A Worldwide phenomenon populates this world of ours.
A card game known as Vanguard.
Played by millions of people, whether professionally or just for fun, it brings joy to them all.
But what most don't know, it that Vanguard itself has secrets. Secrets most wouldn't even dream off in their wildest imaginations.
Now, one individual is about to experience those possibilities first hand.
So… Stand Up, Vanguard!
A bell rang as a signal.
"Ok class," the teacher tapped the blackboard, "please review chapters 19 and 20, only a few more weeks until summer breaks starts, and I expect all of you to pass the final exams."
A chorus of yes resounded through the classroom, as students began to exit for the day.
"Hey Chris," a young man wearing the school uniform said, it consisted of a white buttoned up shirt, a black blazer and red tie, dark pants, with brown dress shoes, the boy himself was 16 years of age, he had brown shaggy hair and the eye color to match, the impression he gave off was one of high nobility or from a well off family, "you wanna hang out today?"
The young man named Chris stirred, he was resting his head on his desk when the question was asked, so he was sitting up straight now as to give a clear answer.
"Sorry, no can do," said Chris, now sitting up fully in his chair. Thanks to this, his features of black as midnight hair that fell around his head in bangs, and his red eyes shining like rubies were now visible, "my dad needs me at the shop today."
"Well, alright, later then."
"Yeah, later Alex."
Chris finished his statement to his friend named Alex, made sure his bag was packed, and stood up to leave for the day, when…
THUMP
Chris fell on the ground from a sudden impact, his butt hitting the floor, "sorry about-," Chris got silent and groaned internally. "Of all the people."
"Watch where you're going!," the girl Chris had bumped into said, giving him a glare like ice, which didn't suit her at all.
The girl was stunning, for she had, milky skin as white as snow, beautiful deep blue eyes, and to finish it off, golden sunshine hair that was tied in a single twisted braid going down her back, with some strands loose as the sides to frame her face.
"Sorry Alice, it was an accident," Chris picked himself up, then offered his hand to her.
Alice just flicked it away, continuing to give Chris the hard stare, as she hosted herself up, and dusted off her skirt, which was the only difference between the boys and girls uniform at Avalon Academy, a premiere school of old families of Europe, kids from well of families and important parents, or just those smart enough to get in.
Chris was the latter, his family own a local vanguard shop with his mom was a professional cardfighter in the Euro League, although for Alice, it was the former, her family, the Myers, were big in the business industry specializing in games and entertainment.
"Hump, sorry, I'm sure," Alice said, with a roll of her eyes.
"Ok, then, see ya."
"Are you making fun of me?!"
Chris inwardly groaned again.
He had no problem with Alice at all, it was her personality made her hard to deal with. She was always standoffish and suspicious of everyone because she thought they would use her just to get to her family, and didn't help that she was stunning as well. Many a guy (and a few girls) had tried to ask her out since freshman year, and always they ended up with despair on their faces, and cries of agony.
Chris however didn't care at all, and brushed off Alice's personality like water.
"No I wasn't, but I have to be somewhere and we already apologized, so…" Chris slung his bag over his shoulder and waved his hand, "see ya." He then left out of the classroom.
Alex was snickering at the way things just ended, and Alice herself was left completely speechless.
Chris was humming a tune, thinking about how he was going to spend his summer, when he finally arrived in front of his destination.
It was a two story building, made of brown stones, a sign of big red letters with a white background read: CARD SHOP LEGION.
He smiled at seeing his work spot, and home, which was located on the second story of the building.
He walked in, savoring the cool breeze of the air conditioner, since the Italian summer heat was starting to roll in.
Everywhere his eyes could see, tables with cardfighter were around, the counter right by the doors, a shelf showing vanguard cards behind it, and in the back of the store, the shops pride and joy, a 3-D fight table usually only seen in the pro leagues or Association sponsored tournaments.
Chris's parents decided to spring for it since they thought it would help the shops business. They were right in that fact, as almost everyday, fighters from all over came to use the table, it got to be so much that a schedule was made and strictly enforced, so if you missed your time, then you would have to schedule a spot all over again.
"Ah Christopher," a thud was heard following that, "you're finally here."
