In a barren wasteland, a large blue mechanical dragon flies at high speeds toward a magician dressed in black robes with a red demonic-looking arm. "Chronojet Dragon, attack the Vanguard!" a man's voice calls out to the dragon.
"I guard!" another man's voice calls out as two other mages dressed in similar robes appear to protect the bigger magician.
"I don't think so! Critical Trigger!" the other voice calls out again and the blue dragon breaks through the shield created by the two mages and strikes the magician and a white light envelops the land.
When it fades, two men in their early twenties appear in an arena full of people watching from the audience, one with black hair, another with red hair with a pink swirl. "Great fight. I accept defeat." The black-haired man says as he extends a hand to the red-head. He accepts the hand shake as the audience cheers at the top of their lungs.
"AND THERE YOU HAVE IT! TEAM TRY3 HAS WON!" the arena announcer shouts with great passion. "With this, Team TRY3 are now the world national champions!" the scene cuts to the red-head standing onto of a podium with two other people, a blonde-haired sophisticated looking man, and a young woman with long green hair. Another young lady with short pink hair hands the red-head a trophy as the audience's cheers get louder and louder. The man holds the trophy high in the air, he then takes the green-haired girl into his arm and holds her close to him as they hold up the trophy together. The blonde-haired man stands next to a woman with short blue hair as they both applauded the couple standing on stage, and the black-haired man and the pink-haired woman do the same as the two on stage lean in close for a kiss.
"Team TRY3," a narrator speaks on the television program, "a team that has risen up to become a legend in the world of Cardfight Vanguard. Composed of Chrono Shindou, Tokoha Anjou, and Shion Kiba. Join us, as we look back on this team's astonishing legend…"
The program cuts to a commercial on the TV in a small bedroom, with plain white walls, blue carpet, a small desk with books, Vanguard cards, and papers scattered across it, a wide cabinet for the flat-screen TV to sit on, and a small single bed off to the side. On that bed, lies a young girl with mid-length purple hair with a pink swirl, sound asleep and snoring loudly, with her body is sprawled out on the bed while wearing a stomach-less pink tank-top and black shorts. She rolls over in the bed closer to the edge until she eventually falls off and hits her head on the floor.
"Ow… that hurt…" she groans, still groggy from sleep. She picks herself up off the floor rubbing her head where she hit, "Oh well, at least I'm up." She says as she looks up at the television. "huh, I must have fallen asleep watching TV again." She says as she picks up the remote off the bed and turns off TV. She then looks down at the alarm clock next to the TV and looks at the time in horror. "Oh no! I'm late!" she panics as she picks up some clothes off the floor and her cards off her desk. She quickly throws on the clothes of a white shirt, black jacket, and a blue-skirt, and puts her deck of cards in her jacket pocket as she runs out of her room and down the stairs and into the living room.
"Alex." A woman's voice calls out to her. She looks over at the couch to see a young middle-aged woman with long green hair working on a laptop and holding a cup of coffee in her hand. "Your breakfast is on the kitchen counter. Hurry or you'll be late for school." The woman tells her.
"Thanks mom!" Alex thanks the woman as she runs into the kitchen, grabs the toast on the plate, puts it in her mouth and runs to the front door to put her shoes on. "Bye mom!" she says with the toast in her mouth.
"Have a good dead honey!" the woman tells her as Alex closes the door behind her. The woman gives a warm smile.
"That girl's a handful, isn't she?" a man's voice comes from the laptop.
"Yeah. Especially now that she's in high school." The woman tells him. "She transferred to the school you work at, didn't she?"
"Yeah." A black-haired man on the screen replies, "It's been so long since I've seen her, I've actually kinda forgot what she looks like."
"Ten years…" the woman says, "she was only 5 when we last met."
"Yep. My daughter's actually about her age now. I wonder if they'll become friends." The man suggests.
"That would be funny." The woman replies, "I mean, they're going to the same school. I don't see why not."
"Well I better get back to work. I have papers to file before homeroom." The man tells her.
"Alright. Take care Kazuma." The woman tells him.
"You too… Tokoha." The black-haired man signs off the chat as the woman closes the laptop as she leans back on the couch to stare at the ceiling as a small tear runs down her cheek.
