01x45 - Shadow Paladin

[bunniefuu]

Vanguard
National Championship

Ladies and gentlemen!

It's been a long wait!

But the Vanguard National
Championship begins right now!

First off, I'll explain the
progression of this tournament.

To start, the 32 participating teams
will be divided into eight blocks.

And then...

Hello, hello! Thank you! Thank you!

E-Excuse me, but this isn't the plan!

Don't worry about it!

Hi! I'm Rekka from Ultra-rare!

And I'm Suiko.

Hey, hey, Mr. Miya, it works the
same way as last time, right?

Well, right, but...

Um, on stage, you shouldn't really
turn your back to the audience.

If the rules are the same, I'm sure
you all remember them, don't you?

Yes!!

There, see?

You wanna skip over the boring explanations
and get right to the fights, right?!

That's right! That's right!

Get the fights goin'!

What about first things first...?

See? Everyone's fired up!

Th-That's true...

Fine, the heck with the rules!

Let's go to the grouping lottery!

Yeah!!

Hold it!!

W-What is it?

What about Kourin?!

Morikawa...

Although you're right...

Oh, sorry.

Kourin is feeling under the weather...

W-What?! Kourin is sick?!

Don't cry!

What should I do?! Kourin's sick!

It's okay!

She's just exhausted from our hard schedule,
so there's nothing to worry about!

It's just the two of us, but we'll
do our best to cheer everyone on!

Thank you for your support.

Why did it have to be Kourin?!

I'm worried!

Come to think of it, Miwa
isn't here yet either...

Here we go. Hold on tight!

Wait!

Kourin!

I wonder if something happened after that...

Okay!

The elimination block groupings, as
chosen randomly by our computer, are...

...this!

Team Jurassic Army
Team Q4
Team Spyder

So we're in C Block...

We're with Jurassic Army, Team Spyder...

...and, um...

Team FFBS

FF...?

Foo Fighter?

What?! Ren Suzugamori's team?

That's too soon!

TS, yo!

Look carefully, everyone.

If you're thinking of Ren's AL4...

Team Mermaid Angels
Team FFAL4
Team Furinkazan

...they're in F Block.

Incidentally, Team Caesar is in A Block.

The other powerful teams are
all in other blocks, too.

Shadow Paladin

Well, heck! Then C Block
should be a piece of cake!

Big talk.

Who the heck are you people?

The team you were just gossiping about, FFBS.

We're Team Foo Fighter Brilliant Stars.

And I'm the leader, Kiriya Bidou.

I'm pleased to make your acquaintance.

Sorry. He didn't mean anything by it...

W-Well, I was a little too meager.

You mean eager.

"Brilly and Start"?

That's a weird name, huh?

He said "Brilliant Stars"!

You know, as in "Twinkle, Twinkle"...

Like twinkling stars...

Right!

We're beautiful stars, shining
brightly in the night sky.

Compared to our elegant selves...

...even real stars grow dim.

Oh, how sinful can we get?

Hey, looks like impressive opponents again!

And you look emaciated...

Show-offs!

They make me itchy all over!

I was right after all! Apologies to Manager,
but we're gonna clean your clocks!

After all, you guys are just
AL4's substitute team, right?!

Substitutes? Hmm... That's
not entirely incorrect...

...but do you know how many fighters
are currently in Foo Fighter?

Huh? Why would I know something like that?

Um... about 30?

Sorry, not even close.
There are 500 fighters.

F-Five hundred?!

All of those fighters train
again and again, every day,

to get stronger and to
climb to a higher position.

They do it to get even a little
closer to Ren, you see.

New teams are chosen from those who win
that severe struggle for existence.

And that would be us, Brilliant Stars.

For your own sake, you shouldn't just
think of us as a "substitute team".

So this is where you went, Bidou.

Team Q4?

Although I don't see Kai...

I don't see Ren over there, either!

What's wrong? Did he run away scared?

Of course he didn't!

Asaka, don't play his game.

Ren wants to talk to you.

Understood.

Well, I'll see you again soon...

...Team Q4...

...and Aichi Sendou.

Yes.

Why did that guy say your name, Brother?

Beats me. I'm looking forward
to the fight, though, you know?

Right!

You can leave.

Very well.

What did you think of Aichi Sendou?

I can't tell from the few words we exchanged.

Is that right?

I think you didn't like him.

There's no need to hide it.

You don't like that I gave Aichi Sendou
that Shadow Paladin deck, do you?

Why?

Why do you think so much of him?

It wouldn't be an overstatement
to say it was Aichi Sendou's fault

that Q4 didn't make it to the
finals in the last tournament!

You entrusted that deck to a guy like him?!

I'm counting on you, Bidou.

Even without Shadow Paladin, you're more
than able to do the job, aren't you?

Of course!

If you can prove your worth to me,
the current vacant fourth position of AL4…

Yes. It'll be yours.

I'll do everything in my power
to live up to your expectations.

The stage is set. Show me the next
step in the evolution of Psyqualia...

...Aichi Sendou.

Kourin's still not here, huh?

We've got fierce fights developing
among the blocks at all the sites!

In A Block, one of the best bets for
the championship, Team Caesar is...

Whoops! They've apparently won already.

The winner is Kenji Mitsusada!

With a win-loss record of 2-0, Team
Caesar has aced the first round!

Incidentally, this footage is a recording.

Team Caesar!

Hi! Long time no see.

You came to cheer us on, huh?

Well, something like that...

Congratulations on winning
the first round... I presume?

Not like it's decided that we're
going to the final round...

