The hours following the incident was filled with pandemonium. Gao had waited for backup ever since the malicious energy wave had died down, keeping close to Tasuku's body until a worried Takihara arrived to greet him. Tasuku had been rushed to the hospital, the doctors and nurses fretting over him non-stop while he was taken to Intensive Care. It was hard to watch Tasuku and Jack be hooked up to the various medical machines designed to keep watch over their vitals before they were even moved to the ambulance, and though he had been reassured that Tasuku was in capable hands, Gao had wanted to be by his friend until he recovered. 

However, he was reminded by a very somber Takihara that he still had a duty to continue Tasuku's work, and it was with a heavy heart that he returned to the Buddypolice HQ to give Count Dawn his report.

"I just don't get it," Gao said, back again inside the central control room. "Why did that girl hurt Tasuku so much? It was like she was trying to…" He clenched his fist, shaking his head for a moment before starting again. "What could drive her to go that far?"

"There are some criminal fighters who go to extreme lengths to achieve their goals," Count Dawn answered. "Usually we have the Buddypolice Barrier to keep them contained. But with the satellites down and the main headquarters still under repair, Tasuku was left to fend for himself."

"Do we know anything about her?" asked Gao. "Someone with that kinda strength couldn't have just come from nowhere."

"Wherever it was must've been nasty to let her make that vile miasma," added Drum. "Seriously, I nearly choked on the hate coming off of her."

"There's nothing in the database matching the descriptions you gave, and we've had no luck determining her identity through the witnesses." Count Dawn brought up several images on the monitor, and a blurry picture of the girl holding Tasuku from the collar - retrieved from a civilian after the incident - dominated the screen. "We've tried to enhance photos taken by passersby, but they all suffer a bizarre amount of distortion."

"Think this is another one of Kyoya's tricks?" asked Drum. "It wouldn't be hard for him to jam the signal, and it'd explain that freaky power she had."

"We have thought about that," answered Dawn, "but as far as this mystery fighter is concerned, there might not be any connection. We've recorded the energy signature produced by Disaster Force and her's does not match it."

"But it still made the power of the cards real," Drum rebuked. "You can't tell me the two aren't related!"

"She may have gotten inspiration from Kyoya's Disaster Force, yes. But just as the Future Force operates similarly, the two are not truly connected. This fighter has found some other way to make her powers real."

"That still doesn't explain why she went after Morganna or Tasuku," said Gao, glaring at the distorted picture. "She acted like she had a vendetta against him…"

"We cannot assume the logic behind criminal fighters," replied Dawn. "There is a chance she was simply pushed too far and took her anger out on the first law enforcer she saw. Until we ask her herself, we cannot know."

Gao opened his mouth to give a theory, but the words died before they were even thoughts. What could he say without knowing who the girl even was? He was briefly reminded of Rouga, and how rough he had said his life had been. He'd never gotten to really talk with him after their victory over Yamigeddo, and now the boy had vanished once again. Gao looked down to the floor, left to clench his fists as he tried to deal with the growing helplessness with so much still unknown to him.

"As for Morganna," continued Dawn. "Though she originally hails from Legend World, her own journey has given her great insight into other realms. We know she's had ties with Magic World, and there are rumors that she may have a link to Darkness Dragon World, as well."

"You think she found a way to copy Disaster power?" asked Drum. "Maybe that's why she was being abducted!"

"Much as I'd like to believe that, I'm afraid the evidence we have contradicts it," replied Dawn. "In her recording, Morganna was attacked by a large concussive blast. That force matches the damages done to the city. Whatever power that girl has, she's had it for a while."

"Then why go after Morganna at all if she already has so much power?" Drum nearly shouted. "Don't you know anyone who can help? Somebody who knows anything about Morganna?"

Coubt Dawn's eyes narrowed, his voice laced with his own frustrations. "Not with any amount of expediency. I may be on favorable terms with Legend World's classes, but I would still need to wait my turn for a proper audience. The leaders of Legend World are a picky lot. It would be easier to find aid from one of their attendants - a lord or a knight perhaps."

"One of their knights… Wait, of course!" Drum shouted in realization. "We can ask Shosetsu!"

The exclamation came so far out of left field that it brought Gao out of his stupor. "Why Shosetsu?"

"There was some major drama between King Arthur and Morganna when we fought together, so he has to know something about what Morganna's been up to. If Shosetsu can get us in with Arthur, we can probably find a clue to that mystery fighter!"

"That's a pretty good plan," said Gao, looking at his buddy quizzically. "But when did you fight with…" He paused as the thought hit him. "Oh yeah, on your adventure. Ya know, you never finished telling me about that. You always stop in the middle when you guys enter that freaky forest with that really weird look, like you just ate a lemon… yeah like that!"

Drum could feel his jaw drop, and though he didn't have any citrus on hand, would be hard pressed to deny he didn't look like what Gao described.

"Well, m-maybe Shosetsu can tell it," he stuttered. "H-He tells better stories that I can. So, with that!" He backed up and quickly grew to full form, once more changing to his Magician garb. "That's better."

"Haven't seen you put on those clothes in a while" Gao said. "Why the sudden fashion change?"

"It's easier to use this trick if I'm in this form," Drum replied as he closed his eyes. "See, I just have to concentrate, and then I can locate anyone I've met before." His world became a black abyss, upon which a cacophony of tethers appeared before him. Gao's presence nearly blinded him with its radiance, but he managed to look past it, throwing his senses as far as he could for Shosetsu' familiar tether…

…which revealed nothing. Nothing but inky blackness greeted his mind's eye. Drum could feel his stomach drop at the implications, but he calmed himself before he let his mind wander, and focused once again. In spite of the emptiness, he could feel Shosetsu' presence around the area, which meant he was still alive. The thought helped calm him, but it also meant that the swordsman was hiding himself. Drum concentrated harder, searching every corner he could find, but no matter where he threw his magic sense, he could only confirm that Shosetsu was 'around'.

"Yeah, that's helpful," Drum muttered to himself as he came out of his trance.

"Didja find him?" Gao asked.

Drum shook his head. "He's hiding for some reason, I can't get a lock on him. I'd guess he'd be in Legend World, maybe at Arthur's place." He closed his eyes once again, and then growled a second later. "Except I've never been there, so I can't even find it!"

"Do not blame yourself," Count Dawn commented. "Camelot Castle is protected by wards and seals designed to prohibit long range teleportation. Only those granted special permission or a badge can teleport inside."

"I don't suppose you have any of those special badges on hand?" Drum asked hopefully.

The Omni Lord shook his head. "Regrettably, we are still restocking our key supplies."

