(GS3) Field: Umano Underground Slums

[Kisaragi Zane]

Hikaru Nagisaki.

He governed the slums for some time although Jellal had never seen him before. Though, this is probably because he just recently dethroned the previous person in charge. He used Dimension Police, a clan that Jellal wasn't too familiar with but the units looked odd: Galatic Invaders that ruled under Zeal which had the ability to drain the vanguards power. Jellal's Aqua Force staved him off by using Maelstrom's limit break to generate hand advantage. Jellal had called his clan that of justice, which prompted Hikaru to ask if he thought it was justice. Jellal retorted with him knowing it was justice. The cardfight was a real nail-biter as both were closer to finishing each other off, however, Aqua Force managed to prevail with his divine judgment.

After the fight however, they exchanged information with each other and following the recent trend of strange things: Jellal discovered that Hikaru did not know what Shadow Paladin was either. After briefly explaining their appearance as 'shadowy black knights', Jellal offered Hikaru a place beyond the slums as his skills would gladly rival that of champions. However, feeling a sense of obligation to await for someone worthy was about to watch over the slums, Hikaru denied saying he'd like to fight the Chosen Sword, to which Jellal deduced it was Yukino Espoir whom he referred to as a "friend".

As Jellal sets off to his next destination, only few things linger in his mind. "Why don't people remember Shadow Paladin?". He would only figure out the answer by meeting up with the Espoirs. He leaves the Slums after finding a new challenge of justice in the Dimension Police user.

+2 AP for Hikaru Nagisaki

[Spectre Diamond]

After Jellal had left the area. Hikaru began to ponder about the 'Shadow paladins' that Kisaragi had mentioned.

"Black Knights that helped defend the sanctuary" He muttered as he walked back into his bunker. He started to think about the fight and smiled.
"Jellal Kisaragi, you are one extraordinary fighter."

Jellal: +2AP

[Hope]

When Hana had woken up, Miyuki was so longer there. She overslept for a good amount of time it seems. It was from yesterday that she realized that she was absolutely tired. Watching someone defeat her and call it an "empty victory," added salt to the wound that she wasn't as synchronized with Angel Feathers as she was with Bermuda Triangle. Then the fight after, to be cheered on by Yukinee, someone who obviously needed to cheer herself up instead, was disappointing in itself. Hana held a nullify in her hand and took the damage.. she didn't need to be cheered on, because she was the one that was actually cheering on her sister to win the fight. Results didn't matter, Hana just wanted to enjoy herself, but if everyone is so insistent on the matter that strength, power, and the results of a fight should be the dicatator of whether a match is uplifting or fun, then Hana may as well just join the boat. Bermuda Triangle made each fight fun, and everything a concert. Since then, Vanguard for her has just been a stupid pile of misery where there is no value in a fight that is lost. Even her sister won't even talk to her about stuff like her personal life or all much else, not even play with her at the amusement park. "Just a door to PSY shop," that's all she was. Hana walked on, fearful, but her emotions now controlled her, she was done being looked down on. Everyone can surround her sister and call her the "Chosen Sword," may as well... but Hana was frustrated at that fact as well, how everything was hidden away, and now suddenly shes the weaker of the two, because she's perhaps younger?

"Hana-chan..." Nociel muttered in a worried tone.
"We can't lose can we? Shoot I thought this was all fun right? We win and have fun but what about our opponent? Yukinee didn't even seem the slightest happy. She smiled, but that wasn't what I needed. I didn't need to be cheered on like I'm some weak girl that needs to be protected..." Hana clenched her fists still walking onward.
*rabbit noises*
"What I wanted was to just talk to my sister, as a sister, not the chosen sword, princess of cray, anything like that. I just wanted to talk to her casually. As for Cero... abandoning you guys... Now you're in my hands... we'll get through this together as well."

She entered the fight area, where many fighters looked at her, laughing and even mocking her small appearance. Her cute and noble face, her navy blue straight hair, they all scoffed and laughed, they didn't take her seriously at all.

"Well I'm a Vanguard Fighter too, I'm not looking to hurt you guys or anything, I'm just here to practice to get better."

Initially, they kept laughing on until they saw her deck, Angel Feather. Along with the her appearance, the avatar card, and her presentation, some realized who she was. She said her name as the final clincher.

"My name is Hana Espoir, the Nation Champion. I'd like partners to practice with... so is anyone up for a fight?"

