In Lumiose City, a new battle has begun at the conservatory inside Prof. Sycamore's lab. Inside, the building for Pokémon has turned into a lush, but desolate canyon. Between the Professors, Trainers, and the Pokémon, they are all excited to see the game known as Vanguard. Ash and Kai's new battle gauntlets are glowing, representing their two spirits have made it onto the surface of the planet Cray. They now have a hand-made selection of cards put together in the form a deck of fifty cards. Speaking of the deck, it's locked and loaded in their gauntlet. "Alright, Ash, to show our First Vanguard, you chose a Grade 0 Unit and place it on the glowing circle," Kai says, instructing to Ash. Ash does so after Kai chooses his own, "I'm Ready Kai, shall we stand up?" Kai smiles as he tells everyone to say a phrase as soon as the two players flip their First Vanguards face-up.
"Stand Up, (The) Vanguard!"
As everyone says that phrase, the circles glow and Ash and Kai's outfits are transformed with elements of their First Vanguard. "I choose to Stand Up Barcgal!", Ash announces as he summons armor and his jacket getting a little furry. "As for me, Ash, I choose to Stand Up Lizard Soldier, Conroe!", Kai announcing to Ash as he summons a cape and getting a scale-like patter over his jacket. "I'll make the first move, Ash, just to show you an example," Kai announcing to Ash. As Ash's nods in agreement, Kai starts by drawing a card. Then, Kai can Ride his Vanguard with a unit with no more than one grade above. Meaning, Kai can ride onto Conroe with another Grade 0 or a Grade 1. When a Cardfighter rides, they stack unit on top of the Vanguard. "Ride, Iron Tail Dragon!", Kai announces as he sprouts small wing accessories and his gauntlet sprouting sharp claws. Kai then shows the ability to call others, or Rear-Guards by activating Conroe's Forerunner skill (Forerunner: When a unit of the same clan rides this unit, you can move it to a Rear-Guard Circle). Just then, a Pokémon from one of Kai's Pokeballs comes out and appears right behind him. What appears is one of Ash's longtime friends, Charizard. Ash smiles as he sees an old friend, but knows that he's on his rivals' side. "Now that I have you here, let's attack...," Kai says getting Ash worried, but then relives everyone when he reveals that Cardfighters going first can't attack.
"Ash, let's see what you can do," Kai says ending his turn. Ash now draws a card, then proceeds to look at his options. "I think I shall Ride... the Little Sage, Marron!", Ash says as he spawns a book and an academic hat. As Barcgal's Forerunner ability kicks in, Ash chooses to move him to the bottom right circle. Just then, everyone see's Ash's Squirtle appear on that position. The trainer then decides to call Rear-Guards from his hand, which is allowable. However, the units they want to call must be the grade of, or are less than the current grade of the Vanguard. Ash calls Wingal behind him, as well as Young Pegasus Knight. Ash then sees his Fletchling appears next to him, and Pikachu directly behind him. "What do you say that we attack, everyone?", Ash calling out to his Pokémon friends, which they all agree. Kai then explains that Grade 0s and 1s each have a Boost ability, which when in the back row, they can support the other units by giving their attack power to the front row units. Ash then lays out his plan as he rests his units, by turning them 90 degrees, "Alright, with a Boost from Barcgal, I'll have Young Pegasus Knight attack the Vanguard!" Kai then smiles as he takes a card fro his hand and shows it to Ash. The Pokémon gang is confused by the move, but then Kai reveals the mechanics of Guarding. "By using cards with a shield, you can use them to guard. I just used Gatling Claw Dragon to guard your attack. By doing that, the shields' power increases the total of my Vanguard." Ash then facepalms as the total Power of Kai's Vanguard is now 12,000, which is 2,000 points higher than Ash's attack strength of 10,000. "I guess if my power is less than yours, the attack won't get through?," Ash asking Kai to confirm the bad news, which Kai nods. "After you guard, Ash," Kai continuing his teaching, "All of the units you used are placed into the Drop Zone."
