pass time, you're just trying to make a mockery out of all of us!" He accused.

"Yeah! Is beating us that important to you that you'd stoop this low, old man?!" Tate asked. "If you wanna burn Heiwa down so much, then why not just do it and spare us from all this crap?!"

"You rich filth obsessed with power are all the same... A bunch of idiots who only care about showing off and proving to themselves that they're as good as they say!" Junpei shouted.

The look in Gakuganji's eyes suddenly darkened, making the three boys hold back their words.

"Obsessed with power? Please, don't lump with those fools who yell about even more follish concepts such as might making right and weakness being a sin. With all the preaching they do about their strength, they fool themselves into not seeing just how deep they are at the bottom of the barrel. The world free of weakness that they yell about all day is an oxymoron in of itself. It's because there are weak people that there are strong people. Erase all weakness, and the world does not become filled by strength. It simply becomes a bunch of nothing. Both the strong and the weak live in a symbiotic relationship, because with one, the other would not have anything to compare itself with, and would not exist."

Gakuganji ran a hand through his hair and sighed. With that rant out of his system, he began smiling again.

"I don't have a need for things such as proving my worth to myself. Afterall, I know what leverage my wealth and influence hold. Moments ago, I stated how history is written by those who claim victory. To claim victory, you need absolute power. I have absolute power. That must sound like the ideal life, but it's far from it if you ask me. Being born with absolute power is just the key to living a stale life that isn't worth anything. That's why I am holding this event. When people are driven to the upmost edge and are forced to give what they have and don't have for their survival, they become the most entertaining they can be. If you wish to call me a cheater for adding to your final fight, go ahead. You are only blaming me for your lack of foresight. You are free to pull the side handle and draw your card at any time, just like Ibuki-chan did."

"You son of a-!" Izuru clenched his fist.

"But... The world won't listen to you. Afterall, you are not the ones who will write history once this fight ends. So until then, make this entertaining." Gakuganji smirked.

"That guy... His condescending look alone is mocking our entire existence and that of our bloodlines!" Tate exclaimed, smacking his V Buckle. "Oi Miyuki, what do we do now? Can we really win against a deck with a G Zone?!"

"He's playing Nubatama and doesn't seem to be playing Jamyocongo, so he has that stride in his G Zone without a doubt..." Junpei commented. "Make our hand smaller with Daihouzan, and then force us to call more cards and guard had against Rinne... No wonder he chose to add a heal trigger to his hand, he was preparing to have Rinne at full power the moment his next turn arrive."

"Can we win... Beats me..." Izuru admitted, gritting his teeth. "The more time we spend thinking of whether or not we can beat this guy now, the worst things will get, so... AH, DAMMIT!" He shouted, punching himself twice.

"Hell yeah! That't the thing Miyuki does when he can't be assed to put more brain cells into things! He does this a bunch during tests!"

"Stop calling me out on things that aren't relevant!" Izuru deadpanned. "There's no time to waste on thinking if we can win or not, we only have time to think I will win!"

"I never heard someone say something so lame..." Junpei sweatdropped, cracking a small smile. "You two are morons, end of story. And I agree with you morons, we're going to beat this old idiot, no matter the bullshit rules he adds."

"Awww look at the bug boy, he's finally accepting that being with us cool guys is the only key to victory here!" Tate laughed, slamming his fist on his palm. "Aight! Let's get back into the game!"

"We were the cool guys?!" Izuru asked, shocked to hear those words coming out of Tate's mouth.

"Yeah, that alone tells me he's bullshititng." Junpei deadpanned.

"Shush kids, it's my turn now! Moreilord only makes up for a 27k guard and Ron's swinging for 33k! Add more or take the damage!"

"Ah, you're truly correct, Serebryakov-kun. I will fix it, do not worry. Moreilord's skill. I counterblast one to have her gain 5k shield for each card in your hand. (42000) As you have less than four cards in hand, I draw a card aswell."

"NoT attacks next! (44000) I put Atrocious Blow into the soul to draw two!"

"(Stealth Beast, Mijingakure - Draw) Daihouzan. (22000)"

"Goddammit, that stupid hand keeps getting bigger! Scharhrot attacks! Counterblast one to restand both Ron and NoT! (24000) Breakthrough Spear Csejte!"

