There are 264 cards in Vanguard. Eighty per booster, twenty-four promotional cards. Fifty-two Grade 0s, thirty-six Grade 1s, thirty Grade 2s, thirty Grade 3s, twelve clans, and six worth playing. It's not a static fact, but a progressing ratio of grade-to-grade and market scarcity; more grade 3s will never be released without enough grade 2s to make riding feasible, and more grade 2s will never be released without enough grade 1s to make that work, and more grade 1s will never be released until enough grade 0s with abilities that merit more than a passing glance are printed.
For Kai, there is only one.
Flames and ash color the hearth, washing over him like a shift in the tides. A lake of fire, sulfur and pitch. Kai rises—no, practically kicks the chair away, smothering the flames quickly. Familiar scents tingle him from the campfire's remnants, the ground surrounding it scorched and baked dry.
It's rained since then, at least once. Twice. Enough to enliven the grass and undo some of their work, but in his mind Ren's voice is still fresh as the cloves taken root in these grounds.
"Eh Kai, what do you think?"
"You're stupid."
It's stupid is how he said it, but in his memories Kai rewrites the scene each time. He should have said it one way or another, but in the end he could only cover his feelings like the tarp on those flames.
He feels Overlord each time, scraping its claws on his bones, scales snaking along Kai's back. Fire will burn, but it's part of the traditional elements, not like what Ren plays at; empty power, gathering nameless gods under his banner.
"That's not part of the plan, Kai."
"...Ren. Don't you get it yet?"
Aichi is better than him. Better than Ren too, if he works a bit harder. He felt Blaster Blade the way he feels Overlord, charging on through blackest night to a neverending tomorrow, but it's not enough. Aichi has to become his own warrior, a paragon to bring the darkness on its knees, something more than Kai, but Kai is all the boy ever tried to be.
He could use Blaster Blade for himself. Take up the sword of United Sanctuary, assume the image of a hero, and set his grade ratios back to more familiar days.
Overlord rumbles, malcontent.
"No," Eyes shut Kai runs the back of his hand along Overlord's neck, taking in the scales and the scent of roiling magma. "You're the only one for me."