"Here's an advice, Kaminari." Hikaru said, looking at the stage before Kaminari left. "Keep being the Ace. In anothers, don't-"

"Lose? I know I won't and I don't need you to scold me about it. You won't even have to fight." Kaminari replied in a cold tone, walking off to the stage.

"Attaboy." 'But even if he loses, Akira won't be an issue. I've dealt with him before, I know exactly what to do.'

Kaminari and Emon, now both on the fighting stage, looked at each other. "Previous Ace."

"Ace."

(Opening)

"I'm sure you have something you want to declare, Emon. Maybe a challenge?" Kaminari asked, narrowing his eyes.

"I do." Emon replied, placing his deck of the system's pillar. "Han Kaminari, I challenge you for the title of Ace of the Royalty of Heiwa Academy!"

"And I accept your challenge. It'll only make winning more interesting."

"Another title fight? If only things were like this back then. Aight since Emon issued a challenge for the title, he goes first because of the rules and stuff. Y'know, this makes choosing who goes first really easy." Ryuzaki said to the microphone. "Gotta love this type of stuff."

"Indeed, but we also should know when to commentate and when to not, don't you think so too, my dear husband?" Payic asked with a closed eye smile.

"If you knew when to commentate, you wouldn't be here commentating with me. It's all a matter of looking at facts." Ryuzaki replied, smiling the same way as his wife.

"It really is. It's also a matter of how cold the living room will be when you sleep on the couch tonight."

"Well fuck me too, I guess. I can always stay on another of my mansions."

"What?"

"What?"

"You said another of your mansions."

Ryuzaki started sweating. "No I didn't, BATTLE BEGIN WHEN BOTH FIGHTERS ARE READY! AND SINCE THIS IS DRAGON EMPIRE VERSUS DRAGON EMPIRE, GET READY TO RUMBLE!"

"Ryuza-"

"Stand up, vanguard!" Emon declared, his vanguard circle expanding yellow. "I ride Lizard Runner, Undeux! (Grade 0|6000)"

"Stand up, my vanguard! I ride Dragon Egg! (Grade 0|6000)" Kaminari's vanguard circle expanded orange. "After you."

"Stand and draw. Embodiment of Armor, Bahr, ride! (Grade 1|8000) Undeux's skill, I draw one! Turn end!"

Emon
Hand: 6
Damage: 0
OXO
OOO

Kaminari
Hand: 5
Damage: 0
OXO
OOO

"Stand and draw. I will ride Savage Trooper! (Grade 1|8000) With Dragon Egg's skill, I draw one aswell. I won't call any unit to the field, so Trooper will attack! (8000)"

"No guard!"

"Drive check! (Assault Dragon, Blightops)" Kaminari smirked. "My anti-Kagero card." He muttered.

"Damage check! (Dragonic Waterfall)"

"That's one Waterfall that's out of the way. Knowing your deck, getting rid of the others won't be an issue. Turn end."

Emon
Hand: 6
Damage: 1
OXO
OOO

Kaminari
Hand: 7
Damage: 0
OXO
OOO

"Stand and draw! I ride Berserk Dragon! (Grade 2|10000) And he is ridden, I pay a counterblast and soulblast to draw one! I call Dragon Armored Knight (Grade 2|10000) and Flame of Hope, Aermo! (Grade 1|8000)"

'Going on the offensive? If that's what you want, go ahead.' "I'll admit, I am surprised. I wasn't expecting you to go on the offensive."

"To be a Kagero player is to overpower the opponent in every way we can. That's what some old wise guy told me in the past."

Back at the Sawada household, Shouto, Yu and Izuru were watching the fight in their living room as the regional tournament was being broadcasted live in a Vanguard Association channel. Shouto grinned at Emon's commented, clenching his fist shut. "Attaboy! Time to burn him up, Emon!"

"Battle! Berserk Dragon attacks the vanguard! Beserk Flame! (10000)"

"Hm, no guard."

