"Stand up, the Vanguard!"

"Lizard Soldier, Fargo!" Kouen shouted.

"Black Dragon Whelp, Vortimer." Hajime replied.

The two Vanguards stood across from each other. One of them was a small lizard holding a bow and arrow, and the other one was a young knight covered in black steel, each bearing 5000 and 4000 Power respectively.

Seira watched from the distance, analyzing the battlefield. "In Hajime's side.. the darker side of the Gold Paladins. A deck that gives easy access to powerful effects at the cost of your own allies. On the other side.. Kagero." She frowned as soon as she said that word. "Fargo.. one of the best opening moves for an Overlord deck. Be careful, Hajime.."

"I go first." The blonde-haired student drew a card, which he immediately placed on top of the Grade 0. "Ride. Scout of Darkness, Vortimer. I activate Black Dragon Whelp's skill. If I successfully ride Scout of Darkness, Vortimer over that unit, I can look at seven cards from the top of my deck.." As he spoke, he drew seven more cards from his deck, and picked one card, added it to his hand cards after revealing it to be Black Dragon Knight, Vortimer. "Also, I call Speeder Hound. My turn is over."

"My turn! Draw!" The senior drew a card."Ride! Heatnail Salamander! Fargo moves." The small lizard soldier leaped backwards, replaced by a salamander covered by flames. "Heatnail attacks with a boost from Fargo!" "No guard." Hajime replied. "Drive trigger check." Dragon Dancer, Therese.

"Damage check.." Hajime placed the top card of his deck in the damage zone. Dantegal.

"Turn end!" Kouen shouted.

"Both Hajime and Kouen had lost one valuable trigger without any use whatsoever." Seira commented silently, analyzing the field. "And this is where the Draw Trigger that Hajime called kicks in. But I'm getting an uneasy feeling.." She frowned, looking at Kouen and his deck once again.

"My turn. I draw." Hajime drew another card, then placed the card he searched before on the Vanguard circle. "Ride. Black Dragon Knight, Vortimer." The knight transformed into an adult version of himself, sitting firmly on a black steed. "Scout of Darkness's skill activates here. I retire Speeder Hound, and I call two more cards from the top of my deck." He revealed two cards from the top of his deck, Player of the Holy Bow, Viviane and Spectral Duke Dragon. "I Superior Call these two units in both of my front row circles. I also call Knight of Superior Skills, Gareth behind Viviane. Now my Viviane attacks your Heatnail Salamander."

Kouen looked at his own hand cards. The only shield he had was Therese which wasn't enough, and Maria; a perfect guard. "Not bad, kid." He then performed the damage check: Burning Horn Dragon. "Now I activate Viviane's skill. Counterblast." He turned Dantegal face-down. "Superior Call." He revealed the top card of his deck to be the Gold Paladin's Heal Trigger, Elixir Sommelier which he then placed behind his Vortimer. "Now Vortimer attacks with a boost from Elixir Sommelier." "No guard." Kouen placed his hand on his deck, ready for a damage check as Hajime revealed the top card of his deck. Speeder Hound. "Draw Trigger! I give 5000 Power to Spectral Duke Dragon. And I draw a card." Kouen did the damage check. Demonic Dragon Mage, Kimnara. "And now Spectral Duke Dragon attacks your Vanguard!"

"Not so fast! Therese will guard that." Kouen revealed the Heal Trigger he checked earlier.

"I end my turn." Hajime said.

"It's my turn now, stand and draw! I ride Dragon Knight, Nehalem! Nehalem attacks with a boost from Fargo!" The senior turned both of them horizontally again. "No guard." Hajime replied, waiting for the drive check. "Drive trigger check. Dragon Knight, Leather. No trigger." Hajime placed the top card of his deck in his damage zone. Black Dragon Knight, Vortimer. "Turn end." Kouen said.

"My turn. Stand and draw!" The blondie stood all his cards and drew a card. "Appear in the battlefield and settle this fight! Golden steel, unwavering determination! Ride the Vanguard! Steel Spear Liberator, Bleoberis!" He slapped the card on his Vanguard circle. "Sommelier boosts, Bleoberis attacks Nehalem!" "No guard." Kouen replied boldly. "Twin drive check." First check, Spectral Duke Dragon. Second check, Elixir Sommelier. "Get, Heal Trigger! I give the Power to my rear guard Spectral Duke Dragon, and heal one damage." He placed the face down Dantegal in his damage zone to his drop zone. "Damage check." Embodiment of Spear, Tahr. "Critical Trigger. I give 5000 Power to my Vanguard, Nehalem."

"And now Viviane attacks with a boost from Gareth."

"No guard." Seal Dragon, Biera. "Another Critical Trigger. I give the power to Nehalem again."

"Nehalem's Power is now 20000.. my Spectral Duke Dragon can't reach it." He placed his hands on his table. "Turn end."

"Now then, it's my turn. Stand and Draw." The redhead raised one of his cards up. "Ride the Vanguard! My burning soul, Dragonic Overlord!" The dragon knight was covered in flames, transforming into a large, majestic dragon. "This is where your worthiness will be tested, kid." He turned the two cards horizontal. "Fargo boosts, Dragonic Overlord attacks!"

"..No guard." Hajime muttered out loud, staring intently at the Spectral Duke Dragon in his hand.

"Drive trigger check." Dragonic Overlord the End. "Second check!" The second card was revealed to be Blue Ray Dracokid: a Critical Trigger. "I give all effects to Dragonic Overlord!" Hajime looked at his deck, and placed two cards from the top of his deck to the damage zone. Viviane and Halo Shield, Mark. "My turn ends here. Show me what you got, boy." Kouen glared at the other male with a serious look.

Hajime stared at his card for a while, before nodding to his opponent. "Of course I will. Stand and draw." He stood his cards and drew. "Even among the darkest times, the brilliance of your black steel doesn't shimmer! Break Ride! Spectral Duke Dragon!"

A large Vanguard circle appeared in the skies above Bleoberis as it was covered in black flames, replaced with a large, black armored dragon holding a large spear in it's right hand.

The two dragons stood in front of each other, one standing with his comrades, the other standing alone. Who will win this fight?