Chris groaned inside for the umpteenth time that day. His full name was Christopher, but since he turned 13, he preferred Chris, the only ones who still used his full name was his family, and only to get a rise out of him, or when he was in deep trouble.
"Yeah dad, I am." Chris waved him his dad off, who had the same black hair as him, but blue eyes, his red eyes came from his mother who was traveling right now as she was in season right now for her league.
"I'll go change and be back in a moment," Chris then proceeded to the back to get ready for his shift.
Not knowing an event would change his life forever that day.
"Thanks, and come again," I shouted smiling, but also breathing a sigh of relief.
It had been a particularly busy day today, me and my dad working like mad men, and Virgil nowhere to be found. He was in for it when he got home tonight.
As I was contemplating my revenge on my little brother, I heard the doors to the shop slide open. "Welcome to card shop Legion, how may I help you today?"
Then something strange happened. I can't describe it, but passed quickly.
"-ok?"
"What?," I asked confused.
"I asked if you're feeling ok." This was said by the girl in front of me. She looked my age, with dark green hair and purple eyes, her clothes consisting of a green long sleeve shirt, dark pants, and purple sneakers.
"Y-yeah," I said, taking a deep breath to steady myself for a moment, "just need to catch my breath for a minute, been working hard since I got home from school."
The girl just nodded in understanding.
"So… how may I help you today?"
"Oh right, silly me," the girl then reached behind her and pulled out a vanguard deck case, "I would like to learn vanguard today."
"Exactly what would you like to learn?"
"How to play the game." She then rubbed the back of her head. "You see, it's a little embarrassing. My friends recommended the game to me and I checked it out. It looked like fun, so I bought some cards, put together a deck, and wanted to play, but…"
"You don't know any of the rules for an actual match," I guessed.
Her head shake was all the proof I needed.
"So, I wondering if you would teach me?"
I took a quick look around the store, no pressing business and only regulars right now. "Sure, I'll teach you, just let me go let my father know I'll be away from the counter for a while."
"Of course."
As I was going to the back, I stopped for a moment, "Sorry, never got your name, and mines Christopher by the way, but people just call me Chris."
"Well Christopher who likes to be called Chris, my name is Nina."
"Nina, ok thanks." With that, I headed to the back to let my father know the situation.
I came back out real quick, but with my apron off, leaving me only in my school uniform without the blazer.
I beckoned for Nina to follow me over to one of the fight tables for the match, and she did.
"Ok, so let's get started." I took my seat at the table ready to begin.
Nina on the other hand, just walked by me. It confused me to no end, until I saw where she was headed. The real 3-D table in the back.
"Hey Chris, can we use this one?" Nina aksed, already standing in front of the fight table.
"Well…," there was no one using it right now, which was rare, and she was a beginner about to have her first cardfight, so… "Sure, why not," I said, heading down to stand in front of the table myself.
"Thank you, I did a little research and read about these solid vision systems. Heard they're used by pro leagues and the association."
"It's true, and local card shops can use them as well, but most don't since the tech is so expensive. But as they say "no risk, no reward"."
"To true." Nina agreed, nodding again.
"Now to begin the lesson. First you place your deck," I took mine out and Nina followed suit, "and place it on the deck spot on the table." We both did this, and the fight table glowed, as lights began to for circulate on it, having the fight stage appear.
"So cool."
I gave an agreeable nod, "it really is."
"Next," I took out my Grade 4 cards, "place your Generation cards in the G zone." I finished placing mine their. Nina followed me again.
"Now, we each draw until we have five cards in hand," so we did, "before we start, if you don't like the hand you have, you can always draw another one, or just place certain ones back in the deck and shuffle it."
"Ok," Nina glanced at her hand, "I feel comfortable with the hand I currently have."
"Nice, now we each take a grade 0, or forerunner as people call them, and place it gave down on the vanguard circle on the board, which is the biggest design by the way."
Nina picked a card from her deck, placed it face down, and then shuffled it, before putting it back in the exact same spot.
"We can now start the cardfight, so please repeat after me."
"Gotcha."
"Oh, but before we go on, imagine this for a moment. You are an astral body on a place called Cray. You go there to become your chosen vanguard, and lead your fellow clansmen into battle, as you fight for glory and honor."
Nina then closed her eyes, as did Chris.
