Disclaimer: Cardfight! Vanguard is property of Bushiroad. I own my characters and the storyline.
A/N: In this story card packs shall not be following their real life releases. I currently have no plans of involving Legion in this story (I may later change my mind) but cards from their sets can be used. Let's begin the story.
Cardfight! Vanguard: Nexus
Turn 1 - A New Start
Cardfight! Vanguard, a game that started as just a tabletop card game but soon evolved into a worldwide language not just a game. Nowadays people even use the game to express their feelings and even a way to solve conflicts. The card game has gotten so popular that it has become part of the daily life of some people.
Our story begins in one of the numerous card shops in Japan, one known as 'Cards Nexus'. The shop was just like your average card shop, it had a counter near the entrance, many tables and chairs next to the walls for the normal cardfights and some longer tables for what was termed 'standing cardfights'.
It was around 2 o'clock in the afternoon and the shop was filled with many people, some who came to buy cards and some who came to play against others. Takuma, however, was in the shop waiting for someone who he was to teach how to play vanguard.
Takuma was wearing a green long sleeved t-shirt and black shorts. He had green eyes and spiky brown hair which he inherited from dad. Letting out a yawn, Takuma decided to pass the time by reviewing his vanguard deck.
He brought out a red deck case from his pocket and removed his deck. He looked through the cards in his deck intently taking time to especially inspect one card, on that card was a image of a white fox in a circle of six flames.
"Tamato, huh?" A voice suddenly said.
Startled, Takuma dropped his cards and looked behind him for the speaker. "Dude I already told you to stop doing that." He said to the blue haired boy behind him.
Ignoring the fact that he scared his friend, the blue haired boy continued, taking a seat adjacent to Takuma. "Are you thinking of changing him?"
"I'm not sure yet, Aoi." Takuma replied.
"It'll take some time, but every one eventually finds a card they can call their ace card or avatar and stick with it." The boy called Aoi continued. Aoi was wearing a red shirt and black jeans, he had azure blue eyes and his blue hair was somewhat spiky but it spiked downwards instead of upwards like Takuma's.
"I guess so." Takuma mumbled, replacing the card in his deck in the deck box and keeping it in his pocket.
"What are you waiting for anyway?" Aoi asked curiously.
"Um, my cousin wants to start playing vanguard and i was volunteered to help her." Takuma said with a tone of annoyance in his voice.
"You mean you volunteered, right?" Aoi laughed at his friends mistake.
"More like was forced into it." Takuma repied.
Before their conversation could go any further someone interrupted them. "Taku!"
Aoi stopped himself from bursting into laughter while Takuma's left eye twitched in annoyance. A girl with long blue hair approached the boys. She was wearing a blue top and purple knee-length jeans.
"Stop calling me that." Takuma told her, clearly irritated by the name.
"C'mon, everyone calls you that." The girl smiled.
"Whatever," Takuma responded, ignoring Aoi's snickers. "I've been waiting for you."
"Sorry, I kinda forgot about the whole, learning vanguard thing." She replied smiling sheepishly.
"Its fine, I guess."
"Hey, I'm Aoi, Taku's friend." Aoi said, intentionally using his friend's 'nickname'.
"Hello Aoi, I'm Miki, his cousin." The girl replied.
"Taku over here told me you want to learn how to cardfight." Aoi said.
"Yeah, I've watched some games and it seems interesting."
"Wish you luck, Taku over here is one of the best players in this shop."
"Really?" She exclaimed.
"Alright Miki do you have a deck?" Takuma asked.
"Not yet." She replied.
"Ok then." Takuma said. He then picked up his bag which was beside his chair and brought out two deck cases. "These are vanguard trial decks, pick one."
Miki looked at both decks and chose the one with the image of a dragon.
Takuma took the other one. 'She chose Resonance of Thunder Dragon, huh.'
"To begin, search your deck for your starting vanguard, a grade 0 card without an icon on the top right corner. Like this one." Takuma said showing her a card.
"Ok." She replied and picked a card.
"Place your card face-down on the vanguard circle." Takuma continued and they both did the same.
"First we both draw 5 cards and-" Takuma started but was cut off by Miki.
"I know the rules, Taku." Miki said as she drew her hand. "I think i've watched enough cardfights to know that. Also I've read the rulebook. I think I know all of the basics."