"Of course it wouldn't be that easy," grumbled Drum.

"Well, how about we go to Sengoku?" suggested Gao. "We can ask someone there if they know a way in."

"Great idea kid!" He turned to Count Dawn. "If you don't mind?"

"You do not have to worry about getting my permission," replied the Count. "You are two of the few who have better knowledge of this situation. I shall leave it to your judgment on how to handle this. I only ask that you proceed with caution. There are far too many uncertainties about for my liking."

"We'll stick together and watch each other's backs," Drum said cheerfully. "Right, kid?"

"Right," agreed Gao. He started to walkto the exit, then stopped. He turned to Count Dawn, conflict in his yes. "If anything happens to Tasuku…"

It was a cold day somewhere when Gao couldn't crack a smile, and the Omni Lord realized just what he saw in the boy's eyes. That same look he'd had whenever he remembered his former Buddy. "Gao…"

"Just… tell us if anything happens to him, alright?"

The way it was phrased, so carefully vague, was also familiar. It was of someone who'd been given the roundabout by doctors in an attempt to save their feelings. "You have my word."

Gao nodded and turned on his heel, running out the door with Drum at his heels.

---

Pain.

Once more, Tasuku's world was filled with pain. But it wasn't the hard sharp influx that had assaulted him before. Now the young boy felt like he'd run the Buddypolice physical fitness exam 20 times in a row. His eyelids felt like they had weights on them and it was a chore to even think about opening them, but his concern over the situation won out, and he forced his eyes to respond.

Bright light assaulted the boy's eyes, the familiar fluorescent lighting of the Buddypolice's hospital wing greeting him with indifference. More than once had the young Buddy Cop been forced to spend a few days within these sterile walls, and he found his current visit no more pleasant than before. The steady beeping of the EKG machine was an unpleasantly familiar acquaintance that served as droning background noise for his thoughts.

His encounter with the girl replayed itself in his head, and he grimaced at the first conclusion his mind gave him. She got away… we lost…

"Ah, Tasuku. You're awake," a voice called.

Tasuku looked to the speaker; Dr. Nagisa Hamasaki, an experienced doctor often stationed in the Buddypolice's main hospital. This wasn't the first time the middle aged woman had seen Tasuku in bad shape, and it wouldn't be the last. Her indifferent tone was a stark contrast from Takihara's or Stella's, but it served her well, letting her keep an analytical and pragmatic mind about any situation.

"Dr. Hamasaki," Tasuku replied, voice hoarse from dehydration. "I thought you'd been transferred…" A cough erupted from his throat, distracting his speech, but the good doctor was already by his side, a cup of water in hand.

"The last of the six that were hurt from Yamigedo's assault just got discharged today. I'm back where I belong, making sure half-cocked officers don't end up shredded into a million pieces." She turned her head, and Tasuku saw a curtain drawn to separate another patient's bed. "And if Jack's current condition is anything to go on, that would've been the least of your worries."

She pulled back the curtain separating the two, and Tasuku's heart sank. Jackknife Dragon lay prone on the bed, several wires and cords attached to his body to monitor his vitals. His Buddy's scales were nearly charred black, but were otherwise intact; a testament to his durability having taken the final attack for him.

"Jack…"

"It looks worse than it is," Dr. Hamasaki cut in. "His Neodragon augmentation saved his physical body, but it drained his energy reserves considerably. It will be a while before he regains consciousness. Meanwhile," she crossed back to him, picking up his chart. "You've suffered several lacerations as well as a few cracked ribs and a near rupture of your stomach." She turned her gaze, a mixture of worry and sternness filling her hazel eyes. "Just what were you doing out there?"

"A girl… Morganna said her name was Mui…" his head throbbed as he tried to remember their brief conversation. "Wait… where is Morganna? And Gao!?"

He tried to sit himself up, but found the doctor's hand on his chest, gently pushing him back. The battered Buddy Cop didn't have the strength to protest and sank back down into the bed.

"Gao's fine. And according to his report, that girl you mentioned took off after he arrived to help you. Regrettably, Morganna was captured, a matter in which Gao has taken upon himself to rectify."

"By himself? No…" Tasuku whined, the sound dying in his throat. "He'll get himself killed, he…"

"Has his Buddy with him," Dr. Hamasaki finished. "He'll be fine. What he doesn't need is you trying to be part of the battle when you're still beaten up."

"That girl has the power to make her cards real," Tasuku weakly protested. "He won't know what to look out for. I can't just lay here and do nothing!"

"Gao's been briefed on the situation, and he's already aware of the risks involved," she replied. "Still, I know better than to ask you to sit and twiddle your thumbs. That's why I'm getting a video phone, it'll get the message across just fine." She glanced sternly before Tasuku could respond. "But only if you wait for the last of your test results to come back. A messaged garbled because you have a concussion won't help anyone."

"Right," Tasuku said, resting his head full on his pillow. "Thank you…"

His soft snoring filled the room's EKG beeps soon after.

Out like a light, thought Nagisa. He may be stubborn, but he's still just a kid. The reassurance seemed to be enough to set his mind at ease, at least. Her thoughts turned to Gao. While she couldn't display worry in front of a patient, she couldn't help for concern to fill her mind. Be safe out there…

---

The flight to Sengoku had been surprisingly calm, in spite of the circumstances. The Cho-Hakone mountains were quiet, the turmoil in the city yet to truly reach it. Despite their earlier enthusiasm in reaching the school, the pair fell into a stiff silence, letting the air currents fill their ears.

"It almost doesn't feel real…" Gao murmured to himself.

His tone didn't escape Drum. "Kid?"

"It's nothing," Gao shook his head, and put on a smile to reassure his buddy. 

"I know you well enough to call you out on that. It's about Tasuku isn't it?" Drum waited for Gao to say anything, but after it was apparent he wasn't going to, Drum continued. "From what I saw, Jack got hit much harder from that blast. Probably moved in front of it before it connected. You humans bruise too easily." He offered Gao a cocky smile, and his Buddy visibly relaxed. "You worry too much. By the time we get back, Tasuku'll be back in action and ticked that he didn't get to come with us to play hero!"

"You're right," he said at last. "We'll work on finding that girl while Tasuku recovers. He's got the entire Buddypolice to keep him safe."

Drum couldn't tell if that was a statement of fact or Gao reassuring himself, but he nodded in agreement and left his Buddy to his thoughts.

