Hello there! This will be my fourth story, and I hope you guys like it. Since my other stories were about Cray, I decided to steer the spotlight away for a moment, and focus on cardfighters. Some of these characters are based on real people, while others are fictional. So, enjoy reading, minna!

Chapter 1: Saved by the Grade 3

"Come on, another fight!"

"You already lost to me like, 5 times! You really want to be beaten up a lot?"

"You'll see, I can beat you one day!"

"Tsk! Not with that Royal Paladin trial deck!"

"It's not a trial deck anymore! I added 3 Dignified Silver Dragons, a Primgal, an Alfred Early, a Gigantech Charger, that quintet wall I got from you, and I added more criticals, too, like your deck! And I managed to make it to 4th place in the competition!"

Dominic turned around to look in his eye. "Look, the reasons why you made it that far was 1: Mikel got grade-stuck during your fight, and 2: you beating that Shadow Paladin user was pure luck."

Robert stood up. "That wasn't luck! I knew I should ride Crimson Butterfly Brigitte after that turn because it will grant me a higher chance of breaking through his guard!"

The taller boy stood as well. He brushed the specks of dust on his white uniform. "Well, if you're going to argue about that battle again, then I'm leaving. Plus, it's already time. You won't want Miss Yellow to get angry again, right? Now come on." he grabbed his red, mutilated sack that he calls his backpack and went to the door. Robert sighed and followed him.

"That wasn't luck..." he thought.

"And with a boost from Black Sage, Charon, Blaster Dark Revenger finishes you off." His tall, older opponent declared. Robert sighed as he acknowledged defeat... again. But this time, his deck wasn't ready to give up. Elaine paid the damage zone a visit, giving Robert new hope.

"That was a lucky trigger," his opponent commented.

"Stand and draw," he said. With only 2 cards in his hand, he doubted he'll get past his opponent's hand containing 5 cards. Add to that was Blaster Dark Revenger's intercept. With Gancelot's low base power, he had used up most of his counterblast for Gancelot in an effort to bring down the enemy... in vain. Even with Marron's 8000 power boost, Gancelot's total attack power only bummed up to 17000. He was also missing one rear-guard in the front. Deciding to take his chance, he rode Crimson Butterfly, Brigitte to raise both his attack power and base power. But he did manage to equalize the damage, so only one more attack was needed to win the game.

"And I call Gallatin to rear-guard." The knight was called in front of Starlight Unicorn. If he had Alfred Early, he could have a higher chance of winning. But this is all he had for now.

"With a boost from Starlight Unicorn, Gallatin attacks your vanguard."

"I'll intercept that."

"Then boosted by Marron, Bors attacks. With Bors' counterblast, the attack power goes up by 3000, making this attack 21000."

His opponent flinched but remained calm. "Guard with Grim Revenger and Transient Revenger, Masquerade." Robert noticed his opponent was uneasy. "he might not have enough guards for my next attack..." He mused. With this theory he attacked with Brigitte. But his hope was dashed to pieces when his opponent guarded with 16000, making the total guard power 26000, more than enough to stop him. Two triggers were needed.

"Twin drive first check... draw trigger. Power to my vanguard and draw." To his chagrin, the draw was a critical. he was sure he'd lose.

"Second check... Alfred Early."

"It's done. My turn, right?" The opponent smirked. A smile also appeared on Robert's face. "What?" The Shadow Paladin user wondered.

"With Brigitte's skill, if his drive check reveals a Grade 3, he gets 5000 power."

"What?" He took the card and read its effect. He called to the referee and they talked for a minute. Then he returned to the table. "Well, I guess so..." He checked the damage trigger, revealing a critical trigger. "Guess you won," He said.

"I... did?" Robert was shocked.

"Yeah! That trick with Brigitte was awesome. You'll make a great cardfighter someday."

"Robert! ROBERT!"

"Oh, uh... what?" He was snapped out of his memory.

"I said, let's go! We'll be late as it is now! Come on!" Dominic dragged him by the arm and both of them left the place. Robert wondered about that cardfight. He also wondered about his opponent. He couldn't remember much how he looked like, but all he was certain of was there was some mysterious power lurking within him...

"You'll make a great cardfighter someday..." Those words rang in his mind as he entered his next class.

Throughout the class, he was thinking about those words.

"You'll make a great cardfighter someday."

"What was that, Mr. Santiago?" Miss Yellow called out Robert. "What did you say?"

Only then did Robert realize that he said that out loud. He stood up and stammered. "I-I didn't mean to say that... out loud, maam..." He put his hands in his pockets and felt a card. It was Brigitte. Help me out here, dude...

All his classmates looked at him. He turned red. "What did you say again, Mr. Santiago? Please share it with the class."

At that point Mikel, Dominic and Charles burst out laughing, as they knew what Robert said, and it was hilarious to tell it to the class. That outburst was what Robert needed. The teacher turned his attention to the three students. "And why are you three laughing? Is this a laughing matter?" Robert felt relieved and sat back down.

A great cardfighter... what does it take to become a great cardfighter?