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❝𝓣𝓱𝓮𝓻𝓮'𝓼 𝓸𝓷𝓵𝔂 𝓽𝔀𝓸 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓰𝓼 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓬𝓪𝓷 𝓭𝓸 𝓲𝓷 𝔀𝓪𝓻, 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓮𝓲𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓻 𝓯𝓲𝓰𝓱𝓽 𝓸𝓻 𝓯𝓵𝓮𝓮.❞

                           -𝐑𝐢𝐧 𝐒𝐚𝐬𝐚𝐤𝐢

       ◣━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━◢

Kin took a deep breath, before exhaling through her mouth as she turned the doorknob.

The Salvation common room was near empty, only a couple of students were present. Kin turned her head around and saw a familiar face.

"Miyuki, where's everyone else..?" Kin raised a brow.

"Oh.. They're not here yet, most likely." The boy simply said as took a sip of his coffee tapping on his keyboard. "I mean it's early isn't it? Most of them are eating breakfast."

"I guess, then why are you here?"

"My, how curious~." He snickered.

She managed to take a peek at his laptop before raising a brow.

"Coding.. again..?"

"A h! Trying to sneak up on me aren't you~" He has a playful grin on his face.

"No! Why are you-"

"Kyu kyu, I know you always wanted to know what I do for a living." Miyuki laughed as he closed his laptop putting it inside his bag.

"You never told anything about to anyone, of course I'd be quite curious." She took a seat beside him.

"Well-"

Miyuki was cut off with the door opening. Revealing their King, Narumi following them were students with red blazers.

"It's time for war."

(Opening here)

Lights flashes at the indoor stadium. There were a lot of students from each different factions. They were sitting together in their own perspective factions.

"Welcome to the Grand Chess Games!" the announcer's voice yelled through the microphone. It was a robotic voice, an A.I.

Everyone started to cheer, some even whistled.

"Today all five factions will be facing off in a classic gamble showdown! There will be no special rules during this event. First to decide the matches! Every faction has a chance to fight one another, once only. Choose your players wisely! The first matches will be Salvation vs Venom and Chevalier vs Dystopia. Brilliance shall have their match afterwards."

At Salvation's corner, Asahi was surrounded by his faction members.

"I feel like Kage should go, especially if the next player is Takara Otsuka." Narumi spoke up.

"I doubt it, Queen Rin isn't that idiotic to put up her elite so quickly." Kage crossed his arms. Leaning against the wall, he let out a sigh.

"Can I try?" Kin looked at Narumi then to Asahi, her eyes filled with determination.

"Why do you want to?" Asahi asked.

"I may possibly be the weakest cardfighter in the faction, but I want to prove myself to all of you that I can at least be useful in a way. I can test the waters of the fight! Take it as a warm up and observation!"

Asahi looked at Narumi, who just gave a smile and shrug then to Kage who just closed his eyes and nodded his head.

"Fine, we'll allow you to fight this round."

"Thank you, I'll do my best!"

"We'll start small, let's bet on our pawn." Asahi gave Kin the piece.

"Time's up! Representatives please place your chess piece on the pillar."

Kin looked up to see her opponent, her pupils squinted as a sweat dripped down from her forehead. Her opponent was none other than the Queen; Rin Sasaki.

"We're done, goodbye chess piece." Kage sighed.

"C'mon, have a little faith at least." Narumi said. "She defeated the King once."

"That was a month ago. It's irrelevant now."

"Looks like it's Kin Takami vs Queen Rin Sasaki and Itsuki Jin vs Takashi Fuji."

"I can't believe they send you in." Rin snickered.

"I was the one who wanted to fight."

"Bring it on hun, I bet my rook piece." Rin opened her fist to reveal a colorful glass tint Rook piece.

"Pawn."

There was a moment of silence for any objections. After a few moments the two girls put their pieces on a small round pillar. Shaking their hands, they went back to the cardfight platform.

Once they've stepped on it, a board came out of the platform. Kin and Rin placed down their deck drawing 5 cards.

"The player on the left will go first! That means, Kin Takami and Itsuki Jin." The A.I said. "Let us, play vanguard!"

"Stand Up Vanguard!"

"First-Aid Celestial, Peniel! (6000)"

"Broccolini Musketeer, Kirah! (6000)"

"I draw, I ride, Marking Celestial, Arabhaki! (8000) I draw with Peniel's skill. Turn end."

Kin
Hand: 6
Soul: 1
Damage: 0
OXO
OOO

Rin
Hand: 5
Soul: 0
Damage: 0
OXO
OOO

"I ride Knight of Coprosperity, Craig (7000) I draw a card and Craig attacks your vanguard!"

