Path To Liberation, Meltdown (Chap 18)

Synopsis: Having heard that his former companions arrived, Hou Ren felt absolutely enraged. He sends an opponent to deal with them.

Daryl: (Narrates as a flashback sequence was shown) Once, there was a great man. But he was seen as a troublemaker. Now he has fallen and it's up to us to bring him back. 

All: (Heroic Pose) LET'S BUDDYFIGHT.

Anime Opening: Knock On Your Gate.

A Hologram Of the Young King has appeared before the fighters. Feeling disgusted, Hou Ren looks at them with unclouded eyes. Gwen however, felt worried as she sees him.

Gwen: Hou Ren....is that you?

Daryl: We don't want to fight.

Hou Ren's Father: We just want to talk.

Hou Ren: Talk about what? You invaded my turf and you expect me to trust you?

Hou Ren's Mother: Please, we want to help you.

Hou Ren: Shut Up. If you want to see me so badly, defeat my brothers first. Be warned, lose against them and say goodbye to your memories. Be prepared. (disappears)

Ranma: Oh man, what happened to you?

Light: Guess we must fight him.

Tasuku: Alright then.... who's our first opponent?

???: THAT WOULD BE ME.

Trickstar appears before them via teleportation. He's in his true form. Orange T shirt. White Sleeveless Jacket. Light Brown Jeans. Orange Sneakers and Wrist Pads. Plus an Orange Headband.

(Slight Note: True form means actual casual clothes)

Tasuku: Trickstar.....

Trickstar: I can't believe you all. You dare interfere and stick your nose where it doesn't belong? What more do you want from us?

Everyone stares in worry.

Trickstar: But it's fine. Because I get to pummel you.

Daryl: Then I'll be your opponent. How's that?

Trickstar: Sure. Allow me to select the field.

Trickstar then holds out a bomb in his hand and throws it onto the ground.

Masato: What the....

Trickstar: Relax, I'm not gonna kill you. Earth is steady and still like a rock, and eventually becomes Lava. Disposing everything it sees. Awaken, Volcano Land Prison.

The bomb explodes and creates a Prison. Surrounding everything with Hot Volcanos. The sky is even clouded with black mist created by those volcanos. Everyone is surprised.

Masato: Whoa....this is extreme.

Suddenly, the ground becomes a buddyfight stage. Both Players step onto their platforms.

Trickstar: Scorch through everything, melt those on sight. Luminize, Magma Trickstars.

Daryl: Guided by the celestial stars. My Constellations shall grant me my promised victory. Luminize, Godful Galaxy Triangulum.

All: Buddy...fight.

Both players: Raise the flag.

Daryl: Star Dragon World.

Trickstar: Dungeon World.

Daryl: I'll go first. Draw. Charge and Draw. Govern Star Dragon, Bordure to the center.

Bordure: (Appears) The Stars have called me.

Daryl: (Adds an item) Fret to the right. (gain 2 gauge)

Daryl's Gauge: 4.

Daryl: Bordure, attack Trickstar.

Trickstar's Life: 10 -> 9

Daryl: My turn is over.

Trickstar: Draw. Charge and draw. Set spell, Volcano's Meltdown.

A Giant Volcano has appeared behind Trickstar.

Daryl: What the.....

Trickstar: Trickcat "Asher" to the left.

Trickcat appears on the left in a new form.

Trickcat: I'm ready to rumble, cat.

Daryl: Trickcat has evolved?

Trickstar: Trickcat's effect, I gain 1 gauge and look at the top 3 cards of my deck. I place them back on top in any order.

Trickstar's Gauge: 4

Trickstar's hand: 5

Daryl: Deck Manipulation.....

Trickstar: I buddycall Deity Gargantua Dragon REB to the right.

A copy of Garga appears on the right.

Trickstar: I cast, reset button. My gauge becomes 4. And then I cast Tactical Trickstar. (Moves a card among the top 5 cards to his hand while sending rest back on top) I also draw 1 card.

Daryl: More Deck Manipulation....

Trickstar: I equip...Magma's Meltdown, Gar-Launcher. Trickcat, attack Fret.

Trickcat: You got it. (Attacks) When I attack, I discard the top card of the player's deck. (reveals A Spell) Just what I need. MELTDOWN.