Meanwhile, Alex runs down the sidewalk on her way to school. "I'm late, I'm late, I'm late!" she says in a panic. She eats and swallows the last piece of her toast as a voice calls out to her.
"Alex!" it's a young girl's voice. Alex looks over to see a girl, a little younger than Alex, with white hair and a pink bow running up to Alex wearing the same school uniform.
"Hey Yui!" Alex replies to the girl. The girl is Yui Genjima, Alex's childhood friend. "You're late for school as well huh?"
"Yeah… I overslept…" Yui whines.
"Well at least we can be late together." Alex says and runs ahead.
"Alex wait! I'm not as fast as you, you know this!" Yui cries as she tries to keep up with Alex.
They soon arrive at school. "Phew… we made it…" Alex says catching her breath.
"And just in time for homeroom." Yui says. They walk into the classroom to find everyone already seated and the teacher at their desk.
"There you are. You two are late." The middle-aged teacher tells him.
"We're sorry Mr. Kanata." Yui bows in apology.
"Yeah, sorry." Alex bows as well.
"Just take your seat." The teacher says. Alex and Yui go to their assigned seats toward the back of the classroom. Alex sits next to the window and Yui sits one seat over. "Alright class," the teacher announces, "You have a new homeroom teacher this year. Please come in." he directs to the door. It opens, and another middle-aged man with fluffy black hair dressed in a formal business suit as well as a short beard, steps into the classroom.
"My name is Kazuma Shouji. I'll be your new homeroom teacher." The man introduces himself.
"I'll leave them to you." The other teacher says as he leaves the room.
"Alright, let's start with introductions." Kazuma looks over the room at the students when his eyes land on Alex, who is look out the window. "You, with the purple hair." He calls out and Alex pirks up, "Let's start with you. Introduce yourself to the class."
Alex stands up from her seat and walks to the front of the class. "My name is Alex Shindou. It's a pleasure meet you all."
Drive 1 – New Beginnings
After class, Alex packs her books in her bag as Yui walks up to her. "Hey Alex!" she says, "You want to have a Cardfight at lunch today?"
"Do you even have to ask?" Alex says with a smug expression, "I'm always up for a Cardfight." As she says this, Kazuma over hears their conversation and walks up to them.
"I made some changes to my deck I want to try out." Yui tells Alex.
"I'm always ready if you want to test changes." Alex tells her. The two giggle as Kazuma gets their attention.
"Cardfight? As in, Cardfight Vanguard?" Kazuma asks them.
"Yeah, it's a card game we play." Yui tells him.
"You know about it Mr. Shouji?" Alex asks.
"Maybe." He says, "Hey. Why don't you two come see me after school today?" both Alex and Yui flinch at his words.
"Are we in trouble?" Alex asks.
"Not at all. I just have something you two might like." He tells him. "I'll be waiting by the front gate. See you there." And he walks out of the class room. Alex and Yui look at each other in uncertainty.
After school, Alex and Yui find Kazuma waiting for them at the front gate like he said. "Ah there you two are." He says, "Come with me."
"Where are we going?" Alex asks.
"It's a surprise. You'll see." He says and the three of them get into his car and drive off to their destination. They arrive at a large building with the words "Card Capital 2" written over it. "Here we are." Kazuma says.
"I-Is this a card shop?!" Alex asks in excitement.
"Yep. The number one card shop for Vanguard." Kazuma tells her.
"Th-This is amazing!" Alex squeals, "I've always wanted to go to a card shop!" The three of them head inside the building and arrive in a large and open room, the walls lined with glass cases holding many Vanguard cards, and several fighting tables toward the back end. Alex and Yui both stare in awe, "Look at all the cards!" Alex exclaims.
"This place hasn't changed at all." Kazuma says.
"What do you mean?" Yui asks.
Before Kazuma could answer, a voice calls out to them. "Welcome to Card Capital." A younger looking man with short brownish-orange hair comes from around the corner wearing an apron with the shop logo on it and carrying a broom. He lays eyes on Kazuma and his expression drops, "K-Kazuma?! Is that you?!" he asks in shock.
"Hey Taiyou. Long time no see." Kazuma says and extends a hand shake to the other man.
"Oh man! It's so good to see you again!" the man says accepting the hand shake. Kazuma turns arounds to face the girls.
