Twenty minutes remained until the end of the first hour.

In only fourty minutes, each side had claimed three victories over their opponents, and before the end of the first hour, two more fights would take place.

After Nobu, Yukiko and Yumi's show of power and following fall to the same secretive player, the next fight would be Minami's.

As the bell that started the Battle Fight rung, Minami and Aimi exited Heiwa's garden together, but soon split paths to cover different grounds. Aimi chose to head straight into Shinjuku's side, by using the temple town as a shortcut, while Minami chose to scour the forest.

But after hearing the alarm announce Yumi's defeat, she quickly ditched that plan and went straight to the temple town.

Soon, Minami ran into the temple town, and began looking around for whoever could be there.

"Man... For a place that hasn't had any visits in forever, the place's looking pretty clean." Minami commented. "But still... Where is that Aimi?!"

Aimi was taking a break in the forest. Getting to the temple town before everyone else would require running, which, well, yeah.

"Honestly..." Minami sighed, crossing her arms. "We're both three players down so soon... Maybe the ones we lost are the ones who took down Shinjuku Tech's players down? I'm pretty sure Yukiko was pissed at that blue haired guy, no way she'd pass a shot at beating him..."

Once again, Yukiko's loud shouting and passive-aggressive attitude towards Kagekiyo is the glue that holds any theory Heiwa has together.

"But then how would they lose so quickly after? Hm... Can Shinjuku be having two players stick together and then have one be a backup in case the first one takes the fall? No no, that's a mile away from being remotely viable. Then... Ah, mou, this sucks!"

Fustrated by the lack of definitive answer about the events up to now, Minami decided to sit down on some random bench to rest.

"Why is the signal in this place so terrible... Ugh, the things I'd do just to call the guys and know what the hell's been going on while I was running! This sucks so much..."

Sighing, Minami closed her arms and stretched her arms up, leaving her wide open for someone to sneak up on her and take the seat next to her.

"You won't believe it until you see it."

"Hm- WHAT THE HELL?!"

Minami leapt off the bench and quickly stepped away from the bench, to make some distance between the two. And then-

"Lock On! Endo Minami! Sachi Masao!"

"Yo." Masao waved.

"Who the hell are you?! How did you sneak up on me?!" Minami asked.

"I see, I'm that forgetful... Even though the belts said my name outloud too... Yikes. I'm Sachi Masao, we met at the entrance. I'm Shinjuku Tech's student council vice." He explained. "I was already in the area, so I thought it wouldn't be bad to come directly to you. We're in a war, aren't we?"

"That... Yeah, you're right on that." Minami sighed. "Wait, what was that thing about seeing it to believe it?"

"Hm? Oh, I heard you talk about how your friends got killed so fast after killing our guys. I got an answer, but I doubt you'll believe me unless you see it. I wouldn't assume anything else from a down to Earth girl like you, Nee-san." Masao ginned, taking out his V Buckle from his jacket.

"N-nee-san?! Wait, don't tell me..."

Out of nowhere as that was, Minami didn't had the time to be shocked, she was too busy deadpanning.

"You skipped some pages. Where's the context?!"

"Ah, when you put it like that, that really came out of nowhere, didn't it?" Masao laughed, setting his Buckle down on the bench. "You know what happened to your mother after she called quits on you and your father? I figured you wouldn't, since she forgot you two even existed the moment she got some fool to get into her and start paying for all her stuff. In this case, that moronic fool was my old man. So surprise! I'm your very own little stepbrother! Isn't that exciting? I always wanted to have a sibling!"

"...I see."

Sighing, Minami grabbed her V Buckle.

"Yeah, I don't really care what that woman decided to do after going away. But couldn't you have asked them for a little sister or brother? It'd beat having to look at your weird face." Minami replied.

"Hm... It's true that while I always wanted a sibling, a younger one just would be boring. I mean, they're younger, of course you're gonna beat them at everything. But an older sibling? Now that, that sounds like a fun time."

Masao leaned back and jumped off the bench. After stretching his arms and each of his fingers one by one, he grabbed his buckle and placed it on his waist.