"Oh," Takuma replied. That was just like her, taking matters into her own hands. "If you know all this stuff why are we having this fight?"
"Know that I think about it, I'm not sure myself." Miki replied.
Takuma sighed. Though Miki was smart she could be an airhead sometimes.
"Just get on with it by giving the world famous, imagine speech." Aoi laughed, patting his friend on his back.
Takuma mumbled something about pay before inhaling deeply and continuing. "Imagine it, the both of us are astral bodies that have arrived on the planet Cray.
"Stand up, vanguard!" Both players said simultaneously as the flipped over their starting vanguards.
"Grassland Breeze, Sagramore!" Takuma declared.
[Grassland Breeze, Sagramore - 6000 Power]
"Lizard Soldier, Sishin!" Miki declared
[Lizard Soldier, Sishin - 6000 Power]
"Ladies first." Takuma said.
"Why thank you, Taku." Miki said drawing a card. "I Ride! Red River Dragoon!" She said as she placed a card on top of her vanguard's. [Red River Dragoon - 8000 Power]
Miki
Hand: 5
Front Row: Empty - Red River Dragoon - Empty
Back Row: Empty - Empty - Empty
Damage: None
Takuma
Hand: 5
Front Row: Empty - Grassland Breeze, Sagramore - Empty
Back Row: Empty - Empty - Empty
Damage: None
"Your turn." She gestured to Takuma.
"I draw," Takuma began. "I ride! Evil Slaying Swordsman, Haugan!" [Evil Slaying Swordsman, Haugan - 7000 Power]
Takuma then continued by placing two cards from his hand on the field. "I call Gareth and Charjgal!" [Knight of Elegant Skills, Gareth - 8000 Power] [Charjgal - 6000 Power]
"First Gareth attacks your vanguard." Takuma said as he turned the card horizontally. [8000 Power]
"No guard." Miki declared. "Damage check...no trigger."
[Damage check - Lizard Soldier Riki - No trigger]
"Boosted by Charjgal, Haugan attacks!" [7000 + 6000 = 13000 Power]
"No guard." Miki declared once again.
"Drive check...no trigger." Takuma revealed.
[Drive check - Battlefield Storm, Sagramore - No trigger]
"Damage check...draw trigger!" She drew a card.
[Damage check - Old Dragon Mage -Draw trigger]
"Turn end." Takuma calmly said.
Takuma
Hand: 4
Front Row: Knight of Elegant Skills, Gareth - Evil Slaying Swordsman, Haugan - Empty
Back Row: Empty - Charjgal - Empty
Damage: None
Miki
Hand: 6
Front Row: Empty - Red River Dragoon -Empty
Back Row: Empty - Empty - Empty
Damage: Lizard Soldier, Riki (U), Old Dragon Mage (U)
"My turn." Miki said as she drew her card. "I ride Thunderstorm Dragoon!" She slammed the card on her vanguard circle. [Thunderstorm Dragoon - 10000 Power]
"I call Shieldblade Dragon, Brightjet Dragon and Lizard Soldier, Riki!" [Shieldblade Dragoon - 8000 Power] [Brightjet Dragon - 8000 Power] [Lizard Soldier, Riki - 7000 Power]
"Brightjet Dragon attacks Haugan!" Miki rested the card. "Now his skill activates; when he attacks and I have less cards in my hand than you, he gets +3000 power." [8000 + 3000 = 11000 Power]
"No guard." Takuma declared. "Damage check...no trigger." His looked irritated at the sight of the card entering the damage zone.
[Damage check - Great Silver Wolf, Garmore - No trigger]
"Now my vanguard attacks yours!" She continued. [10000 Power]
"No guard." Takuma said once again.
"Drive check," Miki revealed the top card of her deck. "Stand trigger! All effects to Brightjet."
[Drive check - Zephyr Kid, Hayate - Stand trigger]
"Damage check...no trigger."