"Ladies, this is Taiyou Asukawa. Card Capital 2's head manager." Kazuma introduces him.
"Nice to meet you! I'm Alex Shindou." Alex introduces herself.
"…and I'm Yui Genjima. Nice to meet you." Yui does the same.
"Alex… man you've really grown." Taiyou says.
"Huh?" Alex is confused, "How do you know me?"
"I knew your father, and so did Kazuma over here." Taiyou explains and Alex's face drops.
"Alex… your father is…" Yui begins to explain.
"My father is Chrono Shindou…" Alex finishes, "If you two know my father that means…" the realization then hits her, "Y-You two were his teammates?!"
"Yep, Team Striders." Taiyou says taking a proud stance.
"N-No way… you two are legends!" Yui exclaims.
"I don't believe it! Two Vanguard legends standing right here in front of me!" Alex exclaims in excitement, "This is the best day ever!" But she then remembers something. "Wait! If you two knew my dad, does that mean you know what happen to him?" Both Kazuma and Taiyou glance away.
"We're just as clueless as you Alex." Taiyou says.
"Oh yeah, your dad disappeared when you were only 5 right?" Yui asks for clarification.
"Yeah." Kazuma replies, "We stopped coming around after he disappeared. That's why you don't remember us. You were too young." Alex hangs her head in sadness, but Kazuma walks up and places a hand on her shoulder. "Hey cheer up, I'm sure we'll find him one day." He says and Alex's frown turns into a smile.
"Yeah. As long as I hold that hope in my heart, I'll never give up!" she says. "One day, I will find him and bring him back, so we can be a family again! He's the whole reason I'm even playing Vanguard! My dream is to become a champion like him day, with my own team!"
"Well you've got friend, so it's a start." Kazuma says.
"Well, Yui's really the only friend I've had." Alex scratches her head in embarrassment.
"And Alex is really the only friend I've ever had." Yui replies.
"Like I said, it's a start." Kazuma says and walks away slightly. "But having a team is only the first step to becoming a champion. You'll have to fight thousands of really strong opponents. So…" he turns around to face them again. "If you really want to become a champion, I have to see if you have what it takes to become one." He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a deck of cards. "Alex, I want you to fight me! Show me you have what it takes to become a champion!"
Alex's expression drops at his request. "Wh-What? Fight you?!" Alex exclaims in shock and excitement. Kazuma nods in acknowledgement. "No way! I get to fight the legendary Cardfighter?! I-I don't believe it!" Alex is failing to contain her excitement, "This really is the best day ever! Thank you, Mr. Shouji!"
"Please, call me Kazuma." He says, "Titles make my skin crawl."
A few minutes later the two of the stand at either end of a fight table getting ready for their fight. Meanwhile, Yui and Taiyou stand off to the side watching. Yui puffs her cheeks in annoyance. "It's not fair!" she exclaims, "Why does Alex get to have the amazing linage? Because of it, she gets to fight a legendary fighter."
"Don't worry Yui. I'd be happy to fight you sometime. That way you and Alex can be even." Taiyou tells her.
"R-Really?" she asks. "Thank you Taiyou!"
"Oh, they're about to start." He says. Alex and Kazuma place their decks onto the table and draw five cards each.
"I won't be holding anything back, and neither should you! Come at me with everything you've got!" Kazuma tells her.
"I intended to do that from the started!" Alex tells him. Then, the two of them place their hands on their starting Vanguards and shout in unison… "Stand up… VANGUARD!" as they flip their cards over.
"Dragprince, Rute (G0/5000)!" Kazuma declares.
"Steam Maiden, Ayncia (G0/5000)!" Alex declares. After they flip them over, small 3D miniature holograms of the units appear on the table. Kazuma smiles at Alex's card.
"You even use Gear Chronicle like he did." He says in remembrance.
"It's what he trained me with." Alex tells him.
Kazuma smirks and draws a card from his deck, "I'll go first! Ride! Dragwizard, Knies (G1/7000)!"
"here we go!" Alex says in her mind.
"I move Rute back with the Forerunner. Your turn."
"Draw!" Alex declares and looks over the cards in her hand. "Ride! Steam Maiden Nanniya (G1/7000)! I activate Ayncia's skill! When she's rode on, I can look at the top five cards of my deck and add one Gearoid among them to my hand."
