"Ride! Dueling Dragon, ZANBAKU!" Scootaloo yelled as the armored black dragon charged at the opposing blue mech. "I attack! Blue Flame Overdrive!"

"What is with you and blue fire?" Apple Bloom shook her head. "Next thing you know, it's going to be an archetype."

"I... can't really see myself using it, though." Scootaloo grimaced. "I mean, sure it'd look cool. But it feels like something Paladins would get considering the amount of support they receive in nearly every expansion pack."

"Meh. No guard." Apple Bloom groaned as her damage check was revealed to be Death Army Lady. "Ouch. Could have used this a bit earlier. Hmm... my turn. I ride Stern Blaukluger!"

Sweetie Belle smiled a bit as she looked at her teammates practicing. This is pretty nice... Cardfighting, for the sake of fun, with nothing on the line...

"Attention Cardfighters! The second exhibition match is about to start!" The room's P.A. device boomed.

Being brought back to reality, the white unicorn gritted her teeth. "Tch, almost forgot... there's another fight."

"Oh yeah! I wonder who the fighters are this time!?" Scootaloo did a small hoofpump, before spotting Sweetie Belle's darkened expression. "Oi, Sweetie Belle... Do you know anything about it?"

She reluctantly shook her head. Apple Bloom threw a worried glance at Scootaloo, to which the pegasus nodded.

Spark sighed as he looked at his Overlord deck. I can feel it. That intent to kill... I thought I destroyed all of it. Tch, I'll have to finish the job then.

He stepped onto the arena, knowing the gears of fate had already started to turn. If he was the existence that would go against destiny, there would always be something boosted in order to compensate. Due to his intervention on fate's flow in a major scale, Cray's power balance would be thrown into disarray.

I know this.

If that power balance was disrupted, an even worse outcome would eventually come. Fate would not let itself be beaten by an irregular existence not bound by the world's laws.

I know this.

The world of Cray is alive. The world itself has a consciousness -- That consciousness is manifested as PSY Qualia. It will do whatever means to keep the planet alive, even if it means destroying more than half the inhabitants. PSY itself decides the fate of the planet's inhabitants, as well as those who have an identical existence on another world.

I know this.

The anomaly known as the "Crimson Reaper", Dragonic Overlord, is a being not bound by PSY. It unconsciously goes against its world's laws due to being a key piece in a series of events that would lead to the planet's fate, and wields one of the two "Swords of Apocalypse" -- Coveted blades of the Dragon Empire that deliberately destroy all trace of PSY Qualia's influence on the wielder. It is a miracle that "Overlord" still exists, despite completely destroying the planet's power balance using forbidden arts. Of course, the two other 'weapons' PSY has will have to take action.

I know this.

In counter to this... The holy sword "Blaster Blade" is an embodiment of PSY itself, bent to the wielder's will. This is the blade that goes against its own laws, violating the opposing force's life despite it being the planet's life force itself. It is a paradox, but maintains the balance of Cray's existence. It is life and death in one piece of enchanted metal. Should it ever go missing, an unthinkable catastrophe would take place. It is the failsafe that would return Cray to its most "normal" state, so to say.

The demonic sword "Blaster Dark" is a similar weapon of the same origin as the "Blaster Blade", however it represents the planet's resistance against forced change through outside intervention. Hence, if swung, it cannot be stopped even by its wielder. It can only be swung by a being of pure determination, with pure intent to destroy whatever he aims the sword at. It is not an "evil" sword, but is seen as so due to its association with the fallen Guardian Dragon. When swung, there can only be two results; the annihilation of the opponent, or the annihilation of the user.

I know this.

If we compare the statistics, an anomaly against two 'weapons' personally crafted by the planet itself to destroy disturbances seems an unfair fight. However, for that single anomaly to break the world's laws itself and allow the further evolution of its lifeforms without the world's permission is a different matter, one that threatened the world itself to the point that it had to deploy both of its weapons, despite said weapons being on opposite sides.