Both then appeared as glowing bodies in the city chosen for this cardfight. Once that was done, both opened their eyes, smiles on their faces.
"Now. Stand up, vanguard!"
"Stand up, vanguard."
The motion figure system began to glow, a sheen of light coming down to box in the board, the field chosen for this fight was the futuristic cityscape.
"Wingal Brave!"
Wingal Brave
Grade 0, Power: +5000
"Brassed-Winged Gear Hawk."
Brassed-Winged Gear Hawk
Grade 0, Power: +4000
"So you chose Gear Chronicle, huh?" Chris inquired. "An interesting choice if I do say so myself."
"Thanks, I just love them traveling through time," Nina took a quick glance at the board, "and Royal Paladin suits you by the way."
"Thank you as well. And since I'm the teacher of this lesson, it's only right you have the first turn."
"Ok then, I take the top card of the deck, right?"
Chris nodded. "Yes you do, we call this draw. Now, do you see a card in your hand with a one in the corner."
Nina looked at her hand for a moment before she answered. "Yes, I see one."
"Good, good. Now the next step is called ride, It's where a unit evolves into a newer more powerful form to gain power for the battle. In Vanguard, you usually ride the card the next grader higher in the sequence, so right now, you can ride that grade 1."
"You said usually-"
Before Nina could finish her question, Chris held up his hand, "sorry, it's not you, but if I were go into all that right now, we would never finish the game and you would just end up confused."
"I see, so I'll continue then." Nina then held up the grade 1 card from her hand. "I ride, Progress Second Dragon."
Progress Second Dragon
Grade 1, Power: +7000
"Great, now there is an ability for you to learn, All forerunners have it. They can move to the back board. Usually most people move it behind the vanguard, but not always."
"I'll just do that, since I don't really know any other way." Nina then placed Gear Hawk, behind Unicorn on the board.
"Now normally you would launch an attack, but since you went first, you can't. So now you have to end your turn so mine can begin."
"Right," Nina gave a nod, "I end my turn."
[Turn 2: Hand Chris (5) Nina (5)]
"It's my turn now, so I'll draw." Chris drew the card from the top of the deck. "By the way, we do this every time our perspective turn begins."
"Right."
Chris marveled at how well Nina was soaking up all the knowledge. "Not to bad if I say so myself, and yet…" Chris quickly glanced at Nina who was muttering something while looking at her own hand. "I can't shake the feeling, Nina is more than she's letting on."
"Chris, you ok?"
Chris snapped out of his daze again. "Yep, just thinking about my move, and I've decided." Chris picked a card from his hand. "I'm probably just overthinking it, time to stop worrying about it and teach Nina to enjoy vanguard."
"I ride, Swordsman of Light, Blaster Rapier Laura." Chris said.
Swordsman of Light, Blaster Rapier Laura
Grade 1, Power +7000
"Now Wingal Brave move back as my forerunner." Chris moved Wingal behind Laura.
"Ok, now I'll attack. I do this by having Wingal do Boost, which is a card giving their power to an attacking unit."
With that said, Chris did the attack procedure.
(7000+5000=12000)
"When the vanguard attacks, you again take the top card of your deck, but this time show it to your opponent."
"Why?"
"It's what's called a drive check," Chris took the top card of his deck and held it up, "see, I didn't get a trigger unit. But I still place the card in my hand. Oh, and by the way, triggers are cards that give effects to cards on the field if shown during a drive check."
"Right."
Nina let the attack hit after the explanation.
"Ok, so now you preform what is called a damage check. Where you take the top card of your deck and place it in the damage zone." Chris pointed to it on the board, and Nina put the top card there just like he said.
"Good, now I am going to use the skill of my Wingal Brave. I place him in the soul, which is the vanguard circle." Chris moved Wingal to the soul like he said. "Now I search my deck for a card with "Blaster" in its name and add it to my hand." Chris picked up his deck, looked through it, and showed Nina Blaster Blade Exceed before returning his deck to the deck space and adding the card to his hand.
[Damage: Chris (0) Nina (1)]
"Now I end my turn."
[Turn 3: Hand Chris (7) Nina (5)]
"Now it's your turn again."
"Ok, I draw." Nina then looked at her hand for a moment before choosing a card. "Now I ride, Extend Magne Dragon."