"Interesting." Kazuma remarks.
"I call Steam Hunter Feena behind Nanniya (G1/7000)! Boosted by Feena, Nanniya attacks the Vanguard (7000-14000)!"
"No guard." Kazuma declares.
"Drive check (none)!" Nothing…"
"Damage check (none)." (Kazuma: []). "My turn! Ride! Dragwizard Liafail (G2/9000)! I call Black-winged Swordbreaker (G1/6000)! Using her skill (Soul 1-0) I draw a card. I also call Abyssal Owl (G1/7000)! Using his skill, I look at the top seven cards of my deck and add a card with Luard in its name to my hand, and because I did that, I can discard cards whose total grades equal 3 or more. I discard two grade 1s and a grade 2. Now it's complete."
"What's complete?" Alex asks.
"Kazuma's Ritual." Taiyou explains.
"Ritual?" Yui questions.
"It's the special skill of Shadow Paladins. If Kazuma has a certain amount of grade 1s in his drop zone, he can use his unit's skills." Taiyou explains.
"Boosted by Rute, Liafail attacks (9000-14000)! Due to Liafail's Ritual 3, add 2000 power (14000-16000)."
"AHH!" Alex yelps as her unit's hologram is struck by Liafail's hologram.
"Drive Check (Critical). Critical Trigger!"
"Those are the new triggers, aren't they?" Alex asks.
"Yep. With this, I add 10000 power to Black-winged Swordbreaker (6000-16000) and 1 Critical to Liafail." (Alex: [][]). "Boosted by Abyssal Owl, Swordbreaker attacks (16000-23000)!"
"I guard (Shield: 20000)!"
"One of the new heal triggers with 20000 Shield huh? Not bad." Kazuma remarks. "I end my turn."
"Ride!" Alex declares, "Steam Hunter Kishla (G2/9000)! I call Steam Mechanic Nabu (G2/10000) and Steam Scara Kalain (G1/8000)! Boosted by Kalain, Nabu attacks the Vanguard (10000-18000)! Using the skills of both Nabu and Kalain! With Kalain (Soul 2-1), you can't intercept and you can only call up to three guardians! Next with Nabu, I bind the card I used for Kalain's cost, and you can't call grade 1 or higher units for this battle!"
"Huh." Kazuma says with mild shock, "No guard then." (Kazuma: [][]).
"Boosted by Feena, Kishla attacks (9000-16000)!"
"I guard (Shield: 10000+10000=20000)!"
"Drive check (Draw). Draw Trigger! Power to Kishla and draw a card (16000-26000)! Tck, still couldn't get through though… At the end of my turn, I put Nabu into my soul and draw a card. I also bind Kalain." Alex clicks her teeth.
Kazuma chuckles a little as he begins his turn, "And this is only the beginning."
"Huh?" Alex flinches a little.
"What does he mean?" Yui asks.
"Kazuma's about to ride to Grade 3, and reveal his true strength." Taiyou explains.
"Awaken now! The hidden power lying inside me!" Kazuma shouts, "Ride! Dragheart… Luard (G3/11000)!"
"There it is! Kazuma's ace! Luard!" Alex thinks to herself in excitement.
"I call Dragwizard, Uscias (G2/9000)! Using his skill ([X][])! I return a grade 1 in my drop zone to the bottom of my deck and increase his power by that unit's power! I returned Dragwizard Knies, so add 7000 power (9000-16000)!"
Board State
(G2/16000) (G3/11000) (G1/6000)
(XXXXX) (G0/5000) (G1/7000)
"Boosted by Abyssal Owl, Swordbreaker attacks (6000-13000)!"
"Guard (Shield: 5000)!"
"Boosted by Rute, Luard attacks the Vanguard (11000-16000)!"
"No guard…"
"Twin Drive!" Kazuma declares.
"That means he gets two drive checks right?" Yui asks.
"Yep." Taiyou replies.
"First check (none). Second check (Critical). Critical Trigger! Power to Uscias (16000-26000). Critical to Luard (16000/Crit 1-2)! HAAAAAA!" He shouts as Luard strikes the hologram.