Um... Aichi?

Yes?

Well? Have you put together a good deck now?

Yes. The ultimate deck.

Huh. That's what I call confidence...

The next teams, please get ready.

I repeat: the next teams, please get ready.

All right! We've gotta go!

Well, good luck!

I look forward to fighting
you guys in the finals.

"Good luck"?

We're going to make it to the final round.

Whether you wish us luck or not.

Later!

He seems different somehow...

It's been a while, Aichi Sendou.

Yes, it has.

Fancy meeting you again in the first
match of the elimination round.

Looks to me like fate.

Last time, victory was ours...

...but how about now? Have
you gotten any stronger?

Have you?

I'm a little fed up with that topic today.

What?

Everyone seems to think that I have
not changed since the last encounter.

Apparently, it's necessary to
demonstrate that I've been reborn.

I apologize in advance, but I'm
going to wipe the floor with you.

It's only natural to do your best in a fight.

But I like that spirit!

The g*n signaling the beginning
of the battle has fired!

Stand up, Vanguard!

Fullbau? Then that means his deck is...

...Shadow Paladin?!

Why? He took such good care
of that Royal Paladin deck...

The first and second fights of the
elimination round are unfolding in these halls.

This hall hosts the battle between
Q4 and the Jurassic Army!

It's Aichi Sendou from Team Q4

versus Gunji Ryuudou of the Jurassic Army!

A hot fight is developing as I speak!

Go, Gigarex!

No guard.

Damage trigger check.

Uh oh! Now Aichi Sendou is up to 5 damage!

Still, Ryuudou doesn't have any
more units that he can attack with.

My turn is over!

Sendou has skillfully hung in
there after repeated attacks.

Ryuudou, on the other
hand, also has 5 damage...

I have a feeling this next turn
is going to be very hard on him.

Final Turn!

What?!

My goodness! Sendou has just
announced his "final turn"!

Again?

Brother...

I stand and draw.

Cursed dragon,

come out and muster your dark power!

I ride...

...Phantom Blaster Dragon!

I call Dark Mage, Badhabh Caar.

Badhabh Caar's skill...

I call Abyss Freezer.

And then...

Yes. Unleash the power, Aichi...

Phantom Blaster Dragon's...

...Counterblast!

Damned Charging Lance!

You sacrificed your own allies?!

When in command, sometimes it's
necessary to be cold-hearted.

Yes, certainly...

...but I never thought that you, of
all people, would use that strategy!

On top of that, I call Blaster Dark
and Witch of Nostrum, Arianrhod!

With a boost from Arianrhod...
Go, Phantom Blaster Dragon!

Crush Deathrex!

I don't have enough cards!

No guard!

Twin drive...

All right! You didn't get a trigger, huh?

No. But 2 damage is certain.

The only way out of this pinch for you
is to draw 2 heal triggers in a row.

Indeed.

This brings to mind our fight
from last time, doesn't it?

I lost then... but I wonder
how it'll turn out this time?

Damage trigger, first check!

Heal trigger activated!

He drew a trigger!

I don't believe it!

Another nightmare?

AN?!

Aichi...

I'm not surprised...

...but what about the second card?

Goddess of Battle, give me victory!

The winner is Aichi Sendou!

The showdown is over!

Team Q4 won the first match!

Congratulations, Aichi.

But you've got a long ways to go.

That's not your true power.

This kid just keeps getting
stronger, doesn't he?

Yes. But...

"But"?

My army has suffered a complete defeat.

You definitely have changed.

You're strong. You've gotten stronger!

Now do you understand what I
meant when I said I was reborn?

But now, you're no longer worthy of a salute...

You did it, Brother!

Aichi?!

Brother!

Brother!

I'm strong...

I've gotten stronger...

Where am I?

Kai!

Wait! Kai!

Wait!

I-I've gotten stronger!

Kai!

Kai...

You're awake?

Emi...

I see... I collapsed again...

What about the fight?

Right now, Kamui's up...

Attack, Stern Blaukruger!

Stardust sh**ting!

Thanks to Kamui Katsuragi's
ferocious attacks,

Jurassic Army is defeated!

Chalk up a victory for Team Q4!

Aichi...

Thank you.

Yes! Their first victory!

FV, yo!

Maybe we can get our hopes up this time...

Right, Morikawa?

H-Huh?

All of this Kourin merchandise is mine!

Kourin?

That is her!

Kourin!

Kourin!

Ah! Kourin's...!

Aah! Kourin's...!

Kourin!!

Yes?

In here?

It's okay. You can come in.

Misaki, Kamui...

Are you all right, Brother?

Yeah. I feel refreshed
after taking a little nap.

I'll be fine for my next fight...

Huh?

You're not ready yet, Aichi.
You need to rest some more.

I'm fine, I tell you!

Did you notice?

Yeah. Brother is routinely
weak after a fight.

After the fight with
Fragrance at regionals...

And when he fought Kyou...

I don't know why it happens...

Infirmary

...but we can't let Brother fight anymore.

You and I will win the rest
of the fights. Got it?

Of course!

Hurry up, Toshiki Kai.

We can't let Aichi fight when he's like that.

Yeah. Why always after a
fight? Maybe he's exhausted?

Anyway, the two of us will keep winning.

That way, Aichi can get some rest.

No problem! Misaki, you and I
together are a winning machine!

I'm touched that you two
are worried about me...

...but are you sure it's
okay for me to rest up?

Our next opponents may be tough, too.

Next time: The Coiling Thread.

I can't picture you two losing.

I believe in you.