"Old man Gakuganji's doing this whole schtick to get a chuckle out of it and pass the time, so why not the same? Come here, beat your sister, get a hoot and a half out of it, maybe destroy a school by accident. It's the essence of youth! So, what do you say, Nee-san? Would you kindly take a beating for my enjoyment?"

"So is that why you're here...?" Minami muttered. "God, if you were any lamer, I'd think we'd be siblings because you were Endo's secret love child or something." She cackled.

"Come again?" Masao narrowed his eyes.

"Hey, if I have to entertain your crappy motivation, then I'm not doing it for free."

With a chuckle getting to close to the sadistic side, Minami entered her Fusion Card halfway into his V Buckle, and after slammed the rest of the card in with her palm, she placed the V Buckle on her waist.

'What the hell...? I heard she was just the same old popular school bimbo whose only noteworthy thing is probably sucking first years behind a tree... So what's with the change in her air...?!' Masao thought, gritting his teeth as he entered his Fusion Card into his Buckle.

"Besides, you said you knew what was going on, right? Then we both got to something to win out of this. So what do you say? Would you kindly become a sacrifice for the greater good, my cute little brother?" Minami asked, pulling the handle on her V Buckle. "Stand Up."

"Turn Up."

The card slot was flipped around, showing the front piece to contain a silver diamond, surrounded by dark blue.

"Ah... I usually draw the line on using my lines against me, but your rather unpleasant attitude is only gonna make this sweeter! Stand Up!"

"Turn Up."

Masao's card slot was flipped aswell. His front piece was a light blue heart, surrounded by a medium purple colour.

Now connected, the V Buckles ejected the blue cards that Masao and Minami walked through to get to the holographic board. Take a shot every time the words "now connected" are said during the Battle Fight.

"Stand up, vanguard. Silver Thorn Assistant, Ionela."

"Stand up, vanguard! Happiness Collector! Learning this deck was-"

"Oh my, you chose to use Pale Moon. Now aren't you the cutest little brother someone can have?" Minami giggled.

"Ah, I see how it is... You know, I picked up this deck to make beating you even funnier, but beating you and your low effort attempts at talking back will be just the right amount of comedic." Masao chuckled, clenching his fist. "Come on, Nee-san."

"Draw. Ride. Silver Thorn Beast Tamer, Ana. Ionela's skill, draw one. Turn end."

Minami
Hand: 6
Damage: 0
OXO
OOO

Masao
Hand: 5
Damage: 0
OXO
OOO

"Draw. Ride! Amusing Bunny! Collector's skill, draw one and add a ticket to hand. Bunny's skill, scry seven, add Doriane to hand and put a Rising Dragon from hand into the soul. Bunny attacks! (8000)"

"Go ahead."

"Drive check. (Masquerade Bunny) No trigger."

"(Silver Thorn Marionette, Lilian)"

"Turn end."

Minami
Hand: 6
Damage: 1
OXO
OOO

Masao
Hand: 8
Damage: 0
OXO
OOO

"Draw. Ride. Silver Thorn Beast Tamer, Maricica. Maricica's skill. Counterblast, soulcharge three, and since at least two Silver Thorns were soulcharged, I draw one. Ana's skill when rode upon, countercharge. I call Romy, then rest her and put her into the soul for her skill. I scry three and put two Rising Dragons and one Luquier R into the soul. Maricica attacks. (9000)"

"No guard."

"(Silver Thorn Handgrip, Linnea) No trigger."

"(Golden Beast Tamer) Likewise, likewise."

"Turn end."

Minami
Hand: 7
Damage: 1
OXO
OOO

Masao
Hand: 8
Damage: 1
OXO
OOO

"Stand and draw! Ride! Bunny's Beast Tamer Assistant, Klorina! I call Amusing Bunny to the rear left. Klorina attacks! (9000) On attack, I put a card from hand into the soul to call out a grade 2 or less. I'll call Rising Dragon. Oh, and since the combined number of grade 1 Bunny cards among my field and soul is now three, Klorina gets an extra drive."

"No guard." 

"Then, twin drive! (Hoop Magician - Front) How nice. (9000>>19000) (9000>>19000) (Brassie Bunny) Nothing in this one."