If he faces either of the swords at their full power, he will 'probably' lose. The blades are his 'natural enemy'. However... he is an anomaly. Therefore, his natural enemy being the two swords is just assumed, merely because he avoids facing them at full power, and the fact that he has already lost to both blades despite them not being at full power.

The uncounted factor in this flawed equation would probably be the full extent of said anomaly's power. His true potential is unknown. The holy sword and demonic sword will continuously grow; it cannot be said the same for him.

I know this. However...

Faced with impossible odds, the crimson flame deliberately ignores the circumstances which would cause him to fail and keeps moving forward.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=CcjFhrPugVs

Midnight smirked as he saw Spark calmly trot into the arena and place his deck on the MF System's Field Platform. To both of them, the audience did not exist; the only ones who mattered in this battlefield were the fighters in it.

"Vanguard Field.... RELEASE!"

Crimson flames and burning darkness fight each other for dominance, causing a flash of white light to envelop the arena. Their respective clan symbols (a dragon, and the Blaster Dark) appeared in front of them, heralding the start of the fight as both fighters were plunged into a barren wasteland at night.

"Lizard Soldier Conroe." A green Dragonman with an axe growled as soon as he saw the opposing Fighter. (G0/5000)

"Fullbau." An armored black dog gladly returned the sentiments. (G0/5000)

"My turn first." Midnight smiled. "I ride Blaster Javelin, and fetch Blaster Dark from my deck. Now, I call Nightmare Painter. I put Phantom Blaster Dragon into the soul, and end my turn." (Hand: 4, Damage: 0)

"Being wasteful in Shadow Paladin?" Spark smirked. "That will bite you in the ass later on."

The violet pegasus merely chuckled, before glaring at Spark. His eyes were leaking black darkness, with his iris being completely red. "Let's see you fare against 100% of my PSY Qualia."

Stepping back in disgust, Spark drew a card. "I ride Embodiment of Armor, Bahr! Conroe moves behind him."

(RC) (Bahr) (RC)

(RC) (Conr) (RC)

Hand: 5, Damage: 0

"Boosted by Conroe, Bahr attacks!" The Dragonman and cursed red armor demon charged at the opposing knight. (POW: 13000)

"No guard." Midnight winced as Spark revealed a card that immediately glowed gold. "Ouch."

"Embodiment of Spear, Tahr. Critical get, all to my Vanguard!" Bahr and Conroe slashed the black spearman simultaneously while Blaster Dark and Abyss Freezer were sent to the damage zone.

"Draw get! You know what that means."

"I end my turn." Spark glared at Midnight, who sighed.

"Seriously? You still don't get it? Then, this should probably knock sense into you." Midnight threw a card in the air, and it slowly fell. While it fell, the card was suddenly covered in violet flames. "Blade of eternal determination, stand firmly and cut everypony who stands in your way! Thunder forth, my avatar! BLASTER DARK!!!"

It landed perfectly on the Vanguard Circle, and a twister of darkness and lightning covered Blaster Javelin. Before one could blink, the twister was cut apart by a black sword. Standing in the middle of the devastation was a black knight, brandishing a sword that leaked the wielder's intent to kill. (G2/10000)

"Call! Skull Witch, Nemain! I use her skill to discard Blaster Dark, and draw two cards." Midnight said, while a white unicorn in revealing clothing stood beside beside Blaster Dark. "Now, I call Nightmare Painter. I add Blaster Dark to my soul."

Again? What could he use the soul for, in Shadow Paladin of all things... Wait, is he going for Skullface's Megablast? Like hell I'll let that happen. Spark thought as he glared at the opposing Vanguard.

(RC) (BD) (Nemain)

(RC) (NP) (NP)

Hand: 3, Damage: 1/2

"Painter boosts, Blaster Dark attacks! Thunder forth... Buster Break!" Midnight/Blaster Dark yelled, charging the demonic sword with violet lightning. (POW: 16000)

"I don't guard." (Hand: 6, Damage: 0)

"Check." Midnight revealed Phantom Blaster Dragon. Immediately afterwards, he/Blaster Dark made an arc with his sword and launched a blast of energy towards Bahr. "No trigger."