Extend Magne Dragon
Grade 2, Power +9000
"Now with a boost from Gear Hawk, Extend will attack your vanguard."
(9000+4000=13000)
Chris then took a card from his hand and placed it down on the board. "Now what I'm doing is called guarding. It's when you use cards with shield strength," Chris tapped where the shield power was on the card he put down, "to block an opponent's attacks and avoid damage. But if the opponents power is equal or greater than the shield then the attack will hit."
"Right, uh… now a drive check." Nina flipped over the top card of her deck and no trigger was shown.
[Damage: Chris (0) Nina (1)]
"I end my turn." Nina said.
[Turn 4: Hand Chris (6) Nina (6)]
"Now it comes back to me. So stand and draw." Chris then looked at the board for the current state of the game. "She seems to understand the rules well enough for me to get a bit more serious."
That's when Chris began his attack. "I now ride, Star Hope Trumpeter!"
Star Hope Trumpeter
Grade 2, Power +9000
"Now I am about to preform what is known as a call. It's when you call units to rear guard circles." Chris tapped on them to for emphasis. "Now when calling, you can only call cards of the same or lower grade than the vanguard."
Nina nodded again, soaking in the lesson with vigor.
"So now I call Knight of Virtue, Bedivere." The unit appeared in the left front rear guard circle.
"Now here comes Star Hope, to attack your vanguard."
(9000)
"No guard."
"Now I perform a drive check." Chris did the check and smiled, for a card with a yellow icon in the corner showed. "This is a critical trigger. The critical is the damage a card does, so when one of these is drawn, I can increase the amount of damage done to you, Also it adds +5000 to any card on my board. So this time, I will give the extra critical to Star Hope, and the power to Bedivere."
"You can do that?"
Chris shook his head. "Yes, you can split the effects of triggers between the units, depending on which one is drawn in a drive check."
Now that is was all said and done, Star Hope, hit Extend with the attack, causing damage.
"Damage check." Nina flipped over the top two cards of her deck, and both were not triggers, so she placed them soundly in the damage zone.
"Now, here comes Bedivere, and remember, he has extra power thanks to my trigger."
(9000+5000=14000)
"I'll guard that." Nina placed a critical trigger down in the guardian circle, blocking the attack.
[Damage: Chris (0) Nina (3)]
"I'll end my turn now, and pass it back to you."
[Turn 5: Hand Chris (6) Nina (5)]
"Stand and draw." Nina looked her hand, and then picked out a card. "Now, I ride, Ephemeral Wand Dragon."
Ephemeral Wand Dragon
Grade 3, Power +11000
"Excellent," Chris said with a nod, "you seem to be getting a good grasp of the game now."
"It's all because I have an excellent teacher." Nina finished with a smile, that made Chris blush just a small bit.
"No, don't go there, even if she is kinda cute- Ah!, no." Chris thought, hoping his face didn't give anything away at all.
He was snapped out of his thoughts thankfully, by Nina's next move. "Now I call Steam Soldier, Ur-Zi. And Steam Maiden, Ishme." She called them to her board, with Ur-Zi in front of Ishme.
"Now, here comes my vanguard attacking yours."
(11000)
"Really should let her get some damage in," Chris thought. "That'll be a no guard. And when a grade 3 does a drive check, it becomes a twin drive, so you get to look at the top two cards of the deck for any triggers."
"Right, now a twin drive check. First check." Nina flipped over the card and smiled. " A critical trigger. Like you, I'll give the critical to Emphereal and power to Ur-zi. Now for the second check." Nina flipped over the second card, which made her smile and Chris surprised. "This is a heal trigger, correct?" Chris nodded at her question.
"Yeah, you can use it to give power to a unit, and heal damage, but only when your damage is equal or more than your opponent's."
"Then I'll more power to Ur-zi and heal one damage."
"A damage check for me then." Chris placed both damage in the zone, neither being a trigger.
"Now with a boost from Ishme, Ur-zi will attack your vanguard."
(8000+5000+5000+6000=24000)
"Again, a no guard. Damage check. No trigger." Chris said, placing the card in his damage zone.
[Damage: Chris (3) Nina (2)]
"I end my turn."