"ACK!" Alex reals in imagined pain, even having to grab the bar on the end of the fight table. "Damage Check (none/none)." (Alex: [][][][] 4/6)
"Uscias attacks the Vanguard (26000)!"
Alex thinks for a moment, then decides on her move, "Complete Guard!"
"The new draw trigger sentinels. You do seem like you know your stuff after all." Kazuma applauds her. "I end my turn."
"Yeah," Alex pants, "you're not bad yourself. As expected from a legendary cardfighter. However… you haven't seen my ace in the hole yet!" Kazuma is curious. "I'm just getting started!" Alex takes a card from her hand and holds it in the air, "Let's go, you and me! To a new world of our true potential! Ride! High Steam Maiden… Korona (G3/12000)!" A girl with short and spiky white hair wearing a steam-punk attire appears on Alex's Vanguard circle and wielding dual-blades.
"Twelve thousand Power?" Kazuma exclaims with curiosity.
I call Steam Hunter Lippitt (G2/10000) and activate her skill! I bind a card in my drop zone and she gains 3000 power (10000-13000). I activate the skill of Steam Maiden Ayncia in my soul!"
"Huh?" Kazuma flinches.
"If I have Korona as my Vanguard, I can bind her to draw a card. I also call Steam Lynx Anbu (G1/7000)! Also, while Ayncia is in my Bind Zone, she becomes a grade 1."
Board State
(XXXXX) (G3/12000) (G2/13000)
(XXXXX) (G1/7000) (G1/7000)
"Boosted by Anbu, Lipptt attacks (13000-20000)! Using Anbu's skill! When she boosts, I can discard a card, and Lippitt gains 1000 power for every grade face up in my bind zone!"
"What?!" Kazuma exclaims.
"The total grade is 5. So add 5000 power (20000-25000)!"
"Ugh, No guard." (Kazuma: [X][][]).
"Using Lippitt's skill she got from Anbu, since the attack hit, you choose one of your rear-guards and put it on bottom of your deck."
"Hm… I choose Swordbreaker." Kazuma smirks.
"I activate Korona's skill ([X][][][])! I since one of my rear-guards finished an attack, I can bind that rear-guard to call a unit from my deck with one higher grade!" Kazuma's eyes light up at the sound of this strategy. "I bind Lippitt and call from my deck, the Grade 3, High Steam Maiden, Elul X(cross) (G3/12000)! Using her skill (Soul 2-1), I can call Pressure Burst Gear Fox from my hand and add 10000 power to it (G1/7000-17000)! Boosted by Feena, Korona attacks the Vanguard (12000-19000)!"
"Guard (Shield: 15000)!" Kazuma declares.
"Twin Drive (none/Critical). Critical Trigger! All effects to Elul (12000-22000/Crit 1-2)! Boosted by Gear Fox, Elul attacks the Vanguard (22000-39000)!"
"No guard." (Kazuma:[X][][][][]).
"I end my turn. With that, I bind Elul and call Lippitt from my bind zone (G2/10000)."
"Ugh! She was so close!" Yui whines a little.
"Yeah, but now Kazuma's gonna go full force on her now." Taiyou says.
"UGH! I almost had you!" Alex shouts in frustration as she leans back and scratches her head vigorously. As she is doing this, a small smile comes over Kazuma's face. "What's wrong?"
"It's like I'm fighting your father right now…" Kazuma tells Alex.
"Huh?" Alex questions.
"You and your father's fighting styles are almost exactly the same. You both bind your rear-guards to call stronger rear-guards." Kazuma tells her. "Not only that, but you take it a step further and regard the grades in your bind zone as well. Maybe I underestimated you Alex."
"Heh heh, well, my dad did teach me everything I know." Alex boasts as she scratches her cheek.
"But you haven't defeated me yet!" Kazuma tells her and she looks up at him in a slight panic. "This is where the real fight begins!" Kazuma takes a card with a white back off of the zone above his damage zone and holds it up. "I activate Dragheart Luard's Ritual 3 ([X][X][][][])! By returning two normal units in my drop zone to my deck, I can Stride without paying the cost!"
"Stride?" Yui questions.
"Generation Stride." Taiyou explains to her, "A power that unlocks limitless futures."