Trickcat activates a cannon full of molten lava and shoots it directly at Daryl's left position, melting it in the process.

Daryl: What the.....My Left...what happened to my Left?

Trickstar: You'll find out eventually.

Fret was destroyed by the Trickcat.

Trickstar: Activate Volcano's Meltdown's ability. Meltdown.

The volcano launches a molten lava and shoots it at Daryl's Right Position.

Daryl: My Right.....

Trickstar: I also move 3 cards from my dropzone to the bottom of my deck. My turn. (Jumps and fires a lava rocket)

Bordure: (Hit) I'm hit. Sorry, Daryl. (Destroyed)

Trickstar: MELTDOWN.

Molten Lava comes out of the rocket and Daryl's center is also Melt....

Daryl: Again?

Trickstar: If I manage to destroy a monster and if the position is open, I can Melt that Position. Bon Appetit.

Daryl: Why you.....

Trickstar: Save your complaints. Garga.

Garga flies and deals 3 damage. And the Double attack.....

Daryl: I cast, Mars Barrier. (Nullifies the attack)

Daryl's Life: 7.

Trickstar: My turn is over.

Gwen: What do these Lava fields means?

Masato: Also, how did Trickstar...

Trickstar: What Can I say, Hou Ren gave me a boost. I'm stronger than you think.

Tasuku: (Thought) He must have used the Mirage Crystal (Thought).

Daryl: I don't get what's going on but I will still win. Draw. Charge and Draw. I equip Skyseer Bow, Caelum Rex. (Equips a new bow) Cast, Edict: Divination. I pay 2 gauge to gain 1 life and draw 2 cards.

Daryl's gauge, hand & life: 1, 5, 7

Daryl: Cast, Proclaim: Decisive Point. (Acquired effects) Finally, I cast Proclaim: Steer the Stars. (Acquired Resources) Buddycall to the center. Deity of Knowledge and Hope, Godcross Astrologia.

Cross: (Summoned) Behold My Evolved Brilliance.

Trickstar then smirked.

Trickstar: You fell for it.

Suddenly, the melted center begins to light up and Daryl is scorching in Lava out of nowhere.

Daryl: Ahhhh.

Daryl's Life: 8 -> 6

Everyone is surprised.

Masato: What just happened?

Trickstar: When stepped on a melted field, the chosen monster is forced to be destroyed. But since it can't, it deals 2 damage instead.

Daryl: What?

Trickstar: Call a monster. I dare you.

Cross: He must have known our strategy and set bombs for us to trigger it.

Daryl: We don't have a choice. Barry to the right. Seerfight Dragon, Tink to the left.

Both monsters are summoned and Daryl receives 4 damage.

Daryl's Life: 6 -> 2

Daryl: Activate Tink's effect. I gain 3 life and draw a card. Shine Bright, Diamond of the Sky. Galaxy Dragod Formation Activate.

All of Daryl's Cards glow bright.

Trickstar: So that's your new power.

Daryl: Cross, Attack Trickcat.

Cross destroys Trickcat.

Daryl: Double attack. This time On Garga.

Trickstar: Cast. Divine Protection Of Shalsana. (Gain 1 life) Counterattack.

Daryl: With Galaxy D Formation, My cards gain 10000 defense.

Trickstar: G-EVO time. Change To Dual Mode.

Garga changes to Dual Mode.

Trickstar: Attack Garga. I dare you.

Daryl: Cross. Triple attack.

Cross manages to destroy Garga's soul.

Trickstar: Counterattack.

Cross somehow loses 1 soul card.....

Daryl: How the...

Trickstar: Dual Mode increases Garga's power by 10000. Also, 2 more cards for me.

Daryl: Fine. Barry. Attack the fighter.

Trickstar: I cast Lava Shield. (Blocks the attack) For each melted field, I gain 1 life.

Trickstar's Life: 10 -> 13

Daryl: Tink. It's your turn.

Trickstar's Life: 13 -> 11

Daryl: Caelum Rex.

Trickstar's Life: 11 -> 7 

Trickstar: I cast Magma Enforcement. For each melted field, another 3000 defense. Since Garga's here, doubling it.

Daryl: Darn. My turn is over.

Masato: Aww man. If Barry's attack landed, the game would have been over.

Trickstar: Tell me something Daryl. I thought you called Hou Ren a joke. What changed your mind?

