The sound was similar to a rustle; it was soft. Very soft. Ryuzaki stepped towards the source, gun ready to fire. He leaped forward, pulling the trigger and moving left to right, right to left as bullets sprayed around.
"Is it dead?!" Kinjuzo exclaimed.
"I don't know, I don't care, everyone, leg it!!" Ryuzaki shouted as he stopped firing and the group ran away in a hurry.

"No way..." Shika was in shock.
"Yes, it is." Rukia replied simply.
"A... A Яeversed Ashlei..." Shika gulped.

"Look, a house!!" Payic cheered.
"Let's camp there for the night..." Ayaza replied as the group went towards it.
"Hang on, it's lit." Kinjuzo said as he stopped everyone.

(Insert opening here)

"It has light, so?" Ayaza asked.
"Someone's in there." Ryuzaki replied.
"The chance of it being Max?" Payic mumbled.
"Very high." Ryuzaki said as he tried to find an entrance. On the house was a window as Kinjuzo peered inside.
"It's two guys in maid costumes, Maverick, Ryu and Serena!!" He shouted.
"Shh!" Ayaza replied as Ryuzaki peeked inside.
"Max and Zeon, damn. They got them."
"And Rino and Wyvon." Payic added as she looked.
"Let's find an entrance..." Ayaza groaned as he sneaked around.
"Found a door." Ryuzaki said nonchalant, kicking it down. "Wassup, motherfuckers?" He grinned and started to ready his bullets.
"Oh, some more visitors?" Max smirked.
"Fuck me..." Zeon grumbled as he drew his katana.
"Shit!" Ryuzaki cursed, in each place, one of the hostages were in his range of fire.
"Fire at me, and you can kill these hostages." Max walked up to Ryuzaki.
"Well..." Ryuzaki smirked as he ducked down, revealing Payic, pointing a gun at his head.
"I just need one clean shot!!" She shouted and pulled the trigger immediately, firing the bullet.
"Heh," Red marks appeared under his eyes; and the gold bullet crumbled at his skin.
"He's got some hard skin..." Kinjuzo muttered, as he pulled up his rifle and shot at his head again. The bullet crumbled once more.
"Let's get you three boys tied up..." Max grinned darkly as he grabbed Ryuzaki and pinned him down, Ryuzaki shouting in pain as the floor smashed against his back with a ton of force, which was added with Max's body weight. Zeon got some rope and tied Ryuzaki up as Max got up and grabbed Payic, and threw her to the side, as he ran out to the running away Kinjuzo and Ayaza,
"Holy crap!!" Kinjuzo shouted as his arm was grabbed, and Max was behind him.
"How cute." Max smiled as he chucked Kinjuzo back into the house, him flying through the air once more. Kinjuzo landed on the floor and shouted in pain as Zeon had tied both Ryuzaki, Payic and Kinjuzo up.

After a bit, Ayaza was caught aswell and the group were tied up, and all at different places so they couldn't communicate.
"All of you are idiots... Just, idiots!" Max shouted, laughing. "You have nowhere to run now..."
"Max." Zeon said as the two conversed in secret.
"What?"
"Yza is there. Let's get the chance to kill him." Zeon replied.
"That's Rukia's job." Max said, sighing.
"Then what's your job?" Zeon raised a brow.
"I don't know. Backlion never gave me one... To be honest." Max said.
"Piece of- Okay, let's do something..." Zeon whispered something.
"...oh. Splendid idea, Zeon~kyun." Max smiled as he turned to face everyone. Looking at them, he pointed at Payic.

"You, young woman." Max said as he stared at her. "You're going to Cardfight me. If you win, I'll let everyone here go. If you lose, everyone here is trapped here and left for dead. Here's another catch. Every time you take a damage and lose a rear-guard, all your friends will get cut by Zeon's katana." Max ripped off the tape covering her mouth.
"Why should I fight?!" Payic shouted as she coughed.
"If you don't, you'll die." Max stared down at her.
"Mmmm!!" Ryuzaki shouted, tape blurring his words.
"Look, girly, it's a chance to escape my grasp. Take it, or lose it."
"...fine..." Payic gritted her teeth. "Let's fight..."

"Stand up, vanguard!" The two exclaimed.
"Peter the Ghostie." Max smirked, vanguard circle expanding blue.
"Fetter Creator, Van." Payic said, vanguard circle expanding light lavender. "I'll start. Draw and ride Gelgja. Van moves and I end."

Payic:
Hand: 5
Damage: 0
Soul: 0
OXO
OXO

Max:
Hand: 5
Damage: 0
OXO
OOO

"Stand and draw. I ride, Sea Strolling and Peter moves. And I attack! (6000 > 11000)" Max declared.
"No guard!"
"Drive check! (Three Star Chef, Pietro)"
"Damage check! (Stake Fetter, Thviti) Useless critical..."
"Zeon." Max smirked. Zeon drew his katana, and started by slicing the tape off everyone's mouth swiftly, before jabbing a part of their body with his blade. Kinjuzo was cut in the sides, Ryuzaki was cut in the arm, Ayaza was cut in his thigh, Ryu was cut on his forehead, Serena was cut on her back, Maverick was cut on the back of his neck, Rino was cut on the lower leg, and Wyvon was cut on the hand.
"You're despicable, Max..." Payic muttered angrily as the people who were cut were making grunting noises from the slashes, or trying to hold back the pain.
"Don't worry about us Payic..." Ryuzaki said, gritting his teeth as pain washed over him, "Just focus on the fight!!"

