"Hmmmm?"
"Hey big bro, what you doing?"
I looked over to my little brother Virgil. It was just another day in the shop, but my day off.
Virgil who was three years younger than me, was working the counter today. He was just a little shorter than me, but took after our mom more, his hair being a light gold like hers and had our dad's blue eyes. He looked like a pretty boy honestly.
"Nothing, just checking out the new card I got." I then held up Mordred for him to see.
Once he read the description on the card, he wide eyed. "Bro, where did you get a card like this?"
"Hehe," I scratched the back of my head and looked sideways, "you wouldn't believe me if I told you."
"Try me."
I kept looking sideways. It's not that I didn't want to tell Virgil the truth, but the thing is, even I didn't have the whole story.
I had waited to see if Nina would come back during the last few days, but no dice. I was running out of options.
Just then, something appeared on the television that pointed me in a direction.
I quickly got up from my seat, ran over the the counter, got the remote and turned up the volume, ignoring Virgil trying to talk to me.
On the television was a live news interview.
"Ms Fujimiya," a reporter said, "are the rumors true, is there going to be a tournament of some sort?"
The question was directed to a woman standing at a podium in the center of all that mess. She was in her 20's with dark brown hair and eyes, wearing a smile that know could tell what she was thinking.
This was Natalie Fujimiya, a Japanese born cardfighter, current head of the Vanguard Association, and former world champion before she stepped down to take the chairmanship.
She looked at the reporter, without missing a beat. "Yes, the rumors are true. It's been a few years, since I stepped down from the professional circuit, and in that time, I've come to notice and heard about many young cardfighters with hidden potential."
The way she said that , and the look she had, made me feel for some reason, she was speaking to me.
"So in recognition of this, I think it's time for the younger generation to step up. So right now as of today, I am announcing the Vanguard World Tournament."
That got the reporters going with even more questions, and even riled up the fighter currently in the store.
It had been years since a World Tournament or any event like it was held, so everyone was feeling pumped up.
"A question for you, who are those young people behind you?" A female reporter asked.
That was the question I wanted answered as well, since one of them was Nina herself. She was in the back standing next to two others. The first was girl with shoulder length curly blonde hair and blue eyes wearing a bright smile. The other was a boy who had dark purple hair in bangs around his head and the eyes to match.
"Oh them, well… they are the Associations team in the tournament."
That got everyone even more riled up, until Natalie held up her hand to quiet them down.
"Allow me to explain. These young people are known as team New Horizon. For a few months now they have been traveling all over the world, testing the strength of fighters in preparation for the tournament. I myself was still unsure if this tournament was a good idea, but the reports I've received from the three of them tell me my worries are for nothing."
"What do you mean the Association's team? And won't that be unfair to the other teams who have to make through the preliminaries?"
Natalie to her credit, didn't get angry at all, but just stared at the reporter in question. "I understand where you're coming from completely. See, even if we are sponsoring it, the Association is not in charge of this event soley. It is a collaboration of fighters and organizations from around the world, but we ourselves still want to be represented in this on a more personal level, so hence the team. And to answer your second question, these three formed a team and fought against other Association teams for the right to enter the tournament. Believe me, they have the skill, and their opponents will attest to that."
A round of more question came up, but Natalie shook her head. "I'm sorry, that's all the time I have today. We must get going, you know, things to do and such. I will say that the tournament rules and regulations will be posted on our website later today, and I hope will all my heart that this will be an event to remember."
That's when she and team New Horizon finally took their leave.
I turned the volume back down, and went back to my seat. Everyone was getting pumped up, and so was I, but I had another goal in mind as well.
If I wanted to see Nina again, there was only one option.
It looks like I was going to have to take on the world.
"Uh." I was sighing with my head on the table at the store.
"What's wrong son," my dad came over to ask me, "today is one of the slowest ever."
I looked up at him. "Nothing much, just trying to figure out who to form a team with for the World Tournament."
"Really, is it that hard?"
I nodded. "It is. I need to find strong fighters, who can work in a group and pull their own weight in matches when push comes to shove."
