Cardfight!! Vanguard: R

Episode Four: Wish You Were Here/ Chapter 18

18 – The Recovery of a Wise Child

Thunder rumbled in the clouds collecting over Dragon Empire, bolts of lightning raining down as the various Djinn's began to gather around Oga who had now taken the form of Djinn of Pesky Contracts. Murmuring a chant in an age-old tongue only known to them; the symbol of Narukami began to glow underneath him and enveloped him in a red glow.

Tomoko, now riding the Dragon-priestess, Munawwarah, shielded her eyes from glow, only catching glimpses of how his form changed.

Taking on a bipedal form, muscular with tanned skin. His body was wrapped in white linens with gold embroidery, with even more gold and jewellery decorating him from his ankles to his neck. Three yellow glowing orbs appeared from behind the feather in his turban and began hovering above his head, crossing his arms he announced himself:

"Ride – Scholar of Goetia, Solomon! Imaginary Gift; Accel II"

The first to attack was Djinn of Tempest Storm, motioning its hands in a mystical method sparks striking in between its fingers and in the palm of its hands. Thrusting its right arm forward it sent a bolt of lightning toward Tomoko's rear-guard – Dragon-guard, Shruti. Unable to block the attack, the female guardian felt her body seize up with the full power of a lightning strike. When the shocks subsided, she dropped her shield and fell forward before vanishing completely.

"Now... Solomon attack the vanguard!"

Tomoko looked at her hand, deciding she'd need most of these cards next turn she decided to declare a no guard.

"Twin Drive, first check... no trigger, second check... Critical trigger! The Critical goes to the vanguard, power to Djinn of Calamity!"

Oga opened his hands summoning two Vered Jericho Swords to aid him in his attack. He took one step forward and seemingly vanished in an instant, reappearing behind Tomoko. Before she could prepare for the strike, the two swords came down across her back leaving an x shape scar.

"Damage... check" she revealed the first card, no trigger, the second, "Get, Draw trigger, power to the vanguard and I draw a card" placing them both in the damage zone, the light on the glove lit up releasing a wave of electric shocks through her body, "Gah! Urg... hah..."

Oga hesitated for a moment. "Turn end."

"What the hell is he doing?" the bookie shouted, "He could have closed the game in tighter then, pushed her to four damage or at least make her guard. If he's going easy on her... hmm?" the bookie took a long stare at Oga; he kept glancing off to the side. Following his line of sight, he noticed that Taichi was sitting in the general area. He called over one of his men, "The boy who made the big bet, find out who he is for me. Quickly."

Tomoko wiped away the sweat on her forehead. Suddenly feeling the fatigue set in again, she caught herself on the table side as she fell forward.

"Maybe this was too soon..." Tokiomi said, his gangster façade finally slipping off.

"She'll be fine."

"Are you sure?"

Taichi folded his arms and continued to stare at Tomoko with anxiety growing in the back of his mind. Maybe we should have postponed until tomorrow, let her have one day to herself? Taichi shook his head with a calm smile, "Yeah. I'm sure of it, so long as she draws it... then she'll be the one to take home the prize."

Tomoko dropped her sounding staff as she began to writhe around in agony, screeching and clawing attempting to use what little magic abilities she had to heal the wound. Unfortunately, she was never trained in healing arts, all she knew... was the art of fire.