"(Silver Thorn Dragon Queen, Luquier)"

"Boosted by Amusing Bunny, Rising Dragon attacks! (19000>>27000)"

"Heal Guard! Nightmare Doll, Lindy. (34000)"

"Oh my, I wasn't expecting you to use one of those now, specially since you took my vanguard's attack. Quite suspicious, isn't it, Nee-sama?"

"Hai, hai, are you done? My turn may take some time to resolve, and I think neither of us wants to go into overtime."

"Of course." Masao chuckled. "Amusing Bunny's skill. Rising Dragon gets put into the soul. Turn end."

Minami
Hand: 6
Damage: 2
OXO
OOO

Masao
Hand: 8
Damage: 1
OXO
XOO

"Stand and draw. Shed your last tears, give your ultimate applauses, and speak your final words! Witness this last performance, a final tyrannical beat that'll resonate and shake your soul! Ride! Silver Thorn Dragon Tamer, Luquier!"

"That's it, give me your last performance before I knock you out of the fight, Nee-san!" Masao laughed.

"Careful what you ask for, my cute little brother." Minami replied, narrowing her eyes.

"W-what...?!"

"I'll have you know I'm the best, the kindest, the greatest sister in the world, so I'll glady give you a performance that will teach you some manners. Imaginary Gift, Accel II! I draw one. I call Romy and use her skill. Another Rising Dragon and Doriane are put into the soul. Luquier's skill. Counterblast two and discard one to call any amount of cards from my soul. I'll call two Rising Dragons to the front, one to my Accel circle, aswell as Maricica, and Doriane, Ana and Ionela to the backrow. Then, all my front row rears get 3k. (9000>>12000) (9000>>14000>>17000) (9000>>12000) Ana's skill. I put her and Ionela into the soul to countercharge, and then, Maricica's skill calls Ionela behind her. I call Linnea behind my vanguard. Then... Luquier R's skill!"

"Huh...?"

"Since she's in my soul, I counterblast one and lock Ionela, Linnea and Doriane to superior ride her. Shine through, blessings of the final performance! The curtain call of the strongest, the kindest, the undefeated, dragon queen is only the beginning! Ride! Silver Thorn Dragon Queen, Luquier "Reverse"! Accel II! I draw one. I call Luquier to my new circle. (12000>>17000) Luquier and Rising Dragons' skills. Since over two cards were called from soul this turn, each of them gets 10k. (17000>>27000) (12000>>22000) (17000>>27000) Battle. Maricica attacks. (12000)"

"What's with that puny attack, Nee-san? I thought you were going to take this serious. I use my own Lindy. (34000)"

"Suit yourselve. Luquier R attacks. (12000) Bloody Dragon's Sacrifice!"

"Go ahead. One to pass."

"Twin drive. (Silver Thorn Conjurer, Romy) (Silver Thorn Marionette, Lilian) No trigger. Rising Dragon attacks. (22000)"

"Klorina. (24000)"

"My second Rising Dragon attacks. (27000)"

"No guard. (Bunny's Beast Tamer, Tilaipse)"

"Luquier attacks! (27000)"

"Once again, no guard. (Midnight Bunny)"

"Turn end. My units are unlocked. Then, Doriane's skill. I put all my other rear-guards into soull, and draw one for each two put with this effect. Six were put, so I draw three, and then return Luquier from soul to my hand. Doriane is retired."

Minami
Hand: 11
Damage: 2
oOXOo
  OOO

Masao
Hand: 6
Damage: 3
OXO
XOO

"You've surely made me work up a nice sweat, Nee-san. But the foreplay has been drawn out long enough, don't you agree? Then let's step into the last stage we'll ever need. Stand and draw! Welcome, and step right ahead, into the fluffy white paradise that awaits all of us at the end of each heart-throbbing performance! Let's enter the stage of the rabbits that shall hop over the moon! Ride! Bunny's Beast Tamer, Tilaipse!"

Masao snapped his fingers and bowed.