"Once again, voyage through the sands of time and be invoked as my shield! Generation Guard! Rikudo Stealth Dragon, Gehourakan!"

"That's bad!" Junpei exclaimed.

"Gehourakan's skill. I pay a counterblast and a soulblast to dominate Phu Geenlin and move him to my guardian circle. (47000) That is a no pass, Serebryakob-kun."

"Tch, now I have to put Ron into soul if I wanna draw... Twin drive! (Scharhrot Vampir) (Hope on Damp) No trigger! Ron Geenlin attacks! (33000)"

"I shall guard with Yamisaki. (37000)"

"NoT attacks! (44000) I put Ron into the soul to draw two!"

"(Stealth Beast, Tamahagane)"

"Turn end!"

Tate
Hand: 9
Damage: 3
Soul: 14
OXX
OOO

Gakuganji
Hand: 16
Damage: 10
XXO
XOO

"Stand and draw. I discard two cards from my hand as the cost for stride. The moment the evil-eye opened, the world's fate became sealed. Drowning into the depths of degeneracy, despair and evil, humanity clings to a dim hope of attaining passage into a peaceful afterlife. Generation Stride! Evil-eye Vidya Emperor, Shiranui "Rinne"!"

"Shiranui "Rinne"'s skill. I pay a counterblast and flip a Shiranui "Rinne" face up for the cost. Serebryakov-kun, call two cards from your hand to different circles on your field."

"Tch, I call Scharhrot and Amon!"

"Both of them are dominated, and gain a boost of 5k. And with Shiranui "Rinne"'s Generation Break 3, dominated units gain another 10k, aswell as one critical. (12000>>27000/2) (12000>>27000/2) Amon attacks the vanguard. (27000/2)"

"I guard with One-eyed Succubus!! (42000)"

"Scharhrot attacks the vanguard next. (27000/2)"

"I guard with Dark Knight and Demonted Executioner! (32000)"

"Just like that, he's down to four cards..." Junpei grit his teeth.

"I call Master Swordsman of Successive Victory, Houzan and Stealth Rogue of the Night, Sakurafubuki. Sakurafubuki's skill. I discard a card to boost him by 3k. (8000>>11000) I move into my battle phase. Shiranui "Rinne" attacks the vanguard. (27000) Cycle of Life and Death, Endless Night of the Evil-eye!"

"As if! Protect I's gonna perfect guard that!" 'If he gets a crit, he'll deffo stack it on Houzan, so I can guard Genkai without breaking a sweat!'

"Triple drive. (Shura Stealth Dragon, Fuzengo) (Shura Stealth Dragon, Mumyocongo - Heal) Very nice. Heal trigger. Genkai. (9000>>19000)"

"S-shit!" Tate exclaimed.

"Hm? Oya? Oya oya? Could it be that your hand doesn't have enough cards to gain you an extra turn should I reveal a critical on this final drive check of mine? That is an interesting gamble. Let's see the result. (Stealth Dragon, Eizan - Critical) Oya, your prayers fell flat, Serebryakov-kun. I believe you know in which unit I will put the power. Houzan. (9000>>19000/2) Genkai attacks. (19000>>27000)"

"Tch... No guard! (Number of Terror)"

"I stand correct then. Houzan attacks. His skill shall return Scharhrot to your hand. (19000>>40000/2) Your part of the fight shall end here, Serebryakov-kun."

"T-tate!" Izuru called out.

"Don't worry about me, Miyuki! You can win this without me being in the run! I leave this to you guys! No guard! (Dark Knight of Nightmareland - Critical) (Scharhrot Vampir)"

"SEREBRYAKOV TAMETOMO WAS ELIMINATED."

"Such a heartwarming pass of the feelings of battle and determination..." Gakuganji chuckled. "Shall we provide them with a bigger boost?"

"What?" Tate asked.

Out of nowhere, Tate's V Buckle started making weird noises as it began to malfunction. He tried to take it off, but the belt wouldn't retract, and soon, the buckle began shocking him.

"ARGH! W-WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?!" Tate shouted, falling to his knees.