"I don't guard."

"Check (Sunlight Garden's Guide)"

"Damage (Solidify Celestial, Zerachiel)"

"How lucky, I end my turn."

Kin
Hand: 6
Soul: 1
Damage: 1
OXO
OOO

Rin
Hand: 7
Soul: 1
Damage: 0
OXO
OOO

"Draw, I ride Million Ray Pegasus! (9000) Pegasus attacks Craig."

"I don't guard." Rin yawned closing her mouth.

"Drive check. (Critical Hit Angel) I would've watched my attitude if I were you."

"Oh honey, confidence doesn't suit you." Fruit Basket Elf and Pansy Musketeer, Sylvia fell upon Rin's damage zone.

"At least it's better than how you're acting."

Kin
Hand: 7
Soul: 2
Damage: 1
OXO
OOO

Rin
Hand: 7
Soul: 1
Damage: 2
OXO
OOO

"You need to learn how to control your mouth of yours! I ride Pansy Musketeer, Sylvia! (10000) Sylvia's skill I call a plant token! (5000) boosted by my servant~ I attack with Sylvia! (15000)"

"Not guarding."

"Drive trigger check! (Exploding Tomato)"

"Damage (Underlay Celestial, Hesedial)"

"I'll end it there."

Kin
Hand: 7
Soul: 2
Damage: 2
OXO
OOO

Rin
Hand: 8
Soul: 2
Damage: 2
OXO
OXO

"Holy angel, rise above into the heavens on divine wings! Ride, Solidify Celestial, Zerachiel! (12000) Imaginary Gift, Protect I! I call Million Ray Pegasus (9000) and Arabhaki! (9000) Arabhaki's skill, I drop a card and take Hesedial from the damage zone." Kin put the top card of her deck to the damage zone. "Million Ray gains an extra 5000 power and shield (14000/10000) Zerachiel's melody activates, my front row gains 3000 power! (17000) (15000) Zerachiel's Holy Strike! (15000)"

"Come at me."

"Twin drive check. (Crimson Impact Metatron. Rear Impetus Celestial, Armaiti.) No triggers.."

"Then I'll do my damage. (Night Queen Musketeer, Daniel) Oh perfect a critical trigger! That's 10000 to Sylvia (20000)"

"Back by Arabhaki, Million will blast you! (25000)"

"I guard that with Dandelion Musketeer, Mirkka. (30000)"

"I'll end my turn there." Kin sighed.

Kin
Hand: 8
Soul: 3
Damage: 2
XXO
XOO

Rin
Hand: 7
Soul: 2
Damage: 3
OXO
OXO

"I expected more from you, I'm disappointed." Rin drew her card. "You're the same person who beat the 'O Mighty King? Pathetic. I hardly see any progress from you. Let me show you what true strength looks like, ufufu. I ride, Maiden of Trailing Rose! (13000) Imaginary Gift! Force II! To my left rearguard! Rose's on-ride effect, I call two plant tokens (5000) I soulblast and add 5000 power to three of my lovely plants~ (5000 > 10000) I call Spiritual Tree Sage, Irminsul! (10000/2★)" Rin flipped a card from her damage zone face down and drew a card. "Irminsul and Token gains 5000 (15000/2★) (15000) I call Knight of Coprosperity, Craig! (7000) all of my plant tokens in the back row get 5000 (20000) (15000)"

"Look at that solid garden the Queen formed." A Venom student's eyes glittered.

"She's called our Queen for a reason."

"This is an easy match for her."

“Maiden of Trailing Rose attacks! (30000) Thorny Vines!”

“I don't guard."

"Twin drive! (Maiden of Blossom Rain) got it, a draw trigger! The power will go to Token and draw. (20000) (Sunlight Garden's Guide)."

"I'll check my damage. (Wild Shot Celestial, Raguel)"

"Plant Token! (27000)"

Kin flipped the top card of her damage to reveal Thousand Ray Pegasus.

"Irminsul! (35000/2★)"

"Critical Hit guards and Million Ray intercepts since I took damage this turn, the shield is added 5000 (37000)"

"I'm done."

Kin
Hand: 7
Soul: 3
Damage: 4
OXO
XOO

Rin
Hand: 9
Soul: 2
Damage: 3
XXX
XXX

"Kin's field looks dead comparing to Rin's." Kage closed his eyes.