"Liberating… the Generation Zone! Devour! Until you seize the world that you are seeking!" Kazuma chants, "Generation… STRIDE!" The screen on the fight table lights up and from the light, a hologram of a magician with a demonic red arm and several magic circles around him appears. "Dragdriver… LUARD (G4/26000)!"
"Twenty-six thousand Power?!" Alex exclaims.
"I activate Dragheart Luard's stride skill ([X][X][X][][])! I retire Abyssal Owl and call Dragwizard Knies (G1/7000-9000) and Black-winged Swordbreaker (G1/6000)! Using Abyssal Owl's skill, since it was retired due to Luard's skill, I Counter Charge 1 ([X][X][][][]). I activate Dragdriver Luard's skill (Soul 1-0/G-Zone 0-1)! I can call as many grade 1 units from my deck as I have Dragdriver Luard's face up in my G-Zone."
"What?!" Alex exclaims.
"I call Dragwizard Knies (G1/7000-9000) replacing Uscias, and Dragwizard Iucharba (G1/7000). I call Dragwizard Morefessa (G2/9000)!"
Board State
(G1/9000) (G4/26000) (G2/9000)
(G1/7000) (G0/5000) (G1/9000)
"Boosted by Iucharba, Knies attacks your Vanguard (9000-16000)!"
"I guard (Shield: 10000)!" Alex declares.
"Boosted by Rute, Dragdriver Luard attacks your Vanguard (26000-31000)!
"I guard (Shield: 15000+10000=25000)!"
"You realize if I get a Critical trigger here, I win." Kazuma tells her.
"I know." Alex says with confidence.
Kazuma smirks and checks his cards. "Triple Drive! First Check (none)." The room falls tense. "Second Check (Heal). Heal Trigger! Power to Luard and heal 1 damage. ([X][][][]) (31000-41000)!" Alex grits her teeth. "Third Check…!" Kazuma flips over the card and… (Draw/sentinel). "Draw Trigger… Power to Morfessa and draw a card (9000-19000).
"Damage Check." Alex declares (Critical). She smiles at her card. "Critical Trigger! Korona gains 10000 power (12000-22000)!" (Alex:[X][][][][]).
Kazuma smiles a little. "Not over yet! Boosted by Knies, Morfessa attacks (19000-26000)! Using Morfessa's Ritual 3, add 5000 power (26000-31000)!"
"Guard (Shield: 10000)!"
"Not bad." Kazuma compliments her. "Using Knies's skill ([X][X][][], after he boosts, I retire Morfessa and draw a card. Due to Iucharba's skill, I put Morfessa into my soul instead of retiring her (0-1). With that, I end my turn. Now Dragdriver Luard returns to my G-Zone face up and Dragheart Luard becomes my Vanguard again (G3/11000). I'm actually somewhat impressed you managed to survive that."
"It takes a lot more than that to knock me down!" Alex tells him.
"But now you have no cards in your hand," Kazuma points out, "if you're planning to Stride, you won't be able to unless you draw a grade 3 card."
"Striding was never my plan." Alex tells him and Kazuma looks visibly confused. "I'll show you Korona's true power!"
"Here it comes!" Yui exclaims in excitement.
"Here what comes?" Taiyou questions.
"First, I activate the skill of Steam Hunter Feena! At the beginning of my Ride Phase, I can bind her to call High Steam Hunter Feena from my deck and due to her skill, she gains 2000 power (G2/10000-12000). Now, Unleash! Breakthrough the darkness with your new found potential!" Alex chants. "Soul Drive, ACTIVATE!"
"WHAT?!" Kazuma and Taiyou both exclaim in shock.
Korona's hologram glows a bright blue light as mechanical wings appear on her back and her dual-blades become longer. "I send cards from my bind zone to the drop zone whose total grades equal 4 or more. I send two grade 2 units (BZ 9-5). With that, Korona permanently gains 3000 power, 1 grade, and 1 drive (12000-15000/Grade 3-4/Drive 2-3)! She also becomes Driven!"
"Amazing…" Kazuma mutters to himself, "She actually knows such a technique…"
"I call Steam Mechanic Mel-nya (G1/7000)!" A hologram of small cat girl dressed in steampunk attire appears. "Using her skill (Soul 1-0) I call High Steam Maiden Elul X from the bind zone (G3/12000)(BZ 5-2)."