"Damage check, no trigger." Spark sent Dragonic Overlord to his damage zone.

"Now, boosted by Painter, Nemain!" (POW: 9000)

"Guard, Gattling Claw Dragon!" (SLD + POW: 13000)

"I end my turn." (Hand 4, Damage: 1/2)

"My turn, draw." Spark looked at his hand. Two Dragonic Overlord the End's, Nehalem, Tahr, Bahr, and Burning Horn Dragon. I'll miss the Cross Ride, but at least I can hit for decent numbers. "Ride. Dragon Knight, Nehalem! Now, I use Conroe's skill! Counterblast and self-retire! I search my deck for Wyvern Guard, Barri and add him to my hand."

(RC) (Nehalem) (RC)

(RC) (RC) (RC)

Hand: 5, Damage: 1/1

"Nehalem attacks!" Spark/Nehalem jumped from his mount, and threw his javelin. (POW: 10000)

"Guard, Grim Reaper!" A demon with a scythe appeared in front of Blaster Dark. (SLD: 20000, Hand: 3, Damage: 1/2)

"Drive check." Spark gritted his teeth as the lance was blocked. Dragon Monk, Gojo was added to his hand. "No trigger."

"I end my turn." (Hand: 6, Damage: 1/1)

"My turn, draw." Midnight gritted his teeth as he forced the black mist to expand. "Cursed dragon of the lance, spread the wings of annihilation on these fools and show them the true meaning of power! Stand up... Phantom Blaster Dragon, RIDE THE VANGUARD!!!"

Midnight/Blaster Dark yelled as the black mist enveloped him, slowly forming into a tornado. A blast of black lightning pierced the storm, revealing a dark dragon wielding a dual-bladed lance. (POW: 11000)

"Really?" Spark yawned. "I'm pretty sure you're screwed, considering the cards in my hand."

"Nope, not really. I call.... Jaegbau. I activate his effect. When he's called, if my Vanguard is a 'Blaster', I can Soulblast Fullbau and retire him. I unflip one damage." Midnight leered at Spark, who had a surprised expression on his face. "Soaring through the dark sky, casting a shadow of death and despair... The lance of Tartarus craves for the souls of the living! Stain the land with the blood of the sinful and innocent alike! DAMNED CHARGING LANCE!!!"

Phantom Blaster Dragon roared as he slaughtered his allies left and right. A rush of miasma covered the dragon, with all his blue markings now a fiery red. (POW: 21000/CRT: 2)

(RC) (PBD) (RC)

(RC) (RC) (RC)

Hand: 2, Damage: 2/2

"Phantom Blaster Dragon attacks!" The dragon of the underworld swung his lance at the dragon rider, causing a blast of dark wind. (POW: 21000/CRT: 2)

"I nullify with Wyvern Guard, Barri!" Spark yelled throwing the Perfect Guard onto the Guardian Circle. He then discarded Tahr. (SLD: 0, nullified)

"Twin drive. First..." Midnight revealed Abyss Freezer. "I draw. Second... Mac Lir. Tch..."

The lance slammed into the white knight and his crimson mount, shattering the yellow barrier he had erected.

"I end my turn." (Hand: 5, Damage: 2/2)

"My turn, draw." Spark closed his eyes. "Chaotic hellfire in the midst of destruction... Forbidden power is fully unleashed, tearing own soul to shreds... The finale has come. Dragon of dragons, flame of apocalypse..."

A crimson aura suddenly surrounded Spark, covering the surrounding area with flames. A savage roar echoed through the arena, causing some of the audience members to faint.

"Tyrant of flames, master of reducing everything in this world to ashes. Unseen deathbringer, killing all in his way instantly."

"So... He's using The End immediately for maximum pressure..." Scootaloo muttered, completely in awe of the flames surrounding Spark.

"But, The End doesn't have any Counterblasts to use..." Sweetie Belle muttered, but she felt a chill go up her spine. He's planning something big....!