[Damage check - Knight of Superior Skills, Beaumains - No trigger]
"Brightjet attacks Haugan!" Miki attacked with her re-stood unit. [8000 + 5000 = 13000 Power]
"No guard." Takuma calmly responded. "Damage check...heal trigger! Power to vanguard and I heal. Takuma said as he placed Gamore's card from the damage zone to the drop zone. [Evil Slaying Swordsman, Haugan - 7000 + 5000 = 12000 Power]
[Damage check - Elixir Sommelier - Heal trigger]
"Boosted by Riki, Shieldblade Dragoon attacks Haugan!" [8000 + 7000 = 15000 Power]
"I guard with Gwydion!" [12000 + 5000 = 17000 Power]
"Over to you." Miki said, clearly satisfied with her progress.
Miki
Hand: 3
Front Row: Shieldblade Dragoon - Thunderstorm Dragoon - Brightjet Dragon
Back Row: Lizard Soldier, Riki - Empty - Empty
Damage: Lizard Soldier, Riki (U), Old Dragon Mage (U)
Takuma
Hand: 3
Front Row: Knight of Elegant Skills, Gareth – Evil Slaying Swordsman, Haugan – Empty
Back Row: Empty – Charjgal – Empty
Damage: Knight of Superior Skills, Beaumains (U), Elixir Sommelier (U)
"I stand and draw." Takuma declared, drawing a card and standing all his units. "I ride Charging Chariot Knight!" [Charging Chariot Knight – 8000 Power]
"I move Gareth back and call Beaumains!" Takuma said, throwing a card onto the field. [Knight of Superior Skills, Beaumains – 10000 Power]
"Boosted by Gareth, Beaumains attacks your vanguard!" Takuma declared. [10000 + 8000 = 18000 Power]
"No guard." Miki declared. "Damage check….no trigger."
[Damage check – Djinn of the Lightning Flare- No trigger]
"Boosted by Charjgal, Chariot Knight attacks your vanguard." Takuma declared. "Chariot knight has an effect just like Brightjet Dragon's, so its +3000 power for this attack. [8000 + 6000 + 3000 = 17000 Power]
"Zephyr Kid, Hayate! Guard!" Miki said, placing the card on the guardian circle. [10000 + 10000 = 20000 Power]
"Drive check," Takuma revealed the top card of his deck. "Critical trigger! All effects to my vanguard." [17000 + 5000 = 22000 Power, 2 critical]
[Drive check – Silent Punisher – Critical trigger]
"Damn it!" Miki growled as her guard was broken through. "Damage check; first…..no trigger, second….no trigger."
[Damage check – Plasmabite Dragon – No trigger]
[Damage check – Red River Dragoon – No trigger]
"Turn end." Takuma said, concluding his turn.
Takuma
Hand: 3
Front Row: Knight of Superior Skills, Beaumains – Charging Chariot Knight – Empty
Back Row: Knight of Elegant Skills, Gareth – Charjgal – Empty
Damage: Knight of Superior Skills, Beaumains (U), Elixir Sommelier (U)
Miki
Hand: 2
Front Row: Shieldblade Dragoon - Thunderstorm Dragoon - Brightjet Dragon
Back Row: Lizard Soldier, Riki - Empty - Empty
Damage: Lizard Soldier, Riki (U), Old Dragon Mage (U), Plasmabite Dragon (U), Red River Dragoon (U)
"I stand and Draw." Miki started her turn. "Ride, Thunder Break Dragon!" [Thunder Break Dragon – 10000 Power]
"Thunder Break's skill activates," Miki said, flipping over two cards in her damage zone. "By counterblasting 2 cards when I ride it, I get to retire one of your grade 2 or less rearguards. I choose Beaumains."
Takuma removed Beaumains' card from the rearguard circle and placed it in the drop zone.
"I call Dragon Dancer, RaiRai." [Dragon Dancer, RaiRai – 6000]
Turning two cards horizontal, Miki continued. "Boosted by Riki, Shieldblade Dragoon attacks your vanguard." [8000 + 7000 = 15000 Power]
"Damage check…" Takuma started, signifying he wasn't guarding. "Draw trigger! Power to vanguard and I draw!" [Charging Chariot Knight - 8000 + 5000 = 13000 Power]
[Damage check – Weapons Dealer, Gwydion – Draw trigger]
"Boosted by RaiRai, Thunder Break Dragon attacks your vanguard!" Miki said, slightly irritated at the appearance of a draw trigger. "I activate RaiRai skill; whenever Thunder Break is the boosted unit, +5000 is added to his power!"