"I see, that is hard."
"You're telling me."
Just then, someone pulled out the chair across from me and sat down. "Hey, Chris."
"Hey Eric."
The guy who sat down across from me is my best friend Eric. His family owned a restaurant right down the street from us, and we had known each other since we were little. But he decided to go to a different high school than me, since he said, "No way am I going to deal with rich douches that have stick in their butts." So now, we only hung out when we had free time after school.
I shot straight up in that moment. "Eric, join my team."
"Uh, what are you talking about?"
So, I then proceeded to tell Eric everything, from the fight with Nina, to the weird vision, to the new card she gave me.
"Wow man, just wow."
I nodded, since I barely believed it myself.
"So, will you do it?"
"Sure man."
I thanked him will all my might.
"But, now we have to cardfight," he said, taking out his deck with a grin on his face, "I want to see that new avatar of yours."
"You got it my friend," I said, also taking out my own deck.
In unison, we both said, "Stand Up! Vanguard!"
"Wingal Brave!"
Wingal Brave
Grade 0, Power: +5000
"Stealth Dragon, Madoi."
Stealth Dragon, Madoi
Grade 0, Power: +5000
"You know, it's been a while since we've had an all out fight." I said.
"Sure has, this will be a good test of each other skills, so we can accurately prepare for the tournament. And since you asked me, it's only fair you take the first move."
"Thanks, Eric. I draw." I drew the card from the top of my deck, and it turned out to be my new avatar of all things. This was new for me as well, since it was my first chance to test him out in an official cardfight.
"I ride Knight of Benevolence, Kay!" I exclaimed.
Knight of Benevolence, Kay
Grade 1, Power +7000
" Wingal Brave moves back as forerunner, and I end my turn."
[Turn 2: Hand Chris (5) Eric (5)]
"I draw."
Eric looked at his hand for a moment, before smiling. "Even if I want to see that new card, I still want to win. So ride, Stealth Dragon, Seizui!"
Stealth Dragon, Seizui
Grade 1, Power +7000
Eric then moved Madoi to the back left. "I call Stealth Dragon, Noroi!" He was placed behind Seizui.
"With a boost from Noroi, Seizui attacks!"
(7000+4000=11000)
"No guard."
"Drive check. A critical trigger, give all effects to Seizui."
"A damage check, No triggers." So Chris placed both cards in the damage zone.
[Damage: Chris (2) Eric (0)]
"I end my turn."
[Turn 3: Hand Chris (5) Eric (5)]
"First turn, and I'm already ahead," Eric said smugly.
"I draw." I gave Eric a deadpan look. "Don't get too cocky my friend. The battle has only just begun."
"Now I ride. Knight of Virtue, Bedivere!"
Knight of Virtue, Bedivere
Grade 2, Power +9000
"Then I call, Little Tactician, Marron." I placed her on the right front, rear guard circle.
"Now with a boost from Wingal Brave, Bedivere will attack your vanguard."
(9000+5000=14000)
"I'm guarding that one." Eric put down the critical from before to stop the attack.
"He may seem smug, but my friend hasn't lost his touch. Guarding my attack so I can't add Blaster Blade Exceed to my hand, It's too bad my new avatar has a few surprises in store for him." Chris thought.
"Drive check, no trigger."
"Then Marron, will attack your vanguard."
(7000)
"A no guard. Damage check, no trigger." Eric calmly placed the damage face up in his zone.
[Damage: Chris (2) Eric (1)]
"I end my turn."
[Turn 4: Hand Chris (5) Eric (4)]
"Stand and draw. I ride. Stealth Dragon, Furai!
Stealth Dragon, Furai
Grade 2, Power +9000
"Then I call. Stealth Dragon, Genkai!" Genkai took his place in front of Madoi.
"Noe Furai will attack with a boost from Noroi."
(9000+4000=13000)
"I guard." I put down a 10,000 shield.
"Drive check, no trigger."
"Now Genkai, with a boost from Madoi."
(9000+5000=14000)
"No guard. A damage check. No trigger."