[Turn 6: Hand Chris (6) Nina (5)]
"Stand and draw." Chris then picked a card from his hand. "Seriously, you're doing good here Nina, but now I hope you're ready, since I'm about to turn it up a notch."
"Bring it on."
Chris then paused, he could've sworn Nina's aura changed for a moment, but he shook it off as just another figment of his imagination.
"Now come, with your brilliant sword and lead us to victory! I ride, Blaster Blade Exceed!"
Blaster Blade Exceed
Grade 3, Power +11000
"Now his skill, by counter blasting a card in the damage zone, I can force one of your grade 1 or greater rear guards to retreat." Chris flipped over a card and then pointed to Ur-Zi, which Nina placed in her drop zone.
"Now, by discarding a card the same cost as my vanguard," Chris placed a grade 3 in the drop zone, "I can call forth a power from the future, and perform a Generation Stride, so here I go!"
Chris slammed down a G unit onto the vanguard circle, him becoming engulfed in a space of multicolored light, as a whit vanguard circle appeared to rush toward him. "Now show me a truly bright future!"
On the board, a beam a light engulfed Exceed, and a moment later a dragon descended on the field.
"Holy Dragon, Myriad Soul Saver."
Holy Dragon, Myriad Soul Saver
Grade 4, Power +15000
"First up is the stride skill of Exceed." Chris preformed another counter blast. "When a card with "Saver" in the name strides, then I can search my deck for up to one card with "Blaster" in the name and add it to my hand." Chris then did this. "Now I call that unit, New Style Blaster, Llew." Chris placed him on the front right. "Now his skill. When he's called I can take a card with "Blaster Blade" in the name from the drop zone and place it on the bottom of the deck, giving Llew another +5000 power until the end of the turn. It just so happens that the cost I used for Stride was a copy of Exceed." Chris smiled as he placed the Exceed back in the deck and gave Llew the extra power. "Finally, I call Knight of Benevolence, Kay behind Bedivere. With his skill, if he's called to the same column as Bedivere, then he gives him +200 until the end of the turn, and I counter charge one card in the damage zone."
"Now, Myriad Soul Saver will attack your vanguard! And with his skill, I soul blast 3 cards to add +5000 to all my rear guard units!"
(26000)
"That'll be a no guard."
"Ok, triple drive! First check, no trigger. Second check, draw trigger! I draw and give the power to Llew. Final check, no trigger."
"Damage check, no trigger."
"Now here comes Llew attacking your vanguard."
(11000+5000+5000+5000=26000)
That's when Nina did something that made Chris confirm the funny feeling he had been having since he met her. She put a heal trigger in the drop zone, and called forth a card from her G zone. "Generation guard! Retroactive Time Maiden, Uluru!"
Retroactive Time Maiden, Uluru
Grade 4, Power +15000
"With her skill, I take a normal unit and a trigger unit, place them at the bottom of the deck, and then add +5000 to her shield."
(15000+5000=20000)
"With a boost from Kay, Bedivere attacks. With his skill, he gains another +3000 when attacking if my vanguard is an "Alfred" or "Blaster" card."
(9000+2000+5000+3000+7000+5000=31000)
"A no guard. A damage check." Nina flipped over the card and smiled. "Oh would you look at that, a draw trigger. I give power to the vanguard and draw."
[Damage: Chris (3) Nina (4)]
"I end my turn." Chris said, his eyes looking downward.
[Turn 7: Hand Chris (8) Nina (5)]
"Stand and draw."
"Who are you?"
Nina looked up. "I'm sorry, what do you mean?"
Chris looked up and stared Nina down. "You can stop pretending now, your last move gave it away. You say this is your first time in a vanguard match, and yet when Llew attacked you used a generation guard, a move I hadn't shown you yet. Not to mention, I've been having this nagging feeling ever since I met you that your more than you let on. So I ask again… just who are you Nina?"
Nina looked at Chris for a long moment, a finger on her chin. "I'll told them this wouldn't work." She shook her head in disappointment.
"Told who, what exactly?"
"The people I work with. We're "scouting" potential cardfighters for an upcoming event."
"Then why the facade?"
"It's because of who we work for. Which I can't tell you right now, but you'll be surprised when you learn who it is."
"Ok, so again, why the lie?"