"Flames, break. Life, die. Beginning, end. The Crimson Reaper comes... Now. Stand up, my avatar! Ride! I invoke your existence! DRAGONIC OVERLORD -- THE END!!!" The white colt yelled, slamming the card onto the Vanguard Circle. Nehalem was englufed by a surge of red energy, and was replaced by a four-armed red dragon. (G3/11000)

"I call Burn Cross Dragon and use his skill! Soulblast, and I retire him." Spark smirked. "I unflip one damage. Now I call Bahr!"

"That sneaky little..." Scootaloo muttered while glaring at the screen.

"..." Sweetie Belle felt an incomprehensible fear in the back of her mind. Spark's going to win... But why do I feel so uneasy? There's something... wrong...

(RC) (DOTE) (RC)

(RC) (Bahr) (RC)

Hand: 2, Damage: 0/2

"Boosted by Bahr, Overlord the End attacks Blaster Dragon!" Spark yelled as the dragon behind him ascended, and aimed both guns at the demonspawn. (POW: 19000)

"No guard."

"Heh... Twin drive check, first is... Dragonic Overlord, no trigger. Second... Tahr! All effects to my Vanguard!"

Midnight stayed silent as Blaster Dark and Jaegbau were sent to the damage. Dragonic Overlord shot several rounds at Blaster Dragon, causing bits of its armor to be broken off. "No triggers..." (Hand: 5, Damage: 2/4)

"Flames feed on flames, and hellfire will never stop burning! Dragonic Overlord the End's Persona Blast! ETERNAL APOCALYPSE!" Spark yelled, dumping a copy of The End into the drop zone. The crimson dragon roared, and charged towards its broken opponent to finish it off. (POW: 16000)

"Nullified. Mac Lir." Midnight said, dropping the Perfect Guard onto the Guardian Circle. A black knight with twin golden barriers blocked the dragon, before dispersing into violet sparkles. (SLD: 0)

"I end my turn." Spark grimaced as he noticed his lack of a Perfect Guard. Even if he uses Damned Charging Lance I can guard most of it... Even if I can't, I can just take it. It's over for him. But... Why is he so confident?

"My turn, draw." The violet pegasus looked at Spark, before... the darkness around his eyes vanished. "Spark. One last time... Are you not joining me?"

The white colt shook his head, and the crimson dragon behind him roared.

"Fine then." Midnight threw a card in the air, and the card suddenly exploded into black shards, scattering on the ground near Phantom Blaster Dragon. "Crying out in despair in the chaos that is silence, the claws of the Netherworld tear everything asunder under my command! Breaking light itself, defying reality... Malice that consumes all, damning the world itself with its awakening! In a world where light exists... I will be the one to destroy it! RIDE THE VANGUARD!!!

A shadowy aura sprung from the ground, stabbing Phantom Blaster from different angles. It tore the dragon apart, eliciting roars of agony from the dying creature. Finally, a large tendril stabbed it in the chest, and tore the beast in half.

"What..." Spark stepped away.

"... in..." Scootaloo said, while making an expression of disgust and horror. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle just stared at the CV screen.

"... Tartarus?" Silver Spoon muttered, her mind not able to process what was going on in front of them. The dragon's corpse was being... eaten by the shadow. That shadow was, if you can even call it, somehow alive.

The aura formed into a sphere, and shot its tendrils in multiple directions. The biggest one was shot at the audience, causing an explosion. The audience went into a panic as the sphere started to shatter, and revealed a black abomination of a dragon covered in red and golden markings. (G?/??000)

"Stand up, Gust Blaster Dragon." Midnight chuckled, as the dragon broke free from the sphere. Roaring, it flew higher into the sky as darkness followed it. "Due to system constraints, he will be considered a Grade 3 with 11000 base power."

The black horror roared, making Overlord the End step back a bit. Spark gulped. This... thing could not be called a dragon - no, it was not even alive. Yet... Why did have the qualities of a living being? Furthermore, why did this exist in this exact place and time? It was not supposed to exist. Not yet, anyways. It would have been more likely to happen in the future, but...

There's only one thing that can explain it. PSY brought 'life' to Phantom Blaster Dragon's malice...!?