[Damage: Chris (3) Eric (1)]
"I end my turn." I also noticed the glint in Eric's eyes.
[Turn 5: Hand Chris (4) Eric (3)]
"Stand and draw." I was looking at my hand, pretending to chose my next card carefully.
"Come on already, just use the new card." Eric exclaimed, in an excited tone, like a kid.
It took all I had not to burst out laughing, but sadly, a chuckle escaped me.
"Your messing with me." He said in a deadpan tone.
"Haha," I let out a small laugh right then, "sorry, it was just too hard to resist. But seriously," I took the card from my hand and had it in the air, "her I go. Oh Swordsman who seeks redemption, lead these warriors to victory to that you may achieve it. I ride. Swordsman of Redeeming Hope, Mordred Blaster!"
Swordsman of Redeeming Hope, Mordred Blaster
Grade 3, Power +11000
"Wew, nice card."
"Oh you ain't seen nothing yet. Now with a boost from Wingal Brave, he'll attack your vanguard!"
(11000+5000=16000)
Eric looked at his hand for a moment, before making his decision. "A no guard."
"A twin drive then. First check. No trigger. Second check." Chris breathed a sigh of relief. "Finally, a heal trigger. The power to Marron, and I recover one damage."
"A damage check. No trigger."
"The skill of Wingal Brave. He goes to the soul, and then I add Blaster Blade Exceed to my hand." Chris did this with a smile on his face.
"Now Marron will attack the vanguard."
(7000+5000=12000)
"Again, a no guard. Damage check. A draw trigger. I give power to Furai and then draw one card."
[Damage: Chris (2) Eric (3)]
"I end my turn."
[Turn 6: Hand Chris (6) Eric (4)]
"Stand and draw."
Eric looked the board and then his own hand. "So how are things going with you and that blonde cutie?"
Chris nearly fell out of his chair at the totally unrelated comment. "Really?"
Eric just raised his eyebrows at him.
Chris then pinched the bridge of his nose. "First of all, that has nothing to do with the cardfight. Second of all, I told you that she pretty much hates everyone."
"Love and hate are two of the closest emotions."
Chris just sighed. Eric was his best friend, but also a bit of a pervert. He went on dates with many girls and left a few heart broken. So one day, Chris had told him about Alice from school, and since then, he brought her up at the worst possible times.
"I should have never showed her a picture of her." Chris thought.
"Well, the other day-" Chris was cut off at Eric raised his hand.
"Hey, save it for after the cardfight."
Chris's eye then twitched in anger, and Eric got that "revenge is sweet" look on his face, before finally taking hold of a card.
"Now. Use your evil eye to show us how this game will end. I ride. Blazing Demonic Stealth Dragon, Shiranui "Zanki" !"
Blazing Demonic Stealth Dragon, Shiranui "Zanki"
Grade 3, Power +11000
"Now. Generation Stride! Emma Stealth Dragon, Magentenbu!"
Emma Stealth Dragon, Magentenbu
Grade 4, Power +15000
"Now I call, Stealth Dragon, Enbai."
"Oi, oi, oi! He really isn't about to pull his punches is he?" Chris thought.
"Stride skill. I give +2000 to Marron. Then skill of Magentenbu. I counter blast, and then flip over a copy of him in the G zone. Now I can "Dominante" Marron, force her to stand and add another +3000 power to her, also the skill of Madoi, add another +3000 power to Marron, send him to the soul to draw one card."
(7000+2000+3000+3000=15000)
"Guard!"
"Once it's finished attacking, the dominated unit is forced to retreat" Just like that, my board was empty. "Genkai's skill. I counter blast 1 card and soul blast one card, then add +2000 power and draw one card. Also the skill of Enbai. He gains +5000 power when a dominated unit attacks."
"I'll take this as my answer." Chris thought.
"Magentubu attack with a boost from Noroi. Also, Noroi's skill. I send him to the soul, add +3000 to Magentenbu and draw another card."
(26000+4000+3000=33000)
"No guard."
"Triple drive check. First check, no trigger. Second check, a critical trigger. I give the critical to Magentenbu and the power to Genkai. Final check, another critical trigger. The same again."