"Huh, they thought it would be a good idea to test the character of potential fighters by acting like beginners. So we can see how they react to us and gauge their personalities. But I was against it. If you want to see a fighters true potential, then go all out from the beginning. Sadly, I was overruled. But congratulations, you're one of the few who I've scouted to who actually noticed. So now…"
Nina's whole aura changed, as her eyes got this sharpness to them.
"I can show my full strength earlier than normal."
"Me and my big mouth."
"Now. Generation Stride! Interdimensional Dragon, Chronoscommand Revolution!"
Interdimensional Dragon, Chronoscommand Revolution
Grade 4, Power +15000
"Now stride skill!" Nina flipped over a copy of Revolution in her G zone, confusing me. "When a G unit with "Chronoscommand" in its name strides Ephemeral, then I flip over a G unit in my G zone and give +10000 to the vanguard."
"Damm, she hasn't even used any real skills yet, and her vanguard is already at +36000 power even without a boost or triggers." Chris thought, knowing this was just the beginning.
"Now, the skill of Revolution." Nina flipped over another copy of Revolution and did a counter blast. "When he's placed on the vanguard circle, then using his skill, all rear guards of my opponent go to the bottom of the deck."
Just like that, portals opened up on the board sucking in all of Chris's rear guards like they were never there to begin with.
"Well… at least it can't get any worse."
"Now I call!"
"Be an my big mouth."
"Another Ur-zi in front of Ishme. And now news player to meet you. Reform-calling Gear Eagle and Progress Second Dragon."
That mechanical bird, took up the front space on the board, giving Nina a full row to attack with, while the dragon stood behind it ready to back it up.
"Now the skills of my cards."
"Oh come on. You know what, next time I'll keep from saying stupid stuff like that."
"Brass Eagle gains +5000 if a card is sent to the opponent's deck. Ishme gains +5000 power and the ability to attack from the back row."
That skill made Chris nervous, for now he had to defend against four attacks this turn instead of three.
"Finally, the skill of Ur-Zi, he gains +5000 power and shield when my opponent has one or less rear guard on the board."
That was another skill that made Chris tense. For now, all her attacking units could take on his vanguard without a boost. There was still one thing left.
"She said nothing for Gear Eagle or Progress, and from her deck, which looks to be based around Chronoscommand I'm pretty sure they have skills. I just don't know which one, since we don't have a ton of Gear Chronicle users here at the shop. So I bet their skills are activated under set conditions, I just wish I knew what it was."
As Chris was trying to figure out how to survive this turn, Nina began her attack.
"With a boost from Brass Hawk, Revolution attacks!"
(36000+4000+5000=45000)
"No you don't. Complete guard!"
"Triple drive! First check, no trigger. Second check, a critical trigger. I give power to Reform Eagle, and the critical to Ur-zi. The final check." Chris cursed his luck and Nina just smiled again. "Heal trigger, the power to Reform and I recover one damage."
"No way! That's just too lucky, to get a double trigger twice in a row. Uh, why me?" Chris thought.
"Here come Reform, with a boost from Progress."
(11000+5000+5000+7000=28000)
Chris then looked at his hand. "I can't guard all the attacks or else I won't be able to mount a proper defense next turn."
"That's a no guard."
For some reason, Nina smiled.
"Damage check, no trigger."
"Now the skill of Reform."
"Ok, let's see what this card can do." Chris thought.
"Since the attack on the vanguard was successful, I can "Time Leap" one card on my side of the board, and I chose Brass Eagle." Nina bound him, and then searched her deck to call out a new unit. "Meet, Gear Owl, Perching at Nightfall."
"She called a new unit behind a vanguard that's already finished attacking. Why?"
"The skill of Nightfall. I can retire him, and usually of I had no cards face up in the damage zone, I could counter charge two, but sadly that skill won't activate. But he does have another great skill. He lets me draw one card if I have five or less in my hand."
"So that's why. She just increased her hand making it harder for me to finish her next turn. Well. she's in for a surprise." Chris thought.
"Now Ur-Zi, go and attack."
(8000+5000=13000)
"Guard!" Chris put down the draw trigger from earlier.
"Now Ishme!"
(6000+5000=11000)
"A no guard. Damage check, no trigger."
[Damage: Chris (5) Nina (3)]
"I end my turn."