"Enjoy the show. Imaginary Gift, Accel II. I call two Brassie Bunnies to the back, and use their skills. I discard two cards total to draw two and soulcharge four. I call Golden Beast Tamer! (12000>>17000) Then, Tilaipse's skill. Bunny Paradise Curtain Call. By paying a small counterblast and putting two cards from my hand into my soul, I call any two units from my soul. I call Amusing Bunny and Rising Dragon. Then, one of my rear-guard Beast Tamers becomes my second vanguard. Welcome to the main stage, Golden Beast Tamer! I believe you're familiar with Rising Dragon's skill. (9000>>19000) Since I have more than five units, Golden beast Tamer's continous skill becomes online, and gives my front 3k. (17000>>20000) (19000>>22000) (12000>>15000) (8000>>11000) And now, Tilaipse's own continous ability. For every grade 1 Bunny in both my soul and field, my front gets 1k. There are four Bunnies in my field, aswell as another four in my soul, so that becomes a total of 8k. (20000>>28000) (22000>>30000) (15000>>23000) (11000>>19000) Now... Let's get into the meat of the show! Amusing Bunny attacks! (19000)"

"Romy. (22000)"

"At the end of the battle he attacked, Amusing Bunny will put himself into the soul. Boosted by Amusing Bunny, Rising Dragon attacks! (30000>>38000)"

"No guard. (Silver Thorn Beast Tamer, Maricica)"

"Amusing Bunny's skill will return Rising Dragon into the soul. Golden Beast Tamer attacks! Her skill. Counterblast and putting a card from hand into the soul to call out Rising Dragon and Klorina. (9000>>30000) (9000>>20000) (28000) Golden Primum Actum!"

"No guard."

"Twin drive! (Amusing Bunny) (Hoop Magician - Front) Front trigger! Don't mind if I do! (28000>>38000) (30000>>40000) (23000>>33000) (20000>>30000)"

"(Hades Hypnotist - Draw) All to Luquier. (22000)"

"Now Tilaipse attacks! (33000) Bunny Paradise Finalis Actum!"

"No guard again." Minami shook her head.

"Hmmm? I see you like to live life on the line, Nee-san. Or perhaps you decided to just take the beating. Either way, I'm having a hoot out of this! Twin dri-!"

"No, I just know you don't run crits. If you picked up Tilaipse just to fight me, then you must have gotten the best list you could find, all to surprise your awesome big sister." She sighed.

"Wha-!" Masao clenched his fist. "I didn't know you were this talkative, Nee-san... Twin drive! (Skyhigh Walker - Front) Front trigger! (38000>>48000) (40000>>50000) (33000>>43000) (30000>>40000) (Bunny's Beast Tamer, Tilaipse)"

"See? Damage check. (Silver Thorn Assistant, Irina)"

"You...! Boosted by Brassie Bunny, Klorina attacks! (40000>>48000)"

"Guard with two Barking Dragons. (52000)"

"Rising Dragn, finish her! (50000)"

"Hades Hypnotist, perfect guard."

"Tch, guess that's it for my turn..." Masao grumbled, slightly gritting his teeth. "Over to you, my precious Nee-san..."

Minami
Hand: 7
Damage: 5
oOXOo
  OOO

Masao
Hand: 5
Damage: 3
xXXX
  XXX

"Stand and draw. Have you burned through your excessive energy yet?" Minami asked.

"Huh- What is that supposed to mean?!" Masao replied, narrowing his eyes.

"I read online that it's better to let kids run through their quirked up amounts of energy than to try to calm them down."

"Wha-! Who the hell are you calling a kid?!"

"Think about it a bit. But if you're calmer now, then I can get to what I want to do. I don't give a damn about your self-jerking goal here, but you got two things I want. The first, you know what's up with Heiwa's players going down. And second.... While I don't care about what your new mom did to me, I do care about something else. I care about what about my dad, and I'll never forgive her for what she did to him. So, since you're here... I'll repay you for all the anguish she made Endo feel, tenfold!"

Masao's eyes widened.

(Media - TBD)

'Wha- Where's all this coming from?! The air around her is all vicious now! It's like- It's like she's out for blood! What the hell is wrong with this girl?!'