"TATE!" Izuru shouted, running to Tate's side. "JUST HANG IN THERE, I'LL RIP THAT THING OUT OF YOU IN A-!"

"I wouldn't recommend doing so, Sawada-kun." Gakuganji cut in, with a sly smile. "Doing so could end up shocking you aswell, no? And if you become unable to continue fighting because of it, how shall you protect Ibuki-chan from the heart-shattering feelings of losing her beloved sister?"

"SHUT THE HELL UP BEFORE I RIP YOUR VOCAL CHORDS OUT, YOU OLD MAN! HANG IN THERE TATE, I'LL-!"

"N-no, you shut up... And go protect little Harui-chan, you asakusan fart..." Tate chuckled, wincing from the pain of the shock. "A little spark ain't enough to take down the russian wonder... Save your tears for when the gacha rates stop doing butt stuff with you... 'Cuz I don't deserve 'em, Miyuki..."

Tate cracked a small, goofy smile, shortly before losing his strength and falling on the ground.

"Tate... You vodka-drinking idiot...!" Izuru muttered, slamming his fists on the ground.

"At the end of the third round, the plotline grows more interesting. I end my turn."

Gakuganji
Hand: 15
Damage: 9
XXX
XOX

"You..." Junpei muttered, staring at the ground.

"Hm? It is your turn now, Kotomine-kun. Are you going to give your all avenging the fallen comrade you once saw as an-"

Junpei raised his head. He was gritting his teeth, and his rage was burning in such a way that veins were visible in his forehead and neck.

"CALLING YOU SURFACE LEVEL WOULD BE AN INSULT TO THE GROUND FLOOR! YOU'RE NOT A BAD MAN, YOU'RE JUST A SICK EXAMPLE OF EVERYTHING THAT IS WRONG WITH THE WORLD AND ITS PEOPLE!" He shouted.

"J-junpei..." Izuru muttered, looking at his standing partner with surprise in his eyes.

"THAT GUY HAS SUFFERED ENOUGH DURING THESE PAST FOUR YEARS BECAUSE OF ME! AND I WON'T HAVE ANYONE MAKE HIM SUFFER ANYMORE WHILE I'M PRESENT, LET ALONE A SELFISH PRICK BETTER LEFT BURRIED FIVE FEET UNDER!"

"...heh, I knew it... You totally... Love us..." Tate weakly muttered, not even being able to raise his head to look at the one defending them.

"Oya? Those are some questionable words coming from someone who did nothing but bad things to Serebryakov-kun." Gakuganji countered. "Could it be this is your way of atoning for your sins, Kotomine-kun?"

"Atoning, huh... NOTHING I DO CAN EVER ERASE WHAT I DID FROM PEOPLE'S MEMORIES, BUT THAT'S NO REASON TO JUST GIVE UP ON DOING WHAT'S RIGHT!"

"You... Go give him hell, Kotomine Junpei!" Izuru shouted.

"Stand and draw! When the five horns cross, the golden soldier who ended the queen's reign is born! Revolt with a thundering slash! Persona ride! Evil Armour General, Giraffa! Imaginary Gift, Protect I! I call Elite Giraffa, Armour Beetle, High Class Moth and discard three! Giraffa's skill! Jacking Stampede! (12000>>27000/2) I call Pupa Giraffa! Pupa Giraffa's skill, draw one! High Class Moth's skill, countercharge! Elite Giraffa's skill, Genkai can't intercept, and it and Katarigitsune can't change places! Armour Beetle's skill! Houzan and Sakurafubuki lose Intercept and Boost, and can't gain them through skills! Then, Armour Beetle's skill! I rest Pupa Giraffa to get 6k and stun Houzan! (9000>>15000) Battle! Giraffa attacks! Counterblast, shove Pupa Giraffa into the soul, and you call two stunned cards at rest! (27000/2) YGGDRASIL HIJACK!"

"Interesting. I call Yamisaki behind my vanguard, and Katarigitsune over Sakurafubuki. No guard."