"Damm, really wish he didn't draw that double trigger." Chris thought.
So I took the damage and gasped in pain. "Damage check." All three cards were not triggers.
"Now Genkai!"
(9000+2000+5000+5000=21000)
"No way will it end here. Generation guard! Holy Dragon, Laserguard Dragon!"
Holy Dragon, Laserguard Dragon
Grade 4, Shield +15000
"Now normally I would use his skill, but right now the shield is more than enough."
"Your still not safe, because Enbai is about to attack."
(9000+5000=14000)
"Guard."
"Man, that attack was brutal." I thought. In just one move, Eric had completely changed the game around, but it was fine. This is why I asked him to be a part of my team. Even if he had some faults, he was still a brilliant and passionate cardfighter through and through.
[Damage: Chris (5) Eric (3)]
"I end my turn."
[Turn 7: Hand Chris (4) Eric (7)]
"Stand and draw. Now it's times."
"Time for what?"
Chris just looked up at Eric. "It's time to show you Mordred's true might. First his Generation Break 1 skill. When I have 3 or less rear guards, I can search my deck for a card with "Blaster" or "Swordsman of Light" in the name and call it." Chris then went into his deck and called Swordsman of Light, Ahmes to the front right.
"A pretty basic Royal Paladin move, was kinda expecting more." Eric said, but a feeling was beginning to build within him.
"It gets better. First off the unit called with Mordred's skill gains the "resist" ability."
Eric raised a brow at that. "Ok, a little more impressive."
"Now. Generation Stride! Holy Divine Knight, Gancelot Peace Saver!"
Holy Divine Knight, Gancelot Peace Saver
Grade 4, Power +15000
"Now this is where things really get going. The stride skill of Mordred. I soul blast 1 card, then look at the top 5 cards of the deck, to see if any are "Blaster" or "Swordsman of Light". If they are, I can call them to an open rear guard circle, and they gain a particular nasty skill."
The way Chris said that, and his smile, told Eric he would not like this skill one bit.
Meanwhile. Chris looked at the top 5 cards of his deck and called Laura to the front left.
"Ok, that's suspicious." Eric thought.
"Now that Laura has taken the board, the skill is in effect. For every rear guard on my field or ones called to the board, she gains +3000 power."
"Oh that's not so bad." Eric thought.
"Did I forget to mention, the skill is a continuous one." Chris said, calling Flogal behind Ahmes, and a Gliding Eagle behind Laura.
"This is bad! Chris is right, that skill is a monster. So now whenever he calls a unit in any form. That Laura will gains +3000 power, and since she has the "Resist" ability to begin with, I can't dominate her, or use skills to get rid of her." Eric thought, noticing his tight situation.
"The skill of Gliding Eagle. I place him in the soul, give +3000 power to Ahmes. Now her we go. Gancelot will attack your vanguard, and with his skill, add +1 drive, and since a card is face up in the G zone, add +1 critical to him."
(26000)
"Complete guard!"
"Fine then, a quadruple drive. First check, a heal trigger. I give power to Ahmes and then recover a damage. Second check, no trigger. Third check, no trigger. Final check, a critical trigger. All effects to Laura."
"I somehow feel this is some sort of karmic payback for messing with him earlier." Eric thought, as the situation became more dire for him this turn.
"Now with a boost from Flogal, Ahmes attacks. His skill gives him another +2000, when the vanguard is a "Alfred" as well."
(9000+2000+5000+4000=20000)
"That's a no guard."
Eric knew he made a mistake when Chris smiled as the attack hit. It was just that Chris had changed his deck, and Ahmes was not a part of it the last time they had a cardfight, so he had no clue of it's skills.
"Hey, wait just one moment. How can Ahmes use his skill, if the vanguard is Mordred not Alfred."
"Oh that. Well, I told you this card was special. See in the lore, which I will give the cliff notes of now, Mordred is Alfred's son. The rightful heir to the round table. As such, it affords him certain privileges , even if he is on a quest to redeem himself in his own eyes. Sorry, tangent, the bottom line is," Chris then tapped the vanguard circle "Mordred can count as a "Blaster Blade" or "Alfred" when on the board."