"May I have the honour of taking your life, my cute little punching bag? Ride! Silver Thorn Dragon Tamer, Luquier! Accel II! Luquier's skill! Counterblast two, discard one, and call! To my three Accel circles, three Rising Dragons! To my other front row circles, Luquier and Lilian! And to the back row, Ionela, Romy and Doriane! My front row gets 3k! (9000>>17000) (9000>>17000) (9000>>12000) (12000>>15000) (12000>>15000) (9000>>17000) Then, Luquier R's skill from the soul! Lock Ionela, Romy and Doriane! Shine through, blessings of the final performance! The curtain call of the strongest, the kindest, the undefeated, dragon queen is only the beginning! Ride! Silver Thorn Dragon Queen, Luquier "Reverse"! Accel II! I call Rising Dragon! (9000>>14000) Luquier's skill! (15000>>25000) Rising Dragons' skills! (17000>>27000) (17000>>27000) (17000>>27000) (14000>>24000) Luquier R's second skill! Since you're finally at grade 3, all my front row units get 3k for each of my locked cards! (27000>>36000) (27000>>36000) (12000>>21000) (12000>>21000) (25000>>35000) (27000>>36000) (24000>>33000)"

"W-what?! What kind of skill is that?!"

"Hm? It's basically the same as your Tilaipse, my cute little punching bag. Now, how did you say it... Ah." Minami snapped her fingers. "Let's get into the meat of the show. Luquier R attacks! (21000) Bloody Dragon's Sacrifice!"

"Shit! Hoop Magician and Skyhigh Walker, guard! (42000)"

"Two to pass? Alright. Twin drive. (Silver Thorn, Barking Dragon - Critical) All to my regular Luquier. (35000>>45000/2) (Silver Thorn Assistant, Irina) Go figure. Lilian attacks! Since my soul has four Silver Thorns with different names, she gets 10k! (21000>>31000)"

"A-amusing Bunny! Klorina and Rising Dragon intercept! (32000)"

"My first Rising Dragon attacks! (36000)"

"N-no guard! (Nightmare Doll, Lindy - Heal) A-all to Tilaipse! (22000)"

"My second Rising Dragon attacks! (36000)"

"No guard! (Hades Hypnotist - Draw) Ha ha, I'm the best... All to Tilaipse! (32000)"

"Don't toot your own horn that soon, my cute little punching bag. My third Rising Dragon attacks! (36000)"

"Guard with Masquerade Bunny! (42000) How about that?!"

"Then my fourth Rising Dragon attacks. (33000)"

"Hades Hypnotist! Perfect guard!" Masao shouted, throwing a copy of Tilaipse into the drop zone. "I refuse... I refuse to lose this soon! I'm not going down with the worst performance of Shinjuku! I refuse!"

"You can keep refusing all you want, but that's not going to make this any softer! Luquier attacks! (45000/2) Silver Thorn Resonance! Hairpin!"

"GO TO HELL, ENDO MINAMIIIIIIIII!"

Minami snapped her fingers as she threw her right arm to the side.

Masao fell on his knees, clenching his fist as he slammed it on the stone ground. The system placed a Doriane into his damage zone, the sixth card in his damage zone. Fitting.

"SACHI MASAO WAS ELIMINATED."

"You bitch...! How dare you... How did I lose faster than that good for nothing wannabe singer?! Or that- That- That- THAT SPANDEX-LOVING BUG FUCKER?!"

"Oi." Minami said, walking closer to Masao.

Masao grit his teeth and embraced himself for whatever Minami was planning to do, but his expections were crushed.

She didn't try to be Yumi and beat him up.

She just pat him on the head while he was down.

Tnat's probably even worse.

"Your secret trump card. Talk."

"Tch..."

But at the same time, the belt in Masao's V Buckle was returned to the actual buckle, making it fall on the ground, where it was separated from a small piece that wasn't meant to be there.

"What? A chip?" Minami asked.

"Cat's out of the bag... All of Shinjuku Tech's Buckles have a tracking on them. Whenever they start because of a fight, a signal's sent out to our trump card, letting him now where his next prey is... Even if I lost too quickly... "

Masao slapped Minami's hand away from him, and looked up at her with a grin.

"That was probably enough to make him get here! Ain't that right..."

"W-what the hell are you talking about?!"

Suddenly, Minami looked back, at the source of an applauding sound, but was blinded by the sunlight being reflected on a large piece of shiny skin.

"SHIN?!" Masao yelled.

"Lock On! Endo Minami! Nitta Shinei!"

"Yo." Shin waved.

"ENDO MINAMI WAS ELIMINATED."