It was nearly impossible on both worlds to bring a physical form to one's emotions. However, when the laws of the world are twisted beyond comprehension...

....! Damn it, it means I was too early in summoning The End?! Or was I supposed to lose against Blaster Overlord?! Spark gritted his teeth. No, I can't give up here. I'm in the lead. He can't possibly kill me from this damage, even a double critical wouldn't be enough...!

"Now, call. Blaster Dark, Grim Reaper, Arianrhod."

(RC) (GBD) (BD)

(RC) (GrR) (Arian)

Hand: 0, Damage: 2/4

"Boosted by Arianrhod, Blaster Dark attacks!" (POW: 16000)

"Guard, Tahr!"

"Now, Gust Blaster Dragon attacks, and since there's a Blaster in my soul, I gain 2000 Power!" Gust Blaster roared, and an unearthly aura covered the hideous beast.

"What...?!"

"Unholy terror of the darkness, spread the black flames of death upon this world! Crying out in hollow despair, stain the land with the blood of the innocent! LIMIT BREAK! ECHO OF THE DAMNED!!!"

"Limit... Break!?" Spark yelled, completely surprised. "What....!?"

"It's an effect that can only be activated when you have a certain amount of damage, and for good reason." Midnight chuckled. "Gust Blaster gains 5000 Power and an extra critical... for each Blaster in soul!"

"What...!?" The white colt gritted his teeth. So that's what he was after... Make sure I blew my Perfect Guard early, and then finish me with this...!

Gust Blaster roared as the tendrils suddenly gathered around him, twisting into a vaguely dragonic shape, and charged at The End. (POW: 36000/CRIT: 6)

"What?! How!?" Scootaloo slammed her hoof on a table. "That's too strong, even for Shadow Paladin...!"

Sweetie Belle gulped. The card itself isn't that strong, but since he has PSY Qualia active... Oh Celestia, NO!

Her eyes widened and she started running to the Fight Field, ignoring her teammates' cries of alarm. "This can't be happening... He's actually losing..."

"No guard, I assume?" Midnight grinned.

Spark stayed silent.

"Now, finish him, Blaster Drago-"

"Sacrificing everything, I made this oath. Hellfire consumes hellfire, and these flames shall never stop burning." A crimson aura surrounded Spark, who closed his eyes while chanting.

"?!"

"This is the only path, my resolution burns bright. To this world, I offer unto thee -- "

"My soul. Break open, COUNTER DAMNATION!!!" The aura transferred to the dragon in front of him, and Spark collapsed. Overlord growled as the aura shimmered around him, and charged.

"Counter Damnation?!" Midnight yelled. "What the hell is that!? No matter. Destroy him, Gust Blaste-"

His cry was cut off by Overlord ramming into Gust Blaster, and the flames completely consuming the darkness enveloping the unholy abomination.

Sweetie Belle panted, arriving at her team's watch area. She saw Spark unconscious, and the two dragons being consumed in a whirlwind of crimson and violet flames. Midnight was screeching in pain, as if he was burning along with the units. "What...!?"

--Why.

She stared at Spark's unconscious body and Dragonic Overlord the End, his avatar, who was slowly wasting away. The flames were scattering as well, setting some seats in the audience on fire.

--Why can't I do anything?

She looked at Midnight and Gust Blaster Dragon, who were once her allies.

--I need power. I need to stop this.

She felt something snap inside of her, and did not notice her right eye glowing a bright blue.

Power. I need to reach them, right now--!

Everyone's attention was suddenly on the explosion of blue light near Team Crusader's watch area. Sweetie Belle dissolved into blue sparkles, and was replaced by a white knight that had a certain sword.

"--? I was summoned...?" Blaster Blade looked at the burning dragons in front of him and understood immediately. "!? Overlord and... Tch. Trigger, Buster Crash."

Blaster Blade jumped from the platform and performed a vertical slash. A torrent of lightning came from the blade, forcing the two dragons apart. He landed between them, and jammed his sword into the ground. The dragons roared at him, and aimed their respective weapons (tentacles in Gust Blaster's case) at the knight.