"Thats-that's so unfair. Seriously, why did that girl give you a card like that? I want one."
"If I knew that, I probably wouldn't need to build the best team possible to take on the world, just for a few simple question." Chris said in a deadpan voice.
"Ok, good point."
"Now where were we?" Chris snapped his fingers. "Oh right, the skill of Ahmes. I just counter blast 1 card, then call a "Blaster Blade" from the deck on top of Ahmes, and shuffle it."
"What?!"
Ignoring his friends outburst, Chris called Exceed on top of Ahmes and then shuffled his deck. " Ahmes also has another lovely skill. When a card is called over him, the cost for that cards [AUTO] ability becomes zero until my turn ends. So with that, I use Exceed's skill to retire Genkai."
Eric was now sweating bullets, he took a quick glance at Chris's board, and knew he was going to have to play it very carefully to survive this turn while still being able to end it on his next turn.
"Now Blaster Blade Exceed, will attack the vanguard."
(11000)
"No guard!" Eric shouted, hoping for something. "A damage check." He breathed a little easier, "A critical trigger, all effects to the vanguard."
"Meh," Chris said, not really worried, " the skill of Flogal, I counter blast 1 card, then place her back in the deck to restand Exceed." Just like that, Chris had a fifth attack lined up for the turn.
"Here comes Laura now, attacking your vanguard."
(7000+3000+3000+3000+3000+3000+5000=27000)
"Generation Guard! Jinx Stealth Hermit, Abudatashi!"
Jinx Stealth Hermit, Abudatashi
Grade 4, Shield +15000
"With her skill, since you have 6 or less cards in your hand, then add +5000 to her shield, in addition that. Guard!"
"Nice, but I still have one attack left. Exceed will not attack Enbai then, since that trigger protected your vanguard."
(11000)
"I'll guard that."
[Damage: Chris (4) Eric (5)]
"I end my turn then."
[Turn 8: Hand Chris (5) Eric (2)]
"Stand and draw. The skill of Shiranui "Zanki". At the beginning of my ride phase, I soul blast a card, then draw, and then we both call a unit from our hand to the board."
So Eric and Chris did this. Eric called Furai to the front. And Chris chose to call Bedivere.
"It seems I'll have to get serious. Generation Stride! Evil-eye Hades Emperor, Shiranui "Mukuro" !"
Evil-eye Hades Emperor, Shiranui "Mukuro"
Grade 4, Power +15000
"One of his aces, Eric must be fired up then." Chris thought.
"Now stride skill. Dominate Bedivere, add +2000 power. In addition, the skill of Furai adds +2000 to himself whenever a unit attacks. Also, the skill of Enbai again."
"Now Bedivere, attack!"
(9000+2000=11000)
"A no guard. Drive check, a draw trigger, the power to Mordred and I draw a card."
"Have a laugh while you still can, because I'm about to win this. The skill of Shiranui "Mukuro". Dominate the vanguard." Eric then did a soul blast for 2 cards, flipped over a card in the G zone, and discard the last card in his hand. "The dominated vanguard will attack all rear guards."
"Skill is useless on me, so he only did it for the other one, which will be a pain to deal with."
"A twin drive check. The first, no trigger. The second a critical trigger. Critical to the vanguard, the power to Enbai."
"Now "Mukuro" attack the vanguard."
(26000)
"A complete guard!"
"A triple drive. The first check, no trigger. The second, no trigger. The third," we both held our breath as the card was turned over, making me sweat again for like the millionth time in this match, "a heal trigger, power to Furai and I recover one damage."
"Now go, Enbai."
(9000+5000+5000=19000)
"Guard!" I put down the critical trigger from earlier.
"Finish this Furai!"
(9000+2000+2000+2000+2000+5000=22000)
"Generation guard! Little Great Sage, Marron!"
Little Great Sage, Marron
Grade 4, Shield +15000
"Using her skill, I soul blast 1 card, and then call Kay to the guardian circle, adding another +5000 power to him."