Daryl: I was an idiot back then. I shouldn't have looked down or accused him. I should have backed him up as a friend.

Trickstar: So you noticed. Unfortunately, It's too late for you.

Daryl: Even so, I want to make things right with him. 

Trickstar: We'll see about that. Draw. Charge and Draw. I cast Ultimate Buddy. I place this into Garga's soul. Trickdog "Asher" to the left.

Trickdog: (Summoned) You howl, I answer dog.

Trickstar: I gain 2 gauge. Then I look at the top 2 cards of my deck. I place them back in any order.

Eden: Here he goes again.....

Trickstar: I cast Magma Slam. (Slams the ground)

Cross felt some lava melting on him from above.

Cross: Ahhhh. (Lost his last soul card)

Daryl: Cross.

Trickstar: I removed all of Cross soul cards. And Garga can also attack all of the opponent's monsters. Dispose of Cross right now.

Dual Mode attacks Cross.

Daryl: I cast Cross Astro Shield. (Blocks the attack) I gain 2 life, 2 gauge and draw a card.

Daryl's Life: 5 -> 7

But Tink and Barry are out.....

Trickstar: Garga's double attack.

Daryl: Cast, Celesphere Force. (Blocks the attack) One more soul for Cross.

Trickstar: Garga. Revert. (Pays 2 gauge)

Garga reverts back.

Trickstar: I cast Trickstar Advantage. I discard the top card of my deck. (Does so) It's a monster. I reduce the opponent's defense equal to the monster's power. In this case, 6000.

Tasuku: This means Cross has 14000 defense.

Trickstar: Garga. Trickdog. Link attack On Cross. 

Both monsters attack.

Trickstar: When attacking, Trickdog discards the top card of my deck. (Does So) It's a spell. I destroy two of the opponent's gauge and MELTDOWN.

More of Daryl's fields melted and Daryl lost 2 gauge.

Daryl: Great.....

The attack hit with Cross reviving with Soulguard.

Trickstar: Now it's personal. Garga. Link attack with me. (Fires A Missile)

The attack hits.....

Cross: Ahhhhh...

Daryl: Cross !!!!

Cross is destroyed.....Everyone is shocked.

Trickstar: Meltdown. (Fires a lava missile)

Daryl's center is also melted.

Gwen: Now all of Daryl's Fields are melted.

Trickstar: Now to bring out my ace. G-EVO activate. Change. Magma Rocker, Gargantua Scorcher.

Garga changes to his new Form. Harnessing the abilities of pure Lava. Wearing Sheer Lava Armor while equipping a huge Lava Saber. Everyone is shocked.

Gwen: What in the…..

Trickstar: You thought I don't have a trump card up on my sleeve? Look again. Activating Scorcher's effect. (Activates ability) Looking at the top 4 cards of my deck. 1 to my hand. 1 to my gauge. And the other 2 to my deck. 

Trickstar: Daryl: His resources increased.

Trickstar: Since I used G-EVO, I also melt the opponent's fields. But I can't, so 3 damage to the opponent.

Daryl's Life: 7 -> 4

Daryl: Uh Oh....

Masato: He's cornered. Daryl....

Trickstar: Embrace it. Accept it. Your defeat...(Proceeds to have Garga attacking) is set in stone.

Scorcher attacks.

Trickstar: When attacking, I discard the top card of my deck. If it's a spell, the melted fields cannot return to normal even after the end phase. If it's a monster, Garga gains the monster's power and critical.

Trickstar discards the top card and it's a spell.

Trickstar: It's a spell.

Daryl: What? My fields can't return to normal.

Trickstar: Tick tock. Tick tock. Are you gonna defend or not?

Daryl: I cast Earth Barrier. (Gain 1 life)

Trickstar: Double attack. (Repeats ability) It's a Monster. He gains 7000 power and 1 more critical.

Daryl: Cast, Proto Barrier. Thank gosh he has no attacks left.

Trickstar: I cast "Trickstar Ren's primeful explosions". I discard the top 3 cards of my deck. For each spell revealed, I deal 1 damage to the opponent. (Does so) Two spells. Okay, 4 damage since Garga's on the field.

Daryl's Life: 5 -> 1

Everyone breathes a sigh of relief.