"Drive check! (Embodiment of Spear, Tahr - Critical) Get, a critical trigger! I give the critical to my vanguard, Dragon Armored Knight gets the power! (10000>>10000/2) (10000>>20000)"

"Damage check, twice. (Sonic Noa|Archbird - Draw) That's more like it. I give all the effects to my vanguard. And then, I draw one. (18000)"

"Boosted by Aermo, Dragon Armored Knight attacks! With Aermo's skill, add 3000! And with Dragon Armored Knight's, 5000! (20000>>25000>>33000>>36000)"

"No thanks. Savage Shaman! (38000) That's enough."

"I end my turn."

Emon
Hand: 6
Damage: 1
OXX
OOX

Kaminari
Hand: 7
Damage: 2
OXO
OOO

"Let me ask you something." Kaminari stated, drawing a card as he looked at Emon. "What makes you think you should get your title back? What even makes you think you can win it back? You were the one who gave up on it, so what makes you think you have any right to fight back for it?"

"Literally saying, nothing." Emon admitted. "I know I don't have any right to fight back for the title I used to have. I know I was the one who gave it up and I know I denied ever wanting it back. But, I was the Ace for over a year, and that is enough to make want to fight against a Royalty that is toxic due to the one who created it. The current Royalty isn't what Heiwa needs. It's a Royalty created by one's selfish desire for victory. It was our duty as Royalty members to look out for others and not to win everything. So to answer you, I know I don't have a right to fight to get my title back, but I don't care about those rights, I only care about doing what I have to do! And that is to become the Ace once again and bring back the old Royalty! Not a right, but a duty! I don't have anything against you or Kakogawa or Ansei, my issue is with Hikaru himself. My issue is his selfish desire of using the Royalty to win. And I'm sure you've noticed it too by now, Kaminari."

Hikaru clenched his fists, gritting his teeth. 'Shut. The hell. Up. Emon. You don't know what you're talking about. No one does! No one can understand why I am doing what I'm doing and I don't expect any of you to ever understand! You never suffered the way I did! You didn't lost what I lost! You never lost a part of yourself! So stop saying what I'm doing is selfish, I'M DOING WHAT'S RIGHT FOR RENJI!' He angrily shouted in his mind, growling a bit.

"I hope you are done talking by now, because I bet most people here don't care abotu that big speech you just made. Ravenous Dragon, Megarex, ride! (Grade 2|9000) Call, Sonic Noa (Grade 1|8000), Assault Dragon, Blightops (Grade 2|9000) and Savage Raider! (Grade 2|9000) Savage Raider's skill, I arm Blightops with an equip gauge! And last but not least, I call Vicious Claw Dragon, Laceraterex! (Grade 1|8000) With his own ability, I arm him with an equip gauge! Boosted by Laceraterex, Savage Raider attacks the vanguard! (9000>>17000)"

"No guard. (Dragon Knight, Nehalem) No trigger."

"Megarex attacks the vanguard! With his skill, I retire Laceraterex to draw a card! And with Laceraterex's own ability, I soulblast one to retrieve the equip gauge he had! (9000)"

"No guard. That's one to pass."

"I'm aware. (Sonic Noa) Not a trigger. Boosted by Sonic Noa, Blightops attacks your rear-guard! With Sonic Noa's skill, I arm Blightops with a second equip gauge. (9000>>17000)"

"I'm not the smartest or brightest guy around, but I can see why you aren't attacking the vanguard. I guard with Bahr! (20000)"

"Is that so? Then tell me why."

"It's a reason anyone can understand. Since Blightops triggers with any type of retiring skill, you're trying to make me retire him, making you get more cards while I lose resources in doing so."

"Eh, not bad at noticing things. It's a single combo, but quite effective. Turn end."

Emon
Hand: 5
Damage: 2
OXX
OOX

Kaminari
Hand: 6
Damage: 2
XXX
XOO

"Stand and draw. I saw through your trap, but can you see through mine?"

"Hm?" Kaminari lifted an eyebrow at the question. "Your trap? I know your deck like the palm of my hand. I know all your ratios, all the cards you run or don't run. I am virtually thousands of steaps ahead of you!"