Don't worry, kid. Any dragon worth his fire would do the same. Even me, if I have to…

The last stretch of the flight passed by in relative quiet, and before long, the duo found themselves approaching Sengoku Academy. Remembering their first encounter, accidentally invading the school's airspace and subsequently being shot down, Gao and Drum descended as soon as they saw an entry gate, manned by two imposing, twin bodyguards.

"Stop right there," the guards said as one.

"Whoa, nice timing," said Drum. "How long do you think it took them to get that down?"

"Told you someone would be impressed," the one on the left said under his breath. "Your Buddy may have an eye for talent, but you both must have no idea where you are. Sengoku ain't for little pipsqueaks like you."

"'Pipsqueaks'?!" shouted Drum, ready to chew them out before Gao stepped in front of him.

"Easy now, we know where we are. We came here to see Shosetsu and ask him something important."

"Who do you think you are, wise guy?" growled the guard on the right. "You think you can just walk right up here and speak to one of the Four Demon Generals?"

"Hey, it's cool. He knows me, we helped him out a while back."

"If I had Buddy Rare card for every time I heard that," the left one scoffed. "Sorry, kid. If you wanna go through this gate, you'll have to do it the Sengoku way." Both guards took out a deck case and said as one. "With a Buddyfight!"

"Oh, great. This again," grumbled Drum. "I almost forgot, you gotta fight your way through here to get what you want."

"Lil' dragon's got the idea," the guard on the right said, much to Drum's irritation. "Now pick up your decks and put up your dukes or-"

"I would advise against fighting him," a voice above called out. The group looked up, seeing a young man in yellow robes standing on the roof. "He's more than proven his skill to be allowed access into our prestigious school."

"Raremaro!" Gao and Drum exclaimed together.

"Welcome back to Sengoku, Mr. Mikado," he replied as he leapt down. "What brings you out to this neck of the woods?"

"We need to ask Shosetsu something," Gao explained. "We ran into some trouble, and he might know something that can help us."

"Shosetsu, huh?" Raremaro opened his fan, hiding his expression as he thought. "Unfortunately, he's out on business. Some dealings in Legend World required his attention, but he should be back in a little while."

"What kind of dealings?" asked Gao.

"I'm afraid I'm not at liberty to say. Shosetsu made me promise, but if you like, you can wait with us until he comes back." After a short moment, Gao nodded, and Raremaro led him and his Buddy into the school. "You actually came at a good time. One of our more promising Buddyfighters is getting ready for a match against Kanehebi."

"Promising Buddyfighter?" asked Gao. "What do you mean by that?"

"Yeah, and why's he fighting Kanahebi?" added Drum.

"You remember how we settle disputes here at Sengoku, don't you Gao?" He waited for Gao's nod before continuing. "Kanahebi and the other fighter - Makoto - had a disagreement on who would escort Kemura back from the hospital, so they scheduled a Buddyfight for today."

"Wait, you mean he's fully recovered?" asked Gao, smiling wide. "That's great news!"

"Recovered enough to return to his duties," Raremaro replied, his voice carrying a good bit of reluctance. "At his insistence, of course. After hearing about Shosetsu's absence, he wanted to recover as soon as possible to help ease our workload."

"You may call yourselves Demon Generals, but you can be pretty helpful when you need to be," joked Gao. "So, I can guess why Kanahebi wants to help Kemura, but why is this Makoto guy interested in him?"

"Makoto befriended Kemura after an…" he paused for a moment, deciding his words. "Incident a while back, and probably wishes to repay him. Of course, Kanehebi wants to see his comrade safely back himself. Thus leading to the current conflict…" A small tremor caused Gao and Drum to stumble, but Raremaro continued as if nothing had happened. "That should be them now. Let's hurry before we miss it."

"That's as good an excuse as any to watch a fight," Drum snarked.

"Alright, let's see what this guy can do!"

The trio hurried, passing by the large field that Gao and his friends had fought in months prior.

"They're not using the outside field?" asked Gao.

"No," replied Raremaro, "This is a traditional settlement between two students. As such, we're headed to the training grounds."

Said grounds were located in a medium sized structure near the edge of the academy. The insides reminded Gao of the dojo his house had, though the switch from cement to wooden paneling was still jarring. Even more jarring was the sound of a Buddyfight having reached its conclusion.

"Aww, we missed it!" Gao groaned.

"No, this wasn't their match," Raremaro pointed to the two flags, still on the field. One was Danger, the other Ancient. "We caught the end of theirs."

"Alright, already!" The Danger World fighter yelled loud enough to be heard on the second floor. "I'll clean the darn toilets for two weeks! Happy?"

The other one replied, but his voice didn't carry up to the trio's ears. Still, he gave a nod in answer, and helped his foe up, leading him out of the ring.

"Oh, wow, these guys seem a lot more chill than before," said Gao.

"We decided to implement a few of your lessons into our curriculum," replied Raremaro. "Might still makes right here, but we've learned the value of respecting your opponent's strength, both on and off the field. This building is a representation of that; those with Buddies can schedule a time to settle their disputes here. The atmosphere has helped morale by a fair margin."

Two figures walked to the ring. One wore a purple gi, the matching head-cover giving away his identity. Kanahebi took his place on the stage, his relaxed demeanor betrayed by the intense look in his eyes. The other one - Makoto, Gao assumed - wore much more reserved clothing; a khaki jacket covering an olive green shirt, with matching cargo pants. His bangs were pulled back with a well-worn headband, the faded orange color still making a significant contrast with the rest of his outfit.

"You ready for this, junior?" Kanahebi taunted, his eyes briefly moving to the stands. "Not too late to back off and save yourself some embarrassment."

"You kidding? After all the time I spent hyping myself up?" Makoto didn't seem to notice the ninja's eyes, and he took his spot easily. "No way am I quitting now."

"Well, if you're that eager," Kanahebi smirked, raising his core gadget as it turned into a green dagger. "Capture! Constrict and swallow 'em whole! Luminize! Cobra Crow Demonic Nightmare!"

"Unseen blade, reveal your hidden secrets and vanquish my foes," Makoto called, his gadget turning into a white fox mask which strapped onto his left shoulder. "Luminize, Shadow of Inheritance!"

"Buddy… FIGHT!" Both declared. "Time to Raise the Flag!"

"I fight for Katana World!" declared Makoto, his flag hanging behind him.

"Likewise," Kanahebi said simply.

"They're both using Katana World?" asked Gao.

"Yes, indeed," answered Raremaro. "This will be a match between two of the most prolific Katana players here at Sengoku."

"Sounds like we're in for some real Katana drama," quipped Drum, intentionally pronouncing 'katana' to fit his rhyme.