Tasuku: If it's all trap spells, Daryl would have lost.

Trickstar: I call Garga from the soul. (Reverts Garga) My turn is over.

Daryl: Why'd you stop? You got more attacks incoming.

Trickstar: Can't I just enjoy this a little longer?

Daryl: If you say so. Draw. Charge and Draw. I cast, Proclaim: Astro Recharge. I gain 2 life and draw 2 cards. Once again, Cross to the center.

Cross: I reappear once more.

Daryl's Life: 3 -> 1

Trickstar: Too Bad. The moment you call more monsters, I win the game.

Gwen: He's right. Daryl's in trouble.

Daryl: Who says I'm gonna call? I cast Galaxy Formation Territory. For this turn, I can activate Galaxy Dragod Formation regardless.

All: WHAT?

Trickstar: You can do that?

Cross: Shall We?

Daryl: Go for it. Attack The Fighter.

Trickstar's Life: 7 -> 3

Cross: Double attack. This will finish you.

Trickstar: Oh please. I cast Lava Wall. (Block the attack) I draw a card.

Cross: Triple attack.

Trickstar: I cast, Lava shield. (Gain 3 life)

Daryl shoots his bow.

Daryl's Life: 6 -> 2

Daryl: Sayonara.

Trickstar: I cast, Trickstar's Decoy. I change your attack to Trickdog.

Trickdog is hit.

Trickdog: You snooze, you lose. (Nearly Destroyed)

Daryl: Not so fast. I CAST, Notify, Blockage Pulse. I nullify your spell.

Suddenly time just rewind and Trickcat wasn't hit. Trickstar's spell was neutralized.

Trickstar: YOU WHAT?

Everyone was shocked about what Daryl Did.

Daryl: Arrogance has become your downfall. (Shoots His Last Arrow at Trickstar)

Trickstar: (Got Shot for the last time) No.....

Trickstar Ren lost as his flag was destroyed...Everyone was shocked at the result.

Eden: Daryl.....did it.

Gwen smile at Daryl, while Daryl gave a thumbs up for his team.

Trickstar: I can't believe this.....(Trickstar's Core Deck Case is destroyed) No...my deck....I was supposed to win.....

Daryl: Sorry dude. Now, where is he?

Trickstar: I'll never tell you. Find him yourself. (Disappears via teleportation)

Masato: Guess he's not much of a talker.

Tasuku: (Shook his head) Oh dear.....Come on. We need to move.

All: Right.

Meanwhile, Hou Ren is observing them from his throne. While Hou Ren felt displeased that Trickstar Ren lost, Hou Ren was impressed that Daryl have become stronger. Trickstar Ren was then teleported to Hou Ren.

Hou Ren: Well this is quite surprising.

Trickstar Ren: I'm sorry bro.....they got stronger...I couldn't win.

Hou Ren: It's alright... Though I have to agree with Daryl for once, You need to stop being arrogant.

Trickstar: Yeah yeah.....

Hou Ren: Okay go get some rest. 

Trickstar: Yeah...again, sorry bout what happened. (Walks off in another direction)

Hou Ren: (Thought) You all should have stayed where you belong. But seeing that you came this far, let's see what else you can do.

COTD

Trickstar: It's time for.....

Hou Ren: Hou and Trickstar's

Both: Card Of The Day.

Trickstar: Check out today's card. It's Magma Rocker, Gargantua Scorcher.

Hou Ren: When this card enters play, you can look at the top 4 cards of your deck. One among them goes to your hand, gauge and the rest go back on top in any order.

Trickstar: If Scorcher is also entered by G-EVO, You can melt the opponent's empty fields instantly. If you can't, deal 3 damage instead.

Hou Ren: There's more, when Scorcher attacks, you can discard the top card of your deck. If it's a spell, the melted fields cannot return to normal even after the end phase.

Trickstar: And if it's a monster, Scorcher gains the discarded monster's stats. Talk about a failsafe.

Trickstar: So what do you think guys?

Hou Ren: Think you can open up one of these?

Both: You Never Know Until You Try.

Anime Ending: Promise You by YuiKaori

Story End.

Preview:

Blaze: Blaze Ren here. It's me and Kaizer's turn next. Too bad we're fighting separately. Next time, "Tryhard Kings". Join us for a Buddyfight.