"Now, Thunder Break's limit break! +5000 power is added!" Miki declared. Limit break, a skill that can only be activated when one has 4 damage; it's very powerful but often times it's be dangerous to be at 4 damage too early. [10000 + 6000 + 5000 + 5000 = 26000 Power]
"No guard." Takuma declared.
"Twin drive check," Miki started. "First check….no trigger, Second check…..no trigger."
[Drive check – Thunderstorm Dragoon – No trigger]
[Drive check - Lightning of Hope, Helena – No trigger]
"Damage check…..no trigger." Takuma revealed.
[Damage check – Knight of Elegant Skills, Gareth – No trigger]
"Turn end." Miki said, realizing that her last rearguard didn't have enough power to hit.
Miki
Hand: 3
Front Row: Shieldblade Dragoon – Thunder Break Dragon - Brightjet Dragon
Back Row: Lizard Soldier, Riki – Dragon Dancer, RaiRai - Empty
Damage: Lizard Soldier, Riki (F), Old Dragon Mage (F), Plasmabite Dragon (U), Red River Dragoon (U)
Takuma
Hand: 4
Front Row: Empty – Charging Chariot Knight – Empty
Back Row: Knight of Elegant Skills, Gareth – Charjgal – Empty
Damage: Knight of Superior Skills, Beaumains (U), Elixir Sommelier (U), Weapons Dealer, Gwydion (U), Knight of Elegant Skills, Gareth (U)
"My turn, stand and draw." Takuma said with a smile on his face. "I ride Battlefield Storm, Sagramore!" [Battlefield Storm, Sagramore – 10000 Power]
"I call Nemean Lion, Sleygal Double Edge and Precipice Whirlwind, Sagramore!" Takuma continued, throwing three cards onto the field. [Sacred Guardian Beast, Nemean Lion – 8000 Power] [Sleygal Double Edge – 10000 Power] [Precipice Whirlwind, Sagramore – 6000 Power]
"Sleygal Double Edge's skill; by counterblasting one card, if I have four or more other Gold Paladin rearguards he gains 2000 more power." Takuma explained before flipping over two cards in his damage zone. "I'll use this skill twice." [Sleygal Double Edge – 10000 + 2000 + 2000 = 14000 Power]
"Boosted by Gareth, Nemean Lion attacks your vanguard!" [8000 + 8000 = 16000 Power]
"No guard." Miki declared, gazing at her hand. "Damage check….no trigger."
[Damage check – Wyvern Supply Unit – No trigger]
Miki was worried now; at this point the largest shield she could muster was a total of 25000. It now depended on if a trigger would show up in the drive check or not.
Aoi smiled, Takuma had Miki on the edge now. The key card there was Sleygal Double edge, because of Sleygal's effect Takuma had a 20000 column which would force 15000 guard out of Miki. He knew very well that Takuma had calculated Miki's guard power, it all depended on Takuma's drive check and if the last card in Miki's hand could guard.
"Boosted by Charjgal, Sagramore attacks Thunder Break." Takuma declared. He then flipped over a card in his damage zone. "Sagramore's skill activates; when he attacks by counterblasting a card he gains 3000 more power." [10000 + 6000 + 3000 = 19000 Power]
Miki thought for some time then decided on what to do. "Shieldblade Dragon intercepts. Shieldblade gains 5000 more shield with his skill when he intercepts." [10000 + 5000 + 5000 = 20000 Power]
"Twin drive check." Takuma continued. "First check…..no trigger, Second check…..Heal Trigger. I can't heal but I'll give the power to Sleygal Double Edge." [19000 + 5000 = 24000 Power]
[Drive check – Sleygal Sword – No trigger]
[Drive check – Elixir Sommelier – Heal trigger]
"Damn it!" Miki exclaimed. "Damage check…." She slowly revealed the card. "Heal trigger!" She squealed.
[Damage check – Demonic Dragon Nymph, Seiobo – No trigger]
"Power to my vanguard and I'll heal." Miki took a card from her damage zone and placed it in the drop zone before she kept the new card there. [Thunder Break Dragon – 10000 + 5000 = 15000 Power]
"Boosted by Sagramore, Sleygal attacks Thunder Break." Takuma continued, not fazed at all by the recent development. [14000 + 6000 + 5000 = 25000 Power]
"I Guard with Thunderstorm Dragoon, Helena and intercept with Brightjet Dragon!" [15000 + 5000 + 5000 + 5000 = 30000 Power]
"Turn end." Takuma calmly said.