[Damage: Chris (5) Eric (4)]
"I end my turn."
[Turn 9: Hand Chris (2) Eric (5)]
"Well, this is a mess." Chris thought, looking at the state of the board. He hardly had a thing, and meanwhile Eric had a solid defense with a perfect guard from the drive check earlier.
"Meh," Chris said shrugging off the situation, he knew he would face more than once in the World Tournament to come.
"Stand and draw."
"If vanguard was that straight forward, then it wouldn't hold any meaning of being fun." Chris thought.
"First of the skill of Mordred. I call Blaster Blade Exceed!" Exceed appeared again in the front right.
"Then. Generation Stride! Holy Dragon, Religious Soul Saver!"
Holy Dragon, Religious Soul Saver
Grade 4, Power +15000
"It just had to be that G unit." Eric thought, having faced it many times before, knowing it's awesome power.
"Then I'll use Stride skill to call Morded to the field." Mordred appeared on the front left. "Now I call Marron behind Mordred, and then use her skill to call Flogal behind Exceed from the deck."
In an instant, Chris showed the power or Royal Paladin again, as his field was now full and primed for battle.
"Finally, the skill of Religious Soul Saver. I counter blast 1, then flip over a copy of it in my G zone, Now all my rear guards gain +5000 and since three or more were affected and I have two cards with the name "Blaster" in the soul then give +1 critical to the vanguard."
"First off is Exceed attacking your vanguard."
(11000+5000+4000+5000=25000)
"Generation guard! Rikudo Stealth Dragon, Gehourakan!"
Rikudo Stealth Dragon, Gehourakan
Grade 4, Shield +15000
"With his skill, I counter blast and soul blast 1, and am then able to dominate a grade 1 rear guard my opponent's back row and use it in my guardian circle. The one I choose is Marron."
"Next up is Religious Soul Saver then."
(26000)
"A complete guard!"
"Triple drive check! First check, no trigger. Second check, no trigger. Third check, a critical trigger! All effects to Mordred. Now he'll attack, and with stride skill he gains another +9000 power!"
(11000+3000+3000+3000+5000+5000=30000)
"I won't let you! Guard! Then intercept!" Eric put down a 10,000 shield, and used both rear guards to block the attack.
"I-I did it. I survived it." Eric said panting, knowing he barely survived by the skin of his teeth.
"No, sorry Eric, but like I said, I'm going to end it here."
"What are you talking about. Flogal's skill will only work on-" Eric stopped mid sentence as he remembered what Chris had told him earlier.
"Yes, you almost forgot about Mordred's unique traits. But don't worry, this attack will remind you." Chris then used Flogal skill to restand Mordred, who launched a furious attack.
[Damage: Chris (5) Eric (6)]
"Man, that was a great fight." Eric said, picking up his cards.
"It was, we need to do it more often."
"I agree."
"I'm just glad you didn't use your other trump card, or else I surely would have lost."
Eric waved him off. "Yeah, but then the fight would have been over to quickly. I'll only use that card on a worthy opponent, or when the situation absolutely calls for it. Using it too often in a friendly match just feels wrongs."
"I get that."
"So, any thoughts on the third member, captain?"
Chris was thrown out of whack at the question and title. "Me captain?"
"Yep, you are the one whose putting this team together, only right you should lead it as well."
"Well… ok, I guess."
"Excellent." Eric then grabbed Chris around the shoulder and pulled him in. "So, the question again, captain."
"Honestly, I have no clue. The fighters in the shop are ok, but I feel there's just something missing from them."
"I kinda ge that, but we may not have a choice, it's not like a teammate is just going to walk in right off the street."
The doors to the shop opened just as Eric finished saying that.
"Hello, can you help us?" A young female voice said, behind the two friends.
"Sure little lady-"
Chris stopped talking right there, for as he turned around to help the girl, he saw someone he never expected to see in a card shop at all.
Next Time: Chris encounters an unexpected visitor to his shop. Could they be the salvation his team needs, or a lost cause?
Blood Knight