It wasn’t exactly what Eugene had planned to end the first day of school this year. Going against Axel, with a crowd of students ready to watch.

They stood outside at the designated zone for battle training. The only place where combat is allowed. Axel had given Eugene five minutes to prepare for their battle and Eugene took the opportunity to go over his mana crystal, seeing if there was anything he could to improve his deck case.

Since this was his first-time facing Axel, Eugene had to go by mere speculations on what their abilities were. First off, from what he can gather his familiar was a Terminus demon and based off from the flames coming off him, it was safe to assume he was of the Sin of Wrath. They’re well known for their hellfire abilities, so he would have to expect fire to do little against him. That would be bad considering that Ryuze seems to specialize in it.

Eugene decided to question the Dragonoid, since he was the one to insist on fighting with me by himself. “H-hey Ryuze, can I ask you something?”

The black and red dragon looked towards his summoner, making sure to lower himself below the human before addressing him “Yes Lord Eugene, what do you wish to ask me?”

“Since you wanted to fight with me without any help, do you have means of fighting without your fire abilities? Our opponent probably has means against it, considering he was a Sin of Wrath demon.”

“Th-that’s...” Ryuze was unusually nervous and actually looked away from Eugene, which was strange in of itself. Was there something that the Dragonoid hiding from Eugene? But seeing how uncomfortable Ryuze was on this topic, he decided to drop the subject.

“If it’s something you’d rather not talk about I understand.”

Hearing this, Ryuze quickly panicked trying to correct himself. “W-wait that’s not-”

But Eugene stopped him there, “Don’t worry about it, you must have a good reason and I’ll respect that.”

“I see…” The Dragonoid’s mannerism seemed to relax upon hearing this. “…Still I do apologize my lord…”

But Eugene shook his head, “Never mind that, anyway I think I have a bit of an idea if you want to hear.”

Eugene than began to explain his idea to Ryuze, who listen intently. After he finished explaining he began to ask. “So, what do you think? Think it could work?”

The Dragonoid was deep in thought, contemplating on what he heard. “…I see, it certainly something. But why ask for my opinion lord Eugene? You could simply order me to do it.”

Eugene instinctively rubbed the back of his head as he replied “Uhm… I’m still not quite used to the whole thing with how this familiar and summoner thing works. So I don’t know how to respond whenever you mention orders and stuff. To be honest I really would just want us to get along, besides….”

He then takes out his deck case and stares at it. “My mana crystal, I can’t exactly count on it to be consistent with the way it works. So, there’s no guarantee my idea will work. But I think I can tweak it just right to increase our chances. So, I want someone else’s opinion on it.”

“Well…if that’s what you want lord Eugene. Then I think it could work, though if you would allow me my lord, I would like to make a few suggestions myself.”

Eugene nodded as he listened, all the while adjusting and tweaking his deck. Soon enough, with their preparations complete, it was time for the battle to begin. They both walked to the designated battleground in the school, a location where students are allowed to participate in battles. Though since it was the first day of school, there weren’t that many active fights at the moment.

Though, that didn’t mean that it was empty. In fact, there was a large crowd at the stands filled with students and familiars. When Eugene looked, he could see Sife and Abdul watching as well. They both looked like they were cheering them both on, while the others were there to watch Axel show off.

Standing in front of them was Axel and his Demon, his arms crossed with a smug look in his face. “Heh so you came huh? You sure you don’t want to back down. It’s not too late you know. ~”

Eugene shook his head, as he readied into a battle stance. His hand clenching into his deck case. Seeing this, Axel couldn’t help but laugh, with many of the students watching joining in. “You’re serious huh? Alright can’t say I didn’t warn you! ~”

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Axel then took out his own mana crystal from his pocket, in his fingers was what looked like a guitar pick. It had a flaming design on it, the crystal itself seemed to be etched at the tip of it. He then began to make a pose, as if he was ready to rock out. “Alright let’s go!!”

Activate Combat Ring

The forcefield that Eugene has come to recognize begins to expand from both adversaries’ mana crystal. Both forcefield merging as they collide with each other before surrounding them both in a large transparent dome. No sooner had the Combat Ring been establish did Ryuze pressed the button on the back of his key tag before noticing light glow around various parts of his body before dimming out to reveal the weapons that he had confiscated on school grounds.

With his weapons back on him, Ryuze wasted no time pulling out his trusty blade in hand. Meanwhile, Axel started to strum the air with his pick, a fierce looking guitar suddenly materialized around his arms. “Now try to give us something at least a bit entertaining. Now start with the Dragonoid!!”

As Axel gave the order, his hulking demon began the move. Dashing towards Ryuze, who quickly dodged the attack before countering back by using one of his throwing weapons. That seemed not to do much as he simply blocked them with his arm before returning the favor as the flames of his hair began to shoot small blasts of hellfire from the tips.

Taking the initiative, Ryuze took out his scroll and began to use his technique, forming quick hand gestures while slamming the scroll to the ground. Even if he can’t use them to directly deal with the fire demon, there were other ways they can be of use. “Ninja Art: Red Ivy Wall!”

Pillars of fire begin to erupt from the ground in front him, they move as if they’re growing from the ground and attaching to some invisible wall. It seems enough to block the incoming hellfire projectiles as they disperse once they come in contact the wall of fire. It may seem like a waste to use a skill for small fire, but Ryuze wasn’t one to risk a chance this early on.

Meanwhile Eugene activated his deck case, as the familiar UI appeared before his eyes as he drew his starting hand.

Shadow

Intercept

Healing

Circle

Frost

Breaker

Recycle

Recycle

Switch locations between two targeted allies/self

Heal allies within circle for 30 seconds. Increase effect with additional MP

Equip target with Ice Gauntlets and provide ice element

Draw cards depending on cost

Draw cards depending on cost

Cost: 20 MP

Cost: 10 MP

Cost: 20 MP

Cost: Discard one/more cards

Cost: Discard one/more cards

Instant

Instant

Equipment

Instant

Instant

Taking a quick look, it didn’t seem like the best hand to start off. Before he could start on his next move though, Axel had come after him! With guitar at hand, he swung it down in Eugene with full force. Eugene barely moving in time to avoid the attack and without a second thought draws a new card to his hand before using Recycle to replace 3 of his cards with new ones.

Upon seeing what Eugene was doing, Axel could do nothing but laugh as he spoke to him in a mocking tone. “So, this is what your mana crystal can do, a silly card game?? What’re going to do, make me wait more turn? HA!”

Wanting to humiliate him further, Axel swung his guitar horizontal at Eugene to make sure he wouldn’t dodge as easily this time. But he suddenly found him, and his guitar pushed back only now seeing Eugene had pulled out a card and activated Beast Shield to force him back.

This seemed to surprise Axel, who had never seen Eugene use his card system properly before. Seeing this, Eugene took the opportunity to counter his mocking comment from before. “What is it? Surprised by what this ‘silly card game’ could do? Here, let me show you what else it can do.”

In response, Eugene pulled out two more of his cards as he activated them both. With Frost Breaker equipped in his hands, Eugene came towards Axel and with the added benefit of Speed Booster Axel found it harder to keep track of him and used his guitar instinctively to block his incoming attack but suddenly found himself encased in ice.

It turns out, Eugene was aiming his fists not at Axel’s chest as he thought but towards his feet. His aim being to pin his opponent in place. Seeing this Axel couldn’t help but be angered by this turn of events. Seems this wouldn’t be as easy as he thought it would be.