With that, Hana's pupil's began shined, forming stars within them, as if her eyes projected the skies from the surface of Cray. She began to fight everyone, one by one.

[NeoBuster]

After talking with Hana and company, Neo decided to go to the one place he knew he could get stronger at: The slums. He took his time getting there because he needed to reserve as much energy as possible because his true challege was yet to come. Neo after a semi long walk made it to the slums and saw alot of underground fighters fighting on tables. Then everyone started staring at Neo as if he was there next target.

"Im not here to play games, im here to fight and im here to win" Neo said to all the fighters.

"So whos going to be up first" Neo said holding his deck.

Neo fought as many fighters as he could throughout the entire night. He wants to use all his building frustration in cardfights rather then his friends. Neo was fighting while thinking about so much. Thinking about everything that happened to the clans.

"There has to be a way to evolve.. there just has to be" Neo said to himself.

"Well i wont rest intil I find it"

[Hope]

"Disappointing..."

Neu walked away.

Affinity:
Neo Isamu: -8

[Lance Korilum]

  It had been months since Cero had been here.  The slums of the city, where underground cardfights were held.  Despite how much time had passed, a significant portion of people still remembered the King and his repeated 'rampages' that left most of the slums knocked out.  Cero slammed his deck down on the nearest fight table, shouting, "I, Cero Kirguis, Europe's King of Vanguard have returned!  My strength has grown to surpass that of the Queen that once rivaled me!"  This came as a shock to the people here, who had all seen their queen defeat him, a fight which caused a noticeable number of people to give up the ways of the slums.

  "However, someone new has appeared!  Someone who disrespects the path I choose to take!  Someone who disrespects the Vanguard I believe in!"  The people around Cero looked around, rather confused.  This was something he hadn't done before, and they weren't exactly sure what to think.  "This woman defeated me once...  But I will not be defeated again!  I will show not only her, but the world, that there is more than just one way to enjoy Vanguard!"  Cero pointed to the sky, continuing, "I will surpass her, and her way of Vanguard, so the never forces it upon another again!"  The people of the slums, still confused by Cero's sudden rant, decided to just go along with it and start cheering him on.  It was a fairly good speech, even if they had no idea what it was about or what it had to do with them.  "My way of Vanguard, the way that that woman disrespected so, is the pursuit of strength!  However, I pursue strength not only for myself, but to show everyone the levels they can reach!  My way of Vanguard...  Is the way of Inspiration!"  Again, the people of the slums cheered, actually understanding this part of the speech somewhat.  Cero pulled out his deck, "Now, let's start the training session!"

[Hope]

It was a funny speech. Neu was fighting along some of the tables, enjoying herself when he ended up walking in and saying his rant. She recognized him as the guy from yesterday, the guy who walked out in anger, some way of Vanguard that was. She didn't really quite agree with what he was saying, but its not like anyone understood what he was saying anyways by the way that he was yelling everyone's eardums off. At the very least, it was really cute that he thought that a pursuit for strength was actually fun. Its only fun for the winner, he should remember that from yesterday. Nonetheless, she stayed within the crowd, clapping for him laughing to herself.

[Beryl]

"Then maybe you'd like a suitable challenger!"

Satoshi had spent the night on his park bench. Despite the possibility that Hana was capable of talking sense into her sister Yukino, he felt it might be best to stay away from her and Haruka for a while, just to give them space and time to figure out how to tackle the problem of Neu's hold on their clans. He had gone to the slums out of interest in training with some of the guys down there that had helped Yukino in the past. And who else would he find than Cero, the guy who knocked him out of the running for nationals and walked off rudely.

"I think you and I have a score to settle today, King Europe!" He waved his deckbox.

Seph floated behind, transparent and silent. He had been given the task of observing his champion's play today, because something strange had happened in the Rift that he needed to analyze for himself, according to Lox and Amaterasu, that was associated with riding Muse.

[OverDrive]

It had been a few days since the incident between Tsubasa and his friends with Neu, during that time Tsubasa had been overoccupied by work and other life distractions. On his way home he noticed that if he took a right turn on his path he would be going towards the slums.

"I told Neu that I would try to have more fun in my cardfights...but I want to get stronger..can I do that while having fun..?" he thought, as he began to talk towards the slums. "Let's just see what I can understand from this.."