"It's my turn," Makoto called out. "Charge and Draw! I call Blade Beast of Phantasm, Onimaru Kunitsuna." The Blade Beast, a bulky anthropomorphic tiger, stood tall in front of his caller, his large stature blocking Makoto from Kanehebi's sight.

"Blade Beast?" murmured Gao. "That's a new look."

"Yes, they're a specialty of his family." Raremaro said. "Now who will prevail between the swordsman and ninja?"

"Starting out with Onimaru, huh?" Kanahebi jabbed. "Am I so scary that you need a heavy defender on the first turn?"

"I know better than to underestimate you," Makoto offered. "Onimaru, attack!"

Kanahebi's smile spoke volumes, and he raised a card from his hand just as Onimaru prepared to jump. "Too bad, kid! I Cast! Ninja Arts Half-Kill! The attack is negated, and your Onimaru losses all of its Soul cards!"

The large tiger grunted as his advance was halted, twin balls of light representing his soul flying out of his body.

"Woah, Kanahebi just took out that kid's defense like it was nothing!" said Drum.

Makoto let out a frustrated sigh. "Of course you would have that card in your opening hand. I end my turn. Onimaru destroys himself if he's Resting at the end of the turn…"

His monster let out a defeated growl as it shattered into pixels.

"Not a bad move, but you should know better than to give a ninja like me a big target. My turn! Draw, Charge and Draw! Then I cast Banquet for the Unrighteous to check the top three cards of my deck, and add a monster from among them." Kanehebi's gaze fell to the card on the left, and he swiped it up, leaving the other two to shatter. "Perfect! I pay one life and call Unyielding Ninja Makabe to the Center!"

This time, a kunoichi leapt up into the fray. Her arms were protected by large gauntlets, though the equipment did nothing to hamper the well-muscled ninja's movements.

"You really are just full of surprises," Makoto sighed. "Pulling out the big guns? It's not like you to go for a head-on conflict."

"I can be flexible when I need to be, but if you want something old school, I'll pay one gauge and life to equip Poison Bow, Dokuyami!" He held one of his cards up, which turned into a small crossbow equipped to his left wrist. "Dokuyami's skill lets me add a Ninja Arts Set card from my deck when I first equip it. What's more, this card and any of my Ninja Arts Set cards can't be destroyed by your card effects!"

"Woah, that's a pretty wicked item!" Gao exclaimed.

"Since when was this guy packing that amount of heat!?" wondered Drum.

"Kanahebi's been refining his own ninja style all this time," answered Raremaro. "Now watch as he puts it into action."

"Now, I Buddy Call Evening Sky Ninja, Yamigarasu to the right!" The ninja's Buddy soared high from his card, wearing dark purple robes instead of the usual tan. His feathers had a glossy sheen to them, emphasizing the shimmering material of his clothes. "Size and Critical at one, with 4000 power and 2000 defense!"

"Wow, no way!" Gao cried in excitement. "Even his Buddy got an upgrade!"

The avian swooped down, flexed his talons and snatched at Kanahebi's hand cards. Like his Buddy, his eyes traveled to their small audience. Yamigarasu smirked and let out a battle cry as he threw down the card he had grabbed, right in front of Kanehebi.

"My Buddy lets me play a Ninja Arts set spell without paying its cost! So I'll cast the card I added from Dokuyami! Dark Ninja Technique, Forbidden Poison Path!" He slammed his hand down just as the card made contact with the ground, the entire floor below them turning a sickly purple. The floor boards creaked as the poison rotted them, several splintering off and creating a path down the middle between the two fighters. "You remember my Great Dojo Bridge? Well this is its upgrade! Not only are you locked into only attacking the center, but the first time you take damage, you'll get hit with an extra point, while I recover one. I even get to put the top card of my deck into my gauge!"

"You've gotta be kidding me!" Drum shouted. "That kinda card's gotta be illegal!"

"Kanahebi has taken up his clan's mantle of trickery, and brought it to its logical conclusion," Raremaro bragged. "Now it is up to Makoto to confront this new obstacle."

"Dokuyami's last effect! By resting it, I can hit you with one damage, while I gain a life and an extra draw!" Kanehebi clenched his palm, his crossbow firing a dart straight through Makoto, causing the boy to stagger. "Don't forget about my Dark Ninja technique!"

Makoto tried to regain his footing, but the decaying floor caused him to stumble. He watched his life drop down to 8 from the double assault, and grimaced as he noticed Kanehebi grinning darkly.

"Guess what, kid? I still got my attack phase left. Go Makabe!"

Despite her bulk, the ninja leapt over to Makoto's side in the blink of an eye, a swift jab to the gut sending the boy to his knees. The pain to his stomach was short lived, thankfully, the ninja's one Critical making for a quick strike.

"Alright Yamigarasu, you're up!"

His Buddy revealed a silver rifle, the avian firing a sharp blast that brought Makoto's life down another point and nearly knocked the boy on his back.

"Cheap jerk," he groaned. "Those potshots of yours really hurt…"

"I think you've suffered enough," Kanahebi said as he watched Makoto slowly stand up. "I'll end my turn. Though, by the looks of things, you'll pass out before even making your move!"

"Let's see how long you can keep that attitude up. Draw. Charge and Draw! I set Voice of the Blade! Its skill'll let me call any Blade Beast for one less gauge. It also lets me drop my Water Slash Sword, Murasame from my hand, to drop the top three cards of my deck and add up to two Japanese Blade cards there to my hand."

"So this is what you swordsman call 'being one with your blade'?" Kanehebi snarked as he watched Makoto cycle through his cards.

"I Call Godspeed Sword Draw, Mikazuchi Munechika to the right!"

A large wolf man materialized from the card, arms held forward and holding a sheathed sword in front of him.

"Mikazuchi Munechika?" Kanahebi murmured. "I thought he was your cousin's Buddy."

"All swords have different sides," Makoto explained. "This one is a reflection of that monster, and I've trained enough to harness that power. Next I call Blade Beast of Exorcism, Juzumaru Tsunetsugu to the left! His skill will add a card to my gauge so long as I control another Blade Beast." A ball of light flew out from Makoto's Core Gadget, only to be immediately drawn back into the next card in his hand. "Now I pay that gauge and equip Five Heavenly Sword, Dojigiri! With a Japanese Blade in the Drop Zone it gains 1 critical and can Penetrate!"

"You're looking like a proper swordsman there, kid," laughed Kanehebi.

"This blade isn't just for show," called Makoto. "Let me show you! I'll attack Makabe myself!" 

"Guess again. Cast, Ninja Arts Snake Gaze, resting Juzumaru!"