"And to that I say... I don't care." Emon adjusted his tie, dragging hsi right foot backwards. "A flame burn from the heart of power itself!" He grabbed one of the holographic cards and threw it up. "The red flames that purge evil and darkness! RIDE THE VANGUARD!" The card crashed down against the vanguard like a meteor, making Emon's vanguard circle expand in a flaming red colour. "DRAGONIC OVERLORD! (Grade 3|13000)"

"What?! I know your deck, you never ran that card!"

"Exactly. I never ran this card. But now I do and I will use it to overpower you even more!"

"Look at that boy, playing good cards in his deck for once." Yuichiro said, laughing to himself. "Now he can actually play Overlord the Clan the right way!"

"Ah, I remember when Overlord was meta back in the day. We had to get Nova Grapplers to stop it." Ryuzaki commented, sighing happily at the nostalgia.

"What can you do? Overlord was the vanguard centered deck Chaos hated and then it got screwed over by cards with Resist. Aqua Force and Nova Grappler had good times against it since they could resist the retire effects and the defensive triggers." Payic replied.

"They basically could screw KFC. Now they are at the bottom of the format and Overclord the Clan became Waterfall.dek, what else could we ask for?"

"For you to tell me about that another mansion?"

Ryuzaki squinted, grabbing the microphone. "RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE!"

"RYUZA-"

"Imaginary Gift, Force! I give it to my vanguard! (13000>>23000) I call Dragon Knight, Nehalem! (Grade 2|10000) His skill! Counterblast, add 5000 power! (10000>>15000) And then, retire Sonic Noa!"

"It doesn't matter if you run Dragonic Overlord or not, your playstyle is still very easy to under stand. Sonic Noa retreats."

"Aermo's skill! Retire itself to countercharge! I draw one card! I call Dragonic Gaias! (Grade 1|8000) Dragonic Overlod's skill, soulblast, add 10000 power! (23000>>33000) Battle! Unboosted, Dragonic Overlord attacks Savage Raider! (33000)"

"You said you had a trap, didn't you? If using a card you don't usually use is your trap, then you were very predictable!" 'He's attacking Raider unboosted and has Gaias behind Overlord. This is easy to understand. He wants to restand Overlord and have it's second attack have two critical.' "Like I said, predictable. I guard with Shaman and Black Cannon Tiger! (44000) That's two to pass, if you want to restand your vanguard."

"And who said I did?" Emon asked, smirking.

"Hm?"

"You thought I planned to have Overlord's second attack have an extra critical with Gaias, didn't you?"

"Maybe I did."

"If you did, then you made a big mistake. I didn't called Gaias for his skill, but to fool you. That's 
how you overpower Kagero-style. Twin drive! (Dragonic Gaias|Embodiment of Armor, Tahr - Critical) Critical trigger! I give all effects to Nehalem! (15000>>25000/2) Nehalem attacks the vanguard! (25000/2)"

"No guard. (Savage Raider|Black Tiger Cannon - Critical) I give all to my vanguard! (19000/2) Now Berserk can't hit, so you have two choices."

"If you're expect me to back out just because you gain advantage, don't be so sure about it! Berserk Dragon, attack Blightops! (10000)"

"Blightops retires, and since he was retired, I pay a counterblast to add the two equip gauge he had to my hand."

"I end my turn at that."

Emon
Hand: 6
Damage: 2
XXX
OXO

Kaminari
Hand: 6
Damage: 4
OXO
OOO

"Stand and draw." 'I will admit, his idea to use Gaias as bait was clever. i can't beleive I actually fell for it. But his hand was reduced, and if Waterfall is in his hand, he only has five cards he canuse to guard from hand. The cons is that two of them are critical triggers, but I can overcome it.' "Roar, indominable fiend! Shake the very ground and reveal the power of the immortal army! I ride Ravenous Fiend, Gigarex! (Grade 3|12000) Imaginary Gift, Accel! I call Megarex (Grade 2|9000), Blightops (Grade 2|9000) and Savage Raider! (Grade 2|9000>>19000) Raider's skill, arming Blightops with an equip gauge. Gigarex, attack! His skill! Arm Raider, Blightops and Megarex with an equip gauge! And then, add 15000! (12000>>27000)"

"No guard!"