[Turn 8: Hand Chris (5) Nina (6)]
"Stand and draw." Chris took a deep breath then. "I'll admit, you gave me an enjoyable fight, but I'm finishing it here."
"It's wrong."
"Excuse me?"
"Exceed. It's the wrong avatar for you. The clan suits you, but the avatar is wrong. You need something more in tune with your true nature."
"Ah, ok… ?" Chris had no clue what the gibberish Nina started spouting out meant, but all he knew was that he was about to use his deck to end this.
"Now. Generation Stride! Divine Knight King, Alfred Holy Saver!"
Divine Knight King, Alfred Holy Saver
Grade 4, Power +15000
"Now stride skill! I search for my deck for one Blaster Blade Exceed and add it to my hand. Now I call! Blaster Blade Exceed. Floral Paladin, Flogal. And finally, Aspire Painter." So Exceed and Painter ended up in the front row, with Flogal behind Painter. "First is the skill of Exceed. Ur-Zi is again forced to retreat." With that, Nina's guard on the board was gone. "Now the skill of Painter. When he's called to the board and my vanguard is a "Blaster" or "Alfred", I can counter charge, soul charge, and add to him +3000 power until the end of this turn. Now for the skill of Holy Saver." Chris then did a counter blaster, flipped over a copy of Saver in the G zone and discarded a card from his hand. "Now Exceed gains +3000 power, and during his first attack this turn, he gains twin drive."
Nina visibly looked worried now. She knew Chris meant he was really trying to finish it this turn.
"Now here comes Aspire with a boost from Flogal."
(9000+3000+4000=16000)
"No guard. Damage check, no trigger."
"Now Alfred Holy Saver, attack the vanguard!"
(26000)
"Complete guard!"
"Now my triple drive! First check, no trigger. Second check, no trigger. Final check." Chris smiled. "A critical trigger, give all effects to Blaster Blade Exceed."
"Darn it." Nina thought.
"Now here comes Exceed, attacking your vanguard."
"No way. Guard!" Nina put down the critical trigger from earlier, plus another trigger.
"When did she… of course, when she used the skill of Perching."
"Wew, now he'll have to get a double trigger to breakthrough."
"Twin drive check. First check." As Chris flipped over the card, he ticked and Nina sighed relief as it was not a trigger. "Second check. A critical trigger, all effects to Exceed!"
(11000+3000+5000+5000=24000)
"Don't think you safe yet. I use the skill of Flogal. By counter blasting and sending it back to the deck, Exceed can stand and attack again."
Chris then perform this action, and Exceed came in with a second attack.
(24000)
"I don't think so. Generation guard! Time Maiden of Eternity, Uluru!"
Time Maiden of Eternity, Uluru
Grade 4, Shield +15000
"Using her skill!" Nina did a counter blast and flipped over a G guardian in the G zone. "For every face up card in the G zone, add +5000 to her shield."
Chris clicked his tongue in defeat, since there were 4 face up cards in Nina's G zone, minus the cost she just paid, meaning he couldn't break through and finish it this turn.
(15000+20000=350000)
[Damage: Chris (5) Nina (4)]
"I end my turn."
[Turn 9: Hand Chris (7) Nina (1)]
"Stand and draw."
"It's fine, Her board is in no shape to mount a serious offensive, and I know I have enough to guard this turn. I will win this." Even as Chris was thinking about how to win, he couldn't help but smile at this amazing cardfight he was having right now.
"Chris, do you want to know the real reason I enjoy vanguard?"
"Ah, is now really the best time?"
Completing ignoring him, Nina continued speaking. "It's because of the G zone. The place where cards gain future possibilities. Since no one knows what the future holds, it's full of dreams and never ending mysteries!"
Nina got really excited for some reason, which caused Chris to lean back, and then something strange happened.
Chris felt a sort of feeling, holding the side of his head for a moment, and then… he found himself somewhere unfamiliar.
"What?!" Chris looked around and saw he was standing in a rock area, and his body was see through. "What's happening here?"
A sound then caught his attention. Chris glanced to the distance, and saw a figure standing there. It was a guy, with jet black hair, and blood red eyes. He wore armor similar to Exceeds, only pure black and red, with no cape or helmet. He held in his hands a broadsword of silver and red, sparkling with some kind of energy.