"Twin drive! (Death Warden Ant Lion) (Jewel Flasher - Critical) Critical trigger! Power on Armour Beetle, critical to my vanguard! (27000>>27000/3) (15000>>25000)"

"(Sword Saint of Invincibility, Daihouzan) (Stealth Dragon, Genkai) (Stealth Dragon, Eizan - Critical) Daihouzan. (22000)"

"Armour Beetle attacks! (25000)"

"(Stealth Dragon, Magatsu Gale)"

"Elite Giraffa attacks! Counterblast, add 25k and I draw! (9000>>34000)"

"Yamisaki. (37000)"

"Turn end!"

Junpei
Hand: 7
Damage: 3
XXX
XOO

Gakuganji
Hand: 12
Damage: 13
XXX
XXX

"Holy shit, I think that might have left an actual dent on him..." Izuru muttered. "Nice going, bug boy."

"Hm... That was a truly impressive turn, Kotomine-kun. And quite the show too! Inhering the feelings of one of the people you wronged the most in your dark past as a slave to the Nijimura family, and using them to set your soul ablaze as you fight against the force of nature across you! Truly, an outstanding performance!" Gakuganji applauding.

"Get on with your turn, old man!"

"Hai, hai, I will. Stand and draw. I shall discard Eizan, who becomes a grade 3 when being discarded for the cost of stride, to pay for the cost. The moment the evil-eye opened, the world's fate became sealed. Drowning into the depths of degeneracy, despair and evil, humanity clings to a dim hope of attaining passage into a peaceful afterlife. Generation Stride! Evil-eye Vidya Emperor, Shiranui "Rinne"!"

"Shiranui "Rinne"'s skill. I pay a counterblast and flip a Shiranui "Rinne" face up as the cost. Just like your beloved golden soldier Giraffa, Shiranui "Rinne" too forces you to call two cards from your hand."

"I call Armour Beetle and my Protect I marker! Since it can't exist on the field as a unit card, it's destroyed!"

"Oho, a clever strategy. And as your drive check from your turn in the third round obtained you a sentinel, this loss isn't that big. Quite the play. Armour Beetle is dominated and attacks your vanguard. (9000>>24000/2)"

"I guard with Jewel Flasher! (27000)"

"But at the same time, your hand has been shrunk to only four cards. You still have a sentinel and Brillian Blister in your hand, both of which cost one discard for their abilities. Should I obtain two critical triggers this turn, your chapter of this fight will come to an end."

"I don't give a damn about your blabbering!"

"So be it. I call Master Swordsman of Successive Victory, Houzan over the old one. I move into my battle phase. Shiranui "Rinne" attacks. Yamisaki's skill. I move him into the soul to draw a card and boost my vanguard by 10k. (27000>>37000) Cycle of Life and Death, Endless Night of the Evil-eye!"

"Paralyze Madonna, perfect guard!"

"Here comes the moment of truth. (Stealth Dragon, Eizan - Critical) Critical trigger. Houzan. (9000>>19000/2)"

"Shit...!"

"(Stealth Rogue of the Night, Sakurafubuki) (Stealth Dragon, Yamisaki - Critical) Interesting. Houzan. (19000>>29000/3)"

"Shit... Shit, shit, shit!" Izuru exclaimed.

"Houzan attacks. He shall return your Elite Giraffa to your hand. (29000>>39000/3)"

"With Elite Giraffa, Brillian Blister, and the Armour Beetle on the field... You only need 10k to-!"

"I knew that was going to be my final turn. (Pupa Mutant, Giraffa)" Junpei cut in.

"W-what?!"

"I used up all I had to open up a way for you to win this. He's out of Rinnes and three damage away. (Elite Mutant, Giraffa)

"Junpei... Oi, what are you talking about?!"

Despite being fully aware of what awaited him once the sixth card grazed his damage zone, Junpei looked at Izuru with a small, but confidant, smile.

"It's up to you now, you asakusan ass. (Evil Armour General, Giraffa)"

"KOTOMINE JUNPEI WAS ELIMINATED."

Junpei closed his eyes and grit his teeth, and just like it had happened to Tate when he was eliminated, his V Buckle began to malfunction and shock him aswell, leaving him on the ground and in a weakened state.

"Junpei...? OI, JUNPEI!" Izuru yelled, crouching next to him.

