The game of Vanguard is amazing. It has the power to bring people together. Regardless of clan, colour, or type, everyone has a place on the planet Cray. While Vanguard is more popular overseas, being played by the best, and the magically inclined, the game also has a place among other walks of life.

In a small game shop in the middle of the UK, two friends are in the middle of a battle of wits. But after finishing that, they started a Cardfight with each other with a heavy prize on the line.

Jessie, blonde hair, blue eyes, and the town's local pretty boy. Dressed smartly in casual jeans, a thin hoodie, and a blazer over it with the sleeves rolled up. He's playing with the Royal Paladin clan, a deck known for calling allies and gaining strength from it.

His opponent, his childhood best friend Micheal. Crafty, headstrong, and resourceful. Ginger hair, with hazy eyes, he goes to the same college as Jessie but takes an engineering course. Preferring utility over casual, he wears cargo pants with a comfy jacket and a plain t-shirt. He plays Nova Grappler, a clan of fighters from all walks of life, known for getting back up when they fall.

Jessie 3 damage

VS

Micheal 2 damage

Jessie enters the battle phase of his turn. Taking into account the cards in Micheal's hand, he prepares his attack.

"Supported by Snowgal, I attack Asura Kasier with Knight of Silence Gallatin. Snowgal gains more power than every other Snowgal. I have three altogether, so Snowgal's power sits at 8000."

[Gallatin 10000 + Snowgal 8000 = 18000]

"No guard," Micheal decides to take the attack and proceeds into the damage check. "No trigger." Revealing a normal unit, he sets it down in the damage zone.

[Micheal 3 damage]

"Next with a boost from Snowgal, my vanguard Fang of Light Garmore will attack the vanguard. Just like Snowgal, Garmore gains additional power for each Snowgal and Blugal on the rearguard. That's four." Jessie's vanguard's power greatly surpasses Micheal's.

[Garmore 14000 + Snowgal 8000 = 22000]

"I won't guard that attack either." Micheal decides to brave the attack, hoping on no triggers.

"Twin drive. First check," turning over the first card, Iseult. "Second check, critical trigger. I give the power to Blugal, and the critical goes to my vanguard." Splitting the effects, Garmore does two damage to Micheal.

"Damage check. First check. Second check. Stand trigger, power to Kasier." Micheal reveals a trigger on the last pull, allowing him some defense.

[Micheal 5 damage]

[Kaiser 16000]

"Finally, with support from Snowgal, Blugal will attack the vanguard."

[Blugal 9000 + Snowgal 8000 = 17000]

"I'll guard with Lucky Girl." Micheal guards the last attack with a stand trigger, protecting himself completely.

[Kasier 16000 + Lucky Girl 10000 = 26000]

"That's my turn. Back to you."

"Okay. Stand, and draw." Micheal steps up his board before taking his turn. "I'll call Brutal Jack to the rearguard. With a counterblast, I negate their restraint. I'll also call Tough Boy behind Jack." Micheal fulls up a lane with his units before moving into the next phase.

Jessie looks over his hand. He can feel his heart in his throat, anticipating the coming onslaught of attacks.

"With a boost from Queen of Hearts, King of Sword will attack Garmore. When boosting the King, Queen gains another 4000 power, so I'm attacking with 20000." King of Sword comes down swinging on Garmore.

[King 10000 + Queen 10000 = 20000]

Jessie takes the hit. He goes to check the damage, but nothing comes from it. "No trigger."

[Jessie 4 damage]

"Supporting Jack with Tough Boy, I attack Garmore again," Jessie adds up the total in his head. Looking at his hand, the gears in his head start turning. Jessie lets the attack go through. Checking the damage, he pulls a draw trigger. He draws an additional card and gives the power to Garmore.

[Jessie 5 damage]

[Garmore 15000]

"Now I will attack with Asura Kaiser on your vanguard. Boosted by Screaming and Dancing announcer Shout, that's 18k to your Vanguard." Micheal comes in with a vanguard vs vanguard attack.

[Kasier 11000 + Shout 7000 = 18000]

"I'll guard with Bringer of Good Luck. The 10k shield with Garmore's trigger boost should be just enough," Jessie uses the trigger from the last turn to protect himself. He bets on Micheal not pulling a double trigger.

"Drive check. First check," Micheal reveals another copy of Asura Kasier. "Revealing a grade 3, I can use Kasier's skill. I can re-stand a rearguard. I'll stand Jack back up." Jessie breathes a sigh of relief, knowing the attack was prevented. "Second check, stand trigger. I'll give all the effects to King of Sword."

[King 15000]

"I'll attack Garmore with King of Sword." Jessie intercepts with Gallatine, negating the attack. "Brutal Jack will attack with 16k on Garmore."

Jessie drops Flash Shield Iseult. "Perfect Guard. I discard a card, and negate the attack."

"You were saving that just in case, weren't you?" Micheal susses out Jessie's moves.

"I know you don't play critical triggers. So I took a calculated risk on your Vanguard's attack. The draw trigger helped a lot to be fair."

"Well, that's my last attack, it's back to you."

"Stand and draw." Jessie resets his board and draws. "I call my fourth Snowgal to the rearguard. With four in total, all currently stand at 9k each. And with there being four Snowgal and one Blugal, Garmore now has exactly 15k without a boost."

Jessie puts everything on this being the last turn of the game. Micheal only has three cards in hand, with two intercepts available.

"With a boost from Snowgal, Garmore will attack your vanguard." The powered-up high beast supports the knight in their attack.

[Garmore 15000 + Snowgal 9000 = 24000]

Micheal smiles as he pulls out a secret card, "Twin Blader. I discard the Kaiser in my hand to negate the attack." With the attack completely muffled, Micheal has enough to protect himself this turn, unless Jessie pulls a miracle.

"Twin drive." Jessie checks the drive. "First check critical trigger. I'll give all the effects to the rearguard Snowgal in the front row." The already powered-up Snowgal gains more from the trigger. "Second check, another critical. I'll give it all to Blugal."

[Snowgal 14000]

[Blugal 9000]

Despite the attack being nullified, Jessie has managed to pump up both rearguards into being dangerous threats. "With Snowgal's boost, Blugal attacks Kasier."

[Blugal 9000 + Snowgal 9000 = 18000]

"Guard with Lucky Girl." Micheal uses his last card in hand to protect himself from Blugal's critical attack.

[Kasier 11000 + Lcuky Girl 10000 = 21000]

"With a boost from Snowgal, Snowgal will attack Kasier."

[Snowgal 14000 + 9000 = 23000]

The attack is too much to guard against for Micheal. Calling no guard, he checks the top of his deck. "Damage trigger…no trigger."

[Micheal 6 damage]

Jessie hands his victory with the humility and grace as the average football fan, "Get $%^^& in!" He springs to his feet, cheering to the almost empty shop, catching the attention of the cute girl behind the counter. She rolls her eyes and gets back to her phone. Sitting back down, Jessie extends his hand, "Good game, mate. You going to do it?"

Micheal accepts the loss and the handshake, "Good game. And yes, I'll hold up my end of the deal. I'll take your sister to go see Barbie."

"Good. Make sure to wear something pink so we're all matching, okay?"

"Wait, you're coming too?"

"Yeah. I'm not going to miss the Citizen Kane of our generation."