Takuma
Hand: 3
Front Row: Sacred Guardian Beast, Nemean Lion – Battlefield Storm, Sagramore – Sleygal Double Edge
Back Row: Knight of Elegant Skills, Gareth – Charjgal – Precipice Whirlwind, Sagramore
Damage: Knight of Superior Skills, Beaumains (F), Elixir Sommelier (F), Weapons Dealer, Gwydion (F), Knight of Elegant Skills, Gareth (U)
Miki
Hand: 1
Front Row: Empty– Thunder Break Dragon - Empty
Back Row: Lizard Soldier, Riki – Dragon Dancer, RaiRai - Empty
Damage: Old Dragon Mage (F), Plasmabite Dragon (U), Red River Dragoon (U), Wyvern Supply Unit (U), Demonic Dragon Nymph, Seiobo (U)
"My turn, stand and draw!" Miki declared, she still had a chance. "I call Plasmabite Dragon and Thunderstorm Dragoon!" [Plasmabite Dragon – 10000 Power] [Thunderstorm Dragoon – 10000 Power]
"Plasmabite attacks Nemean Lion and I activate his skill; counterblast 1, plus 3000 power!" Miki declared. [10000 + 3000 = 13000 Power]
Takuma placed the rearguard in his drop zone.
"Boosted by RaiRai, Thunder Break Dragon attacks Sagramore" Miki said, resting the two cards. "I activate RaiRai's skill and Thunder Break Dragon's limit break!" She said, removing a card from the stack underneath the vanguard and keeping it in the drop zone. [10000 + 6000 + 5000 + 5000 = 26000 Power]
"No guard." Takuma incredulously declared.
"Fine," Miki said. "One critical trigger and its over. Twin drive check, First….Stand trigger; all effects to Plasmabite Dragon, Second check…..Stand Trigger; RaiRai stands and Plasmabite gets the power."
[Drive check – Zephyr Kid, Hayate – Stand trigger]
[Drive check – Zephyr Kid, Hayate – Stand trigger]
"Damage check….no trigger." Takuma revealed.
[Damage check – Silver Fang Witch – No trigger]
"Boosted by Riki, Thunder Storm attacks Sagramore!" [10000 + 7000 = 17000 Power]
"I guard with Silent Punisher!" Takuma said, placing a card on the guardian circle. [10000 + 10000 = 20000 Power]
"Plasmabite attacks your vanguard and I activate his skill one more time." Miki said, flipping a card in her damage zone over. [10000 + 5000 + 5000 + 3000 = 23000 Power]
"I Guard with Elixir Sommelier and Slegal Sword!" Two more cards were placed in the guardian circle. [10000 + 10000 + 5000 = 25000 Power]
"Turn end." Miki said, defeated.
Takuma
Hand: 0
Front Row: Empty – Battlefield Storm, Sagramore – Sleygal Double Edge
Back Row: Knight of Elegant Skills, Gareth – Charjgal – Precipice Whirlwind, Sagramore
Damage: Knight of Superior Skills, Beaumains (F), Elixir Sommelier (F), Weapons Dealer, Gwydion (F), Knight of Elegant Skills, Gareth (U), Silver Fang Witch (U)
Miki
Hand: 2
Front Row: Empty– Thunder Break Dragon – Plasmabite Dragon
Back Row: Lizard Soldier, Riki – Dragon Dancer, RaiRai - Empty
Damage: Old Dragon Mage (F), Plasmabite Dragon (U), Red River Dragoon (U), Wyvern Supply Unit (U), Demonic Dragon Nymph, Seiobo (U)
"I stand and draw." Takuma said. "I call Battlefield Storm, Sagramore." [Battlefield Storm, Sagramore – 10000 Power]
"Boosted by Gareth, Sagramore attacks your vanguard!" Takuma said as he rested both cards. "I activate Sagramore's skill; counterblast, + 3000 power." [10000 + 8000 + 3000 = 21000 Power]
"I guard with Hayate and Thunderstorm intercepts." Miki declared. [10000 + 10000 + 5000 = 25000 Power]
"My vanguard attacks yours with a boost from Charjgal. I activate my vanguard's skill." Takuma said, flipping over the last face-up card in his damage zone. [10000 + 6000 + 3000 = 19000 Power]
"I guard with Hayate!" [10000 + 10000 = 20000 Power]
"Twin drive check, first…..no trigger, Second…..no trigger."