"I... Never thought I'd ever have these silly banters with the two of you... It almost makes me think... That we could... Be friends after all of this is over..." Junpei weakly muttered, but then chuckled. "Yeah, as if that'd ever happen..."

"I wish this fight could have reached its fifth round, but that does not seem to be the case. Even so, the show must go on. I end my turn."

Gakuganji
Hand: 15
Damage: 13
XXX
XXX

The arena fell into silence.

Izuru stood up.

He looked at his two fallen teammates, and then at Gakuganji. He grit his teeth to held back his rage, but he couldn't hold it much longer.

"GAKUGANJIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!" Izuru shouted.

Gakuganji grinned and raised his right hand.

"Special rule four, commense!"

The principal of Shinjuku Tech snapped his fingers, and the four Shiranui in his G Zone were turned face down.

"At the end of each round, I may flip up to four face up cards in my G Zone with the same name face down and return all the cards in my drop zone to the deck! Your friends have fallen to open a way for you, yet my hand remains as strong, and the Evil-eye Vidya Emperor will descend on this stage soon! Now, what shall you do, Sawada Izuru-kun?!"

"STAND AND DRAW! I CALL MASQUERADE, RAKIA AND TARTU AND DISCARD THREE CARDS! RAKIA'S SKILL, REVIVE RUKEA! RUKEA'S SKILL! (10000>>15000) BATTLE! TARTU ATTACKS! (10000>>18000)"

"Oho? Going for broke now? A choice nonetheless. Sakurafubuki. (22000)"

"Boosted by Masquerade, Raging Form attacks! Masquerade's skill, add 3k! (33000>>44000) BLACK HEAVEN DOWNPOUR!"

"Protect I. Perfect guard."

"Twin drive! (Revenger, Raging Form Dragon) (Self-control Revenger, Rakia) Raging Form's skill! Tartu, Rinnal, Masquerade! BERSERKER REBORN! REVENGER, RAGING FORM DRAGON! Force I on himself! (33000>>43000) Raging Form's skill, superior call Masq and discard one! Masq attacks! (10000>>13000)"

"Intercept with Genkai. (17000)"

"Boosted by Rakia, Rukea attacks! (15000>>23000)"

"Yamisaki. (27000)"

"Raging Form attacks! (43000) Black Heaven Downpour!"

"Mijingakure, perfect guard."

"Twin drive! (Astral Chain Dragon - Heal) Raging Form! (43000>>53000) (Transient Revenger, Masquerade) Raging Form's skill! Rukea, Rakia, Masq! Berserker Reborn! Revenger, Raging Form Dragon! Force I! (43000>>53000) Raging Form attacks! (53000) Black Heaven Downpour!"

"Once again, Mijingakure." Gakuganji smirked. "Perfect guard."

"Shit... I didn't even hit him once...!" Izuru grunted between grit teeth. "T-twin drive! (Nullity Revenger, Masquerade) (Dark Shield, Mac Lir - Draw) Raging Form! (53000>>63000) I... I end my turn!"

Izuru
Hand: 7
Damage: 4
OXO
OOO

Gakuganji
Hand: 7
Damage: 13
OXX
XOX

"Stand and draw. This time... I shall use my own vanguard to pay the cost. I discard Daihouzan for the cost of stride. The moment the evil-eye opened, the world's fate became sealed. Drowning into the depths of degeneracy, despair and evil, humanity clings to a dim hope of attaining passage into a peaceful afterlife. Generation Stride! Evil-eye Vidya Emperor, Shiranui "Rinne"!"

"Shiranui "Rinne"'s skill. I pay a counterblast and flip a Shiranui "Rinne" face up. Please call two cards, Sawada-kun."

"I call Death Feather Eagle and Mac Lir...!"

"Oho, calling triggers? Hm, I supposed you already have one Mac Lir in hand and that I will be forced to one of those triggers to your hand once Houzan attacks. Quite the play. (5000>>20000/2) (5000>>20000/2) Mac Lir shall attack first. (20000/2)"

"Masquerade! (23000)"

"Now Death Feather Eagle. (20000/2)"

"Rakia...! (23000)"

"Three cards... Perhaps this too shall be the end of your chapter in this fight. A shame, really. After the ruckus you caused on the day of my son's wedding, I really set my expectations of you to an insane height."