The named cat was completely blindsided, the piercing glare Kanahebi gave him sending shivers down his spine, forcing him to take a knee.

"I think you got the sun in your eyes!" Makoto quipped. "My cat isn't the one attacking you!"

"But it is the one in front of Yamigarasu," he chuckled. "See, when the monster in front of him rests, my Buddy'll hit you for another point of damage!"

"This is the price you pay for underestimating us!" Yamigarasu shouted as he took aim. Makoto's charge was halted by the shot, the fighter forced to step back to keep his balance, while his life ticked down again.

"Don't forget, since you took damage from my card effect, that means my Poison Path will get in on the action!"

The wood beneath Makoto's feet splintered harshly, and he kicked off to keep from being trapped in the floor boards.

"Damage or no, my attack still continues!" yelled Makoto, readying his blade for a downwards slash.

"Does it though?" chuckled Kanahebi. "Makabe's skill increases her power and defense by 3000 whenever I cast a Ninja Arts spell!"

The burly ninja brought her gauntlets together, solidifying them into one large shield that made the oncoming blade bounce off it with ease. Makoto winced as he jumped back, avoiding the spots where Kanahebi's spell broke the floor as he made his way back to his spot.

"6000 defense," Makoto murmured to himself. "There's no way I can break through that with what I have. I…end my turn."

"Don't feel so down," Kanehebi taunted in mock condolence. "Even if you had something with more power, Makabe's skill would let her withstand one removal. Now, it's my turn, Draw! Charge and Draw! Second verse same as the first. I rest Dokuyami!" He aimed his crossbow and shot off another arrow with little fanfare. "Which will activate my Poison Path."

Makoto stumbled, nearly growling as he watched his opponent's life climb up even higher.

"Let's bring this to an end. I pay one gauge and call Clean-Up Ninja, Kunoichi Saori to the left!" A red-haired kunoichi materialized, body covered in sturdy looking armor and holding chains made of equally strong material. "Time to battle, kid!"

"Mikazuchi moves!" The large wolf-man leapt up in front of Makoto, holding his sheathed sword as if it were a shield.

"One Soulguard won't do you much good! Saori attacks!"

Just as the ninja leapt from her spot, shadowy tendrils materialized under her, binding her and her chains to the ground. "Pay one gauge and Cast! Art of Shadow Stitching! I nullify your attack and your monster can't stand for the rest of the turn!"

"Pretty sneaky for a swordsman. Take him out, Yamigarasu!"

The avian aimed his gun and fired, his shot going past Mikazuchi's guard and through his stomach.

"He revives with Soulguard. Plus, so long as I hold a weapon, I get one gauge and one life back!"

"Persistent. Makabe!"

"Cast! Sword Skill Zanteisettsu! My Blade Beast remains on the field, and he gets Counterattack!"

Mikazuchi blocked the oncoming fist with the flat of his blade, the spell keeping his stance braced. Kanahebi's eyes widened as he saw the wolf prepare for his literal counterattack, and threw another card up.

"Cast! Hades Flame Style, Art of Fire Manipulation! I Stand Yamigarasu, and because I used a Ninja Arts card, Makabe's removal immunity comes back!" Makabe quickly recovered, backflipping and avoiding Munechika's counter slash. "And since I cast a Ninja Arts card, now Saori gets to give me a gauge and destroy Dojigiri!"

Even bound by numerous shadows, the kunoichi managed to fling one of her chains at Makoto's sword, breaking it into a shower of pixels.

"So, what was that about you needing a weapon to use that wolf's skill?" Makoto's grimace was all the answer he needed. "Now fire again, Yamigarasu!"

Another shot lanced out, and pierced Mikizuchi, the large wolf collapsing back with a whimper before fading into light.

"Mikazuchi…" Makoto's fist clenched in frustration. "I'm sorry."

"I'll admit, kid, you're giving me a real heck of a time. But this'll be your last turn, so make it count."

"Right…Draw. Charge and Draw. At the start of my main phase, by paying one life, Murasame comes back from my drop zone." He took the card, materializing the sword from it before slashing throughout the air, his sword dissipating and turning into three cards. "I then send it back to use Voice of the Blade's skill!" His arm swung back, adding two to his hand. "I Cast Demon Way, Akeshigure, dropping two cards from my deck to draw one, and since I have over 10 cards in my Drop Zone, I can draw again."

'He's setting up for something big…'

"Now I pay one gauge and Buddy Call! Blade Beast of Sixteenth Night, Crane Princess Ichimonji to the right!" The right area exploded in a flash of energy, Makoto's Buddy cutting through it with her sword. A white furred cat, clothed in samurai armor, landed softly on her spot. "Size 3, with power 7000, 4000 defense, and a critical of 1. So long as I have three or more Japanese Blades in my Drop Zone, her critical will increase by one, and she'll have Move in addition to her Double Attack."

"I'm over the Size Limit, so I'm out!" Juzumaru quipped before vanishing.

"So, this is the Buddy you were bragging about," said Kanahebi.

"He's been bragging about me, has he?" Ichimonji tittered. "Not that I mind. It shall be a treat to show my abilities on the battlefield."

"Ichimonji's Skill! I drop one Japanese Blade to add a gauge and draw one. What's more, the card I dropped was Purifying Slash, Juzumaru Tsunesugu! His skill puts him in Ichimonji's, giving her a 3000 point boost!" The transparent image of Juzuaru floated over Ichimonji, and offered her his blade. She took it, the blade becoming solid, and held both it and her own in both paws.

"Juzumaru?" Kanahebi called. "But that cat didn't have that sort of ability before!"

"That's because this is a reflection of that blade," explained Makoto as he fixed a glare at Kanahebi. "This is the direction I've taken my training. Until the day comes when I can prove myself to the clan, I'll use these reflections to fight! Then, I'll finally…"

"Don't lose focus, Makoto," both humans turned to Ichimonji, the cat giving her Buddy a quick look before facing forward. "Remember who you are fighting for, and what he would think if he saw how you're treating this fight." 

Whatever ire had been with the boy petered out, and he took a slow breath before speaking again. "He'd probably get upset at me getting worked up over old history…"

"Your goals have yet to crest over the horizon," Ichimonji continued. "This is but a stepping stone on your journey."

"Wise words," said Kanahebi. "I'm surprised you got such a mellow Buddy."

"This one has set his sights quite high; instead of going through the usual rites, he sought to curry favor with me right from the start. Quite honestly, that impropriety got me wondering how determined he was. It's no easy feat to defy tradition so, but here we are. Now, show him your strength!"