"Drive check! (Archebird - Draw) Draw trigger! I give it all to Blightops! (9000>>19000) (Tyrant, Deathrex)"

"Damage check! (Dragonic Overlord)"

"Blightops attacks the vanguard! (19000)"

"Gaias! (23000)"

"Savage Raider! Using his skill, I move the equip gauge he has to Megarex! (19000)"

"(Red Gem Carbuncle - Draw) I give the power to the vanguard! (23000) Draw!"

"Megarex attacks! I retire Blightops to draw! And then, since he is a rear-guard, I pay a counterbast to arm him with an equip gauge! Now, add 5000 for each equip gauge he has! (9000>>24000) And with Blightops' skill, add his gauge to my hand."

"Tahr! (38000)"

"Hm, turn end."

Emon
Hand: 6
Damage: 4
XXX
OXO

Kaminari
Hand: 8
Damage: 4
xXXO
  OOO

"Stand and draw. Persona ride, Dragonic Overlord! (Grade 3|13000>>23000) Force, to the vanguard, again! (23000>>33000) I call Aermo (Grade 1|8000) and Bahr! (Grade 1|8000) With his skill, counterblast, soulblast, retire Megarex! And then, add 5000! (8000>>13000) Aermo's skill, countercharge and draw!"

Kaminari retired Megarex, thinking about the state of the game. 'He can keep pushing for game, but I still have a good hand to guard. He retired Megarex as expected, but I still have another in hand to use next turn.'

"Overlord's skill, I soulblast to add 10000. (33000>>43000) Battle! Dragonic Overlord, attack the vanguard! (43000)"

"That trick won't work a second time. Archebird, complete guard!"

"Twin drive! (Lizard Soldier, Raopia|Dragonic Waterfall) No triggers. Nehalem attacks Savage Raider! (10000)"

"I guard with Sonic Noa. (19000)"

"Bosoted by Bahr, Berserk at the vanguard! (10000>>13000>>26000)"

"I will take that one. (Savage Trooper)"

"I end my turn."

Emon
Hand: 7
Damage: 4
XXX
OXX

Kaminari
Hand: 5
Damage: 5
xOXO
  OOO

"Stand and draw! Enough is enough! We've played around for enough time! This is the end, the final turn! I call Tyrant, Death Rex (Grade 3|12000), Megarex (Grade 2|9000), and Laceraterex (Grade 1|8000), who arms himself with an equip gauge. Boosted by Laceraterex, Gigarex attacks the vanguard! I arm all my rear-guards with an equip gauge! Add 20000 for this attack! (12000>>32000>>40000) Gigantic Tyrant Crunch!"

"Barri, complete guard! Dropping Dragon Armored Knight."

"Twin drive! (Savage Trooper|Savage Aggressor - Critical) Critical trigger! I give all effects to Deathrex! (12000>>22000/2) Savage Raider attacks! Using his skill, I move his equip gauge to Megarex! (19000)"

"No guard! (Dragonic Waterfall)"

"One more damage left! Megarex attacks! Retiring Laceraterex to draw! Then, counterblast, arm an equip gauge and add 15000! (9000>>24000) And with Laceraterex's skill, soulblast, retrieve the equip gauge."

"Tahr guards! (28000)"

"The final attack of the game! Deathrex attacks! I use his skill! By soulblasting and retiring Megarex, I force your Dragon Armored Knight to retreat! And then, add 10000 power for each equip gauge Megarex had! He had three, so add 30000! (22000/2>>52000/2)"

"I guard with Genjo, Raopia and Dragonic Gaias! (53000) I'm not losing now! I'm not letting my team down again!" Emon exclaimed.

Kaminari clenched his fists, gritting his teeth. 'How the hell did I got here?! I was supposed to end it this turn! Victory should be mine! Am I not fit for this title? What am I doing wrong? Was this a mistake?' "I... I end my turn."

Emon
Hand: 1
Damage: 5
XXO
OXX

Kaminari
Hand: 7
Damage: 5
xXXO
  OOO

(Play the song in the media)

"STAND AND DRAW!" Emon loudly shouted. "I'll show a real final turn! THE FINAL TURN ONLY AN ACE CAN HAVE! CRIMSON BLAZE TURNED BLUE, NO MATTER WHAT COMES AND GOES, ONLY ONE THING IS CERTAIN! OUR FLAMES RULE OVER EVERYTHING! I RIDE DRAGONIC WATERFALL! (Grade 3|13000)" Emon slammed his avatar card on the vanguard circle, which expanded into blue flames.