[Drive check – Blessing Owl – No trigger]
[Drive check – Knight of Superior Skills, Beaumains – No trigger]
"Boosted by Sagramore, Sleygal Double Edge will deal the final blow!" Takuma said, resting the cards. [10000 + 6000 = 16000 Power]
Having nothing to guard with, Miki reached for her deck, hoping for another heal trigger."
[Damage check – Plasmabite Dragon – No trigger]
"You win." Miki sighed. "But it was still fun."
"Yup." Aoi said.
"If only I had gotten a critical trigger during that last drive check, I would have won." Miki said as she gathered the cards.
"Lucky win." A voice said out of the blue.
They looked to see who the speaker was. It was a boy with spiky silver hair who was wearing a white T-shirt and brown pants.
"What do you mean?" Miki asked.
"This was just a boring amateurish fight that depended on luck. I certainly saw no display of skill." The boy continued.
"You're so amateurish." Somebody else said with a chuckle.
They all looked to see who said that. It was a boy wearing a grey hoodie and black jeans sitting at the table next to theirs. The boy was wearing a black cap which somewhat obscured his face from view.
"Cardfighting depends a whole lot on luck," the boy continued. "It's complete stupidity if anyone says he lost due to luck. Only amatuers who don't know the game well can say stuff like that."
"And who are you to call me an amateur, Mr. I don't have a deck yet." The silver haired boy countered.
"I don't really care about your argument, just keep it down you're disturbing my nap." The hoodie wearing boy said.
"That's the only thing you do, huh, nap all day in the shop." The silver haired boy continued. "Maybe you should try cardfighting rather than dreaming about it."
"Jun, your point is?" Takuma asked, snapping the silver haired boy out of his rant.
"The shop tournament is coming up in a few days. Though I lost to you in our last cardfight, I have a much better deck know with a new ace card that isn't as useless as Grateful Catapult I'm just here to make sure you're there. so I'll crush you." The boy named Jun said.
Takuma silently looked at the boy who started walking away. "Prepare yourself for the inevitable." Jun said as he left the shop.
"What a jerk." Miki said. "With the way he talks you would think he's the world champion."
"He's just one of those people, obsessed with being the best." Aoi said chuckling.
Miki handed the trial deck to Takuma. "Who's the dude that indirectly called him stupid?"
"He's right over there ask him." Takuma said, keeping both decks in his bag.
"Dude!" Aoi called, tapping the boy on his shoulder but boy didn't respond. Aoi continued tapping the boy but the boy didn't move. "I think he actually has a sleeping problem." Aoi said, tired of trying to get the boy's attention.
"What's this shop tournament he talked about?" Miki asked.
"You know about the regional and national tournaments right?" Aoi asked.
"Yeah, regional is held per region and national is held for teams victorious in the regional tournaments." Miki answered.
"Yeah, the shop tournament is a tournament held within card shops that want to sponsor teams to the tournaments. The best three or four cardfighters of the shop tournament are made into a team for the regional and national tournament." Aoi explained.
"Are you going to enter?" Takuma asked.
"Maybe, I'll just test my luck and enter." She answered.
"Well, you're very good for a beginner." Takuma said. "It won't take too long before you to start winning people like me and Aoi."
"Thanks, Taku." Miki said, to Takuma's annoyance.
"Don't call me that."
"Okay, Taku!" Miki replied.
"Ok, Taku, we'll stop." Aoi joined in.
"Stop it!" Takuma said angrily.
The scene fades to an aerial view of the shop and the city and a voice began speaking, "Cardfight! Vanguard has succeeded in making the unlikeliest people become friends and even in straightening out feuds between different parties."
"And so a tale begins, a tale of cardfighting, schemes, villians, friendship and family begins as the unlikeliest group of people is brought together because of a shared passion for a 'mere' card game."