"Call, Phantasmal Pressure, Onimaru Kunitsuna!" Like Juzumaru before, this Onimaru was much like his original variant, crouching at his spot as if to pounce. "Because of Voice of the Blade, the gauge cost is 0, but he still gets 3 Soul cards from the top of my deck!" Three lights came from Makoto's Core Gadget, each one creating a veil of spectral energy over the large cat.

"Three cards this time…" 

"If I have two or more different Japanese Blades in my Drop Zone, his Size gets reduced. Then I call White Dew Blade Beast, Murasamemaru!"

All these monsters coming out as size 0s, and with supportive effects to boot, thought Kanahebi. He's tailored his deck to work around that Size 3 Buddy of his.

"Last I pay one life and gauge to Equip Five Heavenly Swords, Odenta!" Another sword materialized into his grasp, cloud shaped designs etched on the flat of the blade. "Now Murasamemaru, attack Makabe!"

"Big mistake, kid. I Cast!" Makabe's body lit up, her fist connecting with Murasamemaru's slash. "Katon, Blazing Armors! Makabe's defense increases by 5000, plus her own skills put her at 11000 for this battle! But more importantly, you'll suffer Poison Path's effects again! And with the life you paid, all I'll need is this one flame to snuff out yours!"

The audience above watched in fascination as Makabe repelled the attack and launched a fiery arrow at the boy. Makoto closed his eyes, holding Odenta to one of the floating card in his hand. As the flaming arrow grew closer, he pulled back his sword and yelled.

"Cast! Sword Skill, Arrow Cutting!" He slashed Odenta just as the flaming arrow neared him, extinguishing the fiery projectile. "Sorry to disappoint, but for the rest of this turn, the damage dealt to me will be reduced by one. Your combo is finished!"

"Who cares! Since I cast a Ninja Arts spell, Sasori will give me a gauge, an extra life and destroy your Buddy!"

Steel chains lashed out at Ichimonji, the cat yowling as they crushed her into bits before she reformed. "Even with Soulguard, that is an unpleasant feeling."

"Murasamemura will equip Exquisite Sword, Crane Princess from my Drop Zone, by paying one life!" His life ticked down again, and he held his free hand out, taking hold of a blade similar to what his Buddy had on her waist. Most surprisingly, Odenta remained intact.

"What gives?" shouted Kanahebi. "You can't have two items equipped!"

"Ahh, but he can," Ichimonji announced. "My namesake allows him to have one extra Japanese Blade equipped, so long as it is not a copy of itself. Such is the power I possess."

"Extra weapon or no, your monster's attack still fails!  Counterattack, Makabe!"

Before the Blade Bast could jump back, Makabe snatched his robes and vaulted him over her shoulders, slamming him to the ground where he quickly pixelated.

"Thanks for opening my center for me!" Makoto called, darting forward. "Now I can attack with my Crane Princess!"

"Too bad for you, Makabe's still got her skill saved up. The second attack is a dud too!"

As before, Makabe held up her gauntlets to create a large shield, making Makoto's sword bounce off it harmlessly. 

"But now that immunity is gone!" Makoto turned on his heel, jumping high into the air and leaving the ninja exposed. "Which means Onimaru will end her!"

The named boast roared, charging at Makabe with his own clawed gauntlet aimed at her. The kunoichi grunted as her form was cut in two, the steadfast wall finally crumbling.

"Now, Ichimonji! Attack the fighter!" As Onimaru took leapt back to his spot, Ichimonji kicked off from her's, vanishing into thin air. She reappeared in front of Kanahebi, and delivered a quick slash to his front, making the ninja stumble. "Double attack!"

This time, she appeared behind him, and gave a simple kick that forced Kanahebi to kneel to avoid falling on his face. By the time Kanahebi looked back, Ichimonji was already back where she started, as if she had never left.

"That cat would make a good ninja…" Kanahebi muttered.

"Odenta!" Makoto's cry made him flinch, and he groaned as he was pushed back down, shaking his head as he noted his life depleting.

"I'm not ashamed to admit it, you're putting one heck of a fight," Kanahebi chuckled as he righted himself. "But your move's over now. 

"I agree, it is over," he smirked as he held out the last card in his hand. "For you! Final Phase! Cast Blade Beast Formation, Shape of the Elite! My furry friends all stand back up, and I get another attack phase!"

"You're kidding!" grunted Kanahebi. "Of all the cards he had left, it just had to be that one!"

"Odenta!" Once more, Makoto dashed forward, slashing through the ninja before jumping back and turning to his Buddy. "Now end it, Ichimonji!"

"With pleasure!" she called back, holding her personal sword up high. "You have my thanks for furthering my Buddy's dream!" she declared as she slashed through him.

Kanahebi cried out and sank to his knees as he watched his Life drop to 0.

Game Over

Winner: Makoto

"That was incredible," said Gao. "Where did you find this guy?"

"We didn't," Raremaro said with a slight chuckle. "His family caught wind of our school from an alumni and sent him here to hone his skills. Needless to say, we've done so in spades." He held his fan up as he bragged, peering over it slyly. "You're welcome to fight him, if you wish, Mr. Mikado. I'm sure it would be quite exhilarating to watch you match wits with his Blade Beasts."

"Normally, I'd never turn down a chance to Buddyfight, but I gotta this time. We really need to see Shosetsu, and we're already late enough as it is… unless you know anything about a monster named Morganna."

"Shosetsu mentioned that name a while back, but I haven't heard him say anything about it recently. Is what you're looking for really so desperate?"

"It is!" affirmed Gao. "Some red haired girl came and kidnapped Morganna and hurt Tasuku. We need someone who knows about her."

Raremaro studied Gao's face, as if looking for any signs of falsehood in the boy's eyes, then sighed. "What can I say to such earnest eyes? He's at King Arthur's castle in Legend World, so you'll need a monster from there to assist you. I'm afraid I cannot accompany you."

"That's alright, we've already got a ride!" bragged Drum.

"We do?" asked Gao. "I mean, I guess we could ask Count Dawn, but…"  

"Oh, ye of little faith," chastised Drum. "I haven't show you this little trick yet, have I?" He smirked proudly and ran ahead of the two.

Both humans looked on curiously as Drum began to glow. His body grew to its full form, but instead of any of his usual armor, brilliant gold armor took its place. Pauldrons in the shape of dragon heads adorned his shoulders and a marvelous silver cape materialized behind him. 

"Drum," Gao said, almost too awestruck for words. "This is incredible."