"Stand and draw, Dance with the flames of vengeance and burn my opponent to ashes! I ride, Crimson Impact, Metatron! (12000) Imaginary gift Protect I! Since i rode Metatron from Zerachiel I get to counterblast two, and superior call from the damage zone! Wild-Shot Celestial, Raguel! (9000 > 24000) I call Armaiti (9000) I soublast and call Thousand Ray from the damage zone! (8000). Putting the top card of my deck to damage. Metatron's special damage check!" She put a face down damage to the bottom of the deck. "Damage check (Hot Shot Celestial, Samyaza) a critical trigger, all effects to Armaiti! (19000/2★) Zerachiel's ability at the damage zone, I put the top card to my damage face down. Rise again, Blue-Winged angel! Solidify Celestial, Zerachiel ride! (12000) Imaginary Gift, Protect I! My front row gains 3000 power! (22000/2★) (15000) (27000). My vanguard attacks! (15000) Healing Sonata!"

"Pathetic, I guard with Fruits Basket Elf and intercept with Irminsul! (28000)"

"Drive trigger check (Million Ray Pegasus. Mobile Hospital, Feather Palace)"

"Oh poor thing~ Lady luck isn't by your side is she~?"

“Raguel attacks with a boost from Arabhaki! (35000)" Kin gritted her teeth.

"An easy no guard~ (Exploding Tomato)"

"Armaiti! Thousand Ray's counterblast, I got a 10000 extra boost! (40000/2★)"

"Maiden of Blossom Rain!"

"I'll end it there." Kin sighed.

Kin
Hand: 9
Soul: 2
Damage: 3
XXX
XOX

Rin
Hand: 6
Soul: 2
Damage: 4
OXX
XXX

"Stand and draw, My everlasting reign shall triumph all royals! Bow down to your Queen! I ride, White Lily Musketeer, Cecilia! (13000) Imaginary Gift Force II! To the right. This is where the real fun begins and where I will get your chess piece! Cecilia's ability I counterblast, I'll retire a plant token. Checking the top five cards of my deck. I'll call Fruits Basket Elf and Mirkka over the two plant tokens in my back row (8000) and Irminsul over my front token! (10000/2★). My front row gains 10000 power! (15000/2★) (23000) (20000/2★) Fruit Basket Elf's ability I soulblast and retire herself, I call two plant tokens and they gain 5000. Mirkka will also retire. (10000) (10000) Craig's skill fufu. They gain an extra 5000 (15000) (15000). Irminsul's skill I counterblast, draw a card and he gains and extra 5000 power along with the token behind him! (25000/2★) (20000)."

The Venom faction started cheering on for their Queen.

"Cecilia attacks your vanguard! (38000) This is the Queen's Venomous Garden!"

"My protect gift!"

"Twin drive check! (Chestnut Bullet) Huzzah a critical~ I'll give it all to Irminsul (35000/3★) (Night Queen Musketeer, Daniel) Isn't this a delightful sight~? All effects to my Token! (25000/3★) Now you're really in big trouble~ Boosted by Craig, Token! (32000/3★)"

"Protect!"

Rin started laughing.

"What's so funny?"

"You forgot something didn't you?"

Kin took a look at Rin's field before her pupils squinted.

"Game over, darling. Irminsul, finish it! (50000/3★)"

Kin took a look at her hand. There were 2 grade 3s while the other two were grade 2s and the last was a heal trigger. "Lady luck I need you now.."

"Damage check. (Hot Shot Celestial, Samyaza. Underlay Celestial, Hesedial. Solidify Celestial, Zerachiel) You.. win." Kin said, monotonously.

"Winner from Venom, Queen Rin Sasaki!"

The audience and Venom members roared in excitement as Rin took a bow and took the two chess pieces from the pillar presenting them to her faction.

Meanwhile with Kin, Kage looked at her filled with disappointment. The other faction members just kept silence after their lost of chess piece. Asahi just sighed.

"I'm sorry.." She looked down fiddling her fingers.

"It'll be alright." Narumi patted her shoulder.

"I suppose we'll just have to get that piece back.. or get a new one after this." Asahi said.

"Asahi.. you're being too nice to her damnit." Kage thought leaving the indoor stadium. "Watch as it will be your downfall as King."

(Ending here)

Rin fell back to the ground.

Her hands were trembling as she watches her cards fall to the ground and her chess piece in the hands of a hooded figure.

The hooded figure looked down. Its eyes looked lifeless. Like nothing mattered to them. It turned around walking away from the defeated Queen. With that, Rin stood up looking at the figure.

“You... monster... who are you?!”

“Sakayanagi.”