"Leave Kagekiyo out of this... You're the reason he and Kasumi had to suffer in silence for years!"

"Ah, truly a hero... In the face of defeat, you yell about the pain others were caused instead of your own. I can see the sequel to this event already. The troubled life of Sawada Izuru-kun, as he tries to live knowing he couldn't protect his friends' school and his girlfriend's family. Brilliant... Truly brilliant. I call Genkai and move into my battle phase. Shiranui "Rinne" attacks. (27000) Cycle of Life and Death, Endless Night of the Evil-eye!"

"Mac Lir... Perfect guard!"

"Twin drive. (Sword Saint of Invicibility, Daihouzan) (Stealth Dragon, Eizan - Critical) Genkai. (9000>>19000/2) (Stealth Dragon, Yamisaki - Critical) Ah, the irony... Houzan. (9000>>19000/2) Boosted by Sakurafubki, Houzan attacks. His skill shall return Death Feather Eagle to your hand. (19000>>37000/2)"

"I guard with Death Feather Eagle and Astral Chain Dragon! (43000)"

"Boosted by Katarigitsune, Genkai attacks. (19000>>27000/2) If only you had one more card, a single trigger in your hand to defend yourself with... But we can't have it all, no? You all had a good run, but like I mentioned before..."

"Damage check... (Revenger, Raging Fall Dragon "Reverse")"

"Neither of you is the one who will write history." Gakuganji sighed.

"(Astral Chain Dragon - Heal)"

"Oh my... Now that I wasn't expecting... It does seem like our grand game is reaching a fifth round, and oh how glorious will that round be." Gakuganji grinned.

"Heal trigger... I heal one... And put it all on Raging Form...! (23000)"

"Ah, but regardless, a sixth card was put in your damage zone, so..."

"Huh- ARGH!"

Just like Tate and Junpei before him, a sixth card being placed in his damage zone caused his V Buckle to malfunction and begin to shock him.

In no less than two seconds, Izuru fell on the ground.

"The fifth round begins soon... I end my turn."

Izuru
Hand: 0
Damage: 5
OXO
OXO

Gakuganji
Hand: 9
Damage: 13
XXX
XOX

"However..."

Gakuganji snapped his fingers.

"At the start of the fifth round, the fifth special rule comes into effect. All the cards in my hand, drop zone and damage zone and returned to my deck, and I draw cards until I have sixteen in my hand."

Gakuganji took a deep breath and looked at the three boys, a grin surging in his face.

"Ah, the ironic misery! So many battles fought in order to protect the place where dear memories were born, and yet, even when everything and everyone left you with their hopes and prayers, you were put down like a nameless mutt! You all tried so hard, sacrificing yourselves to give the others a chance claiming victory, and where did it leave you? You are on the ground, like euthanized animals, with no chance at victory. My damage is zero, just like your hand. You have nothing left to do, and after you are defeated, nowhere left go go."

Gakuganji began applauding.

"Congratulations! Yeah, hooray! Congratulations, Sawada Izuru-kun! You gave your all, and failed thoroughly! Ei! Ei! Oh! Ei! Ei! Oh! Ei! Ei! Oh!"

Gakuganji stopped and placed his hands in his pockets.

"So, what now? Do you try to deal one or two damage? Do you give up? You cannot win, even with a miracle."

But Izuru paid little attention to Gakuganji's words.

At that moment, where he was at his lowest, all he could was think of what would happen next as he bite his lower lip.

Defeating Gakuganji was impossible.

Heiwa was going to be taken down.

Harui was going to be taken away.

Even though things seemed fine at first, they weren't.

One day, one by one, his friends would abandon him.

'Please... Come back...'

One day, even Ban and Tate would distance themselves from him.

'Please... Don't leave me...'

One day, Ibuki would leave without a warning and never return.

'Please... Don't leave me all alone...'

One day, he would be all alone, the same way he was during the time window between Shinei leaving to become a monk and Tate returning from Russia.

'I... Don't want to be alone again... I don't want to be... Who I was before... I'm scared... Please, anyone... Someone... Don't leave me alone...!'