"--Let us continue this battle in Cray. There are too many innocents here." He muttered, before a wave of energy blasted everything in the arena with light. When it subsided, all that was left were three unconscious ponies.

Sweetie Belle woke to the sound of cards shuffling. She looked around, and found Spark sitting beside her with his left foreleg in a splint. "S-Spark...?"

"Yo." The green-maned colt forced out a smile, before sighing. "You do realize what you've done, right?"

"What... do you mean?"

He sighed. "Sweetie Belle. You summoned Blaster Blade to Equis with your own soul as a catalyst."

"... How?"

"I sensed both PSY Qualia and Hunter abilities from you." He said, bringing his deck out. Overlord was the front card, but... he was gray. The entire card was gray. "You used PSY Qualia's image materialization properties alongside a limited version of Counter Damnation, which was the use of the soul to take over a unit temporarily. You even manifested the ability to kill PSY, which would explain how you stopped me and Midnight from burning the arena down. Thanks for that."

"Counter Damnation, huh..." Sweetie Belle looked at Overlord. "What happened...?"

"Overlord's entered a deep sleep. Turning into The End using forbidden arts was bad enough, but Counter Damnation was the finishing blow." Spark sighed. "Though, since you cancelled it out before it completely burned both of us, the cooldown time has been reduced to 3 months. This is all I can do. It's all up to you now."

"How? Midnight has a Limit Break unit..." Sweetie Belle's eyes suddenly widened, and she took her deck out. She looked at Ark Saver Dragon, who had a LB4 symbol with a lightning emblem. "...! So that's what that symbol meant...!"

"On another note, I've also permanently damaged Midnight's PSY Qualia. Any advantage he would have gotten is gone." Spark started walking away, before turning and asking a question.

"A clan without a vanguard means nothing. Accept Blaster Blade as your avatar again. The fact that you summoned him means that your souls are equivalents -- A bond doesn't get any closer than that. Will you accept Blaster Blade as your avatar, or choose otherwise and lose him forever?"

Sweetie Belle took Blaster Blade out of her deck, and stared at it. She didn't notice Spark leave the room, but maybe - just maybe - she saw a light blue aura covering Blaster Blade.

"Blas... ter Blade."

The first ever card I got... What should I do..?

"Damn you, Spark..." Midnight cursed as he slammed his hoof on a table. They were in Team Foo Fighter PSY's private team room. Diamond and Silver stayed silent as they watched their team leader vent his frustration. "... Doesn't matter. We'll just have to crush them while they're weak."

Turning to Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon, he smiled maniacally.

"Show them no mercy. If you lose, you're kicked out of the team. Got that?"

The two mares could only nod. The violet pegasus spread out his wings, and a his shadow turned into a silhouette of Gust Blaster Dragon.

"Soon... I can finally make her pay. I will bring her to despair, and savor every single moment of it. I will enjoy seeing the look of suffering on that traitor's face, and I will spit on it! Gahahaha.... AHAHAHAHA!"

The room was filled by the sound of mad laughter, signalling that the end of this war is near.

Author's Notes:

Jaegbau
Grade 1/5000/High Beast

[AUTO](RC):[Soulblast (1) - non-"Blaster" & Retire this unit] When this unit is placed on (RC), if your Grade 3 vanguard has "Blaster" in its card name, you may pay the cost. If you do, choose a card from your damage zone, and turn it face up.

Burn Cross Dragon
Grade 1/5000/Flame Dragon

[AUTO](RC):[Soulblast (1) - non-"Overlord" & Retire this unit] When this unit is placed on (RC), if your Grade 3 vanguard has "Overlord" in its card name, you may pay the cost. If you do, choose a card from your damage zone, and turn it face up.

Explanation Session:

Counter Damnation: A Hunter's strongest ability. He takes the form of his current Vanguard during a losing situation, and attempts a "suicide" attack that will leave both players unconscious after, and the opponent's PSY Qualia crippled permanently. The Hunter's Vanguard unit will then go into Hibernation Mode, and cannot be used for 4 months.