Ash knew that he had another attack ready and he was ready to use it. "With a boost from Wingal, Marron is coming in at your Iron Tail Dragon!" Kai hears Ash announce as he braces for the impact. "I don't guard, Ash," Kai confirming his decision to Ash, "Now, because you're attacking with your Vanguard, do a drive check." Serena looks at Misaki and she's confused about the Drive Check. Misaki proceeds to explain, "With a Drive Check, Ash draws and reveals the top card of his deck. No matter what, it's added to his hand. But if there is an icon at the top right, he'll get a bonus." Ash proceeds to draw and his jaw drops in astonishment when he reveals the card, "Kai, it's The Bringer of Good Luck, Epona!" Kamui is ecstatic himself, "Awesome Ash! That's A Critical Trigger!" Kai is shocked himself, "Triggers do give a unit of your choice a bonus of 5000 power...," Kai starts before worrying about the other effect. "but Critical Triggers add an extra point of damage for your attacker if the attack hits..." Ash assigns both effects to his Vanguard, giving the total attack 19,000 power, and 2 damage to Kai. "Now that Kai took damage...," Emi continues to the Trainers, "He has to do Damage Checks, which are similar to Drive Checks, but the cards are added to the damage zone instead of the hand." Kai's first damage check; Dragon Monk, Goku, no trigger. The second check, reveals The Embodiment of Armor, Bahr, another unit with no trigger. Kai shakes his head in shock, but is impressed with Ash's first turn.
It's the third turn of the Cardfight and it's Kai's turn to strike. "Ash, that was good, but let's see what I can do," Kai calling out to his opponent, "I draw and now ride, Dragon Knight, Nehalem!" As his circle glows, he spawns a spear along with a shield, and a purple cape. "I now activate the skill of Lizard Solider, Conroe!," Kai calls out to Ash, declaring his next move, "By paying a Counter-Blast of 1, which means that by flipping over one card in my damage zone, I can move Conroe to the Drop Zone to search my deck for a Grade 1 or less Kagero unit and add it to my hand." As he searches his deck, he confirms his choice with another copy of Bahr, and Charizard returns into its Pokeball. Charizard returns as well as Infernape as Kai calls upon Bahr and a new unit, Wyvern Strike, Jarren. "Ash, here comes my Vanguard in an attack on yours!", Kai announces as Ash looks at his options before calling out, "Kai, this attack shall pass. I don't guard." Ash got lucky with Kai's Drive Check, as there is no trigger. But, Kai has revealed a Grade 3, which can prove catastrophic later on. Ash then performs his own Damage Check, no trigger. Kai hopes for another damage with an attack from Bahr supported by Jarren. Ash does allow this attack to go through, as he wants to keep guards for that Grade 3 Kai just grabbed. The next Damage Trigger brings no luck for Ash, but he's ready for the next turn that Kai can do.
"Cmon, Ash!," Bonnie shouting out for her friend, "You can do this!" Ash nods at her before looking at his units on the field and his hand. "Aichi Sendou may not be here with us, Kai," Ash calling out to everyone, "But... this next move will bring back some good memories." Ash then brings out a card that suddenly glows blue, "Power of the light, shine forth and protect Aichi Sendou's family and friends!" The Cardfighters then realize who Ash is bringing out as Ash continues his declarations, "Now, Stand up, My Avatar! I ride... Blaster Blade!" As he slams the card onto the blue vanguard circle, his circle glows a bright blue as he gains the armor and sword of the unit. Kai smiles as he reminisces about the time that he and Aichi had their first Cardfight together. "Aichi called out the same thing, Ash," Kai saying to his rival, "You are actually making me emotional." "Kai, let's see what you can do after my Vanguard's Ability kicks in!", Ash calling to Kai, not realizing that his opponent paid a Counter Blast of 2, sending Bahr to the Drop Zone. Ash then continues his assault with his Vanguard being supported by Wingal and his skill, which if he supports Blaster Blade in an attack, he adds 4,000 power to the attack. With that skill, it makes the total power of this attack, 19,000 power. Kai chooses to Guard with Lizard Solider, Ganlu. Clemont looks at the score and has a worried look on his face, "Unless Ash pulls a Drive Trigger, the attack will be harmless..." The trainers hold their breath as the Drive Check goes, but grunt when it reveals no trigger. With the score of 20,000 VS 19,000, Kai's defense held. However, the attack involving Young Pegasus Knight, would be let through as Kai does a damage check. Despite no trigger, Kai still smiles as he stands up his units and draws. "Ash, you've done a good job, but..."Kai says before stopping himself and looking at one particular card. "Are you ready to see what the Kagero clan can bring to the table?!" Ash grits his teeth as he braces for a big turn from Toshiki Kai, the very first opponent for Aichi Sendou, and now for him as well.
Meanwhile, in an unknown location, voices are speaking about Aichi. "How could we have failed in making them forget about Aichi?", an older man speaks. "I don't know, it shouldn't have been possible." "But, we must win against those who remain vigilant," a young girl says to the two men, as another man's voice steps in. "We must make sure that we succeed Otherwise, our mission as the Quatre Knights is doomed."