"About time that damn thing showed up." Akira said, smirking. "TIME TO LET HIM HAVE IT!"

"Imaginary Gift! Force! Giving it to the vanguard! That makes it three Force gifts! (13000>>43000) Dragonic Waterfall's skill! Savage Raider, retire! And call to the rear-guard! Dragonic Overlord! (Grade 3|13000)  Time to battle! Boosted by Dragonic Gaias, Dragonic Waterfall attacks the vanguard! Dragonic Waterfall's skill! I soulblast a Grade 3 to add 10000 power, a critical and for this battle only, I block all your sentinels! (43000>>53000/2>>61000/2) HYDROBLAZE CLEAVE!"

'I need at least 50000 shield just for a one to pass, and he didn't even used Gaias to make Waterfall have a third critical. I have Archebird in hand, but he's just useless in this state, and I have Gigarex too. I can't lose now and I can't...' As Kaminari thought about what to do in the current situation, he look a quick look at his teammates, but despite the three of them being behind him, he only saw Hisano and Taira. 'Let those two go against themselves. I can't let Hikaru be the cause of Hisano's sadness or  Taira's boldness. I can't let those two be dragged into something that's my fault.' "I guard with Blightops, two Aggressors, Trooper and Raider! (62000)" 

"And his hand is shrunk down to only two cards! One trigger and it's game over for Kaminari of Team Nova!" Ryuzaki announced.

"TWIN DRIVE! (Dragonic Waterfall)"

"His first drive check fails reveal a trigger! If his second check doesn't reveals one, it may just be game over for Emon and Spiral Terra as a whole!" Payic yelled into the microphone.

A moment of silence was amde by the crowd as Emon revealed the top card of his deck by himself. In another words, he flipped the card with his bare hands instead of having the system do it for him. "(Demonic Dragon Mage, Rakshasa - Critical) Critical trigger. All to the vanguard. (61000/2>>71000/3)" Emon smirked at the reveal, which made the crowd start shouting in excitment again.

"(Tyrant, Deathrex) I lost. Congrats on the win, Ace." Despite losing and failing his team, Kaminari smiled at the result of the fight, for he had done what was right for both Hisano and Taira.

"And that's the end of the fight! Spiral Terra takes the win!" Ryuzaki and Payic announced.

Emon and Kaminari walked up to the center of the stage and shook hands. "You did well, Kaminari."

"I can say the same too you, Ace. But I guess the title just wasn't for me." Kaminari admitted, giving his Ace pin back to it's rightful owner. "And you were right. I do know that Hikaru being the King is a mistake. Not for the reasons you say, but due to what he made Hisano and Taira do. It infuriates me. I know it's a weird and late change of heart, but I mean it. I know we stand in opposite sides today, but I truly hope that Spiral Terra wins the regional tournament."

Emon nodded. "I don't think it's ever too late to change. Someone taught me that. Thank you, Kaminari."

After departing ways, the two returned to their respective teams and were greeted in different ways. While Emon was praised for his victory, all Kaminari got was to hear Taira's loud mouth again.

"With that fight done, it's time for us to move on to the final fight! Both teams, send one of your player's to the field for the final fight to start!"

"Time to go and win us a regional tournament." Akira said, getting up from his bench. Before leaving for the stage, he grabbed his phone and read through a text sent by someone who was watching the fights. He nodded at the text and started making his way to the stage.

"Time for me beat you again, Akira. Funny, isn't it?" Hikaru proudly said as he walked into the stage.

"Not at all. I think you'll find what's about to happen funnier." Akira replied in a cold tone. He looked at Ryuzaki and waved at him. "As the rules state, I am able to ask for a break. Can I have that break now?"

"Hm? Huh, sure. Ladies and gentlemen, we will have a quick break and see you all in a bit!"