"I know! Pack your bags kid," Drum said haughtily. "We're going to Legend World!" He closed his eyes and concentrated, his face quickly going from surprise, to frustration then resignation. "Or, maybe not. I forgot, I still have no idea where the castle is…"

"That's intentional," answered Raremaro. "The castle has a field in place to stop random teleportations, or so he told me. Until you've become attuned to it, you'll need this." He pulled a small badge from his robes, with Legend World's crest printed on it. "Shosetsu told me only to use it in emergencies, and this sounds like it'd fit."

"Alright now we're in business!" cheered Drum as he took the badge and pointed it into the open air. A beam of light shot out and slowly expanded, becoming a doorway large enough for Drum. "After you, kid." 

"Alright, let's do this thing," said Gao, the boy smiling in excitement. He turned back to Raremaro before stepping in. "Take care, Raremaro. Tell those two guys I enjoyed their fight, and say hi to Kemura for me."

"I'll be sure to pass your message along," he replied, and with a few paces, the duo went through the portal, which closed behind them with little fanfare. Raremaro turned back down the corridor, his mind turning over the information he was given. "A red-haired girl… who took down Tasuku…" he stopped and looked down at the fighting field where Makoto was making his way back up the stairs. It has to be a coincidence, it's been almost a year… still… He shook his head and walked to the staircase leading to the arena, catching the two Katana fighters coming up to greet him.

"Hey there, Raremaro. Here to see us off?" Makoto said. "I thought I heard someone else."

"We had a visitor drop by, an old acquaintance," Raremaro answered. "But he had pressing matters to attend to and had to cut his visit short. As do you, if what I saw holds true."

"Yeah, don't be slackin' off just cause you beat me," Kanahebi called. "You wait too long and you'll find yourself high and dry."

"Right, right," Makoto said dismissively, already heading out. "I'll be back with Kemura in tow!"

"So, what did Gao want?" Kanahebi ask once the younger student was out of earshot.

"I figured you would se him. Mr. Mikado wanted to see Shosetsu about an important matter."

"Think it's got something to do with how the news channels are acting up?"

"Hard to say. All he mentioned was that it had to do with a girl with red hair."

That got a gasp from Kanahebi. "You're not saying she's-?"

"I'm not saying anything," Raremaro said firmly. "Besides, whatever caused that incident had a supernatural power at its disposal."

"Supernatural?" the nina muttered in disgust. "Great, that just reeks of something foul."

"Agreed. Be prepared to move out just in case. We'll have to call in a favor…"

---

Muichi's footsteps echoed throughout the spacious hallways. Despite the place being near abandoned, it had bafflingly large rooms and hallways. Traveling though them always made Muichi feel somewhat claustrophobic, and the sparse lighting didn't help either. The torches were old and antiquated, kept alive only by magic conjured however many years ago. It only added to how empty the halls were, casting shadows that looked like they could come alive at any moment. 

It also served to eliminate hiding spots from potential intruders, something the new Lord of the manor was quit proud of. To her immense displeasure, this also meant she had nowhere to go when she saw the red armored Horseman of the Apocalypse walking down the hallway. 

"What is it, Voremos?" she asked gruffly, preempting any attempt at cordiality.

"Master Muichi," he replied, with barely hidden contempt for the moniker. "Our Lord wishes to see you in the main antechamber to discuss the lack of Mikado in our company."

Muichi frowned pronouncedly. Despite lacking malleable features, she could sense how pleased the skeleton was at the situation. The two had never truly gotten along, not since she had been put in charge of their small troupe. 

"Right," she muttered, and brushed past the Apocalypse Knight, keeping her eyes closed so she wouldn't have to look at the smug grin she knew the skeleton would be wearing…if he had a face to wear it. It wasn't the first time she'd stormed past him like that, and she made sure to memorize the layout of the hallways so her strut wouldn't be interrupted. 

To her credit, she'd be hard pressed to see anything in the dim light. Even with her eyes open, it was mostly through muscle memory that she managed to arrive at the main antechamber - a large room whose only notable features where the spacious pedestal in the middle and the large throne seated comfortably in the back. A large sword was embedded in the pedestal, its translucent surface showing straight through it, keeping the throne in view. 

Muichi walked up to the pedestal, and lowered to one knee. "You called for me?" she asked.

"Young Muichi…" a voice echoed. She knew it came from the sword, and stared at the diamond-shaped jewel embedded on the hilt. "Voremos tells me you've failed to apprehend Mikado."

"I…" she withheld her tongue, pushing down her displeasure at the knight. "There were some complications. I was… distracted."

"By Tasuku," the voice replied.

"Yes…" she answered after a long moment.

"I saw your fight. I will commend you in having improved considerably, but you'd do best to remember there are bigger objectives.   Still, perhaps something can be made of this…"

"My Lord?"

"This sword has interacted with that dragon once before. I am sure I can…" the voice paused, and an eerie chuckle arose from everywhere, almost echoing in Muichi's ears. "My, oh my! It seems our work is being done for us. That dragon is headed to Legend World!"

"Legend World?" Muichi parroted, too stunned from the laughter to say much else.

"Indeed, young Muichi. Right to King Arthur's doorstep. Notify Gratos of this development… and bring Morganna in to see me." Muichi was half certain she was developing a talent for reading the emotions off of inanimate objects. She could easily sense the elated smile her master wore. "We need to have a little chat about our plan's… adaptation…" 

---

A bright flash of light signaled Gao and Drum's arrival in Legend World, having warped into a what Drum realized was a small courtyard perched atop a mountainside. He looked around the small area, surprised to see it nearly as busy as Magic World's shopping Pavilion. The comparison was heightened when he saw what appeared to be residential houses just past the main courtyard, and turned his sights higher.

King Arthur's Castle proper loomed high atop the mountain, upon which the veritable city was carved into. A large flight of stairs aimed to the top at the end of the residential area.

"And I thought it looked amazing from a distance," Drum murmured to himself.

Gao was likewise looking around, taking in the sights with eyes lit up in childlike wonder.

"This is too cool!" he exclaimed. "Why didn't you tell me you had it so good with Legend World? You always make it sound like they barely know you!"

"They don't! This is my first time here, too, kid," he laughed. "Plus we did get pretty swamped with the whole 'Yamigedo trying to eat the world' business."

"Well, jeeze, if this is what you get up to when we take a break in training, I guess I should tail you whenever you leave to go to the bathroom, huh?"

"Very funny," droned Drum. "C'mon, it looks like it'll be a good walk."

The pair began walking through the veritable city, taking in the architecture. The towering buildings were made of a material that practically glowed in the sunlight. Various knights, knaves, blacksmiths and apprentices traveled around them, each looking busy.