Payic:
Hand: 5
Damage: 1
Soul: 1
OXO
OXO

Max:
Hand: 6
Damage: 0
OXO
OXO

"Stand and draw... I ride Gjoll and Kotonoha gets called. Her Revelation skill. Checking top card. Into soul and rest Van. (Claimed Harry) Skill of Van, when rested, add 2k to a unit, so I'll add to Gjoll. (9000 > 11000) Skill of Kotonoha, she gets 2k aswell. (9000 > 11000) Alright, she attacks first!" Payic shouted.
"Guard with Rough Seas! (6000 > 16000)" Max smirked darkly.
"Gjoll! (11000)"
"No guard." He replied.
"Drive check! (Goddess of Decline, Hel)" Payic responded.
"Damage. (Samurai Spirit)"
"Turn end."

Payic:
Hand: 5
Damage: 1
Soul: 3
XXO
XOO

Max:
Hand: 5
Damage: 1
OXO
OXO

"Stand and draw. I ride Pietro use skill of Peter, Counterblast one, into soul, mill two (Ice Floe Swordsman, Nightsnow, Captain Nightmist) and then I draw one. Call from hand Dancing Cutlass and use skill, soulblast two and draw one. With a boost, swinging with the vanguard! (9000 > 14000)"
"No guard!" Payic replied.
"Drive check. (Rough Seas Banshee) Critical... Everything to vanguard. (14000 > 19000/1★ > 2★)"
"N-no..." Payic said as she took two damage. (Unappeasable Biter, Gleipnir, Mythic Beast, Skoll)
"Two cuts for everyone." Zeon grinned sadistically, stabbing everyone twice in a different region.
"MY ARM!!" Ayaza shouted in pain as he cried, his flesh splitting apart hurt like hell.
"S-shit..." Maverick laid on the floor, helpless as it even hurt for him.
"Don't hurt them, please!!" Payic shouted. "Why should they be punished for my actions?! It's not fair!!"
"Life isn't fair, sweetheart. Realise that." Max said, poison dropping from his voice. "The world is so goddamn cruel... But I will pass this cruelty to you, and your friends."
"..." Payic was frozen.
"I will guilt you. I will hurt those you love. I will hurt those I love. In the end, we'll all vanish... Everyone, vanishes. If what Backlion can achieve is true, then I will do as he says and do anything possible to get to his goal."
"Spouting idealistic bullshit... FUCK YOU!!" She shouted angrily, tears welling in her eyes. Her fists tightened as she gritted her teeth, her eyes burning with rage and hate, as tears of sadness welled inside.
"It's so easy to set someone off." Max giggled. "That's fun."

Payic:
Hand: 5
Damage: 3
Soul: 3
XXO
XOO

Max:
Hand: 7
Damage: 1
OXO
OXO

"Honestly..." She wiped the tears in her eyes, her breathing getting quicker. "I don't think I've ever been madder in my life! Even when Ryuzaki does all those perverted things on me, even if Maverick is such a numbskull that he can't understand basic maths... But in the end... They're still important to me... And to say you'd hurt the ones you love... Is unforgivable!"
"Piss off." Max chuckled.
"...I hate you... I hate you!!" Payic shouted mad, as she raised a card into the air and moved her arm foward, it pointing to Max. "Beautiful beast that devours all, take their soul and hold it captive! I ride my avatar, Mythic Beast, Fenrir!" The vanguard circle expanded lavender. "Devour him... Fenrir...!!" She shouted, attacking Max. (11000)
"Payic!!" Ryuzaki suddenly shouted, looking straight at her. Payic turned around, to look at Ryuzaki.
"What?" She asked, irritated.
"Clear your mind! You're not thinking straight! Don't rush in head first... Please...!!" Ryuzaki pleaded. "Max is riling you up for failure... Where's the calm, sweet girl I loved?!" He shouted.
"Wait, loved?" Kinjuzo raised a brow. Ryuzaki became an instant red as he realised what he'd just done.
"SHIT!!"
"Ryuzaki, just yolo it!!" Maverick shouted.
"..." Payic kept silent and shifted away from Ryuzaki, face a pink as she sighed. "Not now... Ryuzu. After the match..." She restood Fenrir. "Wait a minute, Max..."
"Oh?" He smirked.
"I call Gelgja and Revelation...!! Checking the top card. Into soul! (Shackle Fetter, Gelgja) Resting Van. His skill, giving 2k to Kotonoha. Her skill, add 2k. (9000 > 13000) Kotonoha! (13000)"
"No guard. (Sea Strolling Banshee)" Max replied.
"Fenrir, devour him! (11000 > 18000)"
"No guard aswell."
"Twin Drive!!" Payic shouted. "(Battle Maiden, Kotonoha, Ice Crest Goddess, Svava) Damn it..."
"Damage. (Ice Floe Swordsman, Nightsnow)"
"Turn end."

Payic:
Hand: 6
Damage: 3
Soul: 5
XXO
XXO

Max:
Hand: 7
Damage: 3
OXO
OXO

"Now, it's finally my turn. Watch this very closely, Ms. Ikuo. Cold, freezing snow descends across the vast Atlantic Ocean. Everything freezes, and it's a wonderful sight... A blood red blade stands out. That Cutlass, is mine. I ride, Ice Floe Swordsman, Nightsnow. Now... I activate a card effect from hand. Skill of Bloody Red Cutlass, Nightsnow "Яeverse". I reveal the card in hand while I have a "Nightsnow" vanguard, and I pay the cost of Counterblast one and mill one. (Undying Departed, Grenache) I superior ride from hand, my true avatar." Max smirked.

================================

A/N

So... Yeah. I'm continuing the fight in the next chapter, where the full power of Nightsnow Reverse is revealed!

I hope everyone enjoyed this chapter.

Also, Ryuzaki x Payic moment because they're otp

Anyways, that's all, Fox out!