"What was that idiot thinking, asking for a break?" Hikaru muttered, standing in the cafeteria with Hisano and Kaminari. "I swear, that idiot is trying to throw me off or something!"

"REEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE KAMINARI WE'RE LIKE TITLENESS BROS NOW!" Taira yelled, walking up to the Team Nova members. "I JUST LSOT MY TITLE IN THE BATHROOM REEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!"

"How was that possible? We've been out for five minutes, how did you got your ass kicked so quickly?" Kaminari asked in disbelief.

"REEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE THE GUY RETIRED MY REARS AND I'M NOT GOOD AT CALLING THOSE REEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE THE JACK WANTED HIS TITLE BACK REEEEEEEE!"

Hikaru squinted at Taira's words, gritting his teeth. "The Jack wanted his title back...? He retired all your rears...? Oh you can't be serious right now!"

"Oh believe me, I'm sure he is." Ichigo said, approaching Hikaru as he tossed the Jack pin into the air like a coin over and over again. "I'm dead sure he is."

"So what, you have your title back. Just a matter of title before I make you lose it again. We all know how hungry you are for pwoer so it's just a matter of tiem before you try to take my King title."

"Perhaps. But I didn't got the title of Jack back just to become the King. I did it since this is a coup d'etat."

"A coup in a tato...?" Taira mumbled.

"What do you mean with a coup d'etat?" Hikaru asked.

"Simple. Me and some other Royalty members are striking from the inside. You may be the King now, but now you are the King of a Royalty where three people want you out." As Ichigo explained that, Emon and Aijou joined his side. 

"Oh of course, you were planning all this from the start..." Hikaru muttered, showing a face of disgust.

"Wrong. I was the one planned all of this." Akira revealed, joining Ichigo's side. "Like we said, we're making the old Royalty return. Three of the original members are back on board and it won't be long until all five return. That's why I plan on beating you on that stage. And trust me, I'm not bluffing, I will take you down once and for all."

"Is that so...? Then be my guest and try to get your title back. I will destroy you senseless and win. And after that, I will keep winning and winning and winning. You won't stop me. You can't stop me. Mark. Those. Words."

(Ending)

Kaminari: Here's the preview!

On the next chapter:

#28: A King's Last Stand

"Call, Blaster Blade."

"Your first mistake was thinking you had any chance of winning! I'm the King and that's final!"

"Illuminate the darkened souls and replishment the hope of life! Twin blades exculpating the path to the future to summon you! Soul Saver Dragon!"

----------------------------------------

MINI TERRA: "Bathroom Fights"

Taira: *leaves the bathroom stall humming*

Ichigo: *pops up in front of him* I WANT MY TITLE BACK!

Taira: AH! NOW I NEED TO GO BACK IN THERE!

Ichigo: Wait are you saying you just... Oh god, I'm gonan throw up. *goes into the next stall*

Taira: And that kids is how you avoid losing your title! Just lie and say you crapped your pants!

-----  

Hikaru: That was a shitty Mini Terra.

Taira: REEEEEEEEEEEEE A SHIT BATHROOM PUN REEEEEEEEEEEEEE

Emon: I did right for my clan.

Taira: AND REEEEE IS LOST MY TITLE REEEEEEEEEEEEEE I DIDN'T EVEN SLAYED A PROTAG REEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

Fubuki: SCREW THAT YOU'RE LOOSING YOUR ONE SHOT AT LOVE REEEEEEEEEEEE

Taira: THAT TOO REEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

Fubuki: REEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

Taira: REEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

Payic: RYUZAKI WHAT OTHER MANSION?!?!??!

Ryuzaki: *sweating* REEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEND THIS SHIDA

Thanks for reading, don't be a ghost reader, vote and comment if you enjoyed and I will see you later. Bye bye!

Fubuki: REEEEEEEEEEEEEE MY SON IS NEVER GONNA FIND LOVE REEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

Payic: WHAT OTHER MANSION?!?!

Ryuzaki: REEEEEEEEEEEE WE RAN OUT OF TIME FOR TODAY, THAT'S ALL FOLKS!

Maverick: Is he legally allowed to say that? Yes since he isn't a pig. That's a joke only people who saw Into the Spider-verse will get.