So busy were they in observing the city that they hadn't noticed a familiar face walk up behind them.

"Drum-kins!?" An unmistakable voice asked, drawing the two's attention.

Drum froze, almost stumbling as he went to turn around.

"Axia?!" Drum cried, flabbergasted. "Is that you?"

His senses hadn't deceived him. The dragowizard was donned in his Legend World robes, the golden fabric complimenting his scales rather well to Drum's eye. 

"Drum-kins, Gao-wow!" Axia cried, and quickly leapt right at the red dragon. 

Gao braced himself, ready to watch Drum struggle against Axia's attempts to hug him as he had before. So it came as a great surprise when Drum raised his arms as if to welcome the action. Drum caught Axia, using the momentum to twirl on his heel, and brought the teal dragon close, hugging him just as tight as Axia would.

"Didn't see that coming," he commented.

Drum was surprised at how much he'd missed the physical contact. He squeezed Axia tight, and couldn't help his grin when he heard the teal dragon sigh in happiness. After a few more moments, Drum pulled himself to arm's length, but kept a grip on Axia's shoulders.

"It's great to see you again," he said, grinning stupidly. "You been training here all this time?"

"Only recently. I took up an apprenticeship under Merlin," Axia answered gleefully. "He offered to teach me more about Legend World and its magics to help me train. He said it was a small way to pay me back for all the help we gave."

"So you're here to see old man Merlin, huh?" Drum asked. "We were doin' the same thing. Gotta admit, the dude knows how to live in style."

"It's quite stunning, isn't it?" Axia commented. "We never got to see this place up close like this before. I was surprised myself seeing this little pavilion alongside the castle."

"Drum said it was his first time here, not that I would know or anything," Gao said, pouting lightly, "since he always skips the middle part of the story about your trip."

Drum stumbled, looking slightly flustered. "Oh, right, well… see the thing is…" 

"Drum Bunker Dragon," Axia said in a reprimanding tone. "Are you saying you haven't told him of our adventure together?"

"I told him…some of it!" Drum countered, though his tone was playful and he wore as bashful smile in spite of being accused. "I was planning on telling it fully once we got home, but we were swamped in Buddypolice work by then!"

Axia walked up to the bigger dragon, and poked his nose with a claw. "Well, we'll just have to make up for lost time, now won't we?" He turned to Gao, all smiles once again. "You're in for a real treat, Gao-wow. It was quite the adventure we had!"

"It'll kill some time." Drum sighed and looked back up to the large flight of stairs leading to the castle. "Didn't think this'd double as leg day…"

True to his word, Axia began to regale his and Drum's journey through Legend World - with much more flourish on events than Drum's abridged version ever managed - leaving Gao to follow in a daze. He'd joked that the two would get close if given the chance, but he never knew exactly how close they'd become. Drum was acting like an entirely different dragon, taking any of Axia's playful jabs easily and reciprocating without any heat in his voice. The Drum he knew would get all huffy at even a little bit of prodding, which was why it was so fun to tease him.

Seeing him relaxed like this was… different.

Just what happened on that trip?

---

Custom Cards

Phantasmal Pressure, Onimaru Kunitsuna

• Katana World|Blade Beast/Japanese Blade
• S1/6000/1/1000
• [Call Cost] [Put the top three cards of your deck into its soul & Pay 1 gauge]
  If you have two or more different «Japanese Blade» in your drop zone, this card's size on the field is reduced by 1.
  If this card has one or less cards in its soul, it gets power+6000, and critical+2.
  At end of turn, if this card is [Rest], destroy it.
  [Soulguard] [Move]

Purifying Slash, Juzumaru Tsunetsugu

• Katana World|Blade Beast/Japanese Blade
• S0/2000/1/1000
• When this card is dropped from your hand, you may put it into the soul of a «Blade Beast» on your field.
  If this card is in the soul of a «Japanese Blade», it gets [Soulguard], then, if there are two or more different «Japanese Blade» in your drop zone, it gets power+3000 and critical+1, and if there are five or more, its attacks cannot be nullified if it is attacking alone!

Sword Skill, Arrow Cutting

• Katana World|Japanese Blade/Defense
• Spell
• You may only cast this card if you have a «Japanese Blade» in your drop zone.
  [Counter] For this turn, damage dealt to you by card effects are reduced by 1. Then, if you have two or more «Japanese Blade» on your field, put the top card of your deck into your gauge, and draw a card! You may only cast "Sword Skill, Arrow Cutting" once per turn.

Evening Sky Ninja, Yamigarasu

• Katana World|Ninja
• S1/4000/1/2000
• [Call Cost] [Pay 1 gauge & Put a «Ninja» from your drop zone into its soul]
  When this card enters the field, you may cast a «Ninja Arts» with [Set] from your hand without paying its [Cast Cost].
  If you have a «Ninja» on your center, «Ninja» on your left and right cannot be destroyed by your opponent's card effects.
  When your opponent's monster in front of this card becomes [Rest], deal 1 damage to your opponent.
  [Move] [Soulguard]

Unyielding Ninja, Makabe

• Katana World|Ninja
• S1/3000/1/3000
• [Call Cost] [Pay 1 life]
  When you cast a «Ninja Arts», for this turn, this card gets power+3000 and defence+3000, then, for this turn, the next time this card would leave the field, it remains on the field. This ability only activates once per turn.
  [Counterattack]

Dark Ninja Technique, Forbidden Poison Path

• Katana World|Ninja Arts
• Spell
• [Set]
  [Cast Cost] [Pay 2 gauge]
  Monsters on the left and right cannot be attacked by both players or their monsters.
  When your opponent takes damage by the effect of your «Ninja», deal 1 damage to your opponent, and if you do, put the top card of your deck into your gauge, and you gain 1 life. This ability only activates once per turn.
  When this card leaves the field, put up to two «Ninja» from your drop zone into your hand.
  You may only [Set] one "Dark Ninja Technique, Forbidden Poison Path" on your field.

Poison Bow, Dokuyami

• Katana World|Ninja/Water/Weapon
• Item|0/0

[Equip Cost] [Pay 1 gauge & Pay 1 life]

When this card is equipped, put up to one «Ninja Arts» with [Set] from your deck into your hand, and shuffle your deck.

This card and «Ninja Arts» [Set] on your field cannot be destroyed by your opponent's card effects.

"Poisoned Shot" [Act] You may [Rest] this card. If you do, deal 1 damage to your opponent, and you gain 1 life. Then, if you have three or more other «Ninja» or «Ninja Arts» on your field, draw a card. You may only use "Poisoned Shot" once per turn.