He saw Chris and smiled.
Then the sky turned a sickly crimson red, and shadow began to descend. Chris could not make any out, but they looked to be dangerous.
The mysterious knight, just turned to face them, as his sword charged with red energy and he sent a slash at them.
Just as quickly as it happened, it stopped, Chris taking a look around to see he was back in the shop.
"What was that exactly?"
"Congratulations, you pass."
"Huh, do you- do you know what I just saw?'
"I do."
"Then what was that?"
"I can't say. But if you want to know, then come find me again when you're stronger."
"What are you talking about?"
"I'm talking about the possibilities you have yet to discover." Nina then placed a grade 3 in her drop zone, and picked up a G zone card. "So let me show you. Final Turn."
"Final turn. Just what is that G unit to give her so much confidence to end the game right now?"
"Generation Stride!"
What came out of the beam of light was unique. Chris could not take his eyes of this unit, for he had never seen or heard of it before in all his time playing vanguard. It looked like an older version of Chronoscommand Dragon, wearing a flowing brown hooded cloak. In one hand he held an old time pocket watch, with many gears showing as it ticked. Finally the staff he now carried, had an hourglass suspended in a gear shaped spot, it turning over and over again, the sand continuously spilling back and forth.
"Interdimensional Dragon King, Chronoscommand Clockwork"
Interdimensional Dragon King, Chronoscommand Clockwork
Grade 4, Power +15000
"Now, stride skill."
Chris was now worried beyond belief. Here was this mysterious girl, who challenged him to a fight, which lead to him having a weird kind a vision, and now an unknown G unit she had in her possession. It was all too much for just an ordinary day at work.
"Ok, now the first skill of Clockwork."
"First skill!"
"I counter blast 1 card. Then send all units on the board, mine and yours to the bottom of the deck."
Now, both fields were barren, as only the vanguards stood to face each other.
"It can't be that simple."
"Now generation break 4!" Nina then did a counter blast with 2 cards, and a soul blast of 2 cards. " For every face up card in the G zone, I can call units from the deck, and for every card sent to the deck this turn, all units called gain +2000 for each one."
Chris gasped. Nina had just replenished her board like it was nothing. Not only that, but since 6 cards were sent to the bottom of the deck this turn, then that meant all the units called would gain +12000 power.
"I can't guard against all that, and is she calls another Ishme, then I'm done."
So the cards filled the board, as Nina called her rear guard units. "In addition."
"There's more."
"If five or more cards were sent to the deck with this skill, then the opponent can't call grade 1's or below to guard against the vanguards attack this turn."
That was the final nail in the coffin.
"So with that said, Clockwork will attack."
Clockwork raised its staff high in the sky, as a portal opened up. The beam then hit the tip of the staff, as it was redirected toward Exceed.
"... No guard…"
Chris placed the last damage into the zone. He should've felt down, but for some reason he was shaking. Though not with fear, but excitement.
"I want a rematch." Chris said, a hunger for victory showing in his eyes.
"Maybe later. For now here." Nina handed Chris a card booster pack.
He looked at it. "What am I supposed to do with this?"
"Why open it of course, Think of it as an incentive for what's to come. It's yours now by the way." Nina then began to make her way up the stairs as she finished her explanation.
"Well, here goes nothing." Chris thought, as he opened the booster pack. When he did and pulled out the card, a smile shine blinded him for a second, before he could clearly see the card. When he did, he almost fell over.
He quickly ran up the steps, and looked around for Nina. When he saw her nowhere in the shop, he went out the doors for a moment and looked around, but still she was nowhere to be seen.
He gave up a moment later, went back inside, and took a load off at one of the fight tables. As he did, he took a look at the new card he was given.
He finally knew the name of the young man from the vision.
"Swordsman of Redeeming Hope, Mordred Blaster. Huh, looks like we're going to get to know each other quite well."
So this is my third remake of Cardfight Vanguard: Journey Across Time. I want any and all to review in hopes that my writing skills have gotten better since the last time. I got the idea from my favorite vanguard FF right now by The Sib. So while I will do OC cards in the first season, you won't see an OC clan until later. Sorry, but I need time to make it a really good one.
Next Time: As Chris studies his mysterious new card, a big announcement sets him on his chosen path.
A Friend Indeed.