Upon his arrival he hears a loud voice echoing through the slums, as If an announcer just dropped from a plane to grace the dark abyss that has formed in this place and it's inhabitants. Eventually he found the source of the voice, a young man shouting from the top of his lungs making a speech to testify his strength and his way of Vanguard.

"My way of Vanguard...  Is the way of Inspiration!"

"...A way of inspiration huh, looks more like he's trying to attract attention,....just to prove to himself that he is strong...just what exactly does he want to inspire.." he thought, as he started taking a corner to get a better look at the crowd and the scene unfolding in front of him.

A challenger walks up and challenges this loud individual referring to him as the 'King of Europe'.... for some reason that title sounded familiar for some reason, however he did recognize the challenger from the previous regional tournament. Upon further inspection of the crowd he notices a familiar face.

"...Is that Neu...she's clapping....no...I know that look....heh...guess this is going to be interesting to watch afterall." he thought.

[Lance Korilum]

"Fine, I accept your challenge," Cero shouted as he slammed his deck down on the fight table.  "Let's see if you've grown any stronger since our last encounter!"

[Nobody]

After a few days of doing nothing besides taking care of his house that he have left for atleast a week unattended, Shiki decided it's time for some more Vanguard goodies, this time in the Slums. This wasn't exactly the brightest idea, but Shiki was also not really the brighest human being so this was the perfect match. He heard that people around here Cardfight in adifferent manner than in the Shops, and that was really all there was to it.

Upon arrival he was greeted by a "Punk, you want a fight?" spoken by a really tall and buff man dressed in your stereotypical gangster clothes. Being as obvious as he is, Shiki understood it as a challenge to a cardfight. The guy just went with it, completely stunned with how stupid a person can be, and it's always fun to beat someone in a card game to increase your ego like it matters or something.

The two went at it, with the thug coming out victorious due to Shiki decking him out relatively quickly. After the victory he left, laughing at Shiki who was just walking around looking for other people to spend time with in the Slums.

[Beryl]

Well, that was unexpected.

Cero had a bout with bad luck that was unprecedented, given the strength he had demonstrated before with his Royal Paladins. Despite owning a deck Satoshi had had trouble with, Narukami, and bearing a card that he still had no idea what it did, Dragonic Kaiser Vermillion, the farmboy managed to have a much luckier and cleaner game, pushing his opponent to five damage as he had done to Neu the day before early. This time, however, it was a critical trigger that sealed the deal. He didn't even see Muse the whole game, let alone ride her.

Devil's luck aside, he felt a level of confidence he hadn't in a while. Maybe being alone for a bit and putting Yukino and Haruka out of his head for that time let him become much more able to play Vanguard the way he wanted to. There were pangs of wanting to practice with them still aching, but he instead stood patiently, looking out at the crowd of hooligans that had cheered for him.

He spotted two familiar faces. One of them was Tsubasa, a face he hadn't seen since regionals. <Does he have a new clan as well?> he wondered. And the other...

The other was Neu Edelweiss. It was strange to see her here of all places, but all the same, there she was. No doubt waiting to fight as many people as possible.

Seph furrowed his brow. What Lox had mentioned he would notice had happened, despite Satoshi having not ridden Muse. A strange fluctuation of power was felt after his champion dealt the finishing blow, as though through his game, there was something getting stronger. It was an uncomfortable feeling, but one that occurred nonetheless.

[Hope]

He falls again...
Neu shrugs and walks off, feeling that Cero's who speech had crumbled, that was the extent of his Vanguard.

Affinity:
Cero: +1

[OverDrive]

"The King of Inspiration falls....I guess in the end all his 'Vanguard' can accomplish was nothing more than a show" he said, as he began to walk away. "....That kind of Vanguard is nothing more than a selfish desire to show off one's 'strength'....as a result it left him with no sense of enjoyment when he lost...I guess Neu has a strong point in the end."

After walking away from the area he was standing in, Tsubasa decides to attempt to find Neu, he still wants to get the answers from her that he had been trying to figure out for quite a while.

"..I need to know...just what happened two months ago...Neu" he thought, as he left the slums to find her. "...Impressive cardfight Satoshi.."

Satoshi +1 Affinity Points

[Lance Korilum]

Cero wasn't done yet.  He wasn't going to let himself stop here.  "Don't you dare walk away!  I refuse to let myself fall here!  I said I'd show the world my way of Vanguard, and I will not allow it to be put down by a single loss!"