Board State
(G3/12000) (G4/15000) (G2/12000)
(XXXXX) (G1/7000) (G1/7000)
"Let's go! Elul attacks your Vanguard!"
"No guard." (Kazuma: [X][X][][][]).
"Boosted by Gear Fox, Feena attacks your Vanguard (12000-19000)!"
"Guard (Shield: 10000)!"
"Boosted by Mel-nya, Korona attacks your Vanguard (15000-22000)!"
"Complete Guard!"
"Triple Drive! First Check (none). Second Check (none/grade3). A Grade 3 unit! Gear Fox's skill activates! Bind him and call Fearless Steam Knight Ludger from my deck over Elul, and with his skill, add 3000 power (G2/10000-13000)! Third Check (Critical). Critical Trigger!" Kazuma gasps in shock. "All effects to Ludger (13000-23000/Crit 1-2)! I activate Mel-nya's skill! At the end of a battle she boosts, I bind her and call two Clockwork Tokens in her place (G1/5000 each)." Small gear-shaped robots appear. "Boosted by the Clockwork token, Ludger attacks the Vanguard (23000-28000)!"
"Guard (Shield: 20000)!" Kazuma declares in a panic. "Heh," he pants, "you're all out of attacks. You've got nothing left."
"Not yet!" Alex tells him and he reals in fear. "You forgot. I activate Korona's skill ([X][X][][][])! I bind Ludger and call a unit with one higher grade. I call High Steam Maiden Korona. And due to the skill of my Vanguard Korona, if she's Driven, she also gains 2000 power for each grade in my bind zone (G3/12000-26000)! I attack the Vanguard one more time! HYAAAAAAAAAAAA!" Alex screams as she imagines herself as Korona rushing toward Kazuma as Luard.
Kazuma looks at his hand, and the only card in it is Luard, no shield. He smiles and says "No guard." The attack connects and Luard collapses to the ground. "Damage Check… (none). (Kazuma: [X][X][][][][] 6/6). The holograms disappear from the board and the table turns off.
Alex stares at Kazuma's damage in complete shock. "I-I won…?" she says.
Both Yui and Taiyou are also speechless. Kazuma walks around the table to Alex's side. He looks at her in the eyes, "You really are an amazing fighter, just like your father." He says and extends a hand to her, "I admit defeat with honor."
Alex is still in shock from her feat, but regains her composer and pulls out a smile. She takes his hand and shakes it. "ALEX!" Yui exclaims. As Alex turns around to face her, she is caught off guard by Yui leaping throwing herself around Alex in a big hug, "THAT WAS AMAZING! You actually beat a legend!"
"Heh heh… I have to admit, I'm a little surprised myself." Alex says while blushing that Yui is hugging her.
"I'm surprised you managed to use the power of Soul Drive, and nearly mastered such a technique, what seems like so quickly. I definitely think you have what it takes to become a champion fight like your father." Kazuma tells her and she gives him a big smile.
Later that evening, Alex and Yui are walking home while talking about their experience today. "I still can't believe you managed to beat Mr. Shouji!" Yui tells her.
"I know right." Alex replies, "It was close though, after he used Dragdriver, I got a little worried." As they walk, they pass by a girl a little older than them with long brown hair who looks at them from the other side of the street.
"But the way you used Soul Drive at the end to make a total of five attacks!" Yui exclaims as they pass by a young boy, about their age, with red spiky hair walking out of a card shop and looking at them. "Hey, you want to go back to that card shop tomorrow?" Yui asks Alex.
"Sounds good to me." She says, "I want to fight Taiyou next." They pass by an older boy with light blue hair sitting a café on the other side of the street, reading a book and sipping some tea. Alex pulls out her deck and looks at her Korona card on the bottom. "If Kazuma says I have what it takes to become a champion, I shouldn't disappoint him! I'll make him proud." She then stops and looks up at the sky, "And you too dad." She says holding her deck close to her heart.
Ending Theme – ZERO! (Devil is a Part-Timer opening)
[Next Time]
Alex: I run into girl about my age who seems rather cold, and she plays Vanguard, but denies it. What's with this girl? EHHH?! She's Kazuma's daughter?! Next time on Vanguard X: "Imageless Fight!" Don't miss it!