He could already see it.

All alone, in a new school just to finish the year, known as the one who couldn't save Heiwa.

No one would talk to him.

No one would listen to him.

Soon, he'd put some old headphones around his neck, and cover one eye with his hair.

He'd put away the shiny cards Ibuki got for him, and play something irrelevant like Susanoo.

Soon, he'd become the version of himself he hated the most.

'I... Refuse to become that again... I... Love who I am now... I... Won't lose...!'

With his arms and legs shaking, Izuru began rising from the ground.

"Sh... Shut... Up..." Izuru weakly muttered.

"At the very least, you get up. Your final struggle will prove to be an entertaining one."

"I'm not... Going to let... Anything happen... To Heiwa... Or Ibuki and Harui...!"

"Yes, yes! Get up and fight your final fight, Sawada-kun!"

Once he was fully up, Izuru lost his footing, but quickly regained his balance.

He placed his hand on the side handle and grabbed it.

"Oho? Giving up, are we? What a shame... But a fitting ending. Like girlfriend... Like boyfriend." Gakuganji grinned.

"No... I am... Not down yet...!"

Izuru pulled the handle, flipping his front piece around.

"Hm? What was that?"

"I'm going to..."

Izuru recalled Ryuzaki's words, on the day he was given his special driver before Christmas.

"Vanguard's all about the power of imagination, so I left a big, always growing hole in the Driver's program. I want people to be able to make things as they imagine them. Make a unit look like someone you know, be able to hold your avatar's weapon in your hands, get some fresh drip while fighting, anything you desire!"

Izuru took a deep breath.

"Who knows? Maybe you can even make a miracle happen with it."

Izuru pulled the handle again.

But, as the card slot flipped, he grabbed it and stopped it from flipping all the way too.

"What?!" Gakuganji asked.

(Media - Now is the right time)

"REALIZE THAT MIRACLE!"

Roaring, Izuru grabbed his Fusion Card, and began to try drawing it from its slot the hard way.

"Are you... For real?! You think that drawing your Fusion Card without forfeiting is going to win you the fight?! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! YOU TRULY ARE SOMETHING ELSE, SAWADA IZURU-KUN!"

"I am... Going to save Heiwa! I am... Going to protect our family! I am... Going to fight! I am...!"

"What can drawing an extra Raging Form even do? You have no resources for it! In fact, who's to say that you can even use your Fusion Card in a fight? You're just damaging your equipment in a silly final gamble, but I'll be damned, this is the most entertainment I've gotten in a while!" Gakuganji laugh.

"GOING TO CRUSH YOU!"

With a loud yell, Izuru drew his Fusion Card from the card slot.

"HAHAHAHA! COME ON, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO-"

Gakuganji was cut off by an incoming sound. He looked up and his eyes widened.

"WHAT?!"

In response to the unusual activity going on with Izuru's V Buckle, the satellite that contained the servers for the V Buckles, the Faiz-One, shot down a ray of light that striked Izuru's Fusion Card as he drew it.

The impact of the light alone destroyed the sleeve around the card, and under the intense pressure of its heat, the Raging Form contained within began breaking down into ash.

Soon, the only thing that remained behind was the metallic part that made cards into Fusion Cards, with Raging Form's image burned into its surface.

"All stand up!"

As fifteen cards were projected from Izuru's V Buckle and began flying around, Raging Form's glitching image formed behind Izuru.

"THE ONE WHO WILL DEFEAT YOU ISN'T ME, IT'S ALL OF US! I WILL REALIZE OUR DREAM! RIDE!"

Five cards entered each of Raging Form's legs, then another five entered each of his arms, and finally, four entered his chest while one entered his head.

The light gleaming from the fifteen cards shattered the outer shell that was the glitching Raging Form, revealing a unit that, while looking exactly like Raging Form, had a body that shined like light.

"What... WHAT IS THAT?!" Gakuganji shouted, gritting his teeth.

"This is... The miracle that's going to defeat you, Gakuganji!"

Izuru cleaned a drop of blood on the corner of his bottom lip, and looked at Gakuganji with a glare burning with resolve.

"All-rampage Revenger, Realizing Form Dragon!"